My Journey Called Life

I Got A Job!

2009-04-13T17:59:00.001-05:00

Well I’ve been back from school for a few weeks and so glad that I made the decision to go. School was such a fun time for me. I met some amazing woman and formed great friendships with them. We learned so much in a short period of time, but somehow I was able to absorb a lot of the information. I was scheduled to attend school for 14 full days and was sent home on the 10th day with shingles. When I first arrived in AZ. I felt like I had been kicked in the back and didn’t know what I did to have such intense pain in one spot. I started getting blisters all over that same spot a few days later. I guess shingles is from a dormant virus that stays in your body from chicken pox, and if you’re stressed, have a bad immune system, or have cancer, or elderly you’re more prone to getting them. Let me just say I hope I never get them again. I know I have a high pain tolerance and this made me cry. As much as I wanted to stay in school, I was relieved that I could go home because I was having a hard time focusing. I was able to get certified in laser hair removal and photo facial. I’m flying back next week to finish the last four days. I’ll be learning how to do fractionals, tattoo removal, vein removal, skin tightening, and cellulite removal. I’m anxious to get back and finish the course.
My brother in-law Jordan helped me write a resume and made my experience as a homemaker look wonderful. I took my resume around to about 30 different places and got two interviews scheduled. I really wanted to work in a Dr’s office, but wasn’t sure I could get in without any job experience. I was about to throw myself a pity party and decided I just needed to keep looking. I googled a few things and a Dr. I didn’t see on other searches popped up. I decided to call and ask if they had any positions open for laser techs. After I asked the receptionist expecting her to say no, she surprisingly said “hang on let me let you talk to the doc.” I was so excited because they never let you talk to the Dr. He got on the phone and I told him about my schooling and told him about myself. He asked if I could bring in my resume and if he could meet me face to face that day. I got a call the next day telling me I was hired and wanted me to start in two days. I happened to be in the right place at the right time, as they were letting go of an esthetician that wasn’t working out. I’m getting trained to do the same thing estheticians and get to help him with botox, sclerotherapy, and other procedures. We well be moving to a larger office in June which will allow him to buy more lasers. I’m so very excited for this new venture in my life and feel so blessed that things worked out the way I’d hoped they would. The morning of my first day of work I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I felt fortunate for all the years I’ve been able to stay home with the kids and felt very validated that I was finally doing a job that made me feel fulfilled in another way that motherhood doesn’t always bring. I feel blessed to be able to have health benefits again and a paycheck with my name on it.
Thank you again for the help I received to make this possible. The kids were safe and sound with their dad and had a fun spring break in Utah. I sometimes have a hard time believing in myself and it was so nice to have others encourage me and make this all happen. Thank you for believing in me. I’m finally starting to believe in myself.
Check out my new boss. http://www.mcgrathmedical.com/index.html

I'm In School!

2009-03-09T22:21:00.002-05:00

After much research, hemming and hawing, asking everyone and their dog their opinion, and getting financial things figured out, I decided to start a program at The National Laser Institute in Scottsdale Arizona. I will become certified to perform laser hair reduction, tattoo removal, spider vein treatment, photo facial, cellulite reduction, wrinkle reduction, and the list goes on. I have 5 solid days learning the physics of skin and then 9 days of hands on experience with live models. We even get to practice on each other. I'm hoping to land a job in a Doctor's office after I complete the course. Today was my first day and I had such a giddy excited feeling the whole day like I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. It feels great. Thank you to all of you who have helped me get here. You know who you are. Come and see me when I'm done and I'll make you look smokin hot. ;)

Andrea's Here

2009-02-03T22:14:00.009-06:00

A while back my parents asked us kids if they moved to the Austin area would any of us move there too. Well I came first, then my parents, and now Andrea and her family is here. I know my sister and her husband really put a lot of thought and consideration into this move. Jordan being from Dallas, was very comfortable with his law firm and had tons of networking opportunities. It was a huge sacrifice for him to move to the Austin office so we could all be closer as a family. Thank you for that Jordan.
Andrea has been very busy unpacking and organizing her beautiful new home and hasn't posted any pictures of her home and adorable pregnant self, so I'm taking matters into my own hands. Here's their new home in Cedar Park only 12 minutes from me if you take the toll.Here are a couple of belly shots. I think Andrea looks amazing and there are two little girls swimming around in there. We're all so excited to meet them. I have to throw a picture of my little guy in just because he's so dang cute.
I'm so thankful for my family. We've already celebrated Jordan and Matthews birthdays since they've moved here. The kids are loving their cousin time together and I'm loving my mom and sister time. The other day my sister and I went and had pedicures together and then met Mom for lunch. I feel blessed to have them close.

