Favorite SuperBowl Commercial

So this is totally random...but I love this ad!!!

Makes me laugh every time I see it.

Just a thought, I'm adding on to this post.  It's something that has been bugging me since the Superbowl.  We were at a friend's house and were watching it live.   I found it totally disheartening to see some of the inappropriate ads that were run during a broadcast that families were watching.  The sexual innuendo is something that I have become increasingly aware of, as my kids have gotten older.  I find it hard to believe that there are people who are okay with their children viewing this garbage.  Is that what Americans really want???  It has made me very thankful for my DVR, which is how we normally watch prime time programs when we are at home.  

Now, I am getting off of my soapbox.  Click on the video above, it will make you laugh.

So how are your New Year's Resolutions coming along???

Here we are 5 days into February and I'm just wondering....how are your New Year's Resolutions coming along??  

Broken??

Forgot about 'em???

Doing great???

Checking 'em off??

I was messing around online and came across a list of the most popular New Year's Resolutions (These are from www.boncherry.com):

1.  Lose Weight

2. Pay off Debts

3.  Save Money

4. Get a Better Job

5.  Get fit

6. Eat Right

7.  Get a Better Education

8.  Drink Less Alcohol

9.  Quit Smoking

10.  Reduce Stress Overall

Quite a list, huh???  Sound familiar??

How about these funny New Year's Resolutions? (From the same website):

1.  I will do less laundry and use more deodorant.

2.  I will give up chocolates totally.  100%.  Completely.  Honestly...

3.  I will figure out why I really need 9 email addresses.

4.  I will not bore my boss with the same excuse for taking leave.  I will think of some more excuses.

5.  I will stop sending emails to my wife or husband.

6.  I resolve to work with neglected children- my own.

7.  I will spend less than one hour a day on the internet.  This of course will be hard to estimate since I'm not a clock watcher.

8. I will not tell the same story at every get together.

9.  I will not read email or text when I am on the phone with someone else.

10.  I will think of a password other than "password."

I no longer make a list of New Year's Resolutions.  A whole list is a lot to change.  I used to do it in the past, but by Feb I'd already failed.  Instead, each year, I focus on one thing that I'd like to emphasize.

This year, 2009, I am trying to laugh more.  That's it. Laugh more.  Two little words.  It's something that I can think about as I'm going through my days and it's a change that I can make.  2008 was a trying year for me, both emotionally and spiritually.  It was a rough road. Laughter is good for the soul.  I mean the real laugh out loud until tears come...that kind of laughter.  Laughter is healing.  That is why I'm trying to laugh more.

Let me share what I was striving for the past couple of years with you:

Last year, 2008, I was trying to be authentic.   Not that I was a liar before, but there were certain areas in my life where I'd kind of hide behind a mask.

In 2007, I was trying to simplify.  That's it. To simplify....in all areas, organization, schedule, kids stuff and mine.

I've found that focusing on one little area can bring true change.  It's something that can be achieved.

So, I probably should've posted this post Jan 1....but you know, I've been busy.  I've been living life.  So, I'm sharing it with you now, better late than never.  Who needs a new year to make change?? Start today!

Smiles for the week!

Little Buddy:  (On a night where we were having baked chicken for dinner...) I don't like this kind of chicken.  I only like old chicken that's been dead for about 5 years. How long has this chicken been dead??

Little Buddy:  (Later in the week, when we were having chicken patty on roll, tater tots, and applesauce....my tribute to Elem school lunch!)  This is the best dinner you've ever made.  You should cook like this all the time!

Me:  (While watching the Steelers/Ravens Playoff game)  I can't believe the Ravens are wearing short sleeves!  They are gonna freeze.

The Champ:  Please Mom, they are men.  Men don't get cold.

and my favorite......

My Girl:  (to me and Brian)  I'm fifteen, I know everything there is to know.   :) 

45 Lessons

This was sent to me by my Dad a few months ago, and I love it. I wanted to share it with you all.

It was written by Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.

