August 2009

I used the Beach Party Quickpages by Heavenly Scraps for these!

Trying to take care of myself too...

I love my family more than anything, but I am realizing more and more that I am no good to anybody if I don't take care of myself too. I feel guilty taking time out for myself as so much needs to be done around here or the kids need this or that. But, I also know that nobody is going to take care of me and what I need for myself, if I don't take the time out for me. I got really upset at Andy this morning when I asked him to take Melina again so that I could take a shower before he had to leave for work and he just gave me a look like I was totally invading his time. I told him to forget it and went and fed Melina instead. I wasn't going to get in a fight over it, but it really hurt. All the juggling that I do around here and I can't even get a 5 minute shower. I haven't had a shower now for a couple of days. Part of it is my fault as I said that I was going to start taking them at night as this seems to be a sore spot for Andy in the morning to have to watch her for a couple of minutes so that I can get a shower in, but I have been so tired at night that I have been falling asleep on the couch.

I love to read and I love to scrapbook. I noticed when I got the kids involved in the summer reading program at the library that they had just started an adult reading program. I went ahead and joined. I've only read one book so far as it takes me awhile to read a book now with the baby and everything else going on, but I noticed that I've felt a little better with that time to do something that I enjoy.

I also got back into digiscrapping this week. I only did 3 pages so far, but it's a start. I felt better knowing that I got something accomplished in Josiah's scrapbook again.

I've also been trying to watch Joyce Meyer for a half an hour in the morning. I don't always get it in, but it's something to uplift my spirits and feed my soul with.

I am also back to doing sparkpeople and watching my calories and trying to start exercising again. I need to be healthier and take care of the body that God gave me. I need to be a healthy mom to all of my children as well as they all need me to be around for a long time (God-willing).

I am trying to pamper myself so that I can keep going. I hate feeling drained or burned out sometimes and I know that if I can indulge myself sometimes it will go a long way.

What a great weekend!

I was so glad to have Andy home on Friday. Saturday, we just cleaned and did some stuff around the house and Andy mowed the lawn, tried to fix the trimmer, but wound up breaking it further. I think we're going to need a new one. We've had this one for a few years anyway (Dad Davis bought it for us as a housewarming present when we bought our house in Illinois in 2000). Anyway, we were invited over to my new friend's house for dinner with her family. I was so nervous and excited at the same time. I was just praying my kid's would behave. They did wonderfully though and I was very proud of them. Wonderful company, a great dinner, and everybody had fun! Thanks so much, B, for everything! We had a wonderful time!

Sunday, the morning started out rough...all the kids were having their own issues, we wound up really having a battle with Deidra trying to get ready for church. We finally got to church and my Mom got after me for wearing shorts to church. I told her it had been a very rough morning. She told me that was no excuse. Most of the time, we are all dressed very nicely for church...but with the morning we were having, shorts and shirts it turned out to be. Anyway, I wound up crying through the first half of church right along with Deidra. Finally, my Mom reached out and just rubbed my back and I got myself together finally. I just hate mornings like that. Anyway, I kept looking over at Deidra and tears just streamed down her cheeks every so often. When we sat down for the homily, I reached over and tapped her arm and told her to come sit on my lap for a minute. She started crying "I'm sleepy and I'm hungry." I rubbed her back and rocked her a bit and she finally stopped crying and I just prayed that the negative spirits that were upon us would lift and we'd be filled with happier spirits. Within a few minutes, we were all doing better and starting to smile and the tears were gone. The rest of the day went much better. I did wind up grounding Deidra for the day though, so she couldn't go play with anyone. It really bothered her later in the evening when she found out her friend was home after being in CA for 3 weeks. She got to talk to her on the phone for about 5 minutes, but it killed her that she couldn't go down to see her. We just kept reminding her that if she stayed on good behavior the rest of the night, she'd be off of her grounding in the morning. She kept it together.

