I Got Tagged

My friend, Marisa, tagged me, so here goes!

Five things on my to-do list today (for Friday)

1. Do the budget! Yay! (Call me crazy, but I live for budgeting and Dave Ramsey is my hero)
2. Take a shower and shave my ever-so-hairy legs (can I donate to locks of love?)
3. Sweat a little on the elliptical machine while watching Take Home Chef (this is for you, Stacy)
4. Make homeade pizza for dinner
5. Go hang out at Alisa's after the kids go to bed and watch girly movies all night long

Snacks I enjoy

1. Salted Nut Rolls & Dr Pepper
2. Twizzlers & Dr Pepper
3. Trader Joes Dark Chocolate Mint Cremes (better than Junior Mints) & Dr Pepper
4. Mike and Ikes & Dr Pepper
5. Potato Chips and Dr. Pepper

Things I would do if I were a millionaire

1. Give money to missionaries and Christian organizations
2. Buy some Dr. Pepper stock! Make my money back!
3. Buy a Hilton time share and travel year-round
4. Have a mother's helper and housekeeper
5. Adopt Vietnamese twins or triplets

Places I have lived

1. Hingham, Montana
2. Shelby Montana (at 1yr. old and at 18)
3. Helena, Montana
4. Bozeman, Montana
5. Pinebrook, New Jersey
6. Towaco, New Jersey
7. Jacksonville, Florida
8. Everett, Washington

Bad habits I have

1. Biting my nails
2. Being obsessive compulsive
3. Being anal retentent
4. When asking Chad, he responded "being controlling" hmmmmmm.....
5. Making last minute plans (I love spur of the moment get togethers and/or trips)

Jobs I have held

1. McDonalds
2. Nanny
3. Temp Agency
4. Orange Julius
5. Old Navy


I now tag... Lindsey, Christy M, and Cheryl

Coach Wallet

This morning I took the kids for a quick commissary run to get some staple food items before Chad's mom comes into town tomorrow.

I quickly got the groceries, and on the way out, decided to go over to the NEX (Navy Exchange) to take a look at the newest Coach Bags. I really like their bags, and if they weren't so costly I'd have one for every season plus vacation handbags!

After drooling over my favorite ones, I decided it was time for us to get home. Out at the car, I popped the trunk and dug into the shopping cart for the first bag and much to my surprise found a Coach Wallet (the Soho line to be exact) with a price tag of $248!!!

I think my heart stopped for a moment. I high-tailed it back into the store, pausing briefly to ask Savannah not to say anything while we were in there. I don't need anymore attention coming my way! Lucky for me, nobody was in the Coach section, and I was able to discreetly toss it back on the shelf (not so discreet if you look at the security cameras--you'd think I was actually stealing one, not putting it back). Phew! I got out of there as quick as I could.

Can you imagine me getting apprehended with 2 kids and trying to explain it was my son not me?! I can't believe I almost got home with it! I was wondering how many people would have actually stashed it in their car and taken a "freebie". It would have been so easy. But, every time I pulled out that wallet, I'd remember. So, instead, I have a picture to remind me of what could have been.........And, it was a good life lesson for the kids.

I can see already this is not going to be a dull week after all!

What to blog about......

Well, it has been over a week since my last entry. Nothing much has stood out in the past 1 1/2 weeks to write about. So, here are a few of those "not so important" moments.

• The fact that Jackson is discovering his own poop and in doing so one day, decided to dig in and pull out a turd and put it in the back of his pickup truck. Definitely put a new perspective on "carrying your own load"..... Too gross to take a picture. He also decided not only to be creative, but leave his mark by finger painting it on the window.. Nice..Real nice.....
• I got a hairbrained idea to overhaul our garage (should've taken a picture) and bought 14 Rubberamaid bins and spent the week organizing kids clothes (and printing out signs for each bin). We're 80% done and I realize I have a ton of junk... Someone said last week that we only use 20% of what we own, but keep 100% of it..hmmmm... I told Lindsey I feel like I am nesting--haha--no I am not preggo! ha
• I finally sold a table and chairs on Craigslist and Chad's been posting tons of movies and video games on eBay. I should get rid of stuff more often!
• I feel like a mother of a newborn--Jackson has discovered how to climb out of his crib and the past 3 nights has snuck into our bed in the middle of the night. I awake to him doing karate moves in the bed--I am lucky I don't have a black eye. Tonight will be different--no matter how tired I am, he's staying in his own bed--even if he screams all night long and gives me a headache. I forgot how to function on so little sleep (I even took a nap today). He's almost 3 and I lay in bed at night wondering if he'll be 15 and pitching fits and trying to climb in bed with us----I'll be the one in the looney bin if that's the case! ha

