Thankful Thursday

Another Thursday to be thankful. Thankful for the many calories I have consumed through the mounds of chocolate that should never be allowed to go to waste.

Thankful for being able to make someone smile.

Thankful for hour long conversations with my sister that lead to talks of lesbian relationships via Sims 3.

Thankful for weekly/monthly planners that keep me organized and on track.

Thankful for Jonathan's job and the amazing people he works with/for.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

          -Jaclyn-

Christmas and a coma.

Hoping everyone enjoyed their Christmas holiday. I know we did.

Let's see... Where do we start?..

Let's start with the kiddos writing their Christmas lists a few weeks ago. I have already written a post about them, but I didn't include pictures.

For the longest time after, they kept asking about a Christmas tree. I told them I put it on my Christmas list for Santa. Jonathan and I had decided that we would not have one this year. Mostly because we didn't want to be out of pocket the extra expenses that come with having a tree. I mean, there's the tree itself, ornaments, lights, etc. We could afford it, but then we wouldn't be able to afford the gift we really wanted to get the kids. Their very own wii. They loved it when Nana and Papa had theirs (pre-lightning disaster) and they're always asking to play the xbox 360. Occasionally we let them play, but the games are far from age appropriate. And, besides, we'd planned that as their Christmas gift since friggin April! Lol... Seriously.

Back to the tree... Jonathan had been asking weird questions about the type of tree we should get, how big, what color, color of ornaments, lights, etc. I got irritated and knew he was up to something so I'm instantly freaking out about our finances, thinking he's going to buy this tree and all the hoopla with it. Finally he caves and tells me that it's what he told his parent's he wanted for Christmas. He gave up getting an actual "gift" so that we and the kiddos could have a tree on Christmas morning! Is that not fantastic?! He and his dad were going to pick out the tree the following day and they had lots of old ornaments that weren't used, extra lights, beaded strings, and even the tree topper that Jonathan remembers seeing on his tree every year as a child. We were ecstatic! Then we had "Operation Candy Cane" (Don't ask, and I won't tell! Lmao)

Operation Candy Cane entailed getting the tree and decorations into the house, set up and presents placed underneath all while the kiddos slept Christmas Eve night. We were up ALL NIGHT LONG! until 2am that night getting things just right for Christmas morning.

Isn't it beautiful?!

So Jonathan and I hit the sack and slept surprisingly well with all the excitement I had for the morning. Joseph wakes me at about 7:15 or so asking if he can go and watch cartoons. "Sure." I said, rolled over with the biggest grin on my face just waiting for him to come back running and waking us up.

All we hear for the next 2 minutes is whispered gasps like, "Oh" "Oooh" "Wow". Then he runs down the hall and wakes the girls. Tressa is the only one that wakes, poor Amaya is just like her mommy when it comes to mornings. They walk into the living room and Tressa is practically screaming with excitement. Nothing like Joseph and his whispering the whole time. Finally Tressa works Amaya out of bed with, "Santa came and brought a tree and presents and stockings!"

After a little discussion about all the cool stuff they see, they begin talking about the tree topper.

"What is that?"

"Maybe it's an elf."

"Or a Santa."

"... It looks like a monster."

All we could do was laugh. It is indeed a Santa Claus, a little antique, but it still looks nothing like a monster... or an elf for that matter. Lol

After waiting on them to wake us, which they didn't. We hear them trying to mess with gifts which was our cue to get out of bed. 

Many excited exclamations from all three of them the second we walked out. Eventually we got situated and stockings gone through and were ready for gift opening. We didn't get a lot of pictures since we recorded most of it for family so they could enjoy seeing the kids' faces when they opened their gifts. (I'll get those put up some time this week for you guys). 

About 10:30 we made it to Nana & Papa's house to enjoy Christmas lunch and gift opening.

Yes... Papa really was watching Star Wars... On Christmas morning! Lol

 Pink is his color... At least we think so :Þ

Then we went home and fell into a coma! We slept and slept and slept some more!

The kids got some really great things and I am ever thankful for how occupied those gifts are keeping them!

Tis all for now... I have already written what seems to be a novel and I feel there is a lot more to say, but I'll save your eyes the trouble for now.

Love and occupied children

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Another holiday approaches and thankfully it will be the end... for now until birthdays start coming up.

I can't say enough how thankful I am for so many things.

I am thankful that Rebecca's package came in the mail finally! Even if it took the post office two weeks to get it here.

I am thankful for Santa Claus. He's real, you know?

I am thankful for Joseph's love of learning and wanting to teach his sisters what he knows. He's teaching them subtraction right this very minute and the girls are picking it up rather quickly. He's so patient with them and is probably one of the best teachers they'll ever have.

I am thankful for being able to afford a good Christmas for our children.

I am thankful for their belief in Santa and the excitement his name brings to their faces.

I am thankful for Christmas parties that allow me to open others up without fear of feeling awkward.

I am thankful for the Cha Cha Slide and the Cupid Shuffle.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday

          -Jaclyn-

My Children Are Drug Addicts

Sort of... Maybe... Not really though...

