Can You Say Overwhelmed?

People always laugh when I say I am busy from October to January. It's true, but this year its even more true with Little Guy in Gymnastics. We have practices and meets to go to. Our weeks are full, and our weekends are filling up as well. Throw in birthdays, cookie exchanges, Santa Breakfasts, Christmas, Parties, and whatever else comes up and I am surprised I am still standing when January rolls around. So let's add on top of that, the fact that next June, we are planning starting the adoption process. Seems like it should be simple enough, right? You pick a country, pick a child, and bring them home! Nooooo.... I knew it was an involved process, but until I started researching it, I had no idea how involved. For years I have always wanted to adopt a little girl from China, but as I read more, and pray more about this decision, I find my heart led to Africa. The past month or so, I felt like a slightly deranged person, China! No India! No, Romania? Ethiopia! Wait... Haiti? It is HARD. And I wondered how I would know when I hit the right country. My first inclination, since we put an 8 mo waiting and praying time frame on ourselves before we officially start this journey, was to pray, and work on our finances, pay off bills, and starting an aggressive savings account to put us in a good starting position. That is what my brain wants to do. My heart wants to look, and read, and research children, and their countries, and the laws. I have signed up on websites to receive emails on waiting children. Typically that is 2-3 emails a day. Today, I opened one for a little 4 yr old girl, from the Congo. I am pretty sure she didn't mean to, but she climbed inside my heart. How does that happen from just a photo? Adding planning to adopt to our plate is overwhelming enough, now add in the financial aspect of it! $33,000 That's the amount it will take. I can't say I understand the purpose of a lot of the fees. I feel like it should benefit the child, maybe the orphanage, but instead I feel like the country is using it for its own purposes. I could be wrong though. It makes you think about all those commercials, where they talk about how for $1 a day, or .50c a day you could feed a starving child, or provide fresh water. But it takes $33,000 to give a child a loving forever family and home?? Shouldn't that go to build another building, or dig a well, or make the country a better, cleaner, better fed place? It is overwhelming because I wonder how we will raise that much on our own. And that is when God reminds us, we won't be. He is going to provide for us. Through donations, fundraising, and however else He sees fit to lead us! Pretty awesome if you ask me! Bookie asked me this morning, "So, how far along are we in our adopting a child?" Today I didn't have much of an answer, hopefully that changes very soon! Questions like that? I am overwhelmed, but with love and awe that our children want to open our home to a child who has none, and I want to be overwhelmed like that every day.

Pudding In A Cup

I find it so hard to believe these days that I have a 4th grader! My oldest is going to turn 10 in less than a month, and frankly that makes me feel old. I used to refer to him as Tj, or Train Junkie, but now his interests have turned to other things. Video games, Nerf guns, and reading. The last one makes me really happy, he loves to read, maybe I should start referring to him on here as Bookie! He has always been a little shy, last year was really tough on him as we were going through another deployment. Big surprise right? This year, he has turned it around completely! And I am so proud of him. Bookie has more confidence, I chalk that up to the twice a week when he practices his front kicks and tiger claw! I love to watch him spar, he giggles through the whole thing, and when he gets paired with a girl? Well, lets just say I really don't have to worry about him ever hitting one! Now we have always consider my Little Guy to be the ladies man, he is charming and silly, and really good at getting attention. That has not changed at all. And we have always joked about how Bookie will be the strong, silent type that the girls would all go nuts for because he does not wear his heart on his sleeve. Still the case for him as well, and it is working for him! About a week ago, Bookie came home from school telling me he thought a girl in his class might like him. All kinds of happy faces and an orchestra swelled in my head. I calmly looked at him and said, "What makes you say that?" Apparently another boy was picking on her and she told him to go away, so Noah told her he wouldn't bug her, to which she replied "Oh, I don't mind if you talk to me." Hmmmm..... Then this week, Bookie asked me if he could bring an extra pudding cup the next day in his lunch. Um, no, you don't need to eat 2 cups of pudding! If you're hungry we can pack more fruit, not more pudding! Yeah, my brain isn't always working at full speed these days. It didn't click until the next morning as I was getting the kids up and ready for school. Me: "So, why did you want another pudding in your lunch, did someone ask you for it?" Bookie: "Yeah..." Me: "Was it R?" Ding, Ding, Ding! Guess who went to school with 2 pudding cups?