That's a wrap. Any more and you'd have my meal plan for the week, too!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDPA, AND LAURIE!!!!!!!!!!

Navy Orders Requested

In November, Chad will wrap up his shore duty time here in Everett and will also mark 9 years of service in the Navy. We've been praying for God's direction for our future and exploring all possibilities.

If Chad continues his career, he will go to sea duty for 4 1/2 years--most likely on a ship. When attatched to a ship, he will be gone on average 6 or more months out of a year.

Last week, it was brought to his attention that a billet (military term for "job opening") surfaced that is in Pearl Harbor for 3 years (with the option to request an extension).

This billet is for PACOM (pacific fleet command) not a ship, so whoever fills this position would go to work on base and come home each night, and a few times a year (maybe quarterly), he'd go to Asia and do training/exercises for 2 weeks to a month at a time.

After doing some research about what the job entails and talking to the commander of PACOM, Chad put in for the billet. Most billets require the servicemember to deploy to the middle east first, but this one doesn't have that. Our chances might be slim, but how will we know if we don't try?!

We won't know for a couple of weeks if Chad was selected. In the meantime, we will be praying if God wants us to continue to serve our country in this way, that He'd open the doors. We just want to be in His will.

Please pray for us as we wait patiently for the results that if it is God's will, Chad will be accepted for this position.

We'll keep you posted!

Having a Still and Quiet Mind

This morning Alisa and I took the kids and went down to Renton and made some Arbonne deliveries. We had a great time just visiting and the kids did great, too.

Over the past couple of months, we keep getting on the topic of having a pure, quiet mind and what that means. Today was no exception, and she said God gave her a picture of what a still mind is like--imagine as a kid jumping off a diving board into the water and those few seconds underwater are completely quiet and still (I remember as a kid wondering if when I get to Heaven if I could swim underwater and breathe at the same time!).

I took it one step further and said how Jesus calls us to have faith like children--carefree in their actions and mind, and who believes what they cannot see without questioning (like we as adults analize everything). For example, yesterday Savannah asked me if God could fly. How do I answer that one? I told her I know He can, but don't know if He does, and then suggested she just ask God. A couple minutes went by and then Savannah said, "I asked God if He could fly and I heard Him answer me, and He does fly, Mom!" Wow, the unquestionable faith of a child--that is what God calls us to be like.

Alisa and I talked a little more on that topic, and then were cut short by 4 hungry kids all wanting McDonald's! ha

After I got home this afternoon I was doing my Beth Moore's daily devotional, Jesus 90 Days With the One and Only and is was so cool! It was like God was continuing our earlier conversation. It was on Luke 7:39-48. So pull out your Bible and read the passage before continuing below (it will make more sense :) )

Here is part of the first paragraph Beth wrote:

I am learning that my heart and mind are of greater importance to Him than my words and deeds. Our innermost places desperately need daily purification. Part of the process is recognizing and confessing judgmental, impure, or critical thoughts before they can make their way to our mouths and our actions. But God really can change our negative thought processes, attitudes, and motives. The process takes time and cooperation, however, because these thought patterns are just as much habitual sin as the transgressions of the woman of ill repute (referring to the woman in the Bible verses above).

Wow! How neat. It just reminded me of Alisa and I talking once about taking each thought captive as it enters your mind and determining if it is from Jesus or Satan. Also, it made me think of how God says "Be still and know that I am God", meaning not to have a running mind, or let the enemy put thoughts into your mind, but how I still have to be on guard, in the Word and filled with the Holy Spirit daily (and the Armor of God) to fight against these thoughts and actions and to pursue a still mind.

