MERRY CHRISTMAS

anyone want roommates

I have just had it w/my new place. I was so excited to be in a townhome that I could afford w/two levels (I really do like the two level feature!), but my joy was short lived. So far since moving in, I've gone a total of 3wks w/out hot water, 1wk w/no central a/c, 1wk w/everything stuffed in my kitchen waiting for new carpet bc they flooded my downstairs and did nothing about it but let it mildew, and then I got neighbors. They like to party and liked to take my parking spots. After a month of fighting to have a spot to park, I finally got management to step in and do something. Things have been ok, not good, but ok for a month or so now. But, w/all this snow, it's like people just get dumb. For a week now, I've had a parking spot but it's been barely big enough to get my car in, let alone get my kids out. Tonight, I FINALLY got to park b4 they parked next to me so that I was able to actually get a good space, but I just want out of this place SO BAD!!! I'm on the verge of losing what little sanity I have left...lol

Christmas Program/Christmas Tree

Today was Jaden's first Christmas program at church. My mom, sisters, brother-in-law, and friend Christine from work all came to watch. It wasn't much. Just 5 songs that really didn't appear to be that well rehearsed, but it was still cute. Then, after we got home, we decorated the Christmas tree. You can tell it was decorated by a 3 & 2 yr old by the final picture bc the majority of the decorations are on the bottom...lol. FINALLY, I was able to add pictures....










and yes, if you can't tell by the last picture, I did cut my hair!

it figures!

It totally figures that right after getting brand new tires on my car, that I would get in an accident. Monday, after picking up the boys, I was driving down Nazareth which was a sheet of ice as were all the roads, and I saw it coming. There was a car coming down the road that was just FLYING, and he didn't slow down. He rear ended me and then sped off when I pulled over. The cops were worthless. They didn't even take down my name and number. I was SO frustrated. Thankfully, the boys and I are ok. I couldn't see anything other than paint off the bumper, but I decided to have my insurance company come look at it just to be safe. The guy told me to bring my title bc if it was too bad, due to the age of the car, they'd just total it out and give me the value. The guy met me at my work, and from the parking lot inspected my car and wrote me a check to get it fixed! So, I plan on having Brian look at it to see how bad it really is. If it really is an issue, I'll have to get it fixed. If it's not a problem, my choices are to sell the car and combine the money to get a new vehicle or to use the money for a downpayment and try to get out of my lease and into somewhere new. brian is supposed to look at it this wkend and let me know what he thinks. I just can't believe my luck!

tis the season

So, my anonymous poster has returned, as rude and as nasty as ever. Does it make you feel better to get all of that off your chest w/out having the guts to tell me who you are? I have you narrowed down bc only so many people know all the information you know or at least you think you know. Sometimes you're off on your info like I'm not sure how you think what few toys the boys got for Christmas last year were expensive, but you were right on me getting a new vacuum cleaner since my old one didn't work. I guess I could have not bought a new one and just never vacuumed again, but whatever.

As you've posted several times and this is the first time I'm responding, I hope you know that I really could care less what you think of me. Bc you're right, truth does hurt, but honey, you very rarely have the whole truth which doesn't make it truth at all. I just think maybe you either need to do some reflecting on your life or be upfront and actually talk to me. Bc you're either an extremely bitter person who has nothing better to do w/their time than to be nasty to me (which is pretty lame) or you need to address me so that we can work through whatever is really at the heart of your hatred for me. And, I don't mean just entitle a post w/a name so I can't prove it's you bc that name could belong to anyone. I mean, really admit to who you are so we can work on this.

Whatever, it's your choice. This will be the last time I offer for you to come clean as to who you are. From now on, I'll just continue to delete what you had to say and to move on w/my life.

JCPenny Photos

Ok, so I got the boys' pictures taken for Christmas card, not to mention their photos were a yr old. They turned out SO GOOD!! They did some specials which of course I didn't get bc my coupon didn't cover it, but here they are.















(this last photo was taken w/their dad and Anderson grandparents)

THANK YOU MISS ANONYMOUS

So last year, my tires were bad. I can't count how many 180s I did and usually I wasn't even going over 30mph. I'd be going straight down the road and next thing I knew I'd be facing on coming traffic. Once, I actually took out the driver side of my car. Thankfully, it was the side that had already been dented...lol I was NOT looking forward to this winter bc if they were bad last year, you can only imagine how they are this winter. So today, I checked my mail bc I knew I had some netflix waiting for me. Along w/my netflix, there was an anonymous letter w/$200 and a note that said "buy tires". So I am finally getting new tires!! THANK YOU GOD and THANK YOU MISS ANONYMOUS!!! (I'm pretty sure I know who you are.)