The girls have been sick constantly since they've been in head start. Rather, since the fall/winter session began in August. During the summer session, they were never sick. Now, it seems they've been healthy for maybe two weeks since August. They just can't seem to shake it. It's the coughing, sneezing, snotting, sore throat, watery eyes, along with the occasional fever and body weakness/aches kind of sickness.

I could not for the life of me figure it out. Joseph has not been sick but probably once and Jonathan has been unfortunate to catch it once or twice himself. Luckily, the illnesses have evaded me... for now.

My first thought was maybe allergies. They have eczema, so that could uphold my allergy theory, but nothing has changed. The weather, sure, but I realized SCHOOL! So why isn't Joseph getting it? I Lysol the hell out of the apartment and it's always clean. I have taught them to wash their hands after using the bathroom, before all meals, and especially after blowing their noses, etc.

Not too long ago I had to make a visit to the head start to sign some ridiculous papers and stopped by their classrooms to visit and watch them learn. First thing I notice is that all of these kids are just covered in snot and coughing nonstop. These kids are filthy and germ infested yuckiness! Then I couldn't help but cringe when I see these other kids just wipe their snot down their face, cough into their hands and then start playing with my kids! Ugh! I seriously just realized the disgust all over my face right now just writing about this! It just baffles me! I am not one to judge parenting and point fingers and play I'm the better mom game (for reasons that deserve a blog all their own), but damn! Teach these kids some friggin' germ education! It cannot be that difficult ladies! C'mon!

So therein lies the problem with them being sick so damn frequently. All these sick ass kids who aren't being very sanitary. Okay, I know. They're all three and four year olds. SO what?! It annoys the hell out of me! Gah!!! Lol

I'm going to stop ranting while I'm ahead and get to blogging about what I had originally planned.

Amaya has been sick the last few days with stuffy nose, watery eyes, cough and a slight fever. I've been giving her Dimetapp for most of her symptoms with the occasional dose of Advil or Delsym needed.

Every 30 minutes she's asking if she can have more medicine. Then tonight when I got home I gave her some Delsym. She looks at me and says, "I want more than that, Mommy." What? She really just asked for more medicine! The dosage is only 2.5ml, so she was pretty disappointed I guess. I went on to explain to her in the most simple way I knew how, the difference in doses and why. She accepts my answer, takes the medicine, then proceeds to lick the inside of the dosage cap! Then she got very attitudinal with me when I took it from her!

Which makes me have a huge love-hate relationship with flavored medicines. Hell, Jonathan overdosed on grape cough syrup as a child. Had to spend time in the ER and all. Because it tasted so good. And it wasn't just him. He had a little girl taking shots right along with him. (Maybe that's what's wrong with him? :Þ)

How do you keep your children knowledgeable enough to 'fear' taking medicine without them refusing it if it's really necessary?

My children are watched very well and the medicine is high enough away from them, but there's always that "what if". Majority of the time one is sick, another one starts faking sick just so they get medicine.

It must be passed my bedtime because I am really just rambling, making no sense, and have corrected over 50 grammatical errors, and I just noticed a couple more that I don't care to fix, even some run on sentences...

So goodnight dear friends!

I'm out!

          -Jaclyn-

Portable North Pole

Saw this when a friend posted it on facebook and thought it was really cute. Watch them and then make your own little video.

I can't wait to show the kiddos. They're going to love it!

You can select what behavior (only one) you asked them to excel at and what they asked for Christmas, etc. It's too cute.

Enjoy!

Joseph's message from Santa

Amaya's message from Santa

Tressa's message from Santa

Hugs and smiles from your child(ren)!

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

I have been rather frustrated as of late. (I know, I think I said that last post too). So TT just might make me forget some of those frustrations... at least temporarily.

I am thankful for late night conversations with this girl that make me laugh nonstop.

I am thankful to finally have gotten word that our van is officially ready and fixed after being in the shop for two weeks.

I am thankful for being able to attend college.

I am thankful for music.

I am thankful for Trident gum, for without it, I would surely be lost!

Love and gum chewing

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

I'm am so glad it's "Thankful Thursday" because I feel like just bitching! I have been so unhappy, stressed, irritated, annoyed, all of those things that really get under your skin and I just feel like telling every last person what I really fucking think!

Now that's off my chest...

I am thankful for coming home every day of this week and finding Tressa sneaking into Amaya's bed, or Amaya sneaking into Tressa's. They fight all day long, but at the end of the night, they want to cuddle and be best friends. ☺

I am thankful for Joseph's excitement for his accomplishments. He has come home every day (minus Tuesday) with the biggest grin on his face exclaiming how well he did and how he hadn't pulled any keys (the school's discipline method) and he'd earned a 'bob cat buck' ('money' they earn for great behavior that they get to spend on toys, etc.). Then he always asks for a high five after telling me all about his great day!

I am thankful for thinking before I speak... Sometimes...

I am thankful for KitKat's.

I am thankful for my period. (Yes, it's true.) ☺

Be thankful and smile

          -Jaclyn-

Dear Santa,

Last night our trio wrote their Christmas lists for Santa. 

Joseph's reads:

Dear Santa, I have been a good boy. 1. I want a toy Thomas (I was so proud he actually capitalized Thomas) the train with the light. 2. I want a bike. 3. I want a book. 4. I want a bear that poops out candy like papa's moose. 5. I want zoozoo (Zhu-Zhu) pets.