I signed the kids up for catechism after church with my Mom and I really had a lot of fun doing it. Afterwards, she asked me if I wanted to go to lunch. I told her I didn't have my wallet on me and that I needed to run home first, she told me she'd get it for me. So, we went up to Applebee's and Jimmie (my youngest brother) met us up there. He's trying to get into Lon Morris to go to college this year (I'm resentful...double standards from when I went to college and how he gets to go to college...but I'm trying to give it to God and let it go...it does me no good to have a resentful spirit and I shouldn't be jealous either...so I'm trying to let it go). So, he just wanted to spend some time with us in case he goes next week to college. It was a good time. Mom and I talked about some things and I shared a little with her and I wound up in tears (good tears) at the table. I'm a sap lately. What can I say? God is really working in my life right now...it's great to see the blessings that he is bringing to me and to my family.

After I came home from lunch, I was trying to catch up Little E's and Baby T's scrapbooks. I got March, April, and May done. I just need to do June, July, and August and they'll be caught up. Something is going on with my computer though that I can't quite figure out, so after having to re-do Little E's June layout 3 times and still having a problem, I'm going to wait until hubby is home this afternoon to try again. I did go and order all their layouts from January-May though so I can get them in the mail and into their books.

I'm stressing a bit as I always do before court hearings...I like to have their books in order just in case they go home before a court hearing. But, I just keep telling myself it will all work out. I'm sure their workers would get their pages to them if it came down to it. I need to quit worrying about it.

New Years Goals...

Well, I think this is the year to lose this weight I want to get off. I'd like to digiscrap at least one layout a day. I'd like to read 1-2 books a month. I'd like to spend some time with God for at least 15 minutes a day. I'd like to make a few local friends down here to spend some time with. I'd also like to continue doing well in ebay and paying off our debts to become debt-free. I'd also like to stay current with fly lady and keeping my house clutter free.

4th of July

I used Athena's portion of the Liberty kit from last year.

I Finally Get To Be A...BIG SISTER!!

I used the My Baby Love kit from Raspberry Road Designs.

Water Day

I used the Water Wars kit from Penny Springmann for these.

Kindergarten Graduation

I used the Graduate kit from Scrapbook Flair for these.

I have so much to do...

I have so much to do and I just don't have the gumption to do anything. My hubby was really sweet and cleaned the house, did some laundry, and did the kiddo duties while I was out with my Mom for awhile yesterday. The girls had speech therapy this morning. I've played with the kids, played with the rats, checked my email, and I should do some digiscrapping so I can get the kids lifebooks up to date, but I don't feel like doing anything. I need to get the kids some lunch, change some diapers, and get some stuff together before I go get Deidra from school, go get our reimbursement check, run to the bank, and then get back home to get ready for our foster parent association's thanksgiving dinner tonight. Then, I need to run to Wal-mart later to order Deidra's Littlest Pet Shop cake for her birthday tomorrow. My baby is going to be 8 tomorrow!

Birthday Express

I used the Birthday Express kit by Share Your Moments for this one.

All Aboard

I used the Birthday Express kit by Share Your Moments for this one.

Visit with Grandpa

I used the Spring Glow kit by Handmaid Designs for these.

Enjoying Some Sprinkler Time!

I used Inspired by Dominic Designs A Day Outdoors Mini Kit for this one.

A Field Trip to the Dallas Zoo

I used the Zoology 101 kit by Jen's Designz for these 2 pages.

Baby J

I used the Baby Boy Mini Kit by Sara Rache for this one and the giraffe is from the sweet baby boy kit by by Jolqa.

Baby J at 22 Months Old

I used Filly Design's Dinosaur Stomp kit for this one.

Pirate

I used a Treasure Gold plopper from DSP for this one.

Happy Easter

I used the Easter Essentials kit from Scrapbook Flair for this one.

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Another page for Baby J's book...

San Antonio Zoo

Another layout for Baby J's book...