She says it is the most requested column she'd ever written and it was rerun in honor of her 90th Birthday. I'd say she's got a lot of wisdom to impart.

45 Lessons Life Taught Me

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement early starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words, "In five years, will this matter?"

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative.

37. Your children only get one childhood. Make it memorable.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we threw all our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

So what do you want to do??

When Brian & I were first married, we spent 4 years together without kids.  I have no idea what in the world we did with all that free time, but I do remember both of us sitting around all weekend asking, "So what do you want to do??"  

"I don't know, what do you want to do??"

and so on, and so on....

I was thinking about this last night as I fell into bed at 10:30PM.   We had no idea back then, just how much free time we had.

When my kids were little, it was so physically exhausting because they needed me 24/7.  I always thought it'd be so much easier when they were older.....it's different, not necessarily easier.  Now instead of physical exhaustion...the culprit is busyness.

Here is a recap of our weekend:

Friday:  

I worked a little.

Went to the grocery store.

Made 12 dinners for a Dream Dinner swap.

Took Charlie to football practice & stopped to buy him a ticket to the Sock Hop on the way home.

Brian & Mike TV went to watch Veruka cheer at an away game.

I went back and picked up Charlie from practice.

Drove Charlie to Sock Hop.

Sat in silence all by myself for 1 hour!! :)

Bri came home & picked up Charlie from Sock Hop.

Saturday:

Helped Veruka with Car Wash signs.

Went to Mike's football game.

Left game and went to Veruka's Cheerleading Car Wash...stayed to help for an hour.

Drove Veruka home.

Went straight back to football field to watch Charlie's football game.

Came home & got changed to go out on a date with Bri....we saw Tropic Thunder.....very funny, if you like "stupid funny" movies.

Sunday:

Went to church.

Met friends for Dream Dinner's swap.

Went straight to both boys baseball tryouts...for Spring baseball.

Left in the middle of tryouts to drive Veruka home from her tumbling class.

Went back to finish watching tryouts.

Came home, picked up Veruka and went Homecoming Dress shopping.   She got a dress & shoes that we both love!!

Had Bro-in-Law's fam over for cookout.

Sat on the couch for an hour & went to bed!!!

Here's what I didn't do:

1.  Meet with our Community Group....thankfully, we were taking the week off.

2.  Go for my long run Saturday.....I'm off to do that now!!

So, to those of you with young kids, my advice is cherish the time.  It goes by so quickly.   Before you know it, you start living your life in your minivan.....being the taxi driver!!

I love a RAINY day!!!!

Hello my laptop friends,

I haven't forgotten about you. I'm still here and all is well. No need to worry. My life's been busy, that's all.

First, I got a job!!! I am still subbing, but last year it was sooooo inconsistent. I decided to take a little part time job and I'm loving it. I am working with 2 of my good friends so we're having a blast. (Lots of talking and laughing to accompany our work, if you know what I mean!) I'll be back in the classroom too, but this will give me something to do that is a little more consistent.

The great thing is that the office is only 10 minutes away from my house. My hours will be very flexible....on working days I'm only in the office from 10:00AM-2:30PM or 3 so I'm home when my people get off the bus. So far, the first week's been great.

Second, I have to confess that I've been cheating on all of you with facebook. I'm totally addicted to it. I love going on to see if I've got any new friends and who they are and I'm really loving the flair!!!

Here's the pathetic part, I went on fb to check it out for Veruka. Just to see if we thought it was safe enough for her to set up one. Well, in doing that, I set up my own facebook. I started getting requests from people that I know in real life who want to be my friend on fb. At first I was emailing people and telling them that I really didn't have a facebook, partly because I knew I'd get hooked on it, but soon there were so many requests, I said what the heck and just went with it. (I was right too, I'm totally hooked on it!) It's pretty cool. I've reconnected with some friends from High School & college plus lots of other friends. If you don't have a facebook, you've gotta check it out!

