I "braved" the grocery store and PX yesterday. Whew! It was a total madhouse even at noon. I can't even imagine what it looked like last night!! Ugh, I try not to go out to stores this close to Christmas. It is exhausting.
On the bright side, I was able to get all of my cookie baking things. The family always makes cookies together before the big day. Even C! We always try a new recipe mixed with the old "tried and true" ones. This year it will be my neighbors sugar cookie recipe.
We also have a tradition of painting our own ornaments for the tree. Hopefully, we will get a chance to do that Friday evening. The kids will be on winter break then. :0D
I hope everyone is having as much fun as I am getting ready for the holidays!
We had a great weekend overall.
We were able to have family time,
extended family time,
time for friends and ...
even time to clean up the place!
Mostly, it seems there isn't enough time, but sometimes you have to MAKE the time for what is really important.
Hopefully, not forever....
Here are a collection of poems and quotes for today.
WE ONCE WERE ONE© Manda
The day that we first met, in my mind I still see, you sitting in the lunch room, looking for some company.I alone myself, sat down with you that day, neither of us knowing what the hell to say.But we got through the awkward times, and quickly came to be,the best of friends to each other, we could ever be.The closer we grew, the more we left, the other world behind,just me and you we jumped into a new place totally blind.We prayed together our friendship forever, and always would stay the same,but time has passed, only memories last, and little friendship remains.WE ONCE WERE ONE! I screamed at you, I want my best friend back!But we both realized at once it was that bond we lacked.You think it doesn't hurt me, to see us back to two, looking to my left and right to see there is no you.But we both are moving on now, lets do it gracefully, I hope our friendship still lives on in you memory.
FRIENDSHIPS LOST(Scars That Can Never Heal)© 1996 Bronwyn P
*modified*
I see your smile
I know your mind
No words need be said
I understand.
We listen and we care
Laughter ripples like water
Together, we are.
Others are here, yes,
And we value them, yes,
But a special bond remains,
A line between us two.
Each friendship is special
Each is unique
And so is ours
We know.
And then time begins to roll and rear it’s ugly head
Change begins
Now a little less than before.
Slowly, surely,
Not knowing why
Faster, stronger, without care
Our world shifts and shimmers and splits.
Shattered shards cascade down
Spurred by angry, lashing words
Contorted faces, stone deaf ears
Outside the whirlwind,
We die inside.
The scars run deep
Jagged clefts in our souls
We have suceeded in hurting
And hurt ourselves.
We keep on living
Turn our faces apart.
New friends, new life.
Laughter, smiling (clenched teeth)
The flippant toss of the head
The enclosure surrounds you
And I cry inside
Tears deep within my soul
What we had once
We can never have again.
The scars run deep,
But I still care.
You were my friend.
Friends Forever© Mariah Hinshaw
We will be friends forever Amigos, buddies, pals
Where you are, I’ll be
No matter how many miles
We will be friends forever
No matter how many mistakes you or I make
Because as long we are friends
There’s nothing we couldn’t take
We will be friends forever
No matter where we’ll be
Because when we leave one another behind
You’ll be in the heart of me
We will be friends forever
No matter how old we are
Because when you’re friends forever
You’ll never be too far
ARE YOU MY FRIEND?© James Brinkworth
Will you be there when I'm down,
And catch me when I fall?
Will you hold me when I need
To feel the warmth of your touch?
Will you laugh when I laugh,
And cry when I cry?
Will you let me rant and rave,
When I need to let off steam?
Will you discuss those painful things,
That you'd rather not think about?
Like the times we've hurt each other,
And promised would never do so again?
Will you say the right thing,
When all I've heard is the wrong?
And tell me soothing words,
That make the pain I feel subside?
Will you understand me when I say,
"I can't see you now, go away"?
Will you come back when I call,
As if nothing happened at all?
If you'll do these things for me,
And keep smiling all the way.
If you'll be with me through the bad times,
As well as the good.
Then truly you are my friend,
My pal, my mate and my confidante.
And that means so much to me.
