Thankful Thursday

Thankful for beautiful pictures hidden by my bed to surprise me.

(that's me on the top and Mary Hannah on the bottom)

It's a treasure I'll keep forever.

Thankful for a Christmas so wonderful and fun.

As the kiddos get older, some things just seem to get better and better.

May the Peace the Infant Jesus brings, always reign in our hearts.

2 Great Movies!

Knight and Day

I never did figure out why they have "Day" in the title, but Knight is Tom Cruise's character's name.

This was kind of a Mission Impossible type man (as if there really were that type of man) meets funny, clutsy Cameron Diaz type character.

I thought just the types of characters in this movie were written just for Cruise and Diaz.

So, if you are looking for something realistic, this is not the movie for you.

If you are looking for something funny with some action (Mission Impossible type action so unbelievable it's funny) this is the movie for you.

I looked at my husband quite a few times during this movie and said "Yeah, right!"

I thought it was great, so I guess it was the movie for me.

Now, this was a very pleasant surprise.

My husband got this, I had no idea what it was about, sometimes that is the best way to watch a movie.

If you are reading this though, it's too late for you.

This takes place in the 1960's, you know that time of innocence.

It's about a boy that meets a girl when he moves into her neighborhood, when they are like 6.

That time when boys don't like girls.

But sometimes girls like boys at that age.

Sometimes they are Flipped over a boy.

She loves him all through school, he on the other hand very much thinks her a bother.

Until she no longer likes him that way.

That's when he is suddenly Flipped over her.

I really liked how the movie was filmed, showing his side and his point of view, then going back and showing her side and her point of view.

I would definitely watch this one again.

Hello January!

Gosh, where do I begin?

That's the hard thing about taking a break from blogging.

Does a person back track, like I'm going to try to do today? Or does a person just start today and skip the part where I was taking a break?

Here goes (hope I don't bore you too much)

Here's Sweetie Pie happy as can be, as long as we don't

try to hold her or anything.

That's the best picture I got the whole time, all the parties and special gatherings, all the pretty dresses, this is the best I got.

Her, trying to escape.

See? Do you think she'd sit with the others? Nope. This mama has to get creative and stand back so you can see her in the background.
Busy, busy, busy, that describes her right now.
On the move constantly.
Wait, am I describing myself?

Tom and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary on December 20th.
14 just doesn't feel like very long. I feel like it's been so much longer, and I mean that with all love in my heart. I feel like I've know him and been with him my whole life.
It's been the best 14 years of my life and I can't imagine my life without this man.

Shake, shake, shake!

This pose inspired by Margaret.

My hands down favorite Christmas gift this year, was not even my own. It's Babycakes beautiful flower headband from Santa. It's just so darn cute on her!

Our wall of Christmas friends!

Can you see yourself?

A good friend sent me a picture of her and I (and another friend) from 15 or 16 years ago.

Boy, my first thought was "wow, I was skinny back then, and wow, I used to wear make up, and my skin looks so young!" Thanks Nic, that was so fun to open and see!

New Years Eve, we Fondued, here's just the dessert.

and we played games all night.

We started with little kiddo games and sent the littles to bed and then played

Quelf until the bigger kiddos went to bed about 11:15, so hubby and I had some smooching time!
Quelf is a great game by the way!!!

Lots of acting and funny things to do.

Silly boys who don't like their picture taken!

I should stop here.

I should, but I won't.

These Kisses are the best Kisses (aside from real ones I get from my hubby and kiddos)

They are mint truffles.

We (I) stashed some in the cupboard for when I need that little taste of chocolate, or when I need to bribe someone to pick up toys.

My in-laws bought us, our whole family, a trip to Cancun, Mexico!!!!

All inclusive, food, everything.

They are even paying for our passports.

We are leaving in March.

We are counting down the days.

It's like 80 some days away.

It's like 4 degrees outside right now.

It's 80 some days away....it's 80 some days away....it's 80 some days away.

I bought this exact make up and it only came with one little applicator.

See? One little applicator.

SO, I use all 3 colors and one color gets all mixed up with the other one.

How dumb.

Why do eyeshadow companies do that?

Last year, I was given a gift certificate for a "spa place". A $50 gift certificate.

I'm not really a spa kind of gal.

I had to use it up by the end of December.

A friend told me to use it on products.

