The Williams Family

WEDNESDAY BLUE'S

2012-02-15T15:17:00.004-06:00

I wasn't going to post anything today, but decided I would do a little.
Ed did end up going up to Eriana's school and surprising her with a balloon, candy and a singing bear-he had her call me. She was totally surprised, he said her face was glowing and she was grinning from ear to ear. I could tell in her voice that, she felt the love!!!
We ended up going to eat at Black Eye Pea last night, YUMMY. I must say that between Cheddars and Black Eye Pea, I'm torn. I love both places so much, the food is always GREAT! I like going out to eat with the kids and taking them places that have veggies for them, both of my girls eat pretty good for the most part, so anytime we go out to eat I like to take them places that serve "home cooked" foods.
I've been in a rut here lately, I've got a lot of stuff going on personally that is just weighing on me. I won't go into detail about it now but I'm in need of some extra prayer. Times like these I wish I was really close to my mom, so I could vent to her and get it off my chest. But, unfortunately I don't feel comfortable doing that with her. Maybe I can get with her this weekend and we can hang out and I can let my guard down and talk to her about my personal life????
Plus, to top it off my teeth have been giving me the blue's I'm so glad I found a dentist that can get me in Saturday morning because I love to eat and right now I'm having to eat on just one side of my mouth and it's driving me crazy. Ed thought it would be nice of him to tell me that, it might do me some good to not eat as much so I can lose a few pounds....Wasn't that just so nice of him???? NOT. MEN..........
On a lighter note, I was watching Wendy Williams the other night and she had actress Holly Robinson Peete on there, and Holly was talking about renewing her vows to her husband and she was talking about her relationship with Whitney Houston and she was saying how when she was in her 20's she was dating a guy and they had just broken up and Whitney Houston told her something to the effect of getting over it and it would be OK because she was a DUMB25. It was so funny when she said it and it made me think about the fact that I'm 28 years old and I for sure don't want to turn 30 or be in my 30's doing things and letting things go as if I'm a DUMB 25...meaning your years in your 20's should be learning experiences and don't take the "childish" things from your 20's into your 30's and so forth. If you get a chance to look it up online, watch the whole Wendy show from Monday night, Wendy also talked about her past history of drug abuse and how she and Whitney Houston shared that struggle. It was touching. Holly ended up surprising her husband with a little song for their 17 anniversary it was so sweet!
Let me add that its a whapping 72 degree's outside today, these past 2 days the weather has been wonderful. So I'm guessing no snow this way for is in the Dallas area. Well, that's about all that's going on this way. I've been horrible with taking pictures this week I haven't taken my camera out of my purse all week. Sorry, I know it's kind of boring to read or look at peoples blogs when they don't have any pictures up.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!

2012-02-14T10:52:00.002-06:00

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!!
Eriana and Erin both went to school today, we did Valentines cards for the girls classes and I bought a meat and cheese tray for Erin's class party. After taking Eriana to school this morning, I took Erin to Dunkin Donuts and we got donuts, juice and chocolate milk!! Ed is supposed to go suprise Eriana at school today and eat lunch with her and bring her balloons!! She's going to LOVE that!!

Weekend Recap......

2012-02-13T08:58:00.005-06:00

This weekend was pretty laid back for the most part. We ended up letting Eriana attend the Parents Night Out at ASI Gymnastics, she was beyond thrilled. They had the place all decked out in pink Valentines theme decor. The PNO was from 7:00pm-midnight. Ed, and I took Erin to the movies we went to go see Happy Feet 2, we were wanting to see The Muppet's but they were sold out when we got there. Erin enjoyed having us all to herself. She was a little upset at first after we dropped Eriana off, because she wanted to stay with her big "Sissy" but I just thought we was to young to stay at something like that by herself without one of us there with her. And, besides I wanted Eriana to get to do something by herself without having her sister there with her.
I have to make note that on our way to the movies, is where we first heard the news about Whitney Houston passing away at age 48. I didn't believe it at first, and then right when we were parking the car my mom called me, and was telling me she was watching it on the news. Such a great talent and such a beautiful voice she had. Of course it's sad when anyone dies.
Sunday, we hung out over to my parents house pretty much all day and then ended the night watching TV. I watched Real Housewives of Atlanta and Mob Wives.
I also watched a little bit of the Grammy's last night, and I must say that Adele took it home!!!! She racked up 6 Grammy's. I was so glad that pure talent won out all. She doesn't have to have all the gimmicky to her, she's just got pure talent and a wonderful voice and she seems so humble.

I also enjoyed Katy Perry's performance last night she, rocked it out for sure.
I was disappointed in Nicki Minaj's performance I thought she did horrible, I just think sometime all that cartoon, and "acting" is too much and last night it was too much.
Jennifer Hudson, I like her so much-she's got a great voice as well. She's just pure talent like Adele is to me. I think she performed her tribute to Whitney Houston wonderfully. She didn't go over the top and she didn't try to mimmick Whitney, Jennifer can for sure sing the notes but I like that she didn't try, she sung the song "I will always love you", and she sung it with patience and you could tell she was getting emotional but she manage to get through it.
So that was our weekend pretty muched we wrapped up Sunday night with the hubby and I getting into an argument-just a great way to go to bed right:) But, he woke up this morning as if nothing had happen last night. So I didn't bring it up again. I just love how men can get over arguments so quickly.........
We woke up this morning with rain and it's supposed to snow sometime this week, but I don't think it will. But, just in case I'm going to Walmart this afternoon to get a few things.

PROUD MOMMY OF 2 GIRLS

2012-02-10T12:06:00.008-06:00

I'm joining Kellys Korner today on working moms. I've been blessed to have been able to be a stay at home mom and a working mom. With my oldest I stayed at home with her for the first year of her life and began working shortly after she turned one. With my baby girl I stayed home with her for about 5months and then went back to work for a about a year and a half and then stayed at home with both girls from then until July of 2011. Both types of which are equally as important to your family and both play such an important part in your children's life.

I'm currently working temporary in the accounting field for a major Food and Beverage company. I started working here in July of 2011.
I have two girls ages 9 and 3 and now that they are getting older, it is important to me that I teach them about independence and being a productive citizen.
I'm a mom 24/7 no days off, my family comes first. Working outside of the home does not interfere with me being a mom/wife at all. I love being able to provide financially for my family it has been a blessing to us. I love that now I only work about 7 miles away from my house, so I can go eat lunch with Eriana everyday if I wanted to, I can go home on my lunch break and get dinner started if I wanted to. It's all about what works best for you and your family. I love knowing that by me working I'm securing my children's future. I love what working means to my families futures I've got money going into 401K, that I can use for my kids futures, who knows maybe I can assist them when they get older and possible married and give them their down payment on them a house as a wedding gift. This is just one of the many things that I enjoy about working, it provides choices and opportunities, which I feel are so important as a woman. I also think that my girls being older has helped me not feel any guilt about it, I hate to hear other moms say they feel guilty about providing for there families it's. It's all about balance and with EVERYTHING there is give and take. My daughter is in school during my working hours so she really isn't missing anytime with me, because she is at school.

I will add that my husband has pretty much worked night jobs, so we don't have the burden of childcare which has made life easier for us.
The choices WE have made for our family works for OUR family. There is no one choice that is better than the other, there is no one choice that makes you a better mom than the other. It just is what it is, and regardless we are all moms FULL TIME, weather you stay at home or you go to work or do both.

Me working hasn't effected our lives at all, I'm still able to go to the grocery store during the week, I'm still able to take my kids to any practice or program at their in, I'm still able to participate in PTA, classroom parties etc. I'm still able to talk to my kids, we do tons of stuff on the weekends, to be honest with you most people think I'm still staying at home with my kids because they don't notice a difference. I have no complaints I work because I have to provide for my family and so there's no second guessing it. Me coming to work during the week is not a "break" like I hear so many refer to it, as soon as I get to work I'm working and when I'm not buried in work I'm thinking about what I have to do, when I get home. I'm sorry but there are no breaks. You don't all of a sudden turn into a single person with no kids just because you are at work.

Me being at work is me taking care of my kids, while I'm at work. Again, it's all about balance and because I've done both I know that it's all about balance and my kids benefit from be being the best MOM I can be weather I work or not has no bearing on how I raise my children.
I think being that I've done both stay at home and work I have a better appreciation for both.
Just for fun, here are a few pictures of my office:

As you walk into my office

Hard at work, no time for socializing I've got spreadsheets to work on and yearly budgets to build:)

Hashbrown Casserole

2012-02-09T11:40:00.008-06:00

Last night was crazy busy for us. We made a trip to the cleaners to get Ed's jeans out, then Walmart to pick up somethings I needed for this recipe I wanted to try out. By the time we got home it was close to 7pm. I normally try to make sure I get the girls in bed by 8:00pm, but I knew that was not going to happen as soon as we got home because I still needed to make dinner.
This recipe I found on www.MommysKitchen.net blog and it called it perfectly, she said it's one of those recipes that you can put together on a busy night and my night was for sure fitting for this recipe. It was really good and I will for sure make this again. By the way it's KID APPROVED and HUSBAND APPROVED. The recipe is below I tweaked it of course to my liking, if you want the original recipe go over to Mommy's Kitchen blog to get it. We had strawberries with ours, I was trying to clean up the kitchen while it was in the oven so I didn't to use any more dishes. Besides my girls like strawberries and Ed just ate it by itself with picante sauce..YUMMY

Cheesy Hash brown Casserole:

1 - Ore-Ida bag shredded hash brown potatoes
1 - 8 oz container sour cream
1 - 10.5 oz can cream of chicken soup
1/2 - cup butter, melted
onion, chopped finely (about 1/2 a small onion)
1 - 16 oz package cubed ham ( I used 7 slices of lunch meat ham and cut it up into squares)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or a bit more if you like)

Stir all the ingredients together and add a little season for taste I used garlic powder and salt, pepper. Spray some Pam in your casserole dish and spread the mixture into your pan. This is optional but you can add a bit more cheese on top if you like, I recommend you add a bit more cheese I also lightly spread some bread crumbs on the top and cut 2 slices of butter and placed on top. Bake at 350-400 degrees for 45 min - 1 hour. Let cool a bit and serve.

SIDENOTE: Next time I think I might use Eckrich sausage, butterball turkey sausage or shredded chicken instead of the ham.

Laundry

2012-02-08T08:20:00.006-06:00

Well, last night was laundry night at our house...I know fun right:(
I was so behind on washing clothes it was pretty ridiculous. I hadn't washed in a few so it was well overdue. We got a new washer and dryer and so it made washing last night a pain because to me it seems much smaller than than the one I used to have, I know its capacity is much smaller, I normally can fit a full basket of clothes in the washer but with this new one I can only fit a little over half of it. So it made for that many more loads of clothes to wash & dry and of course the dreaded part of folding for me the worst is having to put them all up, for me it's the worst because we have WAY to many clothes than we have storage for.
But, the good thing is because I planned ahead and knew that last night was going to be laundry night I decided to cash in on the FREE pizza deal Papa Johns had given away to its rewards members. It had something to do with the Super Bowl coin toss, America voted before the game and the majority of the votes were heads so since America won, Papa Johns gave all it's rewards members a Free large one topping pizza and a free 2 liter Pepsi. It came in handy because I had pre-ordered the pizza online and had it delivered around 6:30pm, so I didn't have to worry about dinner last night. This way I could start my loads of laundry.

My family loves Papa Johns pizza, it's the best pizza out there in my opinion. So it was really nice to see something promoted/ advertised and it have NO strings attached. They actually did what they said they were going to do and it was no hassle at all and best of all it was TOTALLY FREE. Can't beat that.
So after I got the kids fed and ready for bed-I started laundry. I was up pretty late last night I don't think I went to bed until a little after midnight and guess what.... I'm still not finished with washing I've got about 4 more loads to go and then about 2 loads worth of bedding to wash, so I'll get to those today (hopefully). But, it wasn't that bad last night because it gave me plenty of time to catch up on my reality TV!! I watched a little bit of Teen Mom 2, my new favorite Dance Moms,The Game, favorite Orange County Housewives season premiere,and then I watched the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion.
Let me say I don't how I made it before DVR, I love being able to fast forward through the commercials and past the boring story lines.
On a different note, I found this new recipe Hashbrown casserole so I'm thinking about trying it out tonight for dinner, if it's good I'll post it tomorrow. I'm still on the hunt for new recipes and recipe blogs. I came across one yesterday called Mommy's Kitchen that's were I found the Hashbrown recipe.
Random:
I've still been working with Eriana on her discipline issues-it's been a struggle for me. I think I really narrowed it down to two things the one major one is following the directions THE FIRST TIME and the second is hard for me because I think it has something to do with how Ed and I are treating her she likes to be the center of attention, and thats hard for me because she brings so much drama with it that it becomes annoying sometime. We have to tell her often to calm down and relax and stop getting overly excited about nothing basically. Ed and I were talking about it the other night and so we are going to try to make some changes in how we deal with her in this area he feels guilty a bit, and of course I do to. I know he's going to try and make a date for just the two of them and I'm going to as well. Just to reinforce that she is special to us and she has a spot in this family and there is no need for her to "try" so hard for our attention because she's got it. I know that she is only 9 years old, but I can remember when I was a kid around her age, this is such a critical stage in her life these adolescences and pre-teen years. So I want to make sure we're giving her a good foundation and building her confidence in herself. Having two girls this is so important to me I want both my girls to have such a strong sense of who they are and have so much confidence that they don't have to look to anyone else to make them feel good about themselves.
ASI, sent me an email for the Parents Night Out their doing this weeked so I'm debating weather or not to let Eriana go, Ed and I don't have any plans but I'm thinking that this will be a good time to get out and do something together for Valentines. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't let Erin go to the PNO so if we did anything she would have to come with us, but it would be great for Eriana to get to hang out for a few hours and have some fun. And, a good chance for Ed and I to do a date night. I don't know I haven't decided yet, but I'm thinking eitheir way it would be nice for Eriana.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

2012-02-07T08:47:00.017-06:00

**I thought long and hard before posting this, but it fell on my heart to write it. So I hope everyone reading this will appreciate it or at least try to understand where I'm coming from with it, as I'm sure some will read it will like it or not like it. I'm not a political person AT ALL, I really hardly ever keep up with any of it, every time I try to listen in on the news weather it's Fox News, MSNBC, CNN etc all I ever hear are negative things and I choose not to listen to it. When it all boils down to it, its all about money, the have and the have nots, democratic or republican Point. Blank .Period. I've never been able to understand why in the USA there are still 2 parties Republican/Democrats it's one country AMERICA and shouldn't both parities have the same goals, and have ALL Americans interest at the heart of their campaigns. So for those reasons I've made the decision not to listen in on the proper gander of the news media a lot. I do try to watch all the debates, and make my decision on whom to vote for or route for during election time based on what I feel are the facts and with the person I feel truly as the American peoples interest as their priority, I believe everyone should be treated equal and every American should have the same opportunities dispute which "class" they fall under. **

In honor of Black History Month-I saw this picture and it brought me back a little.
Happy Black History Month, I hope everyone teaches their children about a part of history that isn't taught as much in schools as it should be.

This picture was taken at Martin Luther King Jr. funeral in 1968, its a picture of his wife Coretta Scott King holding their daughter in her lap.

This picture was taken a year or so ago, it's First Lady Michelle Obama holding her and President Barrack Obama's daughter in her lap at a convention.
Although, those 2 pictures where taken both during 2 very different times in history both stick me a little in their similarities
These ladies husbands are alike and yet these 2 men are so different and both have their own significant history making moments, they are similar and terms of what their accomplishments have meant to Americans and specifically African Americans. But, yet the roles they played in our AMERICAN history is different.

Whatever any ones political views and opinions are I really don't care.(I continue to believe that the country was headed for this financial down turn well before President Obama came into office.)
I LOVE to see the First African American family together, it's such a beautiful thing to see them interact together I love that their love for one another shows, and I think it's great for America to see this African American marriage shown in a positive way. And, I say that because with all the media on TV it's rare that I see black families shown in a positive light, and hardly do I see black married couples shown and seeing our President of the United States and his family, its what I've always pictured in my mind but hardly ever seen the media show. I'm not trying to ruffle any feathers but I do want to highlight it, not because he is the president and I vote for him :) Barack H. Obama is the 44Th President of the United States-His story is the American Story.

But, because of what their family represents to me and my life. I like that my kids and many other children out their can have a positive reference. I came from a 2 parent household,and all of my aunts and uncles are married and to be honest with you on both sides of my family I only have one aunt that has been divorced and that's out of 10 aunts and uncles. So marriage and family is important in my family and I personally value it. I love that my kids have that in their background they see it everyday with Ed and I, and with my parents. They see 2 parent households, and even though they are young their learning about marriage and partnership and how I feel God wants it to be as far as raising children. We ARE NOT perfect by any means but we all try and make it work. Having the President and his family in the for front is an added bonus and a good outside reference for me to refer to with my daughters.

When I look at our First family I can't help but see my own family....................

