Cyber Monday

Did some online shopping today.  I got some really good deals!!!  I love FREE shipping and coupon codes for an additional % off!!!!!  Whoop! Whoop!  Let the holiday mayhem BEGIN!!!!!

Made my first QR code!!!

I am so excited.  I have been wanting to try this for so long!!  I have known about QR codes in scrapbooking for years.  I tried it about a year or so ago and had problems loading my videos to youtube so I got frustrated and left it alone for a while.  I sat down last night and revisited this site on how to make a QR code.  The video is here (and thank you for sharing).  Followed the steps and voila!!!  Whoop whoop!!!  I have soooo many videos to upload to youtube.  Such a fun and interactive element to add to my projects.  Let the video taking and making BEGIN!!!  :-)

Currently

I am currently....

*tackling the never ending pile of laundry.
*grateful that Qman is feeling a lot better today.  We missed turkey day with the fam because he was not feeling well.
*loving that I am making time to be creative.  I notice when I do this I am happier and more productive.
*getting more excited as the month of December approaches.  Love this time of the year - the smells, the music of the holidays, the decorating, December Daily.  I am just so joyful about the holiday season.
*still eating leftovers from Thanksgiving.  I must say - I can cook!!:-)
*working on finishing OLW for 2015 (Oct & Nov) and WITL 2015.  No pressure at all, I have everything documented.  Just editing pics and trying to organize my albums.  Slow and steady...
*enjoying seeing my words on pictures, on my computer screen, in my notebook.  Love the sound of the keys as I type.  Love to write.

Holiday prep

Spent the past weekend shopping for the kids.  Cameron especially needed pants and shoes.  I would have usually shopped for turkey day way before now.  I shopped on Tuesday morning.  I got up at 6 am and hit Walmart first, then two Schucks stores looking for collard greens. :-) I then went to Aldi's.  When I finally got home it was a little after 10.  I then spent the rest of the day cleaning and cooking kale & collards.  I knew I had to get this part done since it takes the longest.  I still need to make a pan of stuffing (to keep at home), mac&cheese (2), and mashed potatoes.  Everyone is so excited about turkey day!

Next on the agenda - Black Friday shopping!  The question - should I go shopping after dinner on Thanksgiving?  I have started Xmas shopping SO late this year.  Usually, by this time I am pretty much finished.  What happened?  The kids stating (the older two) they don't really want anything except clothes and shoes.  What really happened - they asked for some big items of course!!!!:-)  Anyway, still contemplating on whether or not I'm going to venture out on Thursday or just wait til Friday.  I might answer my own question by seeing how much I eat and if I'll be able to walk at all. ;-)

Acts of Kindness

My oldest came home after spending the night at a friend's house.  He was telling me how much fun he had.  While telling his stories, he said that they'd all gone out to get something to eat at Chick 'fil a.  When his buddy's mom got to the window to pay for the food, the server working in the window told her that the car ahead of them had already paid for their food!!!  How awesome is that...just a random act of kindness from one stranger to another.

We went to the mall today to get some jeans and shirts for Cameron.  We were paying for our purchases when we started up a conversation about dress codes at school with the sales clerk who was ringing us out.  I'd been looking at some sweaters for our daughter when I said she can't wear those sweaters because they had pockets.  That comment started the conversation with the sales clerk.  When he'd finished ringing up our purchases he said that he'd give us a discount on our total if we purchased some cologne.  Now I'm not talking 10%,,  he gave us a discount around 30-40% off for buying a $9.99 bottle of cologne.  Our total went from well over $120 to around $90!!!  He told us after we'd profusely thanked him that he really appreciated kind and nice customers.  Just made my day!!!  When we left the store, Ryan and I told our two sons that a little kindness goes a long way. :-)  Love random acts of kindness.

Marriage is work

Marriage is the unwavering commitment of two people who put their own selfish motives aside for the greater good of the couple.  There are days when that is easier said than done.  To me, marriage is compromise, it's loving someone despite their flaws and shortcomings, its forgiveness, it's laughing at the stupid stuff, it's letting go and picking your battles.  The two things that kill a marriage: pride and not communicating.  I have learned in my almost 20 years of marriage (Whaaaah??? 20 years??) is that I am happier when my husband and I are talking about the hard topics, the stuff we don't always want to talk about.  Do we argue, absolutely.  Do we get through it - YES and more importantly, we are stronger!!  I am happier when I can put my pride aside and not hold a grudge and admit when I am being difficult.  Marriage is not about who is right, it's about facing hard and trying times TOGETHER.

Yesterday was one of those days.  We had a fight and for once in a loongggg time, we went to bed angry and hurt.  After walking around pretty much ignoring each other for most of the morning, I finally just went to hubby and we began our discussion.  We we honest and it was hard.  We got through it.  We're stronger because of that conversation.