Thanksgiving Week

Well, our Thanksgiving Week hasn't started out so great. Last night Asher was having a hard time breathing while sleeping, so I put some baby vicks on him. That didn't seem to be doing anything for him so I decided to move him into my room. When I did, I realized he had a fever of 103.6! I immediately went for the motrin which I no sooner got in him and he projectile vomitted ALL OVER myself, himself, my laptop, and my bed. These are the moments that I wish I wasn't a mother. I have a hard enough time cleaning up my puke, let alone cleaning up anyone elses, but it's what you do as a mom. So, I gave him a bath and cleaned everything that I was able to clean. I'm going to have to make a trip to the dry cleaners which doesn't really thrill me either. But anyways, I checked on him through out the night. He continued to run around 101-102 all night. This morning he had a bloody nose which was probably related to nothing, and he puked up what looked like green snot. So, me always being the one to go to the side of caution decided to make a doctor's appointment for him. The doctor came in, looked at his ears, said they looked great (which is a really good thing for my kids!). Then she looked in his mouth and said, "he has strep!". She goes, did you see that? I was like, no. So, she had him open up again and the poor buddy's throat just looked aweful :( So, he's on meds. She said he should be back to himself w/in a day after starting the meds. Right now he's napping in my bed while we wait for Shaun to get here so I can go to work.
Jaden had his only day of preschool for the week today. They're leaving for Indiana on Wednesday, so hopefully he won't realize that he got jipped a day. This will be the first year that either one of them have been to IN for Thanksgiving, and I'm sure the relatives are excited. The boys will be coming back on Saturday w/Shaun's parents bc Shaun has to come back early to work. It will be weird not having them w/me.
As for me, the current plan is to spend Thanksgiving w/my family. I'm making an apple pie that seems to be a big hit w/everyone at my work. I made it for a potlock on Friday, and it was gone w/in 2mins...NO JOKE! The day after Thanksgiving is the only day of the year that I willingly get up at 4am so that we can hit the stores and get all the good deals. I'm almost done w/my Christmas shopping amazingly bc I've been trying to fit a gift or two in each week w/grocery shopping. I love it when Aldi's starts selling their toys bc you can get some really good deals!
Anyways, it's off to work for me bc Shaun is here for the boys. Oh, and I get laid off the end of December! Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Christmas Already

I can't even believe I'm saying those words bc I can't believe it's that time of year already! I've been trying to work a few gifts in w/each grocery shopping trip. A few dollars here, a few dollars there. I can't wait for Black Friday shopping though!!! That's probably when I'll buy for the family member I drew and finish out whatever is left. I've already got a few things for Jaden, and I've FINALLY found something I think Asher will like. He's into dinosaurs really big right now. My mom got him a set of dinosaurs at TRU that I'd been thinking of getting him, so that idea was out. But, I think I'm going to get him one of those leapster books that reads along w/a wand to help them learn. He loves books too, and the little boy is smarter than smart. So, I think it's something he'd enjoy. I've already got ideas for the nephews and neice, well at least the little ones. No clue what to get Micah yet but something will come to me.

I may not get laid off this year. My boss is trying to work it out so I can stay on. Course, not sure how that's gonna work bc currently she'd need me to work days which I can't do bc I can't afford daycare. But, she said she's trying to work out the kinks. I was looking forward to time off w/the boys to have complete freedom, but the bank account will appreciate me not going off of work.

Jaden is liking preschool, might even be making some girlfriends..lol :) The teacher said he was so cute out on the playground holding the hands of two little girls...awww! He was telling me today that it was Tuesday and that I needed to take him to preschool. We still don't have our days of the week down yet :P

Asher is my Jackal & Hyde. He can be as sweet as pie, and then the next minute you'd swear he's demon possessed. He can be my lover, but then he can be my monster. I'm hoping he'll potty train soon so that he too can start preschool. I'm thinking I'll do a day when they both go together and then have them each go a day seperate. That way mommy can get a me day (YAY), and I can have one on one w/them as well.

Well, that's about it for now. Nothing profound to say and no huge news. Hope everyone has a great holiday season!

way to go america

Way to go America, you voted a communist into office.




Are you proud of yourselves?

You voted in a rookie, a FIRST TERM senator with zero military experience, the experience that is needed to be able to truly lead this nation at such a critical time.






You voted in someone who wants to steal from the rich and give to the poor, someone who thinks small business owners should "Spread the wealth", thus putting an end to the American dream. No more "Mom 'n Pop" restaurants, they wont be able to afford to keep their doors open once Obama rapes their wallets.