SUPER BOWL WEEKEND

2012-02-06T10:34:00.007-06:00

(I look a hot mess in this picture but, Erin was so cute in it I had to post it)

Let me start off by saying that I can't believe we are already into February already.
We had a pretty relaxing weekend despite it being Super Bowl 46, we were pretty chill at the house mostly. Saturday, Ed wasn't feeling to good so the girls and I headed out over to my parents house and stayed majority of the day over their house. I was wanting to take the girls to the duck pond in my parents subdivision but it was just too cold outside and with Erin still on the brink of getting better I didn't want to risk her relapsing.
On Super Bowl Sunday, we pretty much stayed inside the weather was still cold out, so I didn't make any plans. The girls and I went to Walmart, for a few things and then stayed in the rest of the day. I really needed to get Erin's hair washed and combed she had gotten her hair braided with the beads about a month ago so it was time for her a new do:) Ed, still wasn't feeling 100% himself, but of course he wasn't going to miss watching the game. So he headed over to his friends house to watch the game. I cooked spaghetti for dinner, after I got finished with Erin's hair and fed the girls and got them ready for bed. By, that time Ed was back at home. So that was our weekend-I must say I like weekends like that where nothing much going on. Erin, was too cute after I got finished combing her hair so I took some pictures of her!!

My mom did text me last night, wanting us to get together with the girls to do something so that will be nice. I must say that spending time with her alone just me the my kids is fun for me. I really like time with her.

It got me to thinking that I really need to set a day to spend with just Eriana and I, she in an around about way has been asking for some one on one attention from me, so I'm going to have to make sometime for just that. I can tell she gets jeolous of Erin, and it's hard for her to understand that a 3 year old needs a different kind of attention than a 9 year old; I don't ever want her to feel left out or that we treat Erin different than her. Eriana is my 1st born child and she will always have a special place in my heart, having Eriana taught me how to LOVE in a totally different way and so I need to show her that. She's sensitive and wears her heart on her sleeve, she's got such a loving and big heart for her age! I love her dearly-so I'm going to have to put us a date together just her and I very soon!!

Crazy Week

2012-02-02T10:55:00.005-06:00

Well I've been nursing Erin back to health this week, and I'm glad to report she is doing so much better. She's finally back to eating and she's not complaining about her throat hurting anymore.
Both of the girls had doctors appointments yesterday, Erin went for her follow up and Eriana needed to get her ankle looked at, she's been complained about it hurting and it appears that the bone structure, is slightly off. For Eriana she suggested Dr. Schols simply because at her age you don't want to do surgery unless you absolutley have to and besides, that she said bones only last on average 10 years (ha). Erin's throat was still a little red, but she's still got 5 days left of her antiboitics to take for the Strep. But, she has developed a pretty bad persistant cough so the doctor gave her a perscription for that, so I'm praying that gets all the way better before the weekend is over.
I just hate when my kids are sick, I'd much rather I be sick than them, I can't stand to see them not their chipery happy selves.
I wanted to remember were they are at size wise at this age:
Eriana weighs 77 Lbs
Erin weighs 37 Lbs
I've got two healthy beautiful little girls.

Hope everybody has a great weekend. I'm taking a break for the rest of the week and into the Superbowl Weekend, I'm not for sure who I'm cheering for but I'm leaning towards the Patriots for some reason!!!

Weekend Recap

2012-01-30T11:04:00.007-06:00

I don't know were to begin, I was so looking forward to this weekend, after what seemed like a long week. This weekend proved to be just the weather we had last week full of ups and downs.
First off, we had great weather the weekend, we even had a very good Saturday minus the fact that Erin has been battling what seemed like a cold for the past week or so,so we stayed at home, Ed and I had planned on going to a friend of mines birthday party she was having at this restaurant at the Galleria mall, but we ended up not going. Sunday, started off great we got out a little and then came back home. Ed took us girls out to Red Lobster for a early dinner and it was great!! We had such a good time together, the girls behaved for the most part....Of course anytime you go out to eat on Sunday's after church there's bound to be a long wait, we ended up waiting about 15 minutes before being seated, but it seemed a much longer. There were plenty of families out enjoying their Sunday, because there were plenty kids around. At Red Lobster there are Lobsters out front in the waiting area and so all the kids were amazed and occupied by looking in their tanks. The hostess was so sweet she got out one of the lobsters and let the kids pet it. I thought that was so thoughtful it brightened up all the kids faces. I had to take a picture.

(Eriana is trying to hold Erin on her hip, so that Erin can see the top of the water)

After, our dinner we headed home, Erin was well overdue for a nap, so Ed stayed home with her while Eriana and I headed to Target because I was going to finally get Eriana her game and Erin some jeans. So while I'm at Target, Ed calls me and says Erin woke up from her nap complaining about her throat being sore, this wasn't new information because she had been complaining about her throat for a few days and I just thought it was mainly due to her having a cold. But, I just had a weird feeling about it this time when he called and told me, so we checked out and headed straight home. When we got back home she was laying on the couch and I so we made the decision to take her to the Emergency Room. Long story short my sweet baby girl has STREP.
(Erin in the hospital bed:()

I could have cried when they told me that. I just hate for anything to be wrong with my girls, but to know that she has Strep and I let her go a few days with the pain, and I just sort of ignored her telling me that her throat was hurting and didn't take her to the doctor just killed me. I told the doctor that I was giving her Pedicare Sore Throat and Cough medicine for the past week, but I didn't even think she had Strep, I mean I've never had it nore has Ed or Eriana so I was just all turned around. The doctor assured me the Antibiotics she prescribed for her will clear it up in a few days. But, until then were being sure to give her lots of love and let her rest. She's a little trooper she was such big girl at the hospital, so I had to take a picture of her. So of course I spent last night and this morning researching Strep Throat and all the things that it says will make it a little less painful for my little one until the meds kick in. So any suggestions or info on this would from any blog reader will be greatly appreciated.
I'm so thankful that she got seen pretty quickly at the ER, I was expecting to have to wait to be seen for hours but we only waited about 20 minutes before they called us back in the back and put us in our room.
So now to top things off, while were sitting in the car at CVS, waiting for her prescription to be filled some IDIOT backs into my car, yes you read it right some idiot hit my parked car. The impact felt like major damage had been done, but when I got out and looked at my car, the only thing was he knocked my license plate off, I couldn't believe it-I can say thank you Lord. I just told the man to put my plate back on and that would be fine, being that there wasn't any damage I didn't see the need to call the police and make a big deal out of it. The guy keep apologizing, but I just told him, your lucky nothing is wrong with my car and that I've had a long day. Since Ed didn't go with me to CVS, I called him right when it happened before I got out of the car, but of course that was the time he didn't hear his phone ring so I had to make that decision on my own-when I got home he told me I should have called the police anyway, but like I told him there was no sense making a bigger deal out of something that was not a big deal, nothing was wrong with my car and the license plate that got knocked off the man put back on so, no big deal.

So that was my weekend, it's so funny how things can go so smoothly and the very next thing it's a bumpy road.

TGIF

2012-01-27T08:34:00.009-06:00

I'm beyond ready for the weekend, this week has been kind of long. And on top of that the weather we have had this week alone has been crazy, we've had a sunny 70 degree weather, bad thunderstorms, heavy rain, and this morning to top it off it was freezing outside. Texas weather sure is tricky.
Last night we made a trip to Walmart, I was looking for Eriana a game for her Leapster Explorer that we had got her for Christmas, and we needed a few grocery's so all was well until, checkout time.......Eriana was not following directions at all, while I was literally checking out at the counter she decided she would take the basket that was halfway full of grocery's and push it to the Nail Shop that's inside Walmart, it was just a mess-the other thing is I had already told her to help me put the grocery's in the basket, to keep herself busy. So when she looked over at me I gave her a look of DOOM, she came back over with the basket, and while she's pushing the basket back Erin decided she was going to crawl over into the back of the basket with the grocery's. I was so flustered, but I knew I couldn't let her get away with that behavior with no consequence, so after I got through checking out. I turned to her and said because of your behavior today in Walmart, I'm taking the game back so that's what I did we walked straight to the customer service counter and I returned the game I had gotten her. She was bawling out of control but it didn't phase me one bit.
I'm learning that with her I have to be more strict or else I'm going to have a little "DIVA" on my hands in a few years when she becomes a pre-teen. Its something I've got to work harder on, I know but it's much needed. I think I'm worried about hurting her feelings to much, or embarrassing her but after last night I've got to do better as a disciplinarian with her, I know it's not to late, but she's got a learned behavior that I've accepted and it's going to be hard to break it. So I'm saying a few extra prayers at night about being a better parent in that area with her. I've learned however because I've started young with Erin, and she seems to be almost perfect in the behavior area, she listens to me, she says yes ma'am' but I have noticed that when Eriana gets in her mode, that Erin will start to be influenced by that behavior and tries to test me, and that's what I'm afraid of I don't want Eriana's behavior right now to rub off on Erin, so I've got to get it together with her. I just needed to get that out, I don't know if this is just normal for 9 year old girls behavior but I'm thinking it's NOT. I just want my girls to be well behaved and not just when I'm around but when I'm not. I also just want Eriana to learn respect for me and that by her actions I'm trying to teach her that by not doing what I ask of her, that's disrespectful to me.

I'm understanding now at this point in my life as a parent, exactly what my mom used to tell me and heck what she still tells me. I'm not your friend I'm your mom and I understand that so more than ever now, it's not a bad thing to be their MOM, because although I love you more than ANYTHING and ANYONE else on earth, I'm your mom first and foremost,I don't want you to treat me like your friend, because under that MOM umbrella is friendship, but not the same kind as the ones with your outside friends. I'm your MOM first and a friend second. I don't really care about being your good friend, I want to be your Great Mom.
On another note, later that night I didn't feel like cooking after the whole Walmart trip so the girls and I went to The Waffle House for dinner, it was nice to have that time to sit and talk to Eriana about her behavior and my expectations, I feel like I have to keep reminding her of these things because she's obviously forgetting them:(. So we ate our breakfast for dinner:) and headed home, thankfully the restaurant is right around the corner from our house, so they didn't get to bed too late, just a little past there normal bedtime.

This weekend we don't have too much planned, I've got an appointment in the morning, than after that I'll probably got to my parents house since I'll be on that side of town. Then maybe do a little shopping, I need some shirts and 1 more pair of good fitting jeans. And Erin needs some jeans and tights.

Its Raining Its Pouring.....

2012-01-25T16:52:00.004-06:00

It started raining yesterday at around 5:30p, and didn't stop until about 9:00am this morning. We had thunderstorms all night long-it made for some good sleep!!!
The rain didn't stop us from getting out last night, we've decided to try ASI Gymnastics, I just let Eriana do it for now, last night they had a mini cheer camp, which was great they got to do hand motion techniques, and power tumbling. I thought Eriana did really well. But, when we got back home I was talking to her about it and she said that she would rather do dance. So now I'm starting to look again for another dance studio, I'm hoping I can find a really good one that both of my girls can go to.
Erin didn't mind too much waiting and watching her "sissy" practice-but she did want to get out on the mats and do some jumps of her own:) So, I'm going to have to get on the ball, when it comes to finding them a dance studio.
I was watching Dance Moms last night on DVR, and that darn Abby Lee is hilarious, I don't see how those moms put up with all that.
This is the only picture I took last night, and it's with my phone so it doesn't show good at all.

Not much planned for the rest of the week, just trying to stay dry-this Texas weather has been something else these last few weeks, its driving me crazy with how much it keeps changing.

Beautiful Girl

2012-01-23T09:19:00.008-06:00

We had a beautiful weekend, here in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area this weekend. I believe we peeked at 75 average for Saturday and Sunday. Very unusual for January, but I wasn't complaining I loved it. We aren't very out Dorsey people but we did manage to get out and I took s few pictures of my beautiful girls.
Saturday Ed, I and the girls headed to Town East Mall to do a little shopping, I was looking for something to wear to my sisters birthday dinner. But, after that we headed for a late lunch dinner at KFC, we ended up getting it take home mainly because Erin hadn't had a nap and she was starting to get a little fussy.

Dinner, for my sisters birthday was quite the event, we were originally going to go to Iron Cactus downtown, but my sister somehow forgot to make reservations, so when we get there it's like a 2 1/2 hour wait....So we ended up going to Pappadeaux off of Oak Lawn restaurant district were we proceeded to wait about 2 hours, due to no fault of our own. Lets just end that by saying after my conversation with their manager, our party of 5 ended up getting free appetizers and pretty much personalized service the whole night.My special note to the Hostess there that night... "The customer is ALWAYS right". Side note: I'm sure us waiting in the bar area drinking, for those 2hours didn't make the situation any better.

I was looking over the pictures I took of Eriana over the weekend and I was kind of just starred at them for a while in awww, just looking at how she is growing up. She is 9 years old and she is starting to look like a young lady. She's so pretty and I'm so proud of her. I was thinking to myself how she is going to be as a teenager, I'm nervous. She has so much attitude and she knows everything:) So, I'm praying that we are teaching her how to be respectful to herself as well as to others.

Both, of my girls are growing up, and it just makes my heart smile. I hope and pray I'm teaching them everything they need to know about how to be a young lady.

Big Sister

2012-01-19T14:30:00.009-06:00

I'm talking about my sister and I. Today is her 33rd birthday, we are celebrating Saturday with some of her friends for dinner and drinks. I'm excited about going-I haven't been out in awhile for some ladies fun.

My sister is so sweet by nature, she would give her very last if you needed it. She loves the Lord and is a really good person. Besides, her being the mom to my favorite niece (my only), she's a nurse at a well known hospital here in the DFW area.
My sister is a single mother who has beat all the statistics out there, I don't want to put all her business on this blog, but all I will say is that she had my niece at a VERY young age, and has done it on her own, with the help of our parents. My niece has for sure broken what "society" would call the cycle (that doesn't exist in my opinion). My niece is in her senior year of high school and is currently holding the #2 spot, at Desoto High School. This is no small task being her school is a major large ISD in DFW, she has always ranked between 1-3 since she got to HS. I will post more on that toward the end of her school year.

But, kudos to my sister for not letting her circumstances when she was a teen dictate what her life would be. So that's why I HATE stereotypes and statistics because I've seen living proof that those things don't have to be. I always believe in the IMPOSSIBLE because so many "others" thought my sister wouldn't graduate HS after getting pregnant at 15 and having my niece at 16, but in fact she graduated a year early from HS and with Honors. "They" also said that she wouldn't make it through college, but in fact she went to college and then nursing school, and now she is an registered Respiratory Therapist nurse. "They" also, said that my niece would continue the cycle of teenage pregnancy, well in fact she is a proud VIRGIN and loves the Lord and has such a good head on her shoulders is AMAZING. So to the "THEY" of the world nothing is IMPOSSIBLE and please don't judge a book by it's cover so to speak.
I pray that God brings her a husband one day soon and that she has all the happiness and love she deserves. You see my sister doesn't complain about life, she has been pretty blessed in her life. She chooses to smile and take action in her life, she is strong willed, INDEPENDENT, and Successful and worthy of the best in life.

Although, my sister and I couldn't be more different, we aren't total opposites but we are different, in almost every aspect. I really think that has a lot to do with our age difference. We are about 5 1/2 years apart I'm 28 and she 33.
I often wonder about my girls and there age difference and whether or not it will play a factor in their relationship with each other as they get older. My girls are 6 years apart in age and although I like it most of the time, I do hope that it won't be a major factor in their relationship with one another. I so want them to be best friends-all they have are each other. I try my best to raise them that way, and to tell them that every time they are screaming and fighting with each other:)

You see our parents never really made it a point to make sure me and my sister made that sisterly bond and so as we each got older we kind of just went our own way, we aren't as close as I wish we were. But, we love each other non the less-She's my big sister and I know she wants the best for me as I do her.
I love you Tish and Happy Birthday.

Wordless Wednesday......

2012-01-18T17:47:00.004-06:00

Love these two little girls!!!!

Weekend Recap

2012-01-17T09:06:00.000-06:00

We had a very good weekend, Saturday we headed over to my sisters house and went to North Park Mall, with her and my niece and did a little shopping.

Then, afterwards my girls and I headed home, we left the mall a little early because Eriana has hurt herself earlier that morning so I needed to get to CVS and get her some Neosporin and I wanted her to really rest.

Sunday,we stayed in most of the day until around 2pm, and then Ed wanted to take us out to eat so we went to Furrs. We had a really good lunch/dinner there. Then we headed home and it was rest and relaxion the rest of the evening. I like being home Sunday, because on Oxygen (i think) they show marathons of the show SNAPPED and I love watching that. Pretty laid back, nice family time weekend, I really enjoy those types of weekends.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2012-01-16T08:53:00.004-06:00

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

This morning was great, Ed and I woke up and watched the MLK "I Have a Dream" Speech, and while we were watching it the girls woke up. So of course Eriana had tons of questions to ask. We were happy to answer her. I think it's sad that they don't teach Black History in schools, there is so much history there that just talking about it for one month in February really isn't just.
It made her a little sad when I was telling her how things used to be, for Black people she can't even imagine what it would be like if she didn't go to school with black, white, Hispanic, Chinese and ect. We were giving her examples of how things were before the Civil Rights movement and how things have changed since then. I'm a strong believer that ALL races of children should know the history because it carries on into this day and age, the hurt that some feel still today and the mistreatment by some. I know that racism is still alive and I don't want my children to be blinded by thinking that it's not.
But, I also don't want them to grow up and assume things about people, I try to teach them that you can't judge a book by it's cover you have to form your own thoughts and opionions about people for yourself, based on what they show you.
And, I have said this to Eriana plenty of times, its something that stuck with me the momement I heard Oprah Winfrey say it, she said "When people show you who they are BELIEVE THEM" I think thats's so true and I tell my daughter that often, because I think it's something she will need to know later on in life, being a young girl, teenager, and young adult. "When people show you who they are Believe Them".
I have some work to do today, so Ed is taking the girls to the MLK Parade at Fair Park, I so wish I could go with them. But, I know they will have a great time. I'm also wishing I would have reminded him to take the camera. But, I know this will be a great memory they will have with their dad.
So I hope everyone takes a little time out of your day today, to teach your children something about our history and to talk to them about Martin Luther King Jr.