My Little Beggers

2009-01-21T12:41:00.004-06:00

The other day Rachel and Annie begged me to play out front. I usually don't let them without me for fear of kidnapping or a ball running in the street etc. They assured me they would stay in the driveway so I gave in and let them. I was busy in the kitchen and noticed that they kept coming in and out of the house. Both the girls had mismatched clothes on and had messed up their hair. They grabbed a sharpie marker and were in the garage disassembling a box and writing on it. That's when I knew they were up to something and this is what I found. My sweet little girls thought it would be a good idea to hold a sign and pretend they were poor so they could earn a buck. You see this kind of thing at different intersections in Austin quite a bit so I'm sure that's where they came up with this genius idea. Rachel told me that she wrote it really messy and spelled would wrong so they would think they were uneducated. After I lectured them for being disobedient and breaking the rules I went in the other room and laughed. Kids do the darnedest things.

My Truths

2008-12-18T22:12:00.002-06:00

1. I know I love my kids. They bring me joy I didn’t know was humanly possible.
2. I know I love and adore my boyfriend. He is an unexpected gift.
3. I know I love my family. Mom, Dad, Wendy, Heather, Jared, Andrea, Sam, and Eli.
4. I know I love my extended family. I’ve had some of the best times with them.
5. I know I miss my Grandma Clavin a lot during the holidays. I loved talking with her about my Christmas menu.
6. I know my favorite color is blue.
7. I know there is something bigger than me in this life.
8. I know I love to cook.
9. I know I love to eat.
10. I know I have a sweet tooth.
11. I know I love to watch someone eat something I made for them.
12. I know I wish I could sing like a rock star.
13. I know I’m a perfectionist and it holds me back sometimes.
14. I know I love to kiss.
15. I know I’ve made mistakes.
16. I know that I’m sorry for them.
17. I know I love bubble baths.
18. I know I love sun dresses.
19. I know I feel frustrated when people tell me they pray for me to “come back”. I’d rather they just tell me they prayed for me because they love me. We all need extra prayers.
20. I know the grass is not always greener on the other side.
21. I know I have been blessed with the most amazing friends both near and far.
22. I know I’m happiest when all my bills are paid on time.
23. I know I find comfort in having all the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies in my pantry.
24. I know I love diet coke with fresh lime and crushed ice from Sonic.
25. I know I still have a lot to learn.
26. I know I’m 33 and see a great future for myself.
27. I know I love to dance and wish I was really good at it.
28. I know I love music and it makes me tear up a lot.
29. I know that the dishes are my favorite chore.
30. I know that I love to hear from old friends.
31. I know that I’m a spiritual person.
32. I know that I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.
33. I know I’m a nice person by nature.
34. I know I’m too sensitive.
35. I know I’m a dreamer.
36. I know I love to run in the rain.
37. I know I love babies.
38. I know I love to sew. Not cutting it out, just the actual sewing part.
39. I know I’m hopelessly flawed.
40. I know I wish I was practically perfect in every way.

Happy Birthday Christian

2008-12-16T08:41:00.010-06:00

My little guy better known as Bubba around here, turned 3 years old yesterday. Christian has always been my little snuggle bug. He puts his hands on my face and tells me that I'm pretty. What mom wouldn't love that. He's got such a fun personality. At times he's quite reserved and can entertain himself for hours with cars, books, his train set, or a his favorite movie. He can be particular about how his food is cut up or how I tuck his blanket around him. He calls his blanket his "me me" and has to have it with him most times. Christian loves his big brother and sisters. They all have their own little things they do with him and it's fun to see them interact with each other. Christian has been a huge blessing in my life as every child is, but he's what made me get out of bed and carry on when I was going through tough times. He's my little man and I'm so glad he's part of our family.

Oh Holy Night

2008-12-08T13:45:00.005-06:00

This is my all time favorite Christmas song. I love how Mannheim Steamroller plays it, but couldn't find it so I'm putting my second favorite version. I wish I could belt it out like her.