You voted in someone who wants to disarm our nuclear defense system, a system that WORKS and can defend our country should the war make its way to our shores. Someone who wants to invade Iran, which is a fantastic idea after disarming America.




Leave us as sitting ducks, great!

You voted in someone who associates with KNOWN domestic terrorists, yet has been able to smooth talk himself out of that. Someone who has illegal family members living in this country and wants to let even more illegals in to take our jobs.. and oh dont forget, he wants to give YOUR hard earned money to them while he's at it.






You voted in someone who cant even be proven to have been born in this country! Dont you find it odd that his birth certificate was sealed from being viewed? Seems to me that if you have nothing to hide, you wouldnt seal your birth certificate, right? Not to mention the certificate that did manage to surface magically was filed years after his actual birth.




Fishy, no?

America, you voted in someone who wants to give you "free" healthcare. I emphasize the quotation marks there, because nothing is truly free. Yes, you can go to the doctor without paying a medical bill, but did you fail to realize that he is going to charge 40-50% taxes on EVERYBODY for that Universal Healthcare plan? Yes, EVERYBODY. Even the people who have their own health insurance and will not be using his plan, they will still be paying for it. Great, I cant wait to foot the bill for some gang member who was shot, or some druggie who OD'ed, because Obama says I have to.






You voted in someone who was actually endorsed by Al Quada, and other prominent dictators. Someone who these people actually say they want in our White House. Shouldnt that raise a red flag? Why would Al Quada endorse him.. unless they have something to gain from his being in office.






You voted in someone who wants to stop helping Israel, one of our biggest and strongest allies. He wants to let everyone else go ahead and invade Israel, and you dont think that will piss them off? Israel has an incredibly strong military, I wouldnt want to get on their bad side.






You voted for someone who thinks its okay to partially deliver a baby and then murder it. As long as the baby is still partially in the birth canal, its only "abortion", regardless of if the baby is full term. Strong enough to murder babies, yet too cowardly to fight against our true enemies overseas.




Great role model!

You voted for someone who said in his own words that he thinks the government should have a hand in raising our children. THE GOVERNMENT! Do you want the government raising YOUR kids? I sure dont, and it will be a cold day in hell before I let him anyway near my family.






Oh and one more thing, you voted for someone who could quite possibly be the antichrist. I dont care if you are religious or not, check it out.






So America, congratulations, you have just sent yourselves to hell in a handbasket. I hope you are proud. Biden said himself, within the next 6 months America will be tested with Obama as president. I think thats an accurate premonition, and I am scared to see what is going to happen. But do me a favor.. if you voted for Obama, dont moan and whine and complain in a year or so when things are going downhill, because YOU ASKED FOR IT.






Dont blame me, I VOTED FOR MCCAIN!

elections

our halloween

we started in downtown Richland w/my church







then it was off for some house to house trick or treating











the boys had a BLAST and kept asking when we'd do it again..lol

first time bowling

croup

yep, the croup has hit my house! Jaden has it, and if I had a doctor to go to, they'd probably tell me the same. It's amazing how fast it set it. One day I'm fine, the next a small cough, and then i wake up w/out being able to breath and talk at the same time. I will admit that after some hot spagetti o's (yeah, kids choice), my voice is sounding a lot better. I'm hoping by tomorrow that my voice will be back. My boss told me to take two days off, I wasn't planning on taking even today off. She's fronting me next month's vacation day so I actually have a pay check...THANK YOU LISA!!!

can we coexist?

If you've ever seen the bumper sticker that spells out coexist w/a bunch of different religious signs, and asked yourself, can we really coexist? Then, you might what to check this site out.
http://www.canwecoexist.com/
My church did an outreach on this subject, a subject I've never heard any other pastor preach on. The week one was good, week two was great, and week three was awesome.
I'm not sure how much longer this site is going to stay up, but check it out. Listen to the music if you like, but definitely listen to the messages!! And, if you're in MI near me, come check my church out sometime if you like :)

Blessed

I wasn't going to post all of this, but yesterday, after being blown away by Him one more time, I just couldn't hold back.....

To say that money has been tight since becoming a single mom would be the understatement of the year. I went from being a stay at home mom to having to find something to make ends meet while not going bankrupt on daycare. To find a job that not only met my needs and paid ALL the bills has been one of my biggest struggles. Thankfully I have family that will watch my boys so that I don't have to pay daycare, and God has provided jobs to meet my availability which is a miracle in itself most days.