Love Joseph.
______________________________________________________________

Amaya's:

Dear Santa

I have been very good

1. I want a littl (little) toy bus
2. I want a littl (little) toy peeppal (people)
E (3). I want a littl (little) toy princess Legos
4. And I want a little zoozoo (Zhu-Zhu) pets

Love Amaya
______________________________________________________________

Tressa's:

Dear Santa

I hav (have) bn (been) a ghd (good) grll (girl).

1. Dole (dolly)

2. Santa I wunt (want) a dole (dolly)

3. And a pant (paint) go dole (dolly) with poop

4. A dole (dolly) that has a gam (game)

Leve (love) Tressa.


Apparently my children want a lot and didn't mention anything other than how they had been "good". We'll have to work on that.

Tressa obviously wants a dole (dolly)! Amaya apparently wants everything to be a littl (little) toy something and Joseph is pretty set on that Follow Me Thomas since it's the only thing he tells anyone when they ask what he wants. Christmas should be easy this year.

I'll have to post the pictures of their letters later. Got to get them uploaded and got business at home to tend to.

Lots of love and Dear Santa's

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Thanksgiving has passed and it seems everyone has decided they are no longer thankful for anything. The dishes have been washed, leftovers have been eaten and fifteen pounds of turkey/stuffing/sweet potato/ pie weight has been gained. We are rushing to get back to our normal routines. Making it to to work on time, getting our children ready for school without missing the bus, we carry on about our days and almost never vocalize something we are thankful for.

What constitutes Thanksgiving as being the only day to voice that? Just one day a year and then nothing. It ceases. Or for the most part, we quiet our thanks. But for what reasons? Must we really have a holiday to remind us to be thankful, to appreciate our life or the people and things in it? 

So, I got a brilliant (no, really, it is. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.) idea. Every Thursday I am going to voice something I am thankful for. It might be a picture, a book... Anything that I may be thankful for. No more "forgetting" or getting lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life to say I am thankful.

You should join me! :) It will be fun. I promise!

Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving. I am thankful that at least we are voicing our thanks on that day. One day a year is better than none.

I am thankful for the overabundance of food we were blessed with that day to fill our stomachs beyond what we needed.

I am thankful for the running water that I was able to use to clean the many dishes that filled our sink.

I am thankful for my in-laws for lending us their vehicle while ours is in the shop.

I am thankful to have seen another day.

I am thankful. Are you?

          -Jaclyn-

My Night. In Great Detail.

I'm pretty much an insomniac... Or maybe, a night owl of sorts.

I go to bed at pretty much the same time every night. I wake up the same time every morning. I STILL CAN'T SLEEP when I crawl into bed! Some nights are worse than others. I just don't get it. I don't nap during the day. I have put myself on a schedule, if you will that does not seem to be doing the trick and I can't stop thinking at night.

It's like a nightly ritual that my mind performs. I am awake all day. I am by myself all day. I am bored all day. Why can't I think during the day?!

I am the furthest thing from a morning person and I love to sleep, but I just can't. When I do finally sleep, it seems I can't get enough of it and want to sleep my life away.

Here's how my night went down...

9:00pm- Went to bed and read my book

10:45pm- Reached a stopping point, but the book is so damn good, I couldn't put it down.

11:04- Forced self to put book away. Succeeded.

Lights out.

Stared into darkness.

Tossed and turned.

Removed clothes thinking maybe it was why I couldn't comfortable.

Realized I needed to shave my legs.

Thought about ideas for a blog that I will post Thursday.

Realized that I need a new blog name. "This Little Family" just seems... boring... Any brilliant ideas?

Forgot that I needed to get the girls' blankets for school out.

Took large drink of water.

Toss. Turn. Throw blankets and pillows on floor.

Gave up, grabbed my phone and browsed Facebook. Then took to Twitter due to lack of excitement on FB. Twitter is always my late night, can't sleep, have nothing else to do guilty pleasure.

Twitter failed to work for me last night. Put phone down. Rolled over. It is now 12:22am

What's the weather going to be like tomorrow?

Crap! Forgot to take my makeup off... Forget it. I can go one day with forgetting.

Wonder why Dr. Pepper makes me poo. (Yes, folks. I learned that this week. Lol)

Thought about texting Beth and telling her happy birthday, decided it was too late. Which then lead to me thinking about what to get her for Karson. She's only got five weeks left! :)

Toss. Turn. Grab pillows from floor.

Then lead to thoughts of another great friend and wishing she'd find out what she's having already!

Christmas is coming quickly. Probably won't be able to afford a tree this year. The tree really isn't a problem I suppose, it's the lights, and decorations too among gifts that still need to be purchased.

Tell myself not to worry because the kiddos won't even notice!

Toss. Turn. Turn pillows to cold side.

Did I unplug the laptop and glade freshener before I went to bed?

Decide I really need to wax my snatch, va- jay- jay, monkey cage, twat, who- ha. I'll stick with snatch.

Giggled because Jonathan said "Watch this. *mumbles some nonsense* Yeah, with the bolts." Wondered what the hell he was dreaming about.

Thought about what to make for dinner this week, which coincidentally lead to "Shit! I need to go grocery shopping."

