Happy Anniversary....to me!

4 years ago I married the love of my life.  12 years ago from this Sunday I met him!  Little did I know the very first time I walked into a bar as a single lady (it was my 21st b-day) would be my last.  I've gone through so much with this man and I thank God everyday for bringing him into my life.  I got an amazing daughter right away with him (my step-daughter for those newbies) and later 2 beautiful little boys.  Life is perfect.

And this morning, on our anniversary he still surprises me.  I get into the car to go to work and a card is sticking out of the visor for me.

I love this man!

Date Night

My sister and I have talked about doing a double date night with our husbands for YEARS.  Last Saturday, we finally did it!  I was so excited.  I don't get to see my sis very often so to be able to sit and talk to her one on one about things was amazing to say the least.

We went and had an amazing dinner complete with a live band.  We loved the atmosphere.  We were very relaxed and ready to enjoy each others company.

Afterwards, we went to a bar next door and had drinks on the patio.  We were in downtown Houston and the view was amazing.  I really wish I would have had more than just my iphone camera with me.  Mental note: always go to cool new places with camera.  I drank Paradise Martinis.  Never had them before...and they were amazing.  We stayed until 2, got home at 3...alseep by 3:15.  It was so worth it!

Baby sister

Today is my baby sister's 28th birthday!  I've watched her grow up and I honestly get teary eyed thinking about it.  From the little girl with a boy hair cut in overalls to the cute girl with red Sally Jessie Raphael glasses.  She was always some what of a tomboy growing up.  But I've watched her become a beautiful young woman who I love with all my heart and admire in so ways.  The little girl who always thought she would have nothing has everything and more.  I was there when she was pinned in nursing school and that was a wonderful moment.  Then she was there for me when I got married.  She gave the most depressing speech in the world because she didn't think she would find love like I have with my husband.  And then shortly after she met the man of her dreams.  My most heart felt moment...when I watched my baby sister walk down the aisle to become the wife of someone that loved her as much as I did.  So baby girl, I love you so much and I hope you have a wonderful birthday!  You make me proud of the life you have made for yourself.

I was feathered, and I liked it!

I went and got my hair done yesterday and my hairdresser asked me if I wanted to get feathered.  I know it is the "new" thing to do, I've seen people with it.  But it's not like I'm a young little thing anymore, plus I didn't really want to spend the extra money.  She showed me what they had to pick from.  They had turquoise feathers!  My favorite color!  I did just get my Scentsy Commission so I said what the hell and I GOT FEATHERED!  I'm the new cool kid on the block, watch out!

We became one

I remember the day our two hearts joined and became one.  I also remember think that day would never come....we had been together for 8 years.  I love this photo.  My step-daughter, that never cries, is crying in the background.  Priceless!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Thursday.

Waiting.....

Easter morning and Daddy was mowing the grass.  So, Blake went to the window to watch and wait....

Choices

Your life is about choices.  Choices you make and how you choose to deal with them.  It is easy for most people to let life and things around them get you down.  The reality is you have to work at being happy.  I choose to work.  With all the crazy crap going on....I still have a wonderful husband to come home to, three beautiful children and food on the table.  I choose to be happy.  I will not let you take that away.  I choose to enjoy time with my friends and family.  The show must go on!

I choose to smile at you when really I want to cry.  Why?  Because I am strong and I choose not to let you see me when I'm being weak.

There are to many people in this world that are going through things far worse than most people can imagine.  If you choose to complain about the little things in life that in the end don't mean anything...I choose to ignore you.

I have to say, recently I have been the happiest I've ever been in years.  I'll be damned if anyone changes that.

Happy hump day to everyone!

A great Anniversary

Today is mine and hubby's 3rd wedding anniversary. Friday (also my birthday) we will be together 11 years! I have to say....my husband has already out done himself this year.

