My Marvelous Misadventures

A GREAT Giveaway!

2010-12-03T18:18:00.002-06:00

Sophistishe is giving away a 13-Piece Better Homes and Gardens Hard-Anodized Cookware Set valued at $149! Be sure to visit her blog and enter here! Ends 12/3/10.

The Birds

2010-12-01T13:51:00.001-06:00

I cannot imagine there being ANYONE on this planet who hasn't heard of Alfred Hitchcock and his horror movies. The Birds is one I watched when I was very young. I remember being scared and even not liking birds much after that! But never in my life did I ever think I would survive my very own The Birds attack! It happened to me but I survived and am choosing to share my story because it could happen to anyone! But before I get to that, here's a little summary about the movie for any one who's clueless!

It's about a town that gets taken over by these crazy, pill popping, jacked up on sunflower seeds and Mt Dew, birds! And honestly, I'm not sure what the history is with this town and the birds, but for whatever reason, there's some bad blood between them! These people don't stand a chance, because these birds are full on attack mode!
New to the town or not, everyone's on their list! They brutally went after anyone and everyone in sight! There was no stopping them...they even PLUCKED out the eyes of a sweet lady! (Um, OUCH!)
Scary that even children weren't safe. In fact, they wanted those kids to suffer more then anyone else! And they had a plan!!

The birds staked out the schoolhouse (that's what it was called in the 60's I guess!) deciding the playground equipment would be their best bet. So they sat there on the monkey bars, watching....waiting...ready to ATTACK! They were hungry for more eyeball juice and they knew exactly where to get it...from all those school children! Every bird knows that children's eyeball juice is the best. (I'm pretty sure I read that it gives them super strength or some magical powers to see the future or something like that!) So the birds patiently waited for the kids to do what the birds knew they would...run out of the school, in a sprint! And, well, everyone knows you don't run from birds! It only makes them more angry and more hungry for human flesh! (I don't want to blame the kids for being attacked, I mean, no bird should be pecking at a kids face. But come on, they were running!)

And those crazy coked up birds didn't just go for eyes! (Which, I suppose is a good think, considering.) They went for anything they could! Just look at this little terrified boy! Poor thing already has the mouth of a Clydsdale and now his ear is being eaten off by a bird. I can only imagine the teasing he got after this!

And then there's this 'bird attack'...

I'll be honest here...my gut tells me this was no bird attack! I mean check out that wallpaper! That's like 'pay by the hour' motel wallpaper! This 'attack' looks like a client who tried to cheat his date and Big Poppa was not happy about being cheated! He wanted his money! But like I said, that's just speculation on my part!!

Okay, so in the end, the ones who survived and didn't cheat their hooker, packed up and bolted out of town. The birds were left to run the place and blah, blah, blah. Now, on to the reason for this post...

I LIVED THE BIRDS MOVIE!!

"Whhhhhaaaaaatttttt?!" You're probably asking, but yeah, I was attacked by birds! Okay, one bird, but it was in my room and bathroom! And okay, so maybe not attacked, but definitely left the situation scared and with a vendetta for birds!!

So, I causally strolled into my bedroom to here the most ear piercing screetch coming from a bird hitting the window! I ran out screaming and in a panic state, called Nicholas.

Can you guess his reaction? "Renee, it's just a bird! Get a tennis racket, open the bedroom window and try to push it out!" Um, NOT exactly the answer to my "OMG Nicholas! You have to come home! There's a bird in our room and he's going to attack me!!", cry for help!! Nicholas didn't think I should be so scared, but I had every right to be terrified...remember the children...the eyeballs...the playground! And look at that bird! That's no, "hey friend, I'm just going to calmly fly away now!" No, that's a bird ready to eat my eyes out!

*let me take a moment to say, after about 30mins, I calmed down enough to grab my camera and just randomly started snapping! the pictures, however, do not convey the chaos and fear of that day*

I'm not 100% on this, but I think
he's doing some flexing Trying to get in
my head...it worked!.

LOOK at that...that's a bird ready to STRIKE!

Luckily for me, I had ~~reluctant~~ Jacob who bravely donned his Anikan Skywalker mask and light saber to take on the ferocious, pterodactyl sized bird!

Oh, and Chloe did her best to help! She was ~~mostly~~ brave...but the noise that bird would make usually sent her running under my bed! And eventually I decided she was small enough to be carried off and since Jacob was in the room, I couldn't let him see that happen. So, I put her outside!! (Britain isn't in any of these photos because she was SLEEPING on the couch!! What?! I was doing some serious screaming, I don't know how she did it!)

After a very long and hostile stand off, and many attempts by Jacob to get the bird from the bathroom closet, we decided he wasn't coming out. (Plus, I had cookies to bake!) We shut my bedroom door with the windows opened and prayed it would leave. About 10 minutes later we went back in and couldn't find him anywhere. I promised Jacob that the crazy bird was definately gone...for good! But trust me, I'm no fool...I know he's hiding, somewhere in or around my house waiting for the right moment to STRIKE again!.
(I swear I can still hear his wings hitting the windows at night!) If that bird comes attacks, it's every man for himself! I have a plan to pull all the covers on me, leaving Nicholas fully exposed! I'm hoping he'll only do some lite pecking, mininally damage, but distracted just enough for me to escape to get Jacob! (HEY! Jacob is the one with the light saber skillz and some MAD Jedi mind tricks! So yeah, I'm okay with him saving me...again!)

Well there it is...that's my real life The Birds story!! Oh that Mr. Hitchcock sure has some great horror movies, but trust me, it doesn't compare to living one...and SURVIVING to tell the tale! And I have a story or ~~twelve~~ two that I could share about living the movie Psycho...but that's for another time!

Really?!!

2010-11-19T10:46:00.000-06:00

A slump....a block...nothing to say....nothing to write about....??

I just started blogging again, and I'm excited about it...it's fun to just sit and type! However, lately it hasn't been that way, AT ALL!

When I wasn't blogging, (I noticed it was over a year that I had stopped!!) I constantly had things running through my mind of what I could write about, how I would word it, make it funny! But now...NOW that I'm actually making an effort to sit down and write something, I'm blank!

NOTHING!...

NADA!...

ZERO!...

ZILCH!!
(It's like total cricket noise in here!)

It's frustrating...VERY frustrating! I read other blogs and it just seems SO easy, yet here I am, Stuck! Hopefully I'll come out of this funk and something great will end up as a blog post!!

Fingers crossed...

i heart baking

2010-11-09T12:10:00.012-06:00

Baking has been something that I've always loved to do. Growing up, I remember standing in the kitchen watching my mom while she would bake. (and sing! She always sang when she cooked and cleaned. I find myself doing that now...much to the ~~dismay~~ delight of my family!) My mom doesn't bake as much anymore since all of us girls are out of the house, which has been great, since she's given us all her baking tools! But when my mom was baking a lot, she was totally the MacGyver of the kitchen. Seriously! It wouldn't matter if all we had were butter and green beans, somehow she could turn that into the most delicious, melt in your mouth, slap yo sista, yummy Snickerdoodle cookies. (let's be honest here, I really don't need a cookie to slap my sisters, I'd do that all on my own!) They were that good! And to this day, they are my most favorite cookie to ~~devour all by myself~~ bake and share! But as good as her baked goods were, she rarely used a recipe! All from her head. (I know, crazy!) And not like she just had it memorized, oh no, that would be to easy! She learned to bake, on her own, when she was very young, so a lot of her baking came from trial and error! And for someone like me, who absolutely HAS TO HAVE a recipe, my moms "a little bit of this, a little of bit that" is NOT what I like to hear when calling for a recipe! I need exact measurements here, Lady!! Being in the kitchen with my mom, spending that time with her, talking with her, learning from her, was definitely the best part of baking! (mom, don't cry now...but geez, I am a sweet daughter!)

Moving on...

I bake...a lot! (Shocking, right?) It's great because Britain loves being in the kitchen with me. She's my little helper. She sits on the counter top and dumps ~~the precisely measured~~ ingredients into the bowl and stirs everything up, usually making a mess! (like mother, like daughter!) But the one thing that I have a problem with letting her do, is decorate. That's my favorite part! (I'm selfish, so what!) Oh, how I love making those cookies or cupcakes look 'pretty'! Like to the point that it pangs me to see them being ate...my beautifully decorated cookies. Although decorating is my most favorite part of the baking process, I'm so not very creative. At all. Example...my bedroom is an exact replica of a bedroom I saw on the cover of a magazine! The paint color, the curtains, the bedding, everything! I can't can't put things together and it look good! (oh no, don't be sad! I've come to terms with it!) So what's a girl to do when she looks at a cookie as a blank canvas? (see, I can sound artsy!) Well that girl Googles the crap out of, uh, well, cookie decorating! Yeah, I'm a Googleholic! (Oh, I like that word!) And I am a ~~follower~~ stalker, (yes it is to that point) of some great blogs!! I draw inspiration from all over the Internet. The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle has to be my most favorite place to go. She's so amazing and talented! Like the kind of talent that, if you were petty and vain, which I am NOT, you'd totally want to not like her! But that's not how I feel, I'm secure in the talent that I, undoubtedly lack, so I love, love, LOVE her!! (uh, creepy much?) Another great blog that I follow is Sweetopia. She has great tutorials for decorating. And it's amazing what she can put on a cookie!! (I also have an abnormal obsession with cupcakes! But more on that later!)

Reading those blogs, looking at all those adorable cookies they've created, always makes me want to bake. And who am I to stifle one's dream? I've been wanting to try a zebra print and marbled decorated sugar cookie for awhile, and I finally just did it! I spent HOURS looking at I tons of cookies to figure out how to make mine look like that. I still wasn't completely sure, but I tried it anyways...they turned out super cute!! Unfortunately, I only have pictures of the cookies completed, so I can't really show you how it's done. But they are simple to do, and I know Sweetopia has a great tutorial on how to do the marbling! And really, the zebra was easy as well. Pipe lines onto wet icing, with a toothpick, drag the end to a point. That makes sense, right?

For the cookies, I have a sugar cookie recipe that I've had forever but I'm sure any recipe would work. I use glace icing when decorating my cookies. I prefer glace over royal because I think it tastes so much better...but either will work.

I found the recipe for glace icing over at Our Best Bites...she also has a great tutorial on decorating.

So here are some of the cookies I baked and decorated...prepare yourself to be overcome with the urge to not like me, because these cookies are freaking ADORABLE!!!

So sorry about all the pictures, but I am NOT a decision maker either...even if it's about what pictures to post!

My kids...

2010-11-01T22:23:00.005-05:00

Are just so much fun! They are goofy and are always doing things to make me laugh. I'm lucky that they are like me in that way...I love being funny!!

So when I decided that I wanted a mustache for Halloween, both of them had to join in...

Britain has a teeny-tiny mustache...but really, isn't she adorable?!

Yeah, we look good!

Jacob, mustache or not, he's such a handsome boy!

I just love my kids!

I don't need diamonds...

2010-10-27T21:54:00.008-05:00

...all I need to be happy is cupcake liners like these!!

I know there are some of you out there who can understand the level of joy I experience every time I see super cute cupcake liners! The colors, the patterns, the dots... oh the joy!!

I'm on a cupcake (and cookie) kick right now! I love looking at cupcakes, reading about cupcakes, baking cupcakes, decorating cupcakes and
eating
sharing cupcakes! Really, I LOVE all things cupcakes...especially cupcake liners! They have become THIS girls best friend!! Move over diamonds, but please not too far, this girl wants some cupcake liners!!

Seriously take a look...

Aren't these the most adorable things you've ever seen? Really?!

(Have I become such a baking and decorating addict that all I need to be happy is new cupcake liners? Yes!! A resounding YES! )

Um, wow...

2010-10-26T21:37:00.002-05:00

I just realized it has been over a year since I last posted on here. I miss it! I need to get on the ball...I have a LOT to say! (scary, huh?!)

Friday Confessions...oh how I've missed thee!

2009-08-21T17:42:00.011-05:00

Holy Underwear Batman....it's been a long time since I've posted a blog! Well there's no better time to come back then like a Friday...it's time for some Confessions!

Although I could come up with, like, a thousand, I'll try to keep the list small!

I haven't posted a blog in a while! I realize that that point has, in fact, been covered already, but I still want to make it a confession! Not to mention thank Christy for her sweet comment reminding me it had been a while!!

Before going on vacation, I secretly had a shopping spree...or 3! All the super cute items I bought were discovered by my husband, ON VACATION!! Lucky for me, I'd already removed the tags! Oops!

I am completely addicted to knee high socks! If my house was burning down, they would be the item I grab...other then my children, of course! But I love these socks....striped, solid, argyle, polka dots...I'm not picky, I love them ALL!! I wear them constantly...even now!

Summer is now over and my oldest is back in school and I'm not going to lie here, I completely did a happy dance after dropping him off the first day!! I love, LOVE that boy, but it was time...he needed to be back in school! You know, for health reasons!! ;D

One morning my husbands alarm was going off and I wasn't quite ready for him to get out of bed, so I shut off his alarm before he heard it! I crawled back into bed, snuggled with him and fell fast asleep! He wasn't late for work...he just didn't make it to the gym that morning!! Hehehe!

I have started and stopped a diet at least 183 times this summer...*sigh*

I am personally responsible for my best friend gaining 3 pounds and working out only once while I was vacationing with her in Colorado! I love to cook...I don't like to run on vacation! She has since LOST all those pounds...I'm not exactly thrilled about that either!

I had this conversation with my husband..."Nic, where's the syrup?", "What syrup?", "Umm, the syrup I put on the grocery list for you to buy, that syrup!", "You didn't put it on the list Renee!", (me, not almost yelling)"YES I DID!! Get the list! Get it!!!" (he gets the list!) "Here, look..." (I look...) "Oh, well I told you we needed it anyways!" I HATE this confession!!

My 2 year old was begging, pleading, having a screaming, crying fit for a Fiber One bar. After about 20mins of that, I finally gave in...I should of just waited out the fit!! I ended up changing her 4 different times!! That girl had some serious, funk nasty, smellin', poopy diapers!! Nasty!!

I am Team Jacob!! Not really a Confession...well, maybe a Confession of LOVE!! Seriously, have you seen the New Moon previews? Seriously, those ABS of his are unforgiveable!! YUMMY!!!

I have, more then once, Googled the 'product' Dual Action Cleanse as a way to lose weight! I have even gone as far as putting in my credit card number!!!

We went out to dinner with some friends to a Japanese restaurant. I don't DO shrimp, (never tried) but reluctently decided I would try one piece. I put it in my mouth and bit down. As soon as my teeth broke through, I thought I was going to throw up! It was so GRITTY!! I ended up swallowing the entire piece of shrimp...whole!!

Well, I think I'm feeling better now that I've cleared my conscience a bit!! Now I can head into the weekend, ready to make some more 'Friday Confessions'!!

The Swaps have been, well, Swapped!

2009-06-01T23:28:00.005-05:00

Sorry I'm late on posting about my super awesome swap package, but I had strep throat last week!! And although I can play on Farm Town while on Penicillin (by the way, did you know a side effect of taking penicillin is a black, hairy tongue? Luckily, I had NO side effects!!) and Oxycodone (and yes I realize this is usually given after surgery, but I had some leftover from my C-section almost 2 yrs ago, I ask my OB/GYN when I called him to see if he would call in a Rx for my strep...he said it was okay! I HEART my OB/GYN!!) I could not do a lot of thinking!! So the blog went unwritten!! But never fear, I am ALL better now and finally getting to post!!

So I took part in my first ever Swap hosted by Mamarazzi over at Dandelion Wishes and we were to send our partner our favorite things! So my Swap Partner was Maggi, who has a flipping super cute blog called Just Add Glitter and Stir...she's SO crafty, I almost don't like her...ALMOST!! :D

But I knew from the first email I received from Maggi that she was a girl who I would, in real life, really get along with, which also meant I would get some great Swap gifts!! And she did not disappoint!!!

When I got the box, I almost didn't get the camera to snap pictures! I'm not one for surprises, so it was driving me NUTS to get into that box!! :D

Once the box was opened I found a hand written note on a card that I'm almost positive she made!!

