A tribute to Mom!

To the one constant in my life,

 

     You were my rock and my shield for 30 years.  You made me believe anything was possible.  No matter how many times I fell short of expectations and disappointed you, you loved me through it all.  

     You were the kindest most loving woman on earth.  You did whatever you could to help those in need.  You were the hardest working mother, but you never let any of us kids feel ignored or like we weren't important.  You were at every school event no matter what you had to do to make it work. You fought tooth and nail for us when you felt we were being wronged.  You are the reason I am the woman/wife/mother I am today.  

     I love you to the moon and back.  I wish I could pick up the phone and hear your voice one more time.  Or just pop by the house and see you one last time.  If I would have known the last time I seen you and told you I loved you would have been my last I would have stayed all night to be there for your last breath.  I miss you more than ever.  The pain of loosing you never goes away,  I've just learned to keep going on.  But days like today are especially hard.  See today is your birthday, and just like every day you are in my thoughts.  But today the pain of loosing you hurts just a little bit more.  I wish I could see you and hug you just one more time.   

Love Always,

Your daughter!  

In memory of:

Kathern A. Newman

6/22/60 - 2/8/2016 

Now that the dust starting to settle down.....

Now that things are calming down and getting back into a routine somewhat hopefully I can manage to keep up with this blog of mine.  So let's do a little catch up from where we left off.

So back in March we got two new additions to our house.  Two cute sweet little timid kittens.  That was until they got used to us and they decide daily which one is going to be the as I call it "Tub of love" or the "Holy Terror".  (We so should rename them)  But their names are Mojo (my husbands 2nd choice let's not discuss the first) and Sophie (my choice).  Currently today they are both going for the holy terror nickname.  What was I thinking bringing in pretty much 2 toddlers, covered in fur and on four legs?  Of course the husband and the kid caught me in a weak moment.  This picture is from their first day at our house.  They've grown quite a bit now but trying to get them to stay still too get a picture is almost impossible.

So that brings us to the next big event.  Did you notice I used a new word up there ^?  Yeah, I got married back in May and we couldn't be happier.  I married the man of my dreams and the love of my life.  I don't know what I would do without him always there supporting me and cheering me on.  He's the sweetest, craziest, most loving, caring man ever.  And I tell you I can't take him anywhere with out him doing something crazy or setting off every single try me button in the toy section (yes he does and will I just walk away and act like I don't know him or the kid when they do this).  But I wouldn't trade him for anything.  

We were at the mall and yes he put the quarter on and rode it.  I'm telling you guys he's crazy person, but he's my crazy person and I wouldn't trade him for anything.

Our wedding picture.

The summer was pretty uneventful.  Other than a couple water park trips.  But Saturday(2 days before school starts back up)  the kiddo attempted to break her finger.  Thankfully it was good but she did bruise the ever loving crap out of it.  So she's gets to spend a few days in a splint, which let me tell ya it has made doing school work interesting.  

But for now that is all.  I've got to go hide the Caramel Apple Pie cookies I made this morning from the husband or there won't be any left for anyone else.  Recipe here!  :)

Happy Birthday to my baby girl!

My Dear Alyssa,

Happy day to you, my sweet girl.  I can't believe how quickly ten years have passed.  Time flies when you are having fun!

Ten years ago today, I held you in my arms for the first time.  I was in awe of you. And already, in your first ten years, you have surpassed my wildest expectations.  You are wicked smart and fantastically funny.  I adore your energy and enthusiasm for life.  You always find the funny and you share it.  I love that.

You have such drive.  I marvel at your work ethic and determination at such a young age.  You set goals and you almost always exceed them.  This will serve you well, as long as you allow yourself to slip up every now and then.  Take it from your long-suffering perfectionist mother.  You will never be perfect, my love.  But you are perfectly human; capable of achieving greatness, but bound to mess up along the way.  Give yourself some slack, girl.

You are a writer, a doer, a dancer, a risk-taker, a dreamer, a performer, and a lover of life.  You do it all with great gladness.  It's like you know a secret that the rest of us have yet to learn.

Keep soaking up life.  Keep your heart and mind open to new things.  You will learn volumes about yourself.  Keep sharing your gifts.  God gave them to you to share.  Keep being bold, but also keep your grateful heart.  It is what holds your feet on the ground.

