Happy Anniversary My Love!

Today is the day that my husband and I started dating. It was 12 years ago today! We have celebrated this day every year since we started dating. Today, because my husband has to work, I am going to make him a special dinner and take it to him at work.

My husband and I have known each other since grade school. Yep, grade school! He was my cousin's best friend. We went to junior high, and high school together. We graduated from high school the same year. We lost touch for a few years after high school but reconnected after he moved back to Montana and I moved in with my cousin. One night we started talking and talked all night! After that night, I asked my cousin's sister to go with me to where he worked. (I just wasn't sure if he was just being nice or if he really like me) By Christmas, we knew we wanted to get married. By the January, I was pregnant. We planned on getting married on September 23rd, but as it turned out, September 23rd was our due date. I knew right then that we were meant to be together. So, as I celebrate another year with my husband, I will leave you with these words.

MY LOVE FOR YOU

I love you now...

more than I did...

not as much as I will.

I love you for your support,

tenderness, & good humor.

I love you for your sincerity,

generosity, & warmth.

I love you for your devotion,

honesty, & compassion.

I love you for your faults,

qualities, & all.

I love you for you...

Always.

J.

I love you! Happy Anniversary!

I thought sports was expensive...

My daughter has been practicing to tryout out for a jumprope team called Talented Feet. It cost us $30.00 JUST for the practices and to try out. IF she makes the team, it will cost another $100.00!!!!! ($75.00 in fees and $25.00 for the t-shirt and shorts) PLUS, there could possibly be other expenses too, but the information sheet C. brought home did not say what those other expenses were (I am assuming it is travel expenses!). If she does decide to tryout and makes the team, the committment is big. It is a committment from January to May (for those of you who are mathmatically challenged, it is a 5 month committment). The team practices every Tuesday and Thursday every week. In order to make the team, the kids have to perform each trick from the sheet they brought home 5 times in a row.

On the other hand, if she doesn't make the team, we just bought a $30.00 jumprope, and she is left with a broken heart and feeling like a failure. I am torn. On the one hand, I want her to feel the success of making the team. What a way to boost her self-esteem! On the other hand, it is a lot of money (a heck of a lot more than her soccer ever cost!). Then, there is the question of how much travel will be involved, and depending on how much and how far, it could run a lot too.

The cheap side of me says, don't let her tryout because that way she is saved from any potential feeling of failure, and you save all that money. She may get mad at you for a little while, but she will get over it quickly because Christmas is right around the corner. The mother in me that wants to see her succeed says to let her tryout and hope for the best because if she doesn't make the team, you will be there to comfort her, she won't be mad at you, and you still are not out any money. If she makes the team, then we will need to find a way to pay for it, but we could cross that bridge when we come to it.

I know there is the positive of it being good exercise, but I just don't know if all that money is worth it. The frugal side of me is just too strong!!

Be Creative!

I have always liked preparing for my kids' birthdays. I love baking and decorating their cakes. I still remember the first birthday cake that I ever decorated. I cheated on the first one. I had a plastic bear that I put on top of the cake and then I put multi-colored sprinkles all over the top. It was pretty cute. The first cake that I ever ventured into real decorating was a Blues Clues cake for my daughter. Since that time, I have decorated multiple cakes for them. (I have bought some too, thanks to Dairy Queen) Sometimes I have cheated, but most of the time I have decorated their cakes. This year they both wanted me to decorate their cakes. C. wanted a dolphin and H. wanted the army battle of Omaha Beach (Army guy all the way! and no small feat by any means).

For C.'s cake, I found a picture of a dolphin coming out of the water on the internet. I tried to get the frosting color as close as possible to the picture, although it is impossible to get it exact. I tried to make the water look more realistic by dabbing white frosting into it. It kind of gave it the look of white caps on the water. I used a star point for the clouds, which really made them pop off the cake. I was pleased with the way this cake turned out. I would definitely make it again.

