...oh edward...

#77 Attend Eclipse midnight showing w/ my girlfriends

Oh. My. Edward. I know you are going to read this...and unless you are Jaime or Lindsay...are going to judge the crap outta me. It's ok. I accept it. I...am in love...with a fictional character. It's an illness. But I have accepted it (as has DLo) and I'm moving forward with this information with pride. LOL.

So. I didn't really look forward to seeing Eclipse. You will notice that I didn't even put a "countdown" clock on my blog like I did for the last two movies. I really don't know why... I mean... we went and saw Twilight with UBER expectations and were TOTALLY disappointed...I was excited for New Moon (which was MUCH better)...but for some reason...I just was whatever about this one...I mean...I was excited for the ridiculousness of a girl's night, but I didn't have any feelings towards the movie. Jaime, Lindsay, Bre, Bre's sisinlaw, Rori and I ended up going to the trilogy... It didn't seem like THAT long when it was all said and done...but MAN when we were starting the second one- I thought that I would DIE of exhaustion!

Finally- midnight- the movie. It. Was. Awesome! I mean. I'm sure if you didn't read the books or aren't into the whole saga...you might not understand...but I HATE watching movies that are books b/c of the lack of consistencies or congruencies... but I thought this one did a pretty decent job! (Which is why I hated Twilight- although I like it "okay" now)... Anywho. I didn't get home until like 2:30am...and had a "day" with the kids...but all in all- it was worth it...and I am excited to go see it again w/ Amy this weekend! :D


Favorite memories:
*Getting there at 5pm (the movies started at 7pm) and STILL sat in the 4th row...
*Drunk Sarah in line- wow.
*The 5million degree sidewalk...
*Ridiculous blinged out shirts (Mine: "Team Edward (because love bites)" Lindsay's: "Team Edward (except when Jacob has his shirt off) Jaime's: "Jacob bites & Edward sucks")
*The boy/girl who had his very own game show with the first 5 rows...just.wow.
*The RE-DICULOUS girls sitting in front of us...and how we almost had to cut them.
*Screaming girls when Jacob would show up on screen...
*Screaming for EC b/c I felt bad for rpattz and his painted on 6pack LOL!
*Spilling popcorn all over Linds' foot...
*Snorting. Alot.
*The Junior Mint. Singular.









Oh man! I'm sure there's a ton I'm forgetting...but it really was a fun fun night. I love my girlfriends and I'm so thankful for them! :) Alright ladies...Nov 2011- are we ready for Breaking Dawn part1??? (I'm secretly really sad that there's only BD left!!!)

...SAHM...

I know I'm a day late for Top5 Tuesday...but yesterday was a CARAZY busy day!

Here are the Top 5 things I love about being a SAHM...
5. Being there for all the "firsts"...
4. Loving my "boss"- even though he's only 2!
3. The millions of hugs and slobbers I get...
2. Getting to know their lil personalities...
1. Knowing my kiddos have the best care...

DLo...Thank you so much for working so hard so that I can stay home with our kids! I never thought it would happen...but is...and I am just so blessed!

...ts3...

#42 Take Jude to his first movie

Aw!!! We took Jude to his first movie this week...Toy Story 3! Jude hadn't been very good at watching movies...and right after Emme was born, I decided to try and brainwash him into loving ONE movie so that mama could have a lil break...and that movie happened to be Toy Story...little did I know...that in such a short short SHORT period of time...I would watch that badboy about a gazillion times! OY. It started off that Jude wouldn't watch more than 15 mins of it...and then he sat for like 30...and before I knew it- he sat and watched the ENTIRE thing. After a few weeks...Derrick decided to try TS2...and he loved it as well! Naturally...I got SUPER excited for Toy Story 3 coming out this summer...and was determined to make it Jude's first movie theater experience!

