SURPRISE!

Yep, I'm still alive! I haven't posted in months because, quite frankly, I'm lazy. I keep thinking about posting and then I don't. I need to get better about it.

I'm actually working day shift now! Whoo-hoo! I got a promotion (yay!) so now I get to work "normal people hours". This past week was my first week doing it, so I am not used to it at all. I think I'll like it just fine, though. The downside? I'm working today and tomorrow because of staffing issues. (Boo!) I can't complain, though.

Well, I should go back to work now. I would say I would post again soon, but we all know how that goes!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear JC Penny

Please leave my favorite 80s movie alone. Because? You are totally ruining it.

Sincerely,

Jenn

This has been a busier week than I had planned for! There was not one day where I didn't have some errands to run or plans. On Tuesday, we went to a free movie at a local theater. I was pretty concerned because it was Emma's first trip to a movie and, quite frankly, she is not the quietest kid in the bunch. I was pleasantly surprised. She LOVED the movie (Robots) and sat still the whole time. She laughed and danced in her seat. She also ate a whole kid sized popcorn and a quarter of my medium popcorn. (My girl is an eater....) Sam loved that his little sister was able to see a movie with him and he just kept looking at her and smiling during the movie. When we were leaving the movie, I saw they had a photo booth, so I decided we were going to have our pictures taken for the occasion. Sam wasn't too keen on that idea, but he put up with it until the last picture was being taken. You can see him turning to walk away on that one.



Now it's off to go swimming. (and then I get to work all night. Whoo-hoo. Can you feel my excitement?)

I hope everyone has a nice weekend!

It's a Monday Party!

So the kids, especially Em, kept asking for a party. Last night, before Em went to bed, I had to promise cupcakes and presents so she would go to bed. So, today we had a "Monday Party". I myself have never celebrated Monday (seeing that it's just another work day and the beginning of the week and all), but the kids wanted to. We had Chick Fil A for lunch and then cupcakes. The kids had fun and I stuck to Weight Watchers, so it all worked out nicely.

As a quick little vent: The toddler toy in the Chick Fil A meal was a book that promises to teach values to my child. Please don't. First, it's not a fast food place's business to teach my kid anything. Second, please don't mix my fast food and religion. Do Not Want.

Another Sunday Night

Why do weekends have do go by so quickly? I am exhausted and the house still isn't clean. Oh well; no one is going to die because the house is a mess.

We didn't do much over the weekend. We went swimming today, which was nice.

Ok. So here are my goals for this week. (As if anyone cares! LOL) I will follow Weight Watchers all week and will not give in to the urges for milkshakes and cherry icees. I will get Sam's drawers (the dresser kind, not underwear) clean and make room for new school clothes. Rounding out my list: clean the dining room and all of the shelves to make it all organized. We'll see if this happens.

No Wonder I Am A Fatty McFatty Pants

I really need to hop back on the Weight Watchers bus again because I am gaining weight back like crazy. (Eating dinner at the Varsity is not the healthiest meal choice.)

Some people have other addictions. I am addicted to food/eating. I seriously need help. Because onion rings and apple pies are not worth me falling over with a heart attack. (and) Honestly, I feel ridiculous ordering a diet coke with chili dogs and onion rings.

In the Waiting Room

At Sam's six year well child check up.

Status Quo

Yes, it has been awhile since I have posted anything. Jesus, it's just been so busy around here and, to be honest, I just haven't been inspired to do anything other than to just make it through the day. Things are good here, don't get me wrong; I just feel like things have been kind of, ummm, boring.

Anywho, today is my boy's birthday and I totally plan on posting about it tomorrow. For now, I'm going to put up some laundry and go to bed.

Lost: Creativity

Have you seen my creativity? No? Neither have I. I swear, the older I get, the less creative I get. The bad part is that I miss it. I have ideas in my head, but it never leaves and actually, you know, gets created. I've started a book for each of the kids. It's not really a scrapbook; it's more like a journal with scrapbook pages in it. I've made it a goal to write a letter to each of the kids daily. Every once in a while, there will be a scrapbook page with photos in it. I really hope this is something i can stick to. Hopefully, the books will be something the kids will enjoy when they are adults.

