Love Thursday

There's this little thing in blogdom called Love Thursday...and I'm probably not following the rules exactly, but here it goes anyway.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but hubby is away this week. He's only about an hour or so away...close enough, but just a little too far to visit regularly. Last night, he drove home to attend Bugs Midwinter Choral and Band Concert and then drove back after. This afternoon, he sent me a text to ask what we were doing tonight and if we would join him for dinner. So we did. We are very certain that he will be far away from our state in a few short months for a significant amount of time, and we are cherishing every moment with each other. And that dinner...it nourished more than my body, it nourished my soul.

And that's my Love Thursday.

(Just a note...tomorrow is the Blog 365 day of rest...no posting...let's see if I can resist)

rainy days

I'm so sick of winter. I know that I can't complain...the little bit of winter weather we've actually had was always short lived, and it's been relatively warm. But I'm just not a winter person. And the lack of warmth and sunshine are starting to take their toll on me. I'm so tired, so distracted, not really into anything. And I know the weather is at the heart of this. Hopefully those stupid groundhogs were wrong and spring will be here soon.

I'm craving daylight past 6 pm. I want time to go out and play, or just sit on my nice back deck. I hate wearing coats...I want to pull out my spring clothes.

Okay, I'll quit whining...maybe it will be sunny today.

Little man

The Monster is growing up so fast. We went to the library for a bit this evening while waiting for Bug to finish at play tryouts, and he was so polite and well behaved. I really wanted to ask him who he was and where he came from. This is the child that at 18 months was doing chin ups on the bars that held the hanging bags. For him to sit and quietly play with puzzles, pick out books, and listen to what he was told was a huge step in the right direction.

Every once in a while he does something that makes me realize that I'm raising what will be a good man. This afternoon, as we were leaving his "school", his main teacher was walking back down to his class after delivering snack around. He made a point of stopping her to say goodbye, and he said "Ms. S, I really love your new hair cut, it's so pretty." This wasn't a drastic change in her hair, just simply styled a different way, but he noticed.

He also told me tonight that he wants to go buy me something shiny and pretty, like bow, to show me how very much he loves me. I was the recipient of a great number of hugs and kisses tonight, and we even read a story about animals and love before bed tonight. I really do wish I could keep him this age for a lot longer than it lasts.

Fun Monday #8

I'm cheating this week and posting ahead my Fun Monday...I'm tired of waiting until Monday night to get it out there!

For this weeks Fun Monday, Mariposa wants to know

(1) Please share to us how the NAME of your BLOG was made? I can't wait to hear interesting funny stories!

Well, obviously I'm a mama..and the lang is a family thing.

(2) Please share to us (in words or photo, though a combination of both will be a bonus!) your favorite/ most common dish!

Hmm, this one is hard. I love food. There really isn't anything in particular I love the most. I'm going to say that the ultimate comfort food for me would be salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn and biscuits.

chaos ending

Well, the living room is livable...I managed to get the main desk cleaned out (with my hubbys help) and now it just needs to be sold so we can replace it with an armoire. My den is a mess, but I can live with that a little longer. Hopefully this week will be better. Crossing my fingers. And now I'm off to bed.

Done, but not finished

So today was my last quilting class. And my hanging isn't finished. And all that's left is the scary part...the marking it for hand-quilting. (also the binding, but that's easy.)

I'm ready for my next project now. I want to make quilts for the kids. I think PB will be first, as hers will be the easiest to choose I think. Bright colors, girly prints, maybe some butterflies on it.

I'm sad that the class is over. It was a very good experience, and the women in the class with me were fun. We may actually be going to a quilt show as a group at the end of March...that will be fun!

So someday, I'll post pics of the finished product...whenever I get it done.

The Weather is not nice

No snow day for me. Instead I went to work and endured the longest day known to man. But an evening spent with my kiddos and hubby, cuddling a bit in our new large bed, and an excellent spaghetti dinner, and I'm feeling much better now.

Can it be spring now?

Come on wintry weather...

I need a snow day. It's probably not going to happen, but I am going to go to bed and dream of waking up to a major winter event tomorrow morning. There is so much to do, and I just want a day to stay in jammies, drink hot chocolate, and clean. I'm going to sleep with my jammies inside out and put a spoon under my pillow. Any other suggestions?

Clutter and chaos...still

I just can't think. Snow, clutter and chaos in the house, and I'm so tired. Off to bed. I promise to post pics soon.

