Wow...

It's been quite some time since I've posted. Sorry for that.

Things have been incredibly hectic around here. Life is never slow around me and I truly think that is ok. :) Life gives us obstacles that maybe we create ourselves but they each create learning experiences for us to become stronger and better in the future. I'm a firm believer of this. Sometimes I question where I'll be next or what path will come my way but for now...I'm simply enjoying life.

I'm recovering from surgery last week. I had an ovary removed and let me tell you...I don't make a good patient. I'm finally able to stay home alone, shower, and care for myself but the best thing is being able to stay home with my kiddos all week and spend some quality time with them.

This next month is going to be a whirlwind of changes and new beginnings and I'm sure I'll have many updates to follow. It's ok...like I said, I'm ready for the experience as well as who it will make me become.

I've bought our tickets for Hawaii. Can't wait to take the kids to the islands for a wonderful trip away in paradise. It will be their first time taking such a trip with me as I usually travel with friends. It's real now...can't wait.

Hoping everyone is enjoying the warm weather and sun! I'm ready to get this backyard completed and have a BBQ or two before fall. Hope you can join us!!

For the Love of May!

I've always said I love the month of May. I truly do...for so many reasons. This one was particularly wonderful and I thought I would share a reason or two...

1. Cherry blossoms!! There is nothing prettier than seeing the blossom starts on the trees while your driving to work.

2. The first days of warmth giving us just a glimpse of what is in store for the summer.

3. Tulips!! Love my tulips and I just can't get enough of em'.

4. Gerber Daisies. Not just any...but the really brightly dyed versions that just yell "IT'S SPRING!!!"

5. Sending the kids to bed when it's still light out. I know...they hate this. Me...I truly love this time of year when it means summer is just around the corner!

6. Rolling the window down in the car or opening the windows in the house just after that spring rain just to take in a good wiff of the freshly soaked ground.

7. Bubble baths with the window ajar. I'm known for making the tub a bit too hot so having the extra air circulation is sure a huge bonus and something I so enjoy to have with my bubbles, wine, candles, and a good book. (and yes...the blinds are closed)

8. Sunsets... there is something about those spring sunsets. We love watching out the back windows as the sun crests behind the hills.

9. Summer hours! Our work campus shuts down at 12 on Fridays to give us time to simply get out and enjoy the summer.

10. Thunder and lightening storms. I know...those of you that know me are laughing right now because you know how much I hate these. But the truth is...I'm growing to like these. I don't have any big trees around me now so it can storm away and I'll sit inside with my kiddos and we'll watch in delight.

Hope you all enjoyed May as much as we did!! So here is to hoping just as much from June.

Stephanie

In honor of Steph's birthday this weekend, I figured what better way to honor her and our friendship then to tell everyone a bit about how much I value this amazing woman.

This is Steph...isn't she beautiful?

Steph has some pretty great tricks up her sleeve. You can call them amazing...go ahead. I do occasionally.

1. She has these ways of just going out of her way to make you feel special. A simple email, a bottle of wine, a little text...

2. She can make you smile when you're down or simply hold your hand while you cry.

3. She can easily make you laugh so hard you shed tears. Although I think she tries to make you pee your pants.

4. She can make a mean sangria and can cook faster than any woman on earth. Freaky quick

5. She is the founder and president of a great book club ;)

6. She can call you on your crap. We all need friends that can tell you when enough is enough and its time to pull your head out of your ass.

7. She questions you when you need to find your own answer.

8. She listens. I mean truly listens and doesn't pass judgment on what she hears.

9. She can cry harder than anyone I know and still look good when she's done. UGH.

10. She loves warm summer evenings on the back porch with her wine and friends under the twinkly christmas lights. Girl talk.

11. She wakes up before sunrise to go to the gym at 5:30. Who does this and why??

12. She has this non-chalant demeanor about her. She can be professional or bubbly at the blink of an eye.

13. She plans one hell of a function for work and/or fun and she does have a striking resemblance to Velma.

14. She loves to put herself out there and try new things. She's inspiring!

15. She's an accomplished salsa dancer, swing dancer, and line dancer all thanks to "Hot Johnny". :)

16. She is a incredible single mom and an inspiration to many of us. This brings us to her little man...Brendan...
This little guy keeps us all going and he's so smart for his age that he's just a joy to be around.

Yeah...these are real turnouts.