RANDOM

2012-01-12T09:05:00.008-06:00

*Warning, this is a long post, I just wanted to document where I am right now in my thoughts. So if you read this blog till the end there will be a yummy surprise at the end*
I'm not one to ever worry about my age and getting older, but that could only be because I'm 28!! But, since the New Year I've been thinking a lot about where things are in my life and where I want somethings to be. I'm a Woman, Wife, and Mom. For me being a Mom is the most important job I have and making sure my children are very well taken care of in all aspects. I'm know that I'm doing a good job with them and I don't need validation from anyone telling me I am. But, with that of course I worry about everything when it comes to them and I want to make sure that they have the very best I can provide for them.
These past few weeks of this year I've made a mental list of some of the things I hope to accomplish this year in regard to my family. I'm not wanting to sit on the sidelines so to speak I want to get out and put things into motion. I like an instant fix (don't we all), but I know that life doesn't work that way. You have to put the hard work in, in order to get the best things out.

We moved about 6 months ago and I'm so glad we did it has been one of the best choices we have made for our family's. I would not be telling the truth if I said I wasn't worried about but others would think, about us going from our house. But, I knew deep down that it was the best choice for us, long term. It has paid off in so many ways and not just financially. Of course having the extra money is great, I've got the ability to do extra things for my girls and the peace of mind that it has brought has been good. But, there are so many others great things that have come out of the move as well.

The only thing is here lately, it's been on my mind to get into another house again. I mean it has really been on my mind, I've even started looking online at house to buy. So I'm praying that God will lead and direct me in the correct path so that I will know when it's the right time for us to jump back into that again.
I know I've got some work to do on my end, before this can happen but I'm willing to put in the work and remove everything in the way that's getting in the way.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about my kids behavior especially my oldest daughter and I want to make note that things have gotten a little better. I've tried to stay consistent and mean what I say and that has gone a long way. I'm still a work in progress :)But, I think if I keep it up, I'll see her behavior with me improve. Her main thing is not listening and doing what I say when I say it. Which isn't all that bad, but I don't want her thinking that when she is 16 she doesn't have to listen to me because she knows I won't follow through with punishment. So, I should say WE are a work in progress. I've also realized that I want my kids to know what I expect of them, so that they know if they don't meet the expectation there will be a consequence. It's weird because last night I told Erin to stay at the table and eat her food and stop getting up, and if she got up again I would put her in her high chair...So of course she got up again, and I repeated/ threatened the same thing and Eriana goes " Mommy how come you didn't do it" I said "what" and she goes "you said you were going to put her in the highchair and you didn't"-this was such an eye opener for me last night, because I knew right then that I have to MEAN WHAT I SAY WHEN I SAY IT. All I could do was smile at her and say I know "mommy needs to do better ugh??" She smiled...Kids are so smart these days and we don't give them enough credit. It's up to me, to make sure my children are well behaved and listen when their supposed to. It starts at HOME, and I can not expect for them to behave outside of our house when I don't give them expectation that it has to be done at home. So I'm praying for God to help me be a better disciplinarian to my kids, because the need it and it's for their betterment.

On another note, I made my very own little recipe last night and it turned out YUMMY!! This dish was a hit with my girls and my husband I mean he enjoyed it so it was all gone. I love making meals like this that everyone enjoys. I'm not good at putting these recipes together on here, put here it is:

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole
Cook and Shred about 4-6 chicken Breast (season while you cook the chicken)
Mix a tablespoon of Mayo and 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup together
Boil to soften 1LB of Broccoli (I use frozen cut), Drain
1 bag of Cheddar Shredded Cheese
Mix in a large boil all the ingredients together, and spoon into a baking pan-
Top with Crescent Rolls and bake on 350, until the crescent top is done/brown.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY.......

2012-01-11T12:55:00.002-06:00

Recipe and Reality T.V

2012-01-09T08:57:00.008-06:00

I've still been trying new recipes, I came across one recipe twice on 2 different websites, so I thought I would try it out. Its called Chicken Breast Supreme. I read over both recipes and picked out the things that were similar and then of course I had to tweak it to my liking:) It turned out so good and the recipe was very easy to follow and used everyday ingredients we all have around our house.

So this is MY recipe for Chicken Supreme:
4-8 Chicken Breast ( I used chicken tenderloins because I don't like my meat to thick, but if you don't want to use this then use the chicken breast and maybe slice them in half if you want)
4-8 slices of bacon
1/4 cup of chopped onion
1/4 cup of chopped bell pepper
about 1/4 (hand full) of mozzarella cheese
2 cans of Cream of Mushroom soup
1 pint of Sour Cream
1 package/ can of beef-lunch meat

Spray, your casserole dish with Pam spray, and line the bottom with about 6 pieces of the beef meat (cover the bottom)
Season chicken lightly to taste (I like my food to have plenty of flavor so I seasoned with garlic powder, garlic salt, paprika, and a little season salt)
Wrap the Chicken in one slice of bacon (if using the tenderloin strips I used 2 strips and wrapped 1 slice of bacon)
Place wrapped chicken in dish on top of the beef
In a bowl combine the 2 soups, and the sour cream mix well
Add in a handful of mozzarella cheese-stir/mix well
Spoon the soup mixture over the chicken covering entirely
Bake in over for 1 hour 30 min uncovered at about 350.

For the sides I tried this easy recipe for over roasted veggies and Rice!!

On Friday, Ed had a little mishap in my car, but all is going to be well:(

We stayed in just about all weekend, on Saturday we didn't leave the house and stayed in our pajama's ALL DAY!! It was great!! I got to catch up on all my reality TV shows that were on my DVR recorded!! Here are a few of my favorites that I record and I must say they are must sees:

1. Texas Multi Mama's-I love this show so far, of course I have to watch it there in my home state TEXAS, and I have 2 favorites already Casey and Suzanne!! I'm not a mom of quads or triplets but having my 2 kids I for sure feel like a Texas Multi Mama!!

2. The Braxtons-Great show, I like to see the different dynamics of the sisters and besides they are all so relate able.

3. T.I and Tiny Family Hustle- Love seeing their Love...I love it! And besides anything with T.I in it I'm going to watch:)

4. Real Housewives of " "-Right now its Atlanta and Beverly Hills both of which I like to watch. I've liked them all except for the New York one. I can't wait till Orange County comes back on!!

5. Keeping up with the Kardashians/ Kim and Kourtney/ Kourtney and Khloe ect anything Kardashian on I'm watching-I really like them for some reason I think it's amazing how they are turning peoples need to watch reality TV into $$$ and besides they all seem like very good business woman.

6. Love and Hip Hop-this is just entertaining and besides I like Jim Jones

7. House Hunters-I could look at homes all day long!! I can't wait till it's my turn to buy!!

8. Mob Wives
-There are a few others like Raising Sextuplets, and another show I can't think of the name of right now but the family has 4-6 kids and they live in Austin, TX and their a young family I really like that show but it doesn't come on regularly any more I don't think it used to come on after the Duggers.

That's just a few of the major ones I watch!! I know it's my guilty pleasure, and I know they are all putting on a little for the cameras. DON'T JUDGE ME!!!!

Dancing with the Stars

2012-01-06T10:59:00.001-06:00

That title seemed fitting, because my little girls are my Stars!!!I'm looking to put both of the girls in dance, this year. Eriana has done dance before and she was a cheerleader this past fall. But, this will be Erin's fist time and I'm ecstatic about it. So you know I'm going to have my camera ready:)I've already gotten Erin's tap shoes, and a few dance outfits. There was a dance school really close to our house but, after further research and talking to the owner I don't think that school would be a good fit for my girls. I was in drill team in High School and I loved it.

I hope and pray that my girls or at least one of them will to and that they will excel in this area as well as academically.

New Years Weekend 2011 PT.3 (Finale)

2012-01-05T09:28:00.013-06:00

I just love taking pictures of my family, especially my girls. It's really something I enjoy, I love going back and looking at pictures and seeing how much my kids have grown and changed.Even though I try to get the perfect looking picture and make sure everyone is perfectly posed, I really like the ones that aren't so "perfect" and aren't so "posed"-it's REAL!!
It's like a reflection-so to say that I'm a crazy picture lady wouldn't be a wrong statement to make :)
I'm not going to post all the pictures from the duck pond, but I do want to post some more of them for my own sake and well because it's my blog-ha!!!!

Love these outside pictures-I can't wait for spring and summertime to come back around.

On another note: I was talking to my friend last night on the phone and we just had a really good conversation, she's married and doesn't have any kids yet. But, she was married before her husband now, her 1st husband died and she was a stepmother. But, we can so relate on many things. We talked about were we want our marriages to go, were we think they are and some of the things we want for our future. Even though our situations aren't exactly the same, I think it's nice to have a girl friend you talk to and that you understand what there saying....I like to talk to her because it's sort of like her deceased husband was a lot like my husband so it's nice to hear her point of view of some things. We could have talked forever but I had to get Eriana ready for school and I had to get both girls ready for bed, but it was so nice to talk to someone who understands all of that. I pray for her and I pray for both of our situations.

I like to think that I keep it real all the time, I know I have to walk a thin line on this blog because it's open to whoever and even though I don't think many read it, I still like to keep it light and not heavy it down with to many personal things, really because I keep this blog to mainly document my kids life and to leave them something positive to look back on later in years. So really out of respect for them I don't go to personal on here.

New Years Weekend 2011 PT.2

2012-01-04T15:38:00.005-06:00

We went to church and over to my parents house Sunday New Years Day. I thought it would be a great time for me to get some good use out of my camera, since it was the 1st day of the New Year-so I was taking pictures every chance I got. So I took plenty of pictures of the girls and got some good family pictures as well. I'm was thinking today that I might use some of these on our 2012 Christmas card :)

-The girls headed to church-

-I just love these pictures of my girls

-I can't believe my sweet big girl is 9 years old, where does the time go??? I love my daughters soooo much-

Me and my baby girl!!

-In my parents subdivision there is a duck pond, so I decided that to take the girls down there and get a few fun pictures while they fed the ducks. The girls LOVED IT! I've taken them before so I knew they would.

It was so funny watching Erin get sort of scared when the ducks started surrounding them-I can remember Eriana used to get the same way when she was Erin's age--too cute!! I caught a few pics of Erin's scared face):

I took about 70 pictures while we were at the park. Both, of my kids really like being outside, I'm going to have to make more of an effort to get them outside more. I'll post more later.

New Years 2012 Pt.1

2012-01-03T09:53:00.007-06:00

We had such a great weekend, I've taken so many pictures from our long weekend-so I'm going to break it into parts. I also spent New Years Day thinking about a lot of things in my life and how I want this year to bring about some much needed changes for me and my family.
On New Years Eve, my girls and I had lunch with my sister and my niece at Furrs. I didn't get any pictures with my camera while we were there because something was wrong with it. But, I did get some with my phone.

-Here lately,Eriana has this thing about taking pictures with a side profile????? She thinks it's mysterious-ha. I told her I didn't like it :(
-I'm not in the picture because I'm the one taking the pic, but hopefully my sister will send the picture she took with her phone that had me in it.

My girls and I went to the movies Friday night and saw Puss in Boots 3D. We had such a great time. Erin did such a great job there. With toddlers you never know how they are going to act especially in the theatre. But, she did awesome and I'm looking forward to taking them back really soon!! This is the only picture I took at the movies, with my phone. I was too busy soaking in the moment with my daughters:)

After we left Furrs, the girls and I went and got my camera exchanged!!! I was lucky I found the exact same one that I had gotten for Christmas.
We spent the rest of the evening at home relaxing-here are some cute pictures of Erin. Again, I took the other picture with my phone hence why the quality isn't that good.

Throws

2011-12-29T11:07:00.001-06:00

I got to get out a little yesterday and do some after Christmas shopping without having the girls with me. I went to Target, and Walmart-I must say going shopping without two little kids with you is GREAT!! I was able to walk down each aisle and actually look at things and THINK :) Don't get me wrong I love taking my girlie's with me most of the time, but it is nice to be able to get out and do some shopping without them.
First, stop was Target I've been looking for the girls some new matching bedding since they are sharing a room now, so I thought Target would be my best bet for cute and affordable bedding-I didn't end up seeing anything so I guess I'll have to head back out to Ross, TJ MAXX or Marshall's and get them the sets I saw last weekend when I was there. Ross, actually had really cute affordable comforter sets that I think I'll be going to get. Being, that I have to get 2 of everything I have to be price consciouses. I did end up getting 4 new pillows, from Target and a really cute bowl I'm using to 2 of the pillows for the girls and 2 for our master bedroom.
Next, I went to Walmart, I just knew they would have all their X-MAS decor on sale for 75% off, but to my surprise they still only have things marked down at 50%-I still found some good finds, I didn't want to chance them not having something later after everything gets picked over. I ended up getting me a new kitchen rug, its red and had snowflakes on it, I wish I would have gotten two of them one for my sink, and one to go in front of the stove. So I might just venture back out tonight and go get the other one. To me it a little xmas but can also go for year round, it matches my kitchens red theme. I also got matching pot holder and handmittten for the kitchen.
But, my greatest find of the night were these throw blankets they had on sale for $2.50 originally I had gotten 6 of them and put in my basket then I got to thinking I don't need 6 blankets, so I put 2 back and only got 4. I figured my girls would love them and I would too:)

Aren't they too cute!! I got the girls 2 of each-now that they are getting older or should I say now that Erin is getting older, she's wanting a lot of the same things I'm getting for Eriana. I guess that's normal for sisters, so when I'm out shopping I have to think about everything I buy for them and make sure that I always get each of them something.

Before I forget, last Monday Eriana and I went to Bealls and she got to see Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift :) I thought it was too funny how she wanted to take a picture with these replica posters they had, Bealls was advertising some perfume and watches. You can see Taylor Swift in the background trying to get in the picture-ha!!!

Dinner

2011-12-28T10:40:00.000-06:00

With the holidays almost over and being burned out on Holiday foods-I've started back trying out new recipes.
So here lately I've been searching blogs, and websites for new easy good recipes to try and I came across this one Penne with Chicken Thighs- I hate I can't remember what blog were I found the recipe at, but as soon as I remember I'll update this to show it. But, anyway this dish reminds me of Chicken Parmigiana aka Chicken Parmesean, although I used Mozzerella cheese instead because that's what I had:)
I'm going to try and post the recipe how I made it. Of course I tweeked the original recipe I wrote down, simply because I LOVE flavor and at our house we like our foods seasoned more than most recipes call for.

What you need:
6-8 Chicken Thighs (skin on/ done in)--I used only 6
1-2 Jars of Marinera aka spagetti sauce-- I used 1 large jar of traditional sauce but I think next time I'll try a flavor.
Seasoning, I used Garlic Powder, salt, pepper, Mrs.Dash garlic blend, Mrs. Dash Sweet Tomato Basil and Season salt
Olive Oil
1 whole onion-I used a medium sized yellow onion
2 garlic cloves minced
Mozzerella Cheese or Parmesean
1 box of Penne pasta--I used whole wheat kind-I would also cook the pasta last

In a large skillet heat the Olive Oil, while that is heating up I seasoned my chicken, once that is done I browned the chicken in the skillet for about 5-10 min on each size turning about twice. I wanted to somewhat get it almost cooked this way, but you don't want to cook it, you just want to brown and heat through so about 10 min. on the skillet should be ok but you can do more. Once the chicken is brown, remove from skillet and place on plate.

Remove some of the oil but leave some in because you are now going to saute' your onions and garlic-besure to leave in the skillet the drippings because this all adds to the flavor.

Once the veggies are brown, pour in your jar/s of sauce let that cook for about 5min. I would do a taste test at this point to see if you like the flavor if not add a little seasoning.
Now, add the chicken thighs to the skillet and let that cook on med/high heat with the top on for about 10-15 min, this way the flavors are coooking through.

Then transfer the chicken and sauce mix to a casserole dish and cover I used foil. Cook in the oven for an hour or and hour and a half (you want to make sure the chicken is cooked throughly, I cooked mine for 1 1/2 hours and the chicken was falling off the bone, thats how I like mine!! You can also, just let the meat and sauce mixture cook on the stove top for about the same time.

When the chicken has been in the oven for about 30 min, I would start the pasta-I did it at the same time I was cooking the chicken on the stove and my pasta finished way before the chicken.

Now you can plate your food: 1 chicken thigh & sauce, over pasta plus add some shredded cheese!!

