He's 12

He is 12 today.

My firstborn.

My likeness.

My heart.

My love.

My son.

My joy, and occasionally a pain in the rear.

But, he will always be mine.

I thought I would share a few pics with you on this the occasion of his 12th birthday.

And the Golden Measuring Tape goes to...

ME!!!!!!

Yeah for the Bloggy Awards!!!

Bridget over at Don't Blink gave a little blog love to me and now it is my turn to share it. First let me say that Bridget is who I want to be when I grow up. She is hilarious, beautiful, a little wacky, and a lot in love with Jesus. She home schools her kids, loves her husband, and doesn't take herself too seriously. Oh, and she lives in my home state of California, which makes it even better.

Now, on the the specifics. I have to do three things with this award.

First, I have to say something nice about my main man....okay, he is my ONLY man, but he is pretty great, so this is not hard. For a longer diatribe on husbands in general, read this from last week.

Here goes: Big Daddy, is all that. He is madly in love with me. He adores our children, and he is vested in the people they will one day become. He is the picture of hard work...but knows how to relax and enjoy things.

But my number one accolade is this: He loves my body. He loves it exactly the way it is. He has never suggested I diet, lose weight, work out, color my hair, do my makeup differently, nothing but "Babe, you look hot!!!" and he has even has gone the extra mile by telling me I am beautiful with NO MAKEUP and my hair pulled on top of my head, with pj's and baby spit up on the shirt that I thought was clean.

Now for those of you who do not "know" me in the flesh, but only thorough this blog, here are the facts. I am just shy of six foot. My skinny is a 14 long and an XL shirt. I am broad in every way. I not only have hips, but I have a butt and a gut. Yet some how, waking up with him next to me, reminds me that I make 200 pounds look good!!!

And while I may dream of a 12 long, it is my dream and not his. And that is a blessing that I never thought about when I dreamed of my dream guy, but boy is it a fringe benefit that I wouldn't trade for anything.

Off that soapbox and on to number two.

Second, list six ways in which I measure success.

6. Stewardship - Not how much money you have made, but what you have done with it.

5. Humor - Any level of success, comes with some degree of failure first. Most people do not share their failures, and worse yet, they have not learned for them. If we take ourselves too seriously, than we are missing the point. Laugh at yourself. Out loud if possible.

4. Goals - I find wisdom in planning. Everyone might have have different goals, but just having them means that you are trying to succeed at SOMETHING. And to me, that matters.

3. Journey - I am not interested in people who "have arrived" I am interested in those who are on their way, knowing that growth and character comes from the journey, not the destination.

2. Empathy - When I had kids, I was immediately burdened by raising empathic children, who would grow into empathetic adults. It does not matter where you are in your own life, if you can NOT understand where someone else is in theirs.

1. Love - Loving God and loving others is what it all boils down to. If you have all the other things, but lack love, than you lack the ability to reach people and to make a difference.

Third, I need to pass this on to someone else.

Brandi and Pete
Carol
Bridget (in OK not Cali)
and lastly to my Mom, who while new to blogging, will be wildly successful once she gets going.

New Year + New Budget = New Stress

I am really not a New Year's resolution kind of person. With the exception of taking a personal inventory(and spiritual one too) I really don't make a list of things to do or accomplish just cause it New Years.
This year, though, I really have felt the urging of the Lord to get our finances in order. This past year we had record expenditures due to the fact that we made a top to bottom remodel in our kitchen, replaced the floors through 75% of the house and also gutted and remodeled the kids bathroom. Add to that some hefty auto repair bills(no car payments though) and any one would have their head spinning. But unfortunately, while we were in full demo mode the economy was in total meltdown mode. Not a good mix.

So, for the New Year, I have some new goals:

• Start using http://www.pearbudget.com/ I found this over on Brand & Boys page. I hope it is all that I am dreaming it will be...I hate most online budget guides, but so far this one is right up my alley.
• Give up the Debit card....too much mindless spending on my part...I can turn a quick trip for milk and eggs into 4o bucks without blinking.
• Give up the check book too...except for bill paying that I can not do online. I am a sucker for kids coming up to me asking me to sponsor them or order something from them for a fundraiser...and then just whip out a check...mindless spending again.
• Stick to my grocery budget...not my list..just my budget. I have this thing about groceries...it is kind of freaky, but ask anyone, my pantry IS ALWAYS stocked. In my defense, I also cook a full hot meal EVERY night and during the colder months, I usually cook a hot breakfast a few times a week too. We only eat out maybe twice a month at our fave Mexican place.
• Do my VERY BEST to not purchase any "wants". I am a bargain shopper, so I do a lot of what I would call preemptive sale shopping. I am always on the lookout for my kids next size athletic shoe, end-of-season-for-next-season bargain clothes shopping, and just in general...if it is on sale, than I am tempted to buy it.
• And, lastly I really need to keep on eye on our tithing. While we do tithe regularly, I have kind of gotten into a giving rut. I am praying that the Lord will help me be mindful of others needs, and to give freely, without preconceived amounts and then trust the Lord to meet our needs.

