Thank You

About a month before cheeks was born I had several people ask me if they could throw me a baby shower and I rudely said, "Oh, no, please no. I really don't want a baby shower, but thank you so much," as I ran for the door. There were several reasons why I didn't want one but one of the main reasons is that I hate getting stuff. Ok, that is wrong. You all know me. I LOVE STUFF. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE STUFF!!! But I hate getting really nice stuff and then being rude by not sending thank you notes. There it is. My dirty selfish secret. I hate being rude but my laziness forces me to be so. In my 1/4th finished wedding scrapbook I have a stack of wedding thank you cards. I filled out half of them and sent none of them. I'M SORRY. I have a box filled with handwritten thank you cards for last Christmas, each of my child's birthdays, baptisms, etc. The only thing more embarrassing than those unsent cards are the ones I haven't even written yet. I have them all written mentally and tend to run through them on a nightly basis in my head.


Sadly, my little dirty secret has followed me into the blogosphere. In the past year I have received several very sweet and awesome blog awards and never got around to accepting them. I'M SORRY. But I'm cleaning house today. Today I plan to mail out some of those old thank you cards and accept those dusty but beautiful blog awards. Why? Because I love stuff and I hate guilt.


Celita from The Spices Of life, who patiently creates whimsical paper cuttings, gave me this gorgeous Wylde Women Award. The Purpose of the Award is "To send love and acknowledgment to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy." I'm going to have to give this one to my sisters LaDonna who shares what she is passionate about, DJZoey who is kooky and crazy cool, KillerHealer who is quitting smoking and awesome enough to talk about it, and to my mom, Dotmother the dejunking pack rat, because together we are Wylde Women and they are the women who hold me up and give me their all.

Cellista, the amazing homeschooler, and Prudence Pennywise, the mouthwatering cook, both gave me this Excellent award. There is something about the bold, official look of this award that almost makes me believe I am officially rated E. Thanks guys! I have to award this to Jena of The Meanest Mom because she does an Excellent job of validating my mean momness. And to Michal from Relishing Motherhood because your cookies are Excellent (I know this first hand because she mailed me some and they were so so so so good) and you have such sincere care in your mothering.

Amber M. From The McIllece Spot , who is a cute, crafty mom, handed me this expensive looking BFF award. Thank you! I want to pass this one on to all of you who are still reading and commenting on my blog. You are the best. I also want to award this to Sonja from Wonder Years because if we lived closer I know we would be best buddies; and to Cellista from La Scuola D'Argento because you have become a personal friend outside of blogging despite our living in different states.

Becky from Abba Stories, who has such colorful stories that all end with amazing spiritual insight, gave me this lovely Arte Y Pico award. The Arte Y Pico Award is given to those who inspire others with their creative energy and talents in writing, artwork, design or contributions to the blogging community. I am awarding this to

The Lazy Organizer because of the wonderful SMART Habits that she inspires in others.

CC from If I Had Super Powers because of the needed help she gives, and information she shares, to mothers of children with learning disabilities.

The Pioneer Woman (Who gets awards everyday) because I can't stop drooling over her entire blog and everything she does with it.

CC from If I Had Super Powers gave me this amazing blogger award (aw, shucks). Thank you! And I want to pass it on to An Ordinary Mom for promoting peaceful mothering and Chocolate On My Cranium because the things you do are amazing. Also to Steph from A Year of Crockpotting because she has stuck to her goal of using her crockpot every single stinkin' day and blogs about it every single stinkin' day and because she has a book coming out and that makes me want to be her. And to Prudence Pennywise because she makes me drool on my keyboard everyday and I dance with my kids to her blog music.

Rachel from Once Upon a Miracle, who shares her sweet and funny mommy moments with Tristan, gave me this cute scribbler award. Thank you! I want to pass this one on to Cheri at Blog This Mom because I love her PrompTuesday writings (not that she needs any more blog bling).