For H.'s cake, I used the Medal of Honor Playstation 2 game as inspiration to come up with my version of Omaha Beach. There is no hill (I only had one cake). There are no bunkers (too complicated). I am pretty sure that the tree is all wrong (it was either this tree or a palm tree). I like that I did the border in the same colors as those on the cake. I dabbed white frosting in the water again to make it look choppy and more realistic. My son was quite pleased with the cake, which is all that mattered. I think that it turned out pretty good (considering what he wanted).

When thinking of a birthday cake, be creative! Anything is possible! The more cakes one decorates; the easier decorating becomes. (I know, I know! just like drawing or anything else for that matter!) Practice makes perfect! Of course, you could always call me! I would be willing to decorate the cake for you! :)

Have fun and happy decorating!

I Can Finally See The Light!

I got a graduation application notice in the mail the other day, and I was struck with the reality of how close I really am to being done, finally, with school. I am not freaked out, yet. I may freak out the closer that I get though. I can finally see a glimmer of light at the end of this long dark tunnel that I have been in for a year and a half now.

Tomorrow marks the start of the half-way point of the current class that I am in, and I know the stress of class, on top of the stress of the holidays, on top of the stress of only having one source of income in the house (which my husband hates to talk about or hear about) is going to turn me into a basket case by the end of the year. I am just taking everything one day at a time. I will be so happy when I am done with school, although I know that I will feel like I should be doing homework or checking into class for a while after it ends.

I know I will truly feel a sense of accomplishment after I have graduated. This has been a goal of mine since high school. I wish everyone could attain all of their goals and feel the way that I know I will be feeling next June!

To My Son:

Happy Birthday! Today you are turning 9 years old. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. You are such an incredible person. You are so kind and sensitive (don't ever lose that). You would do anything for a friend. You are smart and honest.

You are my little athlete. You are a natural. You have the ability to make me laugh even when I don't want to laugh (especially when you plug your nose in that special way of yours!).

We have always had a close relationship, and I am sure that will never change. You and your sister are close too. I love that you two get along so well. Your shy nature never seems to hinder you from making friends where ever you go. I love the fact that you put yourself to bed when you are tired, and you always are willing to help me around the house. I love playing the Playstation with you and seeing you master every game that you play. I love it when you want to paint with me.

You are my little monkey (ok, maybe sometimes a billy goat) and always will be. I love you more than you will ever know. I love that we tell each other "I love you up to the stars and back" ever single night. You are my little man and that will never change.

I will always love you........up to the stars and back.

Doubts!

Ok, I am having some doubts. I am not sure if my doubts are stemming from a major PMS episode or whether they are really regarding my ability (or lack thereof!). I have been practicing parts of the face so that I can begin drawing portaits and hopefully finally get some commissions. I know that I am my harshest critic, but I am having some serious doubts right now. I am really trying not to, but I just can't help it.

This is a pencil drawing that I did of a nose. Granted, it was only the second nose that I ever did, but I wish it could have been a little more smooth looking, which could have made it a little more realistic looking.




















The picture on the left with the grid is the picture I was trying to draw from the book. The picture on the right without the grid is my attempt.


I am not the type of person who gives up. I just want to be successful at portrait drawing. I would love to be able to draw my kids, and I would love to actually start selling some of my art.

I would like to consider myself an artist and be able to say this is my job.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a few things I am thankful for:

I am thankful that my family is healthy and safe.

I am thankful that we have a roof over our heads and laughter in our hearts.

I am thankful that we have each other to lean on when things are tough and each other to celebrate with when things are going good.

I am thankful for the good friends in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope all of you have safe travels and a special day.

Conferences Abound...Cont...

My daughters conference was yesterday. It went really well too! She is doing so well this year. I am so proud of her. She has tried so hard, and all that trying has really paid off. She got all S's(Satisfactory) too! First time ever that she did not have any N's(Needs Improvement), plus, she got an E (Excellent)!!!

To C.: I know how hard you have struggled and still struggle in school. I want you to know how very proud I am of you! All your extra, hard work is truly paying off. You are very special and so smart. You are finding your strengths at school and developing them. Keep up the hard work! I love you, up to the stars and back.

Conferences Abound

My kids are off school all week this week. Yesterday and today are our parent/teacher conferences, actually they are student led conferences. The kids lead the conference with the teacher. We had our son's conference yesterday, and today's conference is C's.

