10 days free.....

Anyone who knows Tommy and I, understands how much we love the gym. Unfortunately we get stuck in ruts and since I don't like change I will stay somewhere forever...even if I am not getting results.

That has changed! We joined quite the gym for Father's Day and it is kicking us up and down!

I absolutely love it. Tommy does too... you just won't hear us say that right after we are done with the workouts. This gym specializes in Crossfit training. The gym is Competitive Fitness on Warner, just west of the railroad tracks. It is absolutely amazing. It is what a gym should be!

If anyone would like to join me or Tommy in the gym one of these days, we have passes for 10 days free. I dare anyone to say, "that's all your workout is today?" Tommy tried that, ONCE!

Check out their website and see what it is all about. SUPER FUN TIMES!

Our trainer thought it would be funny to post this picture on their websites blog. This is what happened after Thursday's 20 minute workout!

~THE HEAT IS ON...~

I AM A HUGE GROUCH LATELY. JUST ASK POOR TOMMY. ERRR, MAYBE NOT. I DON'T EVEN THINK HE IS TALKING TO ME RIGHT NOW.

WHEN I TOOK OUT A BAG OF GARBAGE THIS MID-MORNING...MY FEET BURNED WITHIN 5 SECONDS OF STEPPING INTO THE SUN LIT COURTYARD. BLECH.

TEST TIME...AND THIS WAS SCARY

1 MINUTE INTO THE SUN

2 MINUTES IN THE SUN

3 MINUTES AND I AM NOW MELTING WATCHING THESE!

4 MINUTES- JAX'S RED ONE IS COMPLETELY MELTED

5 MINUTES IS ALL IT TOOK FOR ALL OF THEM TO COMPLETELY MELT.

NO WONDER I AM IN A GROUCHY HOT MOOD!

DADS AND MOMS

DADDY'S FATHER'S DAY PRESENT!

A LONG DAY SWIMMING WITH GRAMMIE AND GRAMPIE~POOR TIGGER HAS NOT RECOVERED FROM ALL THE SWIMMING AND PLAYING WITH THE 3 OTHER DEMON DOGS!!

I never got the chance to finish my Mother's Day post so I wanted to combine the two. I think it only reasonable since my parents are like peanut butter and jelly. Even though both are fabulous apart, together they just ROCK!


I have cool parents. I always have. My parents were always the ones that had fish fry's with friends and Nebraska football parties. Our's was the house that all the kids got to hang out at. There was never a time that my parents didn't hesitate to put an extra plate for the friend, or twelve, that stayed late through dinner. Don't get me started on all the parties they let my sister and I have. (Then there were the ones that I thought that we hid when they were out of town... who did we think they were kidding? They knew.) The best part about both of them was that they trusted us to make good judgements and bad ones. They let us fall flat on our faces and always picked us back up and dusted us off.


My Mom has an instant temper and fights for it all. She has always been the outspoken one and is quick to jump to anyone she loves defense. She loves sparkle and girl time.


My Dad is "Switzerland," as my sister calls him. He never judges anyone or anything outwardly. He is the rational one. He keeps the playing field even for all.


Growing up I remember thinking.... I want to be just like my Dad when I grow up. He was a cop and then became the corprate big wig. I wanted the same. Then I wanted to be just like my Mom. She had great friends and was at every single one of my softball games... no matter what part of the country I was playing in. She shopped with me, told me matter-of-factly that I was gonna regret a lot of the decisions I made in life but that was the only way to learn, we traveled together all over... Tahiti was my favorite destination, she wiped away the tears from many a broken hearts, and she was just cool.


Dad worked a lot. He is a work - a - holic. SERIOUSLY. I know this is where my work ethic came from and what I want to pass on to my children. He taught me that if you give less than 110%, then give nothing at all... because you are not really trying. If you fail when you have given that 110%, you have still won. I took that with me and never truly failed at anything I have ever tried.


Mom taught me that the world is tough on women. It still is. Statistics show this. Women are still not paid the same for all the same jobs. Some have caught up. Let's face it, people still think stay at home moms have it easy. My Mom was both. She had a great career and then stayed home with us right before I graduated high school. She taught me that there is so much life to live outside in the big world.... and to go out and chase any and every single crazy dream I could conjure up.

My Dad totally cracks me up. He is rarely impressed by anyone. Money and fame do not make him bat an eye. He thinks expensive cars are there to make up for ones short-comings and that real men cry and hug and tell you, "I Love You." My Dad will not hesistate to hug you....anywhere, anytime, in front of anyone. He proved that Thursday morning at work when Tommy's entire squad was fighting an individual at the hospital. When my Dad showed up he walked right up to Tommy, matter - o'- factly and kissed him square on the lips....in front of his entire squad and Tommy's squad as well. From what I hear, jaws hit the floor!

That's my Dad! Once he loves you...He LOVES you!!!

While we spent the day with my sister and her family and my Mom and Dad yesterday, they told us that they would be renewing their wedding vows this year. I was so excited for them. It is a rare thing in this world when two people have been married 40 years! I can not wait!

Happy Father's Day and Mother's Day Mom and Dad... and of course to you Tommy! Without you.... I wouldn't be a mom!

PS. TOMMY ~ NEW RULE...NEXT HOLIDAY IS CELEBRATED ON SATURDAY WITH MY FAMILY SO YOU CAN BE A PART OF IT!! WE MISSED YOU YESTERDAY... and every holiday that we have celebrated on Sunday this year!!!!

TAG PAYBACKS..... THX TRISH....

How To Play This Game of Tag: Post these rules on your blog.
List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself.

Tag 5 people . Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

NOTE TO SELF: DON'T READ MY COMMENTS ANYMORE!!!

3 JOYS~
SO MANY MORE THAN THREE BUT I AM NARROWING AS I TYPE~

*LONG AND SLOW KISSES THAT SEEM TO GO ON FOREVER FROM TOMMY

*THAT FEW SECONDS BEFORE PUDGIE FALLS ASLEEP. I CAN HEAR THE CHANGE IN HIS BREATHING AND WATCH HIS LITTLE EYES FIGHT THE SANDMAN AS HE STARTS TO HUM SOFTLY BEFORE HE FINALLY DRIFTS OFF

*RAINY DAYS INSIDE

*PAINTING

*THE FEELING WHEN ONE OF MY KIDS SLIPS THEIR LITTLE HAND INTO MINE AS WE ARE WALKING

*HOLDING HANDS WITH TOMMY

*BEING ALONE

*WATERING MY TREES

3 FEARS~

*ANYONE I LOVE WOULD EVER FEEL THE PAIN THAT I HAVE FELT

*LOSING MY CHILD

*TOMMY BEING HURT AT WORK AND AN SPD CAR SHOWING UP AT MY HOUSE

3 GOALS~

*WORK ON PUDGIE'S SPEECH

*WORK ON BRINKLEY'S TEMPER

*GET AWAY MORE SO I AM NOT SUCH A YELLING MOM

*EAT HEALTHIER TO GO ALONG WITH MY WORKOUTS

*SORT LAUNDRY SOONER

*WORK AT BEING BETTER AT CHANGE!