WHEW! It only took me 34 hours to get this post finished. But it feels good to have it done. Now, I'm begging you, please do not give me anything for Christmas because you will only be adding to my thank you card guilt (I still have one waiting to be mailed to you, Cellista and Dr. Lucy, from last Christmas). Thanks!

And The Calories Go To...

Dirty Chocolate Giveaway results are in. Cookie just finished reading all the entries and here is what she says:

The entries ranged from endearing to outright educational. And the winner is....

Wonder Years: Rosy Heaven (Cookie says: Very unique, very true, GREAT JOB!) -I had to laugh though, because as she was reading this she scrunched up her nose and said, "SPINACH?!?!?!" I had to assure her that I had had strawberries in spinach salad before and it was very good.

Here are the other entries (with Cookie's comments in parenthesis):

An Ordinary Mom: The Cookie's Out Of The Jar (I liked it. It was funny. And I also say that, Yes, they do teach a lot more in Kindergarten than expected.)

Scribbit: Pad Thai Is a Beautiful Thing (Trying new recipes can be a big flop and I think you were brave for trying this.)

The Bitter Ball: A Favorite Day In Kazakhstan (I can't believe you actually ate that stuff!)

Chocolate After Supper: The Day The Ice Cream Didn't Melt (I wish my mom did that!)

What About Mom?: Pizza, Pizza, Calzone (Very interesting recipes.)

Thanks to all who entered. As Cookie was reading I heard outbursts of "No way!" and "Hmmm," and "Yum!" and a few giggles too.

From Apologies To Ice Cream

I am so sorry, and am here on my humble knees hoping you will forgive me. In the past two months I have been awarded quite a lot of lovely awards from people that I am honored to be noticed by. And how do I return the compliment? By doing nothing. I kept telling myself, "Oooo, I'll post about that tomorrow." Then I started thinking I would accept them all at once. Then I couldn't remember who had awarded me what and when. If you've been bothered by the fact that I haven't accepted or acknowledged an award please let me know and send me a link to the post where you gave it to me and I will make sure to post about it. I'M SORRY!

Also, I've been tagged twice now for the 7 random things about me meme. I do remember that Tama from The Twisted Hare tagged me, but I can't remember who else did. Please let me know so I can edit this with a link to your blog.

Hopefully you will forgive this addle brained pregnant woman her bloggy faux pas.

7 Random things that happened yesterday:

1. While blogging I heard shouts of, "High-yah!" and "Take that!" only to find that my kids were having a wipey war. They used a whole package of baby wipes and were throwing them at each other. Didn't I say I wasn't going to be on the computer when the kids are awake anymore? I consider myself well reminded.
2. My daughter ran by me in nothing but a diaper... a diaper that had a smiley face drawn on the back of it. Really, even if I have a bad head cold, I need to stay off the computer.
3. There is a matching smiley face drawn on the back of my living room chair and Monster Man seems to be hiding from me. Don't worry, I fully intend to renew my promise to stay off the computer while they are awake.
4. I started sketching out the plans for Cookie and Sweet Terror's painting. I am going to paint both the girls as mermaids. I'm excited for it and hope I can make myself start and finish it in less than 2 months.
5. I have a killer head cold. Seriously killer.
6. When DSSH hubby came home and saw me miserably cooking dinner while sneezing, moaning, coughing, and constantly mumbling, "Now what was I doing? Oh, yeah..." he asked if there were anything he could do to help. I told him, "Yeah, you could rotate the laundry for me, get the kids to do their chores, unload the dishwasher, set the table and finish dinner for me." He paused and then quietly said, "I meant, is there anything I can do for you that I want to do?"
7. Luckily, DSSH was able to buy his way out of marital discord with two pints of Ben and Jerry's and several boxes of flavored Wheat Thins.

Why, Thank You!

