Valentine's Day

The word freezing does not even begin to describe how cold it is here right now in Colorado Springs. I look back and laugh at the many days I complained while living in Oregon when it was 35 degree's outside and I wheeled up to the gas pump to have my gas pumped by the attendant, and my only exposure to the elements was handing my debit card out the window. Today I eat my words...... I just pumped my gas in negative 38 degree weather (that is including the wind chill factor). Oh I miss Oregon today. So what does one do on a sub zero day after work while Isla is napping? I have a long list of things that "need" to get done, but today I craft. I am in the process of making handmade valentine's cards. Something about rubber stamps, card stock, and over priced stickers brings therapy to me in a time of stress. Which stress for now I will only elude to me becoming a married single mom, no not a Jerry Springer show, but what I am calling my time at home when with Isla, Leo, and Dee while the military calls Joey to leave for awhile.

So back to the topic at hand Valentine's Day. Valentine's Day is actually one of my favorite holiday's of the year. Now if you would have asked me during my middle/high school days I probably would have gone running for the hills at what I use to refer to as "Single Awareness Day" as in if I wasn't already aware that I was without a boyfriend in my life, let's devote an entire day of carnation dedications, chocolate, cards, and random couples surrounding me. I think one of my best valentine's day memories of all time during "those" years was when one of my best friends gave me a bag of Sweetheart candies and picked all the orange one's out ( I only like the orange) for me for our "friend-iversary" we met the year before standing again the wall together at a school dance while all the random couples paired off. Somewhere between picking out cute valentine's day cards and the perfect Sweetheart candy that expressed your true feelings not mixed messages, because you know one wrong "I Love You" candy could give the boy of your dreams in the 4th grade totally the wrong impression and change your life forever and enduring what felt like a million single Valentine's day dances, I have come to love this holiday.

So here I sit stamping card stock, placing stickers, and writing in perfect cursive (so I don't feel like all of 3-6th grade was a total waste on learning how to write cursive) all of Isla's valentine's day cards. I think as a mom it is so easy to get caught up in all the mom competitions around you and sometimes question your own abilities. I sometimes feel like I hear commentary of other mom's when I pull out Isla's snack at the playground when I swear I hear "I see your goldfish crackers, and raise you goldfish 100% whole grain and organic apple juice". You think I am crazy, but trust me there are many super mom's out there. So I sit here stamping away hoping that although Isla may eat chocolate from time to time or eat the occasional Chick-fil-a meal she will overlook my parenting short comings and know I always made time to make sure all of her holiday's were special for her.

As Valentine's day 2011 is almost here I am thankful for the two love's of my life Joey and Isla, and look at the bigger picture of not only love, but all of the wonder caring people in my life as well :)

Much Love!

Getting in Touch With My Domestic Goddess

Today was the last of my holiday potlucks for the year. Ahh sigh of relief :) Don't get me wrong I love the socialization aspect, the extended lunch break that includes a random chit chat with people who work in your building you barely know, and of course the good food. The good food that I am never responsible for providing. Usually, I am the person that falls somewhere in between providing paper plates, and store bought cookies, but this year I stepped up my game. I am usually off on Friday's which just happened to be potluck sign up day. I came back to work on Monday with my name listed under main dish. What? Is it actually possible I work with people that have less of an ounce of domestic diva in them then me? As I looked around the intake room, I answered my own question it was time to step up my game. Cooking for co-workers makes me nervous, because unlike cooking for friends one bad meal can give you that label you don't want to have. No one from Schriever will ever forget the holiday potluck that Karen didn't cook her Tiramisu long enough only to get everyone who tried her cake buzzed off of rum? Side note probably my most tolerable day of work there.

So Monday night I ventured out to buy my food to cook for the potluck and finish a little holiday shopping. However I made one crucial mistake......... wearing khaki pants and a red shirt to target during the final week before Christmas. It took me about two people asking me where things were located before I caught a glimpse of my twin in check stand five. Needless to say I was still able to get in and out, make my food, enjoy a great potluck, and now sit here sipping a glass of wine I got from the present exchange at work. I think secretly department of corrections employees enjoy the one day a year we can without recourse smuggle contraband into work ;)

Reserection of the Manger

Less than one week before Christmas: shopping check, cards mailed out check, tree put up check, holiday decorations check oh wait that was a check. Friday was a crazy day running around getting ready for Isla's Christmas party. Leo and Dee try to be good for the most part, but from time to time lack of attention gets the best of them. I had Isla on the floor playing with her Christmas manger from last year. I don't know what is was/is (we still have one Shepard left) about these little stuft people, but they are like doggie drugs. If they are out Leo and Dee have to go for them. Maybe it is the thrill of the hunt they can tuck them into their cheecks so I am not sure if they have something or if I am losing my mind. Someday's I am unsure about both. On Friday I was running around loading food, wrapping paper, decorations, and Isla into the car and walked out the door leaving the manger unattended. I should have ran back in the house and put it away like any logical person would, but on days like Friday you come to the realization you can only fight so many battles and saving the manger wasn't going to be one of them. I use to look at kids in full costume in December at the grocery store and think really? Or see your random 4 year old in snowboots in July, but now I get it. In order to escape parenthood with an once of sanity you can't sweat the small stuff, and it is all really small stuff.