Total Chaos

That's what I'm living in. Apparently it's not a good idea to buy new furniture for a living room and a bed room and a den all at the same time. Who would have thought. I'm feeling a little disorganized, but it will all be okay in a few days.

Fun Monday #7

Sayre says:
Every day as I go to work, I see things around me that make me laugh. Usually these are in the forms of signs. So take your camera with you as you go about your business and take a picture of the things that make you laugh along the way (but it doesn't necessarily HAVE to be a sign).

Today was a holiday here in langville, and so I didn't have my opportunity to take the picture I had decided on. So I'll have to paint the picture for you (and tomorrow, I'll take the picture and upload it.)

The Monster attends the same daycare PB started attending at 3 1/2...so we've been going to this place most weeks for 6 years. The front of the daycare has a little circle, with parking spots on one side, and the entrance across from it. The center is a pretty good sized island, with a slight rise to it. I don't know if I would even call it a hill...it's that slight. But since he could run, the Monster has called this "THE MOUNTAIN" and insists he has to climb it most mornings. Sometimes I sing that silly song.

"The Monster went over the Mountain,

the Monster went over the mountain,

the Monster went over the mountain,

to get to school today."

But most days he yells at me to not sing. So then I mumble it under my breath, because I'm adult like that.

I know that someday, he is going to visit that spot, and see that it was never anywhere near a mountain. But for right now, it feels like the largets mountain, and he gets that small thrill and joy every day. And that makes me smile.

Fabric mecca

I'm a fabric addict. I love fabric. And I've recently found my mecca...The Interior Alternatives. It's an outlet for F. Schumaker fabrics...Waverly, Laura Ashley...walls and walls of bolts of fabrics. I seriously wanted to move in. I didn't buy much this time, but I'm sure I'll be back soon.

Are my feet still there?

So after a productive morning in my quilting class, then a marathon bill paying/filing session with my hubby, we trekked off to buy the last two items to finish the big purchases in redecorating our living room. We found the TV, but the TV stand for it to sit on just can't be found (at least not for a price we can realistically afford after purchasing the TV.) So...I've convinced him to build it. He's going to be a very busy man the next two days. Off to design and sleep now!

That new furniture smell

We bought a new couch and chair tonight. This is sort of big for us. Almost all of our furniture in our married life has been hand-me-down or purchased used. And while I'm a bargain hunter at heart, I have to say it was a thrill to go to a furniture store, wander among the brand new furniture, and pick out something no one else has ever used. And we got a good price for what we wanted. We ended up with a microfiber mock leather in dark brown. I'm so excited about the chair...I love big squishy armchairs...it will see a lot of my bottom, I'm sure.

Now Wednesday will never get here. I can't wait to see how it will look in our living room!

Happy Valentine's Day

I can't remember every really hating this holiday. It isn't my favorite, but I've always had my family or good friends, and I realized early on that they were what mattered most.

I try to show my family how much I love and appreciate them every day...but I still can't help getting caught up a little in the shmoopiness of Valentine's Day.

I love this song...It's how I feel about my husband...and I hope that my kids understand that I do take them the way they are.

Valentine's Day Goodies

I made the one on the left for the ladies that work for me. The one on the right is for my StampinUp Demonstrator, and one for me. I love them, they turned out so cute! And very inexpensive.

Quilting Class

Note that this post was written on Tuesday, and then I searched for my camera, couldn't remember where I put it...found it finally and went to bed. Forgot to come back and hit publish...oops!


I thought for tonight, I would post pitures of the wall-hanging I'm creating in my quilting class. I wasn't sold on the pattern when she first presented it, but now I'm loving it. This weekend we'll begin hand-quilting it, which I totally suck at, and then eventually, one day, I'll bind it, create a pocket or tabs to hang it, and display it proudly...in my bedroom.

The colors could be better in the photos, but I'm not up for photoshopping them tonight.

Fun Monday #6 - Music

Julie of Ooh, A Shiny Pen is this weeks host. Our assignment is:

Music plays a vital role in most of our lives. It is everywhere. I want to hear the ONE song that is you. The song that whenever it is heard, you smile. I am not looking for the soundtrack of your life, just that one song. Your friends hear it and think of you. You can post the video, the lyrics, the wav file. However you want to post it is great.

This was really hard for me. Music is huge part of my life, but I'm not sure what would be my song...so, I'm going with the one that my kids tell me is sort of me and my mother-in-law. (the second verse is for her.)

Craig Morgans Tough.

