I have been thinking...

...that when you remove the negative people from your life you are so much happier! This is not meant for the people that we have not been around because we can't seem to kick this sickness that has been looming over Candlewood Dr. for the past month! We have been thru 3 cans of lysol, 3 doctor appts to only be told it is "viral", 6 boxes of tissues, tons of soup & crackers, 15 gallons of OJ, unknown packages of cold meds...and I think we might be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

Thanksgiving was different for us this year. With me doing childcare out of our home it seems that we never get a break away from everything. SO...we rented a camper and went with Tom's boss over to the Imperial Sand Dunes in Cali just past the Arizona border. The boys spent many hours on the quads and us girls mostly rode the sandrail. We had a good time until the winter storm decided to come a day early and cut the trip short. But it was nice to have the extra day to unpack and get things done before the work week started. Not to mention how nice a real shower and our bed felt! Also it had to better than last year when we spent the entire day cleaning carpets because SOMEONE (not mentioning my OCD husband's name) got on a kick of cleaning them.

Now the tree is up, the outside of the house is partly decorated, some shopping is done and we are ready for a very simple and quiet christmas season. We are cutting back on presents this year. I have been thinking about the 3 gift idea...like Jesus got. Does anyone else do that? We would do 3 gifts for each of the girls, one large gift for the both of them and then stockings. I think we have spoiled our girls every year and I do not want them to grow up and not know the true meaning of the season. I feel they are young enough now to not remember the mounds of presents that they opened in the last few years. Plus most of the toys just get pushed to the side and they go back to the old favorites after a week.

Zoe and Zada are both growing like weeds. Learning new things everyday. And keeping me VERY busy!

Tom is working like a work horse. I am so thankful that he loves his job or I know he would hate all these hours. We are talking 12-14 hour days ... 5 days a week.

Christmas cards are addressed, the letters will be printed tonight and they should hit the mail by thursday morning. I am only a few days behind and that isn't bad for taking 5 days of doing nothing for Thanksgiving.

We hope this Christmas season finds everyone happy and healthy!

ps...no pictures...maybe later this week! I need to get back to blogging weekly

Blog Slacker...

There are no excuses so I won't even post any :)

A little rundown on the past 5 months!! OUCH!!

• Zoe started school off going full days but it was WAY too much for her so we cut down to half days.
• She had surgery on Aug. 12 to release her hip muscles and ham strings in hopes that she will be walking. She was casted from the top of her thighs to the tip of her cute toes. All clad in PINK of course! Her cast also had the bar in the middle to she could not move her legs.
• Zoe turned 5 on Aug 31st! We didn't have a party because she was not in the spirt.
• Zoe took 2.5 weeks off of school to recover from her surgery. She learned quickly how to get off of the couch and scoot herself around.
• Sept the casts were removed and honestly I was sick to see the scars that were suppose to be 1" long ...they were 3.5" LONG!!! It was a huge shock but a small price to pay to help her lead as normal of a life as we can.
• In Sept it was back to therapy as normal and slowly we got out Zoe back. She was scooting and not crawling until mid-October. Then she was off like a rocket. Up and down the stairs, jumping on the couch, escaping out the back door, playing in the dog food and water...our baby was back to normal.
• 4 short days after the casts came off we went to pick up her braces. Usually this takes 4-6 week but there was a cancellation so they called us! Her braces are light blue with butterflies all over them...very girly. They don't seem to bother her at all.
• She is now cruising the furniture and will walk with assisstance. We are hoping to get her walker by the end of the year to give her some more independence. She tires very quickly but we knew it would take some building up to do.
• Zoe is doing WONDERFUL in school. She is more involved and is getting use to structure. She gets so excited every morning when she gets in her "kid kart" to go out and wait on the bus. On the way home she usually sleep because she is totally wiped out.

Now on to Zada...

• She is "Little Lacey" from sun up till sun down. NO JOKE!
• Zada will be turning 4 on saturday (Nov 7th). She is super excited to have her party and her little friends come over!
• She is learning so fast that Tom and I can barely keep up! She will say stuff and we are like "WHAT?!?!?"
• Her new favorite saying is "Mommy you are the bestest mommy ever." Quoted straight from her.
• She loves to play dress up and watch "WW" with her daddy. (WW means WWE)
• She is very protective of Zoe and will let anyone know that.
• She is starting to understand that Zoe is a special child. She will ask questions and we explain to her the best we can.
• We are teaching her how to write her name. It is the last thing she needs to learn to test into school early next fall.