So, if you find yourself in these same shoes, or maybe your own pair with different goals and changes on your horizon, leave a comment I will pray for your journey, as I pray for my own.

Quick Christmas Quiz

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, whatever works for the given present.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real, it is too much fun to go and pick it out and chop it down
3. When do you put up the tree? As close to Thanksgiving as possible
4. When do you take the tree down? It depends, usually before New Years though
5. Do you like eggnog? Heck NO!!!!! A glass of wine will do me just fine.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Cabbage Patch doll
7. Favorite gift received as an adult? Last year we got a kitchen makeover
8. Easiest person to buy for? Usually my sister KC, but my husband is pretty easy too
9. Do You have a nativity scene? Yes, my grandmother made one when she was in her 70's, it is BEAUTIFUL. It is large, and it is on the DO NOT TOUCH list at our house
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I am a mailer, but this year it has been so HARD getting my kids to cooperate for the picture....I am definitely a picture sender
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? We got a snow ball maker one year...HELLO we LIVE IN MISSISSIPPI!!!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? With Big Daddy as my hubby there is only one answer to this question....Charlie Brown Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as possible, but it usually around September or October.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Plead the fifth
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Shrimp at my grandmothers on the night of Christmas
16. Lights on the tree? HUH? Who does not put lights on their tree?
17. Favorite Christmas song? Little Drummer Boy, and Christmas Carol by NewSong
18. Travel for Christmas or stay home? Always at home...I DO NOT TRAVEL ON CHRISTMAS!!!
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yep
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Star with lights
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Pj's on Christmas eve, everything else in the morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The big stink about saying "Merry Christmas"
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Red
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? We only cook a big meal on Thanksgiving..so whatever I can get my hands on will do.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Tresor perfume, and a Spotted Pony Long Sleeve T-shirt

100

I make my own rules. I grabbed this 100 list off of and I am suppose to just highlight those that I have done...but it would be so much more fun to give a little play by play right????

1. Started your own blog...hello you are reading this aren't you

2. Slept under the stars...many times...one of my fave spots was O'Neill Park in Trabuco Canyon CA...our dog Barney even had his own tree that HE could climb....good times were had by all. After years of camping there, our family ended up moving with just a few miles of the place.

3. Played in a band..you should be thankful the answer is NO!!!

4. Visited Hawaii...Yes, three times. Oahu twice, once with family, the other with my senior class...and Maui, the trip of trip with three best girlfriends after our sophomore year at BIOLA University.

5. Watched a meteor shower...many times, my brother and I use to sleep out in the back yard during them when we were kids. Just last year, we took our kids to the Lake to see one. Poor Beez, every time we said, "oh, look at that one." it was gone and she was too late...in the end she caught on and just stared out into the vast horizon and she did finally see some herself.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity...yes, and been blessed because of it.

7. Been to DisneyWorld...in 2005 when Katrina hit the Gulf. We partied on, while all our friends and neighbors had no power for a week. It was turned on about 12 hours before we got home.

8. Climbed a mountain...hiking yes, but like Everest, than no.

9. Held a praying mantis...yep

10. Sang a solo...yes, BUT be glad you were not there

12. Visited Paris, no but I did live in Perris California.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea...not while on the sea, but I have watched one from the rocky cliffs of Oregon overlooking the sea and also from the shore in SoCal

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch, if cooking is an art, than yes

15. Adopted a child, nope but I could see myself doing it

16. Had food poisoning, yes, while on a date...not fun.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty, get back with me in May, we hope to go to the Big Apple in April

18. Grown your own vegetables, yes see this post

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France, Mona who???

20. Slept in an overnight train, don't think so, but possible when I was a child

21. Had a pillow fight...yes, but I ban them in my house

22. Hitchhiked, surprisingly, yes

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill, heck yeah, maybe i will tell the kids I am taking one tomorrow!!!!

24. Built a snow fort....man, yes..angel, yes...fort...no

25. Held a lamb, yes

26. Gone skinny dipping, most memorable time was in the a fore mentioned Maui trip

27. Run a marathon...does shopping day after Thanksgiving count???

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice....no

29. Seen a total eclipse, yes

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset yes and every time I am astounded at the beauty the Lord gives daily

31. Hit a home run...no

32. Been on a cruise, no but hoping to on our 15 year anniversary

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person, yes with my Grammy and Pops...amazing memories

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors...no

35. Seen an Amish community, yes but not as close as I have wanted

36. Taught yourself a new language...I am the BIGGEST GRINGA you will ever meet

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied, yes

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person,no

39. Gone rock climbing, yes at Joshua Tree

40. Seen Michelangelo's David,no

41. Sung karaoke, once again, be glad you missed this one, but I do enjoy it with my daughter

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt, yes

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant, yes, ask my husband about that one