She’s in the kitchen at the crack of dawn
Bacon’s on, coffee’s strong
Kids running wild, taking off their clothes
If she’s a nervous wreck, well it never shows
Takes one to football and one to dance
Hits the Y for aerobics class
Drops by the bank, stops at the store
Has on a smile when I walk through the door
The last to go to bed, she’ll be the first one up
And I thought I was tough

Chorus
She’s strong, pushes on, can’t slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough

We sat there five years ago
The doctors let us know, the test showed
She’d have to fight to live, I broke down and cried
She held me and said it’s gonna be alright
She wore that wig to church
Pink ribbon pinned there on her shirt
No room for fear, full of faith
Hands held high singing Amazing Grace
Never once complained, refusing to give up
And I thought I was tough

Chorus
She’s strong, pushes on, can’t slow her down
She can take anything life dishes out
There was a time
Back before she was mine
When I thought I was tough

She’s a gentle word, the sweetest kiss
A velvet touch against my skin
I’ve seen her cry, I’ve seen her break
But in my eyes, she’ll always be strong
There was a timeBack before she was mine
When I thought I was tough

I'm sure some song will come on in the next few days, and I'll say OH YEAH, that should have been it. But this works for now.

ETA

I thought of it...this is what my family would say is my song.

Total randomness

I love, love, love my new bed. I enticed the Monster to come cuddle and read with me in it, cause I knew he couldn't resist that temptation, and I was hoping he would fall asleep. We had a good little nap together. I'll miss those in a few years.

It is so windy here tonight. I really thought we might end up in Oz a few times. Tomorrow is supposed to be cold...new bed, cold and windy day. Nope, not going to be easy to get up tomorrow.

Off to snuggle in my HUGE king size bed. Night all!

Wow, finally, 100 posts. Took me long enough.

Everyone always talks about "teenagers" with a roll of their eyes. They complain that teenagers are mouthy, always petulant, always tired, always bored. But surprising, I'm finding the teenage years to be better than the preteen/adolescent years with Bug. The disagreements over chores are farther apart, and sometimes she actually shows intiative and does something without being told. We talk about things, and we joke and have fun. Last night, we did Tae Bo to a DVD I bought. And we laughed, and joked, and worked out together. And it was fun. I'm not ready to be her friend yet (someday, when she's an adult, we'll try for that), but it's nice to be able to find common ground, especially when we were warned how these would be the hard years.

It also gives me hope for PB's future...cause that preteen attitude is going to be her downfall soon.

***********************************

Daddylang is off playing military man this week. He's only an hour drive away, but it might as well be the other side of the world. At least we get to have regular phone contact with him. Actually, when he had to do his drill weekends back when Bug was little, she would say he was "Playing Army". This always made me chuckle.

***********************************

It was a busy day. I had my quilting class, then we had to do some shopping, then a birthday party, then dinner, and then Bug and I destroyed my bed. My new mattress arrives tomorrow, and next weekend my hubby should be building our new headboard. I can't wait. Once that is all done, the only thing left to finish off my room is artwork and hardwood floors. Then it will be my sanctuary (actually, it already is, but it will be more so once it's actually completed).

Hope you have a beautiful tomorrow.

Ooops...I can't add

I was wrong...THIS is my 99th post.

Tonight I took Bug and Monster out to dinner, and then to Target. It was a very nice time with both of them. I bought a Tae Bo CD and Bug and I started working out to it when we got home. It kicked my butt, and my legs, and my arms...you get the picture. But it also felt good. It's something I've wanted to do for a while now, and finally decided it was abotu darn time. It's something she's expressed an interest in as well, and it's nice that we can do these things together.

Tommorrow is a busy day...quilting class, a birthday party with Monster, and dinner for church. Sunday my new mattress comes. YAY!!!!

My 99th post

Guess that means the pressure is on for tomorrow's post, huh?

I'll try and get a pic of the quilting project from my class (It isn't done, but it's getting somewhere.)

Did you read about the baby in the tornado? It's an amazing story. So much tragedy, and amongst all that a miracle.

I'm working on very little sleep today, as my son had the short lived stomach bug from 10 pm last night until around 2 am. I'm so tired, so off to bed with me.

Where's Miffy tonight?

Where I will be in approzimately 30 minutes (My bed!)...just after a soak in the hot tub. It was over 70 degrees here today, and still in the high 60's. I'm off to enjoy with my hubby.

Today's blessing is a beautiful day to enjoy.