Happy Birthday Marcus

2008-11-12T08:42:00.009-06:00

Marcus turned 12 on November 8th. Oh how this little boy changed my life. I never knew I was capable of such love until I held him in my arms for the first time. Marcus was a really hard baby and was very attached to me. I think he spent the first 3 years of his life in my arms. Thankfully he outgrew that and became quite independent. Marcus has always been a smarty. He retains everything he reads and loves to talk about all the latest things he's learned. Anytime you sit next to him for any length of time he'll talk your ear off. I love that he feels comfortable talking to other adults. Marcus is a thoughtful person. Since he was about 5 he's been making me "spoil kits". He would tell me "mom, you go lay down and I'll be right back." He would put turkey, cheese, and a green olive on a toothpick and bring them to me on a tray and then rub my back. He still does little things like this and asks me how my day was. Marcus is quite the ladies man these days. I find notes in his jeans regularly, but the cool thing is he tells me about it and he just laughs it off like its no big deal. I'm really enjoying watching him grow into such a fine young man, but feel a little tug at my heart knowing he'll be gone before I know it. I love you so much Marcus. Thank you for bringing such joy to my life. You better never be too old or cool to sit on my lap and tell me you love me. :) Six months old

Exciting News

2008-11-06T11:26:00.003-06:00

I'm so happy and excited for my sister that I had to post it on here. Andrea went in for an early ultrasound and to her shock the technician informed her that she was pregnant with identical twin girls. This will be number 5 and 6 for her. She had an ultrasound at 8 weeks and nobody informed her that she had two babies growing in her at that time, so the tech was really casual about it. Andrea said her heart was pounding and was in shock. She called me after Jordan and I of course screamed. There is something special about twins and I'm so happy that she and Jordan will get these two special blessings. I'm also thrilled that she gets to carry twins and not me. LOL! Congratulations Andrea and Jordan. We're all so excited for the girls to come in May.

Halloween

2008-11-02T12:32:00.013-06:00

I love Halloween, but it gets harder each year with kids having an opinion on what they need to be. I love the days when I said this is what you're wearing and they were happy to do it. The kids had a fun time trunk or treating at our church and then trick or treating in Grandma and Papas neighborhood. My parents were kind enough to take the kids overnight so I could go to a Halloween party. I had a blast and so did they. :)

Auntie Laura Came To Texas

2008-10-28T08:44:00.015-05:00

My Uncle Jim had a business trip in San Antonio so my Aunt Laura decided to come out as well. I have a feeling now that Mom and Dad are here I'll get to see more of my family. I had Aunt Laura, Mom, and Dad over for lunch. It was so great to visit and catch up on all the family. I knew her trip was really booked, but she made time to come back after school to see the kids. When I picked up the girls from school I told them I had a surprise for them and that Auntie Laura was here. They were SO excited. They came home and changed and started working out a little song and dance they could preform for her. They sang a Hannah Montana song and had little dance moves to go along with it. Marcus got out his trombone to show off as well.
My Aunt Laura is such an amazing woman. I've never seen anyone as service oriented as she is. Her house has always been the hang out and happening place to be. Aunt Laura is such a fun person to be with. I have so many fond memories sitting around the table playing PIT with all the cousins. She's right there with all of us acting crazy. Even though my kids havn't spent a ton of time with her, they have the same gravitation towards her that everyone seems to have. I'm so glad you found time to stop by. I wish I could have seen Uncle Jim too. Next time right. Mom and Dad went to San Marcus to hit the Pottery Barn outlet and then to San Antonio and did the river walk with them. I hope more family will make the long trip out to Texas. Jayna you have no excuse with free flights! :) We love having you here. I love you Aunt Laura!
Christian, Me, and Aunt Laura

They're off to San Antonio

Annie Bug Turned 6

2008-10-22T11:09:00.012-05:00

My sweet little Annie turned 6 on Sunday. Annie was born 29 days early. She even tried to come a few days before that. I guess that's what happens when you mow the lawn being that pregnant. Even being so early she weighed in at 6lbs 12ounces. Annie was born with a ton of fuzzy black hair and the biggest blue eyes. I remember people being so surprised that she was my baby because her hair was so dark.
Annie is such a sweet little girl. She is very bubbly and full of life. She loves to play dress up and is constantly working on a masterpiece of some sort. Annie can be very sensitive. She wears her heart on her sleeve. She's quick to tears and quick to forgive. Annie is probably my most helpful child. She says to me "mom, don't do anything, I'm gonna clean up for you." She gets busy and puts everything away. She even straightens shoes in the closet. She's a girl after my own heart. I love you Annie and I'm so glad I get to be your mama.My beautiful Mom and Annie at 2 weeks old3 months old6 months oldHer first birthdayAnnie and Rachel