I am laying here, in my bed, running my tongue over my teeth. You know you have bad morning breath when you can feel how stinky it's gonna be. I mentally reflect on the irony of morning breath. Why is it that my morning breath is always worse on the morning after a really good night time brushing, flossing, and Listerining? I have heard that chewing sugar free gum is the best way to keep your mouth clean, but I tried the whole Chew-your-gum while-you-sleep trick when I was seven, and it didn't end well. I get up to rebrush my teeth... WOHHHHAAAAA!!! Yikes! I know better than to rush at a mirror first thing in the morning. What was I thinking? I love my new short hair, but you should see the freaky bed head reflecting back at me in the mirror every morning now. I step on the scale, trying to hear the FLY lady in my head saying, "Your weight is not a reflection of who you are, it is just a number." I wish my scale was still in preschool and couldn't count so high. Now I sit down to my computer and reflect upon my yesterday, hoping to remember something bloggable. Que es eso? Surprise surprise! My good friend that people rightly call An EtraOrdinary Mom has awarded me a beautiful button and the Blogger Reflection Award. I somehow managed to meet the lovely criteria which is:

This award should make you reflect on five bloggers who have been an encouragement, a source of love, impacted you in some way, and have been a Godly example to you. Five Bloggers who when you reflect on them you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them.

Thank you Lucy, though I think you meet the criteria FAR better than I do (I can't award it right back to you, can I?). You have started my day with a smile and a warm feeling inside =).
I am now supposed to award this to 5 others. This will demonstrate how small my blogging world is because I will probably award the same people that I tag for memes.

Well, I am sure I am breaking a major Blog Award rule but An Ordinary Mom really would be my first choice for this award. Lucy is constantly reading, learning, sharing what she learns, and always makes every bad situation turn into a happy ending. I love her honesty and willingness to share personal trials on her blog. She is human, but I think she is perfect in her imperfections. I always go to her blog to learn, contemplate, and to come away feeling better about life.

Cellista, I know I always tag you with memes but I love picking the brains of people like you. you set such a good example for me as far as being a mom and a homeschooler. You have often made me reflect upon my own mothering habits and homeschool goals and I will always read your blog for those.

Misty of Living in Spin Cycle because she has so much fun with her kids. The way she talks about her kids makes me turn of my computer and go play with mine, and that really deserves an award.

And Rachel from Left Handed because she makes me think. AND she is an artist which always makes me think. AND she is still living the life of a young woman. Technically I am still young, I just live an older life, so I like reading the blogs of people around my age who are still living young. It helps me to act my age =)

I'm supposed to have a fifth but she doesn't have a blog. I would award it to my sister Jenni. Everyday she helps me through my silly problems, keeps me sane, and reminds me WHY we are always trying to do better. I always end our conversations with something new to think about through my day. THANKS SIS!!!

And now I will also do a meme that I was tagged with by Cellista (it's only fair).
4 THINGS ABOUT ME:
4 Jobs I've had:
1. Waitress and potato peeler at Big Jud's Diner
2. Sandwich maker and floor mopper at Blimpies Sub and Salads
3. Greasy Girl at Schucks Auto Supply
4. I also spent 6 hours as a telemarketer. I still feel like I should write apology letters to the people I called.

4 places I have lived:
1. Rigby Idaho
2. Saratoga Springs N.Y.
3. Boise, Idaho
4. Seattle, WA

4 countries that I have been to on vacation: I hereby change this one to 4 crazy dreams I still hold onto:
1. To make custom designer jeans.
2. Starting a restaurant
3. Becoming a marriage counselor
4. Writing something and having it published

4 of my favorite foods: (these are random favorites)
1. White chocolate macadamia nut cookies from Subway
2. Breyers Sarah Lee Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream
3. Vegetables. Every meal must have them. Meat, bread, cheese, oil, they only accompany the vegetable, it is the vegetable that MAKES the meal.
4. Coleslaw. I LOVE good coleslaw!

4 places I would rather be right now: (it isn't so much where you go, but what you do when you get there)
1. Running around my block
2. Eating at Bahama Breeze (if you ever go there, call me so I can tell you what to order)
3. Jet Skiing on Lake Chelan
4. Sitting in my Grandpa's living room, just shooting the breeze and trading gibes

4 people I'm tagging:
I'm leaving this one open to anyone else that wants to play along (let me know if you do)