Christmas

We had a great Christmas! It sure was over fast though. The kids all seemed to really like their presents. I tried really hard to get them things that they would really use instead of focusing on how many gifts they each had. We helped buy presents for 2 kids and one older woman off of the Salvation Army angel tree from the mall. When we were talking about it...my 3 year old daughter ran back to her room and gathered up her Bratz dolls to give away. It was so sweet.

I enjoyed seeing my sister and her kids. We always have a good time together. We did manage to take a family picture. I"ll post it on here later....still waiting for Mom to email them to me.

Lillie

Well, our precious little pomeranian Lillie passed away on Monday, December 4th. It has really hit us hard. She got sick the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. She threw up that afternoon but then started running around playing. So, thinking that dogs just do that sometimes...I assumed that it wasn't a big deal. Well, later that night she threw up again so Wednesday morning we took her to the vet. He gave her two kinds of medicine. When she still wasn't feeling better by Thursday afternoon I called him back. He told me to give her 1/2 teaspoon of water every hour. I did that all night....most of it came back up. Friday we were at the vet's office twice for shots to help with the nausea. For some reason, nothing was helping. Saturday morning he kept her at the office to get her hooked up to iv's because she was getting dehydrated. Monday morning I was there first thing (8am) very excited about possibly bringing her home and she had died at 5:00 that morning. To say I was devastated doesn't even begin to cover it. I have and am still having a hard time with people acting like and saying things like "she was just a dog". I know she was a dog....but we loved her so much. She was very much a member of our family. The kids are doing better but still having crying spells sometimes. It took a week or so for us to even want to be home because she was such a part of our life here. I think I will always miss her kisses and knowing that she would be waiting at the door for me when I came home. We all miss her terribly still and I think we always will...

Thanksgiving

So, Thanksgiving was pretty good. We were all at Mom and Dad's house. We have quite a crew when we're all together. It makes it fun though. It was so nice to not have to travel 3 hours this year.

Long time no blog....

Gosh so much has been going on I don't even know where to start. We had a good Halloween. Taryn dressed up at Dorothy and Madeline was a witch. Lots of trick or treating and candy. That was fun!

Hello again...

So, yep....it's been a while. So much has happened since I've written. It may take me a couple of posts to get it all down. We finally moved to Oklahoma on July 28th. We had awesome movers and they were a lifesaver!!! Moving is just so hard. There was still so much to do and get organized. So, we were in our new house for a week when Sean and I left for our cruise. It was soooo much fun! We spent our 10th anniversary in Cozumel. Wish we could do that every year. I'll put a few pictures on here later. We just got home from trick or treating and I'm worn out....I"ll write more tomorrow.

Ok, it's been forever since I've written on here. A lot has happened in the last month. We have finally found a house after looking at too many to even count. Our closing date is July 28th. I am anxious to get moved and settled in. We are having movers so that will be different.

Oh...this is my first attempt at sewing something since 9th grade !! She likes the dress so I guess that's what matters! I was proud of myself for actually making it though! Go me!! :)

Well I went ahead and opted to try getting a couple of shots in my shoulder. Hopefully that will help a lot. I got my first one a week ago and it has helped quite a bit. The shot itself wasn't nearly as bad as the last time I had one...maybe because I knew what to expect this time!

Mother's Day was a great day. Matthew gave me some of his own money towards my 3 day walk and a dozen roses. He is sooooo sweet!! Megan gave me a beautiful bracelet with everyone's birthstones on it. I love it! Madeline made me some really cute things and Shannon took care of Taryn for me. Sean took care of lunch, dinner, dessert and anything else that I wanted. I actually got to sit on the couch and watch a movie (Breakfast at Tiffany's) by myself!! It was GREAT!!! :)

The house that we thought we wanted ended up not being such a good deal after all. It needed a lot of work....more than we were prepared to do. So, back to the house hunting adventure. It is so very interesting to see what ideas people have for their houses. We have looked at so many houses now that we've really seen some interesting and strange things.