Years Later

I thought long and hard about whether I should ever blog here again, I do have another one, but it's a Pinterest food blog. Which much like this one, I abandon on a regular basis. But I have so many thoughts whirling around in this head of mine, I really do need an outlet for them. What prompted this you may ask? Not that I even know who you are, I was really surprised to see this even gets visitors! 3 words. One Tree Hill. Yep, a television show that ended last year, crazy right? For those of you not familiar with it, it aired on the WB/CW and is one of those teen/drama/angst-y shows that for a lot of us are a guilty pleasure. I had never watched it until just recently and over the past few months, I have watched it from beginning to end. Not all at once, although thanks to Netflix, I could have! This show, in all of its silly, crazy problems and solutions, had made me think about what I want. I have an amazing husband, 3 crazy kiddos, and a sweet dog. What else could I want? The last time I think I was here, I owned an Event Planning company. I kind of still do, but since we have moved to middle America and back to the East Coast, I haven't done a lot with it. The website is up, but needs to be updated. I graduated Cosmetology school, really proud of that one. I love doing hair and makeup. I almost opened a bakery. Almost. So, what does all that mean? All 3 of my kiddos, are in school during the day. I work a little bit from home, doing hair and makeup for various clients, and the occasional events. It's perfect because I can make my own schedule. I always say I am an Empire kind of girl. I want to take all of my business ideas and merge them into one. A Salon and cafe, with an attached Event Planning business. And watching One Tree Hill has sparked all those desires in me again. Watching each character realize their dream and bring it into fruition. Probably a lot easier for them since there was a writer spinning their dreams out, and backers, sudden windfalls, and wealthy families written into their story lines. Anyone want to do that for me? I kind of feel a little lost these days. I am happy and blessed. I just need to be busy and contributing. Well, busy with my own things. I am SUPER busy with cleaning the house, when aren't I cleaning? Busy with carting kids to activities, my middle guy is in his first year as a competitive gymnast, my oldest, almost 10, is in Tae Kwon Do, and my girly girl is about to start ice skating. I am one of the Fundraising Directors for my sons gym, and the Chairperson for one of the committees for the PTA. So yeah, busy. Just not busy for me. We are still a military family, that kind of ties my hands on some things. Do I establish my business again, only to have to up and move it in another year or so? I want to for some odd reason, move to a small town, with a great community, small business friendly, where everyone knows everyone. Doesn't that sound appealing? Oh, and in other big news, we are getting ready to start the adoption process! I know, 3 kids and we want to add another one? Adoption has been something I have always wanted to do. And by always, I mean since I was a kid! Children have always been my heart. The thought of being able to help a child who was abandoned, to show them love, and what a family is, that is my dream. Maybe growing up in a church that had a lot of families who fostered and adopted, could have something to do with it I suppose. My kids are so excited, my daughter specifically since we are planning on adopting a girl. Trying to pick a country is intense! So many rules, Japan has one for BMI! I think we have narrowed our choices to Ethiopia, India, or Haiti. But we are open to whatever God has in store for us. And I am so excited about this journey we are preparing for. We plan to put in our application in June 2014, between now and then, we will be praying, seeking God's will on all of this, and to get all our finances in order. Adoption is a great thing, but it is EXPENSIVE! Another reason to really kick my rear into gear with starting my business. I know we can get donations, help from our church, fundraise, and apply for grants. All of which we plan on doing, but I want us to be out of debt before we start, and not go into debt doing it! Look for more posts in the future, I am going to try and post more often. If I can remember to that is!

Playing Catch Up Again!