They're Here...FINALLY

2008-09-29T11:03:00.012-05:00

About a year ago my parents were visiting my sister and I in Texas and they said "hey, if we move to the Austin area would any of you kids move there too?" There were a lot of glitches along the way, but I eventually made it here and now my parents have as well. They rolled in with the biggest Uhaul you can rent with one car in tow and my Mom driving the truck with another trailer hitched to it. I think it's time to declutter Mom and Dad. :) Needless to say, they made it safely and it was my Dads birthday on top of it. I was on the phone with Andrea and told her that I was making a birthday dinner for Dad and she said I'm gonna go home and throw a bag together and come down to celebrate. It's a 3 hour drive from Dallas. It was fun to surprise them with Andrea and the kids. We had chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, and salad. Then my dads favorite cake. Homemade yellow cake with whipped cream and bananas. It was so nice to see all the kids eating up Grandma and Papas attention and loving every minute of it. I'm so glad they made it and look forward to many more fun days like that. I love you Mom and Dad.Mom and Dad with some of the GrandkidsAndrea, Dad, and I Mom and Dad

Underpants

2008-09-22T14:14:00.012-05:00

Why is it that little boys look so darn cute in tighty whiteys, but grown men don't! Something to ponder. Christian was in the kitchen the other day and I hear him grunting. I said "watcha doing bubba"? He said "I'm poopin"! I asked him if he wanted to go in the toilet and his reply was "nah I'm just gonna go in my diaper." I figure when he's big enough to carry on a conversation on his preferences of whether he should poop in his diaper or the toilet its time to potty train. I always dread doing it, but know it's time. He's done great with number one and we'll see on number two later. Wish us luck! And why is it that they always have their hands in their pants? We'll have to work on that too!

Happy Birthday To Me

2008-09-09T14:15:00.010-05:00

Annie was crying last night when I put her to bed because she hadn't made me a birthday card yet. I told her it was ok and I'd love her to make me one the next day. At 6:30 this morning I heard banging around in the kitchen and Annie was coloring as fast as she could to come up with a birthday card for me. She came running in to me to wish me a Happy Birthday. Nothing beats being covered by kisses first thing in the morning. What a great way to start my birthday.
I've felt especially grateful for the friendships I've been blessed with in my life. I've moved so many places and have made wonderful friends along the way. Some have been my friend since I was 13. Thank you to all my dear friends and family who have made my day a happy one. I feel loved. Here are a couple pictures from my girls retreat in Alabama. Amy made a to die for cake and I'm wishing she was here to make me another one. It seriously is the best chocolate cake in the world. Life is good at 33.

Meta, Me, Amy, Sara, and Kim

Back To School

2008-08-26T18:43:00.012-05:00

Today was the day...all the kiddos went back to school. My fire alarm went off at 12:30 last night and Annie hopped out of bed to get ready for school. She was that excited for Kindergarten. I think out of all the kids she was the most ready to go. Annie fell asleep at 4:30 this afternoon. It was a long day.
Rachel was pretty confidant this year. She knew a couple of the kids in her class and was excited for that. Rachel always has little admirers right away. There was a boy named Chase waiting at our house after school. I'm gonna have to lock that girl up when she turns 16.
Marcus was a little nervous this morning. He was worried because he didn't have his schedule yet and he thought I'd just drop him off to figure it out himself. We got to school and got him situated and I could tell he wanted us to leave right away. I was most anxious to hear how his day was. I mean middle school is a whole new world. Three more years and he'll be in High School. Am I that old? UGH!
Everyone seemed happy, hungry, and tired after their first day. Always a good sign to me. I got to clean the house and hang out with Christian today. It was nice to have my little buddy with me. He seemed to enjoy the quiet as well.
Rachel Annie
Marcus
Christian, Annie, Rachel, and Marcus
Me and the Kiddos

Vote For Bree!

2008-08-21T21:08:00.004-05:00

My sweet cousin Bree entered a photo contest and is currently in 3rd place. We're all a little competitive in our family and want her to come in first place, so if you have a minute I would love if you'd vote for her. I'm pasting her blog post to mine for instructions. Good luck Bree...we're all rooting for you.

Don't forget to vote!
I am less then 100 votes from 3rd place and only 250 away from first! Please vote for me! Every vote really does count, so please please help me out and post this on your blogs for me, message boards and facebook/myspace/twitter. Just think if everyone who read this passed it along to their friends/family/posted on blogs and their friends voted and plugged it....I could have a chance! At this point its all about who can get enough people to vote... :(

So why not try and join them? I would love to at least be in the running to win, not left in the dust! Whats a little fun competition!?! :) I could be the Cinderella Story...coming up from 12th place to take the lead ;) WHOO HOO!

