I'm baaaaack

Hello blog. It's been...well....years. Since I don't feel like backtracking, I'll just carry on pretending that I was good at updating it.

I'd been contemplating severely limiting my facebook or deleting it all together for some time. As much good that comes from it, there's also bad. I read a blog about a mother who had regretted her time spent on her Iphone and had missed so much of her children's lives. That solidified it for me. I decided I would put down my phone during the day, blog occasionally after they go to bed, and cherish every second I have with them. Bennett turns 7 months in 2 days. Validation that I can't blink or his "baby" time will be gone before I know it. 

I see so much change in Carson and Allison as well. I find myself laughing at him with his latest phrase. Anytime a question or predicament comes up he will start off with "Well......" It's like listening to a little old man in a 5 year olds body. Today Allie needed to get out of the car to use the bathroom when we stopped to fill gas. He replied "well (long pause) I guess you should have thought about that before you took your shoes off." Oh dear heavens. This is what I sound like? Do I really say "well" so often? I know Justin doesn't say it so he's clearly learning it from me. I've noticed the most change in him this past year. Kindergarten has been such a breakthrough year for him. He's grown more in the past 5 months than I ever recall. He broke my Dyson vacuum today. Mr Engineer decided he needed to see how the filter worked and yanked the top off the vacuum. I think we both cried an equal amount. Who would have thought I would be so attached to a vacuum? 

I've seen Allie blossom in ballet. When she started in August I thought to myself that it would take an act of God to ever have her coordinated. Low and behold, she's turned corners and is doing much better than I ever anticipated.  If you ever have a bad day just youtube little 3 year olds dancing ballet. It's the most adorable thing ever and Bennett and I enjoy watching her each week. She will start pre-k in August. I'm going to savor these next 7 months. She's never been away from me and I thought after going through this with Carson when he went to school would make it easier. Wrong. I think it's harder each time because you know what you will be missing once they enter those double doors. 

The thing about 3 kids and a husband is that it makes you tired. It's 9:30. 30 minutes past my bedtime. Bennett isn't sleeping through the night and Carson wakes at 5:30. Goodnight my friends. 

Pizza Recipe

I made a pizza tonight that is a family favorite of ours and it's super easy. I thought I'd share. This recipe I got the basis from Pampered Chef but I made it my own. It's definitely healthier than take out.

Ingredients

1 pizza crust. (I buy the kind in a can by the rolls)

Olive oil

Garlic (I buy the kind in a jar that is already minced)

1 Onion

1 Squash or zucchini

1-2 Tomatoes (ideally roma)
Mozzarella cheese

Parmesan Cheese (you can use fresh or powdered)

Cheddar cheese

1 cooked chicken breast (I grill it in a pan with a little italian seasoning)

Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 375. Roll the crust onto a pizza baking sheet and rub olive oil and garlic over the crust. Coat evenly. I'd say about a tsp would be enough olive oil and however much garlic to taste. Put in oven and bake 7-10 minutes. You don't want it to brown.

Remove and set aside.

Thinly slice your veggies (onion, squash, tomato). The technical term would be julienne. Just remember, your pizza won't cook for long so you don't want chunky raw pieces of veggies. I usually have my chicken grilling while I do this. Add about 1/4 tsp of olive oil and lightly coat your crust again. Slice your cooked chicken breast into thin pieces. Place all these ingredients onto your pizza crust. Lightly sprinkle salt and italian seasoning onto ingredients. Cover with cheeses. Bake until crust is brown and cheeses are melted.

Beauty Finds- Post 1

After much anticipation, it's time! After 10 suggestions of things to try, I have been experimenting and enjoying the findings. Let's get started...

Eyeliner--

I haven't tried the Clinique brush on cream eyeliner that was suggested yet but based on my 15 years of wearing eyeliner, I've found one I will never turn away from. I don't like liquid very well. Mostly for the fact it goes on pretty thin and it dries quickly. I like a smudgy look. Pencil is too hard and can hurt. This stuff glides on like nothing else. It dries well without smudging. Loreal makes it. Loreal and Lancome are the came company. Don't waste your $ on buying Lancome when you can get Loreal for 1/3 of the price.