A Very Merry Christmas

2011-12-27T09:14:00.011-06:00

We had a wonderful Christmas. My girls really enjoyed themselves and to add to it they got tons of gifts as usual:)
Since we spent Thanksgiving with my family in Arkansas we had decided that we would do Christmas with Ed's extended family in Waco. We normally stay at home and in town for Christmas but Ed had been wanting to see his grandmother so we had decided before Thanksgiving that we were going to Waco for Christmas. But, it was fine because we didn't leave to go down there until around noon Christmas day, so this gave us time to have our normal Christmas morning at home.

To start the holiday weekend off Saturday we had "Christmas" Eve at my parents house, a few of my aunts (moms sisters) came down and it was for sure good family times. Dinner was great and I even made the shrimp and rice casserole I had tried out a month or so ago and let me tell you it was a hit for sure.
Sunday, Christmas Day Eriana and Ed woke up around 9:30am, and shortly after Erin and I were awakened by Eriana :), so we headed down stairs and Ed and I just smiled at each other when the girls got to see what Santa had brought them.

Then we let the girls go at it!! Note:pictures of the girls opening gifts from x-mas eve and x-mas day.

**Note: One of my X-MAS gifts was a NEW CAMERA for Christmas, I was more than happy I could have cried:)so of course I'm taking pictures every chance I get** I so love my new camera its a Kodak Easy share Digital Camera C1530**

(Headed to Waco on Christmas Day)

I love getting pictures with our grandparents and our kids- cherished moments!!

5 Days Before Christmas

2011-12-20T12:33:00.002-06:00

I can't believe that Christmas is only 5 days away. I'm pretty much done shopping for my girls, I just have a couple things left I want to get them. I still need a gift for my mom. She's the hardest person to shop for mainly because she has just about everything. I kind of hate to say it but I'll be glad when Christmas comes and it goes. Don't get me wrong I love Christmas, and of course I LOVE to see my daughters faces light up this time of year. But, really I think its so easy to get caught up in the "commercial aspect" of it all, that we forget that Jesus is the Reason for the Season! This is what I've been teaching my girls-I want them to know and love Christmas because of what it means-Jesus was born for us and died for our sins.
Yes, the Holidays mean so much to me because its a special time of year that we get to see loved ones. And, my little girlie's have permanent smiles on their faces from the Holiday spirit!
My family has a very busy schedule these next couple of weeks, I'm excited about Christmas this weekend, I can't wait to see my daughters faces on Christmas Eve and Christmas day and we'll be seeing some out of town family.
It's my hope and prayer that God willing, we will have Christmas in our new home next year, and if not next year then the following year!! I probably won't be posting until after Christmas!!! Merry Christmas

Can I talk to you Mom to Mom........Long post

2011-12-19T11:48:00.005-06:00

It's been heavy on my heart and mind, these past few months about raising kids. In particular my kids. I hardly ever talk to anyone about it (with exception to my husband), but I've been starting to really be concerned about my girls behavior. I don't think it really hit me until I had Erin, with my girls being 6 years apart in age I think I just never really had an issue with Eriana's behavior until I started having to deal with 2 kids. Ed has always been pretty much a good disciplinarian, and from the time we had Eriana she has always followed directions from him well, and he can take the girls places and have little to no issues. But, me on the other hand I get to frustrated and tired because it seems like they are all over the place. This goes for at home to most of the time. I don't know what it is, about ME. I just can't seem to get them the way I want them to be. Erin isn't as bad, I think because I've learned from my mistakes with Eriana, I've learned that you have to start early and thankfully Erin isn't as much of an issue as Eriana.
I know it's my fault because I didn't start and be consistent at an early age, but it's just really wearing me down lately. She's so lovable, and very helpful and she does mean well but, when we go places you would think that she never gets out of the house, or that she doesn't have any home training (at least that's what it feels like to me). I'm just in a rut I feel and don't know what or how to get her to be a well behaved child. Ed, can be no help sometime because he tells me what I already know that I started to late and now that I've recognized it, it's going to be harder to break her habits.
I can't stand to take kids places and their always asking for everything, touching everything, and walking off. I CAN'T STAND WHEN I SEE KIDS DOING THAT. But, you know what my 9 year old daughter does it. She's super friendly and talks to strangers which totally freaks me out. I mean I've had numerous serious conversations with her about "stranger danger" and how people aren't always what they seem etc. And, it's like as soon as we get to the store or where ever we are going she forgets. I totally get that she's a talkative girl, and I love the fact that she's nice, and can get along with anybody and not rude or snobby acting. But, geesh! What's starting to bother me now is that I'm noticing Erin is starting to talk to strangers and try to act more like her big sister and it's really bothering me.
I have my kids all the time, outside of them going to school they are with Ed and myself all the time. So, I can't blame it on anything or anyone else-I feel like I've done a bad job in this area and I don't know how to correct it. I've recently starting correcting them when they answer back to Ed and I and I'm having them say "Yes Sir, No Sir, Yes Maam' and No Maam', and Erin is starting to catch on but Eriana NOT so much.
I so want to help my kids be the best in life and I want people to look at my kids and see their behavior and compliment them on being polite and well behaved. I'm just at a loss right now. I know you have to choose your battles but at this point I'm thinking I need to choose all of them because I don't want anything to slide by.

I want to help my girls-If I can't help my girls what is my purpose, that's my full time job, to help them, raise them, and teach them.
I'm realizing that being a friend to them is not the most important thing, I have to be their mother first and it starts in the home.

Because I'm talking about parenting I thought I would add this picture of my parents, taken this weekend. Growing up, I always felt my mom was too strict on me and my sister. But, now that I'm a mom I see why she was the way she was. I remember pretty much always being a well behaved calm little girl growing up (not in JR High:))and I always listened to my parents especially out in public. So here is a picture of my parents whom created, birthed, raised, taught, and loved me. Although, my mom and I have different parenting styles I do want to be like her in this area of discipline. My mom was for sure a mother and not a friend growing up and it's made me the woman I am today and I love her for it.

Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-14T14:54:00.001-06:00

Christmas Stripe Ribbons Christmas

Creating Christmas cards has never been this easy.

View the entire collection of cards.

I decided to do something a little different this year, with the Christmas Cards. I know it's traditional to go out and take nice pretty pictures all decked out in your matching clothes and Christmas attire-I still LOVE that idea. And, will do that next year. But, this year I decided to just use Shutterfly and do cards using pictures I had already taken and this is how it turned out.

Venting Session

2011-12-13T09:50:00.009-06:00

During the Christmas season, I've learned that people are either in one of two moods Good or Bad. I know not everybody is jolly during this time of year for whatever reason but it just saddens me to know some people I know aren't in good spirts this time of the year. My husband lost his mom about a year after we got married, she died in 2006, and honestly he hasn't dealt with it. He's the only child which makes it difficult and what even makes it more difficult is that the fact that he doesn't know his father. I try to sympathize with him around Holidays and really anytime he's feeling down but its hard for me. See we both grew up SO differently, he came from a single parent home with no siblings and his life was always him and his mom, and they struggled with a lot of "issues", and had plenty hard times. But, she loved her son and he was for sure a mama boy'. Me on the other hand I grew up and was raised by both my parents, my sister and I both were pretty much spoiled we got just about everything we wanted and needed. Our households differ in a lot of ways financially speaking and both our up bringing were differently. It's just been heavy on my heart these past couple of weeks, on how DIFFERENT we are and yet we both want the same things for our own family. I won't go into to much personal details on this but if your reading this please say a prayer for my family in this area.

I think we just see how to get there differently. As, you know I mentioned a few months ago that we had moved out of our house and into a smaller place to save money, and be able to enjoy a few extras without the stress of worrying about money. So far, we have done just that I instantly felt the money burden lifted when we moved and saw how our monthly expenses went down. The extra money has been great. I'm setting a goal for myself for the next year to save money, so that we can buy a house. I think living in a smaller place with my family of 4, has shown me that it's time to upgrade our home and start living and being more responsible and more adult like". I have 2 girls to raise and I want my focus to be on them. I want to raise God fearing and God loving young ladies. I want to teach them by showing them. I want them to know that hard work does pay off, and that being kind, giving and unselfish is the way we all should be.

I think that in life when things don't go as we "think" they should we start to blame it on everything else but ourselves, and not seeing that YOU are the reason that things aren't were they need to be. I know for me it's hard to do what has to be done, because I don't like to ruffle feathers so to speak, I put off things because I don't want to hurt any body's feelings, and I also worry too much about things that shouldn't be my concern. I have to start letting go of things and people in my life. I want so much for my girls and I to have the "perfect" life. But, perfect in the sense of feeling I want my little family to be truly happy.

On a lighter note, Ed had an interview last week and they called him back this morning!! So he has to go in tomorrow for some testing and paperwork, and if he passes the final test then he gets the job. I'm so happy for him and for our family if he gets this. It's what he really needs to get him in better mood. He something positive!! This job is much closer than the one he has had. And, I think it's just what we need financially. So please join me in sending prayers up, that if it's in Gods will this will all work out just fine!!

**I know this post is long and seems a little out of nowhere but I needed to get this off my chest.**

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

2011-12-09T10:02:00.005-06:00

-Enjoying the boats!!

Last, week the girls and I decided to go to Outdoor World/ Bass Pro Shop. My girls really like it there and they always have things to do for the kids. Well, behold it they had SANTA CLAUS there!!! Of course I was a little sad because I hadn't dressed the girls up their pretty Christmas dressed or even red shirts. But, they were somewhat alike in their jump suits!! Matching clothes or not I wasn't going to let the chance for them to take free Santa pics pass me by.

Thanksgiving Cont'd Pt.2

2011-12-07T13:30:00.005-06:00

This is me and my Aunt Phil, as a kid people always thought she was my mom.

I wanted to get a few good pictures posted from Thanksgiving I'll be updating as I'm getting clearer pictures. My sister posted these, that she took with her real" camera. So I had to share. These are pics of my dad, and his sisters with me. I think we all look so much alike.

Me and my Aunts I think "We're just FABULOUS"!!

Yummy in my Tummy

2011-12-06T12:57:00.008-06:00

While I was staying at home over the past couple of weeks, I managed to cook just about every night. I am so glad that I came across a couple good recipe websites. I've come to realize that as long as I have a complete recipe to go by and think about what to cook for dinner before hand, it makes cooking dinner much more fun. I love to cook, I love to try new things in the kitchen:) My dilemma has always been, one of two things either I can't think of anything different to make, cause lets just face it cooking the same things over and over again gets old. And, secondly the recipes I found in the past just involved way to many steps and/ or ingredients, and also took to long to prepare. I have 2 kids, a pre-teen and a toddler and they keep me busy so the easier the better. I have recently found a blogger that posts weekly recipes and this young lady provides step by step directions and best of all, my favorite she includes pictures. I must say that is a must for me, I like to see what it's supposed to look like during prep as well see what the end result should look like. Although, I do have some good recipes of my own and here lately I've been trying them out and also coming up with some as well.
So on the pictures, of course I have to warn, that all the pictures were taken with my camera phone, which is why they look so bright and/or dull:) Enjoy

*Now this is a favorite over at my house, its the "Sausage Roll" it's super easy to make and super quick just basically 3 ingredients: sausage, croissants, and mozzarella cheese*

*This is a classic of mine, I originally got the recipe from my mom, it was a stuffed pizza pie, but over the years I've tweaked it and this particular time I left off the pizza crust on top. I must say turns out great every time*

*My whole family loves, these bacon wrapped green beans with sweet sauce-they go so fast so I have to remember to buy lots of green beans so that I can make plenty bundles. The main dish here something called "Cornbread Casserole", it's really good and would really good on a nice cold evening. It's very similar to a "Shepard Pie" minus the beans*

*This recipe was a hit as well, it's a shredded chicken casserole, topped with bread crumbs and includes cheese, broccoli etc. It was really good, just one note be sure to use good broccoli florets not so much of the stems*

*This is my famous beef enchiladas!! These are so good, and super easy to make. I just follow the recipe as it is listed on the back of the sauce can (see pictured), and just do a little tweaking by adding some peppers, onions, seasonings etc. and they are a wonderful dinner, they make about 8-10 enchiladas.

That's all the pictures I took of the dinners, it's kind of hard to snap shots, tend to my kids and cook all at the same time:)
Let me add that it's plenty cold here in the Dallas area, I'm thinking I might have to go take the kids and I coat shopping!!

Thanksgiving 2011.. PT.1

2011-12-05T12:57:00.016-06:00

Well, I have for sure enjoyed being at home for the past 2 weeks. Staying at home with my little girls is always a pleasure. I have so many pictures to upload from Thanksgiving and being at home the past couple of weeks. I really don't know where to begin. So, I'm thinking I'll do a post everyday this week to cover the last weeks. I do want to add that I have been a cooking diva around my house, I've made so many good meals and new dishes but I'll do a post this week on just my dinners I've cooked. With the 1st post being from Thanksgiving-we went to Arkansas for Thanksgiving this year, my dad is actual from there and his mom and both his sisters stay there, it's funny because all of them live in a different part of Arkansas. We had Thanksgiving at my Aunt Daye's house in Texarkana, AR. Ed the girls and I actually stayed there at her house Thursday, and Friday before coming back home to Dallas on late Friday night.

(My mom, Ed and I)

(Ed)

(This is my great Aunt, she's my grandfathers (late) sister. She's in her upper 80's and looks wonderful, such a precious moment for me to get pictures with her and my kids together)

(Erin Thanksgiving Day-she's 3 this year and this is such a fun age and stage of life she's really learning about each Holiday and what they mean. I love this little girl so much, she makes my heart melt!!!Side note: Eriana was outside playing with her cousin Zander, hence why she isn't in many pictures, I thought I'd let her soak up being outside playing with her cousins while we were in the country.)

(This is where I get all my looks from-my 2 aunts and my dad-we all look so much alike it tickles me and even this morning my daughter goes " Mommy, you look just like Aunt Daye". You know its true when my 9 year old says it-lol!! But, yes these are my genes and I'm thinking I'm going to be pretty lucky as I age because they all look great, my aunt Daye is actually 65, can you believe it she's the one standing next to my dad, whom is 54.

(These are the only 2 pictures I got of me and Ed together, and as you can see he wasn't in the mood for pictures in the second one, so he decided to give me silly faces. I didn't even get a picture of my little family of 4, all together I'm a little disapppointed by that. But, we were enjoying the "moments" so I guess that's ok.

(Me and my little "tall" cousin Demarcus

(My niece and I-I'm so proud of her she is a senior in HS and is #2 out of 600 seniors. She has started getting her acceptance letters from colleges all across the US, and she's getting letters from the top colleges in the Nation. She goes Desoto HS and as soon as she decides which college she's going to I'll for sure do a post. So more to come on my niece Jasmine)

(My grandmother and I-Precious moments with my grandmother I'm so glad she got to see her out of town grandkids and great-grankids over Thanksgiving, she in her upper 80's as well and to be honest I'm praying she lives to see 100 but I don't know if that's in her cards, given somethings she said to my parents over the Holiday weekend. But, I won't go into details. Lets just say that I truley believe that the elderly have a peace about going HOME to be with the Lord and when they talk to you, you better listen to them.

(Black Friday-ready to go shopping in Texas/Arkansas)

We had a really good Thanksgiving. Let me note that I did get extensions in my hair as can be told in the pictures. But, I took them out last night, I was getting to hot and really I'm a natural hair kind of gal, don't get me wrong I like weave, wigs and all that kind of stuff but for me not so much!!! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Weekend Recap (last post until after Thanksgiving)

2011-11-21T14:18:00.006-06:00

*I couldn't remember if I had posted this picture or not and I didn't want to go back and look. This is me and a long time friend of mine at her Bachelorette party about 2months ago. I've been knowing her since I was in like 7th grade. She's super sweet*

*This is me about a month ago when I went out with another friend girl of mine*

Let me start off by saying that I'm excited about the Holidays coming up. We've got plans for Thanksgiving. It's going to be great to be around family this week and this weekend. I don't know if its because I'm off until Dec.5th or if it's because I'll be around loved ones. I plan on really relaxing enjoying my family. I'm going to start our washing and packing tonight. Having a family of 4, means you have to plan early I spent the last hour up last night making a list of things, that we will need that I want to make sure we don't forget to pack. So I'll spend tonight washing, ironing, packing ect. I plan on getting my hair done tomorrow I plan on adding some extensions to it, but we will see. I'm not much of a weave type of girl mainly because I don't see the sense in paying all that money for "HAIR", also because I can do my own hair pretty good, as well as having to take 2 little kids to the beauty shop/salon and sit for hours is not fun for me and lastly I get HOT really easy-ha! But, I'm having a friend of mine do it at my house which is perfect and she's giving me the "friend" discount/ do it at your house discount-LOL!! So I'll post pictures of course.