3 OBSESSIONS OR COLLECTIONS~

*I AM OBSESSED WITH NEW WORKOUTS, ESPECIALLY CROSSFIT ONES. GOOD THING NOW THAT TOMMY AND I ARE WORKING WITH A TRAINER AT A SPECIALIZED GYM. (WHICH HE IS NOW KILLING US AT)

*RUTH'S HOT SAUCE-THUS MY NEED FOR THE WORKOUTS. ANYONE ON MY STREET CAN VERIFY THAT I AM OFFICIALLY ON THE CHIPS AND HOT SAUCE DIET EVERY TIME RUTH MAKES ME A BATCH OF HOT SAUCE. I SERIOUSLY NEED AN INTERVENTION!!

*I COLLECT SHOES. THAT BEING SAID, I CAN NOT WEAR 90% OF THE SHOES AND BOOTS I OWN DUE TO THE DAMAGE DONE TO MY LEG AND FOOT.... BUT I LOVE MY SHOES. I TOUCH THEM AS I WALK BY THEM IN I MY CLOSET. I TALK TO THEM. SOMETIMES I SLIP THEM ON MY FEET AND JUST ADMIRE HOW BEAUTIFUL AND SEXY THEY ARE. I LET THEM GO ON DATES WITH FRIENDS SOME NIGHTS. I SHOW THEM OFF IN TEXT MESSAGES BUT I RARELY, IF EVER, WEAR THEM ANYWHERE FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. THEY ARE MY SILENT FRIENDS THAT NEVER TALK BACK AND ARE ALWAYS JUST A SHELF AWAY. I LOVE MY SHOES. TOMMY HATES THEM!!!

3 RANDOM FACTS~ MAYBE SURPRISING~

*THIS IS GONNA COME BACK AND BITE ME I AM SURE BUT.....GROWING UP MY DAD USE TO CALL ME "POOH BEAR." THAT NICKNAME STUCK UNTIL I STARTED PLAYING FIRST BASE IN SOFTBALL AND IT TURNED INTO "STRETCH" BECAUSE I ALWAYS DID THE SPLITZ WHEN "STRETCHING" FOR THE BALL.

*I TURNED DOWN A FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII

*I HAVE A SERIOUSLY HUGE ISSUE WITH TRUST.

*I HAVE VERY FEW FEMALE FRIENDS

*I WOULD DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD FOR THOSE FEW FRIENDS

*I AM A GRUDGE MASTER (AS TOMMY CALLS ME) I AM A HORRIBLE FORGIVE AND FORGET-ER

*I SERIOUSLY HATE EATING HEALTHY. I LOVE SOUR CANDY AND IF I COULD, I WOULD LIVE ON IT.

I DON'T KNOW YOU...

WHY WOULD I SMILE FOR YOU?

BESIDES THE FACT THAT I CAN'T GET ONE DECENT FAMILY PHOTO OF ALL 5 OF US TO SAVE MY LIFE.. NOW I GET A GOOD LOOK AT HOW BIG MY 8 YEAR OLD JAXI REALLY IS NEXT TO ME. I KNEW HE WAS BIG, BUT DANG....NO WONDER I USE COUPONS FOR GROCERIES!!

Prayers

I rarely ask anyone for help. I usually think I can handle the weight of the world. It has always been a issue I have suffered with all my life. Not today.


Today has been one of the worst days I can remember. I got the horrible news that the second most important man, at one point he was the only man that mattered, in my life, was severely hurt in an auto accident this weekend. I am crushed. I am sure his family is devastated.


I have written about him in the past. He is as close to God as a human can get. He is my trauma surgeon that saved my life on February 27, 2002.


I am torn right now between severe anger and complete sadness. It is not fair that a man that has saved so many and given so many their lives back, is now fighting for his.


If it were not for Dr. Thomas L. Wachtel I would not be here, Tommy would not have our son Justice and life would not be what it is.


I am asking anyone who reads our blog to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray for him. I don't care if you are Catholic, Mormon, Baptist or you don't believe in a God... whatever. Please include him in your prayers and his family as well. Thank You!

SLEEP

I don't get sleep. It is just a fact of my life after my wreck. It is not that I don't have the opportunities. I actually do some nights. It has to do with pain and the inability to lay in one position for more than 5 minutes without moving. I deal and get by and think nothing of it really.

The problem is the television. It started 15 years ago when I worked midnights for the Sheriff's Office. I worked 12 hour shifts~ 6 PM to 6 AM and to drown out the noises of my newborn niece, I started sleeping with the television on. It is a horrible habit. Funny thing about it is I can hear anything out of the ordinary even though it is on. Brinkley calling me in her sleep, Pudgie tossing a strange way or the wail of the pre-vomiting Jax.... I still hear it.

The other problem is when Tommy doesn't sleep because of the television. I knew it was gonna hit the fan this morning when I walked downstairs and the first thing I hear is..."can you at least put on the news...I couldn't find the remote." Then it all came out.

"If you have the news on, I won't care what is on." Ok I can understand that. Then the funny part of the, one sided conversation began.

Tommy said,

"I know you thinks it is funny but when I wake up and Steve and Kelly are trying to figure out which house they are going to buy, I need to know if it is going to be the modern one, the craftsman or the spanish style on House Hunters." At first I laughed....

"Then I can't go to bed because I need to know if they are going to pick green or red for the living room on Color Splash. After all, it would make a huge difference with the brown couch." WHAT????

"Then, I need to know if the single mom from Baltimore is going to get pre-qualified for the nicer condo she loves or the low budget town house she could deal with." OKAAAY, he is as bad as me now.

"Finally, I need to know if there is shipping and handling on the push up bars and if the payments are going to be 2 at $24.99 or is it really 3 at $24.99.. because you know they always knock off one payment on the infomercial if you pay for it on the day that you watch the show." RIIIIIIIGHT.

By the end of this conversation, I nearly wet my pants from laughing. He really didn't sleep and seriously got into HGTV at one o'clock in the morning.