So much changes in a short amount of time, I have since my last post started school! I am pretty excited about this new adventure. For one thing, it gets me out of the house for something that is just mine. What am I going to school for you might ask? Cosmetology! Wow, I bet that came of out left field for you all. I know, I know, what happened to the Event Planning, and opening my own bakery. Those goals are not gone, just put to the side to make room for what will add into the bigger picture in the future. I have always dreamed of having an all in one Event Planning, with a lot of things in house. So my thoughts are to have a Salon with a Bakery/Cafe attached. I always get hungry when I have to sit for 1,2 or even 3 hours getting a service done, how great would it be to be able to order a snack or lunch from under the dryer? And Event Planning, well that fits right in.
The boys are thoroughly enjoying school this year, and I am so proud of them. My oldest is reading spectacularly and really doing well in all his subjects, while Middle Boy is having a ton of fun in Kindergarten. He has of course acquired a new girlfriend this year. So fickle that one! But he has declared his undying love for now, and the promise of 100 kittens if she will marry him. She has accepted so I guess we better figure out where we are getting those kittens or work out a payment plan!
The Princess and I are enjoying some Mommy/daughter time. This is new territory for us, since one of her brothers has always been around. Its an adjustment to say the least! All in all though, I do enjoy her. She is super funny and full of personality. And nothing makes her happier then prancing around in a princess dress and bossing me around! She is a hard one to put in her place. How on earth do they learn to talk back at the tender age of 3?!?
So I believe I promised some pics from the Dragon Bash of 2010, and while I am a few months behind, late is better then never!

She's a Man-Eater...

We have been a busy bunch around here lately! Birthday parties, baby showers, planning our trip to visit cousins, as well as planning the Princess's 3rd birthday party. It is going to be quite the bash! This year, since she is STILL very much on a dragon kick, we are planning a Princess and Dragon theme, complete with a castle! I plan on having a "Dragon Egg Hunt", as well as a Slay the Dragon (Pinata) game! I will post tons of pics after the grand event!
The boys have been busy bike riding, swimming, and play-dating! Its great having them both home, although I am honestly looking forward to school in the Fall! It will be a whole new world for the Princess and I. I am planning on helping the boys over the summer with bits of school work to keep their minds sharp. TJ has been reading to me lately, and doing an exceptional job, only needing help with the bigger words. Hopefully all this reading aloud with TJ will also help Little Guy get ahead.
The Princess will have to have a different type of lesson this Summer it would seem! Even at the tender age of 2.5 yrs, she knows the kind of guy she likes! And up until the other day, she has chosen those unattached and still in grade school. Saturday, we were having a garage sale and the kiddos were playing outside when some friends of ours dropped by to say hello. Now the Princess is quite familiar with Ms. E, but I don't think she has seen her hubby before. And this time he had come with Ms E for a visit. The Princess came over and sized him up, Hubster and I thought for sure that she was going to play shy and run away, or yell at him. But Nooooo.... She reached up without a word, grabbed his hand and pulled him with her to play. Little Homewrecker! Ha! It was so funny, she saw him and decided he was hers! I guess its time to teach her what a wedding ring is...

Schools out for Summer!

Ok, lets give this whole blogging thing another go. Things have been crazy as usual around here. Although I think that if everything was calm and stress free, I would worry! TJ has graduated from Kindergarten and will be a big 1st grader come Fall. I am so proud of that boy. Super smart, and loves learning. Of course it helped a ton that his teacher LOVED LOVED LOVED him! Our Little Guy will be embarking on the scholastic journey for the first time this Fall as he takes on Kindergarten. That should be interesting to say the least. He is a bundle of energy, just as smart as TJ, but if he is bored or feels like what your saying isn't relevant, he tends to tune you out. Thankfully TJ's Kindergarten Teacher knows him and is actually looking forward to having him in her classroom.
The Princess is about to turn 3 at the end of July. She is such a beautiful baby, this past year she has grown so much, she charms you senseless and in the next instant is going with all the force of a Tornado. I don't know that I have ever seen so much personality in a 2 and a half yr old. I might be a bit biased though....
Summer time should be interesting. We just got used to TJ being in school all day and now he is home again. I think we are out of the rain cloud our little area of the world has been under for the past 2 weeks. Its supposed to be warm and sunny! Although, in the swing of things, I will not complain since we don't live in the Armpit of America anymore. There is next to NO humidity here. I think I can handle a little rain now and then. Plus Hubster and I love laying in bed listening to a good thunderstorm together.
Another fantastic thing I am loving up here is that somehow or another we seem to have more date nights then we have ever had! My next project is to get a Babysitting Co-Op started. I have several families interested, and just need a few more, so the sitting is spread out evenly. I think it would benefit this area so much.
I have also finally joined The Daring Kitchen! I won't be posting each months challenge here though, you will have to head over to http://www.poshbaker.com starting July 14th to check that out! I am excited to learn some new recipes and techniques. We have decided to put the bakery on hold for a couple of years so I can start working and save as much money as possible to have a down payment for a space. And what a great opportunity to build up my skills and conquer once and for all my nemesis, Fondant!
Thats all for now, hopefully I will be posting again soon!