Well, I'm off to fun day at my daughter's elementary school. They have bounce houses, music blaring, food and all of that stuff. That mixed with K-2nd graders should be a BLAST! Wish me luck...

shoulder update...

Got my MRI results today. Basically they said that I have tendonitis and/or a small tear. So, I got my first of 2 cortizone shots. I HATE THOSE!!!! Anyway, if the second one doesn't help in a few weeks I guess it'll be surgery of some kind? I hope not. :(

Update

Well, it's been forever since I've had time to write.
A couple of weekends ago I spent an amazing couple of days in Washington D.C. with my Mom. We had a GREAT time!! These are a couple of my favorite pictures. What an awesome city!!!
Only a week left of school so the kids are getting really excited. I think we finally found a house that we all love so that's very good news!!! Well, gotta run...I"ll write more later.

Weekend

Well, I have been so busy. We went to Oklahoma last Thursday evening and came home late Saturday night. We did Easter stuff there on Sunday and had my Mom's birthday dinner and stuff. Her birthday was Sunday. Easter was a lot of fun. The kids and I had water gun and water balloon fights! We were all soaked and had a blast!! Oh yeah...fun news! I am going to Washington D.C with Mom on the 28th through the the 1st. I can't wait! So far I have a pretty long list of everything that I want to do. I don't think we'll be sleeping much. I went there on a school trip when I was 11 or so but never as an adult. So, it will be so much fun to see everything and actually appreciate what I'm seeing. I hope we can get in to see the White House.

Ear update...

Sunday I checked the back of Madeline's ear to see how it looked. Well, to my surprise I saw metal in the hole!! So, after holding her down screaming and arguing with the doctor about whether or not it was in there...that earring back was still in her ear!! Needless to say I was pretty mad about it! We had an appointment to go back to the dr. yesterday because of her running a fever all weekend. Come to find out..that was because she has strep. The doctor (a different one) told us to just see if we can work the earring back out of her ear ourselves at home so we don't have to put Madeline through that again. She is busy pushing on her ear trying to get that back out of there! I agreed to give it a couple of days to see if that would work. I sure hope so! She gets to go back to school tomorrow. I just hope no one else around here gets sick with strep.

Taryn

I measured Taryn a couple of days ago and she has grown 1 1/4 inches since February 28th!! Man, no wonder she's eating so much lately!!!

Taryn and Momma

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things that are on my table (how in the world do we ever eat there???) 1 A hammer I used last night. 2 Paper easter eggs that my daughter and I decorated with glitter yesterday. 3 Other daughters spelling and vocabulary lists for school. 4 Apple scented candle 5 Vanilla scented candle 6 Easter egg candy dish 7 Princess cup with flowers in it that my 3 yr old picked outside this morning. 8 Plastic deer 9 Sunglasses 10 Little people farm toys 11 Digital camera 12 Cell phone 13 Newspaper I carried in this morning. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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3 yr olds

I have had quite a few interesting conversations today with my 3 year old. They have consisted of...why do we have a house?....why is Lillie a dog?....why do we have a head?...and so many more that I can't even think of them all right now. I love to see her mind working and thinking about everything so hard! She is such a great kid! I LOVE getting to spend my days with her and seeing her learn so many new things instead of a babysitter. I am so very blessed to have a husband who works so hard to make that possible. :)

Ears

Yesterday Madeline came home from school telling me that her ear was hurting. Well, I looked at it and thought it just looked like it had a small bite on the side of it and didn't think much else of it. Well, this morning as I was putting her hair up, I noticed a huge scab on the back of that earring and the entire side of her ear was swollen. After serious struggling, I got the scab off. I couldn't see the back of the earring. I thought it was inside of her ear. So, this afternoon we went to the doctor so she could check it out. She basically said that Madeline wasn't leaving there with the earring in her ear. As soon as Madeline heard this, the very LOUD crying started! After sitting for 30 minutes with numbing cream on the front and back of the ear, it took 4 of us to hold Madeline down for the doctor to take the earring out. She was screaming like I've only heard in a horror movie!! Who knew that an 8 yr old could be so strong! What a horrible experience for both of us (more for her obviously). That was right up there with watching her cry as they wheeled her down the hall to have surgery. What an awful feeling. So, after all of that Madeline now has no earring in and 2 weeks of antiobiotics to take. Yuck! Not a great afternoon to say the least!

