It's that time of year

I was planning on being a good blogger this week, I even had it easy. Jenny made it easy on me this week, having her blog carnival going on was going to be my every post except for today. Today was supposed to be my "Review it Thursday", and I was going to have another great review for you. But you see sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes life doesn't allow you to sit at home and have your computer around. Life makes you tired, and when you do get the chance to sit down the LAST thing on your mind is sitting down to blog!

So since it's my "Review it Thursday", I'm officially skipping it. But I promise you a fun review next week and even something fun for you as well. My thing my rules!

And since I'm skipping it this week I should probably let you in on what's been keeping us so busy this week. CRAZY how one week can be calm as ever and then the next I don't have 10 minutes to myself to just sit and think. I can tell you though that not getting the time to myself is not making me a very nice person. When mom's not a nice person, it doesn't exactly put anyone else in a good mood. I'm just glad tomarrow is Friday!

Joel and I attended parent teacher confrences for Dahrran this evening. He's doing well, but having a few problems keeping his attention on what needs to be done. We've known since preschool that he sometimes likes to "think" about things and then not working on his studies. So we've got a few things to have him try to get his attention span to be longer. Although he's having problems with attention, it doesn't seem to affect his learning abilities. He's accelling in a lot of areas, and is a friend to everyone. We did find out that he's willing to read to his teacher, but just not at home, and so she told us to have him work on that here as well.

So hopefully this weekend I can get back on track and keep you all updated, as well as get you some pictures!!!! Have a great Friday everyone!!!

Through Your Lens - Day Two

My friend Jenny (originally from Daily Dose of Motherhood) started a new blog for the new year and to showcase her amazing photo talent. through jenny's lens is a fun blog with new photos everyday! Best of all she's got a photo project going on right now!

Day two's theme is Something in Your Town.

Come along a journey through our Town



When you first arive in town, you'll come to our only source of gas, and munchies. The local C-Store lies right behind the above sign and is open from 6am-8pm all week long. They have some good pizzas if you're looking for something quick to feed your family. On a lunch basis they've got incredible specials! You'll turn on to Main Street, except it's called Pine Street because you see here we name our streets after trees and women. Main street offers the most you'll find in town. There's a bar, a bank, a style shop, a hardware shop, an insurance agent, an auto mechanic, the local villiage office, and of course the local post office.



Take a closer look at some apartments, and the local harware shop. I know you're not thinking hardware shop, but you see we've got a handyman on wheeles that has a shop uptown! If the white truck is sitting on main street, the handy man is in!



The local post office is where I'll be found every Saturday morning from 7:30 am until 9:30 am. You see my part time job is working as a PMR(post master relieve), and I LOVE IT!!!! I love my Post Master, and I love talking with the people of this town!



On your drive out of town you'll notice the local Coop. It's where farmers bring their hard earned harvest at the end of the year. But if you're an observer you'd have noticed it on your way in, considering it's across the "main road" from the little Gas Station!



Thank you for visiting our small town of 250 people, where 6 blocks by 7 blocks is enough to keep you satisfied!

Want to participate! Head on over to Jenny's Blog to play along!

Through Your Lens - Day One

My friend Jenny (originally from Daily Dose of Motherhood) started a new blog for the new year and to showcase her amazing photo talent. through jenny's lens is a fun blog with new photos everyday! Best of all she's got a photo project going on right now!

Today's theme is 'something that makes you smile'

Spending quality time with my children is something that always makes me smile!

Especially when they're all bundled up ready to go play in the first BIG snow of the year that's actually stayed around long enough for us to go play in.

Belive it or not Kaitlynn was a good trooper considering she looked like she belonged in a Christmas Story. She was having a good time as long as you were pulling her down the hill, and not up it!

Dahrran and I had to go get the other sled off the back porch at my dad's house!



He was a trooper as well, he loved going down the hill, and he enjoyed helping the girls out!



Then there is this man. I love this man, he can always make me smile, even if it's him that I'm upset with. All it takes is a few silly words, and I can instantly smile!!!



Thank you so much for reading along, go ahead and show us what makes you smile!!!! Just be sure to head back over to Jenny's blog, and add yours to Mr. Linky!!!

Something fun for the weekend!

I recently found this on My lilly Eden, and thought it would be fun to do, too! I love learning more about my favorite blogers, and so I thought it'd be fun to share!!!!

