Monday, December 10, 2012

2012 in a Nutshell

It’s that time of year, the count down to the end of 2012! We are 2 weeks away till Christmas and boy am I NOT ready! I have yet to start shopping…. :/ I keep saying I will start earlier each year but seems like I wait later and later.  Such is life!
2012 has been an exciting year for us and the first full year we have spent in Arkansas. The girls have transitioned well, with the help of technology they are able to keep in better contact with family via, texting, calls and emails. I have yet allowed them on social networking since I think that they are still a little young for it.
All 3 girls are in school now and I experienced a lot of mixed emotions on this! Aaliyah is in Kindergarten and loving it. She is beginning to read and I am in awe with how far she has come in 5 months! Alora is a straight A student and loving 3rd grade. She is my social butterfly and is always talking about playground gossip. (Laughs) Dakota is in 5th grade and still in the gifted program; she was picked to compete in her school spelling bee later this week so she is excited. This is her last year in Elementary School before she is advanced in to Middle School. In May 2013 I will have the honors in seeing 2 of the girls “graduate”.
All 3 girls have picked a home church and goes with Alora’s BFF. They will be participating in the Christmas program this year, and yes I will be going (Pray the walls don’t fall around us). They are all in JBQ (Junior Bible Quiz), and seem to love the education they are receiving about God and his wonderful word. I am so blessed that Alora’s friend’s mom allows them to join her and her kids.
Anthony has stared his schooling for his electrical license and seems to be excited about it. When he isn’t at work or school; he still enjoys watching movies and being outside, either playing ball, or outside with the kids.
As for me I am a stay at home slacker , I mean mom, I am right at my one year mark in school and I maintain the kids, hubby and house. WtP is slowly picking up and the custom gifts is getting there too. Hard work is starting to pay off. I am excited to start new things with both departments in WtP and continue my schooling. I am still looking for a job, just something for extra cash and keep me from brainstorming too much.

2012 has been a year of blessing and a new road for us. We are looking forward to what 2013 will bring for us and if we will be closer to reaching our goals.
Happy 2013 you guys!




Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Thanksgiving

I know that Halloween is still not over and we have trick or treating this week, but I can not help but start thinking about Thanksgiving. Yes I plan ahead because things tend to sneak up on me!
This will be my first year for hosting. I will be sharing the menu and reciepes with you guys while I plan it out more and more! Until then Have a safe halloween!

Friday, October 19, 2012

1 Year later!


Tomorrow marks one year here in Arkansas! Time is flown by here. We have finally gotten to know the area a little more, and we have gotten into the full swing of life in Arkansas. Here are a few pictures to recap our first year!
 
 

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Spooktacular Villa!



                I love the fall though I have told you all this many times before. This last weekend we decorated the house a little more for the Halloween this is always a fun task at our house. With three girls this can be such a challenging fun. We used a lot of fake webbing and about 150 plastic spiders! Leave bags and glow in the dark skeletons! Paper Lanterns, mini scarecrows, and lots more! This was a lot of fun! Here are some snap shots of the new décor!












 

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Alora Parties!


 
This last Saturday Alora, my middle daughter, had her 9th birthday party. It was a hit! She wanted a wild life theme, and though she is getting older this was not as easy as it sounds.

I looked all over Little Rock for some wild life, non-baby, themed birthday stuff. A task that I should have started earlier. We ordered the cake through Sanctified Cakes and I was as always pleased with the outcome. They have a Facebook page here and if you are ever in the area or live in the area I HIGHLY recommend them!
 

Alora was blessed enough to have received an out pour of birthday wishes from family and friends, she was also showered with gifts and cards and money from all around her! She received a bow and arrow, quiver, lots of makeup and jewelry, a new purse, Mirror Mirror DVD, Novi Star dolls, Silver Mist doll, BFF frames, nail polish.

We want to thank everyone who took the time to wish her happy birthday; this warms my heart to see how many people thought of her on her special day.

We had out of town guest come down just for her, her grandpa, aunt and uncle came to join us for the special day, our neighbors also came and joined us, as did my god-father. Thank you all for being here in person and we know that we had MANY more here in spirit who could not have joined us in person. They are not forgotten!

I will be taking her 9 year pictures this week and I am so excited for her to learn to shoot her bow and arrow and praying for NO ER trips due to it! J

Here are some pictures of the party for you all! ENJOY!


 

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Happy Birthday!


Nine years ago today, I gave birth to my second child and my second daughter. Alora Diane joined us at 8:04 in the morning, the year was 2003.She was 7lbs, 10 oz and 20 inches long. I was a week from my 19th birthday and I was so overwhelmed with the thought of having #2.

There are things that people do not understand truly until they personally experience it and this my friends was one of them.

I never thought I could love another like I did my first child. I had always wondered how a human’s heart could carry that much love, I always wondered what it felt like to love something so unconditional and so evenly dispersed.