Family update...

Just a quick update on the kids...Megan is still working at Tia's and really likes it. She is more than ready for the summer and no school! She is still my sweet little Megan (most of the time..lol). Oh yeah, she wants to start going by her middle name...Elizabeth. I just can't seem to make myself call her that. It feels completely unnatural.

Shannon was going to be in the one act play for UIL contest at school. We were excited about that and then.....report cards :0 She failed algebra. So, needless to say, she didn't get to be in the play. She was so upset. Her next play is Sleeping Beauty. Can't wait to see her in that. I am really proud of the young woman she has become. She is really good on stage. She has come a long way from being quiet, shy little Shannon.

Matthew just finished up his first high school soccer season. They lost their last game by one point. He was bummed about that. He played really well. Now they are running and "conditioning" in class. He is coming home very tired and sore.

Madeline is learning to play basketball with our new basketball goal. She really likes that so maybe that will be her sport.

Taryn is busy being a horse or dog most of the day. She just goes nonstop all day long. Some days it's hard to keep up. Thank goodness she still takes a nap! She is really into horses right now as you can tell from her bday party pics. It is so funny to see her imagination working like it does. My baby is really growing up so fast! There are some days that I miss her being small enough to sleep on my shoulder or on my chest. I miss that snuggling....and then I remember the yucky diapers and am grateful we are done with those!

Sean is still in Okla. during the week. I really miss him. It's strange to be here by myself with the kids all week. He gave me the new basketball goal for my birthday. I thought it was so sweet for him to think of it. I had been saying that I wanted one to play with the kids on for a while now. The last time I was in Okla. I played basketball with my nieces and nephews. Sean said that as soon as he saw how much fun I was having, he decided to get me one. I love thoughtful gifts like that!

Weigh In

Well, I was super nervous about my weigh in today. I have not done so well on the diet for the last couple of weeks. I was happily surprised that my weight had stayed exactly the same. At least I didn't gain any! :)

Taryn's birthday!

Taryn opening her presents (her horse ears had no hair) lol!!

Cake time!!

After bobbing for an apple, Taryn ate hers like a true horse!

This horse is winning the race!

Her horse cake.

Madeline's birthday!

Miss Hilary Duff in concert!

Madeline getting her Hilary tickets.

Her hot dog and french fries cake (her favorite foods).

Madeline is 8 years old!!!

Birthday parties

Taryn is turning 3 tomorrow. I can't believe it! I feel really old right now. She is having a horse party. I have made a horse cake and am working on headbands with horse ears and mane...and also tails for the kids to wear. We are bobbing for apples and playing a carrot drop game. I hope the kids have fun. I"ll put pics on here later tomorrow.

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen games we like to play at my house

Uno
Uno Attack
Othello
Disney Monopoly
Life
Scrabble
Yahtzee
Candyland
Pretty Pretty Princess
Skip-bo
Clue
Cadoo
Gin Rummy

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Granny

Well, went to see Granny in the hospital today. It was not the visit I expected at all! She wasn't doing as well as I had hoped. She is being discharged today to a nursing home for 3 weeks of rehab. Those poor people don't know what they're in for!! She is very angry about being there to say the least!

My birthday was good yesterday (except for the year older part). The kids were really sweet. Megan gave me tulips (my favorites) first thing in the morning. Then she took me to lunch. We had cake after dinner and the kids gave me Son of a Witch that I've been wanting to read for a while. For Megan's gift, she is pledging money to the three day walk. I am so lucky to have great kids!!!

Update from the weekend...