He switched shifts at work so he could get off at 5 so we could go to dinner. This morning when we woke up, he asked if I was ready to get married. When I got in my car....there was a card waiting for me. I cried before I even opened it. It was so thoughtful of him to have it waiting for me. Usually he buys it the day of and hands it to me at dinner. I opened the card, and it sings "I Swear" by John Michael Montgomery. And he writes: Time Flys when you are having fun.

I love this man more than he will ever know. He has helped me be the woman I am today and he doesn't even realize. I've became both a mother and wife because of him.

Tonight is date night. Alexys is watching the boys. For the first time in a long time, we are going out just the two of us.

All my love....All my life

My weekend!

I had a very good weekend! Friday my first born turned 10! I was honestly more excited about this whole double digit birthday then he was. We went to McDonalds with a few other family members and ate and played in the playland. Then we came home and did cake and he opened our gift, Super Mario Bros. for the Wii. Guess what we played the rest of the night?

On Saturday we did Devon's birthday party with his friends at the skating ring. It was a lot of fun. He even said it was the best birthday....ever!

On our way home we stopped so all the guys could get a haircut. Blake got his first haircut and he did great. I feel like the new look "cut all the baby off" so I've thought about asking for all the hair back. But the day was going to come. Now he looks more like his brother and father.

Sunday was a lazy day and it was amazing. Alexys and I played Wii for about an hour or so and then I did some laundry. Robert and I went to the store for dinner stuff and then I came back and went through a box in the closet, slowly trying to organize.

This weekend he will be at the deer lease so I'm hoping to get a lot of things organized, we will see.

We are getting even closer

I bought this journal for my daughter (for the newbies, she actually my step) for Christmas. I didn't know if she would think it was dumb or not. Keep in mind she is 17! But she actually really liked the idea. The mother fills out the left pages and the daughter the right. It asks questions like what's your favorite food or memory together. There is free space to ask random question. There is even a page to draw your dream outfit.

We have been doing the journal back and forth for about a week now. We love it! I already feel like I'm getting to know her on a different level. Just an idea for all you moms out there.

Now if they would just make one for sons and mothers I would have it made!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I still have every intention of doing a 2010 recap, but I got a little busy. Last night I went to dinner with a few girl friends, it was long over due. After dinner, we went back to one of their house and played dance party on the wii. I LOVED IT! Needless to say, I will be purchasing that game!

Tonight we are having a party at our house with a few friends and family. I have tons to do but wanted to take a minute to wish my blog family a very happy new year! I was hoping daycare would be open today so I could clean the house with out watching over a 11 month old. No such luck. My hubby is work which sucks for me and him. He will get off at 5, party starts at 7. Awesome.

I plan on being a better blogger next year. I need to take more pics...in case you haven't noticed, I don't blog without a picture. I'm OCD like that.

I have a few things in mind for next year. If any of you have some ideas for me as well, feel free to share. Any help is wonderful!

I hope everyone spends New Years Eve the way you want. (even if it isn't a big party just a nice dinner with a lady friend...talking about you Simple Dude).

Love you guys!

And I cried!

See this pretty young lady? This is Alexys. Those of you that are new to this blog (thank you by the way) she is my 17 year old step-daughter that I would proudly claim as my own any day of the week. She has been in my life since she was 6. She moved in with us last August, but we have wanted her to live with us for years...things just didn't work out until now.

Anyways, I've been sitting on her heart felt words she said a week ago. I only shared them with a few people. I thought I would share them with you now.

Last Tuesday we went to get our hair done after I got off work. We were talking about random things, like we usually do. We talked about when she gets older and then she said the sweetest thing. "When I get older and think about having a family, I want one just like ours. We are perfect." My eyes instantly became watery. She went on talking about other stuff and looked over at me and said "omg, you are going to cry aren't you"...I tried my best to muffle out a "NO" but it was to late. A few tears did fall and we drove the rest of the way in silence.

I think as a mother in general you always wonder how you are doing, how you kids view you, are you doing a "good" job. As a step-mom, I think those concerns double. With my boys the bond was instant from birth. With Alexys we had to build it.