We had a pretty relaxed weekend, I got the girls hair braided, went with Ed to the dentist and we went to church yesterday and went to visit my parents. Erin looked so cute yesterday, she had on the cutest dress, I really hate that my phones pictures once I download the pictures to the computer it just overly brightens the picture up, so you can't tell the colors well. I tried with these pictures of my sweet baby girl. I'm hoping to get us some nice new family pictures taken before the New Year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Week Endings and I'm venting

2011-11-18T08:50:00.006-06:00

This week has kind of went by quickly, which I'm not complaining about because next is THANKSGIVING!! I'm off for almost 2 weeks for Thanksgiving because our plant is having a blackout to save money!!!! And, I heard from a little birdie that their going to do the same thing for Christmas, that makes this momma very happy. I'm so glad that God has placed this job in my life at this time in my life. Although, I'm only 28 years old I have been blessed with really great jobs. I've done it all since I've became a parent. This is only my 2nd job that I've ever had since being an adult. I was at my last job for 7years, I started there when I was like 19 years old and it just worked out great for me. I have had the chance to be a stay at home mom, to both of my kids-with Eriana I was off with her for 1 year immediately following her birth. And, with Erin I was off immediately for about 4-5months and then again for a year recently when she turned 2 until here now that she's 3. I recently started a new job and so far I really enjoy it, the atmosphere is totally different than where I came from in my previous job, but God knows what he is doing and has given me another job that is flexible and does a great job with the whole family, work balance thing.

I get really upset when I hear women compare SAHM to Working Moms, being a MOM that has done both I often find the debates offensive. Mainly, because last time I checked whichever one you do YOUR STILL A MOM FULL TIME, there is no one choice that is harder than the other, no one choice that is better than the other, no one choice that loves or cares about their kids more or less. It's just sicking to me when I hear women debate over the issue. As, I state again I have done both and both are challenging and BOTH require sacrifice. You just have to do what is best for your family and do what you want. I'm raising my kids and no one else is I don't care if they go to school, daycare, MDO, or across the moon for a few hours a day. You know what I'm still raising and taking care of my kids full time. When I stayed at home I got sick and tired of people asking me what do you do all day? Don't you get bored? 2 incomes are better than 1 and ect. My response to them was "this is what is best for my family right, now. Please don't get in my business asking me questions about the family choices we are making, this is how we are choosing to raise our family. It just gets under my skin when I hear MOTHERS talk about this, it really should be a non-issue.To end I will say just because I'm a SAHM doesn't mean that I'm not working, and just because I go to work doesn't mean I'm not a full-time mom. Either way your still a FULL-TIME MOM, no matter what,last time I checked the day you gave birth you became a Full-Time parent and you get NO days off. Sorry, I just heard the stupidest thing this morning and had to vent about it.
Now back to my week ending.....
Eriana, had her Thanksgiving lunch at school this week, so I went to that. It's always so funny when I go to her school, and see her in "school Eriana mode" especially with her friends, she hardly wants to talk to me and never wants to take a decent picture.

Last night I made a new recipe courtesy of The Fouts, its called Swiss Chicken and it was pretty good. I was a little nervous about it at first because the recipe is listed twice on one it calls to add 1/2 cup of Mill, which I just knew didn't sound right, but then its listed again recently without the mill. Needless to say I went without the mill. It was really good and tasty only thing is that chicken breast are normally dry/thick and I don't like that feeling of ALL that meat, which is what it feels like to me. So, next time I make it I may try to do it with chicken wings or legs instead of the breast. I also think this is a good recipe for Thanksgiving for kids, and adults who don't want the traditional turkey thing.

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

2011-11-16T13:37:00.004-06:00

Not, much going on this way. I just thought I'd add to my continuing dinner post. Last, night Ed helped with the cooking I'm kind of glad he did because I didn't know what I was going to make. He decided we were having seafood!! Yummy, so while he was frying fish,and shrimp I made the salad. Of course I ended up finishing the fish because he got hot and tired of standing in the kitchen (men) but, that was ok with me because he makes a complete mess when he cooks. Unlike, me who cleans as I cook.

-I'm not sure why Ed was looking so slouchy, oh yea I remember he was off work yesterday so I guess he didn't feel like getting his self together-

-Dinner is served!!!

Weekend Recap

2011-11-14T09:23:00.007-06:00

We had a very good weekend, the girls and I got up early and ready Saturday morning to head out and do some shopping just us girls. We headed out to the town square outlet Firewheel Mall in Rowlett/Garland it's about 5-10 min away!! I love that.

We did some shopping, I let the girls play in the play ground area and of course I took pictures!! It was a really nice time, and I was shocked that we only had 1 crying incident and it wasn't with my toddler it was with my 9 year old. She had a little melt down at build a bear, but I take part blame. I had said one thing to her and then ended up changing my mind and doing something else. So valuable lesson learned from me, stick to what I say or say nothing at all...But, it was great and I didn't even have the stroller with me for Erin, I had totally forgot about it as soon as I parked I had realized that I left it in the house. But, my sweet Erin was just perfect, well not perfect but you know....She did wonderful walking around holding my hand like a big girl. She's growing up on me.

Let me add, that I've been a parent for 9 years, and I've given up on trying to get my girls to take the "perfect" picture. I can never seem to get them both to smile at the same time for the same shot, or to have them both look at me. But, it doesn't stop me from trying, I'm always taking pictures of them. It's just funny looking back at all the pictures I took on my phone of me trying to get them to both be looking at me and smiling at the same time.

Lastly, I've been still cooking every night a good full size meal. So for Sunday night I made this new recipe I found online somewhere, I can't remember exactly where but it when I get home and look at the recipe I'll try to remember to give credit to the person I took the recipe off of. But, anyway it was Hawaiian Meatloaf and it was GOOD. I was a little skeptical at first because meatloaf with pineapple does not sound good to me but it turned out really good. Ed, REALLY liked it and so did my kids. It was the perfect blend of sweetness, and savory taste. It called for brown sugar, a little salt, ketchup, pineapples, pineapple juice it was really good. That will for sure be added to me meal calendar if I ever get around to making it.

Not, sure what I'm making tonight just yet. But, I'm thinking it will be my own recipe of enchiladas??????

Mount Rushmore

2011-11-10T10:09:00.004-06:00

Well the time has come, my daughter had her 1st school project for school. She had to create a mini replica of a monument, she was assigned to do a little research on. I must admit, that out of all the things I'm nervous about when it comes to raising a school age child, math homework and projects make me the most nervous. I'm seriously talking about terrified, I'm so scared that I'm not "book" smart enough to help my child in this area especially math. I never really like any kind of math in school and always just skimmed through and passed, so I knew once my kids started school that math would be something I really need to get extra help on. Ed is very good with math and numbers but I'm not. Anyways, we have worked on this particular project for about a week we actually had another project half way made, and then I thought it wasn't good enough so I got online and Google a few children’s activities and saw something similar to this. I think it turned out pretty good.

I guess we’ll see next week when I see what grade she got:) Hopefully, she'll get a 100, we added a few facts on the inside of the box as well as included the Presidential coins.

Last night I've continued my cooking a decent meal for my family by making another great recipe off of the Fouts side (I'm going to have to email her on her blog and let her know I'm writing about her on my blog)it's call Taco Pie/Casserole, it consist of tortilla chips, cheese, croissant rolls, ground beef and taco seasoning. It was just alright, I think it was the chips that turned me off, I can't pin point what it was about it I didn't like but I really think it was the chips, and with that I mean it texture of it, the crunchy, took away from the taste a little to me. It was good, but the chips were too much for my liking so I might try to make it again but substitute something else in place of the chips.
Also, a lot of these recipes so far have cheese in them, and I love cheese myself but I think I'm on cheese overload-ha! So tonight I think I'm going to make one of my own recipes. It's not really a recipe I'm just going to make some BBQ chicken, but its a favorite around my house!! But, anyhow I'm loving getting back to normal and not running around like crazy taking my daughter to practice in the evening every day, it nice to be able to sit at home and help with homework without rushing so much, and its great to cook a decent dinner for my family every night.

I was watching OWN last night, and Oprah did her life class on SLOWING DOWN and being in the moment/present and it was so true for my life. I tend to worry ALL the time, and always be thinking about the next thing to do or the future that I forget what is going on now in the present especially with my kids. I have had the luxury of being able to stay at home with my kids during their most younger ages and I've also had the luxury of being able to work and provide a nice living for my kids. I say luxury because both situations are just that. There are so many women in this world that would love to either have children, be able to just stay at home with them, and there are women who are praying that they can find a job so that they can take care of their children financially. I don't by far have a perfect life or situation but when I slow down and think about what I do have in the present I'm happy and my kids are happy and they HAVE, they have LOVE, FOOD, SHELTER, and Clothes, and much much more. So I hope I always remember to SLOW DOWN and PAY ATTENTION.
Lastly, I'm a total reality TV junkie, that's all I watch practically...SERIOUSLY. I'm so glad that tonight the Braxton’s Family Values comes on WETV for season 2!!! I'm totally making sure I'm home and I've also got it recording just in case. We have a parent teacher conference tonight at 5:30, so I'm anxious to see what my daughters teacher has to say about her this 6 weeks!!

Dinner Program

2011-11-09T08:24:00.005-06:00

Last night, Eriana's school had their 3rd graders music program. We headed out for that but before we left I managed to get dinner prepped last night I made Sausage Roll, another great recipe I got off of The Fouts blog, which I've mentioned in my previous post. So, after I cut up my veggies, we headed out to the program.

Last night at the program Erin was a active, I'm glad Ed was there to help a little and I do mean a little. She was screaming out "Sissy" during the program,and she also managed to waste red punch that the PTA had set out for refreshments. This girl was a wiggle worm last night that's for sure. But, other than that the program was very nice. Again, my phone camera doesn't download the pictures in good quality on my phone I can see them nice and clear but once I email them to myself they have a grayish look to them....

So when the program was over, we headed back to the house, so I could finish up dinner and so that Eriana could finish working on a school project she's doing on Mt. Rushmore (more on that later, after it's done). This dish turned out very good as well, I must say that Mrs. Fouts is on to something!!! The only thing I would say about this recipe is the croissant rolls are a little thin/hard to pull it all together, and the only thing I might do different is instead of adding the cheese to the top of the meat mixture I might just mix it in there, but I don't know. This was super easy to make and didn't take long at all!! The kids really loved it and so did my hubby!!

Yummy, dinners 3 nights in a row, I'm on a roll. I'm deciding now what I want to make tonight for dinner. I've realized that as long as I know what I'm going to make, it makes cooking a full dinner every night sooooo much easier and doable. I'm going to have to make some kind of food calendar and plan our meals out.
On another note, Eriana's cheer is up I think for the season they are having their last cheer competition the day after Thanksgiving, which we aren't going to be able to attend because well be out of town. I'm making a point to go visit my grandmother, aunts, cousins in Arkansas,I really need to make sure I see my grandmother she's getting up there in age and her health hasn't been the best lately and since I'll be off for about 2 weeks for Thanksgiving break, I'm taking advantage of it. So Eriana will have to miss this last competition. I've also decided that I'm not going to let her cheer for this same team again next year, they just aren't organized enough for me. Besides, now that Erin is 3 years old I really want to find BOTH of my girls a dance studio to go to or at least a cheer team that they both can do. If I'm going to have both of my kids in something it has to be organized, I'm already running around like crazy.

FOOD

2011-11-08T08:23:00.005-06:00

(This little sweetheart right here was guarding the shrimp for me!! She really likes shrimp, and she really was trying to help me cook last night, it was sweet because she got her little stool, and was helping me peel the shrimp before I boiled them.)

LOL!! At my title today, I couldn't think of anything.
Last night Eriana was supposed to start back cheerleader practice but it rained so we got to have another nice evening at home!! So I decided to make a quick little trip to Kroger to get some items I needed to make this Shrimp Casserole dish, the recipe I found over at amandafouts.blogspot.com;And, let me add that I hardly ever go to Kroger to grocery shop, but I didn't feel like taking my girls into Walmart and being in there forever. I can't stress enough how I'm so glad I found her blog, she's got weekly recipe dishes that she post about and has some very good pictures of the directions and what you need. I like that, that's one reason why I really don't buy cookbooks is because it mostly words and no pictures to go along with it. But, anyway this is how it turned out (see pics below). This casserole was amazing I could have ate the whole pan full, really:)The kids, loved it but I figured they would it had their favorite things in it, shrimp and cheese!! My husband really enjoyed it to, he went back for 2Nd's and 3Rd's and took the leftovers to work this morning!! So, for sure this recipe will get used plenty times at our house. The, shrimp can be pretty pricey in the butcher block area I ordered 1LB, of it and it was like $9.00, but really you need the whole pound so you can't really get any less.

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**I really don't like that I haven't gotten another camera yet, I really liked the Kodak Easyshare camera I had and just wish it hadn't got broke. I really don't like using my camera phone because for some reason when I download them the picture has this foggy look to them, and doens't do any of the pics justice. But, on my phone the pictures are clear. I guess for Christmas I'll buy myself a camera, or try to get the hubbs to get it**

WEEKEND HAPPENINGS

2011-11-07T11:11:00.004-06:00

This weekend we had it pretty low key, I went to the grocery store and got a few things. I'm going to be trying some new receipes I found on another website at http://www.amandafouts.blogspot.com/. I made one yesterday it was chicken strips breaded with crackers..yummy is how they turned out. Again, these pictures from my phone don't do it justice but it was good!!

Ed and I went bowling this weekend for a friends birthday party, we went to "Bowl300"in Addison. My parents and my niece kept the girls for us. We had fun-Ed didn't bowl he just ate and drink but us girls bowled. My phone doesn't take good pics in dark lighting so this is the only one I got of myself, and there was one with the both of together but we looked like pigs (lol), because we were both stuffing our faces eating, when our friend took the pic!!

Other, than that we had a pretty relaxed weekend, nothing planned which is always great. Eriana hasn't had practice or games the past 2 weeks, but she starts back up today. I've really enjoyed not having much to do, the running around to and from practice and to games every Saturday can wear you out. Especially, when you have a little toddler with you.

Halloween Weekend

2011-11-01T08:55:00.008-05:00

We actually started our weekend, on Friday 10-28-11, we went to an old classmates of mines church, who was doing a thing called Trunk or Treat. I was a smaller event Eriana actually, got to do the activities because Erin had feel asleep in the car on the way there and so Ed sat in the car with her most of the time and then when we did try to get her up she was to sleepy to enjoy it all. We didn't stay to long mainly because Erin was tired and it was pretty cold that night. The kids have been having runny nose for a couple of days and I really didn't want them outside any longer than they had to be.

In good girly taste Erin had 2 costumes for this year Halloween weekend. This is the 1st costume which was going to be her only one I originally picked this one out it's so cute. But, her 2nd "costume" just came about because of where we were thinking we were going to this more conservative church and I had thought that the 1st costume looked a little too "witch like" instead of like a fairy. So, I took a pillow case dress she already had and has never worn, and paired it with a pair of really cute tights I got at Walmart, and added her boots and called her Strawberry Shortcake-ha!!
Eriana was a red Crayola crayon, she really didn't like the costume I don't' think but she wore it well, so for sure next year I'm going to let her assist me in picking out the costume, this year I was rushing to get her a costume-I guess I shouldn't have waited until last minute....

Saturday-Sunday, we ended up going out to eat for breakfast at a local buffet place Furrs, it was great to get some family time in that morning. We ended up leaving there and dropping Ed back off at home, he had some errands to run and the girls and I headed out for some late morning mommy and daughters time. I love that-of all places we ended up at Outdoor world Bass Pro Shops, in Rowlett; we don't live to far from there I'm talking maybe 5- minutes away. I know I didn't blog about it but we moved in late July. I'm so glad we did, it was a really good move for our family!!! But, anyway we went to Bass Pro Shop to look around and I just knew the kids would love looking at the "taxidermy" they have all around and besides Lake Ray Hubburd is the backdrop behind here and it was absolutley beautiful, the place is 2 stories. We made it a little photo shop opprotunity I just wish I had a digital camera to use instead of having to use my phone camera. But, still I got some really great pictures of the girls, that are for sure going to be framers. I dressed the girls alike this day and I'm so glad I did because the pictures of them together came out good to me.

On Monday, Halloween, Erin's school had a Fall Festival (yes Erin started school about a month or so ago as well, I didn't blog about that eitheir), Eriana was out of school on Monday due to teacher inservice, so we let Eriana go up there with her and stay during the day. They had a ball, it was great because it gave both my girls a chance to enjoy Halloween for the whole day. I didn't let Erin wear her costume to school because I was afraid for 1 she'd mess it up or it would get tore up and 2nd, beacause I had her some really cute and festive overralls for her to wear.
Of course Eriana didn't want to wear a costume there "she's to old for that"-ha!! But, she did wear a really cute pink Halloween shirt.

Later, that evening we were planning on going to this church for what was supposed to be a really big "Alternative to Halloween Festival" across town close to my parents. So when I picked the girls up from school we got home got ready and that's when I decided that I was changing Erin's "costume up" it turned out really cute. I do believe she'll be wearing this outfit again soon. We ended meeting up with a couple friend of ours together they have 2 kids as well. Her daughter actually cheers for the same team as Eriana, but for the smaller group. To make a long story short the Festival was not great at all, it was way to crowded and the way they had it layed out was not good. So we ended up leaving and going trick or treating up the street near my parents area. That was ok, but by this point I had wished we would have went trick or treating in our neighborhood and not have driven so far out.I know Ed was wishing we had, he had originally said lets just stay in our neighborhood but I wanted something "big and different" this year... But, hey you live and learn. My girls had a great time so I guess that's all that matters. We ended the night by going to my parents house I needed to go by there and pick up some things I had stored over there when we had moved. So, it was nice for my mom to see the girls and we got to see my niece who turned 17, on Halloween as well. Then, we made one more stop after we left there I met briefly with an old friend to exchange some clothes I was donating to friend of hers. Then, we headed home, needless to say it was a long night, the girls feel asleep on the way home, and Ed and I were tired and still wishing we had went another route and stayed in our area. But, overrall it was a nice Halloween and we enjoyed seeing our girls all dressed up and running around.