Beth then asked a question, What does it mean to love God "with all your mind"? The verse that immediately came to mind is Phillipians 4:8: " Finally brothers, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."

I leave you with one question that Beth asked for you to ponder: Since Jesus can read our every thought, how liberating would it be, though, if we were pure enough inside not to be ashamed?

It was just what I needed today. I mean to come home and have the Holy Spirit pick up where our conversation left off is amazing!

Hawaii Day 2

We woke up bright and early (before 6am!) and headed out for a stroll on the beach.

While we were out, we stopped at an amazing smoothie joint that my cousin, Iwona, told me about. She was right, they were to die for!(for those of you going to Waikiki anytime soon, it's right next to the Outrigger Reef Hotel on the beach side). I got a Pina Colada and Chad got a Strawberry. It was so yummy I wish it was an endless drink!

By then the day was getting warm so I decided to walk in the water. Big mistake! Apparently the ocean was having a PMS kind of a day, because out of nowhere a wave came up and drenched me! I couldn't believe it--what a way to really wake up! But, remembering my blogging entries, I had Chad take pictures of the incident. Luckily it dried within 10 minutes.









Here is a picture of Chad being....well, himself :) Unlike me, he is a morning person! ha



Later that morning we took off to go to the base and then on to see Pearl Harbor. Chad really loved it (he's an extreme history buff/lover) and I thought the history behind it was really neat (where was my mind when this was offered in history class???hmmmm...yes, I was a social butterfly, not a study bug)








After we got back, we headed out to the pool. Silly me thought that SPF 15 would do it! It did it alright--I was red as a tomato and talk about embarassment when we went out. It was like, "oh look at her--tourist for sure! Does she even know what the sun is?" Yes, it was quite humbling :) The only thing that kept me from feeling sorry for myself was my burns turn into nice tans! And, I figured, with not seeing the sun for almost 3 years here in Seattle, I think my chances of skin cancer are slim, so what's one time of working on your tan? I did keep my face out of the sun, though.

For dinner, we went to another great restaurant that Iwona suggested to us--Duke's (located at the Outrigger Waikiki). It was awesome--especially their fries! The place was packed and it was fun having to act like vultures just to get a table (we were too cheap for the assigned seating--no steak or seafood for me, just give me a good ol' juicy burger)! Everyone was friendly, and when we got up to leave, I struck up a conversation with the guy snatching our table! I could get used to this lifestyle!

Highlights of Last Week

For some reason, I just can't get out of vacation mode! Maybe it's the grey skies that have me dreaming of Waikiki Beach. hmmmm....Well, whatever the reason, I think after 2 weeks, I am finally checking back in to reality!

The past week has been really busy for me. Here are a few things that stand out in my mind:

1. Savannah and a friend discover a worm in the yard; decide to grab a pair of scissors and attempt to cut it in half. Daddy quickly intercepted, and the worm is intact!

2. I went outside Monday morning only to discover a can of white paint had dumped all over the cement slab, and Jackson ran his bike tire in the paint, and then proceeded to decorate the deck with it! Luckily I caught him before he caused too much damage. Chad was much calmer than me, and together, we cleaned up the mess. Unfortunately, the scrub brush was nowhere to be found, and in desperation to get it off of our deck before it dried, we grabbed the toilet brush and went to work! I can only imagine what the neighbors thought!

3. Monday afternoon, I took our pug, Sparkles, to the vet because she's been itching like crazy, and at night sounds like a tornado in her kennel. As I got her out of the car, she broke free from her collar and I had to chase her around the parking lot. Mind you, I am not a dog lover, and if at all possible, don't hold her. Well, I had no choice. In my arms she went (to which Chad thought was hilarious as I was recounting our outing to him), and as soon as I got in PetSmart, she went in a shopping cart!

After buying a harness for her (and putting it on completely backwards), I checked her in and weighed her. Back in the cart she went, and apparently didn't like, because when I turned around, I saw this brown "burrito" flying through the air--she jumped out of the cart! I had to chase her around again--she's harder than the kids! We got her in a room and the nurse laughed, saying, "oh she is a true pug!" (note to self--research the breed before getting another dog! don't get me wrong--pugs are as cute as can be, but so high maintenance).