Without even realizing it, Alexys gave me the best compliment ever. I've raised a good family. I have great kids and it shows. I am so blessed to have her in my life. She was my first taste of motherhood and she did not disappoint.

I love you Alexys!

Why I do it

Remember last Friday? I did a guest post for Jaci over at Ravings of a Mad Housewife, you can read it here. I was SO excited. My first guest post. Jaci posted it early Friday morning. By Saturday, I regretted doing it. I felt attacked, like I needed to defend my husband. I know in my post i vented about my hubby, but I thought it was done in a "funny" way. Since then, I haven't felt like blogging.

Until today! Jaci sent me a sweet email! She pointed out that normal sane people see the humor in things but once you get one negative comment...others follow. Also, Jaci has decided to take a brake from her blog. I am sad about this but totally understand why, read here. She also refers to how we give people just a glimpse of our life so they can totally judge everything that we are.

I was scared to blog after my guest post. I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I don't want people to think I have a bad husband. I think it is safe to say that we have all done at least ONE post "in the moment".

I then remembered why I started blogging. I never thought that anyone would actually follow me, especially people that didn't know me. I started my blog to get "stuff" out of my head. Then I started following craft blogs and decorating ones. So I started adding photos of crafts or decorating rooms. My blog is ever changing. It's whatever I want it to be that day or even that post. IT'S MY BLOG! I'll do what I want and I shouldn't be worried about what others think, right? If you don't like it, you can just delete me and I'll carry on.

I wish everyone a wonderful Tuesday! Enjoy your day, your children, your husband...and yes, even your blog.

btw...Jaci, your email made my day.

Great Weekend

The rest of my weekend was wonderful. Saturday Blake and I woke up and snuggled on the couch. I made us a big pancake and we shared it. Usually I don't let the kids sleep real late, but it was our relaxing weekend so I didn't care.

My mom came over around 8. She painted my bathroom for me and then helped me decorate for Christmas (that is another post, with pictures). Alexys left for a "date" with her boyfriend and it was just me, my boys and my mom. She wanted to leave before it got dark so my house was still a mess. We had decorations up, but boxes every where. We stopped alot to play with the boys, after all...to me, this weekend was about me and my kids. We stayed in our jammies ALL day! It was awesome. We did leave and get dinner at Taco Bell...in our jammies, but we just did the drive thru.

Sunday was much of the same. Trying to go through all the boxes. Blake and I played alot. Devon played with the neighbor's girls and Alexys had stayed the night at a friend's house. My house looks good. I'm not "lovin" my tree, but it will work this year.

I hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend.

Finding Sanity

If any of you remember last week I blogged about my slight meltdown last Saturday...if not read here. I'll wait....

So, I am trying to fix the situation that I have put myself in. For the first time in well over a year....I made no plans this weekend other than spend time with my kiddos. I have had several people tell me in the past few days (after reading my blog) that they do notice that I'm ALWAYS busy. One even said I tend to "burn the candle at both ends". So really, it's no wonder I had a meltdown.

Before I left work today, my wonderful daughter (17 years old) text me and asked if we could have movie night. She totally made my night! We haven't really talked much lately and I figured it would be like this weekend. Plus dear hubby is at the deer least, again, and I have both boys alone. My friends tease all the time, I'm the single mom with three kids. Any who...I left work and picked up the boys and came home to pick up Alexys. We went to CiCi's Pizza for dinner and then to Red Box to rent some movies. When we got home, Devon immediately went in his room to watch his movie. Alexys and I put on our jammies and played with Blake on the living room floor. It was really nice, and relaxing. Then Alexys and I watched our movie and when it was over it was still early (for me).

