Muffin Tin Swap

I participated again in the Muffin Tin Swap with Michelle at Muffin Tin Mom.

Michelle hooked me up with a very nice and busy mom, Tara, at Feels Like Home. We swapped packages and had a great time shopping for each other!

I received my package today, and I had so much fun going through all of the things that I received!!

Star shaped muffin tin

Teddy Bear Fun cups

Cupcake liners

Cupcake holders with picks

Cookie cutters (stars and bears!)

Napkins and sprinkles!!

We love our package and can't wait to have a fun meal using our new stuff!

Thank you Tara...I had a great time!!

Make up for lost time

I am hoping to return to blogging soon. It seems like the desire to blog is starting to return. Last month I just wasn't into it and I needed a break. We were busy also so that didn't help the free time that I had. I am also into reading right now and once I start a book nothing gets done. Pretty much the kids take care of themselves while I am enthralled in a book. I have check in with some of you throughout the month, while I might not have commented I was still checking in.

I hope that I still have bloggy friends and will get into a routine that includes blogging!!

Books, Backyard, and Work

I have been swept away with this little thing called a romance book.

I am reading The Manning Series books by Debbie Macomber. I am reading book #2 right now The Manning Brides. I am useless to my family right now until I get it out of my system. It is taking everything right now to type this and not be curled up reading.

So until I get this out of my system...I will be gone into another world of reading!

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I am also getting ready for a small Easter celebration at my house on Saturday. I can't wait and should be fun. I have filled probably 100 and something plastic eggs which we will hide on Saturday. With our new flat backyard it will be fun!

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I am also going back to work - part time - 3 days a week starting on Monday. So I have been getting my routine back for working. I can't wait! I have loved spending the time with Chase and Cody but I have also missed actually learning and working. It's hard to explain but I am looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead of me. I have to learn a new computer system along with a new accounting program but thinking that it will be fun to learn something new.

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I am going tomorrow to get my next sewing project. I know starting a sewing project before starting work not a good idea but I am hoping still to have enough time to myself that I can continue to work on my hobby!

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The weather here the last few days have been perfect, and the boys are just loving the new flat backyard! They even loved the almost flat backyard while the tractor was working. They got out their dump trucks one evening after the tractor stopped working and went to work putting lots of miles on those tires!

Sewing Project

For the last few months, since being out of a job, I have been trying to find a hobby to get into. The boys are old enough now that they can play by themselves more, so I am finding I have more time to myself.

I started out with doing cross-stitching years ago. I have made some really cool pictures-maybe I should post a couple of them sometime...but anyways I started that up again and it just didn't feel right. I think my eyes have become old and it was hard to see all the little holes and what not. I was very bummed because I didn't know what else to do.

Oh I could read, but once I get lost in a book that only takes a couple of days and then I am trying to find another book to complete. My family would get tired of seeing nothing of me but a book in my face. I still needed a hobby, something that I am interested in, but not something that I would get lost in.

I inherited my mom's sewing machine and it was like I couldn't touch it because it belong to her and one of her most valued possessions. I needed to get some pants hemmed and thought I could just do it on this sewing machine myself. I have sewing background from my mom and my grandma. I finished all my mending and hemming and was looking for another project. It was like this was suppose to be my hobby. It was just enough to hold my attention and still be able to put it down to fix dinner or something.

So as I am looking around for projects or something to make. I think my niece, Tatum, loves Minnie Mouse, everything Minnie Mouse. Why not make her a Minnie Mouse dress. So I found a pattern and the red and white polka dotted material and went to work. This really was my first dress that I had made and it turned out very cute.

I will post a picture of Tatum in her Minnie Mouse dress when she sees it. Now, if you have seen the new Minnie Mouse, she is in pink and pink and white polka dots. I think I will be making another dress soon.

So I have found something that I really do like and can't wait to start making more things. Hey, maybe I will even start selling the stuff!

2009 Year Picture Review

So last year I did a picture review by month what sybolized that month or something we did in that month. It was fun and I have made it a tradition again this year! So here is goes.

Oh, I have one problem, I lost my pictures on my memory card for December, 2008 and January, 2009 even some February. So I don't have any picture of those months to share with you. I was so upset again when I remember why I didn't have those pictures.

January, 2009 ( I will just insert a cute picture here)

Picture from December, 2008 Cody playing with Cousin's Tatum's new kitchen.