I guess I will have to sleep with my i-pod in my ears.. or better yet.. his SWAT earplugs..... then I would never have to get up with the baby or restless kids in the middle of the night.

Life 101

It seems like everyone I am close enough to call family is having a hard time with Life. Whether it be with their husband, boyfriend, family or their friends... things are hard. Not financially or jobwise... heart wise. I hate when people get their precious hearts hurt. I didn't like it when mine was crushed to pieces and I cringe when those I love are being crushed just the same.


I am watching a 19 year marriage crumble right before my eyes and while I understand the "stand" that needs to be taken and the strength that needs to be found to get through the rough waters that are looming ahead, I hope that what my family has to offer will comfort their family.



I am watching my youngest and probably best friend, in the oddest way, find her way out of a "one hour old" relationship, as I refer to it, that has devastated her and taught her things that no one should have to see with their own eyes. I find her asking me things about my life and my family and my marriage that has me thinking and thankful everyday.



I could never imagine the things that have to happen in the coming days for these girls. I am lucky that way.



My family is far, far, far, from perfect, but man, the five of us together are simply PERFECTION, in my eyes. We are far from wealthy, but we are RICH in LOVE and LIFE and LAUGHTER in this house. There are no split second abilities to run off on some crazy travel adventure... but we make new ADVENTURES in our Life every single day. We have learned how to overcome SUFFERING and found ways to EMBRACE heartache in our house. Somehow, our Life's lessons are finding their way into others' lives and helping them along the way. We have learned how to STRUGGLE through the hardest things that Life can throw our way and CHERISHED the wonderful days that seem to be the simplest.


I am glad that our family is one that someone can learn a lesson from. If it is a hard life lesson that it pushes one through and they emerge stronger from it or they find some answers from Tommy and I.... I am glad and proud. We are not your conventional family. We are not typical. We don't do things like the Jones's and we don't follow the Smith's.


Everyday we learn new lessons and sometimes we eat our words... and that is good. Simply stated, we are making it day by day and that is all anyone can ask of anyone.


So for my family and friends that need the shoulders, the hugs, the open door and the friend that won't judge or criticize.... our door is open... always... and you can come on in..... Just don't look at the toys on the floor or the dust on the tables.... we have been really busy living and learning and laughing... Oh and riding all our little tikes ride ons in the middle of the night... down the center of our street!!!!

I AM........

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Thanks Trish... I didn't want to take this but was soo curious!!! Pretty close... If only I had answered the color question different.. hahahaha

9

Yep, 9!!!

9 long, disgusting, tedious, tiresome, exhausting, sad, gross, fever-filled, barf-covering, snot-running, sore-throath, coughing, hacking, tears-spilling, liquid diapers over-flowing, crappy, crappy, crappy, sick days. I told my wonderful friend, whom I am going to lunch with tomorrow come hell or high barf... that my children need to be vomiting up their lungs, through their ears, for me to cancel my day with her..... because I really don't like this family right now.


I know that sounds harsh, mean, sad... call it what it is.... I am sick of everyone being sick and tired of everyone being tired. This mom crap is overrated this week and I am praying loudly tonight that the last of the fevers is gone in the morning.... because it came back late tonight and I just wanted to cry. There has been no winning with this virus that has attacked my poor beautiful children and it is really affecting all of us.. Well not so much Daddy... but he has those darn SWAT earplugs and leaves for work when the going gets tough.


So for anyone that sees me daily... I am seriously apologizing for anything mean or nasty or rude I have said in the last couple of days... I seriously couldn't tell you what I have eaten, who I have talked with or what I may have said to you, what the date is or if I made promises to anyone in the past week about somehting that may be coming up in the future.


I even went as far as to pick up Brinkley from school yesterday...

AT THE WRONG TIME!

Can you say BRAIN OVERLOAD?

STILL GOING..

YES, THAT IS RIGHT... THE SICKNESS IS STILL GOING STRONG. NOW IT IS DOWN TO JAXI. JAXI AND HIS 102.7 FEVER. MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE A BETTER DAY! (IT CAN'T GET ANY WORSE THAN IT HAS BEEN!! YES, I KNOW... I JUST JINXED MY LIFE BY SAYING THAT!!)

THE COST~

OUR WEEK OF SICK FAMILY MEMBERS IS STILL NOT OVER. BY LATE LAST NIGHT, ALL FIVE OF US WERE NOT FEELING WELL IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. BRINKLEY HAD COME HOME EARLY FROM SCHOOL AND BY 8 PM JAXI WAS VOMITING WITH HUGE TEARS ROLLING DOWN HIS FACE, BEGGING FOR ME TO HELP HIM.

THIS MORNING FINALLY BROUGHT ON A LITTLE RELIEF. THAT WAS WHEN I WALKED INTO MY LAUNDRY ROOM AND NEARLY FAINTED. THIS IS WHAT 5 FULL DAYS OF A SICKLY FEELING FAMILY OF 5 HAS LEFT ME WITH OR WITHOUT, DEPENDING ON HOW I LOOK AT IT!!!!

27 HUGE AND VERY DIRTY SWIMMING TOWELS THAT CAUGHT ALL KINDS OF FLUIDS

72 SIZE 6 DIAPERS... HE IS 2 AND POTTY TRAINING... THAT IS ALMOST 15 A DAY.. NO WONDER HE IS RAW!!!

A TOTAL OF 10 POUNDS LOST BETWEEN ME, JAXI AND PUDGIE

3 EMPTY GALLON BOTTLES OF BLEACH

6 LYSOL CANS

A GRAND TOTAL OF 17 HOURS OF SLEEP IN THESE 5 DAYS FOR ME

17 LOADS OF LAUNDRY TO CATCH UP ON NOW

4 BATHROOMS THAT NEED SERIOUS DISENFECTING AGAIN

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE... EVERYONE EXCEPT TOMMY WOKE UP SMILING AND IN GOOD MOODS TODAY. POOR DADDY HAD TO GOTO DEFENSIVE TACTICS TODAY AND WAS JUST A MISERABLE MESS!

What a day....

Do you ever have those days that seem like they are never going to end? I am having that day...except it has been for the past two and a half days. It is never-ending.

I have so many posts I wanted to get up on our blog. I am behind on my Mother's Day post, my exciting Vegas news post and a very special post on Jaxi and Grampie Frank. Why am I behind?????? Let me tell you...

It all started at 11:45 PM on Tuesday night. I, of course, was late getting to bed so I had been asleep all of 5 seconds when I heard Pudgie's bedroom door slam. That means he is awake for all the world to know. Problem was, he never gets out of bed that late..or early depending on how we look at it. I knew.......