I put Blake to bed, he was already asleep anyways and started to "declutter" the house. I went through drawers and threw stuff away. I went though alot of stuff in my bed room and either threw it away or paid a pile for donation. I'm far from done but it is after midnight now. Tomorrow morning Devon and I are going to decorate the tree and Alexys will take some pics. I plan on decorating the whole inside of the house for Christmas but with a 10 month old that likes a little attention from time to time that gets hard. Alexys already asked to go to dinner with her boyfriend tomorrow and then stay the night with a friend. I guess it is just me and the boys tomorrow night. I want to bake some cookies for a care package I would like to get in the mail Monday. I also have a few frames around the house that I just need to print out updated pictures for...that's on my to do list as well.

Our weather is so dumb in Texas. Tomorrow it is going to be 78 and then Sunday I think the high is 58! WTF? And I wonder why we keep getting sick.

I hope everyone has a wonderful night!

For the love of Sanity

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I have been really stressed out lately, for several reasons. I have three kids! That's the biggest reason there. Plus, it is deer season so that means on the weekends.....I'm alone with three kids! I cook, clean, think and worry about three kids....ALL. THE. TIME! There has been a time or two lately at some point one or all of the kids have misbehaved in public or at friends house. This stresses me out and embarrasses me. I don't like that other people have to get on to my kids. I'm not saying I get made at my friends. See, my friends and I have an unspoken agreement...if one of our kids is acting up, call them out and make them act right, then tell their mom. Also, as two of my kids get older they are more independent and don't want to include me as much. I know this is a part of life, but I still miss them and I get upset. I've been keeping all this in for a few weeks. We have been VERY busy to say the least for months now. And then it happened. I had a meltdown Saturday in front of friends and people I didn't know. I. could. not. stop. crying! A friend of mine asked me via email what was up, she noticed my facebook updates were kind of blah. This friend and I don't talk often, but when we do it's deep. I told her all this crap....and she then asked me if I wanted her opinion. I found this strange, to me, not to her though. I am always open to peoples opinions. Sometime they are helpful and sometimes I disregard them but I'm always interested on how others view things. Let me start off by saying family and friends are very important to me. That's why we are always busy. But it seams by family I mean extended...not the ones I live with (but they are important to). I'll explain. My dear friend pointed out that I'm always busy, ALWAYS. And even though I know this, it hit me different having someone else tell me. This friend hasn't gone out with us much since her son was born 3 years ago. It use to bother me but what she said to me made total sense. She reminded me that they are only kids once. Your friends and family and even husband for that matter are secondary. And she is right! Maybe me getting stressed out about having three kids isn't about actually having three kids, it is because we are always on the go and doing that with three kids is what stresses me out. I need to stay home and be lazy with my kids, or play outside or inside with them. Let them know that running around like a crazy lady isn't normal. And like she said, some people (friends and family) might get upset, but I have to learn to say no! As much as I would love to do it all and be everywhere, my children mean the world to me and I don't want to regret not being their for them for one second.

So to my dear friend...thank you for ditching me the past 3 years to be there for your son, I won't make fun of you again. And thanks for "straightening" me out. I feel the stress going away already. Hubby will be gone this weekend and it will be just the kids and I at home, and that sounds wonderful!

Dust Bunnies

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I didn't realize how bad it had gotten. I haven't really done a "deep" cleaning since Blake has been born (keep in mind he just turned 10 months). Since my hubby and I got all the Christmas stuff out of the attic I thought it was a good time to clean the floors good before any Christmas stuff goes up in the house. We have wood floors, which I've learned to hate. They are just there so dust bunnies can easily collect now, this was never a problem when we had carpet. So, I got the vacuum out so I could start with the baseboards. Normally this would be an easy, quick and simple job....not so much when you have to watch your baby and this is his first time hearing the vacuum cleaner (Alexys normally vacuums before we get home). He screamed bloody murder, so I did it in spurts. I even flipped the couches and vacuumed under there as well. After all that was done I put up the tree. No ornaments, but the tree is up with lights and the room is clean.

Tonight Devon and I will put the ornaments on the tree. I like to do this as a family but I'm over "making" them do it. I shouldn't have to pull teeth to do traditions so I'll do them without them. Robert does at least put the angel on the tree for me but Alexys is just over the whole thing. Whatev!