I need to polish my nails.

Need to finish my homework. Ugh!

Wish I could go to sleep.

It's 1:04am

I feel my boob (Yes, I do that to get comfortable, especially when reading. Lol) and think, "Hey. I got really nice boobs."

Roll over onto stomach. It's always the best position when trying to sleep.

Next thing I remember... Waking up... Tired! Going to be a long day...

How was your night?


P.S.
To answer your text last night Joshua, yes, I was awake, unfortunately. I keep my texts silenced at night so I don't have to bother waking at 3am to get a friggin forward! Was there something you needed?

Love and well rested wishes

          -Jaclyn-

 

Amaya-isms

"Ouch Mom! You just hurt my brain." While fixing her hair for school.

"You gotta eat it all so you can be big and strong like me, 'cause I ate it all." She then flexes her muscles.

"Tressa, quit farting, nasty!" "Mom! Tell Tressa to quit farting by me!"

"Mrs. Andrews lets me read after lunch because I am SO smart."

"Happy Thanksgiving Mom." She ever so sweetly hugs and kisses me. I informed her that it isn't until Thursday, then she says, "Mrs. Andrews LIED TO ME?!"

"We can fight pillows!" (Pillow fight)

"That's a differenter hide and seek."

Lots of love and laughter

          -Jaclyn-

Tressa-isms

"You are beautiful Mommy."

"Carrots may your eyes beautiful and peas make your hair beautiful."

"Your butt is THAT big Mom! Like as big as the couch, big."

"Last time I checked, my name was Tressa, SO QUIT CALLING ME AMAYA!"

"Sickles? Oh! Skitters. (Running to tell Joseph & Amaya) I got skitters guys!" Trying to pronounce Skittles.

Jonathan grabs a few Reese's and Tressa asks, "Are you eating those because you are angry, daddy?"
On Halloween, Joy put a few Reese's in the kids' bags and told them to give them to Jonathan when he's getting grumpy. Guess every time he eats Reese's now, he's surely got to be angry. :Þ

"I fart everyday." 

Lots of love and laughter

         -Jaclyn-

Joseph-isms

Children say the darndest things don't they?! My children are full of cute, funny little conversations or statements on a daily basis. So much so that I feel the need to share. Enjoy!

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND! I TOLD YOU ALREADY!"

"When you die, they cook you and eat you or bury you so they can't see you anymore or ever again."

"My favorite color is green, but my faoritest color is black. ACTUALLY, my favorite is green AND pink. I like girly colors too, like bubblegum pink." Insert his uncontrollable giggles

"Serenity said she is not my friend again. She always does that when she's with Brianna!"

"No, you brush your teeth so you don't get cavities. If you don't you will get cavities and then you will have to got to the dentist and they will pull your teeth out and it will hurt, huh Mom? Or will they put the magic mask on your face?"

"Oh, yeah, you're my honey bun." Spoken to Amaya

As always lots of love and many laughs!

          -Jaclyn-

Covered?

I have a slight obsession with cover songs. Jonathan kinda hates it. He thinks 99% of the time the original is better. Sometimes I do agree, but most of the time I beg to differ! ☺

Some of my favorites:

• Imogen Heap- Hallelujah
• Five Finger Death Punch- Bad Company
• Greyson Chance- Fire
• Pink- Me & Bobby McGee
• Danyo Cummings- Is There A Place
• Jesse Barrera- Slow Dancing In A Burning Room
• Hannah Combs- The Circle of Life I have a slight obsession with The Lion King too :)
• David Cook- Always Be My Baby
• Mandy Moore- Umbrella
• New Found Glory- Cry Me A River

There are surely a million and one more, so I'll spare you this time ☺

What are your favorite covers?

Lots of love, melody, harmony, and keeping in tune

          -Jaclyn-

MIA & Halloween

Sorry I've been kind of missing in action. The charger for our laptop took a crap so it was out of commission for a little over a week. Not much exciting has occurred anyhow.

Halloween was yesterday and the kids had a blast!

They were SO antsy and ready to go so their dinner was hardly touched.

This year was much more exciting than last years.

They weren't nearly as timid when it came to walking up to strangers houses and taking their candy.

They never complained about how tired they were or how much their feet hurt.

When asked what their favorite part of last night was... 

Joseph responded, "I got to wear black nail polish, but only on Halloween because it's for girls."

Amaya said, "I got to wear pretty pink makeup and glitter."

Tressa of course said, "We got to eat the candy for dessert!"

Overall, it was a great night. The kiddos did not want to wake for school this morning after having gone to bed later than usual and all of the excitement they got wore them out. They can't wait to play dress up in their costumes when they get home from school and they've already decided what they're going to be next year! 

Happy November and lots of love!

          -Jaclyn-

"...Proud of You..."

Jonathan and I, with all our children in tow are on an extravagant trip over seas, we're speaking the language fluently and planning the next trip when I wake to at 3:13am to Amaya tapping me on the cheek. I ask what's wrong and then I smell... THE SMELL. You know, the smell of vomit, yeah, THAT smell... She tells me she puked all over her bed... I get her shower ready and load her bed sheets into the washer.

