Tag from Brooke... Top 8 lists

Okay Brooke - I'll do this one last thing before I go to bed.

My 8 Favorite TV shows:

1. Grey's Anatomy (though the past couple have made me feel ill)
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Big Bang Theory
4. Life
5. Big Brother
6. CSI
7. What Not to Wear
8. Not much else really

My 8 Favorite Restaurants:

1. Longhorn Steakhouse
2. Los Cucos (I miss it so so much)
3. Chili's
4. Foster's Grill
5. Nothing here really :( Houston really does have great food.

8 Things That Happened to Me Yesterday:

1. My third anniversary
2. Bought a stroller/carseat travel system
3. Bought Dillon's take home outfit
4. Went to dinner alone with my honey.
5. Lost my debit card.
6. Went to work - my kids did very well on their 9 wks test!
7. Showered and blow dried my hair ( I have an exciting life)
8. Read a book

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. Giving birth to Dillon
2. Maternity leave
3. Thanksgiving with Bobby's family here
4. Christmas with the kids
5. Snow?? I hope...
6. Walking without waddling
7. Sleeping without heartburn
8. Seeing my ankles again

8 Things I Love About Fall:

1. Leaves are changing!
2. FALL BACK! Finally!
3. The smell of fires in the fireplace
4. Pumpkin pancakes
5. Family holidays
6. Getting toasty at home with blankets piled on
7. Footie pajamas for kids
8. The crisp feel of the wind

8 Things on My Wishlist:

1. My family's health.
2. For Bobby to find a job/school where he is happy.
3. The kids to do well in school
4. Me to do well at my job
5. To be able to visit Houston some time in the next couple of years
6. To forever have a clean house (these are wishes right?)
7. To have more money in savings
8. To take a vacation this summer

8 People I tag:

1. Holly
2. Marla
3. Camille
4. KT
5. Jeanette
6. Dallas
7. Bobby
8. Jack
   

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Wow, it's been three years today since Bobby and I were married. It's odd because even though time has flown by and I can't believe it's been three years already, it also feels like I have always been with Bobby. I guess that is what happens when you marry the perfect person for you. We've overcome so much. So many people doubted that it would last or that it would work out - honey, we proved them all wrong! I need to add here a thank you to all our friends and family that have been and are so supportive. We've been helped a great deal along the way and truly appreciate it. However, together, as a family we've overcome blending my children into our marriage and adding an extra little sweet heart. We've overcome pregnancy, birth, financial problems, unemployment, moving across the country - first you than me, health problems and just learning to live with each other. I know all it has done is bring us closer. You amaze me everyday with your willingness to adapt and accept me and the children. I love you so much! So, here is to our third year together and all the years that will come!



Your D.Puff

Happy Birthday Ayden!

On the other birthday posts I wrote to the child but Ayden isn't quite old enough for that yet. Ayden is two today and he is amazing. He is such a joy and blessing to our family. Ayden was that link we needed to tie us together after Bobby and I got married. He is the one thing that has a little bit of all of us. He loves to play with his brother's. They take him out in the bakyard and play chase and ball with him. Brooklyn is like his 'little mommy' and she likes to feed him, dress him and bathe him.
Some things Ayden likes to say:

• "I want some"
• "Hi"
• "Juice"
• "Thank you"
• "Shoes"
• "Mom"
• "Dad"
• Seth, Caleb, sissy
• and the newest... "no"
  

He says other things too, these are just the ones we hear the most. He also says many things we can not understand at all, but that's okay - it's fun for us to guess what he's saying.

Ayden likes to eat tacos, spaghetti, mac and cheese, green beans, pretzels, apple sauce and, of course, cookies. He still will take a drink of anything (but water) over food any day but we're trying to stop that. I went through and tried to find some pictures that I have not posted yet but we post so many of Ayden that was difficult. Here is a two year trip down memory lane...

Ayden

Ayden has either very good weeks or very bad ones. The child does not have much in between. He is having a good week so far, thank goodness. I think there were some teething issues the last couple of weeks and hopefully, there will be no more issues like that for a little bit. He isn't eating just really well though. I am trying to think of new, creative ways to get him interested in food. My latest attempt? Hotdogs on a stick. He seemed a bit more interested than usual. A bit. I also had to take a couple pictures of the ugly faces he makes. These are his typical grumpy faces. I think he does them now to get us to laugh.