Seeing how cute that is just makes you sick, huh?! I know, this girl is a craft goddess!!

The one thing I didn't get a picture of is the super cute wrapping paper! She wrapped each item individually and had a little note attached to each item to tell me why it was her favorite! When I saw that my first thought was, "well shoot, I didn't do that for her! Oh Man!!" and then my next was, "ah, she's so sweet to do all this!"

Once I got over the super cute card and all the wrapping, I got to the goods!!! Eeeee!! I was so excited!! And I hit jack pot here!!

I LOVE reading, and I'm so excited to get started on her favorite book, Persuasion. And she loves to journal and note take, and I'm notorious for writing things down and forgetting!! lol! The OPI polish...ummm, you just can't go wrong with that!! And how cute will my little piggies look in those super cute flip flops! LOVE THEM!! I got some bath beads, which being a stay at home mom during the summer, they are almost gone!! Some really cute Sparkle lip gloss, and last but not least some Pocky. Which I honestly still don't know exactly what they are, but I don't care...they are sinful!! OMG!! They are SO good...and completely all gone!! Her and her husband found them on their honeymoon and they've become a favorite! And now, I LOVE THEM!!

So there's my great Swap box! Thanks Maggi for your great gifts and your wonderful emails!! I've enjoyed getting to know you, and look forward to knowing you better!!

Friday Confessions....

2009-05-09T14:55:00.001-05:00

These will be short...I'm very limited on my time...

I have an addiction to Farm Town. You've read it before...actually, that was my last post. See, I'm too busy with the farm to even blog. I'm constantly on my farm...plowing, planting, harvesting, whatever needs to be done! I even took the laptop into the kitchen while washing dishes, just so I would know if someone wanted to hire me to harvest crops! And Farm Town goes outside of the computer...I'm getting and sending text messages about crops....friends asking me to come harvest, to check on crops, if mine are ready! It's all crops all the time! I can not stop...I love my farm!
I don't have anything else to say...mostly because I felt I spent too much time on my first confession that I need to rush back to check on my farm!!
Oh, I do have one...this is a friday confession, being posted on saturday. Everytime i would think about writing it, I was distracted by farming! Oops!

Ok, gotta run and check on my crops...have a wonderful weekend and a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all you wonderful blogging mommies!!

Send Help...

2009-05-04T18:57:00.004-05:00

I've been completely MIA from Blogger, Twitter, Myspace and I only use Facebook to get me to my most loved destination...FARM TOWN!! Yeah believe the hype people, this thing is OFF THE HOOK!

Listen people, I'm addicted! I'm trying to ween myself...not completely, just a little less obsessively! If I'm not back in 2 days, send help!!

And for those who don't know what I'm talking about...SHAME ON YOU!...however, you can go here to learn more!

One last thing...I HEART my Farm Town Neighbors!

I heart irony

2009-04-24T09:55:00.004-05:00

Irony:

The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; a statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.

My junk drawer runneth over...

2009-04-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

If seeing this , isn't a sure fire sign that it's time to clean out my junk drawer....

Then maybe seeing this, (the junk that fell out of the back of the drawer onto the dishes in the cabinet below) will be!

Only time will tell...

Nothing says Happy Easter like...

2009-04-22T15:00:00.000-05:00

arm wrestling?!

This year on Easter, my family donned our Easter best, went to church, had lunch at my Parent's house and then...well, we arm wrestled.

Is that strange?

(Me against my brother, Brannon)

Don't let the smile fool ya...

He was in pain! You mess with the Bull...you get the horns!

I was Victorious!!

(and yes! I do see how this picture makes me look, but I'd just won an arm wrestling comp...I can't ALWAYS look danity and pretty!)

After me, Brannon wrestled our older sister Michelle, who secretly wishes she were a Professional wrestler...

She tries so hard to pretend like that bicept she rolled her sleeve up over (to show off), isn't burning!

But Brannon turns up the heat...and for a moment, things get serious!

However, in the end, she won. :(

So yeah, arm wrestling!

But hey, it could of been worse...at least there wasn't any of us girls in my parents backyard, screaming and saying things like, "Say something...give me a reason to put my fist down your throat!!", and my Dad trying to break it up!

Oh wait... what? There was that too? Well then it was a memorable Easter!

Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap

2009-04-18T15:04:00.006-05:00

Thanks to JennyKate, I'm participating in Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap!

This is my very first one to be a part of, and I have to admit, I'm bit nervous. However, I know it

will be tons of fun!

So, if you want spread some love by joining Mamarazzi's Favorite Things Swap, you

need to rush over to her page NOW!! She's only allowing 100 to participate...and

I was No. 84! Go...join in...have fun...swap your favorites...and maybe make some new

favorites!!

Have a wonderful weekend Blog Land!!

I'm NOT the biggest loser!

2009-04-15T11:16:00.005-05:00

I love watching The Biggest Loser! It's one of my most favorite reality TV shows to watch! But I can't seem to watch it without having a huge range of emotions, most which end with me crying. The contestant's stories of weight loss and struggles are sometimes just so hard to watch and hear without crying. Normally, that would be no big deal, except for the fact that I am an emotional eater! I'm mad...eat a snickers. I'm hurt...have a bowl of ice cream. Smilin' from ear to ear...finish off the brownies. Watch The Biggest Loser...oh, I'm having a feast!!
But by the end of the show, I've promised myself that the following week, I'm not going to let my emotions control me...I'm still waiting on my next week to come...

No TMI here!!

2009-04-05T23:19:00.005-05:00

Just a warning...I do not believe in 'TMI' (too much information) Now while I may leave out some stories or details of a story, that is not to protect you, the reader. It is to protect ME! My mom does get on here and read my blog from time to time. And I've never known my Mom to lie, so when she says "I brought you into this world, I can take you out!" I 100% believe her! At 31 years old, I still fear the 'taking out'!! So just know before continuing to read that, 'NO! There is never too much information!!"

True Story...

We let Britain put on some 'big girl' panties and run around. She came into the living room and said "Momma. Yuck. Poo-poo". I thought she was talking about our puppy who is potty training. I follow her into her room, where I then notice her panties on the ground by...yep, you guessed it, poo-poo! I looked at her and she's standing in this weird bow legged stance with poop on her leg. I grab her up and see Chloe running towards Britain's mess. While holding sister, I push the dog out of her room and try to pull the door closed with my foot, while yelling to Nic, "Britain pooped in her room!! Hurry, grab something to clean it up."
I pass him in the hallway as I'm taking Britain to the bathroom and he's heading to clean up her mess. I get to the bathroom, he gets to the bedroom and says, "Where is there poop?"

"Um, right in front of the door! You can't miss it!!"

"Yeah, the only thing in front of the door is Chloe...I don't see any poop!"

"What?! It's right there. (I say walking back into Britain's room) Right th...Oh. My. Gosh...Chloe ate the poop! Oh my gosh...she ate it Nic!"

Actual conversation...took place with my Mom.

Mom: Where are you? Where's Britain? Your house just seems awfully quiet.
Me: Well, I'm in the bathroom pooping and Britain is sitting on the floor by the bathroom door.
Mom: Well what's got her so quiet?
Me: She's putting lotion on it looks like.
I finish, get up and see Britain...
Me: Oh my gosh!! Where'd she get that?!
Mom: What? What does she have?
Me: Gosh, sister! What are you doing? She's not putting lotion on...she has the Astroglide!
Mom: (laughing)
Me: I don't even know how she got that!
Mom: Probably next to the bed.
(I'm going to pause for a minute...should I be totally freakin' out that my mom didn't question what Astroglide is?)
Me: No, it's more likely to be in the closet.
Mom: The closet?
Me: Yeah...we have two kids! Jacob doesn't want anything to do with us until the door is shut. At least if it's in the closet, there are 3 sets of doors for him to get through before he finds us! Those extra doors make a world of difference!!

...between Nic and I...

"Nic, you know if my parents ever got a home computer, we better be praying it's durning a time when we're there with them"

"Why?"

"Why?, Really? So you can set it up...but most importantly, so you could set it to block certain websites! I do not want my dad having access to Google!! If he did, do you know what sorts of things he could find and read about us?"

"Us? What have WE done wrong? It would be you who would need to worry! Besides, your parents totally love me more then you. No way they would believe bad things about me!"

This should of been a Friday Confession:

The beginning of this week was exhausting! Britain started feeling sick Sunday afternoon and by Sunday night she was not feeling well and was super cranky! That night she only slept for 2 hours in her bed! I spent the rest of the night holding her in the recliner. That Monday, Monday night, Tuesday and Tuesday night were exactly the same....on naps on her own and only sleeping in my arms. Needless to say, I was SUPER TIRED!!

Wednesday came and finally there was some relief! She was feeling better and actually took a nap AND slept in her bed!
Nic and I stayed up late, in our room, watching TV and finally turning off the lights around midnight. I was happy to finally be getting some sleep.
Around 2:15am, I woke up to my husband trying to get all lovie with me. At first I was a bit put off, but decided to more I pretended I was sleeping, the more he would try and wake me, the longer before I was back asleep. So, I gave in!
Afterwards, my husband rolls over and, in typical male fashion, goes to sleep. And me...well I'm left there wide awake!!
I laid there for a couple of minutes and thought about how HE had just woke me up yet he's sleeping. The more I thought, the madder I got. By the end, I was furious!! I had spent 3 days and nights holding our daughter while she restlessly tried to sleep in my arms in the recliner! I spent 3 days with her not taking naps and wanting no one and nothing but me! And on the first night that I'm in my bed sleeping soundly, instead of starting something while we were both still awake, he chooses to wake me from my sleep! And for what?! Because he wanted to have sex!! And now I was stuck there, wide awake, listening to his snoring!!
So I decided that as long as I wasn't sleeping, he wouldn't be either!
I reached over, pinched his nose closed and pushed up on his chin. I held that until he started moving his head, and then I'd let go and lay down. He'd wipe at his face, then sit straight up in bed and look around. I'd lay there as still as possible, trying not to laugh! Finally, he'd lay back down, and a minute later he'd be snoring again...so I would start the process all over again.
This went on for a good 35-40 minutes before I finally started feeling tired. So I gave in, fell asleep and woke up when Nic's alarm went off. Later that morning while he was getting dressed he said, "How'd you sleep last night? I feel like crap! I didn't sleep too well!" Ahhh, poor thang...next time, he needs to plan ahead and stop this middle of the night stuff!

Last one...

Last week I held 3 different online converstations about poop in one day!
It has been told to me and others about me that my two favorite subjects are Poop. and Sex. I use to deny that, but it's totally true! Those are two topics that will keep me laughing for hours...even after the conversation is long over with! It's sad...I should be over things like that... but I'm not!

Hope you enjoyed...

Just nothing...

2009-03-26T20:38:00.009-05:00

For whatever reason, the past couple of weeks I have been blah! I haven't wanted to get on the computer whatsoever! Really! Everything I've done, check email, Tweet, Facebook, it's all been done from the comfort of my iPhone! You know, I have noticed though, that since I've stayed off the computer, my house is a lot cleaner! I'm not saying they go hand in hand...just something to think about!

While I was MIA, Jacob had spring break. We had family come up to see us, which is always fun and I celebrated my 8 year anniversary with my wonderful husband! He, being the amazing man he is, got me a new camera! A Nikon D60! I was SUPER excited! But, I have NO idea how to use it! I know I could totally read the instructions, but I don't learn and retain knowledge that way. So I'm waiting for Nicholas to learn how to use it so he can show me so I can start taking pictures!! Actually I have taken a few pictures just playing around. My greatest picture feat (and I'll post it if I can get Nicholas to bring me the memory card from the camera! He's watching 30 Rock, so it's no guarantee that he will. Stay tuned to the end of the post to see if he did b/c I'm not getting up to get it!!!) okay, what was I saying...Oh, my greatest pictures were taken of my neighbors Oklahoma Redbud tree. I focused in on the bud and the rest of the tree was fuzzy! I can't tell you just how excited that made me! Although I started messing with the settings and now, I can't figure it out! It's something to do with aperture, I at least know that!

Oh, and I have to update you all about my sweet, loveable, pooping, peeing in my house, puppy, Chloe! She's a doll! But that's another post...

Well, that's all I have to say, except "My husband is the best part of my life. He is amazing, and wonderful and makes me...(NO! Nic, I'm NOT saying that!) My family is blessed to have married their daughter off to someone so great. No wonder my parents love him more then me...how could they not. He is, after Jesus, the greatest man to walk this Earth. I love him, I love the OSU Cowboys (NOT!) and would gladly support our children when they follow in their dad's footsteps and graduate donning orange! Thank you!" (yeah, that's what I was MADE to type since Nic brought in the memory card for me! Men! They can't just do a nice deed!!)

Anyways...enjoy the pics!!

I can't believe I took this picture...and that I can't figure out how to take it again!!

This is my favorite one I took! I was quite proud of myself!

She cracks me up the way she's standing...her tummy sticking out like that!

Is it okay to show that Britain picked the neighbors flower? Oh well!!

This is my nephew Kael, LOVE this face! Isn't he a cutie?!!!

My Birthday Dream Come True....

2009-03-12T20:26:00.007-05:00

On March 7th, I celebrated my 31st birthday. It was a fun birthday that included a few friends and a TON of laughs...mostly over the game THINGS. Seriously ya'll, if you have friends that love to talk about sex, poop, beads and hiney holes, then this game is for you!! Not even kidding!

As much fun as I had on my birthday, the greatest most bestest present came on March 9th. My cousin Jenny over at JennyKate's Spot got tickets to go see NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, live in concert! I know you all just had a flashback to banana clips, french rolled stone washed jeans, unit belts and leg warmers, but that's okay. I'd take all those horrible fads back just to have this night!

Jenny and I at the concert...how I love this girl!

So as exciting as just having tickets were, the excitement exploded 1000% when I found out that our seats were on CENTER ROW, FLOOR! Oh...My...Gosh! I literally wanted to cry! Not only that, but our seats were right in front of Stage B. Do you know what happens on Stage B? Well, I'll fill you in on that in a moment...

The seat in the lower left corner, is where Jenny and I sat!!

So after some pictures, some talk about which NK we were destined to marry and the Jabb Awoc Keez (the group that won MTV's America's Best Dance Crew) it was time.

Now, I have to warn you, I'm the one who took this video...it's more to show you just how excited I was about seeing New Kids on the Block! :D

When the New Kids first became a group, 15+ years ago, I was completely in love with Donnie Walhberg! I remember having pictures of him tapped on the wall beside my bed that I would kiss every night before going to sleep. I was like any other pre-teen during that time...willing to give up my family, friends and normal life, all to move onto their tour bus, to live happily with my soul mate, Donnie. I'm sure you can guess that those dreams did not come true. And honestly, I hadn't even thought about Donnie like that...well until that night at the concert!

After a few songs, all of which both Jenny and I sang at the top of our lungs, they finally made their way to Stage B. So were you wondering what Stage B was all about? Well for me, it offered the best view in the house and confirmed that, yes, I just might still be willing to move onto that tour bus!

Okay, so Stage B and the best view looked something like this...

They were on a revolving stage that went up and down...THAT'S why the picture looks this way...no other reason!! But did I mention that I LOVE DONNIE!!

So I know what you're thinking, "There is NO way your evening could get any better, NO WAY!" Well, it did! Want to know what put this smile/scream on my face...

Donnie Walhberg HELD MY HAND! Okay, so it was more like he kind of grasped my fingers, but in those few seconds where we touched, time stood still...there was definite chemistry!

I left the concert that night being so thankful for my wonderful birthday gift from Jenny, a renewed love for all things New Kids and, well, this super cute NKOTB shirt!!

Love and Marriage....

2009-03-11T20:40:00.005-05:00

Romance, ladies, is alive and well in this household!

Let me set the scene for you...