Round two at 3:30am... and then rounds three and four...

She wakes this morning still puking.

At 7:30 it is time for me to take Tressa to the bus stop. Amaya starts puking again and this is where my post really begins.

I start rubbing her back and I start to cry. I am crying because I can't make her feel better, but I am mostly crying because I felt like a terrible mother having to take her to the bus stop where she has to puke in the grass. Tressa see's me crying and asks,

"What's wrong mommy?" 

"Nothing baby, mommy's just sad that Amaya is sick." 

"It's okay. I will rub her back for you mommy." 

That only made me cry more. Tressa loving on her sister. holding her hair and rubbing her back because mommy is sad. Tressa sits on the concrete and tells Amaya to sit in her lap. (I began kicking myself for not having my camera glued to my hand.)

The bus picks up Tressa and Amaya and I walk back. Rather, I walk back carrying Amaya. I tell her how happy it makes me that the kids all love each other so much and how proud I am of them for it and many other things.

WARNING: Tearjerker ahead!

Amaya replies,

"You take care of me good makes me proud of you Mommy."

I swear I cried a river! I felt so terrible taking her to the bus stop when she felt so miserable and had to puke in the grass... Until she reassured me that I am doing everything just right. 

I am so proud of the children that I have. They are all so amazing in so many ways. Joseph is so smart, creative and willing to help whenever I need him and for whatever reason. Tressa is so loving and protective of and adores her siblings. Amaya is so active and ready and willing to learn and teach everyone else everything she knows.

I am so thankful for everything I have. I am ashamed of myself for asking for more when I already have everything I could ever need.

Lots of love and amazing things in your life

          -Jaclyn-

A Case Of The Monday's

This morning walking back to the house after taking Joseph to the

bus stop I hear Tressa start screaming. I look behind me and she is on

the road in a crumpled mess. She has tripped herself and fallen. She's

of  course screaming as if the world were ending, she is our drama

queen after all... I inspect her hands and knees, nothing is bleeding,

but she is begging for a Hello Kitty band-aid in between her over

acted sobs. I pick her up from the road grab her hand and we walk

back home. Behind me I hear in the sweetest, most softest voice,

"I'm so sorry Mommy."

"What are you sorry for, Amaya?"

"For what I did to Tressa."

"What do you mean what you did to Tressa?"

"I pushed her down."

"You pushed her down just now?"

"Yes ma'am. I'm sorry Mommy."

"Why did you push your sister? Don't apologize to me. Tell Tressa you're sorry!"

"I pushed her because she was walking too slow and she was in my way."

We had a discussion about saying "Excuse me.", "Could you walk a

little faster Tressa?", or simply, just walk around her if she's walking too

slow. Gah! Tressa unfortunately seemed to have one crappy 

morning after that. She got on the bus crying because I told her she

had to carry her own nap time blanket. 

Lots of love and a happy Monday!

   

          -Jaclyn-

She's The One

Ever since becoming a mother of two daughters I have become a big stickler for letting them know just how beautiful they are and making sure to keep them from becoming the next anorexic celebrity or the girl I see in the school bathroom everyday inspecting her stomach.

Growing up I was always super thin. To most girls my age it was something they envied me for and I was loving it. I felt pretty and noticed. I worried about my weight. Not the way that you might be thinking. I wanted to gain weight. After a while I realized how terribly skinny I really was. Because of the gene pool I had an extremely difficult time putting on weight. And then I got pregnant.

I felt beautiful pregnant, until the stretchmarks came. I thought I was doing everything I could to prevent them. I slathered lotion on twice, sometimes three times a day and they still came. After giving birth I lost the weight fairly quickly, but not all of it. All the time I was trying to gain weight to feel better about my body and then I finally have weight on me and I was disgusted with how I looked. I felt unattractive in every way. The stretchmarks, the fat roll, the "pooch" I never had before. The only think I liked was having the biggest boobs I'd ever had! Jonathan would tell me how beautiful I was, but it's never enough until you're satisfied with yourself and only you can build your own confidence in your body image.

It wasn't until recently (within the last year) that I have loved my breasts, stretchmarks, poochy belly and bigger thighs. I just wish I could get into shape. I have no balance let alone any stamina to walk a mile. Lol. There are still things that I can change and I do my damndest to never say anything negative about my body in any way around any of our children. I don't want to be that influence.

The reason I am writing this post is this....

Last week Amaya walked into our bedroom for help zipping her pants when she grabs her tummy and says "I have a big tummy mommy." WHAT?! I was instantly mortified! She's not even 5 years old and she's barely pinching anything from her tummy and telling me how big it is!!! Then Saturday Tressa is getting dressed and tells me how big her legs (she points to her thighs) are!!! Where did I go wrong? What have I said or not said? Jonathan seems to think I am freaking out about nothing, but I just can't shake it. Have I told them how beautiful they are too little, or maybe too often? Did they hear me say something about myself?

Tuesday at the bus stop, a man in his car asks me what time the bus usually arrives because the driver is his uncle and he needs to speak with him. He then asks if all of the kids are mine and mentions how pretty the girls are. Then he points to Tressa saying, "SHE is gorgeous." " They're both beautiful, but she, she's THE ONE." All the while Amaya is staring at him with those blue eyes and batting those long lashes waiting for him to say something about her. He takes notice and says with a laugh, "You're beautiful too, but that one right there... She's THE ONE."