And us...Tom and Lacey

• Tom is still working for an amazing company and putting in lots of hours. We are so blessed that he got this job when he did...right at the collapse of the economy.
• I am trying to chase the kids, pack lunchs, clean house, cook dinner, shop and be the best wife and mom I can.
• I am still babysitting and love it! Finally got a good group of kids and parents...NO DRAMA!
• We enjoyed our 4th anniversary in August with Dinner out and a trip to Walmart. We left Zoe and Zada with Jaye and Lisa but at the time Zoe was still having a hardtime so it was best to make a quick date.
• We have finally closed up the pool for the "winter" and hope to be back in it in April.

I will try to update more...but life is crazy busy right now.

Week in Review...

*Took Zada to the Farmer's Market. She pointed at a Pineapple and said "oh mommy I don't like cactus". When i tried to explain to her that it was a pineapple she said "no mommy we have that cactus in yard like that" We do indeed have a cactus in our front yard that looks like a half buried pineapple.

*Picked up papers to register Zoe for school...it is a day I have never wanted to happen but it is time to get her freedom. (atleast that is what i keep telling myself)

*Enjoyed dinner on the grill almost every night.

*My husband endured an injury (closed fracture) on his right wrist while playing softball. He is still able to work but wow he is a big baby when he is hurt or sick!

*Started walking again...it feels so good.

*Went to the pork shop for pig ears and found some "Apple, Maple & Pecan Sausage Links". Zada and I had these this morning for breakfast with eggs and strawberries...SO YUMMY!

*Had a girls night with Lisa (SIL) on wednesday night...watched Bride Wars...it was good!

It hasn't been a very eventful week...but wanted to update the blog quickly.
Tomorrow I will post 7 more budget dinners.

2nd part of house...

Well here is the second part of the house...I have not taken pictures of the master bedroom/bath but those will come. Tom has been working on computers and I have been sorting out all of the girls winter clothing so it is not really camera ready ;)

playroom...futon...kinda dark...sorry :)

playroom


Mercedes room...


what used to be Mercedes bed...it will now become Tom's office


the girls' bathroom...about ready for a redo...so sick of the FISH!



The girls' room...we have tried their own rooms and with a 4 bedroom house i would love to use the space that we have...but they REFUSE!!


Zoe's bed


Zada's bed


a view of the pool from the 2nd floor...



and then on a side note...i was typing this and Zada was sitting beside me in her pj's.



She looked up at me and this is how our convo went:

Zada: Mommy you are my bestest friend.

Me: Oh really and why is that.

Zada: Because you make me cookies and cup cakes and hotdogs and puffs and you are taking me to see cind-a-lela (Cinderella).

Me: I love you Zada

Zada: I love you too mommy. Can you buy me something when we go see cind-a-lela?

Me: Well what do you want to buy?

Zada: Rootbeer, popcorn, hotdog, candy, chips, and you a snack.

Me: Well we are going to Paradise Bakery before we go are you sure you are going to be that hungry? and what about buying a shirt or something?

Zada: Oh Momma I will share of the food with cind-a-lela and I don't need a shirt cause daddy says we have too much clothes...

and then she was off to play...

Swimming in March!!

Here is a little video of Zada swimming when Nana came to stay with us for a few days while Papaw went back to Indiana. She sure misses her Papaw...if you couldn't already tell from the video!

The weather here in central Arizona is one of the best things about the area. How many other places are you in the pool in mid-March :).

Random...

*Zoe started back to therapy!

*Mercedes finished a full week of Girl Scout camp...she loved it!

*Got our pool light fixed

*Missing my sister-in-law/best friend...she will be home soon

*Preparing for Tom's 30th!

*Been planting flowers

*About to turn on the A/C

*Kids have been playing outside from the time they wake up...until bedtime.

*Got the sprinkler out for the kids!

*Took pictures and got them printed of the girls.


Been alot going on...picture post to come later :)

Life...

Where do we begin...? I guess we will do the last 2 months in list form!