It's 8:30pm, both kids are asleep in bed, and the house is finally quiet! Nicholas is sitting in the recliner, feet propped up, laid back and relaxing. I'm less then 5 feet away, on the couch, with the laptop. The TV is on, the wind is blowing outside and the can lights are dimmed and humming their piercing hum. Beside me on the couch is Jacob's backpack and the snack bag that needs to be filled with snacks for Jacob's class the following day.

In my head I'm thinking, "I don't want to go to the store tonight! It's late, it's cold out, all I want to do is sit!"

And as if he was reading my mind, Nicholas looks over to me and in his most sincere, loving voice says,

"hey, if you have sex with me right now, I'll go to the store for you."

I turn to look at him, just as he says,

"So...we doing this, or what?"

Yeah, it's okay to be jealous!

The Alphabet Game...

2009-03-10T16:25:00.005-05:00

My wonderful, funny friend and blogging buddy, Impulsive Addict, gave me the letter M, and I have to come up with a list of 10 things that I love that all start with that letter! I've really been thinking about this for a couple of days, so here goes...

Motherhood. I love being a Mom! It brings me the greatest happiness, but also produces the most stress! I can't imagine being anything other then Jacob and Britain's mom. I love them with my entire being. And with that...I love my Mom! She's been a wonderful example of how a Mom is to be!
Malls. Really? Does this even surprise anyone? I can go to the mall and instantly feel my stress leave! I love to shop and my favorite place to do that is definitely the mall!!
March. I love this month! It's the month I was born in (March 7) and the month I got married in (March 17). Two different celebrated holidays at my house...two different times to receive gifts!!
McDonald's. Well, I personally HATE McDonald's, but my kids love it! And there are times when life requires McDonald's!
Marathon's. Well running, but it doesn't start with an M! I honestly have a love hate relationship with running. I hate it while I'm doing it, but love it when I'm done!
Mexican food. Oh...My...Gosh! I could totally eat some sort of Mexican food every single night!! I love chips, salsa, cheese, tortillas, beans, rice...it all! Love it all!!
Mr. Dietzel. That counts, right? He's an amazing, wonderful, caring, loving dad and husband. Ten years ago when we started dating, I could not of began to image how he would impact my life. He's so easy going and laid back that it sometimes drives me nuts! But he's exactly what I need!!
Music. I love listening to music while getting dressed, cleaning house, driving in the car or running...I'd be happy to have music on, always! And any kind will do. My kids love music, too. We have a 'family dance song'...it's Footloose! We turn it on, and turn it up loud and dance until we can't stand!
Magazines. I LOVE magazines!! I get People, Family Fun, OK, US Weekly and Runner's! I can read and reread one! First, I look through all the pictures, reading the captions. Then I read it front to back...story after story!!
ME TIME!! It's few and far between, but on those days that Nic takes them both to the store or they all leave for practice, I take full advantage of it. Even if it's for just an hour, I soak it up!

So there it is, my list of 10 things I love that begin, somewhat, with the letter M! That was fun...a little hard to come up with, but fun!

And Her Name Is...

2009-03-03T21:25:00.014-06:00

Chloe!

ALL of the names that I recieved were put into a bowl (yes Cheryl, even Optimus Prime was in the bowl!) because Jacob decided that he liked all of them and wanted to give them a 'fair chance'!

He dug around in there for what seemed like forever, and finally pulled the winning name...which, you can see, he was VERY happy about!

So CONGRATULATIONS Amanda from A Blog to Dye For, for making the wonderful name suggestion of Chloe and being the winner of the Name My Dog giveaway. Her prize (to share with her Yorkie, Ross) is a super cute doggy outfit, a Plush Toy, and a $15.00 gift card to PetCo.

Thanks Amanda, you'll be getting your prize as soon as you come see Chloe!! (Amanda lives in my town!! YAY! for not having to pay postage!! lol!)

Also, thank you to everyone who gave name suggestions for our cute little girl! They were all great!!

I know her name will fit her perfectly!! I can't wait until she's here with us (5 more days!) and getting plenty spoiled!!

Giveaway...

2009-03-01T12:58:00.006-06:00

Hey there Blog Friends, I've decided to end the Name My Puppy giveaway a day early. Jacob is very excited and very anxious to have a name for our new puppy, and since we are possibly getting her a week from today, March 8th, she needs a name! So the giveaway will end tomorrow afternoon, Monday, March 2nd!

If you have already commented with your name suggestion, thank you!! If you haven't, you still have today and tomorrow to do so! Check out the original post for the giveaway rules and how your suggestion could win you something sweet!

I can't wait to see what names you all come up with...and what name our Little Shorkie Girl gets!

Name My Puppy Giveaway

2009-02-26T21:49:00.016-06:00

Okay Blog Friends, I'm in need of your assistance! I am getting a new puppy in about a week and a half, (around March 7th...my birthday!) she is a Shorkie and she will be small. (Her mom is a 4lb Yorkshire and her dad is a 5lb Shih Tzu.)

She is simply adorable, isn't she?

Well the problem is, we don't know what to name her! I'm stuck!

That's where you all come in! I need your help finding our little Shorkie girl a fitting name! In return, if your name suggestion is the one we use, you'll recieve a sweet little thank you gift surprise for your little bundle of fur.

So, here's what to do...

Leave me a comment with your name suggestion for our Puppy.
Tell me a little bit about your pet...whether it's a cat, a dog, a hamster or a snake!
Post a blog about the Name My Puppy Giveaway
Link your post, back to this blog and let me know you did.

And for all you Twitter-holics out there, post a Tweet linking back here, to my Giveaway to DOUBLE your winning chances!! Just remember to let me know through a blog comment, or find me on Twitter. I'm OSUWife.

It's that easy!

And even if you don't own a pet you can still enter to win...you'll just recieve a pet free gift . If , by chance, there are two entries with the same name suggestion, the one who commented first would win. One name per comment...3 comments per blogger!

The Giveaway will last until Tueday evening. After that, I'll go over the names with my trusted side-kick, Jacob, we'll narrow it down to the ones we like and he'll pull the winning name out of a bowl! And trust me, Jacob is super excited about all the name possibilities!

Be watching for the And her name is... post to follow later that week. I will also contact the winner through their blog!

So...do you think you have the one perfect name for our little Shorkie girl? Well, let me know!!

A lot to say about nothing.

2009-02-26T02:24:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've sat down with the intentions writing a blog. I get on blogger and read everyday, but I haven't wrote anything in a while. Here lately, I've noticed that I just don't have much to say. Well, I ALWAYS have something to say, just not always something to blog about. But there are times when I have TONS of things I could sit down and type out, it's just finding the time to do that isn't always easy. But today, er, tonight rather, the blogging planets are perfectly aligned, and there is much to say, and time to say it in. Now, there is a new problem...WHAT, of all the things I could blog about, do I actually put down? Well that, leads me to this...
Today I've been bombarded with blog ideas. Things that have happened, things I've seen or heard, things I've done, there have been tons of things. So, my post today is about some of those ideas that I've thought of today...

My Potential Blog Post Ideas...

(some of the ideas used in this post, can still become actual posts!)

Pretending to be awake when Nic called me from the gym to, in fact, check to see if I was awake.
Worrying that the noise I heard in the attic was something more then a 'harmless mouse' like my ~~lying~~ husband said. I believe it's more like a toddler sized rat that's waiting to eat me!
Jacob doing awesome tonight at the Grand Prix! He made it to the 6th round!!
Eating a burrito tonight after the race. Eating late gives me crazy dreams!! Eating a burrito late gives me crazy dreams and Nic hurt!
Finding more white hairs then I think should be allowed on someone who is only 30!
While finding and removing above mentioned white hairs, I pooted a 'wispy' sorta poot. I laughed and then tried to think of ways to describe that noise in a blog.
Looking at pictures of me on the laptop where I was SMOKIN' HOTT. I feel I should dedicate an entire weeks worth of post JUST to these pictures! Someday, I will share these!
My addictions to Virtual Pets.
Britain and her insane love for Dogs!!
My husband doing something different while we were...ahem, 'loving' each other. It would make a great read too!
While thinking about that 'great blog', I was asked, "are we doing this or not?" I had to stop writing blogs in my head!
The fact that he can sleep and I can't!
Since I can't sleep, I decided to get the laptop and watch Young and Restless from Friday.
And the last possible blog idea is what I'm doing right now...NOT watching Y&R, but in fact, blogging...with the laptop...while on the potty...at 2:14am!
Oh no...very little toilet paper left on roll. None in closet in front of me! "OH NICHOLAS..!!"

So there you have it! Those were just some of the possible ideas I had stirring in my head today! Trust me, some will become actual post...I'm just not sure when! And since it's now 2:18am on Thursday morning, I'm not proofreading!! Sorry...

Friday Confessions

2009-02-13T21:02:00.005-06:00

Oh it's been a while since I've had a good cleansing of the soul...since I've sat down at the computer to put my dirty laundry out for all to see. Today is the day...today I will confess!

I can not be on time...for anything! It doesn't matter when I get up, what I've got together the night before, or even if I'm sitting in my car outside the place I'm supposed to be at 30 min's early, I will still be late!! This isn't as much as a confession as it is a personality flaw. Either way, I'm completed excited about our church having two services...9am (yeah, right!) and 11am (now THAT'S what I'm talking about!)

I bought a new pair of shoes today. They are SO CUTE!! I love them, love them, love them!! I am, currently, under "budgetary lock down" (a fancy way for Nic to say "STOP SPENDING MONEY!).

Jacob had his Valentine's party today. That is not the confession. I made it out of the house with my new shoes without Nicholas noticing. I also was able to scuff up the bottoms really good, ensuring that 1) they can't be returned. And 2) if ask, "Are those new shoes?" My answer is be, "Really? Look at the bottom. Do they LOOK like they're new? I don't think so!"

I am currently sitting on clean clothes that are on my bed! I was too lazy to move them, but only after I was too lazy to fold and put them away!! I'm sure tonight, they'll end up on the floor and then back in the laundry room to start the process all over!

I made chocolate dipped strawberries for Jacob's Valentine's party not only because HE ask me too, but also so the other parents would say, "Oh my! Chocolate strawberries!! I just went and bought cookies! You're a better parent then me!" (that was actually said to me! But making them, I knew that's what I wanted to hear!)

Nic is Jacob's soccer coach. He called me very excited about some Coaches cleats he found for $30. Instead of telling him, "no, you don't really need those." I told him to get them. All the while storing that in my mind for later use...like when he finally discovers my new shoes!!

Well that's it! My confessions for Friday. Which actually brings up one more confession,

I'm actually posting this on Saturday! I got way too interested in some MTV trash show last night to finish!! Nothing is ever on time, I tell ya!

A Snow Day!

2009-02-04T16:17:00.001-06:00

When it snows so much that the kids stay home from school, it's nice that there is something around to keep from getting bored!

Shoveling the drive ways!!

I've been Tagged!

2009-02-03T23:22:00.003-06:00

I've been tagged by my most wonderful JennyKate!! She's a fellow blogger, so go check her out!! But not until you've read mine! ;D

Here's the Rule, the things you've done & post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon (or HALF!)

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied...(I think this one's too tricky to answer.)

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

Not too bad for a stay at home mom!!
Now Tag 3 Different bloggers to post this :)

1. Stephanie @ A Day in the Life of A Crazed Mom
2. Lori @ Simple Shutter
3. Mandy @ A Blog to Dye For

Race Day...

2009-01-29T12:02:00.016-06:00

Day 3 in Phoenix...the day we had been training for, raising money for, surviving aches and pains for, was finally here!

I got up, got ready and tried to force down some food. I was a bit too nervous to eat much. When I walked out of my room, I noticed that Deborah had hung up signs on our door!! She's so sweet!

After that, we went downstairs to board the shuttle that would take us to the start line! Once there we had stretched, checked our bags, used the potty and of course, took some pictures! When we first got there, it was dark and cold!! But we didn't' care, we were pumped to be there! Tandice and I run the same pace and started off together, I was glad to have someone to run with...especially since that morning I discovered that my iPod wasn't dead! It had been turned on without me knowing it!! I'm use to running with music, so that made having a running partner so much better!

Amy and I took one last picture together before she headed to her starting place. She is how I came to meet and love Tracy. It was wonderful so see all Amy's hard work pay off!

And with Tracy...she's told us so many times how thankful she was that we were helping to honor Mitchell like this. I never had the pleasure of meeting and loving Mitchell like a lot of the Angels did. But through Tracy, I've been able to know Mitchell...to know his struggle...to know his fight...and to know him. As a person, I've found an amazing friend. One who has gone through heartache that I can not begin to imagine, but has never waivered in her faith. Always knowing, believing and saying, "not my will, Lord, but YOURS be done." And as a mother, I've been forever changed by this journey. I love my kids more, I hug them tighter at night and say more prayers of thankfulness for them. I love Tracy...she has truly been an inspiration to me!

We were ready to go now! The start time was fast approaching for us, so we took care of some last minute business...going potty! Luckily, there was a group of girls to wait in line with, because the lines were LONG! And if you know me, you know that public bathrooms FREAK me out! But when you're looking at running for 13.1 miles, plus you're having some 'issues', you suck it up, make your friend go ahead of you, stuff your nose with a Kleenex, and pray to God that you don't see any poop floating!! And that's exactly what I did!! I even say that using the Port-a-Potty was the greatest accomplishment for me that day!!

After surviving the potty, I called Nicholas one last time before I checked my bags in and got in line. Nicholas has been my greatest supporter through this. He got up every Saturday with the kids while I trained, he pretty much ran the garage sale we did to raise money, he forked out money for new running shoes, running outfits, foot doctors, and physical therapy, all without complaining. He believed in me when I didn't believe in myself. He told me time and again how amazing I was for doing this...how proud he was of all my hard work! So even though he wasn't there to see me finish, I new back home he would be cheering for me just as loud!! So one last 'good bye, I love you, you're amazing and you can do this' from Nicholas, and I was off to the start line!

They placed us in corrals since there were so many half marathon runners. I was in corral 21, and thankfully, I wasn't by myself!!

And since we waited for 20 other corrals to begin, it was 40 minutes after the race started before we actually crossed the start line! It was a fun run! We started in Phoenix, ran through Scottsdale and ended in Tempe. Along the way there were bands playing, cheerleaders cheering us on, and our Team In Training mentors and coaches yelling for us, and of course, snapping pictures! And of course, we were always excited to see them!!

Two hours and forty-three minutes and thirty-nine seconds later (actually 2:36:39...we took off minutes for a potty break!), I was done!! I had completed my first half marathon! When I crossed the finish line, Tracy was there. She hugged me, and I started crying. I was overwhelmed by what I had just accomplished, and the fact that I did it to help such a wonderful cause like LLS and to honor Mitchell, made my race so much more fulfilling!!

After hugs and tears, I went to check in at the TNT tent, called Nicholas and sent out about 50 text messages letting my family and friends know that I was finished!! And then I got out of my shoes!! Boy, 13.1 miles can put a beat down on your feet!! Thankfully, I didn't lose any toenails!!

So I had ran, checked in, refueled with chips and oranges what was left? Oh, more pictures!! This is with Stephanie, she's one of my favorite bloggers, and Beth. These two girls are SO sweet! I just love them a hundred times over!!

This is with Lisa, our very own Paparazzi!! I just love her!! Plus, we both share a weakness for Puppy Chow and flossing!!

Tracey is a white girl with an "Apple Bottom"!! I love this girl an her big o'bootie!! Ta-DOW!

One last picture with my most favorite Team In Training Coach, Mark. He was awesome!! He ran with Tandice and I for almost a mile, giving us encouragement and TONS of laughs!! It's amazing the things you will share when you're running a half marathon!!

After pictures were taken, we loaded up on a shuttle and headed back to the hotel. I took my ice bath, got in some jammies, ordered a sandwich and rested up for the After Party that night!

Day 2 in Phoenix

2009-01-27T12:34:00.016-06:00

Day 2 in Phoenix didn't get off to a good start...mostly because I had glorious plans of sleeping in, instead I was wide awake at 6:15am!! We didn't have anything planned until that evening, so all I did was relax the entire day! That was NICE!!