If I've done it, it's in bold and Pink.....

I HAVE:

1. started your own blog

2. slept under the stars

3. played in a band

4. visited hawaii

5. watched a meteor shower

6. given more than you can afford to charity

7. been to disneyland/world

8. climbed a mountain

9. held a praying mantis

10. sang a solo

11. bungee jumped

12. visited paris

13. watched a lightning storm at sea

14. taught yourself an art from scratch

15. adopted a child

16. had food poisoning

17. walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. grown your own vegetables

19. seen the mona lisa in france

20. slept on an overnight train

21. had a pillow fight

22. hitch hiked

23. taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. built a snow fort

25. held a lamb

26. gone skinny dipping

27. run a marathon

28. ridden in a gondola in venice

29. seen a total eclipse

30. watched a sunrise or sunset

31. hit a home run

32. been on a cruise

33. seen niagara falls in person

34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. seen an amish community

36. taught yourself a new language

37. had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person

39. gone rock climbing

40. seen michelangelo’s david

41. sung karaoke

42. seen old faithful geyser erupt

43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. visited africa

45. walked on a beach by moonlight

46. been transported in an ambulance

47. had your portrait painted

48. gone deep sea fishing

49. seen the sistine chapel in person

50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris

51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. kissed in the rain

53. played in the mud

54. gone to a drive-in theater

55. been in a movie (if home movies count! :) )

56. visited the great wall of china

57. started a business

58. taken a martial arts class

59. visited russia

60. served at a soup kitchen

61. sold girl scout cookies

62. gone whale watching

63. gotten flowers for no reason

64. donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. gone sky diving

66. visited a nazi concentration camp

67. bounced a check

68. flown in a helicopter

69. saved a favorite childhood toy

70. visited the lincoln memorial

71. eaten caviar

72. pieced a quilt

73. stood in times square

74. toured the everglades

75. been fired from a job

76. seen the changing of the guards in london

77. broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. seen the grand canyon in person

80. published a book

81. visited the vatican

82. bought a brand new car

83. walked in jerusalem

84. had your picture in the newspaper

85. read the entire Bible

86. visited the white house

87. killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. had chickenpox

89. saved someone’s life

90. sat on a jury

91. met someone famous

92. joined a book club

93. lost a loved one

94. had a baby

95. seen the alamo in person

96. swam in the great salt lake

97. owned a cell phone

98. been stung by a bee

99. wrote a poem for someone else

100. given a toast at a wedding

Now it's your turn! Copy and paste this, but be sure to come back and let me know you're participating! I can't wait to see what You HAVE done! :) Happy weekending!

Hola!

Okay so I couldn't stay gone for long, although I could have if things hadn't turned around. I know everyone is going through a rough time right now, and BELIEVE ME.I.KNOW.the.economy.SUCKS! But things have been tough here lately...and it's my fault. I'm willingly admitting it, and my husband is glad to hear it!

I have this little problem, and it's called clearance! Did you know? Just because something is on Clearance, doesn't mean it belongs in my cart??? I know seriously, I thought that's what you were supposed to do with it!!!! You see my husband and Clearance have a "love hate" relationship, mainly hate, but sometimes just sometimes it's a love. I love to get me a good deal, and my husband doesn't mind hearing about it, but boy does he hate it!

Seems like every week, I'm coming home with CRAP we don't really need. Maybe it's something little, and we will need it in the near future. Other times it's things that are big, and we probably didn't need it at all. Why oh, why, can't I just walk away from that isle (you know the isle I'm talking about) without anything in my cart?More than likely it's because of the AWESOME deals I've gotten before, and I can't seem to get them out of my head.

Oh, well, right now I'm practicing self control. I actually went to town yesterday, and bought only the items on my grocery list. (well there were more than on my list, but they were all grocery's and stuff we needed I promise!!) I wish I could say I was a coupon goddess and walked out with $150.00 worth of groceries for mere pennies, but I can't. I'm just proud of myself for getting out of there with the things I needed!

So I'm asking you all to give me your money saving tips! CVS and Walgreens aren't options...they aren't in the little town we shop in. Oh, and I don't only need shopping tips, I need any tips you can give me, because seriously after our electric bill came yesterday I'll be lucky if I don't pass out!