*Zada will be 3 tomorrow! How can my baby be that big already :(
*Jaye & Lisa finally found a house that they love. They have been jumping thru hoops and will hopfully have a closing date soon.
*Tom is working his tail off and the computer business is starting to take off.
*Lisa and I are opening a daycare...so fun!
*Halloween was awesome! Our new neighborhood is very close knit so you weren't worried about the candy (yes we still checked it) and the kids could just have a good time. One neighbor even put up a jump house for all the kids to play in. Zada was a lil scarecrow, Zoe was a bat witch, and Mercedes was Hannah Montana.
*Our new house rocks! It is about 1,000SF bigger than our last house and has an in ground pool with a waterfall! LOVE IT!!
*Mercedes seems to be adjusting well to life in Arizona. It was a tough ordeal for all of us but it seems to be the right choice.
*Tom is playing softball and that is a great weekly activity to take to kids to.
*It has been 3 months since Ali went...it seems like just yesterday...
*Dad (Grandpa Gary) will be here in 19 days to cooks us on delish Thanksgiving Dinner!! Can't wait to spend time with him! I love Lisa so much for sharing the most important man in her life with me.
*I cut all of Zoe's hair off...short...really short. She looks super cute and it was worth her daddy not talking to me for about 6 hours :). He was asleep when i cut it ... oops!

On a little heavier note...Tom & Jaye's father is not doing well. It has been a crazy wild goose chase getting him back to where he needs to be. It seems that the hospital kicked him about and sent him to a nursing home...across state lines...without the families consent. The poor man doesn't want to be anywhere but home and he isn't capable of that yet. Tom, Jaye, Lisa, and their kids will be making another trip back home to see if we can MEDVAC him to Phoenix. He really needs to be where we can take care of him. He needs different doctors, different nurses, he needs the care that he deserves! I hope that everyone keeps Tom & his family in your prayers.

I will update pictures later :)

LIFE...

I AM SITTING HERE IN THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT MY BOSS ALSO OWNS COVERING FOR THE MANAGER THAT IS IN CALI. SOMETIMES THE QUIETNESS OF THIS SHOP IS RELAXING...ALL I HEAR IS THE RADIO PLAYING "WATCHING AIRPLANES", THE AIR TOOLS IN THE SHOP, AND THE MECHANICS MOVING AROUND. AT THE TOWING COMPANY IT IS NON-STOP...NEVER A QUIET MOMENT DURING THE DAY SHIFT. THAT IS GOOD FOR MANY REASONS...HUSTLE AND BUSTLE MEAN MONEY, IT MEANS THAT MY DISPATCHERS ARE NOT SITTING AROUND DOING NOTHING, IT MEANS PRODUCTION.

THE WEATHER HERE IS BEAUTIFUL...80 TODAY AND SUNNY. THE GIRLS PLAYED OUTSIDE MOST OF THE DAY YESTERDAY...UNTIL LITTLE MISS ZADA DECIDED TO SPILL HER YOGURT DRINK ON THE PATIO AND PLAY IN IT! EWWW! BUT IT WAS ALMOST DINNER TIME AND BATH TIME ANYWAYS. ZOE LOVES TO MAKE HER WAY OUTSIDE WITH ZADA AND JUST SIT IN THE SUN.

SATURDAY WE WENT OUT TO DINNER WITH FRIENDS...GREAT TIMES! I GUESS I DRANK A LITTLE MORE THAN I THOUGHT. I WAS DRUNK DIALING AND DIDN'T KNOW IT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN MY SISTER IN LAW CALLED TO TELL ME THAT SHE LOVED ME TOO...I WAS LIKE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT...THEN SHE TOLD ME! I WAS SO EMBARRSSED. I WASN'T SICK THE NEXT DAY SO THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT I HAD A GREAT TIME WITH NO BACKLASHING!

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE FAMILY TO COME TO TOWN...WHAT IS IT...25 DAYS!! WOO HOO!!

LOVE...UNTIL NEXT TIME :)

March 3, 2008

First i would like to ask...where did Jan. and Feb. go?? The weather here has been absoultly beautiful! 75-80 during the day and dipping down around 50 at night! My MIL Betty went home yesterday to the nice cold weather of Chicago...i don't think she was ready to go back but due to a sudden death in the family it didn't leave her much choice. The 2 weeks went fine and i know the girls loved being spoiled! We didn't go do alot but the time relaxing was well welcomed by all.