February, 2009

March, 2009

We celebrated Steve's 33rd birthday!

April, 2009

In the beginning of the month we painted Easter eggs, getting ready for the Easter Bunny.

In the end of the month, we celebrated by participated in a local Rodeo parade and going to the boy's first rodeo. They still to this day, say they want to go back!

May, 2009

Destruction Derby was the beginning of the month of May.

June, 2009
Chase and Cody turned 3 on the 5th of June! Here is a picture of there friends at thier birthday party waiting for the train to go by.

July, 2009

4th of July at a friends house with a big BBQ and lots, and lots of swimming!

August, 2009

Our annual August camping trip to the beach. Chase and Cody playing in the sand!

September, 2009

Labor day we went to the Colorado River in Arizona and played around. Cody and Chase both had a ball in the water and sun!

In the middle of September, I celebrated my birthday at the Thunderboats on Mission Bay. We camped and had a good time. The picture above, represents the majority of the kids that camped with us!

October, 2009

Halloween: Chase a Racecar driver and Cody Spiderman! They still talk about this holiday as if it were yesterday. They always ask everyone what they are going to be for Halloween...

November, 2009

Thanksgiving dinner and weekend spent in the desert having dinner and gret memories with great friends and family!

December, 2009

Christmas was our higlight in December. We wer trying to get a picture of Chase, Cody and Diesel in front of our tree, this was the best one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2009 In Review by Words

I did this last year, I stole it from another blog and had a good time reflecting back on the year. So I knew I wanted to continue to do it year after year.



Capturing 2009 high lights and low lights.



1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

We visited the Grand Canyon.



2. Did you keep your new year resolution, and will you make more for next year?

I didn't make a new years resolution for 2009, and probably won't for 2010.



3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My Cousin, Nadine, had her first baby boy after 3 girls.



4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, not this year.



5. What counties did you visit?

None.



6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

More money, and more time with family. More traveling.



7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 5, 2009 - Chase and Cody's 3rd Birthday

September 18, 2009 - My 35th Birthday



8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being Chase and Cody's Mom!



9. What was your biggest failure?

Gaining a bunch of weight this year.



10. Did you suffer an illness or injury?

No, we were all very healthy this year!



11. What was the best thing you bought?

I don't think we bought anything awesome this year.



12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

None.



13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

None.



14. Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage and Daycare



15. What did you really, really, really get excited about?

That I sold a few handmade items this year.



16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2009?

Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean

She's Country by Jason Aldean



17. Compared to last year are you:

happier or sadder? Happier

thinner or fatter? a little fatter

richer or poorer? poorer



18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Traveling to families houses and camping.



19. What do you wish you had done less of?

Working



20. How did you spend Christmas?

With Steve's side of the family.



21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

More and More everyday with Chase and Cody.



22. What was your favorite TV program?

Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice



23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Nah.



24. What was the best book you read?

I actually didn't do much reading this year that I can recall.



25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Listening to the boys sing different songs.



26. What did you want and get?

For the family to be healthy this year. For Chase and Cody to continue growing and learning everyday.



27. What did you want and not get?

More Money.



28. What was your favorite film of the year?

I am not a movie type person. But the boys discovered Mickey Mouse and love him!



29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 35. We were at the Thunderboats all day that Friday. Then we celebrated with cake and ice cream that night!



30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Winning the lottery.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Business like during working hours and comfy during mom hours!

32. What kept you sane?
Being organized.

33. Which celebrity/public figure do you fancy the most?
I don't really care what celebrity people do.

34. What political issue stared you the most?
Presidential Election

35. Who did you miss?
My mom and Papa.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Alissa's mom, Lori, at Chase and Cody's school

37. Tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2009?
Everything can change in a day.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
There are so many that sums up the year!

New Hair Cut

I just got back from getting my hair cut. I haven't had my hair cut in about 18 months. I was trying to let it grow out and I also just got lazy and was wearing my hair in a pony tail a lot.

Lindsi did a wonderful job in cutting it. I really like it.

Next I will probably get it highlighted, but thought I didn't want to do too much at once!

Way Back When-sday

This week I look back at the last time I was at Disneyland with my Mom and grandparents 27 years ago. I was 7.


Here I am with my grandma and one of the Apple Dumpling Gang's. I wouldn't of known that but my mom was very good at writting on every picture and that's what it said.

