For Lack of Words

Since i really dont have anything to say and since i am in need of a beach and dont have one here is a video from our vacation back in April! Ahhh the sound of the waves crashing and kids squealing. And the feel of the sand and waves on my toes. I wanna go back right now!

My Birthday

So Monday was my birthday! I am officially 23! I don't really know what to say about 23. It isn't really a milestone birthday but more just a new number. It isn't like 16, 18, 21, or other numbers that hold importance. Twenty-three is just that...23! However i did have a great birthday!

See my sister Chelsie's birthday is Saturday (Yes she is a Valentine baby and she hates it. Kinda like having a birthday on Christmas.) So we always celebrate the whole 5 days from my birthday to hers cause we are awesome like that. This week has been great so far.

Monday my husband was off so i got to sleep in. We went to take the car to the shop (no that isn't the fun part). After we dropped it off we walked the few blocks to the mall and bought my new phone and got him a phone (finally I can keep track of him muawhahaha j/k). Then i met up with Chelsie and we went to lunch at Tidewater Bar and Grill. Then she took me to her house so i could get some cuddle time in with the cutest baby girl ever! (Now that isn't why she really took me to her house. I didn't have my house keys so i really didn't have a choice lol) I met up with my hubby and picked the kids up from the sitter. We went home and ordered Chinese for dinner...YUMMO!

Tuesday i had to get up and take Phabian to school. My friend Nikki came over to babysit (and wait on my bed to be delivered) while Chelsie and I went and got massages. Yes i said the M word and it was great. A whole hour of someone with magic hands rubbing my body with delicious smelling lotion all while relaxing music filled a dimly lit room. I think i am in love!!! After we left there we went to lunch at Chili's (which happens to be where my husband, Chelsie's boyfriend, and Chelsie all work). We left their and i went home to view my new bedroom suit! Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then last night my Hubby took Chelsie and I to dinner at Hibachi Japanese Steak House (which for those who don't know it is like Benni Hanna's). We had a great dinner and a lot of fun just joking with one another.

Today we really don't have any plans but that doesn't rule anything out cause we are once again awesome like that lol. I will have another post coming soon with pictures of all the great stuff i used my income taxes for. I have been listing off all this stuff and not really telling you much about it. I hope you all have been doing well while i have been off enjoying my birthday fiesta.

P.S. I also got my Wii Fit yesterday but that gets a post all to itself!

I Wanna Get Crafty!!!

OK so i am not the most crafty person in the world but i am always looking for a new challenge so i found it to day on Lisanne's Blog!

Here is how it goes:

The first seven people to respond to this post will get something made by me. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

• What I create will be personalized and intended for you.
• It’ll be done this year (2009).
• You will have no idea what it’s going to be. All you will know is that it will be something made by me for you! So who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!
• The catch? You have to put this offer in your journal as well and make seven things for your friends! (If you have already done this, then I will happily add you to the list if you link to the direct entry.)

I hope you all enjoy this crafty fun!

1. Lisanne @ Lisanne's Blog
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. 
   
6. 
   
7. 
   

Income Taxes

So every year hubby and i get back a large income tax and every year we sit and think about what the heck we can do with it. The majority of it goes into savings but we usually save a bit out to treat ourselves with. this year will be no different.

Among the things we plan on buying are a Flip Video Camera, a Wii or Wii Accessories (Marcus doesn't know he is actually getting that for his birthday from his mom and I), and possible a Laptop.

Out of all of those things my favorite is the Flip Video Camera. I am so happy about it that i can hardly wait...seriously...i cant wait! I have always used my digi camera to take video which can never be more than 2 minutes long and takes up all the space on my memory chip. I can not wait to play with this thing and catch all the best moments i can on video. It will be by far the best gift ever!

I am also very excited about the Wii and the Laptop. The Wii will be so fun and aid in one of my improvement goals for this year. The laptop will be awesome as i will be able to take it with us to Florida and Georgia when we go this April and upload all the video and pictures i take on the spot instead of having to wait til i get back home (which also limits how much photo snapping i can actually do).

What do you do with income taxes? Do you set them back and save them for hard times? Do you split them up like we do? Or do you splurge and spend it all? Tell me all about it when you leave me a comment!

Gazillion Bubbles

Bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles is what we did yesterday. We had a crazy warm day with a high close to 70 and sunny skies. It was really a beautiful day all be it weird for December. We took the boys to get their hair cut and then watched the WVU game while the boys napped. Marcus had to be at work at 4 so me and the kids were on our own last night.