Well, what a busy weekend we had. The kids and I went to Oklahoma on Friday evening. Saturday was Madeline's 8th birthday. Sean and I spent about 5 hours house hunting with the realtor. I don't know how that can be soooo tiring!!! We got home, had dinner, did birthday stuff with Madeline and got to bed pretty late. Sunday we did birthday stuff again with my Dad because Thursday is his birthday. Since we weren't going to see him, we just did it early. We didn't leave to come home until almost 6pm. It was a looonnngg weekend!

My Granny (Dad's Mom) fell over the weekend at her house and broke her hip. She is in the hospital. I'll be driving to see her sometime this week. It's about an hour one way so not sure what day I can go but I will get there!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things that Christina wants to do 1. Survive walking 60 miles 2. Go to Italy 3. Go to Jerusalem 4. Go to New York City with no kids in tow. 5. Learn to ice skate 6. Get my real estate license. 7. Take a photography class. 8. Run an entire 5K race. 9. Be debt free. 10. Build something. 11. Learn (again) to play piano. 12. Go to the Oprah show. 13. Buy a sailboat. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

GO ME!!!

I lost 1.8 lbs last week which brought my total to 15 lbs. I was so excited because I was going to be happy if I had just stayed the same and not gained. So, I was thrilled with any loss!!

Weight Watchers

I am a little worried about my weigh in today. After eating out for two days when we were in Houston I'm not sure how I"ll do today. Wish me luck!

Breda Francis

I just took my dog Breda to the vet to have this spot on her ear checked out. It turns out that it's a tumor of some kind. She has to have it removed on Monday the 27th. The vet will then send it off to see if it's cancer or not. :( I sure hope not! Poor little Breda.

Trip to Houston!

Well, we made it to the Hilary Duff concert. It was a lot of fun. We traveled 4 1/2 hours to Houston to see her so I'm glad my daughter was so excited! After standing in several lines for shirts and everything else we could find to buy with her picture on it...we got to see her sing for an hour. Madeline was so excited when she came out that she started to cry. I wish I would've taken a picture of her face when Hilary came out on stage instead of trying to get a picture of Hilary. It was priceless!!! I really enjoyed seeing her so excited. I like Hilary and do listen to her from time to time but have never been a HUGE fan like Madeline. I have to say that I like her more now that I've seen her perform in person than I did before. She sounded great live....I was impressed! Anyway, I"ll put pictures on here later. On the way home we spent the afternoon in Spring, TX. We walked around Old Town Spring. It was really great! Then we drove the loooonnngg 4 1/2 hours home...in the rain this time. We both loved Houston, Spring and The Woodlands.

YAY!!!

I bought a pair of jeans today in a smaller size! It still isn't the size that I want but at least it's down one from the last time I went shopping. Tomorrow is my last day at work....finally! That is very exciting! Two days until our trip to Houston and Hilary! We just have all kinds of excitement this week!!!!!

Kids...

Ok, so this whole grown children moving back home thing is a lot harder than I thought it'd be. My 19 year old daughter is living at home again after being on her own for a year or so. She left the house today and said "I'll be back in about 2 hours".....that was 5 hours ago!! I know, I know...she's 19! I still worry and would at least like a phone call or something! Is that really too much to ask for?

Tickets

I couldn't stand the suspense anymore so I broke down and gave my daughter her Hilary Duff concert tickets today. We made up this whole scavanger hunt for her to find them. She wasn't as into that as I thought she'd be. So, she finally gets to the tickets...squeals for a second and then says "oh man, does this mean I'm not having a swimming party?". I couldn't believe it! I was crushed! :( Maybe this tells me that my kids are so spoiled that they just don't appreciate things!
She got a little more excited when I told her she would miss school and we would be staying in a hotel. But, it'll be a blast I'm sure. She'll be excited when we get there, (she'd better be anyway) :)

The 3 Day walk

I have finally set up my webpage for the 3 day walk.