That was the last time I was at Disnesyland until this past weekend when Steve's Dad took us all to Disneyland - and oh the time we had. Chase and Cody's first time also. More on that too come!

Play along with way-back Whensday with Cheryl by clicking the birds!

What does Google Know?

I just saw this on Debi's blog and I wanted to play along.

What does Google know about Me?

Type in these questions with your name and see the answer Google gives you.

"(Your Name) Needs"

Monica needs to take a long, hard look at the situation before her.

Really, Which one?

"[your name] looks like"

Monica looks like a weasel face

That's not very nice!

"[your name] wants"

Monica wants a millionaire

That's True!

"[your name] does"

Monica does sit-ups every day

Wow, my belly just isn't getting in shape from this!

"[your name] hates"

Monica hates tech writers

Really, I don't.

"[your name] asks"

Monica asks Portugal government for shelter

I didn't know that I did this but that is good.

"[your name] likes"

Monica likes to wear black clothes most of the time

Yum, No.

"[your name] eats"

Monica Eats Cake

Not my first choice, but good enough.

"[your name] wears"

Monica wears a blonde wig, rollerskates and massive fake breasts.

Funny, very funny.

"[your name] was arrested for"

Monica was arrested for growing medical marijuana

No. No where near there.

"[your name] loves"

MONICA LOVES BEING A MOM

Yes, I Do!

If you want to try it to, leave a comment so I can read it on your blog.

Look what I won!

A couple of weeks ago Multiples and More Blog held a scavenger hunt which I participated in. They would post a clue about a fellow Multiple family blog and we were to find the blog. I would wait every night for that clue and sometimes stay up for 2 hours finding the featured blog. I had so much fun. Yes, during the 15 days I didn't get as much sleep as I would normally but so well worth it.

I found some great other family blogs and met some great people! When they announced the winner, I was so excited - I had won 1st Place!!

Now, I won Nellie's All Natural Cleaning Products. I started using the laundry soap on the boys clothes right away. It smells good and works even better.

I also received Nellie's Dryerballs. They are wonderful, no more static cling.
And if that wasn't enough, I also got this personalized beautiful necklace from Shannon at Little Bits of Me that I can't wait to wear. I just received it in the mail last night. Very pretty!!

It is stamped with Chase and Cody's name, with a pretty pearl right in the middle of the circle. Thank you Shannon, you did a beautiful job, I can't wait to wear it next time I am out!!

Tuesday's Blog Party

I am participating in the Blog Party in honor of Tuesday Witt. Tuesday bravely fought and sadly lost her 8 month battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma in January of this year.

We are doing this fundraiser to hopefully raise awareness about this awful disease and to raise money for the Tuesday Fiona Whitt Foundation, where all proceeds go towards pediatric cancer research.

I am actioning off:

$25 American Express Gift Card - Good anywhere that American Express is excepted

Here is what you need to do to win:

1. Leave me a comment in this post telling me you are interested in this gift card.

2. Click on the button below and donate $1 per entry. If you are bidding on more items on other blogs you can donate all at once and then leave your comments. Please leave a separate comment for each dollar donated.

3. Click on this button to see other auction going on

Important Notes: The winner will be selected using random.org by choosing a comment number. The auctions end May 12th.

Good Luck and donate to a great cause in honor of a wonderful child.

I *heart* Faces - Kids - Self Portrait

I wanted to enter this picture into the Self Portrait category over at I ♥ Faces.


Cody telling me how much he really loves me!

No Pictures

Something happened tonight when I went to view my pictures off my SD memory card - all my pictures are GONE!! I am heartbroken. The last time I backed up is the beginning of December. I thought that I would be have been safe with my little card.

They were pictures of my boys at 2 1/2 years old that I will never get back. Pictures of weekends at the desert and family having fun together. Video's of Chase and Cody that I will never view again.

I tried to do a picture memory software online and it didn't find anything. Where did it go? In outerspace? I haven't touched my camera all week really (I know a bad thing). Then tonight I go to download a couple of pictures that I was going to blog about and my computer couldn't even find the memory card in the slot.

Well, since I have no pictures of post about. I guess I will just go to bed.

See post below for Baby Picture Sunday...

$250 Target Gift Card

My Favorite Posts- In no particular order

Two Cool For Words

Packing up and Leaving

Alligator

My Papa

2-Year Old Pictures

I don't know if you will get to know me better from these posts but these post all tell stories of my life.