All things Cheerleading

2011-10-26T11:55:00.016-05:00

Isn't she lovely :)

2ND place champs!!! Go Broncos!!

This is the awards ceremony when they announce who won and how each team placed.

Some of the girls, holding up their 2ND place trophy!

Eriana & I (Proud Mommy)

Me and my little diva's

I love this picture of her!!

Me and Eriana at the "last" regular game"

My girls!!! I just love these 2 little girls. I'll forever be their cheerleader!!

This picture is of the girls performing the routine at for the judges, I ended up video taping the performance, so I didn't get many pictures of them performing, because I video taped it. So, hopefully some of the other parents took pictures of them on the floor.

This picture above is at our Homecoming about 2 weeks ago!

This is after the last regular game which we won!! The Pop Warner people came to award the team with a trophy.

This is my cute & sassy cheerleader!!

Eriana, had her cheerleading competition this past weekend and it was FUN!! It brought back so many memories from when I was in Drill Team in HS, good times.... Well, they did a great job to me, they got 2nd place in their division SMALL GROUP. So, now they go on the regional competition which is around Thanksgiving time. They've got a lot of work to do but I'm sure they'll place well. Here are some pictures of her performing at their last regular football game before playoffs and of their cheer competition.

For the past few months, all that has been going on is Eriana, Erin, football fields, football games, and CHEERLEADING. Although, I love it-it's for sure wearing me thin.

P.G BRONCOS

2011-10-20T14:16:00.007-05:00

**Eriana**

I'm proud to say that both of my girls are "girly" girls. They both love dance, cheerleading, hugs, kisses, dresses, tutu's, bows, and all things pink (and purple)!! That makes this momma very happy-since I've had Eriana, I've always wanted her to want to dance and/or be a cheerleader. She has been in dance before and now where trying cheerleading. I wouldn't tell her this but cheerleading really isn't her thing I don't think thus far...shhhhh. But, she's awesome to me anyhow. I'm thinking about putting her back in dance for next year, but well see. The team that she cheers for now, well to put it mildly their not as organized as I would like. I like for things to be structured, organized and have good communication especially if I'm paying my money and anything that has to do with my kids I want it TOGETHER period. So, with that plus the fact that this cheerleading isn't really her strong suit, from what I can tell, is why I think we might go back to dance next year.
Eriana, absolutley loves cheerleading, she loves the people, she loves performing and she got the personality for it.
Erin, is the UNOFFICIAL Mascot at least that's what the cheer coaches and us parents call her. She's there at every practice, she knows all the cheer routines, and she she's got SPIRIT!! I'm planning on putting Erin in dance or cheer for next year. I can't even imagine how busy I'm going to be when I have 2 girls in activities.
I want to add, that I plan on trying to be a better blogger. So I'm aiming at trying to blog at least once every 2 or 3 weeks. It's harder now that I have facebook because I find myself updating FB and not my blog and beside FB just works better for me when I'm pressed for time.
Here are some pics from this season. ENJOY!

A Little Bit of this, A Little Bit of that.....

2011-10-20T13:21:00.009-05:00

**SWEETNESS, She loves her sister and she loves going to the football games**

**Homecoming Parade**

**Ed and Erin at Eriana's game**

**The kids and I made a quick trip to the mall last night, I had gotten my coupons in the mail for Victoria's Secret a while ago and had realized that it was about to expire to I had to go use it. On our way leaving the mall, we stop by the pet store. I can write a whole other post on me taking the kids to the mall for one by myself and for two without Erin's stroller BIG MISTAKE.**

*My niece goes to Desoto HS, where she is a Senior and might I add she is #2 in her class and she is on the color guard team. (I'll be doing a post on my sweet niece in May). We decided to catch a game, and my mom went with us as well. I just love HS Football. I would so be a mess if I had a son. I know I would be running all up and down that field yelling-LOL!!

**My sweet 9 year old, started 3rd grade this year**

**Me and my mom on my birthday**

**Me and my girls on my birthday**

*This is Ed and I, we out to eat for my B-day in Sept. or his in July to Joe's Crab Shack. Sad to say I can't remember who's birthdays it was for.*

Well, not to far in the past, more like the past 2 months or so. We have been extremly busy this Fall. With Eriana in cheerleading, this has taken up more time than I could have ever imagined. I didn't realize that Jr. Pee Wee football required so much time. I can't even imagine what it will be like when she is in High School activities. I was in drill team in HS and now I see what my mom always was complaining about with having to drive here and there and everywhere for games and competitions.
I wanted to get some pictures posted from my 28th birthday, we didn't do anything special but I did manage to take a couple pictures with my mom and my kiddos.
I also, wanted to post some pictures of Eriana's cheerleading games and activities. They had their Homecoming this past weekend and it was great. I took a few pics with my phone but the quality isn't that good. So these pics are kinda all over the place, and I don't know what's wrong with my bloggy thing, I can't see the pictures to write a caption under the pictures, I only see a bunch of words so I'll try keep the pics in some type of order. If that fails I'll do a seperate post for cheerleading.

Labor Day/ BIRTHDAY Weekend

2011-09-06T15:21:00.005-05:00

**Could Erin be any cuter**

-This is Erin and another team mom/friend of mines her daughter is on the young girls squad.

This weekend was overall good. My 28th birthday was on Labor Day, September 5th, every other year or so my birthday always ends up falling on Labor Day. The upside to it is I have always been off of work or out of school for it and it always made for a long weekend to celebrate. My sister took some pictures of me yesterday on my birthday but she hasn't sent them to me so yet, so I'll post them once I get them.
Eriana started cheering for this POP WARNER team,so ago-so that has been keeping me plently busy. I feel as if all I've been doing lateley is runnung back and forth to practice everyday. They were practicing 4 days a week, during the summer time and now that school has started back they are practing 3 days a week, and they have their football games on Saturdays. All I seem to know about these days is cheerleading. But, they had their 1st game this week and it was well worth it!! They did an awesome job and Eriana just had a blast. Erin, has been of course joining in on practice every week and she know all the cheers it just amazes me how quickly she picked up on routines and cheers. The cheer coach has made Erin the "unofficial Mascot". So, of course Erin had to have a super cute outfit to match her "sissy's" uniforms!! Eriana's team won't receive their officaial cheerleader uniforms until game 3, so for the 1st two games there wearing team shorts and shirts.
I'm one proud mommy-having 2 girls and myself being in drill-team in High-School. It's no question about it that my daughters will be in Cheerleading or Dance!!! That's the fun part about girls!!!!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

2011-06-05T15:35:00.011-05:00

**WILLIAMS FAMILY**

My family with my granny

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY

Me and my precious daughters!!

Here is a cute pic of my girls outside our hotel when we drove down to Oklahoma that weekend.

My Dad, mom, granny (dads mom), me and my girls

Me and my mother

Here's a nice picture of my family, outside in my granny's front yard.

We went to Arkansas, to visit my grandmother for Memorial Day weekend. This was her first time to see Erin and her first time seeing me in like 3 years. I just hadn't made time to go up there and visit her since I have had Erin. Needless, to say she was overwhelmed with seeing me and my family. We took plenty of pictures while we were down there. My grandmother is 84 years old so I wanted to be sure to capture some good pics down there with her.

I'm so glad that summer vacation is here. We have a lot of things go and so there are going to be some changes coming our way this summer I'm sure. I can't believe I have a now 3rd grader!!! Eriana is doing so well in school. I'm so thankful that I have been able to stay at home with her and Erin this year. I'm still staying at home with my girls, but I have started looking for a job, but for now I'm just trying to enjoy each and every moment with them and trying to make the best of my time at home with Erin. She is now fully potty trained in the daytime. I only put a pull up on her when she goes to sleep at night and for her nap. She is growing up so fast!!!

SPRING/ SUMMER FUN !!!

2011-05-06T19:05:00.006-05:00

Well, I'm not even going to attempt to catch up on blogging. I will post some Easter pics, however. We are all doing ok for the most part. I was going to try and go to school but I think I'm going to wait a bit ( i think). I'm still enjoying my time staying at home with my girls. Of course with this being Mothers Day weekend, I feel a little special about it this time of year. Not to much is going on this way, I'm sort of kinda looking for a new job. And I'm sort of kinda looking to buy a new car-HA!!! So thats about it for now. Here are some pics of us, they are kind of mixed up but they consist of Easter, and some park pics!!!

M.I.A BLOG

2011-03-16T17:30:00.004-05:00

OMG! I can't believe I have gone this long without blogging. I'm not even going to try and catch up on everything. But, all is well over here at the Williams home :) Eriana and Erin are growing up so fast. Eriana is doing great in school and is really a mini-me well at least she wants to be. Erin is also doing awesome she loves her mama so much and I love her too. We girls have really developed a close bond since I've been staying at home with them. Ed is also do okay also, he really has enjoyed me being at home and its done wonders for our marriage.
I honestly have to admit that I miss adult interaction and conversations, and I really feel the need to want to get out away from my kids and husband every once in a while. Soooooo I have decided that I'm going to attempt to take a couple classes at the local community college near me, I'm going to take some classes in Child Development. Ed is going to be able to watch Erin for me in mornings while I attend. So I'll keep you updated on that hopefully it will work out fine if not then?????????
So all in all we are all doing great and are healthy. I'll try to post again sooner than later.

Last of 2010 plus Holiday Pics!!!

2010-12-31T18:32:00.008-06:00

So I sort of like the idea of posting updates with pictures so this post is going to be full of pictures. Forgive me now for them not being in order, I don't know what wrong with this image thing on the computer so I just selected the pics and loaded them. Well it's New Years Eve and we don't have really anything planned we normally ALWAYS go out and have us sort of date night and we have my parents keep the girls but, this year Ed really didn't feel like going out so we are just opting into hanging out just the 4 of us. I normally don't make NEW YEAR Resolutions and this year won't be any diffrent I'm just going to enjoy each and everyday, that I have. I'm still staying at home with my girls, this year has for sure brought about many things for our family but out of them all I'm so glad to say that me staying at home with my kids is by far the greatest of them all. My kids mean the world to me and although each and everyday I'm tired and at times I feel like I need a maid, and a cook so I can take a break I'm happy when I lay my head down at night. So enjoy the pics and Happy New Year!!!!!

I made Christmas stockings for our family this year, I'm so proud of how they turned out. I'm looking forward to putting these up over the years to come.

Here is Eriana and I, they had a Thanksgiving luncheon at her school.

We went to Waco for Thanksgiving 2010

The girls and their Great Grandmother!!

This is Ed and his Grandmother

Here are the Christmas 2010 Pictures:

Ed on Christmas, he doesn't really like taking pics ( hehehe!!)

Erin looking so cute!! on Christmas 2010

"Santa" was good to me this year yet again!!!!

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UPDATE IN PICTURES!!!

2010-11-14T10:35:00.006-06:00

I'm going to update in pictures!!! I'm so loving being at home with my girls. We are all doing great!!! ENJOY!!!

The girls on their BIRTHDAY ( 8yr. & 2yr. old)

I wish I could blog more, but I just haven't made the time to. It's easier for me to get on facebook on my phone, so I've been doing the FB thing-ha!
I can't believe I have a 8 year old and a 2 year old-WHOA! Well, I'll update again later!!

UPDATE

2010-09-18T16:27:00.002-05:00

Oh my I can't believe it's been almost a whole month of me not blogging. Things have been going great, crazy busy but great. I'm really enjoying staying at home with my little sweet girls. Erin has been keeping me plenty busy while Eriana is at school this last week the two of us have been walking Eriana to and from school. Thank goodness her school is VERY close to our house. Really, the whole family has been tranisioning pretty well I'm getting a lot of things done around the house and I just feel so relaxed and comfortable. Oh yea I had my 27th b-day Sept.5th!!! I know that things are going to work out just fine. I am looking for a cash car/ suv to buy so that's always fun (NOT). I'm just not digging the van thing something about it, I guess. Ed is doing well he is still searching for another job so hopefully he will find something really soon that fits our financial means. I can't say enough how I'm loving being at home I just feel like this is where I need to be right now. We are still getting things together I don't have us on a schedule just yet but I'm hoping here in the next coming weeks we will all be on a schedule I just think, everything works better when there is planning.
My girls birthdays are coming up in October so, starting next week I will be doing party planning. I'm soooo excited about it. We decided to have their party at our house which is what we always do, so that wasn't a hard decision to make. Eriana's b-day is the 12th and Erin's is the 24th, so Ed and I choose a nuetral date of the 16th to have their birthday party on!!! I'm going to have a 8 year old and a 2 year old come next month.OMG.
Well, that's really it for now, I've got a few more things to do before it gets to late. But, I wanted to write a quick note. Hope all is well out there in blog land. I'll be back to more frequent post and updated pictures hopefully here in the next month or so.

Last Day...Blog Day

2010-08-19T09:01:00.006-05:00

*My family*

*My little girls*

Left 2 right ( Me, L, and J.P and J( not pictured)-Love you ladies!!!
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Well, the day has finally come, my last day of work. Last night I had so many mixed emotions just thinking about the future and my past years working. I have made some really good friends the last 3 years working here and I hope and pray that the bonds I have made with these ladies doesn't fade. They are so excited for me and this new stage of my life. I can go on and on about these ladies but I'll end up in tears. They were there for me during a really rough time in my life and I honestly don't know if I would have made it with out them. We have had EVERY conversation in the book together we all are at diffrent stages in our lives and each of us bring something different to the table. They are really the only thing I'm going to miss about work, them and my paycheck (lol).
On the otherhand I'm looking forward to the future and all the life has to give me and my family. I know God has a plan for us and I know it will all work out for the best. I'm excited about being home with my girls full-time, I'm excited about being at home and avaiable to Ed full-time. I'm happy to be ME right now and that's a good feeling. Although, I'm nervous about the financial part of things I know God has a plan for that as well, and as I always say if need be I will jump right back into the swing of things and get a another job but until then, I'm going to enjoy every minute of time of this.
With all of that this will be my last blog for a while maybe a couple of weeks or so. I'm hoping that all the readers will hang in there with me these next few weeks as I transition into another role. It's not a new role because I've always been a mother for the past 7 yrs and a wife for the past 5 years. But, its a new fulltime role I want to embrace. Eriana will be starting school Monday and so I'm going to be busy with that and having a busy toddler at home I'm going to have my hands full.
The picture above is missing one person, she had already taken another job by the time we took this picture but she is there in my heart still!
So stay tuned....I will be back to blogging real soon!!!!!!

BLOG AWARD-Count Down

2010-08-17T10:59:00.002-05:00

I received a blog award today over at : http://ticatattle.blogspot.com/
She has a really cute blog that just made me smile when I was reading through it. I can say that it had me smiling here the whole time I was going through it so that made my day today.
Also, another thing that makes my day today is the fact that I have 2 more days left of work so the count down has begun. I'm getting more and more excited about it. I was feeling a little guilty but realized that all things happen for a reason and this for the most part was not my sole decision because had this transistion with my job not have came about I would still be in the work force. But, what has been my sole decision is that fact that we as a family are embracing this and have decided I will not go back to work for now and I will stay at home with my kids. Now, I can say I'm looking forward to this 100% I'm finally getting what I have prayed for. I still have my prayers going up that my husband will get a very nice paying job, in the near future. He had another interview on Friday, that he thought went well so I'm hoping he hears back from them before this week is up.
I want to add that I still forgot to get batteries for my camera, hince why not pics...

Random

2010-08-16T10:08:00.002-05:00

Well, to say I am nervous would be an understatment. I have about a little over 72 hours left of work and then I am home bound. I'm really ready for Thurdsay to come. I have so much I need to do to get Eriana ready for school and get my family transistioned into our new family dynamic. I'm struggling this week with budgets and all that money stuff. I don't know who all reads my blog but if anybody out there has any advice on ways to save money and budget on a 1 person income please let me know. I think I mentioned it before that after this week my blogging will probely be way less for a while. I've enjoyed reading others blogs and I have drawn so much from them and I really like reading about other families dynamics and how are so different and yet the same to me :)
Before I forget I wanted to have it wrote down that Erin is officially saying I love you, back now. Well it sounds like LUV U, and it's the cutest sound I've ever heard. I swear she is the most polite little 1 year old I ever known, she's so sweet and well behaved. Although, she does get all rawled up when Eriana is around but I'm going to work on that and fix that hopefully now that I'll be home.
Eriana and Erin both have birthdays coming up. Eriana's b-day is October 12th and Erin's b-day is October 24th. I'm obviously stuck with a dilemia of how to or what do for their party. I have already decided to do a dual birthday party for them, having their party together just makes sense to me, But, I don't know where to began on how to. Eriana will be 8 and Erin 2; two totally different ages. Since I didn't do alot for them for their birthday's last year. I've already been knowing that I wanted to do something semi big for them this year.
We have so much going on that I have had little time to think and plan for this year. Well, I for sure don't want to cut them short this year on their birthday party. So I'm going to start planning for their party Monday.
Well enjoy the rest of your week!!