www.the3day.org/Dallas06/christinalea

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Christina 1 I have had 11 jobs from age 15 to now (32). 2 I have lived in 2 states. 3 Besides the 2 I've lived in, I have been to 9 states. 4 I have brown eyes. 5 I am VERY moody sometimes. 6 I know a lot of people but have one best friend. 7 I love Oprah and Dr. Phil! I think they are both the greatest! 8 I watch 2 soap operas (Passions and Days of Our Lives) when I have a chance. 9 I am about to start training for the 3 day walk for breast cancer. 10 Two people who I try to be like are my Meema and my Mom. They are the greatest women and role models that I will ever know. 11 I have all of the Everybody Loves Raymond seasons on dvd. 12 My favorite show that is still on tv is Grey's Anatomy. 13 A drink that I cannot live without is Diet Mt. Dew. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



The 3 Day walk

I must be crazy because I really want to sign up to do the Susan Komen 3 day walk for breast cancer. It is 60 miles over 3 days. I think it would be a life changing experience and am determined to do it. I have to raise quite a lot of money so I'm not sure if I can do that. I am going to start their training schedule since it's not until October. I will need every bit of that time to get ready for that! I can't wait!! :)

Thursday Thirteen

Ok, so I was going to try and do the Thursday Thirteen EVERY week. I obviously didn't make it. I had a horrible migraine. After Ibuprofen, Execedrin Migraine and a cooling patch stuck on my forehead ( a hilarious sight), it FINALLY went away just in time for me to see the ice skating. That is about the only thing I like to watch in the winter olympics. I'll try for the 13 once again next week.

Our little birthday girl...

Lillie Mae is one today!!

Hilary Duff

Well, I am so excited!! I got tickets for my daughter and I to see Hilary Duff in concert in Houston on March 16th. So, that'll be her birthday present. We're gonna go on Thursday morning, concert that night, spend the night and maybe do something there before we come home on Friday. It'll be so much fun! I am going to try to keep it a surprise until that week or as long as I can. I am so bad at that!!

cold

It is sooooo cold here today!! The high was 21 and the wind chill is 3! That is the coldest that it's been all winter. Very strange weather. I was at Wal-Mart yesterday and they had all of their winter stuff (hats,coats,gloves) back out....right by the swimsuits. That's Texas weather for ya!!

My two little Hilary Duff fans!!

Thirteen Things about Christina 1 When I was born my Mom wanted to name me Chrissie!! Luckily, Dad protested. 2 I grew up Church of Christ and now am baptized Catholic. 3 I was 23 when I married my husband and with that I got 4 stepchildren who all moved in with us....talk about shock of my life!!! 4 I am very lucky that my stepchildren are great kids and I love them like my very own. Can't imagine life without them now! 5 I have lived in Texas for almost 11 years. 6 I have only had 3 serious boyfriends and married the third one. 7 My parents are still married and have been for 36 years....very rare these days! 8 I love to make things....cakes, crafts or whatever creative thing I can do. 9 I have this secret passion for taking pictures and love to think that I could be a photographer someday...something I've wanted to do since I was a little girl. 10 I am thinking of signing up for the Susan Komen 3 day walk that's in October. 11 One of my goals this year is to run an entire 5k race....absolutely no walking. 12 My kids and I can spend hours playing UNO Attack!! It's a really fun game! 13 I have about 3 more weeks of working. It will be my first time without an outside job of some kind in 17 years. It's gonna be so weird! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



resignation

Ok, so I have officially given my resignation at work. They were shocked when I told them that I wasn't coming back. I am excited but also really nervous about it. I guess it's just hard to leave after 8 1/2 years somewhere. But it is definitely time for me to move on. I thought my last day would be the 28th of this month, but, now they need me to stay longer to train someone. Yuck!! I hate doing that. I've done my job for so long that I don't even have to think about it anymore.... I just do it. So, it's hard for me to explain it to someone. So, I guess I'll be working a few weeks longer than I thought. Oh-well, I can stick it out a while longer.