There is a Canon 40D Body with my name on it! ;) (or at least on hold...hahaha)

Whats it gonna take? Do I need to do a giveaway like one of the finalists is doing?? haha Let me know if you blogged/twittered/facebooked/plugged me, I would love to thank you!!! Would a random winner giveaway really help??

Linking love here.....Summer Photo Contest # 8!!!! Buhtafly Wings!
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!!

TAGGED!

2008-08-20T20:51:00.002-05:00

My cousin Randa tagged me. Here are a few random things about me.

Rules Once Tagged:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog (copy and paste 1-6).

3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

5. Let them know they are tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger (who tagged you) know when your post is up.

Randomness about me:

1. I love Neil Diamond. Since I was a little girl I remember singing along to his songs and dancing with my mom. I get a bubbly excited feeling when I hear his song "America". I think it's an inspired song.

2. My second toe is much longer than my first. A friend asked me if it was my big toes body guard. LOL!

3. I enjoy hiding behind a door to scare someone occasionally. The weird part is when I'm waiting to jump out, I get so anxious that by the time the person gets there, their scream makes me scream.

4. I always carry nail clippers and floss.

5. I lay in bed and dream of being an amazing athlete or pop star and the whole croud goes wild for me. Hmmmm, do you think I need some attention. HA HA!

6. I gave birth to all my kids without any drugs. Of course my reasons were all good, like I didn't want the drugs to harm the baby and wanted to prove I could do it, but the main reason is because my friend told me she had an epidural and she pooped on the floor because she couldn't feel where she was pushing. I knew then and there that I'd rather feel the most ridiculous pain in the world than poop on the floor in front of everyone. All natural for me baby.

Ok so now I'm tagging Julie, Andrea, Toni, Elyse, Emily, and Jared. You better do it Jared.

Crazy Week

2008-08-17T13:58:00.003-05:00

Guess how many kids I have this week?...8! I get to have my sweet nieces and nephews for six days while my sister and her hubby are off to the Bahamas. We're watching the news hoping tropical Storm Fay will cooperate for them. I spent last week getting prepared with snacks, juice boxes, an easy menu, and different activities we can do throughout the week. It's the kids last week of summer so we're going to live it up as much as Aunt Heidi can handle on her own. Wish me luck! :) I wonder if Andrea will have baby number 5 in stow after their cruise? HA HA!
My Mom and Dad are off on a cruise to Alaska with my Dads side of the family. It's a long awaited trip and much deserved as they've had a stressful summer. It took two months for their house to close in Utah, but it finally did and they're officially in the works to move to Texas. I can't wait for Grandma and Papa to get here. I know my kids are super excited too.
As I mentioned before we have the last week of summer. WOO HOO! I'm very ready for my darling children to go back to school. I still need to get their school supplies. That's the worst part of going back to school. Marcus will be in 6th grade, Rachel in 4th, and my little Annie bug in Kindergarten. I think Christian will miss them when they head back.
One of my best friends is flying in from Reno over Labor Day. I'm trying to find fun things to do with her while she visits. I can't wait for her to come.
Life is pretty good. Wish me luck with all these kiddos! Does anyone want to go on a cruise with me? I'm totally willing to go with you. :)

The Little Joys In Life

2008-08-07T14:38:00.012-05:00

This little boy of mine absolutely melts my heart. I was watering the yard last week and naturally Christian wanted his clothes off to run through the sprinkler. I sat and watched him feeling perfectly content. There was no other place I'd rather be than watching him digging and even sampling the dirt. He even pooped on the lawn and said "what happened mom". I about died laughing. The other kids were preoccupied in the house so it was just my moment with Christian.
My sister Andrea and I were talking about how much were enjoying our two year old boys the second time around.I'm so glad I got to have another little boy. They say and do the cutest things. Yes, they can be handfuls at this age, but truly, I love their young inquisitive innocent mind, working in full force to grasp the world around them. I love you my baby boy.