He knows more about firefighting than I do. :)

There is something to be said for those friends that you can look at across a crowded room and they know exacty what's on your mind.

I'll close here and just say that I hope you are all blessed to have at least one of those true bosom buddies that you care so much about that you can't imagine your life without them.

Happy Birthday Steph.

Thank you for being the person you are!!

I love you!!

Pure Confusion

I am feeling particularly inferior today and the sad thing is, I know most people would.

I'm not a dumb or educationally challenged person by any means. I'm on the Deans list for crying out loud and am carrying a 4.0 in an excelled degree program.

I am a damn good mommy.

I can keep a person alive in a life and death situation.

I can transfer you overseas and have your entire contents of your home at your door 6 weeks later with a nice guy named Fritz to unpack your belongings for you.

I can argue and debate with the best of them and have spent many days in a court room sitting at the defense table. I simply don't want to become an attorney based on the cost of law school.

So instead I have this brilliant idea I'm going back to school to get my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. Ok funny thing is...BS in BA. Hmmm...how appropriate.

So here is my dilemma...For some reason when you put numbers in front of me...you might as well shoot me. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy balancing my checkbook. It's small, easy to balance, and my momma taught me well.

But you give me this stuff and I want to cry and curl up in the fetal position because I just can't get it...

Maybe it's the 0 with a hat or the giant E that makes me think it is just not a very pleasent letter to be messing with. And what is K? So you give me this one single problem and expect me to carry this out with an entire book of information.

So you can find me with my head on the desk, possibly in tears and instead of hearing the professor I am hearing the voice from Charlie Brown's teacher in the background.

Six more months...six more months...six more months!!! I can do this.

Daydreaming...

One of those days that you take some time for you and truly reflect on where you are in life and where you wish you could be. Is ther a path worth taking? What if the path isn't open yet for you to take? What if you succeed? What if you fail? Will you be happy??

It's the occasional days like these that I find myself completely lost in thought and completely hopeless at concentration or being productive. Days like this that I find it difficult to think of anything else. Ok...maybe not difficult but I find any outside interference to my momentary ponderance to be something of a nuisance. It's almost as if I spend the time in a wonderful day dream.

Followed by that feeling of utter dissapointment. You know the one... when your woken up from a great dream and you try your hardest to fall back asleep so you can continue where you left off? Maybe that's it...just a day dream that I want to continue without interruption.

Someday...

Monday Fun....

10 years ago: I was newly married and was enjoying the first year of Kirsten's life. (wow have time changes things)

9 daily uses: Toothbrush, body wash, coffee pot, cell phone, watch, makeup, my Explorer, my hands, patience

8 things on my to do list: Get moved! Spend some quality time with the kids. Head to Europe next week. relax! Find a new couch, dresser, and dining room table. Unpack. Find a new kitty to join our family. enjoy life!

7 places I have lived: Damascus, Milwaukee, Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, El Segundo, Monmouth,

6 things I enjoy: My kids! My family! My friends! Coffee!! The sound of rain! Sunny beaches!

5 facts you don't know about me: I have my ears pierced twice but rarely wear them; I love horses; I am a weather freak, I enjoy learning new things even if they seem useless, I love to listen soft rock/easy listening when i'm
going to sleep;

4 jobs I've had: McDonalds, Receptionist, Paralegal, International Transferee Coordinator

3 bad habits: Roll my eyes, can sound mean sometimes, and yell at cars when i'm driving.

2 books I last finished: Accounting for Managers and Statistics in Business

1 favorite: To hear my kids laugh!

Surprise!!

You were soooo patient. Despite the occasional frantic phone call wondering if you should shop for blue or pink or if I needed your used crib. :) Cough cough gag...hello...we have four kids!! Two 8 and Two 10 and you think I'm having one now? LOL..oh hell no!

Greg and I wanted to wait and share the news until we signed everything and we knew we were complete. We closed today and we are so incredibly excited and blessed and relieved!

I know that the picture is a little dark but if you look closely you will see a beautiful red and white sign in the yard. Yep.... SOLD!!

We could not be happier! Of course this was originally met with nervousness and oh my goodness that's a lot of money but in the end we came out so far on top that we truly feel blessed to start our combined family in our own home!

Here's the kicker. The kids don't know about this yet so if you happen to see them, please keep this quiet until Saturday the 29th. I wish there was a way to strategically place cameras throughout the home to capture their shock when we drive over the first time and simply open the door to our new home!!!