So, now I sit here on this rainy day and I'm finally catching up with my blogging buddies. Today, I was supposed to wake up at 6AM and run 12 miles (yes, you read correctly, I said 12!) Our boys were each supposed to have football games which Bri was going to leave for at 6:45AM. It all was cancelled thanks to my good friend Hanna!!!! So instead, I slept in, drank my coffee in my pj's, read my People magazine (because a girl's gotta have her priorities), did a ton of laundry, cleaned my house and am catching up on my blog! What a great day!

Also, when our mail came, look what was in it....

I won this from Nancy at her blog. This is the first time I've EVER won anything!!!! How fun!

The Love of a Parent

This past week my family has been under seige........

by this......

......................................................a bird!!!

Sure she looks innocent, but looks can be deceiving. In her mind, we are the enemy.

  

It started about a week ago.  We noticed her hanging around a bush on the corner of our house. The following day, she'd make all kinds of noises if you walked in her direction.  I told the kids that she must be the Mommie bird and that she's probably protecting her nest of eggs.

They were all fascinated and thrilled at the prospect of possibly seeing the nest, eggs......and one day soon, the baby birds. I told them, they'd have to wait until the eggs hatched, because we didn't want to disturb the nest.

Shortly thereafter, the full on assaults began.

If one of us would enter our front yard at all, the bird would go nuts.  Making all kinds of noises and flapping her wings.

That evening Charlie was messing with the bird and trying to get it riled up, by walking in our front yard....that's it, really, just walking into the yard....and she flew at him about 90 miles per hour and nipped him in the butt!

We noticed that the next day another bird joined her....the father, I presume.

Sometimes our dog likes to go out front and lay in the yard.  That day, I noticed that when Dakota went out the birds were in a fit, making all kinds of noise and doing lots of fly bys. Apparently, Dakota is Enemy #1, as far as the birds are concerned. I decided to try not to let her out front anymore just to give the birds some peace.

The following morning when I was outside taking pictures with my new camera, I let Dakota out in the backyard to go potty.  The birds took about 3.5 seconds to figure out that Dakota was in the backyard and this time there was lots of noise, and fly bys, and then it happened, she was attacked....3 TIMES!  Poor doggy!  The birds just nipped her from behind, but she was so startled.  She had a look on her face as if to say, 

What in the heck??  I'm just trying to pee here.

The rest of the day, the birds would be up in arms, mounting tons of fly bys if any of us entered the front OR back yard!

Now it has reached a new level.  Veruka and Mike were sitting INSIDE of our house, in the Study. (That's right, I said inside!) Veruka was on my laptop sitting on the floor, by the window, when the birds started up again. They were fired up that she was invading their territory!!!

Thankfully, the eggs have hatched.  We can hear the baby birds, but have yet to even see the nest.  Veruka was the brave one who took the bird picture....thank goodness for my new zoom lens!  (Just a little aside, when she took the pix and zoomed in she noticed the bird had a spider in it's mouth.  She was disgusted and said, "Who in the world would want to eat a spider?"  I answered....."Uh....a baby bird."  :)

The kids said the birds are crazy, but I told them that they are just parents who would do anything to protect their "children."  I can totally relate.  I can take all kinds of injustices against myself.   People can hurt my feelings or wrong me, and I'll just turn the other cheek. However, when it comes to my children, it's a different story.  I will defend them to the end. 'Don't mess with my child, if you don't want to mess with me.' Do you know what I mean?

I guess that is love.

That is what these kids do to us.  They make us want to fight any battle for them.  They make us want to protect them.  They make us want to provide for them.  They make us want to make it a better, safer world for them.

That is the love that a parent has for their child.  Wholehearted, unconditional, complete love.

  

I remember when each of my kids were born, I was just amazed at the depths of my love for these brand new little babies.  In fact, I was smitten before they were even born.  Just like the Mommie & Daddy bird....protecting their babies before they'd even hatched out of their eggs.