The second I got to him.... spewing from his sweet little mouth was a beautiful shade of pink macaroni and cheese. I am so lucky... it all went down my shirt and in my hair rather than on my carpet. I rushed him into his bed..... which was also beautifully covered in pink now... and hurried to change and clean this heck of a mess. Only then did I realize that in all the hub bub to get this little man into a big boy bed... I only have one fitted sheet for his bed... two mattress covers though.....CRAP!

We made due and for the next 7 hours Pudgie learned how to barf into a plastic cup or the fish bowl. He thought it was a game and became really good at it!!!

I made the huge mistake of attempting to goto the bathroom at 5 AM . HUGE. I found Pudgie, all of 10 seconds after I ran from his room to my room, standing in Jax's room......puking. WONDERFUL... spreading Joy where ever he roams I suppose. The day continued just the same. A 40 minute nap was deemed futile. Just when I thought maybe, just maybe, we were getting over whatever it is we have..... along comes the liquid diapers. UUUUGGGGHHHH! Wednesday became a day of sheer pain for Pudgie. I could tell his little tummy muscles were just beat from all the dry heaving and now his little dupee was raw. There was no winning. Food was a huge no-no, which we didn't know until 11:00 PM Wednesday night when up came broccoli and fruit..... and more liquid diapers. This little man is just miserable and can't catch a break.

Luckily, he is resting now. Hopefully a little rest is just what the Doctor ordered.. seeing as that I have carpet to clean and towels to somehow bleach the heck out of.....from the last diaper mess that was all over his bedroom floor!!!

Maybe tomorrow I will catch up on my week.... Or not!

~VEGAS PICS~

THIS IS TOM'S LUCKY DICE SHIRT AND BOY WAS HE LUCKY ON THE TABLES THAT NIGHT!!!!
WHAT AN AWESOME WEEK WE HAD. I HAD TO THROW IN THE PICTURES OF THE NEW BRIDGE GOING OVER THE DAM AND THE RIVER. FIRST OFF, I HATE BRIDGES OR CURVES WHERE THE FREEWAY AND MOUNTAINS COME TOGETHER. SECOND.. FOR ALL YOU ENGINEER TYPES... THIS STUFF JUST AMAZES ME.... AND FRIGHTENS ME ALL IN THE SAME SECOND. TO WATCH THOSE CRANES AT WORK AND THE PSYCHO GUYS THAT ARE ON THEM... KUDOS TO THEM....

VEGAS BABY!!!!

WE ARE HOME.... AND THEN I ALMOST ABOUT FACED AND WENT BACK TO VEGAS. AT ANY RATE.. SAFE, SOUND, AND SUPER RECHARGED... WE ARE HOME... AND WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS IS NOT STAYING THERE!

I WILL BE POSTING SOME OF OUR EXCITING NEWS SOON... AND NO ... I AM NOT PREGNANT!

OUR SEMINAR WAS AWESOME AND BASICALLY OPENED A NEW DOOR FOR ME... POSSIBLY..... A DOOR THAT JUST MAY BE THE ANSWERS I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING 6 YEARS FOR AFTER MY WRECK. I MAY HAVE FOUND THE "WHY." .

TOMMY AND I DID A TELEVISION INTERVIEW AND MET SOME WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND I CAN'T WAIT TO START A NEW PROJECT AND POSSIBLY, CHAPTER IN OUR LIFE!!


MORE MORE MORE TO COME.. I PROMISE!!!!

~WHAT HAPPENS...

IN VEGAS........STAYS IN VEGAS!

MOMMY AND DADDY ARE ESCAPING THE ASYLUM!

A LITTLE WORK AND A LOT OF ......

HECK I JUST MIGHT STAY THERE IF I GET MY GAME BACK!!!

HAPPY HONEYMOON TO US! 10 YEARS LATER!!!!

I HAVE LITERALLY CHECKED OUT OF THIS FAMILY EARLY.. I DIDN'T EVEN BAT AN EYE WHEN PUDGIE TOOK PINK SPARKLE NAIL POLISH, THAT I USE ON MY TOES, TO MY SUEDE BENCH IN MY BEDROOM TONGHT!

YEP.. I AM THAT FAR GONE!!

AN EARLY THANK YOU GRAMMIE DIANE AND GRAMPIE FRANK FOR THIS NEXT WEEK! WE LOVE ~ LOVE ~ LOVE ~ LOVE YOU!

~ A Perfect 10 ~

It has never been EASY, although, I can't say it has been hard. Some days are easier than others, no doubt about it. Some years more eventful than others...and not always in good ways. Everything, no matter how bad, has always turned out good for us... no matter how we needed to spin it, in order to get there.

I would just consider all that good, bad and indifferent "stuff," icing on my, "proverbial" cake of life that I live.


10 years ago Tommy and I were married.


I am not gonna bore anyone with the typical "Oh... May 2, 1998 was the day I married my best friend..blah blah blah...." stuff. Everyone says that. Tommy will agree, I am not at all like Everyone or, anyone for that matter.


The truth is....

I married a hot cop that loved to: work out, ride motorcycles fast as fast can be, lay in bed all day on Mondays with me, hold my hand in public, kiss me long and hard like there was no one around (and if there was, he couldn't have cared less... he still doesn't and that is cool), Christmas shop.... on a whim...in July, wrestle me, clean our Glocks together, go shooting together, crash cars together, compete for stats with me, get dressed up together..and undress each other.... dance with me in kitchens... (didn't matter who the kitchen belonged to), snuggle in jacuzzi's, make grand entrances together, sit and do nothing together, work hard together, survive the impossible together, and best of all......

I made the first move... and he thought that was cool. Seriously, I made the first move...call it trashy, classy, cool, uncool, bad, good, awesome, progressive...... whatever. I knew I loved this man the first time I saw him. I waited for the most appropriately inappropriate time in both our lives and I went after him....in ways I have never gone after something or someone..... never fully expecting what I would get in return. Maybe he already knew what he was getting himself into.

You see, Tommy married a bad girl. There is really no way to sugar coat it so I will just admit it... and so will he. I went against the grain on everything a girl "usually" is and a wife "probably" should be and we fit together like a perfect puzzle.

We still do... even better I think.

Where these last 10 years have gone, I don't know. For all that we have been through together.....it seems like yesterday we were just starting down our own little road of life. I do know that we have come a long way in 10 VERY SHORT years.