When they woke up from nap time we traveled to the front porch for some bubble fun. They were a little disappointed that i wouldnt let them off the porch to play in the yard but it was muddy from all the rain so we stayed on dry ground. They played for about 2 hours with the Gazillion Bubble, Bubble Grill my Aunts got for them. That thing was throwing bubbles everywhere. It really did make a gazillion bubbles lol.

As it got dark we ventured back inside but first they called my Aunts to tell them how much fun they had with the Bubble Grill. They talked for a bit them we came in to fix dinner which ended up being PB and J sandwiches (yea i know bad mama lol).

Yesterday was a fun day and i hope today is the same. Please continue to pray for Brittney and Baby Kaci and Baby Stellen. They really need your prayers right now and i know God is listening.

Snipets of My Day

Trick or Treat

So here is some pictures from tonight. They had a blast and got lots and lots of goodies. Phabian and MJ were doctors and Chelsie's (Daytime Drama of Mine) girls Jayden and Jaylain were a Fairy Princess and a Cat! WE had fun but man am i exhausted.

Business

I am a Creator of imagination businesses, I say this because i am forever coming up with new ideas for a business i want to start. I have had many ideas. Usually they are based off of a show i have watched or something that spoke to my interests. This time is no different and this also isn't a new idea just a revisitation of an old one.

I love to cook, but more than cooking i love to bake. Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, bread, i love it all! I have been watching this new show that comes on after Bridezilla, on Oxygen Channel, called Amazing Wedding Cakes. I have decided if i were to go into business for myself this is what i want to do. Since i love to bake and i am able to do it decently i would love to make amazing cakes for peoples special occasions. Here in WV i only know of one place that does these weird, kooky, or amazing designs and i have not heard rave reviews about them. So i think this would be a great idea to pursue.

Personally i think making cakes is a definite money maker. Even though the economy is slumping there are certain things that people will still go on with. Needing cakes is one of them. People will still be getting married, having birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Most of these require a cake, and most people would enjoy a exiting, well made cake. Not to mention it doesn't hurt for it to be exciting and beautiful. This is a job i could really dive into and be happy with.

I have decided to start laying out a plan. Maybe start with making cakes in my home for family and friends for special occasions. Then maybe from there, just like many businesses, i can get referral clients. Eventually maybe i will be able to make some money and open a small business or just be able to afford advertising. I want to make a plan and start working on it. This is something that taps into my passion. I love to cook, bake and have fun. A friend of mine was talking about possibly opening a catering business so maybe i could attach myself with her. Usually where there is catering there is a need for cake right? So tell me what you think. Good idea, bad idea, am i insane?

I guess we will see. I need to so some practice runs on some cakes and maybe see what designs i can photograph and get a portfolio of cakes going. I am sure my kids wont mind eating a bunch of cake lol. I will keep you guys updated with my ideas about this. Hopefully i can do something with it.

10 Things I Love That Begin With "T"

Lisanne at Bathtub Junkie invited us to comment on her blog entry and receive a letter. She chose "T" for me. If you wanna play too then leave a comment and i will give you a letter.

10 Things I Love That Begin With "T"

1. TV...i am such a tv addict. I watch it all. My faves have to be Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, Private Practise, House, Bones, ER, and Fringe. Those are ones that i just refuse to miss. Hence i have a DVR (TiVo) lol.
2. Time with Family and Friends...I love to spend time with my kids and husband. Also with my friends both online and in my real life. They are the backbone that holds me together sometimes.
3. Telling Jokes...I love a good joke. I often find myself telling silly things my kids have said or done. Not to mention that my life at times is just plain comical. Almost like an episode of Rosanne before they won the lottery lol.
4. Taco Bell...I am in love with Taco Bell. For those who don't know what that is...its a Mexican fast food joint. I could eat there everyday and never get enough. I have a love for spicy Mexican food but no matter how hard i try it never tastes as good at home as it does from them.
5. Tall Tales...Now do not confuse this with lying because i hate that. What i am talking about is when a kid come over to you and tells you all about this big adventure and kinda exaggerates to make it sound like they blew up a mountain instead of just digging a tiny hole lol. They are very entertaining.
6. Tattoos...I have 4 or 6 if you count the boy's names as separate ones. I got my first at 16 and have been addicted ever since. I would never go to the extreme of covering my body or anything like that. All of mine are covered and i would never get one that would be visible in a business setting.
7. Telephone...I could not live without the modern day invention we call a phone. Sometimes it is my only contact with the outside world. (yes i am a homebody). I need that contact daily with my friends and family.
8. Toys...Of all kinds. It is so fun to play with the toys you buy you kids. Sometimes it seems we have more fun with them than they do. Like the kitchen that we bought the boys last Christmas (yes we bought our BOYS a kitchen), we enjoyed playing with it that first night more than they did.
9. Toddlers...Yes i even enjoy those lol. Toddlers are such a fun age to be in. They always have such great imagination at this age and always can make you laugh no matter how bad you feel. I have 2 myself and i am never bored that is for sure. It is by far my favorite part of motherhood (well besides the cuddly infant part).
10. Trinidad and Tobago...This is a place i have always wanted to travel to. It is the southernmost island of the Caribbeans. It has beautiful landscape and peaceful beaches. i think it would make for a great 2nd honeymoon for me and hubby if i can just get his ass on a plane lol.