Random Things PT.2

2010-08-13T08:27:00.002-05:00

Okay, to somewhat finish my previous post. I'm getting so ready for next week come this day next week, it will official be my 1st day at home!! I'll be gearing up for Eriana's return back to school as a 2nd grader. I've done most of her school supply shopping there are a few more things she needs and then she'll be done.
My wifi internet service has not been working properly the psst couple of weeks and is not picking up service at all this week, so my blogging is going to be very few until I can get it fixed I don't like working on a slow computer.
I've began making a list of home projects I want to work on I want to decorate my girls bathroom in hot pink and zebra print!!! I've got some great crafty ideas I wanna do for their bathroom and I can't wait to get started with that.
Ed has an interview this morning and I'm praying he gets the job it's with a good company and the pay is good as well, so hopefully it will go well.
We don't have to many plans this weekend, we were thinking about going out of town to visit some of my family in Texarkana, Arkansas but I haven't decided yet. I don't know if I want to chance driving the van that far.
Oh I guess I ought to mention why I haven't posted any pictures lately, my camera is in need of batteries and everytime I go to the store I forget to get some but I plan on going to CVS or Walgreens over the weekend and I'll pick some up then-ha!

Random Things..........pt.1

2010-08-11T17:48:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm gearing up for my new fulltime career SAHM!!! I can't wait to be completly done with working at my job. I have got so many household things I need to get started on. My family needs a budget seriosly. We aren't going to make it long with one I'm afraid. So as soon as I can get a quiet time at home-ha (while my Ed and the kids are sleep) I've got to come up with some ways to cut back and save us money.
Also, before I forget I'm probley not going to be blogging that much coming next week, I've got to get situated at home and get things in order for my family. I'm taking being a SAHM serious and want to make sure I give my kids all of me for while. I'm going to limit myself to one blog a week for about a month or so.
Well, I got to run-my husbands waiting on me to come down. I'll continue this post later....

It's Official !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-06T09:31:00.004-05:00

**Caution Long Post**
I have 2 weeks left of work. I have so many mixed emotions about this but, overall I'm really good. I'm so looking forward to staying at home with my kids and being the full-time caretaker for them. I'm looking forward to being more avaiable and less stresed when it comes to my husband. I can't wait to have the time to get my house in order and lastly I can't wait to get back to just me I need to relax and focus on getting my family in order.

I've been knowing for sometime now that this day was coming, I just didn't want to talk about it until I signed my paperwork and I did yesterday afternoon I got my notification letter. I have been working for right at 7 years for the same company, they started outsourcing a few departments a couple of years ago and annouced last year that my department would be getting outsourced to India come 2010. I work in finance/ accounting and have so many great years working for my company. I started working here right before I turned 20, and it was about a year after I had Eriana so this is really the only job I have had in "adult" life. The only job I have had since I have my kids, only job I have had since being married. I have experienced so much in my working life working for this company. I have had some really good boss's overrall while working here. I have been able to work from home at times when needed. I have been able to take off to take care of family business when needed. I honestly can't say a bad thing about this job. I have made some really good money while working here I have for sure climbed the ladder so to speak. I can only hope and pray that I get blessed in the future as I have been.

I'm a little sentimental about because as I said before being a mom and working here is all I have done these past 7 years. And, I'm thinking to myself I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm more so thinking about the financial aspect of things, for my household. I'm already having thoughts of what will I do when I want to go shopping for my girls, shopping for myself. More importanly will my husband be able to handle the financial burden on his own. He has been so supportive of me and this whole situation since it came up last year and he really does want me to be at home full time now, but I'm worried I can't lie about that. I've always had "my own" income and I always knew that I had a paycheck coming in every 2 weeks. Now come August 20th; that will end I will not be getting paid anymore. Sadly, you don't get paid to be a stay at home mom or house wife-ha!!

Don't get me wrong I amd beyond excited about being off, I plan on enjoying every bit of being at housewife/ SAHM (stay at home mom). I don't plan on returning back to working anytime in the near future UNLESS, I can find a job working at a school which is what I really want or of course if Ed and I decide that I need to go back to work. But, for now I'm home baby!!! Well at least I will be come 08/20/10-that's my last day at work-actually my last day phycially going to work will be the Aug.19th thats when I sign my exit paperwork and I'll be off on the 20th!!!

My blogging will probabley decrease a little because in the afternoons right now when I get home, I'm tranisitioning the kids from being at home with Ed all day, and getting them ready for our night routine. And, Eriana starts school that Monday afer my last day of work so the timing couldn''t be better!! I'm so happy about that.
We are planning on taking the girls to the waterpark this weekend!!

Thursday

2010-07-29T15:27:00.002-05:00

I'm getting so anxious about next week, Friday the 6th to be exact. I so want to tell everybody I know and I'll be able to because of FACEBOOK-lol!!! What I've been wanting to tell just about everybody that I have been talking to these last few months. A couple already know so it will be no big news to them but to others they will be surprised or maybe not. I've been waiting to talk about it until it's in black and while-and I think next Friday the 6th, I'll get my wish. I haven't really been blogging because I want to talk about it so, but I've kept it in just in case it doesn't happen. To some I know they will probably wonder what am I so happy about especially with the economy being the way it is. But, it good news to my family the way we see it.
CHANGE OF SUBJECT: Ed's birthday was nice and very quiet. We spent the day at home mostly. He really didn't feel like getting out. I guess when you get that old (32) you don't feel like doing anything for your birthday-LOL!!! Naw, but I'm hoping we get to go out to dinner and a room this weekend or the next one. It's been sort of hard not having any "alone time" to go and do anything because we always have our kids with us. But, I'm thinking it's time for that so I might see about getting my sister to watch the girls for us one weekend.
Before I forget I wanted to make note for records sake that my sister has completed her nursing school and has been offered a job in Tyler, TX as a respiratory therapist nurse. She will be working 3 days a week 12hr days. and off 5 days so she's going to drive back and forth for the 3 days-back from Desoto and Tyler. I'm so proud of her!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ED

2010-07-25T12:07:00.002-05:00

Today is my handsome husbands 32nd birthday!!! I love you Ed more and more each day!! You are such a great father to our 2 girls. You are such a sweet loving husband (most of the time-ha).I love your take charge attitude. You are a lover of life and nothing seems to get you down.
We had some unexpected things happen this weekend so that has altered our plans a little bit, but we are going out to eat later today and probaley do a few other things. Happy birthday to my LEO!!! love you

WEEKEND

2010-07-23T14:07:00.001-05:00

We don't have to much planned for this weekend. Ed's birthday is Sunday so well be celebrating that over the weekend.

Girls, Girls, Girls

2010-07-18T21:48:00.004-05:00

All of us girls, out front of my parents house!!

My niece and Eriana

I had a great time today. It wasn't to eventful my little cousins were down here for summer break visiting my niece at my parents house so the girls and I headed over that there. I can't believe these girls are growing up so fast. It makes me feel old to see them getting ready. They are such DIVA'S and I mean that in a good way. All three of them are so beautiful. They are all doing so good in high school and I'm so proud of them all. It makes me think about when my girls get that age, I don't know what I'm going to do with myself. I thought I was a pretty modern momma, but after watching them get ready to go to a teen club, I've come to realize that I'm getting old and I'm going to me sort of a strict momma about these things :). Eriana idolizes my niece, she so wants to be these girls age. I keep telling her to stop rushing her life away and to enjoy being a young little girl, no need for to rush being a teenager because no one in our house is ready for the teenage drama!!!

CATCH UP....

2010-07-16T23:48:00.004-05:00

~My beautiful daughters~

~Love this picture~

My sweet baby girl

Well I can't really catch up but I'll try. I have really been busy lately with the girls. Having 2 kids 7 years old and a 21 months old, I'm very busy with being a mom and wife. So I really haven't made the time to blog. With August coming up I'm looking forward to some major changes. I know I have been saying that for a while now but soon I'll be able to scream it out loud. We are enjoying our new van BUT we have been having some problems with it, yes I know I can't believe that were already having issues with it. So I'm starting to look for something else just in case we end up having to get something else and I've already made it known that when I buy my next car I'm going to go ahead and pay the money and get something newer and nicer I'm thinking Luxury(lol). Ed is starting to look for new work, especially with the changes we have coming up here in the next month or so.
I've been thinking here lately about some things, that I think are making me a little "down". Here's a brief run down of some of my "issues". I won't go into deep detail about them because I don't want to depress myself.
* Yearning for a closer relationship with God, and wanting to get to know His word
* Getting my kids on a routine, especially at night.
* Finances
* Maintaining my house keeping-I don't know why this has been a challenge for me but it has. I'm hoping that here in the very near future the change with help me with this.
* Being a better wife, lover, friend, companion, and partner to my husband.
* Finding some friends-this is something that I'm struggling with right now. I get a little embarrassed telling about this one but it is an issue for me. Without sounding like a personal ad (lol). I'm looking mainly for friends that are married, have kids or close to that stage not really looking for single friends I have a couple of those. But, mainly a girlfriend that I can go hang out with at the mall with our kids and we can also have double date nights out with our husbands and go on couple trips. I don't know, I really am lacking in this area I'm always at home with the kids or with the other little time I'm not a home I'm at Dr Pepper. So needless to say my life is getting BORING. I mean I'm knocking on 27 years old in September and I feel like I have the life of an old elderly woman.
*Ed's job/career
*My girls hair ( this is serious to me although I know others may not understand this issue)I feel horrible that I can't do their hair certain ways, I feel like I need to go to some type of school to be able to do their hair. I see other women's children hair and it's combed so cute and I wish I could comb hair like that. Especially Erin but she just gives me so much crying and moving and screaming when I comb her hair. That alot of time I'm just rushed to get it put up so I can calm her down.
* Eriana's "issue". I don't and won't ever embarrass my child so I won't-so I won't say what it is, but if your a mom you should know what it is. There is something I'm trying to help her with during the night and it's stressing me out, because she feels bad when it happens and at her age I don't think it should be happening anymore. And, I just want to know what can I do to help her.
* Extended family relationships (parents, sister)

Well, that about sums up the past few weeks of things going on. We really don't have anything planned for the this weekend. Ed and I have an dentist appointment tomorrow, the dentist he has been going to is open on Saturday so we both have appointments in the morning. I can only imagine the fun were going to have at the dentist and us both having appointments with 2 kids running around, well at least one because Erin will be in the stroller-ha!
The girls and I went to Walmart earlier, and they were having big clearance sales on all the 4th of July decor. I liked to spend all the little cash I had in my wallet but had to restrain myself. With my favorite color being red and my kitchen decor theme is red. I wanted to buy everything they had on sale. I'm thinking I want to go back and get some more things. Well, I'm about to check on the kids and do some budgeting on our bills.

FRIDAY, rain rain go away.......

2010-07-09T21:44:00.004-05:00

~I have been pretty busy this week, with the kids which is why I haven't blogged in a few days. I guess you can say a lot has gone on this week. First off I won 2 blog giveaways from the same blog. YEA, for me. I had actually won on another one a few weeks ago but never received the gift, but anyways I'm not concerned about it I don't blog or enter for "stuff" anyway it's normally just for fun. But, I did win a cute little ring and a hair accesory clip for Erin. So I can't wait to get them!! ~The blog I won the items on are at: http://firstcomeslovereviews.blogspot.com
er;cursor:po

I'm so excited about the changes that August is going to bring, for my family. We are totally stepping out on faith and it feels so good. I'll post more on that in future blogs, don't want to speak to soon.

We have had tons of rain this week and I know it's good for the outside but it's torture on our family plans for outside plans.

4th of July Weekend

2010-07-05T22:14:00.004-05:00

We had a pretty laid back 4th of July. This was actually the 1st 4th that we didn't do anything or go anywhere. We went out to eat for dinner, which was delish:)Then came home and hung out for a while before going to bed. Eriana was pretty upset we didn't go watch fireworks but she got over it. We really weren't in the mood to really get out and do anything. We have a few other things going on that need to be taken care of so I'm guessing that's why we weren't in the mood.
I got some really cute pictures of the girls this weekend. I didn't want to crop or to mess alter them at all so I'm just posting them as they are. Hope everyone else enjoyed their Independence Day.

Happy 4th of July, 2010

2010-07-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

I'm currently in the process of planning what we are doing for this weekend. I waited a little late to plan, I know. But, I'm so looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend with my family. Hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July weekend!!

Blog Silence

2010-07-01T05:40:00.003-05:00

~I have been following this story. I live in the Dallas/ FT.Worth area where Cohen was in the hospital and passed away. Although, I didn't personally know the family I was touched by their story. I will participate in this remembrance~

Read More:
http://sendlovetocohen.blogspot.com/
http://www.inthiswonderfullife.com/

Great Sunday

2010-06-27T21:42:00.003-05:00

Today, has been a wonderful day, actually this whole weekend has been wonderful. We woke up this morning close to 9am, and started getting ready for church which started at 11am. I can't say enough that it takes forever to get the girls and me ready to go anywhere, and then when you add Ed into it, it takes extra long. We all 4had to get baths which takes up majority of the time and combine that with having to comb my hair and Erin's hair. Luckily, Eriana's hair is in braids so I didn't have to do much to hers. I felt like we were rushing so I didn't take any pictures of the girls this morning before we left and I wish I would have. We went to church which the service was nice was nice, and then we headed to Hutchins for lunch and congregation. We stayed there for a while until around 5pm I believe, but it was very nice to visit with Ed's uncle Bishop Taylor and his lovely wife. I did manage to get a picture of Ed and his uncle, right after church but I didn't get one while we were in Hutchins. I also wish I would have gotten one of Bishop and his wife, but it totally slipped my mind. Ed thinks so much of his uncle, and it just makes me happy to hear him talk about him and to see them together just does something to me. I was thinking when we got home and didn't mention it to Ed, because I wanted to surprise him. But, I'm going to take the picture I did get of them two together and have it printed and framed. I can't really explain what it is about his uncle but it's for sure a special bond they have that goes back years before Me. Ed and I were talking and we are going to take a trip to Florida here in the near future once we get our finances in order to go. I'm so looking forward to that trip.
I did get some pictures of the girls, while we were in Hutchins and in the van. My camera has a mind of its own lately and the picture I so loved was totally blurred out by the sun, it was of Ed and the girls, But, it will have to do. I didn't even get a picture of the 4 of us together and I wish I would have. Pictures are important to me because it's the way to "stop" time if you will. I love having something to look back on. Especially when it comes to my girls, I want to remember every single moment of their lives. They grow up so fast, and memories and pictures go together to me. But, here are some pictures of our Sunday, today.

SATURDAY

2010-06-26T20:20:00.006-05:00

~Erin in the van, getting ready to get out~

~Me and my baby girl~

~Eriana giving Erin a big squeeze~

We have had a pretty lax Saturday today. We all got up extremly early this morning, for no reason first the kids and I got up around 7am and then of course with the noise of the kids Ed got up. Ed and I went back to bed around 9am while the kids were up in the living room playing and watching T.V. Ed had told Eriana all week that we were going to take her to the movies Saturday and I had told her we would go out to eat to Chili's if I had received that giftcard I had won the last week. Ed went to run a few errands before we left for the movies while he was gone the mail came and the giftcard hadn't came in, yet. We then started getting ready which now having 2 girls to get ready and myself takes forever. I had made the girls both a shirt/ onesie a few months ago and they haven't wore them yet, so I thought today would be a good day for them to wear them. So of course while getting them ready I took the opprutunity to make it a little photo session for me. Anytime I can get some cute pictures of them I take advantage. I will admit that it is getting harder as they are both getting older to get some good still shots-ha. Ed, was back at home right when I finished getting us all ready, and we headed out. We got to the movies a little early before our show startedv, we went to got see TOY STORY 3. So with the extra time we went and ate at McDonalds and let Eriana play. I didn't get any pics of us there but I did get some of us getting out of the van. We had a good day and Erin actually behaved for the most part in the theatre, she did fall asleep half way through thank goodness.
Ed had gotten us tickets to the Rodeo here in our town, but after we got home he didn't feel like going. I kind of wanted to take the kids but there is no way I was going to dare take them there without him there to help me. Besides, a lot of it was outside and it's to darn hot for me and the 2 kids by our lonely. Also, we live in the rodeo city so there will be plenty of chances for us to go again.
We are planning on going to the church Ed's uncle is attending while he's down here, they're headed back out to Florida tomorrow.
Just a side, I plan on taking Erin fully off the bottle by the end of July! I'm actually gearing up for some much needed at home time I hope is coming up real soon. I haven't wanted to say to much about it because there is not set date or anything I just know it will be before the end of the year. I get so excited talking about it but I don't want to speak to soon, not until it is in " black and white".

