You're a mean one Mr. Grinch...or are you....

      Wow...once again it has been forever since I've posted anything and it's not like I forget to, it's more like what do I have to say, where do I start? It seems like this year has been a whirl-wind. It seems like we never have time to relax because there is always something going on or something that needs fixed or done right now. At 33 years old am I just realizing what adult hood really is all about? Yeah yeah yeah I got all the parts about bills, jobs, etc... but what about those lazy days laying around in your pj's just cause you can and not feeling like a total bum or sleeping all day and not feeling like you have wasted your whole day away in bed?? Thankfully this year has, in general, had more ups than downs. 
     Ok so Christmas... every year I despised everything Christmas until after Thanksgiving. I've been that way since I worked at Wal-mart, my first job other than babysitting. Let me tell you, you spend 3 years working there during the holiday's you will understand. Yep, I was a Grinch, a Scrooge. So my friend Brandy, who I've know since first grade, starts putting posts on her Facebook page about snow, Christmas, blah blah blah. 
No!! Not yet! It's not time to think of that!! But little by little I seemed to find myself in more and more of a Christmas spirit, I was singing Christmas songs in the car, listening to Christmas music on Pandora as I wrapped gifts. Next thing you know I was EXCITED!! This was all I could think of for about 3 days... 

"He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more! "

Yes, Mr Grinch, it does mean more. It means spending quality time with my mom and sister in laws shopping in Springfield, it means excited to get the mail cause I can't wait to see how many Christmas cards we got that day, it means seeing the excitement in the faces of the kids as they open their gifts. But it more importantly means the birth of Jesus Christ. We have so much to thankful for that HE has given us all wrapped up in pretty papers, all we have to do is open it! I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday season!!

Summer favorites....

So it's mid-August and the summer is almost over :( The season I wait all year for takes forever to get here and goes by so fast.

In May, I lost 3 daycare kids that month so needless to say times were pretty tough at our house money-wise but I got to spend lots of one-on-one time with Madison. I met with a few parents but nothing had that "I would love to have these kids here" feeling. Then I had 3 new kids starting about the same time out of no where! One came for a week but that was ok cause she was only here a couple hours anyways then had a different sitter because I don't do nights. August 2nd, I had another one start. He is now 8 weeks old and it is a total adjustment in our days but he is the sweetest little thing! AND one of my kids (Kaylyn) is coming back!! She is starting pre-school in a couple weeks and I get to put her on the bus...and for those of you who know her and know that she is my little "mini-me" will know I will cry when I put her on the bus :( It will be like seeing your own kid go off to school for me. BUT I know she is super excited about going so I can't wait to hear all about it when she gets here off the bus.

Hot Summer Days...

I've been pretty lucky this summer because all my daycare kids were part time until August 2nd so I had tons of time to do what I do best... lay in our pool and read! I've probably read over 10 books so far.

Tony...the roll of Lifesavers ;)

Kortney

The Girls

Mike always get the girls on Father's Day whether it is his weekend or not so this year we took them fishing. We started out in the bottoms and Kayla and a couple little catfish but thats about it so we went out to Wavering Park and turtles were the catch of the day... They were EVERYWHERE!! Poor Ash didn't catch a thing :( Maybe next time...

For July 4th, we spent the weekend at Whispering Oaks where Mike's mom and step-dad have a camper. It was a lot of fun to get away. With running the daycare out of our home, I don't go many places anymore so it was doubly nice to get out of the house for a couple days! Oh and let me tell you...the campgrounds has the BEST fireworks in the area!! They always put on an awesome show!

What else is a summer favorite?? CARDINAL BASEBALL!!! This summer they have been battling the Reds for first place in their division. July 31st we went to a Cards/Pirates game with my mom, step-dad and my brothers and their wives. Of course, we got the win...11-1 and had a great time. We also had some awesome seats in the Casino Queen Party Porch.

Us in the very back of my brother and sis-in-laws Durango on the way to STL

Whitey Herzog day at the ballpark

Stephanie and I at the game

The Sisters!

Stephanie (Cody's fiance), Chris (Scott's wife), Jessie (Cory's wife) and Me

My mom and step-dad...

Our tickets were our birthday gift for the year from them!

Thank you!!

Overall, it's been a great summer and I'm already looking forward to next year and can't wait to see what comes. Now I guess it's time to start readying myself for fall, football, then the dreaded snow.

it's Mommy Day!

So today is my first "official" (as Aunt Donna puts it) Mother's Day. Since last week, I have received flowers from my oldest step-daughter and my youngest step-daughter. I went to my mom and step-dad's this morning and took mom her card and gifts. This mother's day, I am just remembering how lucky I am to have my mom here. A couple years ago she was battling the nasty disease that seems like it runs rampit on my mom's side of the family, breast cancer. God kept her close to Him through the surgery and radiation. My mom is my best friend. She has ALWAYS been there for me, through good times and bad. I can count on her for anything. My mom is the type of mom that would give you her last dime if you needed it. She is one of the most selfless people I know. She is patient and kind. She is a wonderful listener and gives great advise. Not only is she my hero, she is the kind of mom I hope that I will be.

Frustrations and Being a "Mom"...

Ok, so to be quite honest, I forgot I had started this but to anyone who talks to me quite frequently that should be no surprise considering everything that has been going on the last month :-) Let me just put this out there...being a step-mom is hard work. Even though a child may call you "mom" your not "mom". Does that even make sense? As long as things are going their way, you are the best person in the world but when they disobey the rules and don't do what they are suppose to, you better watch out! lol. Teenagers are HARD WORK!! It honestly makes me feel badly for all of the grief I caused my mom and dad growing up ;) Having no biological children of my own, being with Michael and his kids has been a learning experience all the way around for me for sure but I would say we have all adjusted very well to each other. On the other hand, the love you receive from a child, your own or a step-child, has got to be the best feeling in the world!!!!

My oldest step-daughter, Kayla (12) , stopped by late this afternoon unexpectedly. She had just gotten out of dance and her grandma brought her by. She walks in and says "Happy Mother's Day!" and hands me perennial flowers in a painted little pot. I'm not gonna lie...I bawled, and bawled, and bawled! It touched my heart. Kayla will never understand how much it meant to have her show up at this time of my life, where it seems like every thing is upside down and side ways, and remember me for Mother's Day. Maybe it's cause I am now officially their step-mom but it's the first time someone remembered me. It reminded me of why I love these 4 children with all of my heart and would do anything for them. It reminds me of how far we have come as a family in the last two years, cause yes, we were still a family even though Michael and I have only been married a little over a month. It reminds me of how much they have grown up since the first day I met them. And lastly it reminds me how much I miss the girls when they are with their moms and how lucky I am that God brought them and their daddy into my life when He felt I was ready. I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world. Their daddy loves me like no other. He is patient, kind, loving, selfless, funny, honest, hard working...just a few of the reasons I love him so much. He keeps me grounded in a world that is not fair sometimes. I will be eternally grateful for him and his wonderful children!

New To This...

So this is my first blog but I figured I would give it a try! Most of my family has Facebook but hopefully this site will give a little more information on what we're up too! Hope you enjoy!