You are halfway to twenty!  Between now and then, I am sure we will lock horns more than once.  You may disagree with me at times.  Never doubt my love and devotion to you.

Ten years ago today, I looked at your face for the first time and I wondered what your life would hold for you.  Today I am excited to see what YOU have in store for life; the trails you will blaze and the lives you will touch.  It will not be boring and I am thrilled to watch it unfold.

I love you, sweet girl.  I am enormously proud to be your mother.  Enjoy this day and every day.  

Love,
Mom

91 Things I Want To Teach My Daughter

1) You are beautiful. Without the use of an airbrushes, diets, makeup, or size 2 hips. You are you, and you are stunning.
2) You are loved. By me, your grandparents, aunts and uncles.  And nothing you do will change that.
3) I will always be your mom and you will always be my baby.
4) You are always welcomed home. It doesn't matter what you do, this is always a safe home for you to return. My arms are wide open, as is the front door.
4) You are unique. The world will tell you to conform to certain styles, thoughts, and lifestyles. But they really need your point of view.
5) Cookie dough, brownie batter, and cake batter will fix almost any broken heart or finals week stress.
6) I am your best friend and mother. First i am your mother.
7) I will always fight for you, but I will teach you to fight your own battles.
8) Try to live a peace with everyone, but do not be afraid to fight when it's needed. You are not a doormat.
9) The world needs strong, powerful women. Be one.
10) The day you were born my heart started beating in you. I will feel all your hurts and tears. And I will share in all your happiness and joy.
11) Make your future husband work for you. Make him prove he is willing to fight long and hard for you.
12) Marriage is a lot of work. More than you will ever imagine.
13) Marry your best friend. It will mean more to you then flowers and fancy dates and a sexy body.
14) Those three things are nice to have too though.
15) Education is important. Cherish every chance you get to learn something new.
16) Dance. All the time. Whenever you can. Especially when you don't feel there is a reason too.
17) Girlfriends are the best therapy. And they are free. Find at least one you can trust completely.
18) Your body is yours. Save it to give to your husband. It will be worth it.
19) Christmas is the best time of year.
20) And cookies baked at Christmas time have no calories.
21) Play at least one sport in your life.
22) And try at least one instrument. 
23) You have my genes. See a doctor and dentist regularly.
24) You will grow up in the kitchen with me. I hope you love it as much as I do. It is a way to express love to many people.
25) A good bra and pretty underwear are worth the investment.
26) You are never too old to love Disney.
27) Your broken heart will heal in time. I promise.
28) Do your research before you form an opinion.
29) Food is something to enjoy, not become slave to.
30) We are going to fight. I will make you mad. Remember I'm always doing what I feel is best for you.
31) But I will screw up and make mistakes. And I will apologize.
32) There is so much music out there. Listen to a little of everything.
33) Talk to me about anything. I want to listen to your stories.
34) Never be afraid you are bothering me. I love to be your mom. Even at 3am.
35) Flirting is an art form. Learn it. And never lose it. Flirt like crazy with your husband..
36) Never let yourself go. Stay you!
37) Dying your hair is always acceptable when you need a change.
38) Tattoos are wonderful but they are permanent. Think them through.
39) Work hard. Always. Even when no one is watching.
40) Find something your passionate about.
41) Travel every chance you get. The world is a wonderful place.
42) Live your life for yourself. Not through your phone.
43) I am immensely proud to call you my daughter.
44) Your first kiss should be special and celebrated. 
45) There will never be enough money to get married or have a kid. Don't wait for there to be, but plan ahead.
46) Chick flicks are great to watch but those men aren't real. Stop waiting for one to show up in your life.
47) Saying sorry first doesn't make you weak. It proves you value relationships more then being right.
48) It's okay to cry when you need to.
49) PMS does not excuse anything.
50) Pedicures are a great way to start off flip flop season.
51) The house you have, car you drive, toys and clothes you buy, ability to breast feed, or run the PTA and still have homemade meals does not determine if you are a good mom. Your ability to love and nurture does.
52) Take big risk. If you fail, its proof you are going somewhere.
53) Make your faith your own. Don't rely on mine to get you by.
54) The best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear. Even if you are horribly off key.
55) No number will ever define you. Not your GPA, bank balance, age or most importantly a number on a scale.
56) If Jane Austen wrote it, you should read it.
57) Make plans for your life. Then realize God has a sense of humor and will probably change them for you.
58) Money doesn't grow on trees. You will have to work hard for it. Save as much as you can but every once in awhile splurge. You deserve it.
59) Having a kid will change everything you think you know about life in general. Be prepared.
60) Never lose the ability to laugh at yourself. It will help save your sanity.
61) Your opinion is important and the world needs to hear it.
62) You can change the world. The only thing on your way will be you.
63) My mom is my best friend. I hope to be yours too.
64) You can never out grow naps.
65) Love is a commitment and promise. Be careful how you use it.
66) It's okay to feel hurt, angry, sad and scared. It is not okay to let those control your life.
67) Sometimes a little shoe shopping does a woman a whole lot of good.
68) You are an American and with that comes a lot of privileges the rest of the world will never have. Always be grateful for them.
69) If our fashion styles ever agree; you are welcome to anything I have.
70) Forgiveness is hard. Do it anyway.
71) Time spent together is more valuable than money. Remember that when you have kids.
72) Never be afraid to get a little dirty.
73) I will always worry about you. No matter how old you get.
74) You can cheer for any football team you want. Except for Alabama.
75) Prayer is effective. Even when you can't see that. Especially then.
76) I never want you to feel trapped. There is always a way out. It just might not be the easiest or prettiest way.
77) Celebrate every birthday! Your life is worth a huge celebration.
78) Be careful how you judge people. You will never know their whole story.
79) Other people's happiness is not your responsibility. Don't try and make it.
80)  I am tying our best. You are a gift given to me by God, one I didn't deserve. I know I am not good enough to be your mom but I am trying my hardest. And praying a lot
81) I wouldn't trade the scars on me caused by pregnancy for anything. They are reminders of the most amazing 9 months of my life.
82) People are going to think what they want about you. Don't let it get to you.
83) Beauty is found in who you are, not what you look like.
84) You are never to old to cuddle with me.
85) It's okay to avoid reality for a day and escape. But no more. Face life head on.
86) Being a woman is a blessing.
87) Never apologize for bring sensitive or emotional. It's a sign you have a big heart and aren't afraid to show it. Showing emotions is a sign of strength.
88) Your instincts should be trusted. You are aware of a lot more then you realize.
89) You are capable of so much more than you believe you are. It's my job to push you towards it.
90) I love being your mom. Always. From the day I found out I was pregnant till the day I die, being your mom will be my greatest source of joy.
91) You will never know the depth of my love for you. And there is nothing you can do to make me love you any more or any less.