As a mother you get the joys of finding and experiencing that type of “LOVE”.  I thank God everyday for my 3 beautiful girls. I know now why he has blessed me with girls and not a boy.

To Alora,

I am so proud to be your mother! You are my peace keeper, my social butterfly; my tender heart, my dare devil. You are a beautiful, loving child and I can never express how much I love and are proud of you! I want you to know that you are going to be great at whatever God has planned for you and I am honored to be the one to guide you into the right direction! Happy Birthday!!! I LOVE YOU!
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Fall Around Us


If anyone knows me they know that my favorite season is fall. September 23rd was officially the first day this year and it did not take me long to start making the house fall worthy!

I am big on center pieces for tables, coffee table, kitchen table, night stand tables, etc. So the first spot in my house was in fact my kitchen table!

I changed the seashells out to real mini pumpkins and my Frankie candle holders that I bought at bath and body works one year, Frankie will be placed to rest after Halloween but until then his home is one my table. J

I also have bought window clings and some mini pails at Target on year and brought them back out. We have lots of Jack’s, Frankie’s and witches caldrons around the house (perks of letting the kids help).

  4 windows are clings thus far and I am looking around town for some more. We always do the bathroom, kids room and my office with these lil guys and I just haven’t found some cute ones yet.
Here are some of my MUST haves for Halloween:
LOVE these types of baskets!

The center of my kitchen table til Novemeber 1st :)

Loves these little gift pails! These were purchased at Target.

These are candle holders! purchased at Bath and Body Works!

IN LOVE with this scent! Whats your favorite?

Mini pumpkins are great for Fall!


Window Clings are a MUST! Kid friendly too!

This is for the coffee table, I havent filled it yet because my hubby keeps taking it down :(
They dont get it..
 
Do you seasonally decorate?

Monday, July 30, 2012

Back to School!

                We are a little less than a month away from the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year! I am so mixed emotion about this year as I realize that all 3 of my girls will be in school, and the only year all three will be on the same campus. Boo will be going to Kindergarten and it so very ready! She got only a few months in preschool in Alabama before we moved to Arkansas last October. Lo is going into the 3rd grade, though I keep trying to put her back 2nd (She thinks I am dumb, I just cannot believe she’s already in 3rd) and Koda will be going into the 5th grade! This is the last year of Elementary school here in Arkansas and then she is off too… that’s right… MIDDLE SCHOOL!

                I know that when kids get older their appetite for education and school seems to diminish. As a mom I think and know that education is important and I do not wish for my girls to HATE school like so many do now days. I am 27 and recently went back to school and LOVE IT! There is something about educating yourself that does something for the soul.

                But back on topic... I wanted to try something a little different this year for the girls, and if it is a hit I will do it for every year. I am making them a mini “survival” kit for school. This is still in the works but I had to share it, I am excited about it!

                I went to Target where they have these ADORABLE lil baskets, great for gift giving and it dawned on me I needed to do something with these! So I came up with the mini survival kit. With school supplies on sale I decided I was going to give them a few lil extras of the stuff that you know they will always need for homework. So far in these kits I have, pencils, (Boo has Mickey Mouse, Koda has Monster High, and Lo Tinkerbell) jumbo erasers that match their pencil themes, crayons, markers, and a few note pads. I want to add personal germ x for sure, and maybe a new nail polish or two just to make it a lil more fun!

SPECIAL NOTE: These have been done for less than $5 each!


                We have a cabinet that is generally used for outdoors that I have made into their game/arts and crafts keeper. There are 4 shelves and each shelf is labeled to what item goes in that space: It is has follows; 1 and 2 are for games and puzzles, 3 is for homework station, paper and pencil boxes are already there with glue sticks, pencil sharpeners and other homework must haves and shelf 4 is for Arts and Crafts. This is a great way to keep things organized and out of sight J


Thursday, July 19, 2012

Birthday Shout Out!

Today  6 Years ago my oldest sister Crystal gave birth to her second child, and first daughter Summer LeAnn. From the moment we all say her we knew she was Crystal's mini me! They look just alike! Until we moved to Arkansas I have been around her since she was itty bitty! I miss her and love her bunches!

Birthday Girl!!

Summer with my Middle Daughter Lo

Summer with my youngest Boo

Summer with my oldest daughter Koda

Crystla's 3 kids... and one on the way... My Godbabies!
Happy Birthday Sum-Sum!!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Rebel without a Cause


I have been called many things in my life, some good and some bad. One that sticks to mind is rebel.

                This is something that I can remember being called since I was a teen but I am sure that it is something that has been with me since the time I could act on my own.

                I am unsure why I am this way and I wonder if there is a cause behind my actions. Then again I have always been told things happen for a reason so who knows right?