A Meme

2008-08-02T18:51:00.006-05:00

My dear friend Amy http://mamanirvana.blogspot.com/ came up with a list of questions for her readers to answer. I thought it'd be fun to answer them.
1.Besides your family, what is your most prized possession?When My Grandma Clavin passed she left me her wedding ring. It's a classic beauty, but whats special to me about it is remembering how it looked on my Grandma's long slender fingers. It was loose on her finger and I remember her always moving it around with her thumb. I knew how much she loved Grandpa and what the ring meant to her. She made promise to always keep it.
2.If you were on death row, what would your last meal be?
I love food so this is a really hard question. Would it be too much to ask for a samplers platter? It would be a combination of Dads tacos, Moms cabbage rolls, my lasagna, and Andrea's Strogonoff.
3.At a party, would you be hiding in the corner or hanging out at the punch bowl talking it up? And, what food item would your bring to the party?
I'd definitely be at the punch bowl, but I know I'd walk over to the corner to see what y'all had to say. Lets get out on the floor and do the running man together. I'd probably bring a cheesecake.
4.What is the most "girly" thing about you?
I'd say the most girly thing about me is I love to wear pretty summer dresses and skirts.I feel very comfortable in them since they hide my big booty and show off my little waste.
5.What is your favorite piece of furniture in your home?
My armour. It's antique white and has a shabby chic look to it. I bought it at Dillard's for $500 dollars and have never regretted it.
6.What is most likely to be painted -- your toes or your fingers?
Definitely my toes. I like to put a pinkish red on my toes during the summer and a dark red during the winter. I keep clear polish on my nails, but color is too hard to keep up with four kids.
7.If I was going to buy you a bottle of Bath and Bodyworks lotion, what scent would you want?
I love Irresistible Apple. I put it on and want to lick my arm. Weird huh!
8.Do you like to nap? If so, how often do you get to during the week?
I love naps, but found if they're too long I get a headache and feel worse than I did before the nap. Cat naps are key at my house. I set up the train set for Christian and close my eyes for a few while he's busy.
9.Do you have a place in your house where you "hide"? A place where you can have a long phone conversation with a friend without interruption? Where is your quiet place?
I always hide in my closet. I go there to talk on the phone, to catch my breath, or for a good cry. My hiding place doesn't last long before I'm found by one of my darling children.
10.At this point in your life, are you living the life you imagined back when you were in high school/college?
Ummm NO! I definitely thought things would be different, but hey we can't always have what we want.
11.Would you ever get plastic surgery? What would you have done?
Heck ya! If you know me, you know what I'd have done. :)

12.What have you accomplished (besides having children) that you feel most proud of?
I can't say there is one particular thing I'm most proud of, but I feel most proud of myself that I'm a survivor. I've faced a lot of hard knocks and still manage to smile everyday and feel blessed in some way or another.
So now I get to tag someone else. Tag Toni and Marisa, you're it.

Happy Birthday Andrea

2008-07-25T09:27:00.003-05:00

Today is my little sister Andrea’s birthday. She’s 31 years young. Andrea is one of my favorite people in the world. As sisters we have been through thick and thin together. She has always been so good to me. Even when we were kids Andrea responded well when I was nice to her. (I was always nice) Some of my favorite childhood memories are at our Grandma and Grandpa Clavin’s house in Montana. They had a tile patio that when wet glistened in the sun. They had bought us a little mop set and Andrea was my faithful right hand man carrying around the bucket of water for me while I mopped. I don’t remember Andrea ever doing anything really mean. She was always an earlier riser than me so she would sit in bed and count her money making sure to clink every penny extra loud or if she was reading, would turn the page very deliberately to make sure I could hear it. Pretty cruel huh! So as you can see I had it pretty good as far as the little sister category goes.
Another favorite thing Andrea and I did together was sing. We sang in choir together, in the van, at church, at pep assemblies, at funerals, at missionary farewells, etc…I love when we visit each others home because the girls always request that we sing for them before we tuck them in for bed.
As I’ve grown up I have thoroughly loved my relationship with my sister. When I meet her friends they all tell me how much they love her and that she is one of the kindest people around. She would do anything for them, including total strangers. She has a genuine quality about her that make people drawn to her. She has such a great laugh and I find it contagious.
Andrea is an excellent cook. I’m always in admiration of her conscious efforts to make wholesome meals for her family. She takes the time to cook from scratch just to make sure her kids are getting the very best nutrition. She even takes extra time when she brings her friends dinner. She makes a mean stroganoff.
Andrea is a wonderful mother. She dotes on them and spends extra time to teach them little life lessons. She’s a really fun mom. My kids love to tell people how funny Aunt Andrea is because she jumps in the pool with her clothes on. Or she’ll get out her Clogs and do a jig in the kitchen for us.
One of the best qualities I think Andrea holds is being real. What you see is what you get with her. She doesn’t feel she’s above anyone and I think that’s what makes her so special. Like I said people love her because she can see the good in everyone.
In the past I used to view my relationship as me filling the big sister role and Andrea leaning on me for advice, but in the last couple years the dynamics of our relationship has changed a lot. I started leaning on Andrea and found that she was very lean worthy. She has helped me through the hardest trials of my life and she still loves me unconditionally. She knows the good the bad and the ugly about me, but continues to cheer me on and say you can do it. There is a special bond sisters have. You know the childhood history. You know little things and habits about each other that others don’t. You see yourself in her smile. Andrea you are a rare gem. Thank you for all you do for me. I know am blessed to have you in my life. You’re beautiful on so many levels. I hope you know that you’re an amazing woman and a prize to behold. I love you my sister and hope you have a very Happy Birthday.