I read once that companies that sell to major retailers like CVS, Wal Mart, Target, etc have a much higher profit margin than companies who sell exclusively to department stores (Clinque, Este Lauder, etc). As a result, they put more funding into their skincare lines. So yes, the Olay wrinkle cream you buy at Wal Mart is just as effective as the stuff you get at Dillards. The main thing is wearing an SPF. I don't care how good a tan looks now, it's not worth melanoma, wrinkles, and sun spots! Wear it daily, girls!!!

Mascara

If they make mascara, I've tried it. I've followed Allure's "Best of" and even their suggestions never lived up to expectations. I was always disappointed. Until now. Here she is. The queen of Bambi eyes. Makes em' full, longer, and just plain amazing. I don't do the waterproof kind but this manages to stay on all day. The best part about this is that if you like heavy mascara or light, it'll do both. One coat for those who like a minimal look. 2-3 coats for those of us who like it so thick it nearly clumps.

Body moisturizer

My friend, Dana, shares my passion for quality beauty items. I got a box in the mail one day and found this inside, beautifully packaged and sent straight from the company. I'd never heard of it. I got online and went to the companies website. I was immediately intrigued by the product list. I love "homemade" type things. The next day I slathered it on after my shower. Love at first smear. Not only did it smell amazing (not too strong which is the main reason I don't use much other than the scent free Vaseline body lotion) but it felt amazing going on. I really can't describe it other than the closest feeling you can get to going to the spa. My skin was so smooth and it dried fairly quickly so I didn't have to worry about it getting on my clothing. Best thing? It's completely organic and vegan. So no toxic chemicals being rubbed into your skin. I can't wait to try more of their stuff. Thank you, Dana!!!

Hair Product

I had 2 people mention Moroccan oil. I'd seen some stuff on Sephora's and Ulta's website but hadn't ever tried it. I was browsing through the products at HEB and saw this. It had a coupon attached. Sign from God? I think so. :) It's amazing. I have long hair. I highlight it, too which can make it really brittle. I straighten and blow dry it. Not daily but enough to damage it. My hair has never felt better. Rub this in (just a dime size amount and starting at your ends working up so your roots don't get oily) after you towel dry your hair and your hair will transform. I wouldn't use this if you are planning on leaving your hair naturally curly for the day. Only if you plan on using heat to style (iron, curling iron, rollers). I rub it in even if I'm going to stick my damp hair into a pony tail. The closest thing I have found that works as well is the "It's a 10" spray. Even that can't hold a candle. This puts chi serum to shame. All for $10 or less :) I haven't tried the brands from Sephora or Ulta but that will come.

Tidbit of info-- the FDA does not regulate beauty claims. They simply regulate the ingredient listing requirements. When a company posts "50% less breakage" or "80% saw visible results," they are lying. The fact is, no one is regulating those claims. Sure, clairfying shampoo may reduce build up. Ultra moisturzing conditioner probably is thicker and will do it's job. Body building, straightening, curling, etc are probably exaggerated. Reading ingredients is more valuable. Color teated hair? Avoid sulfates. Want moisture in your hair? Silicone is key. Natural isn't always better products. Doing research is really key if you want the most from your dollar.

That is all for today. Please add more suggestions! If you have been experimenting as well, send me your findings. No need to waste $ when you have girlfriends!