I thank you dearly, for being there,You,
My Friend.
"Friendship is delicate as a glass, once broken it can be fixed but there will always be cracks"
"Sometimes your closest friend is your greatest enemy."- Jason Fong
"A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself." - Sent by Lysha
"Strangers are just friends waiting to happen."
"Friendship: a building contract you sign with laughter and break with tears."
"A new friendship is like an unripened fruit - it may become either an orange or a lemon"- Emma Stacey
"When I was little, I used to believe
in the concept of one best friend, and then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.One friend will say let's pray together, another let's cry together, another let's fight together, another let's walk away together.One friend will meet your spiritual need, another your shoe fetish, another your love for movies, another will be with you in your season of confusion, another will be your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings.But whatever their assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day, or wherever you need them to meet you with their gymshoes on and hair pulled back, or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ... those are your best friends. It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many it's wrapped up in several... one from 7th grade, one from high school, several from the college years, a couple from old jobs, several from church, on some days your mother, on some days your neighbor, on others your sisters, and on some days your daughters. Whether they've been there 20 minutes or 20 years."
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'True' Friendship
None of that Sissy Crap
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that always sound good, But never actually come close to reality?
Well, here is a series of promises that actually speak of true friendship.
You will see no cutesy little smiley faces on this card-
Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.
1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad.
2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile -- I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.
4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.
5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.
7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.
9. This is my oath.... I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask;
"because you are my friend."
Friendship is like peeing your pants,
everyone can see it,
but only you can feel the true warmth.
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This is my favorite:
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant Thank you for being a part of my life,whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.
Ho,ho,ho the mistletoe, candy canes, glistening snow (real and fake), Christmas trees, ornaments, holiday ham, gingerbread houses, parties, dressing up, The Grinch, Frosty, Rudolph, The Santa Clause, Home Alone 1 & 2, The Christmas Story, wrapping paper, tinsel, snowmen, baby's first, friends, family, love, cheer, giving of gifts, ahhh, I love it all!
Can't wait to learn what this bad boy can do!!!
Happy Happy Joy Joy!
Well, Woo Hoo and Hallelujah! Finally, NO fevers today!! How long has it been?!? TOO long!
We all still have the sniffles and the "oh so wonderful" lingering cough. Hopefully, we won't be sick for Christmas.
Let's hope that we can mix and mingle for Thanksgiving dinner without "infecting" anyone else.
For the past two weeks myself and my Family have been sick. With eight people in the house, you can imagine how tired of snot, tissues, medicine cups, trash cans (for puking in), fevers, chills, headaches, sore throats, crankiness, chicken noodle soup, crackers, and cough drops I am!
Bubba's teeth are gonna fall out! haha. I keep finding lollipop wrappers and half eaten lollipops everywhere.
Here is the little culprit.
This weekend turned out to be a really nice, fall weekend. Since it was really rainy Thursday and Friday, soccer was canceled for the whole weekend. We almost didn't know what to do with our extra "free" time! haha.
C came home earlier than usual on Friday. It was nice. The kids were really excited to see Daddy. We all just kind of hung out.
On Saturday, We all slept in. We decided to go exploring. We ended up at Lake Forest Mall. On the way home we found this cute little Filipino Cafe, unfortunately, we were all too full from snacking at the Mall to actually eat there. We definately want to go back and try it out. We watched "Meet the Robinsons" with the kids. Very interesting movie....yeah.
On Sunday, We slept in. Beanie made us breakfast in bed. How sweet is that!?! We have the best kids in the world. All of them. They are always doing really nice and thoughtful things without being asked. She made cinnamon french toast sticks with a pecan fruit salad. It was delish!
Poor Loo Loo got sick today. Fever and vomit. She had to miss going to the birthday party she has been looking forward to for a while. :0( She had to stay home from school today as well. I hope it doesn't make its "rounds". I could definately do without everyone getting sick (including myself). It would be sad if they had to miss Halloween too.