The hustle and bustle at work i do believe will never come to an end. I am starting to delegate more work to free up some of my time. It seems to be working well! (Thanks Mari...love ya!) I still have plenty to keep me busy for my 10 hours a day but now i can concentrate and do the job the way i want to do it.

The girls are growing fast...I KNOW I NEED TO POST PICTURES! This coming weekend we are suppose to go get easter pictures taken but i am not so sure on that now... Last friday Zada fell and busted out one of her front teeth! We are getting a cap put on it but they have to wait till the "stump" of the tooth comes out further so there is something to attach the cap to.

Yesterday i want to the spa and got my toes and nails done. It was so nice to sit in the pedicure massage chair for almost an hour! Of course it was no fun for Tom since he was home with both of the girls but i was dying for some time away. Sometime to gather my thoughts, relax, sometime to VEG...LOVED IT. And my toes are super cute! My nails...well they look the same as always...but good :D.
Tomorrow I am going in to get 3 teeth cut out! OUCH! But i have been putting it off and now that i have dental ins. there is no reason to put it off...atleast that is what the hubby says :(. Oh well that is part of life. Today we started a diet at work...i am starving i am not going to lie at all...but i know it will be worth it in the end. Ever tried fat free pringles?? Pretty tasty i must say!

WORK...

AS I SIT HERE TYPING THIS I AM LISTENING TO MY IPOD AND MY DISPATCHERS HUSTLING...

ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING I WAS TALKING TO ZADA ABOUT FRENCH FRIES (DON'T ASK)...I PULLED INTO JACK IN THE BOX TO PICK HER UP A BREAKFAST KIDS MEAL THAT CONTAINED BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST STICKS AND HASHBROWNS...A FEW OF HER FAVS. I HANDED IT TO HER IN THE BACK SEAT, SHE SMILED HER BIG SMILE AND SAID "THANK YOU MOMMA I LOVE YOU" I WAS TOTALLY OVERCOME! SHE IS A GREAT 2 YEAR OLDS...IT IS ALWAYS PLEASE, THANK YOU, EXCUSE ME...JUST A GREAT MANNERED KID. I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I AM ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR MY KIDS THE WAY THAT I DO. I CAN GIVE THEM SOMETHING AT THE DROP OF A HAT AND NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. I WISH THAT EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR FAMILIES THIS WELL. I AM NOT SAYING I AM RICH...I AM NOT SAYING THAT WE DON'T EVER STRUGGLE...I AM VERY COMFY IN THE SITUATION THAT WE ARE IN.

WORK HAS BEEN VERY BUSY...EVEN REQUIRING ME TO TAKE WORK HOME OR STAY A LITTLE LATE. BUT I KNOW IN THE END WHEN ALL OF THESE LITTLE PROJECTS ARE OVER WE WILL BE SMOOTH SAILING...THAT IS UNTIL THE BOSS FINDS SOMETHING ELSE TO KEEP ALL OF US BUSY.

WE WENT ON A BIKE RIDE LAST NIGHT AND THAT WAS "MUY BUENO". LOVE THESE ARIZONA SRING NIGHTS!! 75...ON THE BIKE WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE...THE BABIES AT HOME WITH MAWMAW IN BED...NOT A CARE IN SIGHT...LOVE IT

Sunday August 10, 2007

ok...wow the unpacking is almost done! We might get to sit down for a meal as a family and enjoy an evening that we aren't putting together new furniture or hanging ceiling fans or unpacking yet another box...! I am starting to see light at the end of this tunnel called "moving". I still want to get somethings to hang on the walls...our room is very bare! The girls love roaming the entire house...Zada enjoys it mostly in the middle of the night cause then her daddy finds her and lets her get in bed with us! But i guess that is part of being a daddy's girl.

Well it is time to get dinner started. Tom should be on his way home shortly and i want dinner done and cleaned up by 7pm...so i better get on the ball.

Moved In

Well we are finally moved in! We got the rest of our belongings out of the old house yesterday. Now it is just unpacking the little bit of things that are in the garage of the new house. The girls love the bigger house but are not coping well with having their own rooms. I keep finding Zada in different areas of the house when we wake up in the morning. This is her first "big girl" bed and the first time of her having her own room. So...maybe she is just lonely sleeping.

Snowball also loves the doggy dog...well she doesn't like going out of it but she loves to run in thru it.

I will post pictures as soon as my wonderful hubby buys a new camera cord that we seem to have lost....