That evening was our pasta party that Team In Training had for us. We all wore our 'Mitchell's Angels' t-shirts and looked pretty in pink!!

As we were going up the escalator to where we would be dining, we heard noise...lots of noise!! Cheering, clapping, cowbells, whistles all for us!! All the TNT mentors, coaches and staff had formed two long lines for all the runners to walk through...and they were cheering for us the entire time!!

Once we walked through that, we got in line to get our 'carb overload'! Once inside, it was amazing to see how many people where there with Team In Training, all helping to raise money to find a cure for blood cancers! There was a slide show running that had all the 'Honorees and Heroes' going, and as I sat and watched face after face, I said a big prayer of thanks for the health of my family and friends! There was also a mother who talked about her daughter, Alex. She told of Alex's battle with cancer and how she fought until the very end. It was heart breaking to hear...I don't think there was a dry eye in the room when she thanked US for doing what we were doing to help find a cure. Still, thinking about her story, brings tears to my eyes.

After the speakers they recognized the top fundraisers...someone raised over $30,000!!! WOW! What an amazing accomplishment! And after that, they recognized us, Mitchell's Angels!! They told about Tracy's birthday wish and dear Mitchell. It was amazing to be standing there with 49 other amazing ladies, all in our super cute pink shirts, crying but with smiles on our faces as they announced that we alone had raised over $200,000!! We were all so proud of the hard work that we had put in!

Afterwards, of course, it was time for pictures...we all love pictures! And we got a great one of Mitchell's Angels!!

When all the picture taking was over, we headed back to the hotel where we had one last TNT meeting. They told us things like remember to drink plenty of fluids, where to check your bags at, check in a the tent after the race and where to meet in case of a disaster! Just normal, everyday, marathon things! lol!

When the meeting was over, some girls came back to mine and Amy's room to do a few things like...

Put some finishing touches on our race jerseys...

Takes some pictures...

with Tandice...LOVE HER!!

me and Natalie...she's so funny!

Have some laughs...

Get one last pep talk from our favorite TNT'er (who is not a gypsy!)...

and for me, taking some much needed Midol! (because yes! I started the day before the run!)

After that it was off to bed! My alarm was set for 5am and I was ready for a good nights sleep!Because the next morning, I was running a half marathon!!

Head 'em up, move 'em out!

2009-01-23T10:48:00.016-06:00

That title makes me think of cattle being herded, but honestly, that's kind of what it was like for all 49 of Mitchell's Angels in the OKC airport waiting to fly to Phoenix! We were a sight to behold...not to mention a little loud! But hey!...what can you expect from 49 women who signed up to run a half marathon? It's going to be a bit loud and a lot crazy!

After about 13 strangers were recruited to take our pictures with almost every Angels camera, we were finally ready to board the plane!

I got lucky...I was stuck in group C when it came time to board, but Brandi and Meredyth had saved me a seat with them! (I don't want to tell you about the overly talkative, smokey smelling breath, a little too handsy man that I was afraid I'd be sitting by!!)

I don't mind flying, especially when I have a window seat. I hate sitting over the wing, but luckily I was able to get a couple of good pictures from my window. Jacob LOVES these pictures...he thinks he's looking at "half of the world".

After seeing the snow topped mountains and rolling hills, it didn't seem like no time before we where in Phoenix and us Angels were taking over that airport!

We got our luggage with only one "my luggage isn't here!" scare, and we were 'herded' out to our shuttle bus, on our way to the hotel!

After a short ride to the hotel, and a even shorter stop in our rooms to unpack, we went to the convention center to pick up our race packets and bib numbers, do a little shopping.

I LOVED this shirt that Melissa found while we were there...it summed up what a lot of us were feeling on those early and cold Saturday runs! "This seemed like a good idea 3 months ago!"

After we left the convention center, we went back to the hotel to rest a bit and then get ready for Tracy's surprise party!! After all, it was because of her 40Th birthday wish that we were all in Phoenix! We had a restaurant reserved, and a few Angels went early to decorate and pick up her birthday cake...which was really awesome and YUMMY!

When Tracy showed up, we started singing happy birthday to her, and she was completely surprised! It was a wonderful evening for a wonderful friend!

After the surprises, cake, presents and laughter, we headed back to our hotel for the evening, and to end our first day in Phoenix. Day 2 came pretty early, but more on that later!

(Just a thanks to my dear friend Stephanie and fellow Mitchell's Angel , she takes a lot of great pictures and I've 'borrowed' some of them from her facebook and blog...which is so funny, you should all go check it out! Thanks girl for the pics!!

Home Sweet Home!

2009-01-21T10:59:00.004-06:00

Well I'm finally home after spending 5 days in Phoenix, running in a half marathon, and spending WAY too much money!! It's great to be home again...I missed my family SO much!
I have a lot of things to blog about from my trip to the race and all the wonderful things in between! However, this may take me a few days to get everything sorted! So stay tuned...

Just something funny

2009-01-13T12:20:00.003-06:00

This is from Christmas, but it absolutely cracks me up! This present was from my Aunt Shirley and Uncle Kenny for Jacob. She must have ran out of wrapping paper and, in I assume, her rush to get the gifts wrapped, she had to use some newspaper she had lying around. Unfortunately, she didn't pay much attention to the headline on the front of the gift when she was wrapping it!

Nothing says Merry Christmas for a 6 year old quite like death.

On a side note...had this not been wrapping paper for my child's Christmas gift, I wouldn't have thought the story was funny! Just wanted to clarify...so no one left here thinking I'm heartless!

Happy (late) Birthday, Jacob!

2009-01-12T21:42:00.001-06:00

Jacob turned 6 years old on the 8th and I had good intentions of blogging about my wonderful 6 year old. However, life happened, and well, I didn't get it finished or posted!! So instead, I decided to blog about his birthday party! Actually, he had his very first sleepover! He was SO excited when we told him that he could have on! And I was SO scared! Luckily for Nicholas and I, Jacob's friends are all a great group of boys! It turned out to be really fun! Can't say that I'm planning another sleepover anytime soon, but now, I won't be so worried when I do!!

Here are some pics from his sleepover...

The boys wanted to play with their glow sticks outside but it was freezing cold! So what's a good mom to do? Well bring all the boys inside, turn out all the lights and let them run wild...which they did!!

Nicholas trying to show them the 'proper' way to twirl a glow stick in the dark!

And this is how it turned out! Not too bad and no one got hurt! Bonus!

This picture was taken with my flash on because I wanted to catch their faces. But check out Nic's face...kind of strange!!

After playing light saber wars outside, dinner and then inside games it was finally time to get the boys in their pj's! What a great picture!!

Beds rolled out, teeth brushed, bladders emptied, it was finally the time I looked most forward to...bedtime! They snuggled in watched their favorite movie, Star Wars, The Clone Wars!

This picture was taken by Jacob the following morning, after Nic slept on the couch, Britain slept (well, it was more like steamrolled!) with me and the boys woke up at 6:15am!(Yeah!) Funny thing is they all swore they never really went to sleep!!

After pancakes, sausage, eggs and OJ for breakfast (yeah, I do it up right at my house!) and most of them had changed (Alex still in pj's while Jacob's in a tank and shorts! What?!!) we wanted to get a picture of them in their Darth Vadar mask...Britain thought she needed to be a part of it!!

After a lot of "Baby Sister! Don't take my mask!",(ALL the boys call her baby sister!) we finally got a picture! You can just sense the excitement, can't you?!

We survived the first sleepover! And for all of the boys, this was their first sleepover and they all stayed all night, with no major problems! And after all the kids had left and Nic and I were completely exhausted, Jacob came and told us that his sleepover was the best party ever!! So it was ALL worth it!

UGH!

2009-01-12T13:08:00.000-06:00

Okay, I have a post ready to go, but no pictures!! Every time I try and load them it says 'error'! I don't want to post without pictures, so I'm not posting at all! (except for this one, telling you I'm not posting...!) So for now, I'll go and pout, and wait until Nicholas gets home to fix whatever the problem is that I'm having!!!

These old bones...

2009-01-05T16:00:00.000-06:00

just ain't what they use to be!

Saturday being the beautiful day that it was, we were all outside playing. Our neighbors have a trampoline and I decided that before we went into the house for the evening, I would take my turn! Against all advice from my husband, I got up on the trampoline and began jumping. The first few jumps were REALLY fun and exhilarating, so I got a little brave. I decided I would do some flips and maybe a few cheerleader jumps. And once again, Nicholas is standing there telling me, "No Renee, that's not a good idea!"
Well one front flip later I was jumping up and down sticking my tongue out at him, proving to him that, "Yes! It was a great idea!"
And since I was in the 'Well I'll just show you!' phase, I decided it was time for some toe touches. I bounced and bounced and bounced until I felt like I had enough momentum to actually pull my legs up. With Jacob singing out "go momma! go momma!", I gave it one more bounce, flew upward and with all my might and cheesiest smile, I did a toe touch! It was perfect!...toes were pointed, chest was raised, legs were straight! And in the half second that I was there, in the air, in all my toe touch glory I was thinking, "wow! I AM awesome!" And then, I landed.
I was still on my feet, still bouncing, still trying to hold a cheesy smile, and listening to Jacob, Nicholas and a few neighbor moms say, "well look at you Miss Cheerleader!". I felt pretty proud of myself! Thirty year old mom of 2, didn't mean nothing to me! I still had it!
Jacob, feeling just as proud said, "momma, do another!" and of course Nic saying, "no Jacob, momma's getting off now." Of course I shoot a look to Nicholas that says what I'm thinking, "You don't think I CAN do another one!", then I tell Jacob that I'll do one more.
I start trying to get some more momentum going again and this time decide it was going to be a roundhouse jump! That's where in one fluid movement, in the air, you do start with a pike (both feet out in front) and go directly into a toe touch. I was excited, I knew Jacob would LOVE it, and Nicholas and the other mom's would be completely impressed. So with everything I had in me, I jumped, threw my legs out in front, and then POPPED into my toe touch...making it the best one, ever! And as soon as I did it, I felt every fiber, muscle, ligament, artery, blood vessel and tendon on the inside of my left leg scream out in pain! I did a couple more bounces to hide that I was hurting from everyone watching!
I got off the trampoline and headed home with Jacob telling me what an awesome job I did! Once we got inside, I kept getting 'looks' from Nicholas. I'd say, "What?", "Oh nothing" he'd say with a snicker! And I knew he could see the pain on my face and was thinking, "haha! I told you so!" And I wasn't about to let him 'win' that easily, so I continued to do things as normal...like nothing was wrong!
But once we go the kids to bed, I could no longer hide my pain. I was almost in tears! Every time I would take a breath, pain would shoot through my leg! Finally, I broke down and told Nicholas I was hurting. "Oh really? You're hurting, huh?! YOU?! Cheerleader Renee who can do anything thing?! I told you it wasn't a good idea!" "I never said I could DO anything, but it never hurts to try, right?" Was my answer to him. But I knew it wasn't about me trying as much as proving to Nicholas that I could! So really, my pain is HIS fault! If he hadn't acted like I was an old, crippling lady who needed a walker, I might not of done it...twice! But either way, it was a bad idea!
I'm not old, but let's be honest, I couldn't do those kinds of jumps when I WAS a cheerleader 15 years ago, 45 lbs lighter, and on a trampoline! It wasn't my brightest moment, that's for sure! But after 3 days of excruciating pain, countless Extra Strength Tylenol, a few anti-inflammatories, 5 soakings in our jetted tub, and pleading to God to "JUST TAKE ME NOW!", I'm feeling better! I did make a promise to Nic that once we get our trampoline, I would only use it for tanning and not for doing "ridiculous jumps that get you hurt and have you laid up whining for 3 days!" However, now that I'm feeling better, I feel my only flaw with doing those jumps was that I didn't stretch before hand! If I learned anything during my days as a cheerleader, it was stretching was the most important thing when doing jumps! (and NOT, apparently, how short my skirt was and did it make my legs look good!)
So yes, I will get on that trampoline again! I will do all the jumps I can think of! I will stretch before hand! And I will NOT tell Nicholas that I did so!

See, I told you!!

2008-12-08T20:33:00.000-06:00

Monday morning, the start of a brand new week. The time to erase the weekend and start new!

I woke up on Monday morning with those sentiments in my heart! "Today is a new day" I told myself! I got up, Nicholas was in the kitchen, so I went to say my 'good mornings' and as soon as I walked by him my eye caught something out of the ordinary on the fridge. I stopped, turned to look, and immediately my jaw dropped to the floor! It was there, but how could this be? I thought I had gotten rid of it, yet here, on my fridge was that dreadful cleaning list that I stupidly ask Nicholas to make! When he had made it and gave it to me last week, I decided I didn't want that list and threw it away, of course without telling him! I wouldn't want to to hurt his feelings, after all, he put so much effort into it. But now here it was, the list, NOT in the trash but on the fridge...the place I visit the most during the day!! No coincidence I knew that for sure! So casually, I ask Nic about it. "Umm, Nic...um, when did you put this up?" I looked at his face, and from the smile that went ear to ear, I gathered he knew what I had done. "Last night," he said, "after you went to bed. I noticed the other one I made for you was in the trash, so I printed you a new one. Well, this one's been revised though.", barely able to get his sentence out through his laughing! A revised one, I thought? What could he have changed to the old list? It was perfectly fine..well in the way that "Yes Jacob, scrabbled eggs are supposed to be brown. Eat 'em, they're perfectly fine!" But this was no egg, this was a cleaning list!

Then I glanced over at it, hoping to see that maybe the change wasn't any big deal. Something simple, like font. 'Yeah, that has to be what it is', I tried convincing myself. 'After all Nicholas knows how I love Comic Sans font...I use it all the time. And being sweet as he is he'd...' My thought wasn't finished, cut short by the image of M&M's now flashing through my mind, triggered by thinking Nic was sweet. 'Where are those M&M's?' I began to think now. "No, focus Renee!" I said to myself, trying to push the bag of candy out of my mind. I looked up at Nicholas, only to see him looking at me confused. Apparently 'to myself' may of been a little louder then I realized. I chuckled, and quickly turned my attention to the revised list. Slowly I turned to look, all ready to gush about how wonderful the font looked when my eyes focused on the top of the paper, and I read the words 'Weekly House Care Implementation Plan' plastered across the top of the page. My eyes quickly scanned the paper as I crossed my fingers that those were the only changes made.

It took me a moment, but then I began to realize three things...first, the chore list now had a title. One that was in bold lettering and underlined twice! Not sure, but I think that makes it offical or something. Secondly, there were now boxes under a headline that read 'DONE'...no doubt for me to check as I finished each task the box set after. And thirdly, that I had NO IDEA what implementation ment! I would have to Google that later, right after I found my M&M's because this list was really starting to put a bad taste in my mouth. That or it was because I'd yet to brush my teeth! Either way, my 'new day' Monday rainbow that I'd slid into the kitchen on, was proving to not have a pot of gold waiting for me!

I was, to say the least, horrified by how my morning was unfolding! Nicholas, the list, the big words! All because I ask him for a spread sheet to help me with the house cleaning. Being that it was my idea, MINE! , I think it should be MY decision to use or not use this cleaning list. And now I knew, more then the night I had brought it up to him and he rushed to make one and print it out, that HE wanted me to have this list! HE wanted to make sure I did my housework. Why I would even bet he somehow got into my brain and planted the idea of a list to begin with! Yes, I'm sure he did! When I first heard myself asking him to make me one, I felt like I was having an out of body experience or something. It was like I was seeing myself sitting on the couch saying, "Nicholas, I want a cleaning list", but I was hovering above yelling, "RENEE, YOU IDIOT! YOU FORGOT TO GET MILK FROM THE STORE! AND YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND!! YOU DON'T WANT A CLEANING LIST..." It was no use to worry about now, I ask for it, he supplied it. And now look at me, I'm going to have to do this stupid list!

