100 Followers!

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I've been quiet on here for a while. I've been enjoying time with my husband and kids. While I was away, I hit 100 followers! Happy New Year to me! (and to you, of course...) Thanks to Julie for becoming my 100th follower. Gee you make me feel so special. 

♥Hugs♥
2busy

Food for thought

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Are you part of the Inn crowd or the Stable few?

Christmas is a time for....

 Christmas is a time for...

1.  Christmas Music
2.  Girlfriends
3.  Gift exchanges
4.  Crafting
5.  Mini sandwiches
6.  Plates of goodies
7.  ELF

Now You See it...

Now you don't!

Grandma is going to be so mad, but I think it looks great!

The Fairest of Angels

Twas the night of a Christmas party

and all through the house,

not one soul was thinking,

not one in the house.

Away to the Church house

we flew like a flash,

And forgot a camera with,

well, a really good flash.

Little Ladybug was an angel,so quiet and dear.

Unfortunately, our pictures truly suck, I fear.

The iPhone while handy and really quite cool,

  the quality of the pictures can be truly "Old School".

Wise Men Seek Him

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"And when they were come into the house, 

they saw the young child with Mary his mother, 

and fell down, and worshiped him:  

and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;

gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

Matthew 2:11

ATTENTION

Dear Family and Friends who are near and far,

If you have been anxiously looking in your mailbox everyday for a most coveted Christmas card from our clan, give it a break; there won't be any cards. If you were hoping for an updated family photo...sorry to disappoint. As for the abundance of Christmas baking and treats...Forget it! This year I have taken my life back and my mantra is

SIMPLIFY

I truly think that's the way Christ would want me to do it. Besides, nothing spells love of family, friends and the environment as a lovely e-card.

Sincerely,
2busy

Excuses!

I hear so many excuses for being tardy to school. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...Here is a compilation of some that make me laugh. I never know who is telling the truth and who is pulling my leg. I have to look at patterns.

1. Flat tire (used by the same student two weeks in a row)
2. Mom got a ticket rushing to school
3. Someone unplugged my alarm clock AGAIN.
4. Our computer wouldn't work.
5. Our computer printer wouldn't work.
6. My brother threw a tantrum
7. My brother pooped his pants
8. My dog ran away
9. My dad needed his coffee first before he could drive me.
10. My dog was hit by a car
11. We overslept (at least I know this one is honest)
12.  No one woke me up
13.  My shoe broke
14.  I was at a concert last night, and my mom wanted me to get my 8 hours of sleep.
15.  My dog decided to unplug my alarm clock.
16.  My brother stepped on my finger and broke it
17.  My feet were stiff and I couldn't get moving
18.  My mom won't bring me to school because she stopped at a garage sale.
19.  We got lost...
20.  My mom lost her keys
21.  I was still doing my homework.
22.  I was on the phone
23.  My carpool left me
24.  I had to take my dog to the vet
25.  I was having a bowel movement
26.  My sister's gold fish died






 

Christmas Wishlist

I know everyone says they want something selfless for Christmas like world peace or an end to homelessness, but not me...These little items are a "must have" on my Christmas list. What about you?

1.  Nothing spells religious or maybe sacrilegious as the most coveted Pope Key Chain.

2.   For those of us that haven't quite grasped how to hold on to a cell phone and just crave the old time feel of a heavy phone handset...there is the Retro Phone.

3.  Since I am a beauty product-a-holic.  If they make it, I've got to try it...This one should have been put at the top of my list...A rejuvenating Anti Aging mask...

So, KT, if you are in a gift buying rut...Now you know what I absolutely can't live without. 
(I'm only being a little bit snarky...)

A Child is Born

Source:  Me

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:  and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The might God, The everlasting Father, 

The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Advent Tradition

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Christmas Traditions are an important part of the season. I believe they bring us closer together, and when the miles separate, the distance is eased just a bit through the memories that were created.

One of our favorite traditions is a Christmas Advent book. It is a book that I compiled years ago with a Christmas song, scripture and story for each day leading up until Christmas. I love this and it provided time to sit down as a family and reconnect after a long day. Unfortunately, as my boys have gotten older, it has become increasingly difficult to gather the troops together. And, let's face it, a teenage boy really doesn't give a flying reindeer about these things anymore. Maybe one day as they get older and are away from home, these traditions will regain their importance.

What traditions do you have that help gear you up for Christ's birth?

For Moi?

I received this lovely little blog award the other day from my friend Stacy over at Stacy's Snippets and Random Thoughts. Thank you!

Apparently I am supposed to share with you seven things that you may have always wanted to know about me.  (big eye roll here).  This was actually a fairly hard task.  I've been blogging now for a couple of years and I couldn't really think of anything I hadn't already shared.  So here goes with a couple...Hopefully, I haven't shared them before.

So without much further ado...

1.  I used to sing in a female singers group.  We "toured" around singing in various church houses and nursing homes.  We really made it big!  I'm not gunna lie...

2.  I'm an Aries.  You can click the link and learn everything you never wanted to know about an Aries.  All the bad stuff...I've got...All the good stuff...is in moderation.