I am so proud of him! He is in the third grade. His class is made up of both third graders and fourth graders. He really likes it, and he is doing great! He got all S's (Satisfactory) on his report card, which is great! His teacher said that she wished she had a 100 H's in her class. Every parent should hear that from his/her child's teacher.

To H.: I am so proud of you! You are so smart and try so hard. All your hard work is really paying off! Remember that special thing Dad promised you if you got a 100% on your spelling test? (yes, it is called bribery) Well, you did it, and your birthday is right around the corner. You may very well open up that special present on your birthday. Keep up the hard work!
I love you, up to the stars and back.

My New Goal!

Ok, I may be digging a huge, gigantic hole for myself here, but I am going to set a goal for myself. I am going to challenge each of you who feels adventurous to join me in this challenge. I am challenging myself to try to lose up to 25 lbs by Christmas! I am going to start keeping a food journal. I found a menu in a magazine. Breakfast consists of any one of the following 1/2 cup slow-cook or steel-cut oatmeal and 1/2 cottage cheese with splenda and cinnamon or 2 slices whole-grain bread, 1/2 cup scrambled egg substitute, 1 slice 2% American cheese. For a snack, choose two daily. 1 bag lite microwave popcorn or 1 cup sliced veggies, 2 tbs. fat-free dip 1 oz. almonds or 1 apple, 1 part-skim mozzarella cheese stick or 1 white-chocolate banana-nut shake (1 cup water, 1/2 cup 2% milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 banana, 1 tbs. natural peanut butter, 1 tbs. sugarfree white chocolate pudding mix, 3 ice cubes). Lunch is any one of the following 1 oz. turkey, 1 slice whole-grain bread, 1/2 slice swiss cheese, & 1 cup soup (up to 140 calories), or 3 oz. tuna, 1 tbs. lite mayo, 1 tbs. dijonaise, 2 cups mixed salad, & 2 tps. lite dressing, or 4 oz. lean burger, 1 whole-grain bun, 1 slice 2% American cheese, 2 cups steamed veggies, and 2 tps. lite dressing. For dinner choose any one daily (a sugarfree fudge bar or popsicle can be added for dessert) 4 oz. grilled chicken, 1 cup steamed broccoli, and 1 small sweet potato, or 5 oz. chicken breast or shrimp, 2 cups veggies stir-fried with 1 tbs. teriyaki sauce, & 1/2 cup whole-wheat angel hair pasta, or 5 oz. baked white fish, seasonings, 1 cup cooked spinach, and 2 cups fresh fruit. After dinner to beat the munchies drink 1 cup of hot herbal tea, any variety.

I probably won't be following this menu exact, but it does provide some great ideas. I plan on beginning right away, and I encourage whoever wants to join me to do so.

Good Luck in advance to anyone who is joining me in this challenge!

Practice, Practice, Practice!

I have a new art book called How to Draw Lifelike Portraits from Photographs by Lee Hammond. What an amazing book! I am practicing the nose right now, and I can tell you that I have NEVER drawn a nose like this before in my life. I must get her book about animals. I was practicing last night, and I showed my husband what I drew when he got home from work. He said, "Wow, you drew that? That looks really good!" My specialty is not portraits. My specialty is drawing flowers and animals, so I was shocked when I drew a nose which looked so lifelike. I looked back on the first nose I drew (This one was only the second nose I have drawn) and decided that it was not too bad and did actually look like a nose after all. What a super feeling!

Recently, I sent the link to my portfolio to my professor because he jokingly said that he wanted a picture for Christmas. He complimented my work but did not place an order for a picture (unfortunately). I also found a local watercolor artist and sent her three of my portraits. She emailed me back and said I was doing well, which I took as a compliment. Up to this point, I have only received compliments from family and friends. It is nice to receive a compliment from someone you have never met. I have also been happy to see that my portfolio is getting some traffic in it.

Yes, I put my schoolwork aside to draw! I am sitting here right now writing this post and would rather be drawing. I know I have a paper to write, but I keep thinking to myself, "Maybe I could just draw for a while." BUT, the student in me knows that I MUST write my paper first.