Speaking of Halloween, I can't wait to have all of my good friends and sister come over for a party and trick or treating. It's nice to be surrounded by real friends! :0) Everyone is going to dress up with the kids. We are going to be The Incredibles ( actually The Mega Incredibles since we have more people ).
Finally we get rain! Finally it feels like fall!!
Usually, I don't like the chilly weather. But lately I find myself wanting to wear my sweaters and boots....even my jackets. I know, I know....careful what you wish for, right?
I just turned off our AC yesterday! How crazy is that!?!
The girls made him special oatmeal raisin cookies for his big day. (he didn't like them though) :0)
No School today! Yay! I don't know who gets more excited, me or the kids! I love when they get a day off. I get to sleep in and I don't have any other activities to do. I enjoy spending the extra time with the kiddies. Yep, today we have been loafin' in front of the TV having a cartoon marathon of our very own! We don't get to do that enough. Always something to do.
Peanut-Butter has been extra good today! He woke up smiling and hasn't stopped since. He has been playing and swinging in his swing. He keeps giggling and babbling. He is so cute. I love the age he is right now. So cuddly and pudgy and smiley!
Bubba is getting into his terrible 2's now at 2 1/2. He has been testing his "limits" lately with me and with his Daddy.
He is super smart. He can sing the ABC's and knows what all of the letters look like. He can also spell (his name,stop, go, mom, dad, baby, his bro's name, his sis' name, cat, dog). He loves to sing songs ( Ilove you song from Barney, Twinkle, Twinkle little star, Peanut butter and Jelly song, Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah, On top of Spaghetti, Apples and Bananas) ( he also LOVES the Gwen Stephani song: The Sweet Escape).
BangBang got to go on his first field trip. It was to the pumpkin patch. He got to go on a hayride and through a maze and bring a cute little pumpkin home. He had a great time. He is doing really great in school! His speech is coming along and he has a lot of friends now! I am really proud of him!!!
Little Miss LooLoo is doing well in school. She is enjoying her drama class. She wants to take ballet classes too. She is our little fashionista. She enjoys picking out her clothes and doing her own hair. She really does a great job too! She has been helping around the house alot more. She is getting sooo big!
Boo Bear seems to be enjoying her "big dog" year. (even with her strict teacher) She has been doing very well in school and she is all set to try out for Mulan in November. Oh, I can't wait! I really hope she gets the part!! When she did Cinderella last year she was the herald and she pleasantly surprised everyone at what a great actress and what an AWESOME singer she is! I mean we had nooo idea the girl could sing. She is getting more and more responsible and taking charge more. I am really proud of her. :0)
Beanie has been doing great in school. I have already received a few compliment emails from her teachers! She is growing up so much. She is almost as tall as me. I think she will surpass me this year. She is the leader of the pack and a great big sister. i think she is learning that it is okay not to be #1 sometimes. She is a major over-achiever and perfectionist. She gets those qualities from both of us, ( C is the OA and I am the perfectionist) haha.
I am so proud of all of my little ones. The are truly a blessing to me and I would be lost without them. I am so glad that I was chosen to be their Mommy.
What a lucky woman am I?
Awesome hubby and awesome kids. Ahhh, I am happy.
Well, this weekend was actually OUR weekend! We took control and did what we wanted to. I know that may sound strange but usually we have every weekend "planned" filled with soccer games, birthday parties, grocery shopping, and whatever else we HAVE to do. THIS weekend, while we did have some soccer and a birthday party (haha) we took control and decided what we were going to do. I got to hang out Friday night with my good friend JY and her Little Guys while my Honey took 4 of the kids to Beanie's soccer game. We got to sit and chat while the Lil ones played. We did have to "ref" a few times. :0) The boys are into punching and "hi-ya-ing" and wrestling. ( No wonder, Look who their Dads are);0).
room and wakes us up and we get annoyed, but this morning he busied himself. It was a nice relaxing morning. Slowly all 6 tickled into our room and we just hung out laughing and enjoying each others company on our big bed. We haven't done that in a long, long time. C and I decided we were going to blow off today as well and pack up a picnic and take the kids to the park.