When Bobby saw these he decided to shave Ayden's head again. We've discovered that no hair grows just below his temples, it does look strange so shaving probably is the best bet for a while.

In this last one he was saying 'Wow!' LOL
Then Daddy shaved his head. He was shivering and miserable, poor guy, but enjoyed the shower afterward. Sorry it's so blurry. He wouldn't stop moving.

Changing things around

I am slowly changing my side bar with the links to other's blogs. Please be patient :) Thank you. And I leave you with an actual shot of me with Ayden - rare I know! He was watching his "Little People" video and, in a rare instance sat on my lap for about 20 minutes!

Oh Forget It! I'm So Weak!

No wonder my kids are such wild hooligans! I broke down and did it. I took them to the pumpkin patch. It was a gorgeous drive and I'm sure as the season progresses it will only be prettier. It's just a two lane road with huge trees on either side. The place really was only 10-12 minutes away. At first when I got there I didn't see any pumpkin patch, just a lot of pumpkins. They weren't even arranged on haystacks all cutesy like. I was a bit disappointed but told the kids - oh well, let's just get our pumpkin. I figured that was karma telling me I should not be rewarding them. Then a young man asked if we were there for the hayride, "Um is there one? Sure." He showed us where to go, right next to where I parked. By the way, I'm so observant lately. We got into the trailer, sat on our bail of hay and headed off on our little drive!

So we went on our bumpy ride around the facility. It really is a huge place. I wondered if they were just going to drive around then take us back to the entrance where we'd get our pre-picked pumpkins. As I wondered I admired the scenery, there were goats, horses and just tons of beautiful scenery. It was called a vegetable farm and I guess that is why there was so much land. Isn't it pretty?
I mean really, can you blame me for taking them? Look at what a gorgeous day we had. And it was in the 70's! You just can't beat that!! So we pulled over into one of the fields and it was a true pumpkin patch! Pumpkins everywhere. Ayden was restless so I was busy trying to get a couple of pictures while pointing out the pumpkins to keep him from walking around the trailer.
Our ride became crazy bumpy but it was fun. They pulled us all the way to the other end, dropped us off and told us to go find our pumpkin! It was $6 a pumpkin or $20 for all you can carry. Man, I wish Bobby was there. He could've carried quite a bit. Instead I told each child to find their pumpkin. I warned them to make sure it was one that they could carry. There was no way I could handle Ayden and all the kids' pumpkins with my huge belly.
Ayden found his first.
He could even carry it by himself. It was the perfect pumpkin for him. Seth was next - it was a bit heavy but he really liked it. He showed me he could pick it up so I let him keep it.

Caleb was on the look out for the perfect, big pumpkin. So we'll join him again in a bit. Brooklyn wanted a white one.
The first one she found was nice, but had a hole in it. :( Not a good idea I told her. She set out looking for another. And just look!
Lucky girl! Now Caleb needed his. The kids joined in to help him look.
He looked it over, not big enough...
Finally, the perfect pumpkin. He barely made it. He had to have Brooklyn's help.
That's a pretty big pumpkin! So we got back in the trailer and headed back to pay for our pumpkins. Lucky us, Ayden's was free! It was such a fun day. A shout out of thanks to Lisa M. for telling us where to go! It was great.

Sometimes I just hate being the grown-up

The weather here has been gorgeous. Fall is getting so close and the leaves are gradually changing. I think it's going to be a very pretty fall because we've had the rain that's necessary. At least that is what all the locals tell me. Everyone around here has been decorating their houses for fall and/or Halloween. I've always loved this time of year. I talked to a friend about where to find a pumpkin patch and found out there is one only about ten minutes away! It even has a hayride. My mind was already making plans for our Saturday. Maybe I would even take them out to breakfast then head over to the pumpkin patch and pick out pumpkins and take some cute fall pictures. Oh, it was going to be so fun. Or, as Holly puts it, I'd get my "Norman Rockwell moment". Nothing wrong with that. I also was going to head over to Sam's last night and pick up a few groceries and maybe find a new family movie that we could all watch together.