I can't wait to get through this book and begin drawing portraits. (Maybe then I will be able to sell some pictures)

Why Are We The Way We Are??

I have been wondering something for the last few days. Why am I a completely different person when I am around my family in MT? They have a way of sending me back to the age of 10 or something, and I always feel like a mindless child who can make no decisions on my own. When I am not around them I am confident, I am able to make decisions all on my own on a daily basis. Could it be this is the reason that I have trouble standing up for myself? Maybe this is the reason that I have always been afraid of following my dreams or moving so far away from home. (Well, at least I conquered the moving away fear!)

I have already been through childhood once; I really don't need or want to go through it again.

My Man...

Ok, I know that I can give my man grief sometimes, but he usually deserves it. This post is dedicated to his sweet side!

Yesterday, I called my man at work to see how his day was going. I told him that I had applied for a job that I found online. The job is part-time bookkeeping for a small company just a few miles from my house. The work can be done from my house! It is part-time just 20 to 25 hours a week and can be done from home what more did I need? The main reason for applying for the job was a little more financial security. My husband works completely on commission, which means if he doesn't sell anything or the store is slow then he doesn't get diddilly for a paycheck (and the bills and rent don't get paid). We are trying to not only recover from the expense of moving but are also trying to recover from the two trips back to MT that we took and with my son's birthday and Christmas coming up so quickly, I just feel that I need to get a part time job. BUT, I want to be able to work from home, thus is the reason for applying for that job that I found. ANYWAY...... back to the story...... my husband had a delivery to do on his way home last night, which is not unusual. When he got home, he had a little surprise for me. (He must have been reading my mind!) He came in and handed me a grocery bag. Inside the grocery bag was a pint of Ben and Jerry's Vanilla Caramel Fudge Swirl ice cream. Holy mackerel!!! Every now and then, he just does things like this which totally blow me away and reminds me of the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place.

The ice cream really hit the spot last night. He must have known that I was stressing and needed some comfort food. We hardly ever quarrel and rarely ever fight. Maybe sometime I will write about "our story." We have know each other for a really long time but were always just friends! He just always knows what I need! I really love that man of mine!

Back To The Grind Again...

Well, I am starting my third from my last class. The last three classes are specialty classes for the MBA program in which I am enrolled. When I started this program, I never thought I would make it to this point in the list of classes. This point just seemed too far away, and the list of classes was long and quite daunting to say the least. I am so excited to be almost done with the program, but I really need to find a new routine which not only allows me to get all my schoolwork and household work done but also spend plenty of time with my family without being stressed out to the max about anything and everything.

These last three classes are tied together in that I will be compiling a project which is to take 18 weeks. Yep, 18 weeks! I am not afraid of failing or the work, but I am a little overwhelmed because I will be attending class (online) over Thanksgiving, my son's 9th birthday, and ending the class on Christmas Day. I am trying to stay very structured in my daily activities around the house. I have somewhat developed a routine which not only gets my household work done, but it also allows for plenty of time for my schoolwork and the kids. The problem is that when I am in a class, I tend to spend all my time on the household work and my schoolwork. I feel that my poor family gets the short end of the stick most of the time. Because I spend so much time on school and the house, I don't spend as much time with my kids and husband. I really thought I would have more free time if I only attended school instead of attending school while working full time.

It just seems like my free time away from my schoolwork is spent all on the household chores; thus, is the reason that I am determined to come up with a better, more efficient routine so that I have plenty of free time for my kids and husband. I do everything around the house, so an efficient routine is so critical. (Suggestions are always welcome!) :)

OUCH!!!

This post is dedicated to all of you who have severly stubbed one or more of your toes! I feel you pain!! I have done it more than once. The first time I did it was when I was in junior high on vacation with my parents and brother in Hawaii! It really stunk limping around. Thankfully, we were in Hawaii because I was able to wear my flip flops (They were the only shoes I could wear because my toes were so swollen). The second time I did it I was able to wear tennis shoes. I am thankful that I had a job that kept me at my desk for most of the day. The most recent time I did that was right before we moved to OR. I was in so much pain that I was sure I had broken my toes or my foot. (I didn't; I was just a wimp) I had spranged my two littlest toes pretty badly. The doctor asked if I could stay off of my feet for a week. (I just laughed because I was too busy packing and getting ready for our move!)