                To lay this out for people who do not “know” me let me give you some examples, and I do mean some…

I was working at Wal-Mart and wanted to pierce my nose, I was turning 21 and this was the gift I wanted to give myself. The rule book stated that we were not allowed to have facial piercings. I outright asked the store manager if this was something that I could have done and replace the piercing stud with a retainer after it had healed. His response; “If you do, you will be fired.” I mind you I had been with the company for almost 5 years when I left the company. SO what did I do...? I went and did it anyways. I was 21; it was my money, my face, my life right? Needless to say, I was not fired.

Back when my mom left my step-dad I decided I wanted to have my lip pierced, something I had always wanted but never did because my mom would have had a fit, so when she left, I decided I was going to do it and send her a picture just to freak her out! Of course this plan back fired on me, she liked it! I was shocked! I still have it pierced and I like it myself but the point of the matter is I did it to rebel against my mom.

                I have also been told many things of what not to do and what I should do by people and of course I do the opposite and then realize “Dumb ass!” if only I would have listened to so and so, I would not be in this mess, but pride and independence and downright defiance gets my better judgment and there I am rebelling against the simple facts.

                Things like this are something I have always done. I am not sure why I do things like this, but I am to the age now to where I wonder if this is something that has caused some of my life headaches? If this is going to be the thing that causes me to self-destruct? Am I in fact a rebel without a cause?

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The 24/7 Job!


               There are times in your life when you get a big slap in the face and you finally realize what you were told as a child is in fact and sometimes unfortunately true.
                I was told by my mother and my grandmother for years that being a mother was a 24/7, 365 job. After having 3 of my own I have come to receive that slap! There is never a dull moment in my house even with the girls being older now. 
                As a mother we wear many kinds of “hats”. We are the maid, the taxi driver, the tutor, the nurse, the chief, the baker. Then there is the organizer, the book keeper, the personal shopper, the interior decorator, the photographer, the stylist, the hair dresser, the counselor and the principle.
All of these “hats” to wear for one goal, to have raised your children to be successful, honorable, loving, person. You want these children to want be a great addition to the world that they will one day truly enter as adults. These children are our future. 
                My mom was a stay at home mom and I never understood how she liked it. I no longer work and am now a stay at home mom who gets to be around her kids more than I ever have before. I miss working, the people and the conversations I would have with my co workers and friends, but I do love being able to watch my girls grow into their personalities and their selves. It is a miracle that these children will eventually be my age and maybe with children of their own, though when that time comes I will still be “on call.” I truly hope that time is about 20 years away or so (laughs).
                As of August all 3 of my girls will be in school, so I hope to be able to find a job that will work around their school schedules.
Boo (5)

Lo (8)

Koda (10)
                It is amazing how things you took for granted, and the things you didn’t realize as a kid can come bite you! Awwww the 24/7 job! But it will be SOOOO WORTH IT!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Staying Strong

                Yesterday was a rough one. I woke up to find out that my grandmother was in the hospital. She had been having pains since Friday morning and after she could no longer take it anymore she woke up my biological father (Rene) and asked him to take her to the hospital.

                While there they found out that her gallbladder was full of stones and opted to take it out. So off to surgery she went and there they found out that not only was her gallbladder full of stones but it was dead and on top of that had gangrene. She was kept in the hospital overnight to keep antibiotics going, she was to be released this morning.

                When this morning came around they decided not to release her but to keep her another night. They found some signs of infection still in her blood and wanted to keep her there one more night to make sure that they can keep antibiotic in her system and hopefully beat this infection.
My Grandma and Me; May 2012


                If that wasn’t enough I received a phone call from my godfather Terry asking me to bring food by the ER to his mom, because his father Ken (my sister Crystal’s godfather) had suffered another heart attack. Ken has been in the family over 30 years at least and he is very much a part of our lives. So my husband, Boo and I ran to KFC to get Norma something to eat.

When we got there Terry told us what was going on. ER had told them that Ken was having heart flutters, but when the Cardio Dr. came in they said that he was in fact suffering a massive heart attack, the kind that you drop dead from aka the Widow Maker. The rushed him up to surgery where they placed another stint to help with the blockage, there they found out that he had major blockages in 5 other arteries and needed to be transferred to the heart hospital.

                He was transferred after he was stabilized and this is where is still is. As of right now they are deciding what is the best course of action, either more stints or another bypass surgery. Both are risky with Ken’s health. 
Ken & Norma; Feb 2012


                I ask that everyone helps us with prayer for these two wonderful people. They are both carry special places in our hearts and loved tremendously. I appreciate any prayers given to them for fast healing and their families to keep staying strong.

To my Dad’s if you read this know that I am here for you, to vent, to cry, to talk etc. I have been so blessed to have 4 fathers in my life when so many don’t have a single one! I love you all!