The Family "Guide"

So I created a Schedule for our family.  I am actually calling it a guide.  This is because I am not so ignorant to believe that this will be followed like a true schedule.  I mean, I do have a 2 and a half year old and a 12 month old.  I mean, shit happens (pun intended).  :) 

But really, I have been thinking about this,and the truth is, if I did work a full time job outside the house, we would have to have a schedule.  I think over scheduling can be a bad thing for kids, but I have included plenty of free time in the guide to be sure that we can catch up on things we may not get to. Or times where we may go outside of the house, or we might stay in.  Depending on our moods, the weather, etc.  I am excited about this, and surprisingly enough when I talked to DJ about doing something like this, he actually agreed it would be good. :)  We will see how much he really likes this guide however. 

This also has set (earlier) bed times for the kiddos.  I am starting to see how important this is, because the truth of the matter is, no matter how much Maddie does not want to go to bed when it is time... she is SOOO much happier of a kid when she does go down early rather than later.  AND, I can surely see a difference in mental happiness for myself :)  And, as much as I would love to play the part of "being all about my kid" a happy Mom really truly equals a happy husband and family!

Even after dinner, the thought ran through my mind of leaving the after dinner mess go till tomorrow.  BUT, it is not in the schedule- so if I do leave it go till then, it will just throw the day off.  So, I cleaned up tonight.  Again, if I worked outside of the home, I would do things NOW, I wouldn't put off.  So, I am going to be running this house like a tight ship.  More for myself than anyone else...but I truly know that it will make for a happier family overall.

Oh Geez!

When I decided to do NaBloPoMo, it was with the idea that I would actually write some interesting blogs. So decent, reading worthy blogs.  But here it is 10:25 and I am beat.  And that means no creativity.  So this will be a boring blog.  And I probably cannot promise that it will be my last boring blog. 

Tonight I went to see a business coach.  It was free because of the Mommy and Me Networking group I belong to.  It was awesome!  Tomorrow, it is on my plan to sit down and really go over the things I learned, and implement them.  I also have a lot of calls to make tomorrow.  It will be a busy day.  And then tomorrow night comes Biggest Loser.  WAHU!  I LOVE BL. 

I promise to do my best to get some pictures up in the near future, and to blog about our awesome weekend.  But for now, of to bed I go. 

It's HEEEERRRRREEEE!

What you ask?  NABLOPOMO! 

I am super excited.  I know, I am a dork.  It is a challenge for bloggers to post EVERY Day!  And it begins today the first of November.  I did it last year, and I really enjoyed it and at the end I felt a bit like I had finished some therapy sessions or something. :) 

This weekend was a very fun. busy, exhausting weekend.  I am very happy for the extra hour we got today.  And I actually got to enjoy it as the kids stayed the night at Nanny and Papas.  However, I probably will lose any benefit to that extra hour of sleep tomorrow, because today was so exhausting for Maddie that she went to bed at 5:30!  So... I am planning to be up at 3 tomorrow.  lol. 

Well, I am feeling a little lazy, but my intent was to post pictures of the weekend for this blog.  So I might go downstairs and post them in a bit.  But I wanted to get this blog out there to start off the NaBloPoMo fun right away! 

I'm No English Major

Although my husband might say differently.  I graduated class of '99 with a BS in Journalism with a concentration in Advertising.  Even so, everytime I mis-pronounce something, or say something incorrectly, my hubby loves to call me out for the error and try to shame me since I was an "English Major".  Just one of those annoy hubby things ya know. 

I often times DO suck at speaking, or spelling.  So I REALLY REALLY try not to judge!  Most of the time I know right from wrong, sometimes I just choose to go against the grain and "not care" for a conversation, or a blog. But the truth of the matter is...blatent spelling errors, or improper language DRIVES ME NUTS!  I really do try not to judge, but I cannot help it. 

Maybe I cannot help it because even though I was not an "English Major"... much to my husband's disappointment-  It was VERY important in my journalism classes not to make spelling errors.  For the most part, I could get away with improper use of the language as an excuse for "creative writing" or something to that affect.  (or is it effect?!?)  I took a class, where ANY mispelling or inaccurate information would get you a completely failing grade.  SOO, they used to make these crazy assignments that you had to write up with really hard details and information to get the point across of how important it was to make sure you had accurate information in your published stories.  So they would give you quotes from people with the last name Zeliienskieuskie and if you got the spelling of that last name wrong by just one letter... FAIL!  I am so not kidding. 