We laugh, We love, We cry, We smile, We talk, We shout, We agree, We respect, We listen, We learn, We teach, We share, We give, We take, We scare, We surprise, We trust, We sigh, We live, We whisper, We tickle, We help, We hurt, We heal, We play, We kiss, We hold tight to what we have ........ and nothing is more important than US.

We have always kidded that for every single thing good that has happened to us, we have suffered a loss. While it may not be entirely true, it is 99% right on for us. We have lived and survived and become stronger for it all.

From year one to year ten, it has never seemed that hard, now that I look back on it. While things, at different times, may have seemed devastaing, sad, good, bad or they just down right sucked, today, for me, it just seems like it has been......

A Perfect 10!

SCARED~

Have you ever been scared?

I mean really scared. Not from a movie, not from someone saying BOO.

I mean really really scared.

I was today.

This past week was an overloaded heck of a week for me. I seriously have had about 10 hours of sleep in 6 days. I have been burning the candle at both ends (THERE IS NO MORE CANDLE I WAS TOLD TODAY) getting fevers to go away, running errands, working out, grocery shopping, planning, cleaning, organizing, preparing for trips, itemizing..you know, being a mom and wife...... the list is seriously endless....... and it finally caught up with me and I ended up in the emergency room all day today. I was seriously scared. I know I am not invincible.... I learned that the hard way 6 years ago... apparently I forgot and had to be told to slow the heck down by two Emergency Room Doctors.

It is kinda scary to think that I am lying on this little gurney and the only things that are racing through my head are: Is my life insurance policy ok? Will anyone know when to pay the tags on my wonderful excursion?.. and Tommy better not sell it.. ... Jax has a book report and project due Friday, How will he get that done? Brinkley has art class... who will bring her home? Tommy .. I don't think he is in the mood to do any wife shopping so who will take care of that boy? and Pudgie has to start his speech stuff sometime soon. Who is going to coordinate all of this? and how in the world did I end up here? (Although Gilbert Mercy is an awesome hospital.)

Luckily for me, everything was fine. I am suffering from exhaustion and the possibility of a virus trying to settle in my chest walls. I guess that means I have a good immune system that is fighting it off..... So for this week I have been told:

NO GYM... GREAT.... I have no idea what to do with myself now...
RELAX.... RIGHT I have four children to care for. Yes Tommy, you are included in that mix.....
SLEEP...hmmm... I wonder what that is?
SLOW DOWN...... I have already started to go stir crazy.


I swear, God seriously picks some scary ways to slow me down and take a breath. (Seriously Scary and EXPENSIVE!)


I think I am gonna try YOGA....

Shadows~

When Tommy and I met at the Police Department I was the new blonde rookie and he was the baby on his squad that had like 250 years of police experience between them all. He had been there for a few years already. I always looked up to Tommy but never told him that. (most likely because I fell in love with him the first time I saw him.. I was seriously a bumbling idiot around him) I knew the boy loved traffic so I tried to emulate him as much as possible even though it was rare we ever worked together in my first year or so on the force. It took all of 16 months before I started dating Tommy and by then, we both had established some pretty amazing reputations.

When we got married there were bets placed against us and always the whispers but a few things always remained solid... our reputations and work ethics. Neither of us ever outshined the other. Our work styles always complimented the others.

When Tommy and I went through motor school together, we set the bar extremely high for couples within the department. A seriously high bar. We did what no one else had done and to make it even more amazing, I was the first girl to do it. From October 12, 2000 (Tommy's 30th birthday) on, Tommy lost his identity at work. It has always haunted me. Tommy instantly became....... "De Anna Jensen's husband.... you know "their" female motor." He lived in my shadow for a long time. He rode that motor better than me and yet he was always put on the back burner... newspapers and t.v. stations paid the attention to me and always put him in my shadow as, "my husband and riding partner," never giving him the credit he so readily deserved. He never once complained... ever.

I am sure that it was not easy. It still isn't. Heck, this man married me and I am not an easy person to be married to let alone be eye to eye and neck and neck in a career with. After my wreck, it still took a while for people to stop calling Tommy, "De Anna's husband." Every once in a while he gets kidded and even I will say... "don't you forget whose boy you are!" It is a running joke with us.

Tommy finally has gotten his chance to shine. There are no more shadows! I am here to tell you, he is as bright as the sun nowadays. In September he was promoted and gave up his motorcycle. That was the last thing that connected him to my shadow and I was very thankful to watch that thing go..for now. As Cmdr. Haenel said to everyone today, riding that motor is the best place in the department... and I know one day you will head back to it Tommy!!

For now,
Today is the day that the city did Tommy's formal promotion ceremony with all the dignitaries present. I could not have been more proud of his accomplishments. In the past 7 months Tommy has changed peoples careers in major ways and started putting all of his experience into play with all the men and women who now work for him.

I surprised Tommy by having all of our family at the ceremony. I even took Jax and Brinkley out of school for the day. I know how proud they are of him. They saw the countless hours he put into studying and now understand how that hard work has paid off. Today I wanted them to see it first hand. Jax was amazed to see all the Chiefs and Commanders and asked so many questions about how he can become a Sergeant or a Chief one day. (Nothing like skipping the ranks kiddo...way to aim high!)

Today was Tommy's day to shine. A day that has been a long time coming for him. I loved sitting back and being in his shadow. It is a place I have never been in my life and it was pretty cool! I think I could handle this place every once in a while!

Thank you Tommy for giving me the honor of pinning on your Sergeant's badge.... You have no idea how proud of you I am...How proud all of us are! I swore to myself I was not going to cry today... at least you were kind enough to join me in the tears!

Thank you Grammie Diane, Grampie Frank, Grammie and Grampie Jensen and our wonderful kids for being there to support Tommy today. He won't say it out loud to anyone but me, but it meant the world that you were there to stand and watch him receive his badge!

P.S. For those that don't know... this has been a hideous week of one disaster after another in our house. Jax was sick, Pudgie was really really sick, Binky had her weekly issues.. everyone was cranky and my house looks like a two year old went wild inside it......oh wait, he did and so did an 8 and 6 year old! To top it all off, I go and get the absolute worst haircut of my entire life the day before this ceremoy. I had just told my good friend you never have your hair done before a function (she left for a cruise this morning and had her hair done yesterday as well.) Luckily, I have a "whatever personality" when it comes to my hair. I wrapped it up in a belt and spiked it as much as possible. WHATEVER! I will be wearing my baseball hat even more than normal for a while! Trish, thank you for the emergency slip to go under my dress. You would think with all the preparation I had made for this day I would not be such a jumble! You saved me!