Then it all blew up in my face. I dropped off the girl who watched the kids yesterday (I had school and they didn't). All the kids wanted to pet the hamster that her sister was holding in their yard and I was talking to the mother so I told them they could. Then they wouldn't get back in the car and Ayden was screaming bloody murder b/c they all left him behind. The mother went, "Oh no Caleb!" I looked and he was riding the motorized scooter in the street, which he doesn't know how to ride and a car was coming. He got to the side and stopped. I told him, "No more Caleb, get off." I turned around to say something and the mother said, "Oh no Caleb," again as he was running into her suburban! So they all piled into the car and I told them that I was not going to take them to Sam's because 1. They didn't get back in the car when I told them too and 2. Caleb crashed the scooter. Ayden screamed like a Pterodactyl all the way home because he was still so angry.

We get home and I said, your chores better have been done. I should have known by the way they ran into the house that they didn't do their chores. The trash can was overflowing, there was a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, the dishes had not been unloaded from the dishwasher and the table had stuff all over it. Not just glasses and such but 'stuff'. So I fussed and fussed and they all begin to move toward their chore area. Then, the worst of it, I went into the bathroom. Someone had gone #2 and had not flushed. That is gross, but in a household this size, it happens. I said who was in here last. Then I was informed by Brooklyn that she saw it and no one would admit it was them - so she left it!!!!! I flipped out. We'd had two girls over, the babysitter and her sister that is Brooklyn's age. I had two guests in my home and this is what they were greeted with!! I was so grossed out and embarrassed. The visit to the pumpkin patch drifted away in a vaporous mist. I really did not feel like rewarding them after the mess they left in the house after being home all day. Not only that but I found out that Bobby had told Brooklyn there was to be no cooking. She said she didn't 'hear' (there is a lot of that going on) and they cooked anyway - making a huge mess. Oh well, so much for my Saturday. I hate being the grown up. I really wanted to go to the pumpkin patch. Here, I'll pretend aren't these photos nice? LOL

New furniture and 33 weeks pregnant

We had something very exciting happen this weekend. For the first time ever I have brand new furniture that I picked out! Yay! I really have wanted a sectional sofa since we have such a big family and it was delivered on Saturday. When we went shopping for the sofa we found a very good deal on a seven piece table and chairs and it was cherry with black, which I love! It also is super long so we can fit plenty of people around it on Thanksgiving when Bobby's family visits. Here are some pictures. I know, not thrilling, but it was a huge deal to us. The sofa is supposed to be sage, and I guess here it does look a bit green. It really looks more brown when you're in the living room. The chair needs a cover to match but it's very comfy and in great shape. Bobby's parents gave it to us. I guess we'll need to eventually get new curtains, one thing at a time. I'm just stoked to have the sofa.
As for the other part, I'm 33 weeks and feel like I'm a whale but here is a photo. Gosh I'm so glad to be close to the end. It can't come soon enough!

Banned Books

I am responding to Danielle's great tag. We've actually read a lot of the same books. I've been looking for some new books to read, so I think I'll choose from this list, although I'm pretty sure there are a couple though I won't be reading for myself. :)

How to Play:
1. Copy this list.
2. Highlight the ones you have read in RED.
3. Tag 5 people to play.

The ALA list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000:
1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - this one was challenged at my school
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel - the first one was so good. The rest not so much
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry - I think I'll read these with Boo
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - one of my all time favorites
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel - another great one
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

I am very against banning books from libraries. How can anyone know what someone else needs, what will benefit them and validate how they feel? Some of the ones I have read have really opened my eyes and changed my views on things. Others, I just can't fathom what is wrong with them. I'm just going to keep reading in hopes that I never get so close minded and paranoid as to suggest banning a book.

I am so bored and there just isn't much I can do right now so...

1. Where did you kiss the last person you kissed? Ten minutes ago in the kitchen. Bobby gave me a kiss saying sorry he didn't offer to make my sandwich.

2. What’s the greatest thing that happened to you today? Nothing really. I slept lousy, I feel lousy and the kids polished off the Nutter Butters before I got some.

3. How many TRUE best friends do you have? Two? I don't know.

4. Would you rather get up early or sleep in? I love to sleep in but feel lazy and guilty when I do. So, I would rather get up early and have my whole day.

5. Tell me about the shirt you’re wearing? A black maternity t-shirt. I have like three. It has a v-neck and I think it's flattering. I guess that is why I have three.