So imagine tonight, my Dad hands me a cookbook that he had bought my Mom and the cover reads "Charleston Receipts"  I kept reading it and re-reading it, and finally I said "Gosh, I keep thinking that says receipts."  Oh, cause IT DOES!"  On a PUBLISHED Cookbook!  I mean, honestly WHO let that get published. On both the front of the book, AND the spine! (oh, and the inside cover too) IT is such a blatent error, that IT MUST be ignorance, not error.  And, it REALLY REALLY bugs me!  So much that I still am thinking about it almost 3 hours later.  I mean, really, if I had tried to submit this in college, I think my teacher would have not just failed me for that assignment... he would have failed me for the entire CLASS.  Really.  I cannot imagine if that is on the cover of the book, what other spelling and vocabulary errors lie inside.  Part of me cannot wait to read through it, and part of me is worried it will burn a hole in my brain, if I do.

I am sure some professional copy editor could go through my post and find plenty of errors.  AND, we will not even go into my writing style... which I totally got called out on in a group critique in an English class for being "too wordy"  to which the prof came to my rescue and stated how although that style is not for everyone, is probably a good style for me, being an Advertising Major... so take THAT DJ.  ha ha. 

Well, now that I have that off my chest, I can get back to resting with my hubby and watching me some "Sons Of Anarchy". 

 G'night Y'all

P.S.  I am so excited to say that I am going to do NoBloPoMo again this November.  So excited to get my blogging on!  Any bloggers want to join me?  Let me know if you do and I will get you the details on how to get signed up.  You can win prizes!!!

Cams 1st Birthday in Pics

Oh man, I got saved...

I posted a blog a couple days ago about not having any one to come and rescue me when I need a break from the kiddos.  I guess you put things out into the universe and you get what you ask for.

On Saturday morning about 11AM, Nanny unexpectedly showed up and took the kids for the day...well actually the night!  SO, we had all day and night Saturday and Sunday morn to get ready for Cam's party and have some fun. :)  Saturday we did get soooo much done.  Saturday night we went to dinner at Sandy's for .50 coneys!  Then we had a fire in the backyard as it was a perfect night for it!  Then Sunday again, it was so unbelievably nice to be able to just run off and go do some errands and continue to get ready for the party, sans kids!  :)  It was a great surprise, and just something I really needed at the time.  I was able to do some catch up on other things I have been meaning to do as well!

Oh, and to boot, Nanny took the kiddos out to get outfits for the party, which took away a very large to- do on my list!  :)  Isn't she awesome!

In my blog post, ( i removed that post for personal reasons) I mentioned how my Mom was just not the type of person who would come and rescue like that even if she was still alive and healthy.  I mentioned that she would have told me SHE never had someone to come and rescue her when things got tough.  By the end of the blog, I had pretty much went from poor me, to WOW, it is almost like my Mom is here talking to me.  So amazing how even though she is not here, I know well enough what she would say to me, if I called to vent to her.  It made me feel good about things again.  And it really made me think and feel comforted about how well I know her, and how good our relationship was like that. 

WELL!!!  My point was really proven yesterday!  The party started at 2:00 and one of my Aunts (mom's sister) got there right on time, if not a bit early.  Nanny brought the kids home after 2:00, so everyone was asking where are the kids.  And my Aunt, who we could use the excuse is almost 80, so she can be blunt, although she was really always overly blunt even when she didn't have being an old bag as an excuse ;) Was loudly saying "Where are the kids?  I came here to see kids Damn-it!"  And I had already told her what had happened.  DJs friend Stephan nicely repeated.  "Susie came and got the kids on Saturday morning so that they could get ready for the party without kids."  And next my Aunt says "HMPH! I NEVER had anyone to do that for me!!!!"  Which is basically exactly the wording I used in my blog that my Mom would have said to me if she was here to hear me complain!!!  OMG, I just about died laughing.  My Aunt said, "I would have just told them to get their asses outside!"  Which is something that you just cannot do now-a-days.  I have a corner lot.  I am not sending my 2 year old out there to play alone!

Times really have changed.  The way we raise our kids and I think family structure is so different.  Parents are more involved in their children's lives, as are grandparents.

Anyhow, I got a big laugh and more reassurance that I do know best what Mom would say.  AND, maybe my Mom did all of the child rearing on her own, but I do not feel guilty, or bad for a minute that I got rescued on Saturday.  I am very thankful that I did!

