Sunday, August 31, 2008

Am I Being-Have?

Behave. This is a word that all of us parents use. It's used in all different ways....

As a threat:
If you don't behave__________.(fill in the blank)

As an observation:
You are not behaving.

In frustration:
Can you behave for five minutes?

My personal favorite-The demand:
YOU NEED TO BEHAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, my voice escalates when my blood starts to boil. It's something I struggle with, but I am making a conscious effort to decrease how often I let things make my blood boil. I've come to the conclusion that the raising of the voice doesn't bring results any quicker. Anyway, the point of the post is the cuteness of my sons little mind. Picture this...your at the end of your rope, you tell your child that they NEED TO BEHAVE, and moments after doing the right thing, he turns to you and says ever so sweetly.........

"Mommy, am I being-have???????"

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Where's Your Happy Place?

Where's Your Happy Place? When your day is done, and your ready to chill, and relax, and hang out with yourself, where do you go? Your room? Your yard out by the pool? Your living room with a good book and some milk and cookies? Where? Here is my place right here. This is my porch. I know it's not much, but it's what I have, and I love it. My patio faces a nice natural courtyard, with the tennis court. At night, you can hear a pin drop out there. So it's me, my IPOD, some magazines, some candles and cool lights...and PEACE AND QUIET. aaaahhhhh......So again, where's your happy place?

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

What's that Smell?

For about a week, every time I opened our pantry, I smelled this awful smell. I couldn't decipher what it was, all I knew was that it was pretty bad. I sniffed just about everything in the cabinet. I have been buying things I don't normally buy for the Daniel fast, so I thought maybe something had a foreign smell that I just wasn't used to. Then Amber said...."Something in this cabinet smells disgusting." I'm a cleaner-outer. I am forever cleaning out the fridge and the cabinets. I actually do it before I go food shopping, so when I get home, after I've carried 20 bags up the stairs, I don't have to be irritated by lack of space, or slowed down by having to clean out. So I'm thinking...what could it be? Did my son throw something in the cabinet, and it is fermenting in there? Today as I'm once again sniffing everything, I found the culprit. Behind my 500 plastic grocery bags that I keep on the very bottom shelf, disguised in a grocery bag as well, was a bag with about 5 potatoes in it. Yeah. They had arms, legs, hats, and capes and they were holding instruments, and they were having so much fun, their insides were coming out. NASTY I TELL YOU!!! So they went straight to the dumpster, and now my pantry has lost it's funk.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Back To School

So here it is! The first day of school! Alex wanted us to stop by on our way to school so he could see her before she went. She said he still treats her like she's a little girl, but she was smiling from ear to ear when she said it. I think she likes that. So here she is in front of Daddy's house, ready for her big first day of her last year in Elementary School. She came home telling me how she had to get a nice dress, and shoes, and get all "pretty" for her graduation at the end of the year. I don't want her to go to middle school. Not even a little bit. Not my baby.
I swear her hair wasn't hanging in her face like that. It must have fell. If my grandmother was here, she would tell her she needs a haircut, and to get her hair out of her face!
I said to Alex..."Say cheese Daddy!" So he said.."Cheese Daddaayy!" And that explains the expression on his face.
There is Alex's Go-Kart (My son Alex, that is). It is still going through re-constructive surgery. Between us, I hope it's in surgery for quite a while!



Sunday, August 24, 2008

First Day of School-1983?/More Recipies

This is the outfit that Amber picked out for her first day of 5th grade. In 2008. That is not a stylish pink cast, that is a hot pink arm sock. She just got those, and loves them dearly. She borrowed some of my jewelry to finish off the look. What do you think? Does it make you want to sing "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"? or "I Tumble for Ya...I tumble for Ya"....I will do another "First Day of School" post, this is just a preview.
Notice the carnation Pink jeans!
This was dinner tonight. I found out about the sauce on Holly's blog if you want the info, and added some fresh veggies to it, and made it Arrabiata style. Kickin' it up a notch, because I love spicy food!. It was the best dish I've had so far, but I am a true pasta lover.
This was lunch. A modified Santa Fe Salad. Lettuce, corn, black beans, tomatoes, green onions, fresh cilantro, tortilla chips, (this is all organic.)
Here it is with the avocado tomato dressing recipe that my church gave us. It's simple, and delicious. 2 avocados, 1 tomato, Italian herbs, and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Throw it in the blender, and your good to go. You can even add a little Smuckers all Natural peanut butter and cilantro in the dressing for a true Santa Fe dressing, but I wanted to try it the way the recipe read at first. Delicious. I have enough for lunch tomorrow too.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Holy Fast-A-Moly!!