I remember one night as I sat rocking Veruka, thinking that I couldn't imagine my own parents having that same depth of love for me.  But guess what?  They did and they still do.  It is mind boggling.

As I lay in bed last night, I was thinking about all of this, something occurred to me.

  

This same kind of parent-child love is the love that God has for EACH of us.  Not just for a few special people.  Not just for those who go to church.  Not just for those who walk a certain path, but for EVERYONE.   We are all His children.  He loves all of us wholeheartedly, unconditionally, and completely. How is that for mind boggling??

I miss being able to enter our front & back yard without fear of attack.  Hopefully, by the time we get back from vacation, the whole family will have moved on, and we can have a cool nest to remember them by.

PS.  Yes, I know that you don't spell Mommy with an 'ie'....I just like it that way.  :)

Tag! I'm it.

Here are some answers to a cute little survey that a couple of people have tagged me for:

What were you doing 5 years ago?

1. Getting ready to spend our first Summer in our new house.

2. Enjoying my Little Buddy FINALLY being potty trained! (I was beginning to think it would never happen!)

3. Wondering where in the world we'd go swimming and why there weren't more pools here???

4. Spending LOTS of time with our extended family.

5. Feeling bittersweet about Veruka finishing Elementary School and moving on to Middle School.

What are 5 things on your To-Do list today--in no particular order?

1. Laundry.

2. Go to Mike's school to help/volunteer for Native American Day.

3. Grocery Shopping.

4. Tag books for Mike's school's end of year book sale.

5. Laundry.

(I know, it's just such an exciting life I lead, isn't it???)

3.  What are 5 snacks you enjoy?

1. Chips & Salsa

2. Chips & Salsa

3. Chips & Salsa

4. Chips & Salsa

5. Chips & Salsa

(Need I say more??)

What are 5 things you'd do if you were a Billionaire?

1.  Give lots of $ to LifePoint Church, to build Phase 3---The Kevin Lawyer Wing!

2.  Tell my hubby to quit that job and buy him a cool boat.

3.  Set up trust funds for my kids and set up a college fund for all of my neices & nephews.

4.  Buy a beach house.

5.  Travel and take LOTS of AWESOME vacations with my family.

What are 5 of your bad habits?

1.  Procastinating.

2.  Staying up too late.

3.  Not keeping up with the Laundry.

4.  Not always listening to my home voicemail.  (I know, that's a really bad one....sorry.)

5.  Spending too much time "doing" instead of "being."

What are 5 jobs that you've had?

1.  Lifeguard &  Swim Lesson Instructor

2.  Waitress - (Yes, I still have the 'Waitressing Nightmare' every once and awhile....I'm in "the weeds" with too many tables, I can't get to them all, I hear the people talking loudly and saying I'm the WORST waitress they've ever had...it's awful!)

3.  Bank Teller

4.  Asst. Manager at same Bank

5.  Substitute Teacher

Name 5 places where you have lived.

Sorry, I don't think I want that info out there on the great big WWW.  

But, I will tell you that I lived in the same house my entire childhood.  My parents STILL live there.  I've been married for almost 19 years and in that time we've lived in 4 houses (in 2 different states) and one apartment for the worst 4 months ever!  :)

Who are 5 people you want to tag?

1.  Jennie

2.  Amy S.

3.  Susan S.

4. Jenn H.

5.  Jen S. --- I wish you were still blogging, I'd tag you.

Anybody else who wants to give it a go.....consider yourself tagged!

A Bunch of Random Stuff

I got this in an email from my Dad.  Here are my answers to a bunch of random questions.

1.  Were you named after anyone?   No

2.  When was the last time you cried?  I wanted to cry today....too many kids here!  (Really, I cried yesterday.  Lately it seems like I cry all the time...happy or sad...it doesn't matter.)