This will be Blake's first Christmas! And our first Christmas as a happy party of 5! I want to decorate big this year and enjoy time with friends and family.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving its self was good for me but the days after and what not were a little emotional for me, but maybe I'll talk about that another day. I just wanted to pop in and say hi and not avoid my blog for to many days. Please check out my Introduction and let me know if you would like to guest blog for me so I can try and increase my number of followers.

An Introduction

It's long overdue really. I've decided, with the recent increase in the number of followers I have and the fact that my page view count has gone up considerably I should introduce myself and my family (since I tend to talk about them alot).

Here I am. My name is Jessie. This picture was taken about 2 years ago, before I got pregnant with Blake. I had finally gotten down to a weight I was happy with. I am 31 (32 in March). I have been married for 2 years (3 in March) but with my hubby for 11 years this March. We met on my 21st birthday, in a bar. It happens. I have a step-daughter (who I would claim as my own any day of the week) and 2 boys. We live some what in the country in a beautiful home. I work in the accounting field. I absolutely love photography (everything about it). I love to do different crafts. I also love to scrapbook. While I haven't had much time to do it, and I'm currently about 4 years behind, I love it just the same. I enjoy spending as much time as possible with friends and family. This is my handsome husband, Robert. This photo was taken on our honeymoon. This beautiful young lady is Alexys. This is my step-daughter. She is 17 years old. She just moved in with us this past August. She is a Junior in high school.

The handsome boy is Devon. He is 9, he will be 10 in January.

This is THE cutest baby out there right now. This is Blake, he turned 10 months on Monday. He is the final piece to our family puzzle. We are now a party of 5 and I love every moment.

I would like to send a shout out to a few people. I notice that alot of my views come from a few people specifically. Three blogs in particular are With Eyes Wide Open , And So It Goes... and My Little Life . Thank you ladies. Also I have seen a big increase in views from Canada... I can only assume this has to do with my girl, Canadian Blogger Girl . Go check out their blogs, they are good and clearly have good taste (since they like me, lol).

Now I just want to put something out there. I know I don't have a ton of followers but I would love to get more. Most of you have many more followers than I. So I'm asking....would anyone like to guest post on my blog and bring some love my way? I am open to blog topics, I don't think there is anything I would turn away. What do you think?

Being Strong

Today's topic, being strong. I'm not talking about the physical kind either. And clearly the picture above is NOT me, or I would have no use doing my Fat Tuesday posts anymore. I mean being strong minded and strong willed. Some time life happens, and it's not good. You are forced to deal with something you never thought you would have to. You suddenly become very aware that ALL eyes are on you. Everyone is waiting to see how you will handle it. Will you fall to pieces, or will you be strong? But people have very different meanings of the word strong. I personally feel that just because you are a "strong" person, doesn't mean you have to do things alone. I don't thinking anyone can actually get through anything on their own. Even if you just need to call someone and just have them listen. That means they don't tell you their opinion or agree with you just to make you happy. Some time you just need to get it out (of your own head). And that is ok. Just because, God forbid, you shed a tear, doesn't make you weak....it means you have a heart. I don't really have a point to this post and it is not directly at anyone in my life either. Just something I've been thinking about. I have been graced with some wonderful friends and family around me. I don't have to go through anything alone. And I by no means think of myself as a weak person. I have the "friends" that I can call and no matter what I say (eg. "the sky is purple") they will agree with me. Those are friends I rarely call. I know I'm not right all the time, I'm ok with that. Sometimes I am so caught up with the way I see things I need someone else to point out the other side. I have been known to react to things while I am hot headed and not cool down before responding. I'm trying to work on that. 9 times out of 10, I regret the way I acted when acting on impulse. Photos found here

Now that I got that total randomness out of the way, check out my guest post on Beauty Sale Shoppers Blog. Hope everyone enjoys their week.