WARNING: Profane language and graphic details ahead. Read at your own risk.

Asshole! ASSHOLE! ASSHOLE!

Is he fucking serious?! Did he really just tell Amaya how much prettier her sister was than she?!

I instantly imagined  ripping his balls off and shoving them down his throat and laughing hysterically at his pain... Crazy? Maybe! But I haven't felt so much hatred for anyone in a long while. (Yes G-ma, I know. Hate is a strong word and I must use it with caution, if ever... I apologize☺)

Any advice?!?! I feel like a crazy person about this... HELP!

Lots of love and self confidence boosts...

          -Jaclyn-

Just One Of Those Days

This is how I have been feeling the last few days...

We returned to school after fall break on Monday. I am in COS 101- Fundamentals of Haircare. Basically we're covering everything we didn't in COS 100, which covers hair growth, analysis, five elements of hair design, properties of the hair and scalp, etc......... BORING! My instructor only makes it worse. She is by far the most intelligent of the instructors I have had, but she is soooooooooo monotone and all I ever hear is Charlie Brown's Teacher when she's teaching. And because this class is just basics, there isn't really any practical work involved so what are we doing for the required 2.5 hours of practical Monday-Thursday and the 6 hours on Saturday? FINGERWAVES, ROLLER SETS, AND PIN CURLS!!! I have had enough of them!!! Gah!!! Shoot me now!

On the up and up... Over fall break I did my nails in honor of breast cancer awareness and I love the way they turned out so I thought I'd share them with you. (Just click to make the picture larger) ☺

Lots of love and boobie inspections.

          -Jaclyn-

My Brother and Sister Too.

Tressa, our kindhearted, sensitive, caring, considerate, sympathetic, generous, unselfish child.

Not long ago I took Tressa to the post office with me. The lady asked if she could have a lollipop, and of course I said yes. As I started walking away, Tressa says to the lady, "Can I have one for my brother and sister too?" "You sure can. If it's okay with mommy." It was definitely okay.

Sunday I did my grocery shopping and it was Tressa's turn to come with me. While shopping she spots a Hello Kitty juice (she'll spot anything Hello Kitty, it's her new obsession) and asks if she may have one. Then without saying anything she grabs a spiderman juice, and another Hello Kitty juice. "Tressa, you can only have one baby." "But my brother and sister need one too mom." I just smiled and let her put them into our cart.

She is nonstop thinking about the others around her. On days that I take Joseph or Amaya and they get their treat, they take it without ever thinking about the others, but sure enough when we get home, they're rubbing it in to the other two. Not Tressa. Tressa brings them something back. Tressa our kindhearted, sensitive, caring, considerate, sympathetic, generous, unselfish child.

          -Jaclyn-

We're Famous!

A couple of weeks ago the girls were sent home with permission slips for the children to be photographed or filmed for a commercial. Last Wednesday when getting Amaya off of the bus (Tressa had stayed home because she was terribly ill) Mrs. White, Amaya's teacher and one of the occasional bus assistants, tells me that Amaya is the star of their commercial! :) Since she was the only student in all of the head start full of three and four year-olds that can read, they took her to a separate classroom where she read Sleepy Dog by Norman Gorbaty and The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss to the students and staff as well as for the commercial. These are even only Step 1 books and she's able to read steps 2, 3, and some level 4's. I am SO proud of my little big girl! My face lit up so much when her teacher told me all about it. I congratulated her a million times over and told her how proud I was of her and she would only smile and then run to play. I have been anxiously watching our local channels to await her "debut" ☺.

Then Friday, Jonathan comes home telling me about his day. He begins telling me about having to help someone carry in some UPS boxes. He walks into a room with these boxes and FLASH right in his face and then a few more flashes. It's a photographer from the Sun  Herald (our local newspaper). You can see one of Jonathan's famous photos here.  The photographer asks a few questions and then Jonathan must ask a few of his own... about what camera the guy is using. Jonathan is so ready to begin this photography! It makes me so happy seeing him so excited and sure about something!

See... We are famous! :Þ

          -Jaclyn-

A Little Saving Cents

Or sense...

Not too long ago I had written a previous blog and mentioned turning off our cable. When I had told some friends they instantly gave me the "eye", as though I were crazy (which I probably am, but that's beside the point). I even had a girl ask if I was turning into "one of those all natural freaks." The answer is no. We did it to save money... and in turn, our brains also.

Jonathan and I were never really good with money. I mean, sure, we knew how to spend it, but we were never good at saving it. We lived well beyond our means and put ourselves into a huge well of debt. We have been fortunate enough to have a great support system that was willing to help us rid ourselves of the ridiculous mess we had gotten in and they have given great advice for future financing struggles or plans. Of course, we've always known that you should have AT LEAST a six months salary in savings, and a rainy day jar, and we knew the importance of those things, we just never initiated them.