"Review it Thursdays"

Welcome my first official "Review it Thursday," where I will review all sorts of chidlrens products, and maybe even some parent products as well. You'll get the inside scope on all the BEST things that EVERY parents needs!

My all time favorite of all is

Playtex Sipster® Spill-Proof Cup and Insulator® and Spill-Proof Cup, both 9-oz.

They don't leak near as much as most sippy cups do, and they are super easy to wash, just throw them in the dishwasher. Even better is they have valves that interchange with ALL of their sippy cup sizes. So, no looking for that valve, or this valve, just grab one out of the drawer! Just read what their website says about them!

"These larger cups satisfy your baby’s growing appetite. The Insulator® Spill-Proof Cup

keeps liquids cool twice as long as ordinary cups, and its sweat-proof design protects

furniture from moisture. Look for new 9-oz. Insulator® cups with Disney designs! .

Comes in a variety of colors and designs to help your child identify objects. "

They come in all different colors, and patterns. I am in LOVE with these cups, and have been for years now. Not to mention their durable, some of the cups in my cupboard are 5 years old, and still going strong. I haven't even had to replace valves once.

And then, there are these cups! Is your child too big for a sippy cup, but too small for a strawed cup out on the go? This is the cup for you. They're easy enough to suck from that even my 18 month old can use them, but cool enough for my almost 6 year old to use. The older kids think they're cool because not only is this a sippy cup, it looks just like Daddy's coffee cup.

What ever age your child Playtex has the products for you! Go check them out today!!!!

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Work at Home mom's, do you have your own boutique, store, shop, or amazing new product? Want to get your name known, and more feed to your website or blog? Whatever it is, I love trying new things, and I'm waiting for you to contact me! I dare you! I'd love to review and giveaway your products here at Among the Mess.

I'll be back

Here I go and post almost everyday for a week, and then NOTHING. Absolutly nothing is comming from me. I'm in a little bit of a funk, and hopefully a few things will help it out. So I'm going to take a little break from blogging, blog reading, and email's for a few days! If I don't get back to you I'm sorry. And well if I'm not back by the weekend, have a great one! :)

Just another Monday

It's been a while since I did a Not Me Monday, and I thought I'd join in again!!!! I love NMM's over at McMama's because they're a lot of fun to know you're not alone! Here we go.

This week when I rearranged the girls' room, I most certianly did not realize that the reason Kaitlynn has been sick was probably my fault, and then admit to it. Because you know a cool mist humidifier, and a drafty window(when it's 2 degrees outside) is healthy for a toddler! It really helps clear up the head cold....or make it worse! :(

I did not take an hour and a half long bath yesterday, because I was too engrossed in a book to put it down. And then when the girls decided they wanted a bath, I did not just put them in with me because I was too lazy to get out and give them their own. Seriously!?!

When I asked Dahrran to retrieve my glass of water from my room the other day, he did not come downstairs with glass after glass after glass that wasn't the right one. Because when I take a glass upstairs full of water I do not leave it upstairs half full, and I most certianly do not forget about it for a week or so!

And here's it is...I am so not about to type this right now....I am not typing this NMM as I sit in the bath tub surrounded by quiet. Because really my laptop could get ruined, and then what good would it do me. NOT ME!!!

Meet Miss Dis-Organize

Ever since I was pregnant with Kaitlynn my house has kind of went down the drain. For some reason both pregnancies with the girls have been really hard on me. All day motion sickness, is about the only way I can describe it. I was fine as long as I wasn't standing up, or moving too much. Ask me to walk across the room, and I'd be lucky if I could do it without getting woozy.

Since Kaitlynn made her grand entrance, my house has been anything but clean. Don't get me wrong, it's been clean just not in the way it needs to be. I'm sad to admit it, but you'd better call before coming over or you might just walk in on a disaster. I want a clean house, and belive me I'm trying. It just never seems like I get ANYTHING done around here anymore.

In my attempt to get the house organized, and cleaned up...because you know we do have it for sale again...I purchased some canvas totes. They're supposed to help the kids make sure they're keeping their toys picked up. And when I remind them to put them away, they're working!

Aren't they just too cute? I'm loving them, and I love how they fit PERFECTLY at the bottom of the stairs. They just sit their waiting to be filled up with all the toys that make their way downstairs during the day. Waiting paitenly, that is until this little booger *** comes along!