So...on our anniversary...we got our babymama, Lindsay (holla) to watch Emme while we took Jdub out to see TS3! DLo was slightly insane...and wanted to take him to see it in 3D...but I didn't want to risk it- seeing as we didn't know how he'd do at ALL let alone w/ glasses on his head! Jude did absolutely fabulous...he was so adorable sitting in the movie theatre chair with his lil cup of snacks...We brought his Buzz Bear...and he was set! Jude screamed "Buuuuuuuuhhhhhhh!" when Buzz first came out (why is it that all kids prefer Buzz to Woody?!)...and sat through the majority of the movie like a champ...weeeeellll.....until the last 5 minutes... I guess the whole "trash dump" part was a lil long for a barely2yearold! And...honestly...he woulda been fine if we hadn't been trying to get him to sit down in his seat again- he just wanted to stand...and every time we'd touch him he'd scream (not loud, but annoying)...and we were worried that he was going to bother the people in front of him by hovering over their heads!

All in all- what a FUN stinkin' time we had! And what a fantastic movie (aw- Pixar- you did it again!). I, of course, was crying from the very beginning! And I thought the ending was just perfect! If you haven't seen it yet...you must!!!

MY first movie at the theater was E.T. It was 1982- and I was also only 2 years old! What was your first movie???

...ccv...

Well. It's been about a month since Derrick accepted a position at Christ's Church of the Valley. It has been an interesting month! I guess I should start off this blog by saying...God's timing is perfect. Now. We might not understand what He's doing sometimes...but I know that He takes care of us. That's so reassuring. :)

The whole thing happened super fast. One week we're PVCers...the next...we're not! It was a very hard thing to comprehend and very bittersweet. On one hand- it was super exciting going back to CCV...but on the other...we invested 3.5 years at PVC...and grew to love it...and the people. It was home. There are so many awesome things going on at Palm Valley...and it was and is sad to know that we weren't going to be a part of it. Our decision to accept CCV's offer was not easy by any means...and I became frustrated when people would say "you must be SO excited to go back!" b/c...I mean, yes it is...but NO- my heart was so torn! Ultimately...Derrick and I both felt that God was leading us to CCV.

The first couple of weeks at CCV was hard for me. Harder than I let Derrick know. It was especially difficult b/c I felt that there was no closure at PVC- there was no announcement...there were no goodbyes (other than Derrick's volunteers). Now...don't get me wrong!!! I TOTALLY understand why there wasn't an announcement- you see- DLo's last week at Palm Valley was also Palm Valley's last weekend being a portable church! (See what I mean about God's timing?!)...so naturally- it was a weekend of celebration! ...and telling the church that Derrick was leaving might not have felt quite celebratory (I have my own opinions about that whole thing...but I'll leave that for myself)...Derrick lead worship the second weekend we were at CCV. That also happened to be the first weekend that PVC was in their new building. (So exciting!!!!!!) I was SO close to going to PVC just to be a part of it all! (and cried buckets looking at the pictures that Cameron Smith shot! So stinkin' exciting!)

Anywho. I can't quite believe it's been a month! It's been pretty awesome. Derrick is SO happy and that makes me happy. Everyone (PVC and CCV alike) have been fabulous and so supportive! It's really fun getting to worship with Derrick's family...we don't see enough of them! and I'm pretty sure Jude is going to know the ins&outs/nooks&cranny's of the place before too long- we spend each Saturday after service eating dinner w/ the family...and Jude usually runs like a banshee from one end of campus to the other! LOL! I REALLY miss worshipping with my dad. That's the biggest thing that hurts my heart... but I'm having a good time...and look forward to meeting more CCVers and DLo's coworkers! :) I know in time, it will feel like home again for me! :)


Thank you to Palm Valley Church for giving DLo the opportunity to serve you. Thank you for challenging him and growing us as a family. I will always look back fondly at my time with you... :)

...in 7 years...

IIIIiiiitttt's Top5 Tuesday!!! And this week's T5 is inspired by my anniversary! Derrick and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday. It has been such a fun journey...filled with love, fights, laughs, cries, and diapers! :D I'm so blessed to be married to my best friend...he's all that I've ever wanted and needed... :)

So. This week, I'm listing the top5 things I look forward to in the next 7 years of marriage...
5. Travelling more...
4. Teaching our children about JC...
3. Starting new adventures- whatever they may be...
2. Loving each other more...and...
1. Laughing- a ton...