Dare You To Move

2008-07-14T22:27:00.001-05:00

The last couple years have really been the hardest of my life. From losing my religion to my marriage, there are days I don't feel blissful about life. Most days I'm just fine, but every now and then a bad day creeps up on me and I feel stuck. I feel afraid to make a move. I feel afraid of the journey ahead. I feel afraid of future mistakes. I heard this song on the radio the other day and since then I've downloaded it to my Ipod and listen to it about 10 times a day. It's kinda like my personal cheerleader saying "c'mon Heidi, you can do it." So have a listen and see if it does the same for you

Working At The Car Wash

2008-07-13T20:53:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't like getting in their swim suit and washing the car? Well I don't like getting in my swim suit, but the the kids sure love it. I've always enjoyed washing the car, and doing it with kids is even better.
The biggest fight is always who gets to hold the hose.
Over the years I've learned a few tricks while washing cars with kids. The first would be to put the soap back in the house, otherwise half the bottle gets dumped in when you're not looking and you have endless bubbles. The next would be never to wash it while you're having a good hair day. It's inevitable that a wild hose will get the better of one of the kids and my hair. And the last is turn off the hose while drying otherwise, the car gets sprayed and the drying starts all over again.

Summer Fun

2008-06-25T21:34:00.000-05:00

We've managed to stay pretty active thus far into the summer season. We had a fun start with a visit from Aunt Andrea and Uncle Jordan and the gang. They were celebrating their 11 year anniversary so I got to watch the kids so they could sneak away for a couple nights.
The babies always love Rachel

From left to right...Matthew, Rachel, Annie, Christian, Leah, and Hannah

Matthew, Peter, Christian, and Marcus

We had a fun day swimming at the neighborhood pool and then a concert in the park.

Some of the girls even got up to boogie on stage. I did bribe with a dollar for each which I still owe. Sorry Leah. I promise to pay you next time I see you.

Annie, Hannah, and Leah

I loved this one of Matthew.

I recently made a trip up to Dallas and got to see some dear friends. I only managed to get one picture, but I love it. Toni was my next door neighbor. I tease her because she never even said boo to me until I had lived there for 6 months. What a snob huh! Anyway, she and I became very close and I consider her one of my dearest friends. I love you Toni!

Her husband Scott grilled and made delicious drinks for us. It was such a great night. Thanks you guys. I miss you.

Annie Lost Her First Tooth

2008-06-19T19:53:00.000-05:00

One of those life changing events happened for Annie today. She lost her first tooth. It had been loose for about 2 months and she finally let me give it a little tug and out it came. She was so excited, but couldn't believe how much blood there was. Rachel was so cute helping Annie brush and polish her tooth before placing it under her pillow for the tooth fairy.
This all happened right before dinner, so Annie was curious to see how it would feel to eat and drink without a tooth. She did fabulously.

No Bake Cookies

2008-06-11T18:16:00.001-05:00

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I love to cook and bake. There are a few cookies that are consistant family favorites.
I had my first experience with no bakes back in 4th grade 4-H. I've loved them since. These cookies are easy to make, but easy to mess up. If you overcook them they'll be crumbly. If you undercook them, they'll be too gooey to eat without a spoon. If I had to pick between too crumbly or too gooey, I'd choose too gooey. So be careful with the boiling time. You'll know you've made a perfect batch if they have a glossy look to them when they set up.
A word of caution for you first timers of no bakes, it's kinda hard to stop at one. I can down 8 of them. Seriously. Nothing beats impressing someone with a quick treat on a rainy day with these delicious blobs of chocolate and hearing them say "oh my gosh....these are so good. What are they called"...and I say "poopers". :)

1/2 C. butter
2 C. sugar
1/2 C. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 heaping tbsp. cocoa
1/2 C. peanut butter
3 C. instant oats (I usually add a little more, just eyeball it).