Fast forward to today, Tuesday, the second day of having the House Care Plan hanging on my fridge...the second day where boxes should be filled with check marks...or X's...or smiley face stickers...something, but they're empty. I can be honest and say that there have been two good things come from that list. Two good things that I know would not of happened without it. First, I go the fridge a lot less! I do! It's the whole 'if I don't see it, it's not really there' mind trick. (not to be confused with the Nic's nighttime version, 'if you don't see it, it's not really there. You're 30 years old Renee, you should know there are no monsters hanging from the ceiling fan'. See how they are different?) It can, however be used in a twisted version, when I spending money, 'If I have checks, I have money'. It works for me!

So I don't go to the fridge unless I have to, which is usually when Britain is awake, and not to check off the list, but to feed her! But really, can I deny my child time with her mother just so the toilet is clean? Not hardly! And then what do I do when Britain is napping? Well I haven't eaten lunch since Sunday! Avoidance...that's the key!

The second wonderful thing were gloves, yes gloves! CLEANING gloves!! I found them at Walmart on Monday and they are simply adorable! You know, going into Walmart, I had already convinced myself that the old list was pure evil, and the new one was the reincarnate, making it even MORE evil!! So I was going to buy a paper shredder to get rid of the list for good! However, I went to get some Febreeze first. (my house may not always be the cleanest, but it's gonna smell good not being that way!) While I was on that aisle I was drawn to them, the gloves. It was like God had brought me there for me to see them. They were the cutest things made since the conception of my children!! Pink and white cleaning gloves!! I could not believe it. I usually don't wear any, especially the yellow ones, when I do clean. But these! These could make a girl smile while cleaning. So I bought them, hoping I'd have a change of heart about the list. Once home, I walked in the door beaming, after my glorious Walmart trip, still hoping that I could fool myself into giving the list a chance.

But it's been two days now....two evenings have passed where my husband has walked through our door with a look of hopeful desperation across his face. A look that I haven't seen since...well, since the time that I called him on his way home from work, to tell him "the kids are sleeping and you have exactly 12 minutes if you want this to happen!"

It's sweet though, the faith he has in me to put down the remote and pick up a mop. To do all that's on that little lovely list. To finish my task with a skip in my step and a song in my heart! But let's get real here people...as Leonardo from The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so eloquently put it, "I don't do nobody gets hurt!" (I do realize that the quote doesn't apply to this posting, but I've always wanted to use it! Although, is there every really a time where a quote from a mutated turtle wouldn't apply? Didn't think so!)

And though right now the list and I are having a bit of a disagreement over what I feel is "unpaid overtime", I hope to someday reach an agreement where both the list and I will be happy...only because I know that's what Nicholas would want! So when that time comes, and I decide that yes, I want to spend the day fluttering around with a dust thingy in hand, singing songs from The Sound of Music, I know that I will do it, looking super cute!!

List, taken right before this post!

I can't figure out what I like more...knowing that "I have a headache" doesn't always have to literally mean I have a headache, or these super cute cleaning gloves!!

Friday Confessions

2008-12-05T15:34:00.000-06:00

Today is Friday...today is confession day...tonight I will sleep soundly!

First off, I have to confess that I haven't wanted to blog lately. It's been a while since I've posted a blog, even though I'm on here everyday, reading others. There is a reason that I haven't blogged, well two reasons...
I'm addicted to my iPhone! I check to see that I have my phone on me, before I even make sure I have my children with me! It goes EVERYWHERE with me! Bathroom is NO exception! I can do anything with my iPhone but cook! Although I can get recipes on my iPhone!! I can check my email, listen to my iPod, read your wonderful blogs, all from the comfort of where ever I'm at! And then when Nic comes home and asks "have you been on the computer all day?" after seeing that the house is a mess, I can honestly answer "No, I haven't!" LOVE IT!
The 2nd reason why I haven't blogged is because of Twilight! Any free time I get, which isn't much here lately, is spent reading it! I started the 3rd book last night, and honestly, it's hard to sit here and type this out because I'd rather be reading! And it's crazy that I even read something like that because I'm so easily freaked out! But I sleep with a flashlight now, curled up super close to Nicholas (although that, apparently is also the universal sign for...well, something else!) So reading at night is getting easier! I just have to deal with Nicholas telling me to set my alarm so I get only 30 minutes of reading and then getting mad when he wakes up at 4am to me, still reading!!
Because of my new obsession with all things Twilight, I've neglected the house a bit. So I ask Nicholas to make me a spreadsheet, of sorts, to help guide me in what I should do each day so the house work doesn't become overwhelming...or undone! I also told him that I didn't want to spend everyday, all day cleaning! Within 3 mins of me asking him to do that, he was printing out my 'to do' list! Apparently he thought I needed a little help as well!
I have yet to put up the Christmas tree or outside lights!! I know, I know it's HORRIBLE! And I feel bad about that! Especially when my 5 year old keeps reminding me that "all my friends have their trees up!" ("well tell your friends their parents can come put up ours!" I want to say back, but I don't!) Honestly, I don't like putting up the tree. I enjoy seeing it put up, I just don't like being the one to do it! Nicholas is the Christmas Tree put together'er! Last year, he told me to leave the room until he was done because he wasn't putting the ornaments on there how I wanted him to!
My kitchen has a base coat...that's it! It's been over a month since we started painting and it's still not done!! There are no pictures hung up, paint cans litter my kitchen table, there is newspaper STILL tapped to the windows!! I don't know if it will ever be done, because once again, I was asked (and refused!) to leave the room while Nic tried to glaze behind the refridge, for practice! He wouldn't listen to what I was telling him to do! The big 'D' word was thrown around a few times as well as some threats to end a life later that evening, with a gentle reminder that I'm usually the last one asleep! I think he got the hint!

I was running late yesterday morning getting Jacob around for school and I didn't want him to be late. So I throw on some jeans, leave on my tshirt that I slept in and put on a hoodie...after all, I just have to drop him off at the door, I don't actually get out of the car. After Britain and I get back from dropping him off, I decide to go buy the book Eclipse. (even though my husband was suppose to buy it for me the night before after some 'negotiations' took place! ;D) So I get Britain changed, brush my teeth, put on a hat and head out the door. I go to Walmart, Target, Walmart (we have 2), Hastings and finally find it at Barnes and Noble! It took me 2 hours to find it!!! So when I got home, I feed sister, put her down for a nap, ran a bath and while getting undressed, I realized that I had went to 5 different stores and talked to numerous people all the without wearing my bra!!! OMG! My only saving grace is that I've breastfeed to babies! So really, it looks more like I'm carrying a little extra weight around the middle then not wearing a bra! (you know, because where they hang!)
Yesterday I was going through the bottom drawer of my Armorie when I smelled something hideous! I dug through the stuff to find a bottle...full of milk...that was now cottage cheese!! I threw up a little in my mouth! I can't tell you how long it has been since Britain has had a bottle, but it's be a while!! Eeewwww!

Well I think that's it! I'm pretty sure I've confessed all that I think necessary! Let's hope it helps with my sleep tonight...that is if I'm not up all night reading Eclipse! (by the way, did you know the target age group for the Twilight Saga is 13-18?! I missed the mark on that one! lol!)

Hope you all have a happy weekend filled with Friday Confessions!!

It's happened...

2008-11-19T08:17:00.000-06:00

I've been bitten by the Twilight vampire! (teehee)

I started reading it last night around 10pm and was fighting sleep through 110 pages. Reluctantly, I put the book down, and snuggled in my bed for what I hoped was a good nights sleep. I think the moment my eyes shut, he was there...Edward! I was dreaming about him already! It was a short dream. I woke up baffled that he already has that affect on me...after only 110 pages! I finally lay back down to try and go to sleep again, this time thinking of anything and everything but Twilight as I drifted off. But my thoughts were soon over powered by him, again. There was never a clear face, but in my dream I knew it was him...I felt it was him!

This dream was about he and I going to to movies to watch, get this, TWILIGHT!! (Even more strange was that I took my 16 month old daughter to watch with us.) We sat side by side in the dark theater...he watching the movie, me watching him! We sat close to one another...so close that I could feel the coolness from his body that it gave me the chills. Then there was a violent shaking that took me from my world of fantasy. It was my husband, shaking me saying, "Renee, it's time to get up! Good Lord girl, you're freezing...put some covers on!" My eyes shot open, I glared up at him knowing he wasn't the least bit aware of what he has just taken me from. He left for work, I set my alarm to go off 30 mins later. And try as I might, I could not get my dreams to take me back...back to a place where just his presence was enough to make me catch my breath...back to a place where dreams have no distinction between reality and fantasy...back to him...back to Edward.

I will finish to book today, I have no doubt. Just as I have no doubt that Twilight, well Edward, will soon turn into an obsession.

Move over Jenny, Melisa and Lisa...I hope there's room on the couch for one more!

Intervention

2008-11-14T00:51:00.000-06:00

I've wrestled back and forth with this story...should I tell it, should I not? Is it even my story to tell? It is after all her intervention. Yes, it started with her...with her addiction, but it wasn't long before HER addiction became my heartache, which lead us here...to the Intervention. Where her story, is now my own.

In her home, doing an 'interview' she tells of how it all started. She didn't think she would like it, but after the first one, she had to have more. She was hooked...she'd opened a book that she had no plans on closing.
In a hotel room across town, we see her family who is desperate to reach their loved one. Desperate to get her the help she needs with her addiction. Hoping they can convince her that the path she is on is one of torment and destruction

Counselor: "She still believes that she is coming here for her last interview about what she sees as just a simple past time...but let's face it, it's full blown addiction. I've had the chance to meet and speak with each one of you, and I believe you are here because you all love her so deeply. With that being said, lets talk about how this will play out. In a few moments, she'll come through that door and her first reaction will be shock. She's not expecting to see any of you here, but she'll soon realize what's going on. I'll lead her to the couch where you'll each read your letters to her, and then just ask her, is she willing to get help today. After everyone is finished she'll have a turn to speak and let's hope by the end of the day, she'll be in recovery!
Oh, okay. She's coming down the hall, now..."

(the door opens...the room grows quiet. Jenny walks in, looking worn and confused.)

"Jennifer, hi." he extends his hand, "may I call you Jenny?"

"No, you may not", she replies, shaking his hand.

(Her confusion slowly turning to anger as she scans the room to see me, her husband Michael, her mom Ronda and a life size cut out of Edward. And though she is livid at us, seeing those dashing eyes and that tussled hair of her love, Edward, makes her smile...cardboard or not!)

"Alrighty then, Jennifer, I'm sure you must have a lot of questions, but before we get to those, you have some family here that think you're pretty special! And you know what, Jennifer,"

"No, what?" she snarls,

"They have some stuff they'd like to share with you. Would that be okay with you?"

"Yeah, whatever. Just make it quick though, I've got some, um, reading to do."

"That's fine. Here, why don't you go take a seat between your husband and Renee."

(Jenny walks over and sits down between me and Michael and for an instant, my heart stops beating. She looks to Michael, then to me and we all look to the Counselor)

"Okay Michael" he says, "you can begin when you're ready.

(Michael takes a deep breath, turns to face Jenny and begins reading the words on the paper)

"Jenny, I love you, and I want nothing but the best for you.."

"That's crap!" she interrupts.

"Jennifer Katherine, you watch your mouth!" Ronda snaps, pointing her finger at Jennifer, "Michael, go on."

"Like I said", Michael continues, "I love you. You're wonderful, you're all I could ever ask for in a wife. But here lately things have gotten a little, well strange. It started shortly after you read your first book, Twilight. You started acting differently...just not being yourself."

"How" she questioned.

"Well for starters, you wanted to be referred to as Bella. And not just sometimes, but ALL the time! And I did that, I wanted to please you! And I don't even LIKE the name Bella. But then Jennifer, during our..."
(he pauses, looks sheepishly at his notes)

"during our love making you wanted me to bite your neck. And I'm all for role playing, you know I am. Remember your cheer leading outfit? Yeah, that was nice."

(Jenny blushes at the thought of people hearing about their 'dress up' and secretly prays that Michael won't mention 'Cowboy Mike' saving the damsel in distress. She smiles as she remembers how fun that was. Michael wearing nothing but backless chaps riding a stick horse to rescue her from the tracks she was tied to, because Thomas the Train was nearing the bend! her mind wonders even more...'why did we put that away? Oh!' she shudders as she remembers the only thing that was rescued was the 4 inch splinter from Micheal's butt thanks to his trusty steed)

"Jennifer," the sound of his voice snaps her back to the present, "you know how I am! I'm all for trying out new things, but biting!! How could you possibly ask me to do that? You know how squeamish I get when I see blood. And you just kept on, 'Come on, just a nibble' you would say, and then you would get all angry when I didn't want to. Did you want me to pass out right there on you?"

"Oh brother" Ronda says from her chair across the room, "you two, I tell ya! I don't know what I'm going to do with ya."

"It's not me! It's her! She did it, that's what she wanted!" Michael says defensively.

"Well is there anything else you'd like to add Mike?" ask the Counselor

"Yeah, and I'm not going to avoid the sun and keep the AC set at 24 degrees just so I can look and feel like your dear Edward! Besides, my hair is lighter then his and with my sensitive scalp, you better not expect me to go dyeing it!" he finishes

"Well, that was nice Michael, you did a..."

"Oh, and Jenny won't you get help today? Sorry, I forgot that part." Michael interrupts.

"Fine. Thank you. Renee", he looks at me, "it's your turn."

(Jenny turns and for the first time, we make eye contact. I fidget with my paper for a second, then begin)
"the first thing I use to do in the morning was go to my favorites list and scroll to JennyKate's Spot. I was so excited to see what would be there waiting for me. You always had terrific things to write about, but soon, all your post were about, him!" (I said as I pointed to the cutout of Edward) "I felt you were becoming obsessed. Then I realized that you weren't becoming, you were!"

Jenny smiles as she mouths the words "I love you" to the cut out of Edward while drawing a heart in the air with her fingers.

"See!! This is crazy! He's not real, he's a vampire, he sucks blood! Look at his body, he's pastie and cold and he's, he's very fit. You never mentioned he was in great shape. No, I'm getting off track here! He's...well...well, you know you may have mentioned his eyes and those lips...wow! Blood sucker or not, he can put those lips on...no, wait, that's not why I'm here!"

(Jenny is past the point of listening. She doesn't care what we have to say anymore. Her addiction has taken over her heart...and apparently her butt. As she walks over the the cutout I notice her shorts read I heart Edward! Nice. I think to myself.)

The counselor steps in and asks if I have anything else to say, I answer no and figure what's the use. He then turns it over to Rhonda who does her very best to scold her)

"Jenny!", telling her "You better not be at work playing on that computer! If Jerry walks in and sees that, girrrlll, you'll be looking for jobs for the both of us. Now come on, I gotta stop by Walmart and I don't want to be late to work!"

I'm not even sure Ronda has any clue what was going on in the room that day...that it was in intervention to help Jennifer get over her obsession with the Twilight Series.
And as Ronda is leaving the room, she walks by Michael and says,
"Now I'm gonna whoop you if you don't straighten up and no more dirty talk! Who put this cardboard thingy in here?" she asks handing it over to Jenny, "Okay Jennifer I'm leaving, you better get to heading to that car cause girlfriend, we aren't going to be late today!"

And so Jenny does...she heads to the car, with Edward in her heart, in her arms and on her butt.
I look around, Michael is watching a Mexican comic on his phone, the counselor is no where to be found, and me, well I run out the door right to the bookstore.
I decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about...to find out who Bella is...what Edward is about...I decided I was ready for,

Twilight

Thursday Thankfuls

2008-11-13T23:02:00.000-06:00

I missed last weeks Thursday Thankfuls and decided that no matter what, I would be posting my Thankfuls TODAY!

I've decided that today I'd list some things that I'm thankful for, but sometimes may get overlooked!!

I'm thankful for microwave dinners! If it weren't for microwave dinners, I don't think I'd ever eat lunch! It's a simple, quick, no mess lunch that only requires me to make one decision...which Smart One will it be today!

And since I'm thankful for the dinners, I might as well be thankful for what cooks the dinners...the Microwave! Although I truly HATE the one we have, I'd be very sad if that microwave died and I didn't have an immediate replacement for it! So I'm thankful for my microwave.