We have been asked to come together as a church and participate in the Daniel Fast for 21 days as a time to come together and pray about all that God is going to do through our church during the fall season. I have never participated in a fast before. I downloaded the recipe suggestions off of the website, and I went shopping. Tonight's dinner was delicious, and very filling. Looks pretty good for a fast-huh?

This food took 2 hours to find-reading all of the labels!

Dinner is served!

Stuffed peppers. I changed this up because I can't do tofu, so instead I put organic diced tomatoes in there. Italian style....

This is "Barbara's Rice, black beans and corn", and we had this with organic tortilla chips. It is DELICIOUS! and we have plenty of left overs for lunch tomorrow! Amber gladly ate the pepper, but didn't try the other dish because she said she would have liked it with sour cream, and I didn't have any. She is going to do her very best with the fast. Alex ate the stuffing in the pepper in a bowl. I didn't bother with giving him the pepper, but he probably would have eaten it. I'm going to keep trying the recipes that were given to us, but I can say I have never branched out past a black bean. Maybe a re-fried bean with melted cheese, but that's about it. SO I am going have to be a bit creative. If you are familiar with the Daniel Fast, and you have some ideas that aren't "All About Beans", please post a comment and share your ideas!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

I love my kids...both of them

Sometimes I look through my blog, and I see a whole lot about Alex, and not so much about my daughter, the beautiful Miss Amber. One obvious reason is that Alex is at an age that you can talk about until your blue in the face, and I promise you if i had a blog when Amber was little, I probably would have posted about her every 15 minutes, as I was a beyond obsessed first time mother that could have made every move she made into a storybook.

The more cut and dry reason that you don't hear a whole lot about my big girl on this blog is because she has asked me specifically not to blog about her. She feels it's embarrassing, and it invades her privacy. The general blogs about days out with friends, or the one about her room, she's fine with entries like that, but as for her personal trials that she goes through at the very tender age of 10, (like the exhausting drama we had yesterday that she made 15 phone calls to find out that not one of her friends are in the same class as her this year) she would prefer I not publish her business. I have to respect that. There are many times that I would love to just use the toilet by myself, and I ask my kids to respect my privacy, so I need to treat her with the same respect. How many Mommy's out there actually get to use the bathroom alone? Anyway, that's why you don't hear a whole lot about her on here. But she's awesome and I love her to pieces and I have 2 of the best children that God ever created and when I run in the morning and open my arms up to the Lord and thank Him for all of my blessings, I'm sure all of the people driving down 51 think I'm a crazy person.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

When I get Bigger?



When I get bigger I can have gum?

When I get bigger I can drive?

When I get bigger I can sit on the seat in the car like Amber?

When I get bigger I can climb on louders(ladders)?

When I get bigger I can use a knife?

When I get bigger I can cook?

When I get bigger I can use the compooter?

When I get bigger I can walk D.B.?

When I get bigger I can exercise?

I think you can tell my response to my sons never ending questions that start with...."Mommy can I....?"

