Tuesday Ten

It seems like the only time I post these days are to do my "ten:".  Im sure I will get motivated soon to post more frequently! Maybe when I can get a good nights sleep or when we get back from vacation!

1. How do you take your coffee on an average day? How do you like your coffee if you’re splurging?
I have a Keurig and I feel like it enables me to make my coffee perfect...for me.  I have vanilla flavored coffee with a tbspn of sugar and some vanilla creamer! One a day!

2. What is your genre of books to read?
I like relatable chick books...or ones that unexpectedly make it to the movies

3. Where do you want to retire, if you could go anywhere?
The hill country of Texas. Who wouldn't?

4. The 17-year-old you is told to write a 10-minute speech. What topic would you have picked?
Something about photography because at 17 that is what I seemed to know most about...or how to get in a bar when you are underage! ha!

5. What word describes you best?
Mom....at this point in my life.

6. What is the next “event” that you are looking forward to? (ex.: vacation, moving, date, job change, etc)
vacation starts on Friday and goes until Thursday! Monahans and then San Antonio

7. Do you like to discuss controversial topics or do you prefer to avoid those types of conversations?
I don't because I'm always worried that I'm not going to have a solid enough argument to back myself up.

8. Would you rather add 4 free hours to each day, or add 1 extra day to the week?
Neither! I would not like longer days because that is more sleep I'm missing out on and one extra day just means that the week drags on longer!

9. If you created a sports team; what would your colors and mascot be?
I love Red and Black! And My mascot would be a pirate....hmmmm wonder why!

10. If you had to be a teacher, what subject would you teach?
Yearbook/newspaper class because it is soo nontraditional and fun!

A Rather Odd Tuesday Ten

This is a rather boring and wierd Tuesday Ten. I am answering it anyway!

1. Cell Phone
I use Sprint....because my husband works for them and I have unlimited EVERYTHING for $15. I also have a Palm Pixie as my phone! Why anyone would want to know that I dont know!

2. Email
Yahoo.....for as long as I can remember!

3. Toothpaste
I have a phobia about bad breath...that I might have it...so I use the Colgate with the breath strips built in!

4. CarI have a Yukon for when we travel or need a "big" car and I also have a newer Ford Fusion. I love the Fusion and we owe too much to get rid of it! ha! Matt rives an even newer Ford Fusion as his company car!

5. Writing Utensil
I cant ever find a pen, so these days I have been using a pencil or crayon! Really.

6. Lotion
My BFF Crystal just got me some amazing lotion for my birthday and it is from Victoria's Secret and smells like a little piece of heaven! 

7. Interior Paint
Valspar

8. Soda/Drink
Im funny about my sodas....I like Dr Pepper if it is not fountain...because it is always too syrupy that way. so if I am getting a fountain drink I like Coke. I also wont get a drink from Subway or Taco Bell because I HAVE to have my drink in a Styrofoam cup. The plasticy kind taste funny and sweat too much! 

9. Laundry Detergent
Tide Liquid...always.  Dreft for the baby's clothes.

10. Medicine
Tylenol, alka-seltzer, Motrin, Mylacon drops. Things like that!

The big 32

I'm feeling especially old this year! Of course I say that every year! ha! But really....my birthday is on Saturday and we are going to celebrate it on Saturday in Lubbock! I can't wait!  It seems like this week has been such a whirlwind...we spent last weekend in Levelland! Saturday at Early Settlers with the Lances and Sunday and Monday morning with my Mom! It was soo much fun! We also got to go to a dinner at Las Brisas and a hotel at Embassy Suites (the old Barcelona Courts) courtesy of Sprint and Matt's mom and Megan for watching the kids for us! What would I ever do without them!  Matt and I had a great time and I had the best steak I have EVER had! I highly recommend it! 

Before we went to dinner i enjoyed new nails, a new dress, a new haircut, and a mystic tan! Ha! I feel like a human being again! Or at least not so much like a frumpy stay at home mom...Its so easy to get into that rut of "blah". 

NOW....I am packing up again to head to Lubbock. Again....I wish soo bad that we lived there! {sigh} We are headed to a wedding at the Llano winery and a night with my brother and his girlfriend as well as some old friends!  Hopefully when we get back I will have stories to tell (I always do) and have had a memorable birthday! Thank goodness for Facebook!

Me as a Mom

Since I have had my own children and many of my girlfriends have as well I sometimes take a step back and notice that no matter how similar we are as friends....we differ sooo much as mothers and how we parent our children! Not that it is a bad thing....I just realized how different women are about their household and their children!  