Dad

Yesterday Dad was out feeding the mules and one of them kicked him in the chest. Luckily he had his cell phone with him. He called and the ambulance came and took him to the hospital. He has 2 broken ribs now to go along with his back injury. He's just in great shape!! He was just starting to feel like being up and around all day after his back surgery and now this! Poor Dad....he has the worst luck. I'm just glad it didn't kick him in the back....can't imagine what that would've done. My first thought would've been that the mule had to go and he just said that he (mule) was just being frisky and playing. He's a lot nicer about it than I think I'd be if I had 2 broken ribs. But I guess if you have animals you always take the chance of something like that happening. I'm just glad he's ok. So much for him and Mom's Valentine's Day. I guess she got a trip to the hospital. :( Last night when I called...he was up cooking dinner for her. I thought that was really sweet considering his condition.

For our Valentine's dinner, Madeline and Taryn ate my attempt at heart shaped pizzas for dinner at their "restaurant" table complete with a rose and heart glasses of course.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Well, we have had a great Valentine's Day so far. I just got the kids a few small things and some candy. Madeline and Taryn were thrilled with their baby bratz with hair. Taryn's has been everywhere today! Sean brought me a lot of flowers.....roses and daisies. They are really pretty! Of course, Taryn thought they were for her....so she got a couple of the roses for herself in a small vase. Matthew has a soccer game tonight so no romantic outings for us....oh well...some other time.

job

This has been a pretty quiet week around here. My job is going full time again as of March 1st. After much discussing, my husband and I decided that I would give my resignation. It is just so hard when I don't get home until 5:30 every day....especially with him being out of town during the week. I am VERY nervous about it for some reason which is weird because it's what I've wanted for a long time. I think it's just that I've always worked and had my own money. So, that will be a little strange for a while I guess. I am also very excited. It'll be nice to just get to concentrate on my kids and home for a while. I am very lucky that my husband agrees with me.

Keno

Ok so I played Keno last night for the first time. We had a blast! There were 16 of us there and a lot of pina coladas going around so it got a little loud and crazy and was sooo much fun! :) I tried and tried to get these really awesome crosses for the wall. I had them 3 times within our last 30 minutes of playing when we could take each others gifts. With 3 minutes to go....someone won a game and took them from me! Just my luck!! I ended up with a cute Valentine's bathroom set with towels and a soap bottle which was super cute! I am taking the kids to see Yours, Mine and Ours later today. I hope it's good or I will fall asleep!

My husband has just spent his first week working in Oklahoma. He'll be home tonight for the weekend. I have really missed him. It's kind of nice to have a chance to miss him sometimes. We get along so much better when we're not together all of the time and we both have our "alone" time. We'll see how it is working a couple of months from now!!! It may just be long enough so that when we do live together all of the time again...we drive each other crazy. I kind of get into my routines with the kids and sometimes have a hard time with him coming home and changing that. I will work on that more and remember that he is working hard so that I can stay home with the kids. I need to show him a little more appreciation. On a different note.....I'm going to a friend's house tonight to play keno. Have no idea how to play it but it should be fun......friends, games and food.

Wonders never cease.....my husband and I actually got to go out last night. It was fun. He's leaving this week to go to Oklahoma for work and will basically be staying there for several months. He is always gone alot working but is home every night at least. This will be quite an adjustment for the kids and I since he will only be home some weekends. Well, we will all be so busy that the time will fly by I'm sure.

I'm listening to an old Tesla song that I downloaded. Sure takes me back in time...

I found this and thought it was the greatest!!

This is Breda Francis....my little Keeshond angel.

Kids...

The last couple of weeks have been so crazy! I have had one child sick with a sinus infection, one sick with ear infections, one who has given me a $1300 cell phone bill, and a husband who has been out of town most of the time for the past month or so!! I need a vacation!!

Bon Jovi

He's just sooooo dreamy!! :)

The Concert!!!

The Bon Jovi concert was last night. It was awesome!!!! I loved it! We had great seats. When he first came out....he was really close...I'm guessing about 15-20 ft away from us. We about fainted!!! He sang the first song there and then walked right in front of our seats. It was soooo great. He looked wonderful as usual. My sister and I had a great time. My throat was sore from yelling so much. They sang for 2 1/2 hrs and it was soooo AWESOME!!! Worth every penny.