Today's Blessings

Today's blessing is good employees. I received a call today at 12:30 asking me for information that was needed by the end of the day. This information required culling through files the size of one filing drawer and pulling information off each set of paper. Two of my employees jumped in with me, started pulling the files while I pulled reports off, and they worked 20 minutes pass the end of their day to make sure we got the info completed. We worked well together, passing the time companionably while working. And at the end of the day, my other employee came and offered to help refile while we finished up. I'm blessed to have a good group to work with.

Maybe Miffy tomorrow. Today was hectic since I had to work late and my hubby had to stay late tonight and PB had girl scouts. Now I'm off to watch House.

Fun Monday #5

Tiggerlane is our host this week,and she asks "have you heard of The Bucket List? Well, that's what I want from you! Make a list of things you want to do before you die. It must be at least five items - and you can make it as long as you desire. Photos are optional. And let's hear about some of the wackiest, most bizarre to-do's on your Bucket List!

Hmmm... This might actually be harder than I thought!

So let's see...
1. See my children grow into adults and give me grandchildren,
2. Travel. I'd love to visit all 50 states, as well as Australia and Europe. After that, who knows where else,
3. Learn to knit and crochet,
4. Learn how to code web pages,
5. Retire at 58.
6. Continue my education, earning my Master's and possibly PhD.
7. Teach college classes.

*********

I'm going to start a new feature in the next few days...hopefully I can get my Flickr account going. I'm going to take pictures of Miffy in various places throughout my daily life and post them. I'm not going for every day, but at least once a week. We'll see how it goes, but she needs to at least earn her keep around here.

Go Giants!

I'm so happy the Giants won. I strongly dislike the Patriots, and it was nice to see Eli Manning vindicated.

Now I'm watching House and knowing that tomorrow morning will totally bite.

He'll always be my Valentine

Heather at OMSH is having superfab give away from Shannon of It's A Mad Mad Squirrels World. They want us to tell them how we met our Valentines.

I was living here in the Mid-Atlantic region after graduating college and (stupidly) following a boy here. That didn't work out, so I moved in with my father to save up some money and wait for bestest friend to graduate so we could move on. It was my nephew's birthday, and my stepmom was having his birthday party at a local kids play place. Hubby was the room helper for his party, and he knew my nephews mom. He thought I was "cute" but I was holding a baby (my niece) and had a ring on my finger (to keep guys from bothering me). I thought he was cute, but he was talking about his daughter, so I assumed he was married. Somehow, he finds out that I'm not married, engaged or otherwise involved, and asks her for my number. She makes sure she tells me that he is divorced and has custody of his daughter. He calls and asks me to go out, and I agree as friends. I'm not planning on staying in the area and I'm not looking for a boyfriend. A few weeks later, I meet his adorable daughter. Her and my nephew hit it off, so they come over often. We're going out, enjoying each other's company. Then he buys me a ring for Valentine's Day. Just a ring, a pretty sapphire ring. Except late that night, he looks over and says "Marry Me." I said "Yeah, right...are you serious?." "Yes, I am." Oh..."uhm...yes."

And 8 months later we were married. I always tease him that I fell in love with Bug, and he was just the baggage that came along. But he knows, I couldn't live without him. I feel lucky every day to have found my mate, my other half, my Valentine.

A three letter word for Donkey...or Butt

Tonight on the way home from my moms house, the Monster says "Mama, what about that guy that says a$$." I wasn't sure what he was trying to say, because he sometimes confuses words. I said, "what guy that asks?" He says, "no mama, the one that says a$$. You know, the skeleton dude...he loses his a$$."

Okay, I was so glad he couldn't see me, cause I was laughing so hard. Daddy steps in and tells the Monster that he shouldn't say that word. So the Monster begins to sing it..."a$$ A$$ A$$" with giggles in betweens. I'm biting my finger trying not to laugh out loud at him. My husband and him continue the conversation, and I say "Butt" and that gets him singing Butt for a while. We sing some funny words (poop, butt, noo noo head, etc.) and then he busts out the a$$ again. Daddy finally tells him if he says it again, he's going to have to punish him when we get home. He agrees to stop saying a$$.

We get home, and my husband reminds him we don't say a$$ or another curse word we've heard him say lately. I hear him say back to daddy..."okay, I won't say those bad words anymore."

I know it's inappropriate, but it struck me as so funny...and that irritated the heck out of my hubby, which made me giggle even worse.

Sorry, Hunny, but I had to deal with PB when she went through this phase...now its your turn for his.