It's not fair

I made the mistake of reading the posts on Cooper Stone's support page. I can barely type as the tears flow. Clicking on the picture of this daddy and son, all that came to mind was "It isn't fair." Thousands and thousands of children are ignored, abused, and abandoned by their fathers in America on a daily basis. Then you have fathers like Shannon who give everything they have to be the men that their children need. He had taken his son to the Ballpark. Watching a team that made the World Series last year. They sat in a section that is known to be hotter than he** without any shade just so they would have a shot at catching a ball. Every little boys dream. Shannon had yelled for J.H to throw the ball and rarely does this player ever do that but for some reason he did. He threw short. Shannon reached down as far as he could and it caught him off balance. He fell to his death. The sweet, precious child witnessing it all. I can't even imagine the nightmares that will follow for that child but I pray God removes the memory and replaces it with nothing but good. I just don't understand why bad things happen to good people. I know, we've all asked that question. Ironically it brings to light the reason I was going to blog this weekend to begin with. It's been nearly a year since we lost Kynadi. I read Amanda's facebook post today which ended with "IT ISN'T FAIR." She's right. It's not fair. I shouldn't be picking out a sympathy card tomorrow. I should be dragging the kids to Waco for her 2nd birthday. My best friend shouldn't be forced to pick out birthday flowers for her grave. A day doesn't go by that I don't think of Kynadi. I don't believe that we will ever get an answer as to why God calls innocent babies and good daddy's & mommy's home. I think by the time we get to heaven we will be so in awe that the questions will never even cross our mind. I just hope that the suffering doesn't go in vain. You never know what good you have until it is gone. I will say that watching Amanda go through this has made me a better parent. I stop doing the dishes when Allie wants to read a book. Or I forget the laundry to play trains. Possibly this sweet little boy will go on to do phenomenal things in his fathers name. Perhaps a father distant from his children, watching ESPN Thursday night will realize what he's done and will take on an active role in the lives of his children. I certainly hope that through witnessing others suffering we are able to make better of our own lives. The words of John echo in my mind...Peace I leave you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." 14:27

Maybe I should have kissed the frog....

We've been busy. We spent last Saturday at Western Texas Heritage in Abilene. This is our 5th or year to go in a row. We have made a tradition out of it with a group of our Abilene friends and it's become something we look forward to every year. We shop around at the vendors, attend the matched horse races (everyone's favorite. I prefer these races over real horse racing!), dinner, and then the ranch rodeo. The kids stayed with their grandparents Saturday and we picked them up Sunday and took them to the zoo. Carson spent most of his Saturday on the combine with his Uncle Shelby. They were cutting wheat outside my in laws house so he was in heaven. He told us all about it; the header, the auger, the grain truck. We asked if he rode the tractor with his Pop on Sunday and he said "No, he left for Topeka, Kansas." It was like talking to an adult with a squeaky voice. Where has the time gone?

Yesterday we went to our first baseball game of the season. Hamlin is in the playoffs and has a very good shot at going to state this year. So we traveled to Albany and watched them play Seymoure. They won! We don't typically go to a lot of sporting events because we don't have family who plays and we don't have kids old enough to play or have friends who play. This was their first baseball game. They both had a blast. They cheered and moved around sitting in every ones lap, begging for candy, and running all over the place. Carson found a group he liked in the stands. He put on their sunglasses, boa, and danced and jumped around like a wild man. He was the life of the party. Totally gets that from his father. ;)

This morning proved to be interesting. Justin called at 8:30 and said "We need to go get our passports. Get ready and I'll be there at 9." We got in late the night before so both kids still needed baths and I needed a shower. I fed Allie and decided I'd just take her wet diaper off from the night and let her run around for just a minute while I went to get Carson. She wears those sleeper pj's with the feet so I just left her legs out and her arms were still in. She was walking around with the legs hanging behind her. Carson had gone into the backyard (it's totally Carson proof, he can't get out, it's a metal privacy fence) and was standing in the middle of the yard with the dogs. The dogs were digging in the ground. I first thought "OMG a snake!" but when I got there, all I could see was this white-ish looking round shape moving in the ground. The dogs were digging at it. Finally they picked it up with their mouth and it was a frog. Carson grabbed it and was so excited. I hate frogs! I begged and pleaded for him to put it down. He finally did and we headed back inside so I could give them their bath. When we stepped in the door, I realized Allie had been standing at the screen door and had gone to the bathroom. Not pee, either. It was on the rug, all over the tile, her and her pjs. I pulled the pj's off and held her out in front of me as I ran through the house. Got her cleaned up in the tub, cleaned the tub, gave both kids a bath and as I was dressing her, Carson ran outside. He comes in with the frog. He's butt naked and has the biggest smile on his face. I screamed, Allie started crying and the frog jumped out of his hands. I ran into the kitchen and got on the dining chair. Carson was still in her room so he caught it and came into the dining room. I'm still on the chair at this point. I made him take it outside. No telling where the frog is. This isn't his first. They come to water because it's so dry. Oh and yes, I cleaned up the mess at the other back door, too. Never again will I let her run around without a diaper unless we are outside! By then it was 9 am and Justin arrived in time for me to catch a shower without having to supervise children at the same time. First morning in a very long time I haven't had the toilet flushed a few times while I bathe.