Thirteen Things about Christina 1…. I have 5 kids ages 19, 16, 14, 7 and 2. 2....I have been married for 9 years. 3....My favorite drink in the world is diet Mt. Dew. 4....I have only lived in Texas and Oklahoma. 5....My family has 3 pets...a Pomeranian named Lillie who is almost 1yr old....a Keeshond named Breda who is 11 yrs old....a parakeet named Hilary (after Hilary Duff of course). 6....My absolute favorite holiday is Christmas. 7....I am 32 years old. 8....I played the flute in band and took piano lessons. 9....I want to finish school to be a teacher. 10...I LOVE Bon Jovi!! 11...My favorite restaurant is The Olive Garden. 12...My best friend's name is Leslie. 13...I am a middle child. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

This was the picture for our Christmas cards. The kids thought it was kind of silly but I really liked the way it came out. The card said "The Season's Greatest Gifts" at the top. I loved it!

Bon Jovi!!!

The Bon Jovi concert is now only 4 days away!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Natalie and I are going....Julie has decided not to go this time. But we will still have a blast! Can't wait to get into my new t-shirt and act goofy! I LOVE BON JOVI!

jogging...

I started jogging with Leslie tonight. We only made it one mile. But considering that we haven't been in several months....guess that was okay for the first night. I feel really good about doing it!!! :)

Note....new favorite song of the moment is "Must be doin something right" by Billy Currington!!!

It's Friday...YEAH!!!!!

Thank God it's Friday!!! The kids went back to school on Tuesday. We are just now getting back into our routines so needless to say, it's been a loooonnngg week. I don't know why we can't seem to stick to routines when they are out of school seeing as how I know that they will be going back in 2 weeks. Taryn is at the babysitters house today so I can have a day off. So, on my agenda.....grocery shopping, taking down Christmas tree and cleaning house. Fun, Fun! Actually I kind of like doing that stuff when I'm alone because I can blast the stereo and no one cares. So, I am going to get off of here and go enjoy my day!!

These are all of my wonderful kiddos!! 

The joys of working with food...

Megan just got home from her 3rd day of work as a waitress in training. She was so excited because she is through with training as of tonight. She is NOT excited about smelling like food. When she walked by me the smell of mexican food almost knocked me out of my chair!! She is very upset because she thinks it smells like b.o. So, I'm sure this will be an ongoing distress because she is sure people will think she smells bad!!!

Ear piercing!

My 7 yr old Madeline has had her ears pierced just a few weeks short of a year. She still will not let me change her earrings! It is so frustrating. She always asks for new earrings but will not let anyone touch her ears. I can just put my hand up by her ear and not even be touching it yet and she starts whining or crying! It is crazy! I told her this morning that she could just wear those earrings for the rest of her life!!! My 2 yr old Taryn wants her ears pierced soooo badly! She asks about it all of the time. One day I heard myself saying to her "when you get a little bigger then we can go get holes in your ears". If you think about that for a sec...that is the weirdest thing to be saying to someone!

I am so lucky...

My oldest daughter Megan moved back home from college to go to the local college for the next semester. She has just started working as a waitress for the first time. She says it is the hardest job ever. Things that she tells me give me a whole new respect for people who can do that job. I don't think I could carry the huge trays without spilling food on someone! She also has to memorize the ENTIRE menu! I never realized that waiters and waitresses had to know the menu by heart. She was excited because they had to try everything on the menu. That was a fun perk!! It has been so nice to have her home again! I didn't realize just how much I had missed sitting down and talking with her at the end of every day. I am so lucky to have a relationship like that with any child of mine...much less my 19 year old!!

Kids are soooo funny!!

My two year old daughter Taryn is so hilarious!! Her sister Megan was reading her a book about the character Skippy Jon Jones. Taryn looked at Megan and asked if his name was supposed to be Jon Bon Jovi. Guess since I'm going to the Bon Jovi concert in a couple of weeks that maybe I've been saying his name more than usual or something. It is amazing and sometimes scary what kids hear that you don't even think about and that they remember everything!!!