Monday, August 18, 2008

Too Many Choices

Here is a story about a "Typical Situation in these Typical Times....too many choices." (that's a song...by the way)

Standing at the front desk tonight at work, and I couldn't believe my ears. The parents were asking the children if this is where they wanted to eat dinner. I even went over the children's choices and ideas with them because this was not an easy decision for them to make. They were in the lobby for 10 minutes discussing this. Then, there was an additional 5 minutes deciding on whether or not to sit outside. They were looking to the children for clarification. These children were 10 and under. If your not getting my point here, then we may just see things differently. Last time I checked, if I'm buying, and I'm the adult, I'M choosing the restaurant. No choices. Kids get choices at lunch time when your in the car. "McDonald's or Chick-fillet?" And even at that you have to really consider how many kids you have with you, and if you have the child that will say they want something else just because the other child wants one-and they live to aggravate each other. There are definitely times to give children choices(This outfit or that one? Which book should we read tonight?), but unless it's their birthday, dinner is not that time. There is no short order cooking in my house. You eat what I cook. You don't say "That's gross and I don't like it" before you even taste something. That infuriates me. When Amber says.."Oh! I don't want that tonight!" I say "I'm very sorry.....now sit down and eat." "Your not going to eat your dinner? Your going to be terribly hungry later". I've seen Moms bring their children meals to parties full of food because they are "picky eaters". Not this Mom. I think "picky eating" is something that is acquired if it is allowed to be. I can't play that game. I don't have time for it. So the outcome was...the daughter decided this would be an acceptable place to eat, the son decided they were going to eat inside, and the parents...I hope they didn't need permission to order what they wanted off the menu.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

A True Gentleman

Carrying the bag for his Mommy.....Home Sweet Home....

Thursday, August 14, 2008

New York-Day 1

Here is the start of our days in NY. Notice who made their way into the cock pit on the plane. That's my boy. The murals you see were painted by various artists, and they are all painted in the under pass you walk through to get to the beach. Alex had a blast. He doesn't get to see the beach very often. Those are his cousins Morgan and Kara.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Church on Sunday....and Monday

I attend church every Sunday at Elevation Church. I love my church. My children love our church. God is in our lives now more than ever thanks to this church. It is right next door to our home. Talk about being strategically placed to receive the gift of freedom and grace from the Lord and his word. This is no coincidence. I had the privilege of going to a conference with my church called "Unleash" at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. God is doing amazing things there as well, and they are one of the mentors of Elevation Church. Every Sunday, I attend Elevation Church, and every Monday thanks to the Internet, I attend New Spring Church via podcast. Perry Noble is another great man of God. And he's raw and honest. And he's funny. And you need to check him out. You can link to his blog here, and you can watch sermons here. Check it out. You'll be glad you did.

Running in the Rain

I just got back from running a little while ago...in the rain, for the first time.

Dave Matthews Band trilogy on the IPOD, starting with Proudest Monkey, steady rain, a little dark and dreary.....SO COOL.

I felt strong, and tough. I felt determined and proud. I felt the urge to scream out things like "YO ADRIANNE!!!" and sing songs like "Getting Strongaaaaaa".

I felt soakin' wet. This was my first run in the rain, and I was contemplating the treadmill, but I can't stand it. So I went for it, and I'm glad I did.

P.S.- Bye Bye 7 pounds. I won't be seeing you again. You were a bad alliance. Hopefully I will be sending you a few more bad alliances on my diet/exercise journey.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Nothing In Between

I have talked to Lisa about this at church. Nothing In Between. She's in the same boat. If you look at some of my shoes here, you will see that it's a flip flop or a sneaker, or a 3 to 4 inch heel, and there's nothing in between. I can't do in between. I really don't have a good reason, they just don't catch my eye. I've tried, I've looked...to no avail. Maybe it's because I'm short, and either I embrace my shortness with a sneaker or a flip flop, or I'm dressed to impress, and I need some height. I'm not sure why, all I do know is that there's nothing in between.


Also, all of my heels must be secure around the ankle. I can not "work" to keep my shoes on my feet. The one black pair that is not, I've only worn a hand full of times in the 3+ years that I have had them!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Remember When...

You used to sit in front of your boom box with the play/record and pause buttons all pressed, with your finger on the pause button ready to release it, and the aggravating DJ wouldn't stop talking and they spoke into the beginning of your most favorite song like "Get into the Groove" by Madonna and you couldn't get it in it's entirety? Or you get the beginning smoothly, and then they start speaking at the end, and mess up your cassette tape after you just ran across the room and leaped over your bed to get to the pause button in time?