I'm thankful for the School Bus. Jacob, since the 1st day of school, has wanted to be a bus rider. Well, I finallydecided to let him ride it home everyday, and people, it's WONDERFUL!! That means I can actually go the entire day without getting out of my PJ's!! AWESOME! I love the school bus.

I am thankful for all things 'potty'! If you know me, you know that 'momma time' equals 'potty time'! It's usually the ONLY place and time that I can have a conversation without interruptions...well, at least from the kids! :D Have you ever heard it said that you can tell you're with a true friend when you can sit comfortably in silence? Well the same rings true for me, except "you can tell I consider you a true friend, when I can talk comfortably to you on the phone, while pooing!" Brings a tear to your eye just thinking about how sweet that is, doesn't it? Moving on...

I'm thankful that God left off my filter! You know, the one that kicks out those "I shouldn't be saying this, but oh well..." thoughts just before they hit your mouth? Well, I don't have one of those, nope! I think it, I say it! Not always a good thing, but usually a fun thing! :D So I'm thankful for being filter less!

I'm thankful for hiding spots! The hiding spots in a house that are just large enough to fit, say, a new handbag, clothes or a pair of shoes. Or even the ones in the car that can store maybe, some jewelry or a pair of sunglasses. The hiding spots that a Husband would NEVER think to look...where items could be stored for a while, until needed...I'm SO thankful for those!

I'm also thankful for the "It's not really a lie...!" statement! If there were such a time when items would began to appear, usually in the form of the above mentioned, and say a Husband were to ask the question "Is that a new shirt?", his question could be answered with a "No, I've had this shirt for a while now." and that would be a good answer, because "It's not really a lie...I HAVE had this shirt for a while now!" See why I'm thankful for that statement!? (My mom is reading this right now while searching for her Bible, praying in tongues and trying to reach me on the phone to lead me in the Sinner's Prayer. Am I right, Momma?!...I'm thankful for that, too!)

I'm thankful for my mom's stuffing! (and no I'm not just saying this to get on her good side now!) Really, it's YUMMERS! We're having my families Thanksgiving this Saturday, and my mom is making the stuffing! I love it so much I've decided that tonight's dinner would be my last meal until Saturday's dinner...just so I can eat more stuffing! I'm thankful for stuffing...but ONLY my Mom's!

And that brings me to my next thankful...stretch pants! I love them! I'd wear them every single day if I...wait, I do wear them every single day! Well, I'm still thankful for them! Especially when I know I'm going to be eating half my weight in food, my stretch pants are right there for me, cheering me on, bite after bite and painful bite!
And that, too, brings me to my next thankful...Grannie panties! I'm thankful that for those "I am SO fat!" days, I can put on my Grannie panties, slip into my most comfortable pair of stretchy pants and just allow myself to be encased in cotton...plus with Grannie panties, there's no need to wonder "Is my tummy hanging out and over the top of my thong!" Nope, no, not with Grannie panties! Not when everything is tucked in all safe and warm!! Oh, I'm especially thankful for the kind that are SO 'Grannie' that they can actually double as a bra!! Saves me a step in the morning...I can put my panties on and pull my bra up!! I'm so thankful, so very thankful!

Last, but certainly not least, I'm thankful for a whore's bath! Oh don't get all "Oh my! I can't believe she said that!" on me! You know you've done it! (And chances are, if you say you haven't, you have, but you just didn't know there was a name for it!) So yes, I'm thankful for the times that I've had only enough time to 'wash the parts that count', there was a name for it...a whore's bath! It got the job done, kind of. And chances are right after that, I slipped into my Grannie panties-bra. (MmmHmm! That's all for you, Nicholas, grannie...panties...bra!! ;D)

Well there it is...in all it's glory...my Thursday Thankfuls! Now, what are you thankful for?!

Oh, and one last one...I'm totally thankful for spale chek! ;)

Life...and then some

2008-11-13T01:01:00.001-06:00

Life, my life, has been a whirlwind of craziness lately. I feel like I'm passing myself coming and going. With fundraisers, church, physical therapy and running, I feel like I'm left with very little time to just, be. And in those few moments where there is nothing going on all I want to do it sit.

I feel drained. All the training for the run, all the fund raisers have me wore out. Tonight I had physical therapy for my foot that has been bothering me. I had to run on a treadmill until my foot started hurting. I hate running on a treadmill!! Before I got on, I ask my PT if he would turn it to news because our local station did a report over the Whitaker's and us, Mitchell's Angels. So he did. I was still on the treadmill when the report came on, so I got off to watch. My PT turned up the volume and said "hey guys, this is what Renee is training for!". Everyone stopped what they were doing and begin watching the story of Mitchell. As I stood there, sweat running down my face, trying to catch my breath, I was again reminded of the reason I'm doing what I'm doing. With eyes full of tears, I watched my sweet friend Tracy talk about losing her son to cancer...a story no parent should have to tell. Mitchell's last words to his parents were "Keep Fighting" and that's what I'm doing. My foot hurts...KEEP FIGHTING! I'm so tired...KEEP FIGHTING! I don't know if I can do it...KEEP FIGHTING!

That's what I'm going to do. I believe God brought me to this exact place and time in my life and He will help see me through. I will get the money raised that I need, my foot will be 100% on race day, and I WILL run that marathon and cross that finish line!!

Go here to see the News9 report...it will touch your heart!

And if you so feel lead, please visit my Team In Training page where you can donate.

Or go visit Mitchell's Angels website where you can donate, purchase a cookbook or learn a little bit more about us!

This was not how this post was originally supposed to be...but that's life! :D

Change is coming!

2008-11-05T11:05:00.000-06:00

CHANGE!!

I'm SO ready for change! THE CHANGE! You know the one...the kind of change that when it happens, you sit back scratching your head wondering why it took so long. The change that will put a smile on your face and leap in your step! The kind of change that can only happen when everyone is 100% on what needs to happen and who needs to handle it. The change that leaves you in awe...leaves you thinking of where you were, to where you are now. The kind of change that you know, years from now, you'll look back on and think "We made the right choice! That was the change that needed to take place!" The out with the old, in with the new, kind of change. I've seen this change coming for quite some time now. I've dreamt of this change...the change that would be for the better. I've thought about how I'd feel on that day when it was finally decided. Would I be fearful, would I be excited, would I have any hesitation about what was to come?! I was all of those and then some! I haven't always been the 'glass half full' kind of girl, but now, I'm seeing the endless possibilities that come with having change! And now, now that change is here, within my grasp, all I can say is "It's about time!!" Bring it on!". I'm ready, I've been ready, WE'VE been ready. And the change is finally happening...

WE ARE PAINTING THE KITCHEN THIS WEEKEND!!

And that, my fellow Americans, is change that even I can believe in!! (hehe :D)

(I'll post before and after pics!! Yippee!)

Oh Sister!

2008-11-02T13:51:00.000-06:00

My baby sister, Kristie, is quite a blended individual. She's as fiery as I am, without the red hair...as bull headed as our older sister, Michelle, without the muscle...and as crazy as the Psych Ward, without the white gowns! But she's also passionate, strong willed and full of compassion! She's Kristie, that's who she is!

I have many, many, many memories of her and I growing up...we shared a room for most of our school years. She knows things about me that no one else does; she's seen things that I'm sure she would rather forget! Things that involve panicked faces, people falling in slow motion and raspberries...good times, but times she better carry to her grave!! :D

Kristie and I are close now, although that hasn't always been the case. When we were growing up, I was not only the middle child, but also the the heaviest of the 3 of us girls. Often her and Michelle would gang up on me and say very hurt things about my weight. But as mean as she could be to me, I was right back to her. I remember one morning when I was driving us to school (we are 3 yrs apart) she said something that I was NOT to happy about. I pulled the car over, got out, threw her books out and told her to walk to school. Honestly, I can't remember if she walked or not, I'm sure she could tell me! But it was a mean thing to do...and a bit funny now!

There was one time where we were just 'being sisters' and decided we'd sing the song "Catch me I'm falling" and do a little dance/skit to the song. The plan was to sing the song and when it got to the 'catch me' part she would fall back from the bed, and I would catch her. We practiced and practiced! Then when we did it 'for real' , I decided to move over and not catch her. She fell back off the bed, hit the wall on her way down, jumped up crying, and ran to mom and dad....we were in trouble.

There were plenty of times that we did mean things, but we also had a lot of fun too. We use to lay in bed at night and 'watch TV' in our minds. To change the channel, we'd blink. Or one night, we rolled up all of our socks and had a sock fight...throwing them back and forth across the room at each other when we were supposed to be asleep. That didn't go on for very long when she threw one pair out the door, I went to get it, and in the dark saw my dad standing there...we screamed...we were in trouble, yet again!

We've shared a lot over the years...hugs, tears, screams, a boyfriend, rooms, apartments, cars! It's all apart of us, as sisters! I've helped her get a cell phone, that ended up with a $1000 phone bill! She didn't tell our parents when I wasn't going to my college classes. We've laughed about things from dingle berries while out eating with our husbands to her green Neon that had demon possessed windshield wipers and a door panel that fell off every time you opened the door. We've cried over the loss of loved ones and rejoiced over the birth of our children. We've joined together and threatened a boy who was picking on our younger brother and we can sit and talk for hours about where Victor is and how much we can't stand 'mole girl' on The Young and the Restless! (God help our husbands!)

And being that she's fun and easy to talk to, it makes her a great sounding board. We have the same personality when it comes to our temper. Our husbands refer to it as bipolar, flipping a switch, crazy...we usually just laugh it off what they say, then think of ways to hurt them later! And since we tend to have that same trait, it's always SO amusing to get the "UGH!! Nick irritates the CRAP out of me!!" phone call! I know when I hear those words after saying 'hello' it's going to be an interesting conversation!!

I love Kristie...I do. I don't tell her enough, but I do! I'm proud of the amazing woman she's grown to become! She's a wonderful mother with 2 very beautiful children. She's a devoted wife who loves her husband and is as proud of his accomplishments as he is of hers. She loves God and strives to show her children and those around her His love. And I know she'll read this and think 'This doesn't sound like me!", but it does, because it is. She sells herself short too often. She can do, and has done great things in her life! Although a back hand spring is NOT one of them! (you didn't do, Kristie!! You can stop with the lies already!)

And though she'll never be as funny as I am, cook as good as I do, or ride the gravy train as long as I will, (bless her heart for trying!) Kristie is still MY little sister...and with that means she'll always be younger then me, skinner then me, and won't need Botox as soon as I will!

I'm okay with that. After all, she's Kristie....and I adore her!

It's that time again...

2008-10-30T23:52:00.000-05:00

You know, the time where I lay it all out there. The time where I bare my soul. The time where I take a moment, or 12, to go over every detail of this past week and reflect on the things I did that maybe weren't so sweet. These, my blogging friends, are my...

1. Well I guess my first confession has to be that it is, in fact, Saturday and NOT Friday! Fridays are fully of craziness! I barely get a chance to breathe, let alone blog! :D

2. I threatened to do bodily harm to my husband this week. You know, the kind of bodily harm that usually ends with a shovel and a shallow grave! Yeah, I know, kinda crazy! He made me mad! So mad, in fact, that I called my mom to tell her the different ways I was going to help Nicholas meet Jesus! I think she believed me...I know she believed me! She called me the next morning on the house phone, I didn't answer. She left a message, hung up, called my cell phone, left a message. She then called the house phone again, left a message that sounded a bit panicked!! I called her back to ask what was wrong she said "you said some things last night and had me a little worried. So I was calling to see if everyone was alright!" What she meant was "Should I call a lawyer?" She, I'm sure, believed my threats!!

3. Tuesday I was tired. Really tired. Monday there was a golf tournament that I was at all day long, and it drained me! So I shut all the doors in the house, turned on Word World for Britain, and laid on the floor and took a nap! I felt like it was no longer then a blink, yet when I opened my eyes, the cartoon was over! I had taken a 30 minute nap, all while Britain sat beside me and watched TV. It's not my finest 'Mommy moment', but I'm okay with that!! (**side note** Texas Tech just beat Texas!! Whoo-Hoo!!!)

4. I killed a spider in my house on Thursday night. It was crawling just outside the office where I sit at now, typing this out. If I look a little to the left, I can see that dead spider STILL laying there! It's one thing to step on it and kill it, but to pick it up, even in a napkin...no thank you!

5. I can't stand for Britain to cry. That being the case, I tend to give in to what it is she wants, rather then listen to her cry. I know I will pay for that, big time, really soon...but for now I'm content with trying to clean green marker off my walls, couch, her clothes, the kitchen floor, her face, my leg and the window! It's a fair trade, though, if you really think about it!

6. I'm going to the Physical Therapist and I love it! I'm learning great stretches for my foot, plus I get a foot massage at the end of my appointment! The massage is SO great, and I feel, really needed, that I ask the PT if he would write a letter to my husband, telling the benefits of him giving me foot massage at night before bed. He did it! It's on letter head too! It's very offical. I'm still debating on whether or not to give it to Nic. I don't know if he'll 'buy' it. I think I'll try!!

7. Speaking of PT...he told me I shouldn't be running for at least two weeks! I haven't listened to his advice! And why should I? He IS the one with a piece of paper hanging on the wall with his name on it showing that he DOES know what he's talking about! I'm stubborn. I need to get over that. And soon! I ran 6 1/2 of my 8 miles this morning...there were some tears, some pain and thoughts of VERY bad words that I wanted to yell out! (don't worry mom, I didn't! :D)

8. I just said to Nic, "Oh my gosh, Nicholas! It that a spider? Hurry, grab a napkin!" He does. Dead spider...no longer an issue!

Thursday Thankfuls

2008-10-30T22:48:00.000-05:00

So Jenny (and YES! It's always Jenny!!) over at JennyKate's Spot is hosting Thursday Thankfuls where, on Thursday, you post a blog about what you're thankful for...crazy how simple that is, huh!? :D

Although I have TONS of things that I could write about that I'm thankful for, I won't. Today, I'm going to keep to just one thing...

Dear Jesus,

I thank You for Renee. I pray that You touch her

from the top of her head, to the soles of her feet.

Protect her and give her rest tonight Jesus.

I ask this in your name,

Amen.

That's the prayer that was prayed over me every single night while growing up. I can remember how it went...it was time for bed, my mom was tired and ready for us to go to sleep, but I'd have to be laying in the center of my bed, covers folded down just right and then she could start the prayer. She'd run her fingers through my hair as she prayed, then lean down to kiss me good night and tell me "I love you, now go to sleep." And every night it was the same, not just with me, but for my sisters and brother as well. And after she would leave our rooms, she'd go to the side of her bed where, every night you would find both my mom and dad on their knees on the floor, in prayer.

Seeing that then, didn't mean much to me, but now...thinking about all the times I walked into my parents room when I was supposed to be in bed; seeing them both on their knees praying, my mom with tears streaming down her face...those images are powerful now. Those prayers are what has kept our family safe...those prayers are what has kept our family going...those prayers are why I can walk into my children's room each night, rub my fingers through their hair and pray,

Dear Jesus,

I thank You for Jacob, I thank You for Britain.

I pray that You touch them from the top of their head,

to the soles of their feet.

Protect them and give them rest tonight Jesus.

I ask this in Your name,

Amen.

I'm thankful for prayers!

Thankful for parents who knew the power of prayer. Thankful that they taught us we never stand as tall as we do when we are on our knees in prayer. Thankful that when there wasn't anything else they could do, they prayed. Thankful that they took the time to help shape my future by saying a prayer. Thankful that I am now doing the same for Britain and Jacob. Thankful that even though I'm 30 years old, I know every night, my parents are in their room, on bended knee, mentioning my name...

Friday Confessions

2008-10-24T12:36:00.000-05:00

Started by Jenny at JennyKate's Spot, Friday Confessions has been away to get out all those little things that no one would ever know you did had you just not blogged about it! But it's a way to clear the plate, and have a fresh start for the weekend! So here goes...