Boring Monday

Boring day here. (Other than getting to sleep til 4pm! Whoo-hoo!!! Hey, I worked until 6 am and didn't get to sleep until 8am. I'm not really that lazy!)

Yesterday, we played on the back porch. Sam played on one of those inflatable water slides and Em played in a baby pool. Well, the baby pool is actually an infant bath tub...

Normally I Don't Talk Politics but...

Did anyone see or read about Fox News referring to Michelle Obama as "Obama's Baby Mama"? How absolutely insulting. I won't say much on this because, frankly, it just makes me mad and it reminds me how much race still matters in this day and age. I will say this: I can't imagine Fox news referring to Cindy McCain as "McCain's Baby Mama".

Please click here to read a much better post regarding this. (This guy said it way better than I ever could!)

Big Questions

Sam has been asking some pretty heavy questions lately and I can only imagine what is going on in that little head of his. It always starts out the same; "Why did Mama and Daddy get married?", he'll ask. I tell him that his daddy and I love each other and we want to spend the rest of our lives together. He'll think for a moment and then he'll ask, "But what about that lady? The lady with the baby in her tummy?". He, of course, is asking about his birth mother. I'll start to explain, in very simple words, about his birth mother and her situation. Sam will usually say something about Bill and I coming to get him to bring him to his "new home" (his words). I always ask him if he has more questions and let him know that I will always answer whatever questions I can for him. I don't want to push more on him than he wants, but I never want him to feel like he can't ask or talk to me about it. For the past few times that he has brought this up, he gets very angry a little while later. It will be something simple, like us telling him he can't play a video game, and he will start to cry and tell us that he doesn't like us anymore. He hates us. As he's saying those things, I can tell he knows what he is saying is hurtful and that he doesn't mean them. He has even written it down on paper a few times. I can't say that it doesn't hurt. It does; it feels like a million daggers in my heart. I'm not sure if part of this is testing and just being five; I have a strong feeling that he is trying to work on some feelings regarding adoption and he is having trouble verbalizing his fears or questions. A little while after he has these episodes, he becomes very clingy and tells us that he is sorry and he doesn't hate us. All I can say when he tells us he hates us is "that's okay if you feel that way, but I love you no matter what". When he apologizes, I re-emphasize that I love him so much and if he needs to talk about anything I am here for him.

I plan on getting some age appropriate adoption books this week and we will read them together. Hopefully that will help us out.

Seven Whole Years

Today Bill and I have been married for seven years. Of course, I just realized this yesterday. Our anniversary just kind of sneaked up on me this year. (Bill too, so at least I'm not alone on the whole forgetting our anniversary.)

Who would have thought all of those years ago that we would have even gotten married? We've been together for nine, almost ten, years. When we met, he called me a lightning rod because of my piercings. I called him "normal" because he wore khakis and polo shirts. Today, he is still the sensible one of us. He is the stable to my unstable and the calm to my chaos. We may have our disagreements, but he is always by my side.

Each year I'm amazed that he's decided to stick with my crazy ways and I am grateful. Here's to many, many, many more years.

Answered Prayers

Ha. As I sat down to enjoy my high calorie/high fat breakfast, a song
started to play over the speakers: "Reunited". (and) It felt so good.

Of course, as I finished my breakfast another song came on. "Solid
(as a Rock)". I guess that was someone trying to remind me of the
state of my arteries.

All Good Things...

We are in the car and headed home now. It'll probably be seven hours
before we are actually home, though.

We had a great time and, like the end of all vacations, I am wishing
we had just a few more days. I miss my puppies and cats, however, so
it will be good to get home.

Now, if we could only stop for a yummy bad for me (read: lots of
gravy, bacon and sausage!) breakfast...

Come As You Are

Ignore the tacky background decor.

As requested by Sweetney.

Vacation Update

Vacation is going well. The first few days were hectic, only because
the kids were super hyper. (Because vacation? With Nana and
Grandaddy? Let's totally act like little heathens and get away with
it!)

We went out on a boat today and went to Shell Island; that was
beautiful. Of course, I didn't get sunscreen on my back. It is now
lobster red. I'll post a picture, complete with glorious back fat,
after we finish dinner.