I am so glad we have the next 4 days to catch our breath and the kids can get healthy and help clean and my hair can grow!

Another sick day~

Poor Pudgie. I knew something was wrong with him when I put him to bed last night. I even called Tommy to tell him something was wrong with the way he was breathing. He stood in my room at 11:45 PM whimpering and burning up. What can you do but pull 'em into bed with you and love them to death. He woke up with a fever of 102.... UUUGGGH!

We spent the entire day on the couch or laying in Pudgie's bed ... or Pudgie laid on me or had me carry him everywhere. Not the most comfortable for me but this poor baby is just a miserable mess! I hate when 2 year olds get sick. Getting Pudgie to take Tylenol is like getting me to eat asparagus. It is just not a pretty sight.

GROSS TALENT~

That's our Pudgie!

The Concert.....

Second Graders Extraordinaire!!!

Sick Day

Jax has his 2nd grade music concert tonight. Of course, today, he has a sore throat and cough. I knew he was not faking this morning when he cried as I told him that he would not be able to goto the concert tonight if he stayed home from school. I was just testing him anyway..... I am sure it is allergies since there is no fever.

We spent the day hanging out together except for when I ran to the store with Pudgie man. Jaxi is the one I can trust to lay on the couch and do nothing. (Don't panic, Daddy was home).

After I put the little man down for his nap, we just hung out and watched a movie that is probably not the most suitable for an 8 year old, but we both loved it and I love explaining how important school is if you want to be like daddy or if you want to repel off the helicopter like the FBI agent in the movie we were watching. Jax loves school so even if there was a little bit of faking going on today... I am good with that.....because he is such a good boy!

Oh man...

As I was looking at Trish & Shane's blog today...this caught my eye. Oh man, I just gained 10 pounds looking at it.. I need to goto the gym again today. And maybe I should stop blog hopping. Thanks Trish!

Friends

I love how friendships can happen from the strangest places. Hallie, Jax, and Binky met 5 years ago in the kidz club at our gym. Of course, soon after, I met Leslie (Hallie's mom) and the friendships have just grown from there. We have seen new houses, birth, death, new animals, and so much more since we met! We may only get to see each other three times a year now, but we make a day of it and have a blast! Thanks for the fun over Spring Break!

OF COURSE......

My mission has begun. I have started scouring the internet to find new and exciting ways to get Jax and Brinkley to stop helping Pudgie do everything... and a way for me to not give in so easily to him and make him work for the things he wants. It is going to be hard but that was one of the main suggestions today to get Pudgie to talk on his own rather than point and grunt..... either that or somehow get rid of his older siblings that do everything upon everything for him....... I don't forsee that happening.

We took Pudgie to an audiologist/speech therapy office today. It was solely for an evaluation. Immediately I didn't think we fit in. Something just seemed off with what I was thinking was "wrong" with Pudgie and and all the little ones that were in the office getting therapy.

After an hour long play session of Pudgie telling the evaluator "no" to everything, I was nearing tears of frustration, Tommy was ready to explode and Pudgie was tired of being told he could not play with the balls that the woman had given him. When all was said and done we were told Pudgie's comprehension is completely normal he is just having difficult expressing emotions verbally. Oh fricken heck, for $270.00 an hour I could have told you that................. Then.......

Pudgie turns the ball~ coaster~ air~ blowing~ thing~ of~ toy over and starts reading the letters in phonogram sounds. The woman looked up at Tommy and I and immediately asked us what he was doing. I had told her over and over, as did Tommy, that he reads the letters he sees as phonograms rather than saying words... I guess she was not listening the 40 times I tried to tell her this. (The more that I think about it, the more I don't believe it myself half the time) Sure as can be, that is what he started doing and this woman was speechless.

She is recommending speech therapy for him, to push him along a little. OF COURSE SHE IS!

It will take an unknown number of sessions to help him along. OF COURSE IT WILL!

It is $270.00 an hour. Insurance may not pay for it but they take credit cards.... OF COURSE THEY DO!

We ended the session on one note that made me feel better...

Einstein was 3 years old before he uttered a word.

Who's been sleepin in my bed?

With new schedules in place in our house, we are taking full advantage of weekend gym time. I used to take Sunday's off but not anymore. This Sunday was no different.. but oh so different for me.

I finally get to sleep in, if sleeping until 7 a.m. is really considered sleeping in, on both Saturday and Sunday. I made it clear that no one in the house has a choice in this matter and unless you have a limb dangling by one small piece of tendon, I am not concerned about any blood loss,..... you best just wait it out. Tommy has been included in this threat. It seems to be working.... sort of.

This last Sunday, I heard Pudgie, at the top of his little lungs screaming..

MOMMA?

MOM MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

It was like nails on a chalkboard. Instantly, it was gone. SILENCE. When I looked at the clock it said 7:10. I decided to start the shower to get ready to hit the gym since we had birthday parties to go to!

Just as I opened the door to the shower, out of no where... POOF... my breakfast was served. It was meant for "in bed" but Pudgie ruined that... I was ordered back into bed where I got to eat my most favorite sourdough toast, cherry yogurt and 6 egg whites! I was set for legs and shoulders day....

I am still wondering who that masked man was that made me breakfast because Tommy does not cook.

Who has been sleepin in my bed on the weekends???????

Slumber Party

Pudgie was all over the bed!

Buddies!Early morning.. Jax now understands why Mommy doesn't like to share her pillow

Well, for the first time, and I suppose, not the last, all three little ones slept in Jaxi's room last night. I doubt I will ever get Pudgie back in his own bed now. Oh wait...he hardly sleeps there anyways!!

VAGUE

TOMMY SAID I SEEMED VERY VAGUE IN MY LAST POST ABOUT THE GROCERIES I GAVE AWAY YESTERDAY. I DIDN'T THINK SO. MAYBE HE WANTED TO HEAR MORE. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THERE WAS ANY MORE TO TELL. HE KEPT PRODDING ME.

DON'T GET ME WRONG, TOMMY WAS MORE THAN PROUD OF WHAT I DID. I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT MUCH OF IT. HE WANTED TO KNOW PEOPLE'S REACTIONS AND WHAT THIS LITTLE GIRL SAID. WELL HONEY, HERE IT IS IN A NUTSHELL~

I THINK THE CHECKER WAS MORE SHOCKED AND DISMAYED THAN ANYONE. I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE ELSE GETTING GROCERIES NOTICED. THAT WAS NOT A REAL CONCERN OF MINE ANYWAY. I HAD BEEN TO FRY'S A TOTAL OF 7 TIMES ALREADY THIS WEEK SO THE CHECKER KNEW WHAT I WAS DOING AND HOW MUCH MONEY I WAS SAVING AND JUST HAD AN ASTONISHED LOOK ON HER FACE WHEN I HANDED OVER THE GROCERIES. MY CHECKER DID TELL ME IT WAS COOL THAT I HAD DONE THAT. I THOUGHT THAT WAS NICE.