2008 In Review by Words

To reflect upon the year, I am copying my fellow blogger in capturing 2008 highlights and low lights.


1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
I left the boys for 2 nights in a row.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make a resolution last year and probably won't again.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my friend Leslie had a boy named Jack.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes

5. What countries did you visit?
None

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More time spending with family

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June 5, 2008 - Chase and Cody's 2nd birthday
October 14, 2008 - My grandfathers death

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing the last 10 pounds of baby weight.

9. What was your biggest failure?
And then gaining the weight back (or most of it).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes - a abscess that ended up infected on my face

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Laptop computer

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Chase and Cody's

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
None

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and Daycare

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Chase and Cody

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Jingle Bells - Chase and Cody had to learn this song for their Christmas performance.
Also - Happy Do Do ( For happy birthday)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? marginally thinner
c) richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Camping

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Housework

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With Family

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
More and More everyday with Chase and Cody

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nah

24. What was the best book you read?
Debbie Macomber - The Dakota Series

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The boys learning how to "sing" Pour Some Sugar on Me"

26. What did you want and get?
Clothes

27. What did you want and not get?
Nothing

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I am not a movie person

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 34. I worked during the day and went to the thunderboat camping that night.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Winning the lottery.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Comfy

32. What kept you sane?
Chase and Cody

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Don't really keep up.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election - in general.


35. Who did you miss?
My Mom.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jen

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
That raising twins can be a challenge

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"All I wanna dooooooooooooooooo
All I wanna doooooooooooooooooo
Is Love You.

Holiday Season

It seems like the Christmas Season has taken over my blogging, computer and office time. At night when I normally have been blogging and "talking" to my friends, I have been decorating trees, baking, wrapping packages and shopping. So I am here again (at least for tonight). I do have some new pictures to post from this past weekend - so here it goes.

Oh by the way I, just spent the last hour getting updated on every one's blog. I love looking at every one's holiday traditions and family pictures. They all look so wonderful.

Broken

That would describe my camera. A camera I received from Steve for Christmas. A camera that I love and take everywhere with me. I take pictures of the boys almost everyday. I am just so lost without it.
It started acting weird a couple of weeks ago not wanted to take every picture that I wanted it to take. It works great in no flash mode but the flash won't work. Even the video part would work. So I talked to Best Buy and since we have the extended warranty on it they will repair it or replace it (if they can't repair it). But this is going to take 2 weeks. Yes 2 weeks. What I am going to do without a camera for two weeks? Did this have to happen at the holidays?

I Did It!!

I posted everyday in November. Thanks for putting up with some of my lame post's to get through the month.

I will probably deviate back to posting a few times a week. Even though I have liked some of the new things I have posted about. I will see where it takes me now for December!!

Books and Books

I have taken a break from reading the last few weeks and I do miss it. I did finish off the three Dakota Series books by Debbie Macomber. They were excellent books and tottally got me hooked on her writing. I can't wait to read my next one by her. I also read a book Payback by Fern Michaels. It was also a great book and it goes along with a few others that she wrote about 7 women that found each other in their darkest days and formed an friendship. I can't wait to read another a find out what happens in the next story.

Before the boys go to bed, we read at least two books a night, normally three or four. But their two favorite books are "The Going to Bed Book" by Sandra Boynton and "Good Night!" by Melanie Mitchell. They call them their favorite books. Very cute.

Which books do you read to your kids as they go to bed?

Monday's post

I am going back to work (for a few weeks) on Monday's. I haven't worked on a Monday since the boys were born. I have a best job (and boss) for letting me work Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday's since I came back to work.

The reason I am going back to work is the same week that I lost my grandfather (like that wasn't enough to deal with) I also lost my computer at work. The hard drive that held my whole accounting software, crashed and is now unrecoverable. So I am now going back to work on Monday's to recreate the stuff that I lost. I do have a backup from August that the computer people were able to recover, so I am happy about that!

Chase and Cody are going to school one more day a week. Everyone at school was very excited to have them another day.

Also we have started small steps toward potty training Chase. Everytime I sit him on the potty he pees. I jump up and down because I am so excited. He is actaully pooped also. So this morning I put together underwear and 5 changes of clothes for him and school is going to work with him today. Maybe we will be potty trained soon at least with one. It just means that he is growing up so fast, I don't know if I am ready for the whole potty thing but I guess I need to be!

Happy Monday!!