Great idea! I went there and grabbed big bottles of this kind of shampoo,

The price said $21. Thinking this is pretty expensive, since I only pay like $12 for that size at Sam's Club, for a different brand though, of course, I took it to the register, where the beautiful, young, all dolled up gal told me, that that size is actually $87 per bottle. (I had the conditioner and curl enhancer too)

Ummmm, ok, I guess I'll get the smaller size. The size that you can't even buy in the regular stores, because it's too small.

I still had to spend $15 above the $50 gift card.

I felt sick to my stomach doing that, but I couldn't see the gift card wasted either.

People actually spend that kind of money on their hair.

Ridiculous.

That's all I can say about that.

This break was good.

It's always to take a break from regular things.

Breaking from the computer freed me.

It puts things back into perspective.

I still love to read my blogs.

BUT

I will slow down on my comments.

I will slow down on my posts.

I am replacing it with exercise.

It's the only way to fit it in.

Ever.

And it's still hard.

I love being more free to my children.

I love not feeling pressured to get a post up.

And, did I tell you about

Cancun?

And that it's

only 80 some days away....it's only 80 some days away....

The Tourist

My husband and I celebrated our 14th Anniversary on December 20th and went out for dinner and a movie. Key words here are "and a movie". We usually do just dinner. Because with 5 kiddos, well, it just costs too much to do both. (you know, counting the babysitter) Hey, it was our anniversary though, so we went for both!! We really didn't know what was good out there, so we went for this one. This was a great one! It had mystery, suspense, comedy, romance and a twist of course (don't they all have a twist?). This one is in the theatre now, but I will definitely watch it again when it comes to video! Oh, Angelina Jolie is just beautiful in this. (well, ok, she's always beautiful) I said to Tom, "I wish I could stand like her." She walks like a model, and I caught myself thinking and wishing I had somewhere where I could walk like that, and look like that. Oh, well...I'm sure she only walks like that in the movies right? Tom didn't get it, he was like "you wish you could stand like her?"


Our computer is down and waiting for someone to finish fixing it. The hard drive is intact and all my pictures are safe, thank goodness! Until it's fixed though, no pictures or normal blogging. It's too hard on this laptop of my hubby!


We all had a wonderful Christmas, the best ever, I think. I hope you all did too.
Today we will try to clean up some of the boxes and new gifts that seem to be everywhere! Our mornings seem so different now that we are not doing all our Advent stuff.
I'm happy to not have anywhere to go today (except Cub Scouts tonight and Tae Kwon Do)
So, we will play, play, play!

Miss Me?

Anyone?
Bueller? Bueller?

I missed you.
Our computer got a virus.
Yuck.
What a mess.
My husband has a laptop.
It's very hard to get used to.
It's very touchy.
I'm on a break for now.
Which is kind of nice this time of year.
I wanted to take a break, so God gave me a break.
He knew I couldn't do it on my own.
Now,
to be present in the moment with my kiddos.

If I don't come back for a while,
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to all!!

Not Wordless Wednesday

It's not "Wordless Wednesday" if you've already posted a post with words, right?
Sleeping babe for Christine
Don't worry, after the pictures were taken, we put pillows under her and she then, fell on them and stayed sleeping on the floor for another 15 minutes!!
Tired baby!

Birthday Wishes!

Head on over to Suzie's and wish her a happy 4oth today!!!


The first time I meet Suzie, was at a birthday party with about 50 girls (literally) and she was doing the dishes. My first impression was she's one of those "perfect" mamas and that I'd have nothing in common with her! (I think she will admit she's very organized!)

Was I wrong! And I mean that with all sincerity and love. The next time I saw her, she traveled with my friend Sarah from Fargo, 2 1/2 hours to my home, Sarah had to work here in town that day, so she left Suzie with me and my kiddos. We were planning on driving to the Catholic Homeschooler's Conference in the Twin Cities, later in the day and bunking together for the weekend. She was so down to earth and I just felt "at home" with her. I was happy that my good friend had found such a good friend in her new town.

The drive home from the conference was just too short, we had so much more to talk about!
I'm so glad these blogs keep us in touch.
I'm so glad she's my friend's friend and now I can say she is my friend too.

Suzie is an amazing cook, loving mother, and true country girl at heart. She's a very interesting and beautiful woman and I hope only the best for her, especially on this day, her 4oth year!
Happy Birthday Suzie!