Whoever says being a stay at home mom must be easy needs to come live with me for a week.

Love your brother....

Sometimes with all the negative media and tv shows, it's easy to feel discouraged in being "weird" as my dear friend Jennifer put it. Weird meaning that you live differently than the world. You refuse to follow the norm because it's the popular thing. You step out of your comfort zone to live a life that God calls you to.

Justin and I watch little TV but when we do, we have a few shows we make sure we watch every week. One of those is "Survivor." I know, the reality show that's been on for like a trillion seasons. Somewhat corny. It's not the most moral show by any means but there's a lot of reality tv out there that is much worse. It's pretty mild. So Wednesday we were watching and I had my breath taken away. Let me backtrack....This season is different. Once the person is voted out of their tribe they have to go to redemption island. There they compete in a dual with another person who was voted out. Whoever wins the dual stays until the next person arrives. Whoever is left at the end for winning the duals will be allowed back in the game at the end with the final 2 players. This season, there's been a tribe who has dominated. After the two tribes merged they quickly voted off the other tribe members one after the other. They wouldn't let them sleep under their shelter, they wouldn't talk with them, they were just plain bully's. So last week it was down to where they had voted the tribe they didn't like out completely. 4 were remaining on redemption island and had to compete in a dual to win a visit from a loved one. Whoever came in last place had to go home and the other 3 would remain on redemption island. So here's the clip (watch it, I promise it'll be worth every second)....

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/video/?pid=9W1yrCa8TJhZg1ltsl_AQQG73CV_NG2G&vs=Default&play=true

Mike, who had been bullied by this other team, gives up his time with his mother so that they can see their loved ones. Talk about loving your enemy. Wow. Not only was my heart gleaming for Mike and those there to witness his act, but my heart was gleaming for the millions of people watching who might be changed as a result of watching it. I know, silly to think a small move like that will bring someone to know God, but a seed is a seed. What an awesome testimony. St Francis of Assisi said it best, "Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words."

I'm thinking the Survivor clip is truly a rare thing for primetime tv. That was until tonight. Same week, another awesome example is displayed. "What would you do" airs a clip on a teen who is 9 months pregnant and meets with the adoptive parents at a restaurant only to tell them she's changed her mind. (These are really actors but the other customers don't know this is a fake situation) The couple is clearly upset and starts crying. Words are exchanged and the teen gets up to leave. The man follows the teen and the wife is left there crying. Her hopes of being a mother are lost. The goal was to see what people would do. Some came and talked to the woman and tried telling her it would be ok. However, two women from opposite tables come together and sit with the girl. They put their arms around her and provide comforting words. Then they start to pray. These two strangers, helping a fellow stranger by praying. It brought tears to my eyes. The actress later said how it moved her and even planted a seed in her own faith journey. Come to find out, one of the women works/volunteers for UNICEF. Clearly she's a giving person. Imagine what our nation would look like if we acted like those two strangers who approached a weeping woman and held no hesitation in seeking God's comfort. Publicly.

Kudos to ABC and CBS for airing these clips.

Tractors, o tractors

I have to give my child credit, as much grief as he gives me, he is truly a unique soul and beats to his own drum. I hope he never looses that. Conformity can strip people of their natural, God given abilities. With that note, if there was ever a child who could be a spokesperson for John Deere, it would be him.

Exibit A:

Every time he goes to the bathroom (I mean EVERY time) he has to stop what he's doing, gather whatever tractors he thinks need to watch him go potty, and he will strategically place them on the counter. This goes for bath time as well. If Justin or I place them for him, it isn't right and he corrects their position to his preference.

Exibit B
When it's time to eat, he picks a tractor (or 5) and has to a) position it just right and b) feed it. Every. Single. Time.

Exibit C (notice the fork) When it's time to go to bed, it's a huge ordeal to decide which tractors to take to bed with him. We've tried fighting this battle but after hours of crying, we just let him take a few to bed. If he comes to bed with us during the middle of the night, the tractors come too. Each night he takes a different tractor and goes back and forth on which are his favorites. He'd been asleep for awhile so I was brave and attempted a pic.

Exibit D

Oh, Carson....