Hit Me!

Blogging is really hit or miss for me. I get going and post semi-continually for a while and then forget, or get super busy, or feel like I don't have a lot to say. And then when I do come back, this is what I talk about!
To catch you all up, things are moving along so fast here. I can't believe its already April! Which means TJ has about 5-6 weeks of school left. I can't believe he is going to be done with Kindergarten soon. He brought home a flier in his folder the other day from school that was talking about Kindergarten GRADUATION! And the whole cap and tassel deal. I have to admit I teared up a little bit. But he has been doing so well! I am certainly proud of my big guy, who is growing up entirely too fast sometimes. He has learned quite a bit in school this year. Which surprised me seeing as its only Kindergarten, and the most I remember doing is lots of coloring and playing at different stations. TJ on the other hand is writing, doing some reading, and working on simple addition! Some of that we had worked on at home though. Together we have done some multiplication, and a little subtraction. I introduced him last night to word problems, he got it FIRST try!
And with TJ heading into First Grade in the Fall, that means that Little Guy will be joining the ranks of the gainfully schooled. Yep, come August, I will have 2 kiddos in school! Kindergarten and First Grade. Leaving The Princess at home with me! Although I would love to get her into a Preschool program 2-3 mornings a week.
Little Guy is super excited to start school, I am SO nervous he is really going to give the teacher a run for her money though. He is a smart one, just like his brother, and has such a loving and sweet heart, UNTIL he decides he doesn't like whats on the agenda for the day and goes rogue...
The Princess has morphed into a full blown Alpha Female! She takes nothing from no one! Don't get on her bad side either, she will tell you EXACTLY what is on her 2 yr old mind! Of course it doesn't help that she looks like a 4 yr old. I sense trouble in the future. She is going to be the girl in school that if you don't do what she wants, she will not be your friend. No one puts Baby in the corner... hee hee! At least I won't have to worry about her being bullied, just about her bullying others. Friends, I believe we have a Queen Bee in the making!
Our other big news for the moment is the Hubster will be making his way back home in about a week or so! Originally he wasn't supposed to be headed this direction until sometime in July. Thankfully he is no longer needed, a lot of military are coming home. Its a HUGE blessing. I honestly don't know that I could have made it much longer. Keeping a house clean, which has never been my forte, staying on top of 3 kiddos, grocery shopping, and what not, on my own, with very little in the way of breaks, has WORN ME OUT!! Seriously.
Something else I want to share real quick, and while I still think I should be getting commission for how many people I have gotten to start doing it, is the 30 Day Shred! (Shameless weight loss gloating to follow...) I LOVE THIS DVD!!! When I started, I was only doing it 2-3 times a week. Ok, so I didn't , and still haven't done 30 days in a row, BUT just doing that, I have gone from a size 32 pants to a 29! And on my way into a 27 soon. I have lost inches. I honestly cannot believe how well it works. I also decided to pick up Yoga Meltdown, another workout featuring Jillian Micheals. It is super fantastic! It left me feeling relaxed, stretched and worked out all at the same time. So I have been doing the Shred in the morning, and in the afternoon the Yoga. I am going to be shorts and possibly even swim suit ready in no time!! My goal is to be between a 2 and a 4 come September because I get to go on a cruise with one of my best friends.
Anyway, things are pretty good at the moment, and definitely looking up. I can't wait for my hubster to be home, this has been super hard and makes me appreciate so much. We truly are blessed!