Captain Samiches!

On our boat adventure.

The World's Meanest, yet Sweetest, 2 Year Old

Sadly, it was not Capt. Jack Sparrow

And there is no Johnny Depp here.

The Only Time They Have Sat Still

Vacation? What Vacation?

Oh my sweet Baby Jesus. I am ready to come home. The kids are driving me nuts. Please send help.

Scene from the drive to Florida

Are We There Yet?

Sam just asked if we are there yet. We have about 3 more hours. It's
going to be a long 3 hours...

On the Road

We have been on the road for a little over an hour. So far, the kids
have gotten in three fights. No one has asked if we are there yet, so
that's a positive.

I figured out this mobile blogging thing, so I have a feeling that
I'll be blogging a lot more than normal.

Vacation...

We're leaving tomorrow morning for our vacation. I'll try to post, but who knows if that will happen. I'm not going to have a lot of internet access. Little or no internet for one whole week?! What the hell am I going to do?

Exciting Weekend

Tomorrow Bill and I are going to celebrate our birthdays. Our birthday is actually on Monday, but we thought I had to work so we made plans for tomorrow. Now that I don't have to work on our actual birthday, my parents will be taking us out. (I owe a friend at work big time for working for me!)

First on the agenda? Breakfast at Cracker Barrel! YUMMY. Nothing says "Have a Happy Healthy Birthday" like gravy, sausage, biscuits and hashbrown casserole. I can feel my arteries clogging already! Then, we'll go to a local flea market so Bill can look for Hot Wheels. We'll have some time to kill after that but second, we're going to see "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". I'm so looking forward to seeing that! (I may joke that Bill is a big dork, but I think we can all tell that I am probably the bigger dork.) We'll have a few hours to spare after the movie and then we're going to eat yummy yummy dinner at The Melting Pot. The Melting Pot is my favorite all time restaurant.

So, I have a question for anyone reading out there. We are in need of new mattresses. We are considering the memory foam mattresses. Does anyone have an opinion about those?

I love this sound...

This laughter can make everything better.

Something to make me smile

So, here is Sam talking about the puppy (Lacey) and then he starts talking about Fizzy, me, his home and toys. Notice Lacey is not moving at all...I guess she's used to being handled by him now.



I can always count on my little guy to make me smile. (My other reason to smile is at her Papa's today.)

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Welcome to my pity party. Won't you sit down and make yourself comfortable? If you don't feel like listening to me whine, go ahead and step away from the blog.

I feel over worked and under appreciated.

I've written this post several times already and I've deleted every one of them. I don't want to sound ungrateful for the things that I have. I have the two most beautiful children in the world. I have a great husband. I have a job; I have a car; I have many things that others may not be able to afford. I feel like I should emphasize that my feeling of being over worked has nothing to do with being a mother...at all. It's everything else. Working night shift, getting far less sleep than I need, cleaning up constantly...it's a lot. It's never ending, actually. Now I feel like I should say that I wouldn't change my life at all - I just wish I could juggle it a bit better. I want a house that I'm not embarrased about people coming into. I want clean floors and less clutter. I want more time and energy to clean. I want to make a lot of home improvements that are going to cost a fair amount of money and lots of time...time that I don't have right now. I want to be able to go one month and save money. Gah...I want, I want, I want. As much as I want to delete this post, I'm not going to. Maybe I'll read it again in a month and realize I have nothing to complain about and Jebus, what in the hell was wrong with me when I wrote this.

*Because I'm superstitious, plus my habit of feeling guilty over every single thing: I want to say that I am glad I have a job; I wouldn't trade my husband or kids for anything in the world (including a clean house and all the sleep I can possibly imagine). Even though the night shift hours are not my favorite, it's the best for our family. It means no daycare for the kids; one of us is always home with them. Really. It's true.*

In my head, this post was going to be eloquent and it sounded much better than when I typed it out. Now I feel like a brat and a complainer. Uggh...perhaps I should just stop now before this gets worse.