And does this to my PERFECTLY positioned baskets waiting to be filled with their stuffings.

***No pun intended, but you have to excuse the boogers. Had her & Dahrran in to the Doc on Friday. Kaitlynn has a sinus infection, and Dahrran has an ear infection....yay! Not so much, but hopefully we can all get rid of this gunky cold crap!!!***

Problems Step Up

You're going to have to bare with me. I know my pictures haven't been the greatest here lately, but on my own behalf we've been busy! I'm lucky to even have time to blog. So bear with me through all these difficulties, and I'm sure we'll be up and running with awesome backgrounds, cute buttons, and all of my visions!!!!

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See this here....well it's causing quite the leaping of hearts around here. We do our best possible to keep little ones off of it, but when it's right next to the stairs what are you supposed to do? I mean really. The kids know it will INSTANTLY bring mom or dad running, and of course brings IMMEDIATE attention to whomever has decide they're going to be the dare devil of the day. Really it's getting old.

My question is to you, how would you fix this problem??? I mean really besides actually putting something up that would have to be nailed into the woodwork (which isn't an option) there isn't much we can do! I've tried putting a pressure mounted baby gate up, but it doesn't seem to do much. Except. Fall. Down. Which really isn't a solution, because it just creates a bigger hazard.

**ETA: Here's another picture of said ledge!

More letting go....

See I told you there was more instore this week on letting go....I've had to do a lot of it this week. I think this is the week that defines that my baby has become a toddler. Full fleged on her own, must do it myself, toddler. I really wasn't quite looking forward to it if you were to ask. I mean really who wants thier baby to grow into a toddler. It's just amazing to me how quickly they grow up.

See we turned her bed into a toddler bed, with not much fuss from her. She's enjoying every moment of it....except when she gets in trouble for getting out of bed at night. Thank goodness we've only had to put her back to bed about once a night. Nap time now that's another story.

But for now she's hanging out enjoying her new bed!

Tell me what you think....PLEASE

I'm begging you.

Thank you to everyone who's helped me out with my blog. I finally found a size that works...for me at least! So this is what I need! I need you to email me what you see. I want to see a screen shot of your screen. I want to know what you're looking at...and well if there are any bugs that I need to work out. I've got a few font changes to make, but I'm working on those.

Let me know if there is anything that makes it hard for you to read my blog.....because seriously, it's all about you guys right?!?!

I'm letting go.

Why is it so much harder this time to let go? With Dahrran and MacKenzie I didn't mind watching them do "big kid" things. I LOVED IT. I couldn't wait for them to talk, walk, run, you name it, I pushed it. I pushed everything they did. (okay so maybe I didn't but it now feels like it!)

This time is different. I have to let go, I need to learn that it's okay. Joel makes fun of me because I won't let go. I wanted her to walk so. badly. but now that she has, I want to. carry. her. WHY? Why don't I want her to walk? Maybe it's because it's the middle of winter for crying out loud. But she wants me to let go, and I know it. Take for instance the other day.

She climbed into the chair to eat her lunch, and I decided it was probably time to get the booster seat out. Not that I'm at all ready, but she is LOVIN IT.

See I told you she was loving this...and the grilled cheese!


I'm just not sure I'm ready for all the changes around here that are about to happen!

HELP!!!!

I'm in need of some help! Really people...have you noticed the lack of background around here? And well the still Christmas themed header!?! Seriously I'm in some need of guidance! I either need someone that knows how to create backgrounds and layouts and such for blogger to make me one as a gift, or teach me! Cause really right now purchasing one is just not in the cards! Dahrran has decided that he wants to try wrestling at school, so things are tight!

So this is where I ask that SOMEONE, ANYONE who knows how to make their own backgrounds to let me in on the secret. I'm even willing to CALL YOU so you can walk me through the steps!!! I know how to make the ones, but they don't FIT! UGH! So if someone can tell me what to do, and what i'm doing wrong please let me know!

EMAIL ME....there may just be a surprise in store for whoever helps me!

MacKenzie's New Hair Cut

MacKenzie has been BEGGING to get her hair cut since before Christmas, and I've kept her off as long as possible. I just wasn't ready, then again this year is full of things I'm not ready for. (more on that later I promise!) So I decided on Thursday after preschool we'd head in and get it trimmed up. I wasn't set on how short, but I'd decided I was fighting her to brush it and what not. It was so curly, and it got tangled up so easily. She wasn't EVER letting me put it up or do anything so why not go short.