$2 Tuesday

2010-06-22T11:48:00.003-05:00

~This picture is too cute, I love how Erin is looking at Eriana, trying to figure out how to put her hand on her hips~

I don't know why I choose that title, for this post (lol). Well, maybe it's because I just looked in my wallet and I only have $2.00 and my debit card.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the week, Ed's uncle and his wife are coming down from Florida today. So him and the girls are waiting on him to get here, I think there gone to get something to eat now. When they get here he is taking them to Waco for a few days so that they can visit with family there. Ed and the girls are driving back later on today and then we are going up there tomorrow or Thursday I believe. So Ed really enjoys the company and talking with his uncle. I wish we lived closer to each other Ed really needs that "male" guidance/ figure in his life. His uncle is coming down here mainly for a church "event/conference/visit" if you will, I'm not for they come every year. He is has his own church there in Florida. So although I'm not super busy, Ed is going to be for sure. I've got some last minute things to get do and to get done.
The girls and I ran some errands yesterday afternoon and we stopped at this beauty supply store. I have been looking for new products to use on Erin's hair, I'm just really having a hard time getting her hair together the way I want it. It doesn't help much that I am not a hair person at all. So imagine how difficult it is for me having 2 girls I have to manage hair on. Oh yea and it doesn't help at all that Erin absolutely doesn't like getting her hair combed, touched, or brushed-she has a totally hissy fit when it comes to her hair. And, this is an understatement she acts up so bad, I literally have to hold her down. So imagine all her thick hair and not having it combed in a couple days it equals a dry, brittle, thick mess on my hands. So, I'm trying to find something that will make it easier on her which in return will make it easier for me.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

2010-06-20T05:04:00.005-05:00

Ed, first I want to say how much I love you and how much Eriana and Erin love you.
I feel like I have whole other type of love for you when I see and think about you with our girls. Ever since that special day our first child was born October 2002, I've seen you grow into a wonderful dad. You have taken Fatherhood on and embraced it's many challenges and joys. Eriana loves you so much and has become so strong thanks to you. I feel with her you finally felt like you had reason for life. Now, that your sweet mother is in heaven, I know you are so grateful for the time that she got to spend with Eriana, she is so much of Williams kid, we love it. When our second child was born October 2008, I started noticing a change in your parenting you became this softer more understanding man. You love differently now with her, I see. You take care of her like I've never seen a man care for a child before. Erin loves you tons, sometimes I feel as if she likes you more than me, because she's so fasinated by you. She follows you around the house, and does whatever you tell her to do. She is truley a daddy's girl. I love how fatherhood has changed you. Being a good dad to our girls is so important to you. And, although it's hard being a parent I know you wouldn't change it for the world. I'm in tears typing this because I'm thinking about how you care, love, nurture, protect, provide, teach and so much more to our girls. You love having 2 girls and that's awesome. You have had an unique opprutunity to take on caregiving for both the girls at times and never once have you complained about it. You do so much for them, more than I've ever known a man to do for his children. I often think to myself how tired and somewhat stressed out you must be taking on this parental role you have but you don't show it if you are. Often, a lot of moms know their husbands will never know what it's like being the "MOM", but I'm proud to say that I really think you get it. Your so overproctective when it comes to Erin and Eriana, just like me. You being the only man in the house full of girls, I know can drive you crazy sometime but once again you never complain, you embrace it. Just like you embrace our unique family dynamic. I could go on and on about how much of a wonderful father you are but, I can't stop crying right now. Us girls are much in love you. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, love.

~Happy Father's Day to my dad!!

Soccer Mom

2010-06-19T16:08:00.005-05:00

Well, I'm so excited on the inside that we have gotten some resolution to our car dilemma. We got a new family vehicle. It's a blue, 2000 Chrysler Town & Country minivan. Yes, that's right a minivan. I absolutely can not believe that I'm driving a minivan. Nothing against anybody who has one or loves there's. But, lets be real I consider myself a pretty sassy, hip, young women and although Ed and I have 2 kids. We just can't believe we bought a van today. I'm ever so thankful to God, for blessing us with another car because we so needed something now since my Honda had given up and Ed's car is having all kind of issues it was just time to trade in the Honda and get something else. I'm not going to say we settled because given our situation we so needed this and it's a blessing we were able to find this deal. So needless to say I feel like a soccer mom driving a van, but that's fine. I'm a HOT, young, sassy, and hip "soccer mom". Here a few pics I took when first got back home, I'll take some more later on.

~Ed was getting ready to clean it up some~

WINNER

2010-06-18T08:11:00.003-05:00

About a month or so ago, I was reading one of the blogs I follow on a regular " Ashley's Avenue-Linam Family". This sweet woman entered in for a contest her town was having in Arkansas, for a backyard giveaway. Unfortunately, she did not win. But, for voting for her she did a random giveaway for a Chili's gift card and I won!! I'm so excited... but sad her family didn't get the backyard makeover. I'm sure her family will be blessed to be able to have this done, in due time.
I'm particularly drawn to her blog for a couple reasons but in particular because she lives in Arkansas, and although my main roots are here in Texas. I'm from Arkansas. My grandmother (dad's mom) lives in Locksburg, AR; which is where my dad and his 2 sisters lived all there life's. I have one aunt who lives in Mineral Springs, AR and the other aunt lives in Texarkana, AR. I also have a cousin who lives in Texarkana, TX. So my roots are strong for Arkansas, and as a child I was always down there visiting my family. So I'm Southern all the way and proud of it!!
I'm so thankful to have won, this giftcard. I will for sure post pictures of us there when we go. Hopefully, we will be getting our cars fixed so that we can transportation to go (lol).
Happy Friday!!!

Blog Frog

2010-06-17T06:16:00.002-05:00

I'm trying to revamp, my blog page if you will. I know I'm always reading others blog and I enjoy it I follow a few blogs frequently. I'm always in amazement how so many other families seem like mine and on the other hand I'm in amazement how each family is unique and has it's own dinamic. I added a blog frog on my page,to the right side for traffic. I usually don't leave comments on others pages, but I have recently, so I thought I'd add this to my page as well.
Not to much going on with us, we are still down by the car but hopefully we will be getting something new or getting it fixed. I just do not like car trouble it stresses me out, but then again a lot of things are stressing me out lately....

HOT MESS

2010-06-12T15:54:00.002-05:00

We got a out today to run a few errands, but now were are going to relax at home. It is way to hot outside to be going anywhere. Although, I think were going out to eat for dinner tonight. This Texas heat is a hot mess, you would think a girl who grew up in Texas since before 1st grade, that I should be use to it. But, I am not it's brutle out there. I do want to add that I like the heat much better than the cold, anyday but it's just HOT and there is no other way to describe it. I did manage to get a few good pics of Erin today.

AT HOME FRIDAY

2010-06-11T15:53:00.005-05:00

Today, I'm working from home and I must say that, I've actually worked harder taking care of the girls while I'm " working from home" then actually working on work. I started working at around 10am this morning, which gave me plenty play time and time to get breakfast together for the girls-so I thought. Once I started working they let loose, I mean I was here in the living room with them watching them and working on my laptop. And, miss Eriana made sure she took advantage of me not really fussing about picking up toys and therfore they had my living room, a HOT MESS. So, I had to come to a stopping point and straingten up some things and get lunch ready and also put Erin down for nap. It has been on crazy Friday, thus far. Oh yea may I add, that our car once again is having issues.
Luckly, Erin is still sleep so I decided I would take a moment and write about today. Working from home and having a work at home with 2 kiddo's running around is pretty tiring, down right exhausting and a bit stressful. I'll be glad when I'll be hanging up the work part and just stick to be at home(hint hint)!! Well, I have a few more things to do before Erin wakes up from her nap and besides Eriana is laying across my lap while I'm writing this and besides between computer work, kids and watching HGTV I need a break-LOL. These pics were actually taken a couple of weeks ago, but I thought they were fitting for my post today.

Have a good weekend!

Thursday

2010-06-10T19:01:00.007-05:00

Today, the girls and I had a pretty relaxing day here at home. We did go eat a LATE, late lunch with Ed at CICI Pizza- Ed and I aren't really big fans of here but Eriana likes it mainly, I think because of the games she gets to play in the game room when she's done eating! I think Erin After, we left there we headed to the store I had to go pick up a few things and while I was out I picked up this ABC block mat. I'm actually going to try and find the mat that has the extra big ABC letters, that I can use in Erin room as part of her floor. But, for now these will do.....

These mats actually caused a little fuss with Erin and Eriana today, they were fighting over them, and I must say little miss Erin is quite a little fighter, she defanitly is not going to get pushed around ( I LOVE IT). It's hard to believe that these are a 7 year old and a 19mth old, trying to fight, screaming and playing with each other. This has taught me that I'm going to have to start buying 2 of somethings instead of 1. Which also reminds me that I'm going to have to change up my grocery shopping because I'm now shopping for 2 little ones who eat totally diffrently. This equals out to a higher grocery bill.
After, we played with the mat I let the girls outside briefly to play. I am not really an outside person, so we really don't go outside much but I'm trying to be better at that because both Eriana and Erin seem to enjoy being outside and I don't want to put my likes and dislikes on them. So, I do try to allow Eriana outside when we request even if we just take a walk down the street.

As, Erin is getting more and more busier everyday and Eriana is wanting to do more activties inside and outside I going to need all my extra time to be a MOM and Wife!!! There probabley won't be much of a difference as I've already starting laying off the computer already but since I love blogging and following others blogs I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I'm just going to not feel so.......about checking blogs, emails, facebook, ect. It's more mental I think, really.

Busy Momma

2010-06-08T22:39:00.005-05:00

-This little girl, is becoming more independent everyday-

Now that Erin is 19months old, it seems as if she has gained so much energy and she is way more active here now, that I've noticed these last few months. Like tonight for example I was making dinner and she either wanted me to hold her the entire time or she's all over the house-literally. I have to make sure that every door is closed especially my room and Eriana's room door. This seems easy enough but with Eriana going in and out of my room and back into her room, so much she always seems to "forget" to shut the door back. Which of course Erin takes the opportunity to make her rounds to those rooms. Right, after I finished cooking I made the girls plates, I started to clean the kitchen while Erin was in her highchair eating dinner and Eriana was at the table eating. Erin, really just starting feeding herself about a week or so ago and it really has come in handy. Because, it means I don't have to be sitting right there next to her feeding her food. Once I cut up her food and give her, her little spoon she's got it. Besides, while they at it was the only time I've had tonight to get things done. So I washed dishes and clean counter tops because I had no time to eat with them, because I knew that if I didn't clean my kitchen up then it wouldn't be done or I would find myself being up all night. Then when the girls finished, I got them ready for bed and put them to sleep they were tired because no less than 20 minutes later, they were sleep and I was able to eat.

I thought I'd post some cute pics of Erin, being Erin. I love her so!!!!
Both, of my girls are momma's girls, especially Eriana. Erin is a mom ma's girl to an extent but she really is a daddy's girl and I think it's the cutest thing ever, she follows him around the house, calls out his name and her face just lights up when he's around, this girl loves her daddy!

RaNdOm Sunday

2010-06-06T12:25:00.005-05:00

Me and my pretty girls!!

Me and sweet Erin!

Erin's laundry, I think she's got more summer dresses than I do:)

We've be up pretty early this morning, Ed has been in and out of the house all this morning him and a friend of his are trying to get both of our cars fixed. No luck, with mine so now there gone trying to get something for his car. So we haven't done any swimming this weekeend needless to say. But, the girls and I have been couped up in the house the whole weekend it's just to darn HOT outside to walk to the park or take a walk around the block. I'm hoping well get to enjoy some family time later on this afternoon when Ed gets finished.
I figured since I found my USB cord to my camera, I'd download the pictures I have on there and take some new one as well.
I have to admit that it has been nice to have nothing to do, this weekend and plus being in the house with my little ones is always fun, and never a dull moment, with my 2 busy girls:)

Last Day of School!!!!!!!

2010-06-04T20:19:00.003-05:00

I thought this was too cute of Erin sitting on the couch, with her little feet crossed!

She's got the good life:)

I let Erin feed herself her breakfast the other morning and she did such a good job.

Yea!! Today was Eriana's last day of school. I officially have a 2nd grader on my hands. I thought for a second today that I was getting old:) They had early release today. I'm so proud of her, she made A honor roll. The only kid in her classroom to get it!! SUPER PROUD MOM. So, tomorrow will be our official 1st day of summer!! To celebrate her making A honor roll and summer vacation.
Ed and I talked briefly about our plans for the summer but not in depth yet, so we will be having that conversation soon I know. I'm thinking plenty trips to the swimming pool, zoo visits, and water park visits. Here in our area there are actually a few that are not so pricey. There is one in particular that will probably be our first visit it's near to us in Garland and one in Rowlett. I researched both and they seem just right for us. Because, the typical places like Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags is just to much for me taking Erin and I figured there would be very little Erin would be able to enjoy. So these places in Garland and Rowlett are good.
Ed and I have been so looking forward to her last day of school for months now. We would totally home school if we could, that's about how serious we are. We just like her at home and being on our schedule- this reigns true for Ed especially. So the summertime has begun for us Williams.
I'm still having issue with my camera it's so random-but I was able to get some REALLY cute pictures of Erin yesterday when we were here at home while Eriana was at school and I got some of Eriana holding up her A honor roll certificate, but I have to edit it to mark out her school name that's on it before I post it on here. So, as soon as I download the pics I'll get them posted. It will probably be sometime Monday, unless I find my USB cord before that:)
We don't really have to much planned this weekend besides taking Eriana out to celebrate and going swimming or something.
PS: I just found my USB cord!!!!

Memorial Day

2010-05-31T07:54:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to take a little time out and say how well, be spending Memorial Day. We have to run a few errands later this morning and then we plan on taking the girls swimming!!! And, of course it's been super Texas hot these last few days and this morning I wake up and it looks like it's going to rain-ha. Go figure. But, well see!

Catch Up

2010-05-29T19:42:00.005-05:00

I have been so busy these last past weeks. I've been trying to catch up on washing clothes & folding, cleaning Eriana's room, cleaning up my house ect. And, on top of that I've been catching up on watching all of my reality TV shows :)
It's was kind of embarrassing all the laundry I had let pile up. I mean I had a lot of baskets full of my husband and mine clothes. Eriana and Erin both had a full basket a piece full of clothes that needed to be washed. I had been washing our newest clothes we were wearing but not tackling the older baskets if you know what I mean. But, I'm proud and glad to say that I'm down to the last few loads left, I think I have about 4 more loads left to wash 2 being of our bedding-which is pretty easy to get through. I have been up since about 9am this morning washing and cleaning up my kitchen and straightening up our master bedroom and restroom. I am tired to say the least in between that I've been relaxing with Ed and the kids. Erin took about a 2 hour nap which was nice. Eriana has been asking to go swimming so Ed and I proabley will take them before this Memorial weekend is over-at least thats the plan:)
I'm about to start dinner but I thought I take a moment and blog.
The pictures are from our happenings these past few weeks. I wanted to document Erin turning 19 months old!!!!! I can't believe it!!!I'd like to add that's it getting really challenging to get pictures of Erin nowadays especially some with her and Eriana. But, I managed to get some the other day and really like them! Ed and I haven't made any plans for the weekend besides taking the girls swimming. We have some financial obligations that are coming up so we wanted to make sure we aren't spending unnessecary money if we can help it. Besides, were still down to 1 car and have to save up to get it fixed. I can't believe its June already, it's really getting close to time for some up and coming changes to the Williams household. I'm holding off blogging about it until it's in " black & white" . But, I'm nervous, excited, scared, and happy about it. I know that things will work out fine. No, I'm not pregnant. But, it does involve my kids in a major way, a positive way that is. And, it involves my husband being the " head" of our home. Enough about that till later.

SHOW US YOUR LIFE........

2010-05-28T20:14:00.003-05:00

Over on Kelly's Korner, this week theme is "your favorite thing/s". Here are mine:

My Kids!!
My Husband!!
Spending time with my husband and kids!!
MY LOVE FOR JESUS, AND MY FAMILY!!

On a side note, I've been taking a break from blogging for a while, but I'll post again tonight when my girls go to bed or in the morning!!

BUSY BODY

2010-05-22T07:04:00.003-05:00

These past couple of nights the girls have just been all over the place. They have been having so much energy that I have been running around the house with them playing and trying to get them to calm down some. I must admit it had me feeling a little old :)Because I was getting tired. Erin has been a little fussy, she definatley has a stubborn attitude, she does what she wants if she wants to. I like kind of attitude for the real world but at home I'm going to need her to listen to her mommy !! Eriana, has developed a thing for yelling and she's gotten it honestly because I yell alot, which I hate but I do. And, lately she has been yelling when things aren't going her way or if Erin is doing something she thinks she shouldn't. So I have been run down and plan on doing nothing but relaxing the this weekend. Here are some sweet pictures of Erin, I took the other day before I combed her hair. Eriana wasn't in the mood for pictures suprisingly.
Oh yea, that's going to be hard because I have errands to run and Ed and I are down to 1car until we get mine fixed. Oh the stress I feel it coming......

TECH UPDATE

2010-05-19T20:14:00.001-05:00

I believe that issue I was having has been fixed, so now I can keep on blogging and facebooking :)

TECH ISSUES

2010-05-19T09:13:00.003-05:00

I've been having some computer issues these past couple of days, I'm not for sure if it's my connection or if I have a virus or something. So I'm going to try to see what's going on with it before I try to do anymore blogs or facebook things.