The Incredible "Hunk"

Sam can't pronounce his "L"s very good...Most of the time he says it with a "Y" sound. (Example: he calls his aunt "Ya Ya" instead of "La La". For some reason, however, he calls the Hulk the "Hunk". LOL


Yesterday, I bought him some of those Hulk smash hand thingies. He loves them. He has been running around yelling "I AM the Incredible Hunk! I will SMASH you!".

Hunk angry! Hunk will smash you!

Vacation

I can't wait for June 1st to come around. We're leaving for vacation that day and, frankly, I am counting the days down. We're not going anywhere special, just the Redneck Riviera. It's vacation, though and that's all that matters.

I've just reached a point where I feel like everything is weighing down on me: work, family things, etc. I just need a break. Of course, riding in a car for 5 or 6 hours straight with the kids may make me change my mind about going on vacation! Emma is good for about an hour (at most) before she starts whining to get out of her seat. Sam is an excellent traveler and will sit for hours on end as long as he has some form of entertainment.

Sorry I don't have anything else to write about. I'm just feeling kind of blah....

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone is having a terrific Mother's Day!

I'm at work now (Boo!), but I spent the day with Bill and the kids. It was terrific. Sam made some hearts for me. Bill told Sam to help me with some random thing today and Sam asked why. Bill told him it was Mother's Day. Sam just rolled his eyes and asked, "Why does it have to be Mother's Day? That's just silly!".

Back to work for now.

The Happiest 5 Years of My Life.

***This is the post I've been trying to write since March. Sometimes life just gets busy. Just because I didn't have time to write it at the time doesn't mean that I haven't thought about it every single day.***





On March 14, we celebrated five years of our Samiches being home. Five years. Where does the time go? I can remember so vividly when we first got our referral call. It was after 8pm and I was in the shower. Bill was on his way home from work. The phone rang and I answered it, thinking Bill was just calling to say he was running late or something. It was our agency. Would we be interested in a boy born in July (it was the middle of August)? Of course I'll go check my email right away. I knew, before even checking my email, that I was about to see a picture of our son. The world somehow felt completely different. I opened my email and anxiously opened up the email from our agency. Before reading the medical information or anything else, I clicked on the first photo attachment. A beautiful baby boy. Our baby boy. Our son. (Please note: He is also very much his birth mother's son. Please don't think I have forgotten about her.) At that point, Bill finally got home. (I had called him and told him that the agency called. No, I wasn't patient enough to wait until he got home to look at the baby's pictures.) I led Bill to the computer and silently showed him the pictures. We looked at the medicals. We both knew that this was our son. Calls were made to our families and to the agency. The next morning, we were faxing POAs and getting things overnighted to the agency.


In February, we finally got the call. PGN had approved our adoption. Sam was legally our son. In March, we met him for the first time and brought him home. Life has never been the same.




Finally meeting everyone after getting off the airplane.

Sam's first bath at home. Look at that face!

Our sweet boy five years later.

Why can't I figure this out???

In my quest to be a good photographer and all that good stuff, I am trying to learn Photoshop Elements. I can't figure it out for the life of me. Is it really that difficult or am I really that dumb???

Wow...

Things really have been busy here. Sam's "Gotcha Day" was on March 14 - 5 years home! (I'm not going to post on this now. It needs it's own special post.) Em is getting bigger and is a talker. (She just turned two, if you can believe that!) That kid is talking non-stop from the minute she wakes up until the minute she goes to bed. (and) Attitude. Sweet Jesus, does she have attitude. That's one thing we need to work on. She's spoiled and throws temper tantrums if she doesn't get her way. I suspect it's because someone, ahem, gives into her every whim. I am not going to mention any names but it starts with D and ends with ddy. Her Papa and Grandaddy are also guilty.

We also got a new puppy! Yay! Her name is Lacey and she is a "Shiffon", which is just a fancy name for a mutt. Her dad is a purebred Brussels Griffon and her mom is a purebred Shih Tzu. She is a 4 lb fluff ball. She is great with the kids and great with Fizzy. Fizzy is finally getting used to her. I guess he realized she is here to stay and he might as well give into her constant need to play with him.

Hopefully, I'll get to post Sam's Gotcha Day post this weekend.

New Home...

Ok, I promise to post more. I really do.

Thanks for following me to this site. I will post a real post later today...