AS FOR MY LITTLE MOTHER THAT WAS REALLY SPEECHLESS.. SHE DID THANK ME. I DIDN'T EVEN NEED THAT. IF I COULD HAVE, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TRIED TO GIVE HER THE GROCERIES WITHOUT HER KNOWING WHO I WAS. THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE GIVEN THE LOCATION OF THE CHECKOUTS WE WERE IN. SHE WAS YOUNG AND SHY AND SEEMED A BIT EMBARRASSED THAT SHE NEEDED HELP. I FIGURED, HECK, WHO DOESN'T NEED HELP? I NEED IT A LOT BUT I NEVER ASK FOR IT. (NOTE TO SELF: ASKING FOR HELP IS OK!) IT WAS THE LOOK OF RELIEF ON HER FACE THAT SAID A THOUSAND WORDS THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET. I AM SURE EVERYONE HAS SEEN IT. NOTHING ELSE NEEDED TO BE SAID.

TO ME, IT WAS JUST ONE MOM LOOKING OUT FOR ANOTHER!

I Dare You..

When I was growing up, my parents always made us volunteer at Andre House. It is a house in downtown Phoenix that feeds the homeless. I was little so I got to pass out cookies at the end of the line. It never dawned on me that I was really doing anything that good. I just loved talking with all the people and seeing them smile. I never really understood they were really homeless and could not afford their meals.

On Christmas Eve, 1991, the guy I was dating went with me to do some last second Christmas shopping before dinner. I will never forget that as we drove past Mervyn's I noticed this older woman pushing a shopping cart. It started to sprinkle. I made him turn his truck around and I gave her all the money I had to finish my Christmas shopping. My boyfriend was livid at me. I didn't have enough money to finish my shopping now, and to be honest, I can't even remember who did not get their present that year. Obviously it did not matter. I broke up with my boyfriend right after Christmas for making fun of me for helping someone. I was always that kind of girl. Still am.

This past week I have been clipping coupons like a raging lunatic. SERIOUSLY. Each day I went, I had lists and all my coupons organized in envelopes and did not deviate from the lists. I was even prepared for any Pudgie tantrums... I took extra snacks for the little man and my shopping went off without a hitch.... until the checkout.

Today, when Pudige and I were getting ready to go through all my lists I was watching a younger little girl and her baby checking out their groceries. I knew she was young.. maybe 17. I am sure she was making a go of life on her own or maybe with a boyfriend and her little baby. I can't imagine how that would be.

I went through my first batch of food groceries. I was pretty pleased with my $10.11 bill for over $135.00 in groceries. Something about this little girl just kept me staring in her direction. There was barely enough food to feed one person for a day, let alone herself and her little one. They didn't seem homeless but possibly a pair that bounced between friends. Pudgie was trying to play ball with the girl.

When the girl finished checking out her groceries she was short a few dollars. If she had been buying alcohol or cigarettes I would not have given her a second thought. She was buying her baby her food and milk, bread and eggs. Essentials. Essentials that she could not afford. The clerk asked her what she needed to return. I could tell the girl was embarrassed and scared all at the same time. I handed the clerk the remaining amount this little girl needed and told her she did not need to return anything. You would have thought that I had just given this little girl a new car. She could not thank me enough. It felt so good to help this little girl with just a few dollars that were change at the bottom of my purse. Pudgie, of course had not idea what was going on, but was actually playing happily for once in the store.

Right then I decided that this little girl could have my first group of groceries. It was all food, well, one package of toilet paper, and who doesn't need that. They would both be able to eat everything that I had purchased and I am sure it was more food than she had purchased in the last two months combined. Who knows, maybe my instinct was off today, and this little girl was not who she appeared to be....she could be the nanny for all I know, but I don't think so.

Today I did something for someone else and it felt so good. My kids are not going to miss the mashed potatoes that I gave away and we certainly will survive without the other 4 bottles of bottles of grape juice and countless other items that were there in my order.

I am not sure how many people really read our blog, but for those that do, I DARE YOU to do something good for someone you don't know. It might just make your day! I really believe that for the cost of my groceries $10.11 and the extra $2.00 and change I gave to this little girl, one day, she will do the same for someone else when she can!

HOT little DATE

Pudgie and I made a go of Lifetime Fitness today. He has done well with Jax and Brinkley there but the one time I tried to take him by himself he did horribly. We are talking kicking and screaming - trying to climb over the barrier - to get the heck outta Dodge - horrible!


Today was better. Not the best, but I got an hour out of him. I knew it was gonna take a couple of times to adjust. It is rather daunting for a 2 year old, I guess.


Once we were outta the gym I stopped at Wal~Mart. When I finished, I decided to get lunch for each of us. Subway for me and a hot dog for Pudgie. Pudgie was yelling that he wanted to sit and eat at the tables. He would not take no for an answer, even though I had intended to take lunch home with us. So we sat. Just the two of us. Our time!


Pudgie is too small to actually sit comfortably in a dining chair, but he does it, and he thinks he is super cool. We started eating our lunch and had a wonderful little chat. He talked of phonograms..."ahh, oooooohhh, eh, eeeeee, then mama and daddy and eeeewwwwww ucky," as he watched the construction workers walk in all muddy from their job. We were lost in our own little conversation that lasted quite a while. Of course, only I knew what Pudgie was saying, not matter though, it was high priority talk!


That is when I noticed other people noticing us.


One older couple watched Pudgie intently. Pudgie decided he wanted to play ring around the rosey with the basket and the table. He only had on one of his Spongebob shoes. He paid no attention to anyone but me. I was the center of his little world right then and there. He giggled everytime he passed next to me and screamed "BOO." This lasted a good 10 minutes. I guess if I had stopped acting surprised everytime he got close he would have gotten bored sooner. The couple just kept smiling at my little man.


Another woman watched in clear disgust. I don't know if it was his missing shoe that clearly had her grimacing at us or if she was just having a miserable day.. whatever the case, Pudgie was oblivious to her as well. I just kept smiling at her. After all, I had the hottest lunch date in town today and who would not be smiling at that?