6. What are you excited about right now? I have new furniture! I will be posting pictures soon. I love it.

8. Would you rather smile over a lie or cry over the truth? cry over the truth. The smile would be temporary b/c I'd figure out it was a lie soon enough.

9. What’s on your bedroom floor right now? Oh gosh, like three baskets with clean laundry/towels that we need to put away. Other than that - I think we're good.

10. Who’s the last person you got into a argument with? Bobby, he didn't want to make me a sandwich.

11. Do you trust people? Until I have a reason not to.

12. If you could move away, no questions asked, where would you move? I did this! VA

13. Your favorite number? 2 or 6. They are both pretty lucky for me.

14. Could you go a day without eating? Oh gosh no, I love food!

15. How much do looks matter to you in a guy/girl? Not much, they're deceiving.

16. Do you like anybody right now? I like a lot of people!

17. When was the last time you had your hair cut? I don't remember if Holly trimmed it before we moved. I think it's been 6 months are so. It's time for a trim for sure but I really like this length.

18. Would you rather be mad or sad? Sad. I hate when I have a bunch of anger inside me.

19. Does it take a lot to make you cry? Not currently. Without pregnant hormones raging yes, I keep the tears back usually.

20. Whats the best feeling in the world? Being with my husband and kids and really enjoying ourselves.

21. Are you close with your mom? I was. I don't do the whole, conversations with those that have passed kind of thing, but I still feel like she looks over me.

22. Are your parents strict? They tried but it just didn't work.

23. Do you tell your parents everything? No, I'm sure there are some things they are happier not knowing.

25. Name some fears you have:Something happening to me and my kids losing their mom, something happening to my kids or Bobby.

26. Does the thought of marriage scare you? I love being married.

27. How many kids do you want? I guess five. LOL

28. What’s your favorite season? Autumn, I can't wait to see the leaves change. It's getting close!

29. What’s your favorite color to wear? Blue - it makes my eyes pop. Brown - it's so neutral.

30. Who was the last person in your bedroom? Caleb. He went in there to get the baby monitor.

31. What are you doing today?Resting so I can work all week without collapsing or going into labor.

35. Do you get bored easily? Not so much. I can usually find something to do to occupy my mind.

36. What’s something that someone can do that really bothers you? Lie to me

38. Do you wish you were famous? Oh heck no.

39. Do you make a wish at 11:11?No

40. When you go to the beach do you swim or lay out more? I love swimming. Laying out is so boring and hot!

41. Who’s the last text message you received from and what did it say? It was some kind of advertising from Verizon. I never text.

42. What are you freakishly obsessed with? ??? I have no idea.

43. What’s your favorite song at the moment? Wow, that changes daily. I really like Amber by 311

44. Do you like going to the mall to shop or just shopping online? I love the mall!

45. Can music affect your mood? Duh!

46. What piercings do you want? None - ouch. I'm allergic to metal anyway so it would get infected. That is why my ears are no longer pierced.

48. Have you ever been in a cave? Yes, on top of enchanted rock - it was so fun! I've been to caverns too- does that count?

49. Ever eaten a bug? Not on purpose but I'm sure one has been in something without my knowledge.

50. When will you hang out with the person you last kissed next? We pretty much hang out whenever we are not at work. He is watching the Titans game currently while I am on here.

51. Are you in a good mood? I'm okay, just sore and a bit tired.

53. Would you rather skydive or bungee jump? I would love to sky dive.

54. Do you like snakes?Yes, I used to have a snow corn named Lively. I wouldn't mind having another some time.

55 What’s one place you would like to visit? Ireland

56. Do you like waffles?love them. Belgian especially with strawberries and whipped cream

57. Does the number 23 have any significance to you? Should it? No.

58. Be honest, do you like people in general? Depends on the day.

59. What color are the walls in your bedroom? off white

60. Do you think starbucks is expensive? Yes, especially since I don't drink coffee.

61. Are you named after a family member? No, I am not.

62. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass or fail? Pass. Never in my life would I have failed.

63. Wanting to tell someone something? Not so much

64. Last restaurant you went to? Cracker Barrel with my kids. I just couldn't cook.

65. What is the weather like today? It's pretty cool with a bit of a chill and a bright blue sky.