Come to find out, she has some sort of skin condition or allergy, needed a shot of cortizone, and has part of her back shaved to put oitment on a "hot spot". $168 and 2 hours later, and a bag full of vitamins, antihistamine's, shampoo/cond, and another medicine, we were headed home. My kids are cheaper than her! But, I felt so much better that she wasn't itching like crazy. We go back in 2 weeks to see if her infection is gone. If not, they will do allergy testing on her. I wonder how much that will cost........

4. Today Savannah had her 5 year wellness check at the doctor and dressed up for the occasion. My kids are the only ones on the planet that get excited for their shots (and cry and sob when receiving them) and thank the nurses when they are finished. Well, she got 4 shots, and poor girl, she jerked around for the first 2 and they hurt worse. Before her shots, the doctor was asking her all these questions and one was this:

Doctor: "What did you have for breakfast today?"
Savannah: "Cereal"
Doctor: "What kind of cereal?"
Savannah :(thinking for a minute) "Not junk cereal" *she had rice chex*

I thought that was so funny! Saturdays are their cartoon/tv and sugar cereal day, so almost every day, Jackson will ask me if it is Saturday and then argue that it is Monday!

Well, now that I have written a novel, I'm going to sign off.. I promise to write more about our trip, and post more pictures.

Some Pictures

Here are a few pictures of what we saw when we walked out on our balcony every morning.

Paradise day one

Well, we are back from Paradise (and I must admit, I was a little vain yesterday, wanting to wear a shirt to show off my tan!!)!! It was a great time.................

I want to fill you in on the highlights of our trip, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in your chair..this might be a long one!

Last Thursday (17th), Chad and I boarded the plane for an 8am departure. About the time we were supposed to be taxiing out on the runway, the captain came on the intercom to tell us half of the lavaratories were not working, so to sit tight while they work on fixing the issue. Well, 8 came and went and at 9 the captain was back on the speakers asking us to get off the plane because it was a bigger task than previously expected, and ended the speech with the word "Mahalo". By then, we'd heard that work at least 5 times. In Hawaiian it means "thank you". We were walking down the aisle when I heard a man comment, "They say mahalo means thank you, but I think it really means "You've been screwed!" I thought it was so funny!

At 10am we were told that someone clogged a toilet on the plane--and it was someone on the flight because 10 min. before boarding, all the toilets were working. Now, let me tell you , whoever it was literally dropped the mother load, and I mean mother, because they had to take all the luggage off the belly of the plane and climb up there just to get it fixed! I looked all over for A)the guy who was avoiding eye contact OR B) the loud obnoxious guy saying "who the heck would do that?!" and trying to put the attention on some unsuspecting soul. I never did see him.

Finally, at noon, we boarded the plane and this time, took off without any problems....well, with the plane anyways.. There were 2 college age guys behind us who were stoked for this trip, and during the flight drank a total of 14 gin and tonics--which would have been fine if they passed out. Unfortunately for me, they were loud 2/3 of the time and used very choice words for all to hear. When we were going in for landing, I heard one of them all the sudden saying " Hey, man. We're coming in for landing right now. Will you be picking us up at the airport?"--I mean this was right before we hit the landing strip! I thought to myself "he's going to get it if we crash!" He was off the phone by the time we touched down. Sneaky little bugger...

All that was forgotten when I came in contact with 84 degree weather and palm trees everywhere I looked! It actually reminded me alot of Florida.

Our hotel was great, and we were on the top floor with a view of downtown Honolulu and an ocean view of Waikiki. We went out to the beach for a few, ate dinner, and I was in bed by 7:45pm! I was exhausted from being up at 4:45 Seattle time!

Well, I'll wrap this up for tonight...I'll write day 2 soon :)

My Blog has a new look!

While on our trip to Hawaii, Jenny, from Pink Armchair Designs, made up a new look for my blog. I LOVE it. Thank you, Jenny!