Amazingly, through it all, I have yet to be late on a major bill nor have I bounced any checks....till this month. Word to the wise, if you're going to not pay a bill or in my case over look paying a bill, your electric bill is not the one to skip/forget. By time I realized that it hadn't been paid, it was too late to stop the cycle. See, I don't have $100 laying around to pay a forgotten bill. Most weeks, after grocery shopping, I don't even have $10 laying around. Then Shaun was in between jobs and my child support got messed up. And, well, as if that wasn't enough, Discover took a payment out that they weren't supposed to. What does this all equal?? Two months of shut off notices from my electric, and you guessed it, bounced checks.

So, why am I thankful? One, I'm thankful that after two months of shut off notices, God has provided, and we haven't gone even a second w/out power. I'm thankful that somehow, when I needed it the most, God had my boss start up a raffle thingy, and I've won gas money when the choice was to eat or drive. I'm thankful for friends who have provided a meal here or there, or maybe even just some pop money when I was thirsty. Mostly...mostly I'm thankful for a God who knows all, sees all, and provides all!!!

Jaden's Eye Appt

Thanks to everyone who had Jaden in their prayers for his eye appointment. The appointment was the quickest Jaden has ever had, but that's bc he didn't dialate his eyes which was nice! The doctor said Jaden's vision is perfect...YAY! So we'll wait to see what next year holds. The doctor said Jaden's eye MIGHT grow into his face to where he wouldn't need surgery, but if not, still aiming for around 5yrs old so that we can hopefully get it done in 1 surgery vs multiple.

Almost November

Wow, I just can't believe how this year has flown! So much has happened, it's hard to take it all in at times. This month has been rather hectic. I've had some financial speed bumps that put me out exactly $350 which I didn't have in the bank to be out, and I'm still trying to recoop from it all. I think I'm through the worst, thank God bc it could have been worse.
The sermon serious at my church on coexisting ended this week. I must say that the sermons just got better and better as the weeks went on. And, I started back up in the nursery which I missed SO MUCH! I'm glad I took a year off, and I'm even more glad that I'm no longer director, but I was ready to be back.
I'll be getting laid off from work here soon. I decided w/Shaun's new job not allowing me to work any days and w/the fact that I would make more off unemployment, that I will not be going back to Jackson Hewitt this winter. I'm currently looking for children to watch to help make up some of the income I'll be losing. So, if you hear of anyone, give them my name! I'm looking forward to having some time off to relax and be w/the boys. Besides, I'm sure my mom will be happy for the break from the kids as well.
I got new neighbors last month, and they drive me crazy! They party all night every night, and they have too many cars so I never get to park in front of my house. I was hoping not to move again until it was into something perminant, but I'm thinking I will be moving out of here by April one way or another.
Tomorrow Jaden has his yearly eye appointment. Jaden's teacher seems to think he has a problem seeing. I do believe his eye has gotten worse this year, but we'll see what the doctor says. Other than his eye, he is enjoying preschool a lot! He gets upset when they don't go outside to play, and it really frustrates him when Asher can answer the review questions I ask b4 he gets a chance.
Asher and I enjoy our mornings together. Potty training is NOT going well. He can go when he wants to, but it's the wanting that we're struggling with..lol He's still as stubborn as ever, and I still claim he gets it from his daddy bc his mom has never been stubborn a day in her life..LOL You all are dying laughing right now, I know :)
Well, I'll be posting soon w/Jaden's eye appt results. And of course I'll post halloween pictures, the costumes are homemade. Shaun let the boys decide what they wanted to be which of course was TMNTs. They don't sell costumes small enough for the boys so it took some brain storming, but I think we did good. Shaun found what I used to make the belly, and the sweatsuits. I found the weapons and the idea for the shells. I've always loved to pain so decorating them wasn't an issue, and I actually think they'll look authentic and SO CUTE! So, keep watching for whats to come!

Nottawa Fruit Farms

Verhage Farms

So, a week later, I'm finally posting pictures of Jaden's first field trip. They went to the apple orchards. I let Jaden ride the bus which he thought was SO COOL! Asher and I were there waiting for him to get off.

Then we got to go on a hayride and eventually pick apples.



The boys ate the apple skin and all. Jaden even ate the core. Let me tell you, that's the last time I peel and cut an apple for them..lol.


Then they got to see how apple cider is made. The apples come from outside and get sprayed down. Then they go up the belt and down the machine that crushes them to bits. After that, they pile the chunks on top of each other in layers. The layers get stacked and put underneith a press that squeezes out the cider.







Then it was time to enjoy freshly squeeze apple cider and donuts, and then it was time to go home :(

His next field trip is bowling for Halloween. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it bc I don't think I'll want Asher to come that time, but we'll see.