Melt butter and add milk, cocoa, sugar, and vanilla. Bring to a rolling boil and set timer for 1 minute 45 seconds, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and quickly add the peanut butter and stir until melted in. Add oats and stir. While your butter is melting lay 2 large sheets of wax paper or foil on the counter. Using a spoon make small heaps of the cookie onto the wax paper. Do this fast because they set up pretty quickly. Let them cool for 20 minutes, then peel from the wax paper and enjoy. They're great with milk.

My Baby Graduated From Elementary School

2008-06-04T22:03:00.000-05:00

Marcus had his 5th grade graduation on Monday. The teachers handed out the diplomas and did a slide show at the end. It's hard to believe that his elementary school days are over. I remember very vividly dropping him off for kindergarten and crying all the way home.
Marcus has always been an excellent student. He actually has attended four different schools and has weathered each change well. I may be biased, but I'd say Marcus is a very likable sweet young man.
Today was the last day of school and the staff do such a great job of making the 5th graders feel so special and really go out with a bang. There is a really wide hall in the front of their school that goes up on a ramp. All the students line the walls and the parents stand at the end. They blast the song "Celebrate Good Times" and the principle, school counselor and 5th grade teachers lead all the 5th graders for their last walk through elementary school. As the students walk by, everyone cheers and gives them high fives. It was such an exciting moment to see all these kids have the support of their peers, teachers, and parents around them. I have to say I was bawling once again by the time Marcus reached me.
I'm so proud of you Marcus. You are a fine young man and I look forward to many more exciting events in your future.

Five Spring Flowers

2008-05-29T10:22:00.000-05:00

Annie is getting ready to graduate from Pre-K this friday. She has been singing the cutest little songs around the house. Here is one of my favorites.

A Miracle Has Occured

2008-05-20T15:48:00.000-05:00

Rachel learned how to ride a two wheeler. Rachel turned 9 on April 30th and I told her that it was time for her to really commit to learning to ride her bike. She was very nervous about falling and breaking something. She has broken both her wrists basically walking down the street.Poor thing. We got her bike out and she had fear all over her face. I said "Rachel, I'll give you 20 bucks if you learn how to ride your bike." She said "Really, OK!" Wouldn't you know it, about 10 minutes later she had it down. I'm so proud of her. She's on her bike all the time now, even in the blazing Texas heat. I asked her if she felt like a new woman and she said "mom, I can go everywhere fast!" Isn't money a great motivator!

Mother Dear

2008-05-11T14:23:00.000-05:00

I've contemplated starting a blog for quite some time now, and thought Mother's Day would be a perfect day to start in honor of my mom, Sue Bischof.
I feel really lucky to have such a great mom. The other day I was shopping for cards and another woman was doing the same. She asked me if I was friends with my mom and I said yes. She teared up and said she always wished she could give her mom a card like the one I had picked for mine, but the truth is they weren't close at all. I think the older I get, the closer my mom and I get.
My mom has had her share of hard knocks. She was widowed at the young age of 21 and left with 3 small children. My sister Andrea was only 2 days old and still in intensive care since she was a preemie baby. I can't even imagine what she went through, but she worked so hard to create a nice home environment for us. I'd say my mom is a patient woman. I don't remember her losing her cool very often. She read to us, played with us, smiled at us, snuggled with us, and loved us. I remember her playing fun songs on the piano and us dancing around. Every now and then she even broke out the guitar and would sing "Wild Thing". You should ask her to do it. It's great!
I love my moms sense of humor. She loves a good cornball joke just like me. When I was in middle school we lived in a town called Monmouth. They had a yearly parade on the 4th of July that anyone could be a part of. She would tell me and my siblings that if we didn't get along she was going to do her routine in the parade. The routine was my mom dressed in leotards, a tutu, and cowboy boots. She would then do a drill dance that she did in high school. Lets just say we BEGGED her not to do it. I offered to babysit my brothers so she and dad could go to the beach for a day if she wouldn't do it. Thankfully she never participated in the parade, but I do recall babysitting while they went to the beach.
I think my mom is one of the nicest people around. I never hear her saying unkind things about others. She always tries to give a person the benefit of the doubt. My mom has a softness about her. She's shy until you get to know her. I know that when people get to know her they really love her.
My mom has a knack for making things pretty around her. She can make a dumpy house beautiful. She recognizes the beauty of the world around her, looking at the tiniest wildflower and seeing it's beauty. She hears beautiful music and gets choked up. She makes the prettiest pie crust and so many other wonderful foods.
I love who my mom is. Unique, beautiful, modest, unpresuming, supportive, and kind. I love that I can call my mom my friend. I truly hope that my children will grow to love me as much as I love my mom. Thanks for everything mom. I love you so much and I hope you have a Happy Mother's Day.