1. I pretended like I didn't hear Nic when he yelled at me from the shower, "Hey Renee, if you're awake, can you get me a towel? I forgot to grab one!" You know, since he had NO IDEA he was getting into the shower and would eventually NEED that towel. I was awake...he got his own towel!

2. I made a small box of chocolate pudding, the yummy cook and serve kind, which I proceeded to eat all by myself. I then washed all the dishes used in making the pudding, and I put the box in the very bottom of the trash can so no one would know what I did. I'm now sitting here wondering, "Is this a confession, or a cry for help?" Hmmm...

3. I ran over a squirrel...in our neighborhood...with Jacob in the car! I swerved to miss it, but that crazy squirrel had a death wish, because he swerved the same way!! You could hear, Jacob heard it! He ask what it was and why did I drive so crazy. I told him it was a stick, and I didn't want to hit it. I couldn't tell him the truth, though. Thanks to my parents, he LOVES squirrels! He feeds them at my parents house! I couldn't bear him turning around to see that poor little thing squashed to the ground! Luckily it was only his head...so it was a fast death.

4. I went to Walmart this week. I went it in, it was dry, I came out, it was pouring! I had Britain with me, she loved it! As I was running us to the car, there was a man who passed where my car was parked, saw where I was going and then backed up to get my spot...it was a great spot! Only out done by the Handicap spots! Well, I was trying as fast as I could to get my rain drenched baby into her car seat, then I had to put my groceries in the back. When I walked around to put them in, I saw this man make a "would you hurry up!!" jester and mouthe something that looked like "oh come on!" Well that, my friend, did NOT sit well with me! So I finished putting the things in the car, got in and sat!! He had irritated me by his actions, so I felt it my right to do something about that...just to let him know that NO! It's not okay for you make jesters at me while it's raining and I'm soaked, already trying to hurry!! I then decided to 'tease' him a bit...I started my car and put it in reverse...and sat! And after about 3 mins (not sure how long, but long enough to check my email on my phone, and reply to 2 of them!) he started to roll forward a bit, so I started to back out a bit. He stopped and backed up, I stopped and pulled forward! He honked and waved me out, I sat!! And he finally sped off!! I backed out, drove home feeling delighted!

5. I shouldn't be on the computer right now. My house is a wreck, and my mother in law is coming in today!! But truth be known, she doesn't think I even clean my house!! Actually, this is the truth! When my mom came to visit last week, I put in my status for my Myspace page "just got done cleaning my house" this is the message she wrote to me in response...

what do you mean? your momma was there, I know who cleaned house! lol now if Kristi would have brought Anita, you could have had your garage and yard done too. just kidding, I know what a domestic goddess you are.

(Kristie, my sister...Anita, her mom in law!)

But she was right! In her attempt to be funny, she busted me!! My house WAS clean because my mom was down AND cleaned it!! It was clean before she got here, but it stay that way for too long!! And she really did most of it while she was here!

So mom, thank you!! I appreciate you helping me maintain a clean house! Oh, we still haven't moved your 'bed' out of the office yet...when is your next visit?

So there it is...my confessions. They aren't pretty, but they're mine!

Have a fantastically wonderful weekend!!

6. I only use words like 'fantastically' and 'wonderful' when I'm blogging! I don't understand why...I guess I want everyone in the blogging world who reads this to leave thinking, "Wow! She seems like a girl who's just bubbling with happiness!"

I'm not that girl...it's a front I put on...sorry!

Tuesday Tribute...

2008-10-14T13:01:00.000-05:00

showing love for the things that keep me sane!

Oh DVR List buttons, how you have changed my life... Because of you, I don't have to let my children go hungry so I can watch the last 6 mins of my TV show. No, not anymore...not with you around! With the simple push of your button, you will pause whatever it is I'm watching! And for those days where life takes me out of the house, you're there again to record whatever I want.

We have a special time together, you and I do! It comes during the day when Britain is taking her nap...I hear the beeping from the microwave, telling me my Lean Cuisine is done. My heart starts to beat faster in anticipation of what follows. Before I know it, I'm in the recliner, remote in hand and my finger on you...the DVR List button. It's a special moment that I hold dear. With a push of you, I'm scanning the recordings...they are all there for me...you're there for me.

I wish I could use you in my everyday life...I'd push pause at the moment where Jacob walks through the door after a long day at school, and Britain has rushed to him and has her arms wrapped around his legs. That would be a great moment to pause...just let my heart rest on that scene. I'd use the stop button when I see Jacob kicking a ball in the house and it's heading directly toward the vase. I'd rewind those moments where I may have spoken too quickly, or where my anger was directed at the wrong person. Lord knows I'd use your fast forward button to get me back to sleep when, at 3am Nicholas snuggles to me and whispers, "Renee, are you awake?" in a tone that suggests "even if you aren't, you're about to be!".

So DVR List buttons, thanks! Thanks for making my television viewing better...for always being there when I need you...for allowing me the option of skipping through commercials so I won't have to see those 2 stupid girls, eating their Yogurt telling me what it's better then! "It's not having to watch your dumb commercial good!" :D

Here's to you DVR List button, I salute you! Today is YOUR day! Live it up!

I'd like the thank the Academy...

2008-10-13T21:02:00.000-05:00

Actually, I'd like to thank my friend and fellow Go Mitch Go runner, Stephanie, for my very first blog award! She tagged me for the Kreativ Blogger, and I'm SO honored! And I think that Stephanie just ROCKS!! So go visit her blog...I think you'll agree with me!

This is me with Stephanie...aren't we cute as a button?!!

So here are the rules for the Kreativ Blogger:

Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you have posted your award.
Share 6 values that are important to you.
Share 6 things you do not support.
Grant the prize to 6 people.

Well here goes...

Six things I value:

Jesus Christ~ first and foremost. I am nothing without Christ and can not begin to imagine where my life would be had I not had my Faith.
Nicholas~ He is the most wonderful, loving, caring, forgiving, understanding, hard working man I know! He has loved me when I have been unlovable, forgiven me when I didn't deserve forgiveness, supported me through ALL my many adventures and continues to see the beauty in me that I still can't. He is an amazing father...firm, yet loving and gentle. He works to support our family so I can stay home and he does it without complaint! He loves God and his family...and I value him more then words can say!
My children~ Jacob is such an amazing boy. He gentle and kind. He has a tender heart and wants to be friends with everyone! Britain is such a joy! And although we've yet to see the fullness of her personality, she's going to be a little spit fire...who LOVES shoes, and her big brother! :D
My family~I've been blessed with a family that is close, but not 'in your face'! My mom and sisters are my best friends and I have so much fun with them! My dad is...well, he's my dad! He is a hard worker and a man of his word. If he says he'll do, rest assured he will! My brother is a great Uncle to his niece and nephews and is always willing to lend a hand. I wouldn't trade the family I have for anything! They are what makes me who I am, and their love has held me together in some difficult times.
My friends~I have the worlds most amazing friends. I don't have a lot of close 'girlfriends' but the ones that I do, I cherish! Stacie and Jennifer are two women that I feel so lucky to have as a part of my life! I love them, I love them, I love them! I'm also excited about the friendship that I have made with Stephanie...she's witty, funny and I love her already!
I'm going to go w/Stephanie on this one...but good food!! Honestly, you've all seen me in a swimsuit! You know I love me some food! lol! Especially food that I don't have to cook! lol!

Six things I do not value:

Unfairness
Selfishness
Domestic or child abuse
Ridicule (I LOATHE bullies!)
Hate
Fear

(Steph, I stole yours..you said it best!)

Now I have to tag 6 people:

Jenny~because no one can decorate for Halloween quiet like she can!
Lori~ because she takes the sweetest pictures, and I'm completely jealous!!
Melisa~although I've never met her, she makes candles and who doesn't LOVE candles! Plus Jenny seems to like her, so I guess that makes her OK with me...and did I mention, she MAKES candles...and sells them! Don't believe me...well go look for yourself! Yeah, awesome, I know! :D
Amanda~she's a first time mommy to be and we've had some pretty fun times in Stillwater!! Shhhh...I won't tell if you won't! teehee!
Feather~because, YES! It is her real name, plus we share a passion for purposely tripping little boys!
This spot is saved for my bestest Stacie...she hasn't started her blog yet, but she's working on it! And when she does, Kreativ Blogger will be here waiting for her!! :D

I'm excited to read what you girls will post...and thanks again Stephanie!!

Sunday Snapshot

2008-10-12T21:30:00.000-05:00

(My friend Jenny did a Sunday Snapshot, so I thought I'd join in the fun!)

Huddle up Sharks!

This picture was taken at Jacob's soccer game last weekend...he's number 10, and the tall one! :D He LOVES soccer and is really quite good. And he really is a team player!

A Surprise!!

2008-10-10T15:26:00.000-05:00

Oh I love surprises! Wait, who am I kidding?! Surprises make me nervous!! I'm the girl who (mom, you may want to stop reading now!) would unwrap the presents at Christmas, then re wrap them so I knew what I was getting. I've figured out Nic's (Nic, YOU may want to stop reading now!) password on Amazon and knew EVERYTHING I was getting for Christmas last year. In the past I've gone through cars, wallets, trash, closets all in hopes of finding or at least, figuring out what I was going to be getting. And I promise, I ONLY try so hard to figure out what it is so when I open the gift, I can avoid making the "Oh... THIS is what I'm getting?" face! So, if I know that I'm getting something that may not be what I wanted, I already know, and all they see is the "SWEET MOTHER OF PEARL!! IT'S WHAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED!!" face! So see...I'm just looking out for the other person!

WOW! That was NOT where this post was supposed to be going...the reason I'm writing is to tell you about my most sweetest Jenny's 25th Post Giveaway!! In celebration of her 25th post, she has decided to share the love a bit and give something away...although what we will win will be a surprise! (now how am I going to find out what it is...I'll get to work on that!)

All you have to do is leave her a comment on her blog at http://jennykate77.blogspot.com/ and post about it on your blog! My suggestion it that you do neither! Honestly! I'd like to win this one people! So have some heart...read my post and move on!! :D

So Jenny, if you're reading this, and I know you are...not only do we share a love for Christ, our children and all things expensive, but we share family. You're my one and only Jenny whom I adore! We've had SO many great times together! There is Barney blood in our veins...you can't break that bond...but you can break my heart. See where I'm going with this?

Oh, and one more thing...

I love you!

Friday Confessions

2008-10-10T12:09:00.000-05:00

My wonderful friend, Jenny at http://jennykate77.blogspot.com/ has started doing 'Friday Confessions'...I feel I have some of my own, so hear goes...

I haven't taken a shower today...it's 12:12 in the afternoon and I haven't showered! And I'm okay with that!
I, on more then one occasion, told my husband that I had to go to the bathroom "REALLY BAD" just so I could have a few minutes of peace and quiet!
I finished off an entire box of Crunch 'N Munch last night at 9pm...and then pleaded with Nicholas this morning to buy a new scale because ours was "obviously broken!!" when it showed I had gained a pound from yesterday!
I love watching Spongebob! He's hilarious and I sit w/my son everyday after school watching Spongebob.
I have twice this week left the clothes in the washing machine for so long, that I had to rewash them!
I've tripped a boy...on purpose...because I don't like him. It's horrible! But I was right there, sitting on the floor, he walked by, I put my arm out there and down he went! He looked back and said "Ow, that hurt!" I, in my most innocent, loving way said "Oh, did you trip on my arm and fall?! Well, how about that." I can't believe I'm confessing that...but I'm feeling better about it already!

A Must Have!!

2008-10-07T15:55:00.000-05:00

Make room on your shelf for your new favorite cookbook...you won't want to miss out on this 170 page book full of wonderful recipes!

Mitchell's Angels present:

'Angel Food'

On the back is a picture Meredith drew of her future family and home.....

with her angel, Mitchell,

peeking over the clouds.

If you would like one please let me know! The cookbooks are $20 each (add $5.00 for s/h) Proceeds will go to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society to continue Mitchell's dream of finding a cure.

The Sweet Smell of a Giveaway...

2008-10-07T15:11:00.000-05:00

Melisa at The Crazy Daisy ( http://thecrazydaisy31.blogspot.com/) is having a giveaway in honor of her 25th post!

2 Pumkin Spiced filled candles

and one 8oz Jar Candle. The winner gets to decide the scent!

All you have to do is post a comment on her blog for your chance to win!!

Easy right?!

And while you're at it, you can also visit her

http://www.crazydaisycandles.etsy.com/

Happy Smellin'!

Trouble

2008-10-07T00:50:00.000-05:00

My parents will always be my parents, and no matter how old I get, they will always let me know when I'm doing things they don't like!
I've made a list of just a few things that get me in trouble...

1. Saying "crap"!
If I say it in front of my mom she automatically corrects with with "crud"! I'm also equally corrected on words like "butt" (bottom) "fart" (fluff) "freakin" (usually I just get a strong "HHHEEYY NOW!") and a couple of others that end with my mom saying "Tuttie Fruity O' Rootie O's" and "Mr. Winky"!! (use your imagination!)

2. Arguing with Nicholas.
I can not have a simple, screaming, throwing, name calling, door slamming, argument with Nicholas when my parents are around...I get the "look" and a very firm, very stern "Now Renee!" from my mom , with my my dad saying something like "Now you shouldn't be acting that way!"

3. My driving.
My dad always tells me that I'm driving too fast! It's always the same thing..."You're going to get pulled over and get a ticket and then your insurance will go up! Did you put your seat belt on?" (I would like to point out that the most recent person to get a speeding ticket in the family was not me, but my dad!!) And not only do I drive too fast, I also leave too much room between my car and the one in front of me at a stop light! Makes no sense, but he'll say, "There's enough room for 2 more cars! Get up there!" It just makes no sense.

4. Spending money.
Both mom and dad have something to say about how many times I'm going to the store...whether it's Walmart, Target or the mall, it's too many times! Most often I get the "You're going shopping again?" question...but I know what they mean..."You're spending your husbands hard earned money, again?!!"

5. Going to the store.
The time of day that I choose to go to the store ALWAYS gets me into trouble!! I like going by myself, so most times it's after 7pm...well that is just way too late! And they let me know about it..."It's not safe for you to be out at this time of night!" They care, I know1

6. Using too much gas!
Really! If I'm in the car while I'm on the phone with him, at some point it will be brought up that "You're always going...don't you ever just stay home. You're using up a lot of gas making all your trips!"

7. My house.
Yep, I STILL get in trouble for having a dirty room! It's been a hard habit to break, although my mom will tell you I've greatly improved since living at home! I like a clean house, I just don't want to constantly be cleaning...so I don't!

8. Going to church.
If I miss, I just don't call her on Sundays! I hate telling her if we didn't make it to church! She'll remind me that I need to be there, and then I feel bad for missing.

9. Being on the computer.
My dad thinks I spend WAY too much time on the Internet! (which I sometimes do!) And he thinks I should watch what I write..."because it's out there for everyone to see!" :)

10. The Young and the Restless
Watching Y&R is by far the thing that gets me in the most trouble...mainly with my dad! He absolutely cracks me up about it! "All that stuff is baloney! It's junk! He's married to her but she's kissing him, that's her baby but not his! Everybody is jumping into bed with everybody! Don't you have better things to do then just sit around and watch that garbage?!!" Which I usually reply back with "No, I don't"! But I love to call him while I'm watching it just to get him going! And I 'argue' back with him..."Dad, it's interesting! You should watch it!" I even try to tell him some of the story lines...it doesn't work! lol!

That's my very small list of what still gets me into 'trouble'! I know my mom will read this...let's just hope she thinks it's funny...otherwise, I'm SO grounded!! ;)

Finding out

2008-10-06T12:31:00.000-05:00

“Yet if a woman never lets herself go, how will she ever know how far she might have got? If she never takes off her high-heeled shoes, how will she ever know how far she could walk or how fast she could run?"

~Germaine Greer

I love this quote! I feel I live it every time I lace up my running shoes and set out to push myself harder then I ever have before.

I'm letting myself go...seeing if my body can do what my heart says it can!

I ran 7 miles on Saturday in under an hour. I'm so proud of myself.

Finally...