Ok now that is mine. Leave a comment and i will give you a letter. Then you can pass on the fun in your blog.

School Bound Boy

Well it is official. Phabian is a school student in a head start program. I am so very confused about how i should feel about this. On one hand my baby is all grown up and starting school. On the other hand i am so very excited for him to have this experience.

Phabian will start his first day of school on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. He will attend the morning session from 8am to 11:30am. We had a meeting this morning with the program coordinator and we also got to meet his teachers Ms. Angie and Ms. Kim. It all seems very nice. As i was finishing doing my paper work i could hear then saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing along to a stretching song. They sounded so happy and excited. I hope Phabian has just as much fun as those kids.

I have faint memories of my first day of Kindergarten (as i did not attend any type of pre-k). I remember walking in holding my mom's hand. I was not a shy kid but meeting all of these people for the first time was very shocking for me. My mom was a stay at home mom starting when i was about 4. I always went to work with my mom before that. She was a social worker for a assisted living home. I never knew anything but the world she had created for me. I remember how the class was set up. It was split off into 5 sections. There was the sink, bathroom, and backpack holder in the front of the room. On the right behind that was the chalk board on the left was the computer area. Behind that on the right was a story telling space and on the left of that was the play area. There was a kitchen and lots of blocks, magnets, and books. By the play part of the room there was a big green door that led to the outdoor playground in front of the school. There were two doors other than that in the class room. One led into the hallway and the other into the first grade class room. All the class rooms were connected by a thin wall and a wooden door. It was a small school but very close knit. My teachers name was Mrs. Winefordner. She to this day is still my favorite teacher i ever had. I can only hope Phabian enjoys this as much as i did as a kid.

The only thing we pay for is lunches which are based on your income so we shouldn't pay much if anything. Because it is part of the Kanawha County School System it is considered public free education. It is the best thing ever that my boy can start school and be ahead of his class all because they offer this great free program. I just know that it will be wonderful. As long as i keep telling myself its only 5 days a week 3 1/2 hours a day. It will all be ok.

Regatta '08

The first ride. A spaceship that went up and down and round and round.

A close up of their smiling faces on the spaceship.

Phabian went directly to the tanker when we entered the Car ride.

MJ went straight for the bus.

Then we moved on to the bouncy blow up slide.

Phabian flipped down the slide over and over.

MJ rolled over and over and over lol.

Then they took Mommy for a ride (Driving Miss Courtney).

All aboard the bus for one last ride.

We had a blast. The kids laughed and had fun and Marcus and I had fun watching them. There is nothing like that first ride and catching the smile and waving as they fly past you. My boys are growing up to be so brave and so big. It is so bittersweet. I am glad we had this day together. It made my heart warm to see my family together having fun...not a worry in the world.

The Rest of My Day

Ok so i already told you all how well my morning went now let me tell you how the well the rest of my day has gone. A friend of mine called and wanted to know if i wanted to go to lunch with her and a few friends. I said let me see if i can afford it. Hubby and me added all things up and decided it was managable. So we went out to lunch to Famous Daves. Now for anyone who does not know what FD's is it's one of the best BBQ places on earth. So i got to go out to lunch with friends...no kids...and have adult conversation...that was the greatest thing ever lol.

When we were leaving the restaurant they ask if i wanted to ride to Value City with them and i was like sure. I dont have any money to spend but it keeps me out for a bit and i needed the break so yea. Mary (one of the girls who was with us and a very close friend) ended up buying Phabian a new pair of shoes and 2 jackets for school and bought MJ a pair of Croc type shoes. Here are some pictures.

Phabian was so happy he couldnt stand it. He kept saying, "Look Mommy, look school clothes,". It then caused a huge problem when i told him he had to take them off so we could put them up til school starts but hey atleast he loves them.

So i got a huge break today and it was great. I havent had to yell at anyone, discipline anyone, or be bad mommy at all today. Just another adult in a restaurant with the rest of them. How gret is that?