3.  I was a Marine Corps wife and now an Air Force mama.

4.  I performed in a burlesque topless type show once.  Well, really, it was a costume malfunction at a Ballet Recital, but the audience got a good glimpse at my pre pubescent nippies.

5.  I LOVE watching the Biggest Loser.  It's like my all time favorite reality show.  I'm a junkie...I love the where are they now shows.  I find their accomplishments truly inspiring.

6.  I once put my high school boyfriend's truck in a ditch when I was learning to drive.  I don't think his parents ever knew...(but the cat's out of the bag now!)

7.  I once explored an abandoned missile silo.  Totally trespassing...I'm a criminal.

Heavenly Message

 

Source
 

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

lying in a manger. 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." 

Luke 2:12-14

Santa Mythology

I remember when each of my kids learned the truth about Santa Claus. When TJ and Miguel were 6 and 7 they began to question Old St. Nick's existence because of rumors they had heard at school. In my attempt to perpetuate the fraud just a little bit longer, I coerced some friends to come over and put out the Santa gifts while KT and I drove around town with them looking at Christmas lights. My cleverness worked they were so excited when they saw that Santa came on Christmas Eve that year. Mom and dad couldn't possibly be ole' St. Nick himself. The next year my boys were playing outside and for some reason decided to pop the trunk  on the car to play hide and seek. Wallah! They hit the mother load of Santa gifts. They knew everything they were getting that year. On a side note, I was grateful they never completed their hide and seek in the trunk.

Ladybug was too clever for her own good. She was 9 and decided to Google Earth Santa's North Pole. She became frustrated when it kept pulling up in the middle of the ocean. I took her by the hand, sat her down and told her the truth. I just couldn't keep coming up with more lies. She really was too smart! She cried and I cried with her for her loss of innocence and the loss of that special Christmas Magic.

I remember when I found out. My whole world was crushed. I was five years old, too young, I believe. I was at church and my Sunday School teacher was telling us they don't celebrate Santa Claus at their house, but they try to have his giving spirit. What? Santa just a spirit? He doesn't have a big belly and rosy cheeks?

For this reason as my children have learned the truth, I have told them that they are now members of the Secret Santa Society. It is their duty and obligation to keep the sacred secret. You never know who is listening and who still believes. I don't ever want them or myself to be the ones to accidentally take away a sweet child's Christmas innocence.

When did you or your children put two and two together?

Snow Day!

I love a snow day! I find them as exciting and fun as the kids. We got about 8 inches of snow here in Western Idaho. It was beautiful and a perfect way to start the first day of December. Despite the horrible roads, I had a hair appointment, and gosh darn it, I was not going to cancel. Don't mess with a girl and her hair...The kids kept busy shoveling, and making a snow man. Ladybug and I went for a walk later through the snowy neighborhood.

What did/do you do for a snow day?

Sports, sports, sports

Lately, my afternoons have been consumed with either Middle School basketball practice or Middle school basketball games. Ladybug (#24)  plays even though she is a shortie, shortie short stuff. We get to travel to exotic sounding towns like Adrian, Oregon, Idaho City, Horseshoe Bend and Notus.  I never got into playing sports. I tried a little softball and volleyball with church, but I just sucked! I think that is why I love running so much. I'm doing something athletic, but at the same time, I don't have to feel like I suck compared to other people (unless I run a race, which I did, and it didn't even turn out badly.)

My evenings have been filled with football. I was never a HUGE football fan unless it is a team I truly care about the teams. KT is one to turn on whatever game because he LOVES it. I think he just likes the noise. Give me some Boise State Broncos or Denver any day, and I'll watch. Thanks KT for teaching me the love of the game.

What have your fall days been filled with?

A Month of Giving Thanks Week 3

11. My new bug! It is seriously a blessing to be able to jump in the car in the morning and know it is going to start. Plus it is so festive in the Red Rocks Red aka ORANGE.

12. My parents (who don't like their picture taken so I have to be sneaky.)

13. My brother and his wife and especially Baby Z

14. Hot Chocolate (who doesn't love that!?)

15. A dear pen pal who makes my days a little brighter

 Photo shamelessly stolen from her blog. 

If you'd like to read 1-5 go here.  If you'd like to read 6-10 go here.

The Spotlight is on ME

Today I am being spotlighted by the fabulous website, Casual Blogger Community. If you haven't been there yet, you should it is a great online community for us bloggers.

So welcome to my visitors...Stay a while look around and get to know me a bit. I am a diet cherry pepsi drinkin', country music lovin', Volkswagen bug drivin' LDS wife and mom of three.

Fun Changes

We made some home improvements two weekends ago. I'm extremely happy with the result. Our ten year old home was in desperate need of new flooring. The kitchen floors were junk as was the carpet.

                                          
                                                     Before                              After

 

New Carpet, but no before and afters...

 And a craft project to boot.  I'm not usually this crafty, but you know, 

every once in a while, lightening strikes!

A Month of Giving Thanks Week 2

Photo Source

I am thankful for...

6. Jesus Christ and a loving Heavenly Father
7. My membership in my Church
8. Friends, near and far, past and present
9. My opportunity to be a  wife and mother
10. My job as Administrative Assistant at a High School.  Love working with youth!

If you'd like to read 1-5 go here.