I want to model a healthy relationship to my kids.  Just as much as I want them to see us hugging and kissing, I want my kids to see mom and dad having disagreements and arguments.  Of course, there are exceptions depending on the topic.  My kids have seen and heard us fight and I know it can be scary and a little unsettling for them.  We openly talk to our kids about this, telling them that it is normal for couples to fight and have disagreements.  We fight, but again more importantly we make sure that they see us make up too.  Marriage isn't all candle light and roses(though, of course that doesn't hurt :-)).  It is about two people making a commitment to one another every day to put in the necessary effort to make their relationship work. 

Love you HH!!!!

So glad we are doing this project again

We originally did this gratitude project in 2011.  It has been hanging in our kitchen ever since.  I do not know why we have not done this since then.  I am so glad I made the decision to do this project again this year.  There is something about listing what you are grateful for that just makes your everyday problems and worries go away.  The first time I did this project Q was 4 and I had to write his responses for him, he is now 8 and I love that he can write his own answers this time around.  Just love this project!!

I did not start this project at the beginning of the month.  I think that is just fine as long as we start - right.  We will keep doing this once a day until Christmas(or we run out of space, whichever comes first). :-)  Gratitude is good for the soul.

Prayers of peace and love....

Someone got new shoes

Took the kids to the dentist today.  Quentin went to the bathroom and was walking back to his seat when I noticed this green spot on the front of his shoe. Thinking he'd gotten gum on his shoe I told him to come here so I could remove it.  This is what I saw....

I had a talk with Quentin about letting his parents know when he has holes in his shoes. :-)  When we were finished at the dentist we went to buy some shoes!  He is now happily stepping in this pair.

Kids, gotta luv 'em. :-)

My beautiful daughter

She got her hair done today.  I got her to the braiding shop at around 8:15 am.  This was after I spent around 6 hours taking out her braids last night.  We didn't get to bed til after midnight.  My daughter is maturing into such a fabulous young lady.  I truly see her blossoming.  She has such a strong sense of who she is and is always asking questions about things she does not understand.  She is doing brave things like talking to her teachers about her goals for next year (honors classes).  She tried out for Science Olympiad with her brother.  She made the team as an alternate but found out a couple of weeks ago that she made the team.  Seeing her be courageous truly inspires me, I am so proud of her.  I love you my beautiful Sweetpea, you are one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

I am so grateful to have my dad in my life.  He is a constant source of strength and encouragement.  He is always there to listen to me, give advice, and to make me laugh.  I remember all the lessons he and my mom taught us as kids that still apply today.  Lessons about courage, knowing the difference between right and wrong, being strong and not following the crowd, all of these things (an many others)I now teach my children.
I once told my dad "If I was anything like my kids, I am so sorry."  :-)  Don't get me wrong, I have FABULOUS kids but there are some days..... whew!!!  I'll just leave it at that. ;-)  When my dad heard me say this he just laughed.  I've realized that over time fundamental lessons never change.  What my dad went through as a kid are the same things I went through and now my kids are learning those very same lessons.
Thought it was so cool that the kids called Grandpa before they went to school today.  The 'Pea was already gone, she likes to ride the school bus with her friends.  I took the boys to school so they got to sleep for an extra 30 mins.
Love my dad so very much.  He's always there for me.  Happy Birthday Dad!

FYI- He's the one in the black tee. :-)

Love this quote

This quote speaks to me.  I am working on this every day.  Some days are better than others but I am realizing that is also part of the journey.  Continuing to recognize what my fears are and getting comfortable with them, not letting the fear keep me paralyzed.  Learning to let go of my biggest fear - FAILURE.  Taking it one day at a time and trying to be more patient and loving towards myself.  Remembering that I am a work in progress.  Challenging myself to get more comfortable with being UNcomfortable and recognizing in doing so that is where growth occurs.

So Very Thankful!!!

This past weekend, Quentin wanted to watch Inside Out.  He'd wanted to see it in the movie theater when it first came out but that did not happen.  We had no idea what this movie was about except for what we saw in the movie previews.  We watched it with him and it was AWESOME!!!  Yes, I know I am talking about a kids animated film.  By the way, some of my FAVORITE movies are Disney films, but right now I'm getting sidetracked.   I even cried at the end of this movie.  We watched this movie at exactly the right time.  Let me explain...

Quentin had been struggling with the grief over losing MeeMaw for the last couple of days.  He would come home from school upset and crying or he'd just suddenly get upset at home.  We had talks about it being ok that he missed her and that it was ok to be sad and cry when you are upset.  So when we watched this movie it was so cool for Quentin to see another child going through tough times and the many emotions they could evoke.

After the movie, I asked him did the movie help him and he said YES.  He told me that sadness was ok to feel and you would feel better afterwards.  We had a talk about what it meant to be sad, joyful, angry, etc.  This movie was exactly what Quentin needed to help him see that being sad was and is a natural and normal part of life.  :-)