Pulled Pork Recipe

I made this Pulled Pork Recipe for Cam's birthday party yesterday, and everyone was commenting that it was the best pulled pork they have had.  I just researched the recipe online.  It was by one of the women's magazines.  I cannot remember which one.  I would give proper credit if I could.

Here is the recipe I used.

3 Med Onions
1 1/2 C Ketchup
1 C Cider Vinegar
3/4 C packed brown sugar
3/4 C tomato paste
6 TBSP sweet paparika
6 TBSP worcestershire
6 TBSP  yellow mustard
4 1/2 tsp salt
3 3/4 tsp pepper
12 pounds of Pork Butt/Shoulder

Stir Onion, Ketchup, Vinegar, Brown Sugar, tomato paste, paprika, worcestershire, mustard, salt, pepper until combined in slow cooker.  Add pork to sauce and turn to coat well.

Cook 8-10 hours (or as directed)

Transfer to bowl.  Turn slow cooker on high, cover and heat sauce to boil to thicken & reduce slightly.  With 2 forks pull pork into shreds.  Return pork to slow cooker and toss to combine.  Heat through if necessary.

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Boy!

WOW!  I cannot believe a year has gone by.
I remember this time last year-
being amazed at how much nicer of a hospital Beaumont was...in ALL ways.
being amazed at how much quicker and easier my c-section went this time
puking during the c-section because of the meds..  eeeww, I know.
being so happy that I was able to breathe and not feeling the way I did the first time
at the last minute changing my mind about watching him being pulled out.  I told them NO, no way did I want to see it.  Then I am sitting there waiting, and I think about the fact that this would be my last chance, and that I cannot wait ANOTHER second to see what he looks like!
I remember feeling so at Peace during this time and my hospital stay.  I only cried once during my entire stay there about my Mom.  It was the last night, and I think it was the going back to face reality part that made me feel sad about her.
I remember feeling like a complete family.  There is just something about having two that does that too you.

Well, Here is a year in review of Cameron : 

Mister Cam is such a BIG BIG Boy!  He is sassy, and funny, and oohhh sooo lovey!  He was such a savior for my family at this time last year.

He already fights with his sister, and knows exactly what he wants, and how to cry and pout to get it.

He is SOOOO Close to walking, I really cannot believe he has not take off yet.  Just yesterday he has even become more brave about taking steps.

He does this super cute little smaking noise with his mouth.  The noise is cute, and the way his lips pucker, oh my gosh!  Makes me want to eat him up right now just thinking about it.

He pulls hair, and is good at it.  He always gets a tight grip, and usually wraps it around so you hardly have a chance at prying his fingers off.

When he hears someone say Ya, he claps his little hands and gets a big smile.

He jams.  This has to be the funniest thing.  He has this little too cool guy jam he does when he hears music.  I HAVE to get this on video.  His face is just too cute.  He looks around like "what, what, I am badass"

Bottom line:  HE LIGHTS UP MY WORLD!

Wordless Wednesday

What I wish for my daughter...

That she moves off to NYC when she gets older and lives out her dreams and is not scared to do so.

OK, I don't really care if she moves to NYC...that was MY dream.  But just that she goes wherever it is that she wants to go and isn't too scared to do whatever that is.

I was scared.  Of failing, of a big move, of leaving my family, and well, I was dating this guy...who I was in love with since I was 19.  I remember 3 months after dating him, it hit me.  Not like a giddy young girl, type thing.  But more matter-of-fact... I can remember being in his truck outside my parents house.  We were just sitting there, I think I kinda had my head in his lap, and suddenly I was like holy crap, I am going to marry him- he is going to be my husband one day.  And 8 years later- I did.

I don't regret marrying him, or having my kids, or anything in my life.  Regrets are dumb.  However, I do still kinda wonder what if I had just gone off after college like I always wanted to do.  I had a Prof in college who said, if you can go to NYC and make it in the Ad World, you can go anywhere.  Well, things just fell into place for me and I had an offer 4 days after I graduated.  It may not have been NYC, but it was one of the biggest and best Ad agencies here in Detroit.  And I had so much fun, and learned a lot, and made great connections.

But I still can't help to wonder.... "what IF".

I plan to teach Maddie not to have regrets for the things she has done in her past.  I just hope that I can teach her to live her dreams and not be scared.  And I am not so sure that I am the proper teacher for this as I haven't been able to do this myself.

(P.S. if you are wondering what in the world made this post come up... I was just on FB looking at pics of my old childhood friend who just went to visit his sister who is going to college in NYC)