...five...

Yup. Lil Miss Em is five months old! Is it just me...or is she growing up WAY too fast?! I mean...really? I feel like I just had her! And she's almost 1/2 a year old! Oy! I've gotta say...I absolutely love being her mother. She brings so much joy and sunshine to our family. It is so beautiful watching her and her brother...the way her eyes light up when Jude is playing in front of her...or the way he will grab her head and give her kisses. It's really so heartwarming! I look forward to watching these two become friends.

Anywho- Emme is learning so much and seems to have just grown a ton this past month...She's eating solids now- although she's totally not as natural as Jude was at eating!!! She's been enjoying rice cereal, avocados, sweet potatoes, and will be starting green beans and pears soon (not together though- ew!)...Em has also mastered rolling over from her back to tummy and tummy to back...but she hasn't discovered that she can continue rolling over and over! I'm pretty sure she'll roll and crawl before Jude did...homegirl moves around a ton! Jude never moved in his crib (until like 8 or so months), but Emme- man...sometimes I look in the monitor and she's completely flipped around and sideways and everywhich direction!!! :) She's hilarious too, b/c when she gets excited she squeals like a velociraptor!!! It's pretty awesome! Her giggles are adorable but rare...and she reeeeally likes grabbing my face when she is drinking her bottle.

How'd I get so blessed?

Em,
Oh my word, girlfriend. You bring mama so much joy. I'm so thankful that you are in our lives. Your eyes brighten up every room and your smile melts my heart. Words cannot express the happiness I feel and how blessed I am. I pray that you will grow up knowing the love Christ has for you...and that one day- you will experience the joys of motherhood too!

...musicals...

I didn't forget Top5 Tuesday last week...I was throwing up my guts, remember!!! But I'm back this week to share my top 5 musicals! I'm so excited to go see In The Heights tonight w/ my BFFs Lindsay and Jaime...and so thankful for DLo for taking care of the bebes! :D

Top5 Musicals:
5. Godspell (which I've actually never seen, but was apart of in HS)
4. Lion King
3. The Phantom of the Opera
2. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1. Wicked the Musical

#35

#35 Make baby food for Emme














It's begun...Em's eating solid foods and doing so so great...which means...I need to bust out with the ice trays and my copy of Super Baby Foods (thanks Jaime) and browse wholesomebabyfood.com for the food timeline and recipes! I made all of Jude's baby food...and let me tell ya...it is SO stinkin' easy. I truly don't know why every momma doesn't do it! It really doesn't take much time and it's so cheap!!! So far, Miss Em has had avocados and sweet potatoes (as seen above). We'll do bananas next! :D

If any of you new mamas want help or advice for making your own baby food- feel free to email me!!! (or go to the links above!)

...til...

...watching my son's personality grow and unfold before my eyes...

Jude is alot like me, I've decided. I have this OCD anal-ness about me when it comes to things and where they belong. Everything needs to have it's place. I even bought little tags for the baskets in the playroom so that it would be clear what toy goes in what basket (although...people who help clean up usually disregard the tags and toys go in every which basket...which of course isn't helpful at all b/c when people leave- I take everything out of the baskets to redo them!...I know...it's a sickness)...Anywho. Ever since Jude was able to play with toys...we'd always have them scattered everywhere...and every night, DLo and I would clean and set up the toys for the next day...even though the room would immediately be destroyed. ...Now that Jude's older...the mess is bigger- and scatters throughout the ENTIRE house!!! But still...every night...Derrick and I clean it up and prepare for the next day. I TRY to leave it...I do....especially nights I'm uber tired or not feeling good...but I.just.can't.do.it! Anywho- I'm trying to teach Jude to pick up his toys...or at least help out...and oh my word is he adorable doing it!!! He knows EXACTLY where each and every toy goes...it.is.brilliant! And sometimes he will put something away in the wrong spot...but, like his momma, can't leave it there for long b/c it drives him nuts! I secretly love it!