Even with the debt that we still have, we can save. Even a penny a day, if that's what we can fudge. Jonathan and I have talked many a time about taking so much from our checks and putting into savings. Nixing this, that, and the other, but we have learned that a savings account just doesn't work for us... We see it sitting in the account just waiting to be spent on the newest, fastest computer or the things I just HAD to get for the kids that were sure to be broken in less than a weeks time. We've learned through many trial and error situations that a cash savings has always worked for us.

Jonathan started a new job on September 1st. He will be paid October 1st. We are making initiative to REALLY start a savings. Basically our motto is "Don't need it, don't buy it." We are also going to start taking any extra money from our pay checks and save it since Jonathan will be making almost a dollar an hour more than he was at ANI. If we could live off of what he made then, we still can. Plus the money we'll save not paying for cable anymore. I do believe in the occasional splurge on a new t-shirt or something that will make you smile. But that's occasional and less than $20 a month! (I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!)

We still have fall/winter clothes to buy for the girls and the chilly weather is coming quickly. It was 60° this morning! The kids and I all ran back inside to see if our hoodies still fit from last year... And... They don't, but they work for the time being. I think know that we're going to do well this time. We have a lot more self control and we have our lives completely almost in full order.

Wish us luck and keep us in your thoughts along the way.

Lots of love and penny saving

          -Jaclyn-

Remember Those Days?!

The ones that were included in the thirty day challenge I was trying to complete?! Yeah... So obviously that didn't work out as planned. Lol

You didn't miss too much anyway. But I will go ahead and blog for day 29, which is Your Hopes and Dreams for the future...

Hopes and dreams... These are things I think about almost daily. It's like my mini bucket list. ☺

I will be graduating cosmetology school December of 2011 and it cannot come any faster. I'm so ready... I've been ready! I'm learning all the things that I didn't know about cosmetology that I wanted to know and I'm enhancing the skills of the things that I did do well. I've met great people and made new friends and am finally happy with the life I am leading.

I hope to have my own salon before I am 30. I am 23 now, so I've got seven years to get there. I've already got a name, the set up, all the plans and all the details are coming together. I WILL have this!

Jonathan and I have talked about having another child. (I'll have another blog about this soonish. There are some things and people I would like to address)

I want to take our family to Disney World! I've never been and Jonathan has not been since he was a child. Besides... We promised the kids we'd take them somewhere in an airplane ☺. I want it to be amazing.  Something they'll never, ever forget.

I want to completely rid ourselves of debt. Not only money, but debts by the kindness people have shown us and the help that those have given to us.

I want to be the best role model I can for our children. I want them to excel above and beyond in anything they set their mind to. Whether it be a sport, or finishing their first chapter book. (I swear Joseph has been reading the first Harry Potter for months now. :Þ) I am and will continue to be their personal cheer leader, cheering them on every step of the way. I will talk more than I will scream or yell... unless absolutely necessary (ie., A CAR! GET OUT OF THE ROAD!; PUT THAT DOWN, THAT'S DANGEROUS!!; BRING ME THE COOKIES... Lol... no... really, that's a serious situation now!) I will be the woman they are proud to call Mommy!

I want to be the best wife I know how to be. I will be his best friend. Daily I will let him know I love him more than words could ever express. I will celebrate his successes and help him see the beauty of his failures. I will encourage him to better himself. I will encourage him to excel. I want to always make him smile and proud to tell the world that I am his wife.

What do you hope or dream for yourself and your family?

          -Jaclyn-

Days 13,14,15, AND 16... Maybe

I really did make it all weekend long without logging onto facebook, blogger, or any internet period! I was kinda bored. Lol Monday, I did all of my "catching up", reading everything, commenting and messaging people back. A few people had sent me messages asking why I hadn't responded to their messages. Lol

We had a good weekend. Pretty laid back and slow going. We're always in a hurry to get somewhere or always have a plan to do this or do that. This weekend we let ourselves stay in our pajamas and watch movies and eat chocolate. The kids were loving it! We decided to turn our cable off (I'll write a seperate separate blog about that after I learn how to spell separate without spell check :Þ).

During our nightly story time this weekend we read a book titled, Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman. Kind of cute, kind of not, but the kids loved it. The first page says,  

Dinosaurs were all wiped out,
A long way back in history.
No one knows quite how or why,
Now this book solves the mystery...  

Then there is this picture 

 

 Amaya declares, "They are machine dinosaurs!"

Joseph and her argue for a minute about whether they're skeletons or machine dino's and we carry on with our story.

Obviously I'm skipping days 13-16, mostly because I don't find them interesting and I had to google fanfic (day 15) just to find out I have nothing to blog for that... Lol. Day 16 being a song that makes me cry (or nearly) and I don't have any of those either... It used to be Stay by Sugarland, but I have moved on... ... on to songs that make me shake my ass, make me sing, make me smile, or make me bang my head a couple times. I like things better that way!

Yesterday I had to make a complaint about a very disturbing neighbor. This man is usually outside his apartment, in his boxers, with his hand in them grabbing his crotch while the other is holding a cigarette in the mornings when I walk the girls to the bus stop. Then Sunday while unloading the groceries, he comes outside, pulls his shorts to his knees and grabs his crotch bringing it over his shorts (He still had his boxers on, but nonetheless it was inappropriate) and looks at me with a grin... Disgust! They addressed the problem immediately and I have seen him with his clothes on since yesterday and he was not outside the apartment this morning. What is it with some people?! I just don't get it.