So on Saturday morning I wake up to not the sound of Isla saying Mama or wanting out of her crib, I wake up to the resurrection of baby Jesus and the rest of the manger people that had gone missing on Friday night. I woke up to Leo making a coughing noise only to try to in what felt like slow motion get him down a flight of stairs out the back deck only to witness the resurrection. I was tired and could only laugh. I left Leo outside with a dish of water to recover and jumped back into bed and got to use a once in a lifetime reply when Joey asked "Is he ok?" "He's fine, he threw up Jesus, and what I think was two Sheppard's and Mary" then I went back to sleep for another hour.

I contemplated writing about this story, but this story is what my blog is all about. I didn't name the blog the best days of my life because I want to pretend life is all sunshine and roses all the time. I wanted to write about all the up's and down's that I face on a daily basis that make me who I am. One day when Isla ask why she has a manger with only a lonely Shepard in it. I can laugh and tell her that Leo had other plans for them ;)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas is Almost Here

People driving like the world is coming to an end, rude people at Target, and 30+ items in the express lane at Safeway tis' the season of Christmas almost here. Although I think it is so easy to focus on all the crazy people this time of year. I always love December for the fact I can look back and remember so many good Christmas memories with my family. I remember as a kid living for Christmas vacation and a few weeks where I could stay up late, sleep, in and not have the stress (haha if I only knew then what I know now) of school to go to. The holiday season can bring so much joy as well as pain for people, but not matter what the season means to you I think it is important to realize that each year gives you the chance to embrace old memories and create new traditions.

I don't think I ever really realized how one year could change so much. Last year I remember Isla was sitting in her bouncy seat looking at the lights on the Christmas tree and this year I had to create a make shift holiday alarm system of jingle bells from Hobby Lobby to alert me when Isla, Dee, or Leo gets to close to the tree. Last year the presents sat under the tree untouched until Christmas morning and this year they are upstairs in the office after one almost met it's demise tonight.

Christmas means looking at the end of December which also means looking at the end of 2010. 2010 was a roller coaster ride that involved surviving H1N1, a career change when life happened while I was busy making other plans, but at the end of the day 2010 has been a year to remember.

Everyone has their own idea on how a perfect holiday season will go. I hope no matter what memories everyone is busy making you have a merry christmas and hope that 2010 bought you everything you wanted and 2011 has even more to offer.

Thanksgiving Thanks!

One day until Thanksgiving! The turkey is bought, the house is cleaned, and everything is coming together for the big feast tomorrow. Growing up T-day was always pretty low key and fun. Great feast prepped by mom and dad, and lots of family over. A girl couldn't have asked for more. My first thanksgiving away was in 2003, and calling it a disaster would have been an under statement. I attempted to put my big American roasting pan in a small British oven and when the juice hit the oven elements flames flew and not in a fun metaphorical sense. I remember hearing a knock on the door the same time the turkey was on fire and it was a British guy trying tell me about a vacuum he was trying to sell me. I remember in tears thinking what the heck do they ever give up? Only to remind myself that thanksgiving has no significance in England what so ever and at that moment I remember thinking this is rock bottom. I remember thinking about my family having a thanksgiving dinner together while I had a deep fried turkey and having a total break down. So for the last 6 years I have skipped out on Thanksgiving heading to friends houses, one year when Joey was gone my friend Jeannette and I even took on a Missouri buffet (that was one to remember). So now here we are 2010 and I have finally attempting the great feast again. I have never really looked at Thanksgiving as a historical significance, but as one day a year we take time out to truly be thankful for all we have and forget what we don't.

Over the years since leaving Oregon the holiday's have always made me sad on some level. I have tried not to dwell on the fact that we weren't going to be traveling home, but it seems like it was always easy to get wrapped up in what I didn't have rather than thankful for all the great people we have in our lives. So this thanksgiving I am focusing on all of the good in our lives before I catch myself thinking about all we are missing out on.

So here it goes:

Joey & Isla and all the happiness they bring to me everyday

My family back in Oregon

Leo and Delilah for keeping our house going non-stop

New friends and old

The kids I work with on a daily basis that remind me to never take anything for granted

Good health

Another attempt at Thanksgiving 2003 that will not end in a flame throwing turkey :)


I have challenged myself and I hope everyone else to remember how important it is to give thanks tomorrow and all year long. Happy Thanksgiving. For those home with family, enjoy everyone and all of their character defects that may drive you crazy the other 364 days a year and for those spending it away from your "home" find the small things to be thankful for :)