...ricer...

LOL. (I'm sure there's only a handful of you that might get that...or maybe everyone will...but it sure made me giggle! ...ps...gosh, does anyone even read this anymore- I mean...besides Love! haha!)

I'm kinda behind on posting this...but I've had a zillion things to do...come to think of it...I still have a zillion things to do...but I'm taking an A.D.D. break!

Time is going by too quickly. It seemed to take ages for Jude to hit certain milestones...but with Emme...I'm already planning 6 month pictures and mapping out what foods I'm going to start her with. WAHHH! Homegirl is already sleeping in her own room and eating rice cereal! !!! What?! I'm not ready for all of this!!! (Which could explain why I didn't start her w/ rice cereal RIGHT after 4mo like I did w/ Jude and why it took a couple weeks for me to finally get her into room!!!) ::sigh::

Emme's not as "natural" with spoon feeding as Jude was. He was a fat.kid. from the day he was born! But she's doing much better and not getting as MUCH of it all over anymore. Her tongue goes crazy, though...and that stresses me out!!! haha! I usually feed her at the same time Jude is having his lunch...and it's so cute b/c she's just fascinated with him and turns her head to his direction no matter where I place her!!! I stressed out there for a while b/c we only have the one high chair...which Jude is still in (only b/c I don't want him to get down until he's done eating)...but the first time I tried rice cereal...I put her in the high chair...and she wouldn't stay up!!! HAHA! I mean- obviously she can't sit up yet...but I was still able to prop Jude up and secure him in place with the tray when he was her age...I guess the difference is- he had a gut that held him in place...and Emme is so skinny that there is a huge gap in between her and the tray- so she slides down! LOL! So I feed her sitting in the bumbo.

Anywho- Here are some pix of the princess eating cereal for the first time:

#33

# 33 Create a photobook for Jude's 1st year















I had finished making Jude's baby book a while ago...but the darn thing was SO big that it was going to cost $200!!! Um. Yeah. Well...luckily, I got a coupon code in my email for 50% off! And even though $100 is still a LOT of money...it beats paying full price AND when I consider the time and "stuff" it costs to scrapbook it...I figure it comes out to about the same price if not cheaper...too bad I have all that scrapbooking stuff just collecting dust, eh? I've already started a book for 2009...and will make one for Emme's 1st year too...although both of these books will not be nearly as LARGE as Jude's, I'm sure (first child, anyone?!) :D Anywho. I really enjoyed looking through it...over and over. It was kinda nice having ordered it a couple months after creating it b/c I couldn't remember all I had written or pictures I had put in (after all, there were a zillion- literally- to sort through!)... and I'm totally happy with the quality of the book and would TOTALLY recommend it! (from Shutterfly)

#54

# 54 Begin cutting coupons for groceries















Well. I keep hearing how I can save all kinds of money by cutting coupons...but I've never tried it. I guess part of it is that I don't get the Sunday paper...and the other part is the thought of having to cut the coupons and do research and go to a million places kinda stresses me out. But I'm going to start! There's too much stuff I wanna do with my kids to NOT save money! :D So...I bought this organizer thing (and idea I got from Saving Cents with Sense)...and I'm going to be ordering the Sunday paper...and looking more closely at sales...I guess! We'll see how I do! :D

Top5

Whips...I forgot to do it this week!!! It's totally throwing me off having Derrick home on Mondays now! (I literally think we need to go church again on Tuesday!!!)

Top 5 ::THURSDAY::
Here are the top five things I would like to improve around the house...
5. I wanna get new bedding
4. I want Beazer to fix all the cracks
3. I need to plant new things in the backyard
2. I want patio furniture
1. I want a security door!

I know this week was kinda lamesauce...but I REALLY want these things done soon!!! Perhaps by the fall all these will get done...eh?