As a stay at home Mom I would rather sit and have a pretend lunch that my two oldest have prepared for me than wash the dishes.  I would rather sit outside with my baby and watch the oldest two jump on the trampoline than vacuum.  Don't get me wrong....it all gets done. My house isn't TOTALLY filthy, but it all can wait. My priorities are living life rather than keeping an immaculate house! The laundry might sit in the dryer for a day or two because I chose to watch my tv show (because the opportunity doesn't present itself to do so very often) or go out to dinner with my family! I dont try to cram it all into a day and run around like a chicken with my head cut off to try to keep everything straightened and clean.  I have 3 kids and a husband who works hard and deserves someone to clean up after him....and I am but one person. I cant keep up with it all....all the time. I try. But I have come to terms that I just cant make it all look perfect all the time! I am human.

I scream at my kids to get along and play nice from across the house.  I let them trash their bedrooms....because they are playing with their toys.  If it were clean all the time I would wonder if they were playing or having fun.  When there is a mess I know they had a good time making it. And they will pick it up. All at once and not several times a day! I could sit and hold my baby for hours....because after all, she is the last one I will ever have

and if that means my other two running rampant around the house or the lunch mess to stay on the table for an extra hour..then sooo be it!

I am laid back at both being a mother and at keeping my house.  My house isn't filthy and my kids are not heathens. This is my style. It works for me.  My girlfriends might not like it but then again I might not like the way they do their mothering and housework.  But its not for me or them to correct each other or criticize.  Because at this point we are all enjoying life and doing the best we can! 

  

The Middle Child

My baby...my sweet Raegan. She is a mess! It looks as if she is going to take after her mother.... DEFINITELY! As a 3yr old she has more personality than most women I have met! Seriously! She has such a carefree spirit and and attitude to match! She comes up with the funniest stuff to say...for instance she had a conversation with my Mom the last time we were home. Let me set the scenario:

She had been playing with her older cousins (which are all girls mind you) Faith 8, Kara 5, and Hanna 6 and they ALL seem to know about vampires and wolves. Can't imagine why.....

Raegan: Grandee? I'm a vampire and you are a witch!!

Grandee: Oh yeah?

R: Yep! And you have hair like a witch and a nose like a witch.

G: Really?

R: Yep! And I'm a vampire.....look (as she holds her foot out) cause I have vampire feet!

And beboped away! Vampire feet....Ill let you know when I know exactly what those look like! haha! She has also recently been putting Mr. in front of everything she says....Mr. Mommy....Mr. Tyler....Mr. Daddy Fatty (he loves that one!) Things like that. Its soo funny! I have told a few of my friends that I think Aubry is going to be our quiet child. She has to be! There just isn't room in this family for one more BIG personality! Ha!

Tuesday Ten

Well...we just got back from our trip to Little Elm to see Tony and Courtney!! We had a FANTASTIC 4th of July. We laughed too much, drank too much, and made lots of memories with great friends! I loved it! I have a few pictures since I didn't have my camera for the duration of the trip because someone locked it inside my car with my keys inside....COURTNEY! Gotta love her though! She is such a great hostess and always takes care of yelling at my kids when I just done have it in me anymore! Ha!

1. If given the opportunity, would you choose a mediocre job that paid well or your dream job that paid poorly?
Definitely the mediocre job that pays well.....money ALWAYS talks!

2. What is your favorite thing about the 4th of July? (For the foreigners: What is your impression of the 4th of July?)
Being around great friends and seeing the look on my children's faces as they watch fireworks!

3. What’s the most random fact you know about American history?
I hate history! No...really. Hate it.

4. What is the best fireworks display you’ve ever seen?The one in Littlefield about 7 years ago!

5. Who taught you how to put on makeup?
Once I was old enough my Mom took me to the Clinique counter! I have seen a lot of people whose mother forgot to do this!! YIKES!

6. Have you ever gone through a financial planning process? Tell us about it.
Nope....and our checkbook proves it!

7. What was your favorite outfit as a kid? Bonus points for pictures.
I LOVED my purple Girbaud jeans! 

8. Do you prefer a beach, lake, swimming pool, or no water?
Swimming pool....I like to see what could possibly be swimming below me!

9. Do you recycle? If not, why?
Nope....I don't want to pay to save the environment...Id rather pay to fix it after the fact!

10. What are your thoughts and feelings about the Twilight Saga?
Ilove the books but the movies suck...BAAAAD!