MIA

Sorry I went MIA again!  I've gotta get better at keeping up with this blog!

I have a ton to catch up on.  Christmas pictures and the whole nine but for now I've gotta get this hose clean and back to organized shape.

So today's objective is the bathroom!  I am going to be deep cleaning a room a day in attempt to get it back to organized and clean status!  The bathroom has become a disaster so starting there.!  

This afternoon however me and Alyssa are meeting up and go to McDonalds with Nikki and Lyla!  They need a cheer up session so me and Alyssa are on a Mission. Plus I still have poor Lyla's christmas presents!

But for now I will leave you with this picture!  Alyssa with one of her christmas presents!

Thanksgiving Traditions

Our family traditions have changed a lot over the years and honestly even though it used to be crazy hectic busy to pull it all off I honestly miss it.  I miss the family all together, heck sometimes even the fights (and there was always guaranteed at least one on my mom's side).  No us "kids" don't know what all went down after grandma passed away and honestly I could care less.  What I care about is what my kid is missing out on.  Yes she gets those holidays with me my parents and my siblings but its just not the same.  She doesn't get the whole extended family.  Heck, there are relatives she doesn't even know, that's the sad part.  She knows know different but I do!  The kids would be off in a room to themselves playing a game while the adults finished getting things ready and then we all ate and then just sat around talking or playing games. May not sound like much to many but to me and some others it was the best.  Me and Alyssa have our own traditions that are just ours between the 2 of us.  Thanksgiving afternoon/evening is filled with decorating for Christmas with music and then its on to dinner and then curling up on the couch with blankets and pillows and hot chocolate watching Christmas movies (there's always one on somewhere on tv).