Here are her and Dahrran before Christmas...look how long her hair is!!!


Here is the back view before we got it cut!


Here you really see how long it is! It was time though.


And here is the back afterwards. We took quite the chunk out of it!


I'm loving it and so is she!!! It doesn't knot up, and it's easy to handle!

One year later.

I've written about our experices with Kaitlynn's Cranio before. But today is a special day. It's the day our daughter's head shape changed forever, and we got our "normal" little girl. I don't know if there is much I can say really about it all that I haven't said before. I just wanted to touch on it. It's a big exciting day that I'll never forget. It's a day that is stamped in my mind forever. We didn't do anything big to celebrate, but we did have a great family day, followed up of course with a few pictures!!!!!

Here is Kaitlynn with her surgons on surgery morning. As you can see she wasn't exactly pleased!


Side view of her head BEFORE surgery.


And a top view of her head BEFORE surgery.


Front view 1 year later.


Side view 1 year later.


And last but not least a top view 1 year later. It's amazing in the difference!

I'm tweeting!!!!

I'm new to the twitter scene, but I'm lovin it!!

Come on check us out!

Giveaway Winners

I'm sorry I haven't been around. The goal was to get the winners posted Friday afternoon on the 2nd. We headed off to town to run a few errands, and while we were in town I got the call my husband has been waiting for! We were about to have a baby calf...the first one of the 2009 season. Of course though it had to happen on one of our busier days. Long story short, she is a first calf heifer, and the babe had a HUGE head, we ended up pulling the calf. After we got mama and babe situated, we had to give the little BOY a name. Wall-E it is. In the Gelbvieh breed there is an international code every year that tells the age of the cow. It pretty much follows the alphabet, and so this year's code was "W", meaning we needed to have a name that started with W.

Meet Wall-E

Any who. We've been busy, but I won't bore you with all that. I know get on with it already! :)

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Thank you all for making this giveaway a LOT of fun for me. There were 113 total entries with all the ways you could enter. I made a chart of everyone's names and color coded it with the way you entered. Then used research randomizer to select the winner!

The winners of the the drawing are:

Beth(stiner0305) will win the candle and warmer, and Alana Jo(alanajo) will win the blessings blocks. Ladies please email me your address so I can get you your goodies!!!!!

Thanks so much EVERYONE for entering in my BIG GIVEAWAY.

Hello 2009

I tried lastnight to put together our "year in pictures" but after March...I quit. Do you know how hard it is to get pictures from CD's onto your blog. You have to make sure you don't open the CD drive before they're completly downloaded, or it doesn't work. You also have to make sure that you don't accidentally delete one VERY. IMPORTANT. PICTURE. that tells most of the story. Because then you just might as well give up. Like I did!

We didn't do anything fancy for New Years Eve. Infact we didn't even have anything planned. Usually we invite friends over to play cards, or even have family over and enjoy their company. This year we got pushed aside, because someone turned the big 2-1 this year, and is able to enjoy her time like an adult! (just kidding Bridget) Actually, Joel and I both had to work all day, and then I found out at lunch that Joel ended up having to go back to work around 5 and work until 11 or so.

The new year came and went while I was playing Guitar Hero with my baby sister, and step sister who will probably be too "grownup" to be here next year. It was nice to just usher it in having fun. The kids tried to make it to midnight, but around 10 or so you could tell they were exhausted. Dahrran and MacKenzie were so tired, they ASKED to go to bed!!!!

We get to spend the day with Joel's family, enjoy our last Christmas, and watch our Huskers play!!!

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But before I go, I'm pretty excited about this, I've been awarded my first Blog Award!

Sky over at Seeryus Mama has called my blog Fabulous!!!! I get to pass it on after listing my 5 addictions. So here I go!

1.Chocolate and Peanut Butter combinations

2. The kiddos and my hubby of course

3. Blog reading

4. Grey's Anatomny

5. Did I say Blog reading??

So who should I give this Fabulous award to???

1. The Southern Housewife

2. The White House

3. Our Blog

4. 3 Little Flowers

5. The Sputterings of Shannon