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.

Update...

Ok...where do i start??

*the weather has been fantastic here in sunny AZ

*we are super blessed to have an in ground pool to survive another HOT summer!

*we met Zoe's teacher ... she starts school in July (BOO!!)

*we met with Zoe's Ortho Surgeon...decided to go ahead with her hip muscle and hamstring surgery (it will be some time in early August) I have struggled with this decision. There is a 75% chance that she will learn to walk with this surgery. I hope it will be worth the stuggle that we are about to embark on.

*Tom's job has been super busy...like 55-60 hour weeks

*Zada is growing up quickly...tonight she asked to learn how to write her name

*Zada lost my debit card somewhere in the house (BOO!!)

*Been taking tons of pictures but have not uploaded any yet...maybe I will do that tonight and then post some tomorrow...

Hope life is good for everyone out there in Blog Land!

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.

Tom's Party

We had Tom's 30th birthday party this weekend. It was a great time! We did an 80's theme. Only a handful of people dressed up for the party but it was still fun. Here are a few pictures...cause the birthday boy doesn't remember much :)

TT Wee and Cupcake ;)

The Band "Lestra" played mostly 80's rock for us!


Joe & Teresa (2 of the greatest neighbor's ever!!)

Zada...she should have been an 80's child! She totally pulled off the outfit!

Liz, TT Wee & Me...as you can tell it was crazy fun!! TT Wee looked like a white Tina Turner!

TT Wee & Jaye (aka: Tina Turner & Vanilla Ice)

Mackenzie dancing the night away...love this girl! Her and Zada will be BF for life!


Tom's boss and co-worker decided to mess with him...it was way too funny!!

Tom the princess with his little doggie!

Tom & Ken...notice the sign above our bed. I thought it was too funny that it made it in the picture!

and this was the end to my weekend...s'mores and southern sweet tea

The Big 30!!

Yesterday was Tom's 30th birthday! We went to get couple massages and then out to dinner at our favorite steak house/saloon. After dinner I told him that we had to hurry home because Lisa needed to get home and get to bed. When we walked in he saw something that he was not expecting...a shelf that his brother had built in memory of his dad! It had a few pictures of his dad, a grave marker, a dogtag, and most importantly...it had his dad's service memorial flag in a cherry case! Seriously it brings tears to your eyes just to look at the display. Andy (Tom's dad) was a huge part of Tom's life. I would have to say that was the first time that Tom really felt pain and showed it. Andy served in Vietnam and was proudly honored at his funeral for his service. The flag of course went to the oldest son...Jaye knew that Tom had always wanted the flag. We decided that his 30th birthday would be the best day to pass it on...and it was! This flag has caused drama just like it does in most families but it is finally put in it's place where we can show it PROUD!

Now let me see if I can think of 30 reason why my husband is such a great guy :)...

1.He loves me to no end
2.He is the best father I could ask for my daughters
3.He is a hard worker
4.He is fun to be around
5.He can grill up some steaks like no other
6.He is handy and can fix almost anything
7.He keeps his promises
8.He is my best friend
9.He loves to act goofy
10.His love for NASCAR
11.His patience
12.His faithfulness
13.His ability to keep fighting for our daughter for what she needs
14.His love for animals
15.His computer abilities (no repair bills for me!)
16.He understands that i have to get a pedi to feel good
17.The way he plays with the kids
18.The way he puts everyone else before himself
19.The fact that he lets me stay home to raise our girls!
20.His love for his family
21.The respect he gives elders
22.The way he makes french toast ;)
23.The fact that he works fulltime plus is starting up a business
24.His love for softball
25.HE IS NOT A SLOB!
26.His personality
27.His craftiness
28.He never complains when I go shopping
29.His willingness to keep the girls while I go shopping
30.well....he is HOT!

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 :)

September 12, 2007

Anyone who knew me as a child knows why this picture is posted...i was always falling asleep at the dinner table. But this time with Zada it was a tad different...she was only having a snack and she had just woke up from a 3 hour nap! Can anyone say growth spurt! This child is eating us out of house and home.

Tom started a new job and it really seems to be working out well for all of us! He is still working long hours but it is early in the day...he beats us home! It is a nice change of pace. He has even been showing off his cooking skills the past few weeks and that i really appreciate. It is hard to work a full day, drive home, make dinner, bathtime and then off to bed you go with no quality time.

My job is still very busy and now that contract renewals are up it gets even more hectic for me and the boss. Good thing he is a good guy and understand when people get tired, hot and moody once in a while.

Also wanted to send a congrats out to the Bauman family who will be adding another addition to them in early March...they are uber cute...all 4 of them! Let's just all pray for a healthy baby and ask for a babygirl for those two boys to look after :).

until next time....