We continued to chit chat about all the important things in life... such as juice and the fans on the ceiling that were spinning. There is nothing funnier than watching a toddler try to follow spinning fans with his eyes. The missing light bulb that was "OOOH OUCHIE OUT" in one of the pendant lights was also a hot topic. Pudgie finally got down off his chair and climbed up into my lap and started in on my sandwich, which quickly became his. I never did get another bite. Which seems to always be the case during meals now! He switched seats three times while we ate. This really bothered our grimacing friend. Again, Pudgie was not concerned. After all, when you are 2, you should try the regular seats, the green bar stool and the red one while enjoying your dining experience.


We spent a good hour together at Subway today. Nothing fancy for us. Just some awesome Pudgie and Mommy time. Pudgie worked on his words and laughed and made other people laugh too. That always makes for a great day!

Jammin

Trish is teaching us to make homemade sourdough rolls, via her blog. It is a ten day process. I wanted to do it. I really wanted to. I thought I would have a hard time keeping up with the whole process, but I figured that now that it was in writing, and had pictures, I could do it at a later day since I did not have the ingredients. Then Trish opened up her pantry to me...I had no excuse now, so I was gonna do it.....then, I fell down the stairs while holding Pudgie and broke two toes at 6 a.m. LAST Monday morning. (I probably actually did some other things that are worse than broken toes but what's one more sore appendage on this body right?) The rolls were a no go at that time but Pudgie was all intact and he learned a new word that day! Not so good!


So, instead..... I decided to try making jam.


Ok, if I have not made it clear as crystal yet... Betty Crocker I am not! I guess it sounds like I would rather break my toes than bake. Probably......Seriously... my sister was the one who took the cooking classes when we were growing up.... I did gymnastics, took wood~shop and played softball all year round. I never had a desire to learn how to cook. NEVER... I can grill things and roast things over an open flame (marshmallows count people... work with me!) but I seriously do not have the patience to really sit down.. ok stand there, and "C O O K." (I fake my Christmas cookies...)


Now, with that being said, Shanen invited me to learn how to make strawberry jam with her this year. At least I hope she invited me and I didn't actually just invite myself to do it and then she felt obligated to really have me come over..... because I do that a lot around here.. ok, anyways...


I will first tell everyone involved that I had no idea what making jam involved. I envisioned boiling things and pressure cookers and some special type of thingy to suck the lids onto the jars. Things that everyone would know I do not have in my kitchen. I was seriously figuring I would have to run to Trish's house at the very last minute and beg to raid her house of all kinds of kitchen equipment I would not know how to use anyway. At least that way, I was gonna look cool! No matter what I needed, I was gonna learn this way of doing it because Shanen's jam is the best we have ever had.


When we moved into our house over Easter weekend in 2006, to welcome us to the neighborhood, Shanen, Josh, Ky, Kobi and Mr. 4 weeks old Kruzi gave us a jar of Shanen's homemade strawberry jam. It was awesome.... and I am usually just good~old~fashioned grape~jelly girl. Even Binky liked it and she hates strawberries. Trust me, I would not even attempt this if we did not love it...and when I like something... look out.


Last Wednesday night I rushed to get all my supplies that I needed for my jammin debut! Ok, a trip that should have taken 15... maybe 20 minutes, with drive time included, turned into me staring at the housewares section of Wal-Mart wondering what the heck I was doing. When it comes to cooking and all the gadgets that go along with the kitchen I just don't get it. I could not tell you the difference between blenders or beaters or types of pots and pans and when you get into gadgets that you plug in... if it is not a Geroge Foreman grill or a blender for protein shakes... it most likely is not going to be used in my kitchen. I may have it because it looks good, but honestly, I most likely don't know how to use it!


As I walked up and down the same three isles, the same man kept asking me if I was ok. Seven times he walked by me as I stood with a blank stare on my face wondering what most of these things actually did.


After walking past the containers I needed 10 times, I finally found just what Shanen had showed me. For being such a visual person... sometimes I just get lost in the moment of things. So I was all prepared.. except for the other thing she showed me that I still could not remember the name of. After another 10 minutes I remembered it was the pectin... and since I had been told it was right next to the containers I needed, I headed back to the housewares section again. (I have no idea how I got into the shoe section...)


So, initially, the plan was to make the jam together on Saturday or whenever we could fit it in. Well, I got antsy on Thursday morning and decided to try my hand at Strawberry jam all by my lonesome. I messed the first batch up! Go figure! I can not multi-task when it comes to cooking. Anything else I can do 50 things at once.. cooking...Not even close. I probably only had 1/2 the amount of required strawberries and way too much sugar. Pudgie drank an entire jar of the first batch. The kid loved it!


As things seem to happen around here, plans changed and I knew Shanen had conferences for church this weekend, so we didn't get a chance to make the jam together but she helped me make it via text messages! I even made sugar free jam and it was really good!


The kids love it and I have to admit, I am pretty proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to try this Suzy Homemaker stuff out for myself!


And my little taste tester can not get enough of it!

BARGAIN MONDAY!

I love bargain Mondays. Or bargain Sunday's for that matter. I had Pudgie today so that is always a gamble for me on how much I can really get done. Today was good! I was armed with three organized lists of coupon only items and I was absolutely not going to deviate from my lists. Every item had a coupon and not a single item more would be bought...I hoped! Plus I was only taking $40.00 cash with me and I had already made out my totals so we only had a $10.00 pad in case something was sold out and or Pudgie threw a major fit and I had to stuff him with goodies not on the list!

Here is my break down:
15 packages of Keebler fudge cookies
10 Betty Crocker cookie mix pouches
10 cans of Hormel chili
8 bottles of Welchs light grape juice
6 boxes of Eggo frozen waffles (60 total)
4 packages of Dole cherry fruit cups (16 cups)
4 Knorr side dishes
3 Pillsbury pizza crust rolls
3 Betty Crocker AuGratin potatoes
2 wheat Buitoni Tortellini noodles
2 bags Cheetos

70 items total were bought making them cost approximately 42.67 cents each! (yes, that is a smoking deal especially for the Welchs grape juice .. even better than any dollar store I have ever been to!!)

My bill was $210.27 which was done in 3 transactions at Fry's

I PAID $29.87 TOTAL FOR EVERYTHING!!

SCORE!!!

(I look at it as the grape juice was normally $4.19. I paid for 7 bottles of juice and got everything else free!!!!! But that is just me!)

Side note

** For those that really know us, Tommy and I will not eat 90% of this food. It will go for snacks for his new squad and the kids. I can't beat it when summer is coming and I can freeze the cookies for movie days! And I can fake more christmas cookies next year!**