My daughter stubbed her little toe last night. It swelled up and bruised immediately (which makes me wonder whether she broke it). I felt so helpless because there was little that I could do for her. (Poor Baby!) :((( The real test will be if she can make it to her jumprope team practice tonight. They have only had two, and she really needs to go if she wants to make the team. I hope that it is feeling a little better. We shall soon see! (I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is better)

They will be missed...NOT!

AHHH! The blissful silence! I am basking in it! They are finally gone! Can you believe it?? I bet you thought the day would never come. ...But, it does, and when it does, we should rejoice and be thankful it is finally over!


You know what I am talking about, don't you???


Yep, Election Day!

The day we can get out there and tell the "MAN" what we think! I have never been so happy to see a day end in my life! No more stupid campaign ads on TV! We can finally reclaim our evenings without being interrupted every 30 seconds with another attempt to smear one's competitor across our screens. I not only had to put up with all the dumb ads in Oregon, but I had to also put up with them in Montana. The Montana ads were much worse! The senate race there was tight, and the ads were terrible (Smear City!). I am going to enjoy this little break enormously! What shall I do with my TV time now! I may even watch a commercial instead of flipping channels!!! What a concept!

Enjoy this little break all because the next election campaign it just right around the corner!
Fun Times Will Be Had By All!

Who is ready??

OK, I know that we have a major holiday before Christmas, but I also realize that we in general jump straight over Thanksgiving and move right from Halloween to Christmas! I personally start thinking about Christmas in September. (You heard me right, September!) I have most of my Christmas shopping, present buying done already. I am not completely done, but I will be done by Thanksgiving. Christmas is that hectic time of year when the stores are jammed packed full of tired sometimes rude customers and salespeople. I kill everyone I meet in the stores with kindness! I like to personalize Christmas presents my making some and buying others.

Christmas is the time of year for family traditions, and my family is no different. I can already taste the butterball soup, peanut rolls, and Christmas morning breakfast with my family. Unfortunately, I will not be enjoying some of my family's traditions this year. My own family has a few traditions of its own. My kids get to open one present on Christmas Eve, which is always PJs that they get to wear right away. There is always a present in their stockings. This year my son is already worried about whether or not Santa will find us and how he will get in. (SO CUTE!)

I like Thanksgiving too! Not the over-eating part, but the giving "Thanks" for our blessings part. I love the time that we get to spend with our family. It is always a great day! I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner, which I have not done for a while. I am looking forward to making Thanksgiving dinner this year, although I will be missing my family back home.

All-in-all I am ready for Christmas, are you?? :)

What would you do...?

I was driving home yesterday from my husband's work, and I started thinking about what I would do with a million dollars. SO...

The first thing I would do is payoff my student loans. They have been on my mind lately since I only have three classes left and will then have to start repaying them! (OUCH!) We have no credit card debt, so I would not have to pay any of those off. The only debt that we have or rather will have is my student loans.

The second thing I would do is buy myself a new vehicle. We had to put in a new-used engine in my car just before we moved, so I would love to have a new car (but just don't want to be bogged down with a car payment right now). Both of our cars are paid off, so I would really like to keep it that way for now.

The third thing that I would do is set up an investment account which would not only help my kids with college expenses but would also be for my husband's and my retirement.

I would want to go hog wild and buy something frivilous, but I would have to be the sensible one in the family and keep the spending to a minimum. OK, well there may be one little shopping spree to... oh I don't, Coldwater Creek or somewhere like that, and I would have to let the kids and my husband pick out one or two things too.

I would not buy or build a house yet. Unless I am sure that where we are is going to be a place that we will be for a while, I will not be investing in any properties just yet. NOW, if the investment account does its job, we could either buy or build a house somewhere down the line after it builds up a bit, and we begin to realize a return.

I know what I would do...but the question is...What would YOU do?