44. Visited Africa, no

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight, yes

46. Been transported in an ambulance,nope

47. Had your portrait painted,no

48. Gone deep sea fishing, yes and puked the whole time, they say that draws the fish in

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person,no

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris,no

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling, yes at Hanauma Bay in Oahu, at Catalina Island, and in Maui

52. Kissed in the rain, yes, its how I knew I loved the man I married

53. Played in the mud, yes

55. Been in a movie, no but my beloved was in Underseige

56. Visited the Great Wall of China,no

57. Started a business, not officially but I do make cakes and I use to run a daycare from our home

58. Taken a martial arts class, no

59. Visited Russia,no

60. Served at a soup kitchen, yes

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies, one of my greatest regrets(and funniest stories)...I sold Girl Scout Cookies fraudulently, I was NOT a GS...my sister and I just wanted to make some money.

62. Gone whale watching, yes it is AMAZING

63. Got flowers for no reason, yes

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp,no

67. Bounced a check, who??? ME???

68. Flown in a helicopter, nope

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy,yes but I wish someone would have saved my Corn on the Cob rider...it was like a car, but it was a cob of corn instead

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial, yes and the all the other great monuments and memorial in the D.C. and Virginia area

71. Eaten caviar, yes, I am not a fan though

72. Pieced a quilt, no but I hope to one day

73. Stood in Times Square, nope, but get back to me in May

74. Toured the Everglades, no

75. Been fired from a job, I don't think so

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London, no, but I have seen the Changing of the Guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

77. Broken a bone, yes, my toe

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle, yes, not a good memory for me

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person, we went cross country 7 years ago, and that was one of our stops...breath taking

80. Published a book, I hope to one day, but not yet

81. Visited the Vatican,no

82. Bought a brand new car, never have and never will

83. Walked in Jerusalem, how beautiful that would be, but no

84. Had your picture in the newspaper, yes, we live in a small town, so a couple of times

85. Read the entire Bible, not ever from cover to cover, but yes, each book

86. Visited the White House, yes, but if you ever gave me three wishes, I would love to see the private quarters

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating, yes fish and and a dove

88. Had chicken pox, yes, I broke out the last day of sixth grade and I missed all of our end of the year parties

89. Saved someones life, I was a lifeguard in college, and I did run lead on a possible spinal injury recovery...oh yeah, I also did the Heimlich Maneuver on my niece when she was chocking on a starlite peppermint...that was really scary, but she chucked it across the room and was fine.

90. Sat on a jury, no, been called once, but did not serve

91. Met someone famous, heck I married a movie star, see

92. Joined a book club, I am my own book club

93. Lost a loved one, yes

94. Had a baby, had three via c-section, lost one in miscarriage, and one in a ruptured ectopic

95. Seen the Alamo in person, yes

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake, yes but it was really cold

97. Been involved in a lawsuit, yes but it was from a car accident, nothing too exciting

98. Owned a cell phone, owned one, washed one, lost one, need a new one

99. Been stung by a bee, yes

100. Read an entire book in one day, yes more than one

Random thoughts ....

Just checking in with everyone...we have been so busy with the surprise guests that I have not had time to blog. Here are just a few random thoughts..............

• Can you believe the election is only three weeks away? After two and a half years of campaigning, I am ready to VOTE!!!
• Did you catch the Cowboy/Cardinals game yesterday???? That was CRAZY!!!
• My sisters and I all gave pedicures to each other yesterday...well, not really, since we do not let Lucky do any painting...she is really bad at it.
• We are making Chicken and Dumplings tonight....just in case you were wondering
• Bridget, you need to check your email and get back to me ASAP.
• The Beez is going to be Lola for halloween. (fyi, Lola is Hannah Montana's BFF)
• I AM NOT DRESSING UP THIS YEAR....PERIOD
• Watched the movies Leatherheads this weekend...good movie....gotta love George Clooney
• Christmas Shopping....Our boys have outgrown "toys". This year it is all about electronics...as in IPODs....one word EXPENSIVE

That's all, just wanted to ramble a bit.

Hope everyone is well, we can catch up later this week.

One Thing...

One thing I want to......

.....do in the next year - Travel up the East Coast to visit family in New York

....to accomplish this week - spend time with our SURPRISE guests

.....do with my kids - go on a mission trip

.....do with my husband - travel to the Hawaiin Islands

....accomplish in the next 5 years - be debt free

One dream job I would like....I've already got it...Wife and Mother...but someday I would love to get my Doctorate and teach at the college level

One gift I would buy if money was no object....a muscle car for my husband

One thing I would change about my childhood...I would have been easier on my parents

One thing I would change about my adulthood...nothing yet

What about you????