Ok so I decided to go on a hunt for Thanksgiving traditions and this is what I found:

Top 10 Family Thanksgiving Traditions

1. Write Thankful Lists - When guests arrive for Thanksgiving, hand them a piece of Thanksgiving themed paper and have them generate a "What I'm Thankful For This Year List." It might be one thing or it might be a long list depending on the person. Then, before serving the big meal, you go around the table having each person say aloud what he/she is thankful for. You can turn this tradition into a family memory book by hole-punching the paper or placing the paper in sheet protectors along with photos of the family during the Thanksgiving festivities.
2. Watch Football - Watching the traditional NFL football games is considered by many to be as much a part of Thanksgiving as a turkey. Each year, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys play Thanksgiving Day and John Madden hands out the famous turkey drumsticks. Add in some beer and snacks and you'll have some happy football enthusiasts at your party. And after dinner, have the gang burn off some calories by playing a family football game in the yard or by going to a local basketball court to shoot some hoops. Better yet, gather the family in the yard or local basketball court.
3. Watch Movies - Released in 1973, 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving' is the most watched movie on Thanksgiving Day. And why not? This heart-warming film shows the misadventures of Charlie Brown as he tries to host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for all of his pals. As usual, Snoopy and Woodstock step in and end up saving the day by serving toast and jelly beans. There are plenty of other movies perfect for family Thanksgivings. Consider 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' or 'Home for the Holidays'.
4. Buy or Decorate the Christmas Tree - If your family puts up a fresh Christmas tree, the day after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to go to tree farm to pick out this year's winner. Just choose the tree and mark it. Ask the farm to deliver it a week or two later to make sure that it won't dry out before Christmas. If your family puts up an artificial tree, the day after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to lug the tree box down from the garage or up from the basement. Set it up and decorate it with all those special ornaments gathered over the years.
5. Break The Wishbone - After dinner is eaten, a long held tradition held by many families is making a wish on the wishbone from the turkey. Basically, two family members grab on to each end of the wishbone and pull while making a wish. It is said that whoever gets the larger piece (the one with the head on it) will have his or her wish come true. Of course, as superstition goes, the winner can't share their wish with others or it won't come true!
6. Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - For almost 80 years, Macy's has celebrated Thanksgiving and beckoned Christmas with their big parade in New York City. Every Thanksgiving Day, the parade features giant helium balloons with characters like Snoopy, high school and college marching bands from across the U.S., beautiful parade floats and of course, Santa Claus waving to the kids from his magical sleigh.
7. Serve a Thanksgiving Meal - Many families find that Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give back to the community and share their blessings with others. They volunteer at a local shelter or at Meals On Wheels to serve and deliver the Thanksgiving food gift of a meal to those less fortunate Americans.
8. Make Thanksgiving Crafts - Most American households are filled with children on Thanksgiving Day. A great way to keep them busy and to have fun is to make Thanksgiving crafts such as turkey headbands or wall hangings. You can ask them to create a special thank you gift for the hostess or the cooks for all the yummy food. Perhaps consider a Thanksgiving cookie bouquet filled with iced cookies shaped like turkeys, cornucopias, and more.
9. Shop 'Til You Drop - Many women have incorporated this tradition by gathering the family and getting up bright and early the day after Thanksgiving to go shopping. Toting ads from the 'Black Friday' newspaper, they run from store to store trying to get the early bird specials on their Christmas shopping list. This tradition isn't for the faint of heart since the day after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
10. Exchange Names for Christmas - What better time to draw and exchange names for Christmas gifts than when all the family is already gathered together for the Thanksgiving festivities.

Cravings!

So after a crazy horrible week!  All I want to do is curl up with some comfort food and hide from the world for a couple days.  Sounds great huh?  Well not completely possible.  Because today we have uniform fittings for Alyssa and laundry to get done (lets not discuss how far behind I am).  But maybe just maybe tomorrow I can manage to get the comfort food in!

Problem is I can't decide what I want.  Do I want chicken and dumplings the way grandma used to make them or chicken pot pie?  But I do know what breakfast will be tomorrow morning and that will be buttermilk biscuits with chocolate gravy.

Ugh ok guess I need to get my butt moving and get started on that laundry!

Later Gators!