2008-09-29T14:02:00.000-05:00

I finally got to watch Grey's from last Thursday...it made me cry!!

I finally made a hair bow that didn't look too bad! (pics soon to come!)

I'm finally getting on here to blog! It's just been one of those weekends!

I'm finally over the fact that my husband, an OSU grad, went to the OU game and I didn't! (I did get to go shopping with my mommy so it was well worth the trade off! I LOVE YOU MOM!!)

I'm finally starting on the bow and tutu I'm making for Miss Abigail, Queen of the Humphries Manor! (I hope she likes it...but she'll let me know if she doesn't!! ;)

I finally have a clean oven...and I didn't have to do anything but press a button!

I finally had a clean house on Saturday...it lasted until Saturday mid afternoon!
Britain is finally becoming "not so clingy"! She was ALL OVER her Nannie this weekend and it was nice!

Kael finally said 'mommy'...of course that's more for Kristie...especially since he's not even 6 months old!! (Boy, I can't wait until I can write "I finally got to love on Kael all weekend!"....that will be nice.)

Britain is finally waking up from her nap...I knew it would be soon, it always is when I sit down at the computer!

I'm finally feeling like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be...and that's a great feeling to have!

Okay, I'm finally posting this...Britain needs to learn some patience! ;)

Here I go again...

2008-09-25T12:50:00.000-05:00

At times, I can get these very off the wall ideas to do, try or start different things. Last Christmas I wanted to go to cooking school, so everything I ask for and received had to do with cooking!! Nicholas got me some very expensive pots and pans with high hopes that I would start cooking more! I have started cooking more, however, I never did find the time to enroll in that class!! I recently decided that I would get a part time job at Kohl's, because it's my most favorite place to shop, plus I'd get a discount, plus I wouldn't have to ask Nic for spending money every time I decided I needed some 'Retail Therapy'. Nic was excited about that, said it would be good that I'd have some 'play money'. I even went as far as picking up an application for employment. Unfortunately that application was sitting right beside the application for a Kohl's card...the card won out!

Now I'm onto bows and tutu's!! I know, I know, it's crazy! I'm not even a creative person! How do I expect to be able to put different colors together and make something cute?! It's a question that I've ask myself over and over these past couple of weeks. Luckily for me, I have my best friend, Stacie!! She's usually a BIG part of my ideas...and this time is no different! So here I am, stocking up on Tulle and Ribbon! It's not ALL my fault, though! I do place, at least, some of the blame on Nicholas!

He's SO supportive with every business adventure, crochet class, employment mishap that I have or come up with. I have a lot of drive to start something, I just need to focus that to see me through to the end! We'll see how this one turn out! And Nic is always there, shelling out the money or encouraging me along!! I'm a lucky, lucky girl!!

So today, I leave you with some ribbon that I recently bought (with the approval of Nicholas) and a super cute Tutu that I made for Britain last night!! I'm quiet proud of my creation! Bows to follow soon...but right now I'm just SO scared to actually cut the ribbon...but soon, though~

How stinkin' cute is this tutu?!

by far, my most favorite set of ribbons!

I love all of these too!

She has to have an OSU one, her daddy said!

I love Polka Dots!!!

I do have about 7 more spools of ribbon, but it wouldn't let me

add those pics! :(

Jacob-isms!

2008-09-17T12:29:00.000-05:00

This morning I had to pull a very tired boy out of bed! He wasn't ready to wake up and wanted nothing more then to crawl back into bed! After stumbling around for a minute, he follows me into my room where we had a very interesting conversation...

"Mom, I don't want to go to school today!" This coming from the boy who doesn't want to LEAVE school when I pick him up!

"Well Jacob, the only way you can miss school is if your sick and your running a fever."

He looks at me, puts his hand to his forehead

"YEP! I'm definitely sick!"

"Oh, you are, huh?"

"Yeah momma, I for really have a fever today!"

"Well, I better get out Britain's thermometer just to make sure you're running a fever."

"You have to use baby sister's? So you're going to put it in MY bootie!?"

He ask with sheer panic on his face! I just look at him and shrug, he puts his hand back to his forehead

"Momma, you know what?! I don't have a fever I mean! I can just go to school and you don't have to look at my fever now, right?!!"

"Yeppers, you can just go to school!"

And about 45 minutes later, a very healthy, very fever free little boy was running to his classroom!!
I just wonder how long I'm going to get away with that one? Hmm...

That's My Girl!

2008-09-15T00:07:00.000-05:00

I have realized in the past few days that Britain is quite the sneaky little girl! She's usually making nosie of some sort, especially in the kitchen since she has recently discovered how to open the bottom cabinet drawer and pull out all the Tupperware! Thursday morning after taking Jacob to school, I was in the living room folding clothes and watching the news while she was banging away with the dishes. After a few minutes, I realized there was no noise, and I wasn't quite sure how long there hadn't been any noise! As I got up, I called out to Britain and heard the sweetest little snicker I'd ever heard her make. I tiptoed up to the counter, looked over, saw her standing there and discovered what it was that had made this usually loud little girl so quiet...

She had discovered Jacob's half eaten Kit Kat Bar!!

"Britain, can mommy see what you have in your hand?" I asked her, only for her to curl her nose up at me!

"Well, what's in your mouth?" I asked next, she just started laughing and showing me!

So she finished off Jacob's Kit Kat, something that he was kind of upset about when I had to break the news to him once he was home from school, aksing for it! But once I showed him the pictures and told him about messy Britain had been from eating it, he laughed about it, gave his baby sister a hug and told her "It's okay baby sister, I'm not mad!"

And really, who could be after seeing this face...

Me either!

Popping for a Cure!

2008-09-14T23:21:00.000-05:00

Amy and I started our "Popping for a Cure" fundraiser in the school Jefferson Elementary School (where Amy teaches 2nd grade) on September 5 and it has been a great success!! We are selling Popcorn and Popsicles for $1.00 each on Friday afternoons, and the kids who buy one (or both) are getting to go outside for an extra recess where they get their snacks and get to go play! In the two weeks that we have been doing "Popping for a Cure" we have made just over $700.00 for us to use share and use for our Team In Training goal!! All the teachers at the school have gone above and beyond to help us make this fundraiser a huge success! Some teachers have even given us money so that they won't have any of their students go without! It's been great!

Amy telling the students about Popping for a Cure

during Good Morning Dragons!

The kids lining up to get their snack!

Jacob gladly donates his $2 for a popsicle and popcorn!

We are very blessed that Amy's parents come and pop our popcorn!

The 4Th grade Student Council volunteered to help pass out the snacks!

Jacob and his friend Shawn, eating their popsicles and popcorn!

It's a great fundraiser and it really is fun! I hope that we continue to do well with this and that our next school fundraiser, "Pennies for Patients" is just as successful!

Fall Weather

2008-09-09T12:17:00.001-05:00

The football season is here, and that always gets me in the mood for fall weather! I'm so ready for this hot Oklahoma summer to move on out and welcome in the coolness that comes with Fall! I'm ready for the leaves to start their transformation and begin changing from the crisp colors of summer to the vibrant yellows, oranges and reds that Fall brings! I'm ready to open my windows and feel the crisp air coming in the house. I'm ready to start cooking and baking...to turn on my oven and not sweat. I'm ready for the smells of Cinnamon and nutmeg. Sitting on the porch in a blanket watching the leaves doing their last dance before winter. I'm ready for pumpkins and scarecrows, the bright colors of fall, piles of leaves waiting to be jumped into, all the fun things that come with the season... I'm ready for FALL!!

My Sweet Boy...

2008-09-03T21:13:00.000-05:00

In the whirlwind that is my life, I have one sweet little boy that keeps me smilin'

Today after I got home from a meeting in OKC (that I was only there to take up space since I didn't participate like I would of wanted!) I was totally SPENT! Britain had fallen asleep on the way home, which worried me that she wouldn't take a good nap when we got home. Luckily, after a few minutes of playing, she was out! I checked the time, it was almost 2pm! That meant I needed to leave to get Jacob from school in 30 minutes...not something I wanted to do! So I very selfishly called the school to see if it was too late for Jacob to ride the school bus. It wasn't!! Whew!

He hasn't ever rode the bus before, so I was a bit nervous, but I knew that he would be totally excited about riding...and I was right! The bus lets him off at the end of our street so I walked to the end of the street to wait for him. Well like I said, I was SO tired and now I was outside where the wind was blowing, it was cold and starting to rain again. So I was getting a bit irritated waiting there for the bus, when it showed up. The doors open, and Jacob is the first one off. He looks up, sees me and comes running towards me, arms open wide! I bent down to hug him and he says, "Momma, I got to ride the bus home today!". I said, "I know Jacob. I called your school to tell them that you could ride the bus." He looked at me with the biggest grin and most sincere eyes and said, "Momma, you're the best momma in the whole wide world!" ...and all the days stresses melted away as Jacob's word put a smile on my face!

the reality behind my run...

2008-08-29T13:02:00.000-05:00

The Whitaker Family

Mitchell, Tracy, John and Meredith

I want to take a moment and share with you all the 'reality behind my run'...I'm not running just to raise money for a cure, although that in itself would be enough. I'm not running just because it makes me feel good inside, even though it does! I am running because behind the miles and behind the fundraisers, their is a family whose lives have forever been changed because of Leukemia.
Tracy will NEVER get another night to tuck her sweet boy into bed....John will never get to see his favorite pitcher take the mound again...and Meredith will never have another sibling fight with her big brother.
That day, on September 27Th, 2007 when Mitchell left this earth, he left a 'Mitchell sized' hole in the hearts of everyone he'd ever met.
Below is an email that Tracy sent out to the 40+ "Mitchell's Angel's" (that's what we call ourselves)...I know she wouldn't mind me sharing it...

Greeting friends, both near and far,
Is anyone feeling overwhelmed yet? I was quite overwhelmed when I found out that I now have approx. 47 Angels! I know it is a lot to take in. Some are nervous about the running, most are nervous about the money. Take a deep cleansing breath girls….we CAN do this. We MUST do this……………..
I have had a long couple of weeks…….the hardest part of my day is picking up Meredith from school, it is still so hard to see Mitchell’s buddies and no Mitchell…………Tonight I went to “visit” Mitchell. I grabbed my spray bottle and paper towels out of my “cemetery box” in my trunk………tonight I could have cleaned it off with just my tears. In one more month it will be one WHOLE year without Mitch. I still cannot believe it. I thought of the day of his funeral, we had finished the burial ceremony and we were getting ready to leave to go to the church…I didn’t want to leave…..I was wishing for just one more peek, just one more touch. Girls, I am not sharing this for your pity…I am sharing my reality. I have to live the rest of my life here on earth WITHOUT my son due to this disease. We must not let it continue to take precious lives. So that is why we are going to work are buns off, check off our miles and raise an ENORMOUS amount of $money$.
So take in that deep cleansing breath, lace up those shoes and double knot them. Angels we have a mission!
Tonight my cup runneth over from the love shown to me by my wonderful friends.
Much love,
Tracy

THAT is why I'm running....THAT is why it's SO important to raise the money and find a cure...So that no Mother or Father will have to visit their 10 year olds gravesite...a life that was cut far too short, because of this awful disease!
I was already committed to doing this marathon, without question, before this. But after reading her letter, I sit here with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat praying "Sweet Jesus...let that never be a letter I have to write." I'm giving everything I have to reaching my goals of 13.1 miles and $3,600!
And once again, I can't do this without your support! If you have already given, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! If you haven't, it's not too late! Just visit my secure website at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ok/pfchangs09/rdietzel or you can mail a check payable to 'The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society' to 1505 Kestrel Court, Norman OK 73071.

Together we can fight this, together we can find a cure!

One week down

2008-08-26T11:02:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to blog about my progress with Team in Training for some time now, but time is something I'm finding I have very little of these days! So today, I'm playing catch up!!

August 18th I started my first 'official' training day! Amy, my neighbor and great friend set out at 6am to run 2 miles. I went outside and it was cold, dark and rainy! But we were way to pumped to get started to let the weather stop us!! It was a fairly easy run, mostly because I had already been running on my own prior to signing up. But I was glad to get it over with! That first week of running went off without any major injuries. Amy and I both being self-diagnosed hypochondriacs we kinda worried about the 'injuries' we could possibly get! To date Amy has hip problems, water on her knee and plantar's fasciitis (in the heel of your foot...very painful!) in her foot. I have been a little more lucky...my injuries to date are plantar's fasciitis, aching knee and my eye lid hurts pretty bad! (still trying to determine if that's actually a 'running injury' or not...I'll let you know!!)

On Thursday the 21st, we had our Team in Training Kick-off meeting. We got to meet the other runners (some in our run, some doing different runs), we met our run coaches and heard a few stories about why some are running. It was an amazing night! There was a great turnout for "Mitchell's Angels", although not all of the girls running were able to make it that night. But "Mitchell's Angels" are now 48 women strong!! That's amazing...and that's a lot of money that will be raised to help find a cure!

On Saturday the 23rd we had our first group training...it was brutal!! We still only ran 2 miles, but it was full of hills! Something that I am not yet used to! But I was extremely proud of myself for finishing when I did...and proud of all the girls who came out for this run!

I feel so blessed to be a part of something so wonderful and to get to meet and become friends with this amazing group of women! Many of the girls I'm running with have grown up together and there's a deeper connection that goes beyond the word 'friend'. I feel so lucky that I'm getting the chance to be friends with them...to learn their stories, to be apart of their lives. Come January, I will cross that finish line a changed person, but I'll cross it with a God sent group of girls that will, no doubt be life long friends! I love you girls of "Mitchell's Angels"...keep strong, keep loving and keep fighting...

1, 2, 3 GO TEAM!

UGH!!!

2008-08-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

I'm trying really hard to keep it together here, but I don't know how much longer I can!! I had posted a blog about Jacob's 1st day of kindergarten on Wednesday. I wanted to add some pics of him and when I did, it was too small. I couldn't figure out how to delete the picture, so I went to 'help'. I followed the instructions to delete JUST the picture, but it deleted my entire blog!! And then it has the audacity to ask 'was this helpful'...um NO!!!

Mitchell's Angels...Full Throttle to Find a Cure!

2008-08-20T03:45:00.001-05:00

Last September Tracy lost her 10 year old son Mitchell to Leukemia. Mitchell was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) on August 12, 2005. Mitchell met his challenge "head-on" with courage, determination, and strength until he completed his earthly race on September 27, 2007. Mitchell was a warrior but in the end the disease took his life. Our hope is that no child or adult should have to go through such a battle. Our goal is a CURE! Mitchell's dream was to find a CURE, he said it perfectly with his last words "Keep Fighting!"

That is where we come in...we are here in support of our friend and all who have walked through this journey of cancer, a journey that you can not leave untouched. Through the experience of watching our dear friend lose her precious child, we have been changed forever; and more determined than ever to help fight this disease. We are here to fund the process to find a CURE!

What is "Mitchell's Angels", we are 40 friends joining together for Tracy's 40th Birthday wish. To run in Mitchell's honor on January 18, 2009 we will run the P.F. Chang Rock 'N Roll Arizona Marathon. Most of us have never participated in any endurance running event, or for that matter any running event! We are training for this marathon as part of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program - the society's largest fundraising program for blood cancer research and support.

Together we will raise $144,000. for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Are you "Up To The Challenge?" We have planned several fundraisers in order to help us reach our goal. Through your support we will make this dream happen here are just a few ways to help:

Mitchell's Angels Present "Angel Foods" A Cookbook by the Marathon participants. You will not want to miss this cookbook the cost will be $20.00 each. (one dollar for each mile of the marathon) Books will be available 1st of November just in time for Christmas
Mitchell's Angels Present "Spicing It Up For A Cure" Kitchen Tour November 8th 2:00-5:00PM this is not your normal tour of homes you will definitely not want to miss this event! Tickets are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door.
Mitchell's Angels Present The GOMITCHGO Golf Tournament, this will be sometime in October details coming soon!

To learn more about the Whitaker family and Mitchell's battle, please visit their website at http://www.blogger.com/www.gomitchgo.com