3.  What is your favorite lunch meat?  Boars Head Genoa Salami

4.  How many kids do you have?  3

5.   If you were another person, would you be friends with you?  Yes, of course!

6.   Do you use sarcasm a lot?  What do you think??

7.   Do you still have your tonsils?  Yes, but I have no idea what they do.

8.    Would you bungee jump?  Yes, I'd do it once.  I'm all about trying new things....OLT...Once in a Life Time!

9.  What is your favorite cereal?   Frosted Flakes, Cap'n Crunch, Frosted Mini Wheats....I was raised on the sugar cereals of the 70's....I love 'em!

10.   Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?   No, too lazy.

11.   Do you think you are strong?  Only on the inside.

12.   What is your favorite ice cream?  Bryers Strawberry!  I have eaten the whole container in ONE sitting....straight out of the carton....more than once!

13.  What is the first thing you notice about people?  Eye contact & smile...I guess that's two things. Oops!

14.  Red or Pink?  PINK!

15.  What is the least favorite thing about yourself?   Physically...my nose...I broke it in 8th grade and it is crooked.    Mentally...that I cannot put myself first without feeling guilty.

16.  Who do you miss the most?  My grandparents, I wish they could know me as an adult and I could have know them better.

17.  What color pants and shoes are you wearing?  Blue sweats & no shoes

18.  What was the last thing you ate?   A GREAT dinner made by Veruka and her friend 'Swish'.

  

Strawberry Smoothies, Caesar Salad, Shrimp Fettucini Alfredo,  & Fresh Fruit Parfait w/ Whipped Cream.  

They planned the menu, bought the food, and made the whole meal without me knowing what they were cooking.   Are they the best or what??  They did this for FUN!  Don't you just love girls?

19.  What are you listening to right now?  TV.....TLC Channel

20.   If you were a crayon, what color would you be?  Yellow

21.  What are your favorite smells?  Furnace going on, fresh cut grass, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, & CLEAN BOYS!

22.   Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?  My hubby.  He is in FL and is driving from Orlando to Jacksonville right now and trying to stay awake.

23.   Favorite sport to watch?  Football...especially if my kids are playing.

24.  Hair color?  Nobody knows!  It used to be brown...it is currently blonde, w/ brown and gray roots!

25.  Eye color?  I'm a "brown eyed girl."

26.  Do you wear contacts?  NO----not anymore.  I have them, but they drive me crazy!  I've gone back to wearing my glasses when I must see clearly...the rest of the time I go through life with everything softly blurred...it's really kind of nice.

27.  Favorite food?  Crabs, corn on the cob with butter, & fresh ripe tomatoes!  Mmmmm!

28.  Scary movies or happy endings?  Happy endings!!

29.  Last movie you watched?  "Alvin and the Chipmunks" ...I really need to get a life!

30.  What color shirt are you wearing?  White....Shouldn't this question be near the pants and shoes question?

31.   Summer or Winter?  Summer---but actually Fall is my favorite.

32.  Hugs or kisses?  Both!

33.  Favorite Dessert?  Cannolis  also Bryers Strawberry Ice Cream (See #12!)

34.  What book are you reading now?  "A New Earth--Awakening to Your Life's Purpose"  by Eckhart Tolle....I just started it.  So far it seems a little new agey, but I had to see what all the hoopla was about on Oprah.

35.  What is on your mousepad?  A pix of my 3 kids from my sister's wedding

36.   What did you watch on TV last night?  Nothing...didn't watch TV....hubby was leaving in the morning.

37.  Favorite sound?  Nothing----seriously, I mean SILENCE.

38.   Rolling Stones or Beatles?  No thanks....How about U2?

39.  What is the farthest you have been from home?  Hawaii

40.  Do you have a special talent?  Yes, doing all the laundry, shopping, cooking, cleaning, lunch packing, homework helping, kid chauffering, boo-boo kissing, & household managing...all the while, making it appear effortless.

Special Bonus Random Fact:  I LOVED Andy Gibb and the Bee Gees when I was growing up. My side of the bedroom wall was plastered with their posters.   My sister's side was plastered with Boston posters.  You tell me, who was the cooler sister???  All right, I admit it,  it wasn't me.