 

Until tomorrow...

          -Jaclyn-

 

P.S.

Does anyone know of a good free dvd burner?

Day Twelve: Tickled Fancy= Clean freak?

Another whatever tickles your fancy post...

I have still been as lazy as ever since the kids have all started school... It wasn't an instant lazy, it was more gradual. Started with having nothing to do, so I did all of the cleaning and then had nothing to do again... Then I started to just do a little bit of cleaning every day so that I wasn't completely bored, and then it became what it is now... Pure laziness! I just don't get it! I have no motivation to do any of it either.

I used to make my bed every morning, now it's a rarity. I have needed to vacuum for the last two days, and yet, I have not. The tables are starting to get bills and random receipts and clutter atop them. I need to dust and organize and clean out crap, and I sit here, on the couch, in front of the laptop writing this blog, because I have nothing to do I have no motivation anymore... A little boredom lead to a lazy ass... I hate it! I am not a lazy person. My house was always clean and clear of clutter... I even made a list, room-by-room, of what needed to be done and I sat it next to the laptop for a little extra motivation. Things got done... slowly... and things were now marked off the list... However, those things now need to be done again.

I am now giving myself the challenge to get my energetic, clean freak self back in a week or less! I can do this... at least I hope so! Starting with banning myself from the facebook, youtube, twitter and blogger world for the remainder of today and into the weekend. Scouts honor! I am creating a schedule for any and all activities I plan to do for now on. All the cleaning, interwebbing, time for meals, and I'm even including time for exercising since I have seriously slacked! Even bathroom scheduling if I that's what it takes! Lol I have to get myself back!!!!! Wish me luck everyone!

Until Monday, at least...

          -Jaclyn-

Day Eleven

A recent photo of yourself...

Most everybody that is reading this is probably on facebook and has seen any recent photo's of myself... But for those that aren't...

That's me and our little prince, Joseph. ☺

          -Jaclyn-

Day Ten... Sort of...

A photo of me 10 years ago or older... Unfortunately, I do not have any on my computer and I do not have any currently in my possession. I swear I'm not just making that up! Lol...

So instead of that I have a picture that Amaya drew just the other day... And, well, the very hilarious story behind it....

While all the kiddos were in the kitchen coloring and drawing, Amaya brought Jonathan and I this picture.

"It's beautiful Amaya!"

"Thank you! Want me to tell you what it's about?"

"Sure. What did you draw?"

 "It is a water park, where we want to play." 

 "This is my name in the sky."

"This is the sun."

"This is me in the yellow dress playing."

"These are the ants playing because they are happy."

"This is you pooping in the purple dress."

"That is me cooking?" Seriously thought I had heard pooping, but wanted to make sure thinking maybe she said cooking.

"No. Pooping." I heard correctly... pooping...

Jonathan and I are now laughing and she is still very serious about her drawing.

"What?! Why am I pooping, Amaya?"

"Because you had to go THAT BAD, Mom!"

And then she nonchalantly continues with her story about her picture... Lol. Love my babies!

          -Jaclyn-

Day Eight AND Nine... Oops!

So I slacked off a little yesterday... It was Labor Day and I really just didn't feel like doing anything. Lol

DAY EIGHT: is a photo that makes us sad or angry... I don't have any pictures that make me sad or angry on my computer. Any picture of my high school days with friends makes me sad. After high school everyone goes their separate ways. Some for the better, others not so much. People move, some have passed on and others have isolated themselves. I miss a lot of my friends from school. I'm lucky if I ever talk to any of them. I guess that I can't complain too much because I still have my best friend, Whitney. We have been best friends since I moved to Missouri from California in the second grade. Even if I never hear from any of the others again, she'll still be there. She is delightful, creative, she is. We have so many things in common and we share many of the same disgusts. I am so honored and thankful to have a friend like Whitney. You have been with me when everything felt like it was falling apart. I love you beyond words. Love you and miss you Whit...

I have fortunately made some new friends since then. Beth. She is amazing. She, like Whitney, is so blunt and straightforward with me when I am making a stupid decision or being so gloom and doom. She is sometimes a pain in the ass because she is so much like Jonathan, but I wouldn't have it any other way. We are like peanut butter and jelly or pork chops and applesauce... Something like that... She smiles at me and means it. She holds my hand through drunken heart-to-heart conversations and she never fails to remind me that I am special ed.... I try to not be envious of those that get to see her everyday, but I wish I could dammit! Thank you Beth for being the bestest "new" friend. Love and miss you tons.

I didn't mean for that to turn into a ramble, but I didn't have pictures dammit! :P

Soooo... ...

DAY NINE: A photo that we took... Remember those lilies I was telling you about that Jonathan got me for my birthday?

 Aren't they beautiful? ☺

So that is day 8 and 9 in a nutshell. Hope everyone enjoyed their three day weekend!

          -Jaclyn-

Day Seven

A photo that makes you happy. Any photo of my husband or my children make me happiest.

However, these photo's make me happy.

This picture just for the fact that it's so genuine. She's smiling like she loves herself, and that is what I want for my girls and other girls/women. 

This picture always makes me smile. ☺I just love it!