Please tell me you remember this, and I didn't just humiliate myself.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

And it goes a little sumthin' like this....

The phone rings....

Me: Hello?

Papa(Alex Senior): Colly. What's going on?

Me: Not much Pop, what's up?

Papa: When are you gonna bring me my grandson?(Amber was just there for a week, but Papa is not quite ready for "The meatball" without Mommy or Daddy being there)

Me: I don't know, you tell me?

Papa: Pick dates, and send them to me on the fax.

Me: Okay

20 minutes later, my Jet Blue Itinerary comes to my email. Isn't life grand? New York, here we come.....

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Workin' it....

First of all, forgive my crappy pics, my cell phone is the equivalent to Zack Morris' cordless phone.

I take Alex to the doctor today, because although his spirits were as happy as always, he ran a fever yesterday, and through the night. After singing "You are My Sunshine" to a circle of seven nurses, giving out hugs, showing off that he knows Daddy's cell phone number, when asked his name, he replies "Alex Delemo Da Dird", and so on and so forth, this is the end result at 10am in the morning while we were waiting for the doctor to come in.......

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The Splash Park

My Friend Kristy and I took our kids to a splash park last week. They had a blast! This place only costs $1.! And there is a park, and picnic area and all! It was an awesome day. The kids were so busy we actually got to enjoy some adult conversation for a change.


Crazy Girls!

Pretty Face....

I wonder what these things do?

Okay...now I know!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Very Scary

When I left the house this morning for my jog...yes I said jog. It has graduated to a 2.5 mile jog, and I today was my 8th straight day. People are right when they say exercise is a "lifestyle". It is now a part of my morning regimen, and I would at this point feel guilty or incomplete if I didn't get it done, regardless of the time of the day that I can fit it in. Anyway, as i passed the building RIGHT NEXT TO MINE, I see the second story apartment-burnt to a crisp. All the windows were knocked out, there was a queen/king sized mattress on the floor outside, burnt completely. As I looked up in the windows, I saw all of the support beams exposed. I saw bunk beds still in place in the other bedroom. I saw soot and blackness as far as I could see, and several pieces of furniture that appeared to have been thrown out of the windows on the concrete outside. This scared me to death. What if that were us? Am I prepared for this? Do I have renters insurance-yes-but that's not going to save our lives. I don't have escape ladders. This will haunt me until I have the money to get some. Yes, we can jump, it's not that far, but I want to have the ladders, and I am letting everyone that has loved ones on a second floor of their home to go out and buy escape ladders. Please? Do it for your neurotic bloggy friend? Thank you. I saw the super, and asked him if everyone was okay, and he said yes. The Lord was with that family last night. What scares me also is that I didn't hear a thing, and neither did Alex, because he didn't wake up either! That's kind of crazy right! no sirens-nothing! Strange I tell ya....

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Operation Amber's Room

When Amber's birthday rolled around this year,(May) she said she wanted a "Big Girl" room. So for her birthday she got a new comforter set from Target as you can see here. Her room is always an over-crowded mess. Too much stuff in a not-so-big space. Well, Amber has begun her summer gallivant, leaving me behind, because frankly, someones got to stick around here and pay the bills-right? She left for New York on Friday to spend a week with Papa, and then she will be home for 1 day before she is headed to my sisters for a day of pampering, and then off to the beach with my mother for 6 days. What a life. anyway, it has given me the time to get her room the way I want it, without her standing over me saying..."No Mom! I need that!". Or "No Mom! I still use that!" My mother came over and helped me. She loves doing this kind of stuff! We moved pictures, hung up shelves, and did small things that made a big difference! I should have taken a "before" picture!




She wanted a full length mirror for a while now. This one has 6 slots for your favorite photos, and was very cheap from walmart! I never get anything expensive for the kids rooms because kids love to change their rooms!


She may die when she sees how empty her closet is. As for her lack of clothing, she was being sassy last week, and I took all of her name brand clothes away from her. She has to earn them back. That's a whole other post.....