A touching ending to a trying day!

So yesterday was one of those days that is just hard on a mom.

Taking the kids to school yesterday was just awful. Savannah had a major breakdown and wouldn't stop crying for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Mason, fighting for my attention, started doing the same exact thing. It was heartbreaking. Again, Mason had to be pulled off of me when I left. I HATE that part about working...I really do. We did however get to go have a special Thanksgiving day lunch with the kids, that was overshadowed by another rough leave by me with Savannah. I was just spent emotionally the whole day.

Now...to the touching part. :)

Eric was bowling so the kiddos and I hung out and had a fun evening. Wherever Mason was, Savannah wanted to be. It was about Savannah's bedtime and I was trying to get her to sit with me on my chair. She wanted nothing to do with it. She walked over to Mason on Daddy's recliner and just kept patting to get up there. Mason looks up at me and says, "momma...I don't have any room!" Cue the Savannah crying breakdown. Mason then moves his sleeping bag, Toby and car out the way and gently pats his lap for his sister to join him. It was the sweetest thing.

So, I helped Savannah up and she was instantly at ease on Mason's lap. They just laughed and watched the show together. Mason would occasionally look down at his sister and cuddle up closer to her. It was so adorable. A few minutes later, Vannah was asleep...happy and content with her big brother Mason! :)

I am very thankful that a moment like that overshadowed the trying episodes of earlier that day. From the hardest parts of being a mom to the BEST parts of being a mom. What a way to end the evening. :) It is really just an amazing thing watching my children protect and love each other....amazing!

Fun Christmas Get to Know You! :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
For the majority of gifts, I prefer to wrap...I don't like to challenge myself too much so if it's a hard item to wrap, I will use a gift bag!

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial and Pre-lit

3. When do you put up the tree?
I was just talking to Eric about this today! I was hoping to do it this weekend! Usually right before Thanksgiving or the weekend of Thanksgiving!

4. When do you take the tree down?
New Year's Day or right around there

5. Do you like eggnog?
YUCK! No thanks!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Not sure...maybe my Barbie McDonalds set. Those little cheeseburgers were DEFINITELY a choking hazard!

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Usually Eric, or my Grandma!

8. Easiest to buy for?
The kiddos...I have a hard time stopping!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope.

10. Do you send cards or email cards?
Send cards. :) usually with pics of the family on them. :)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Wow...don't know or remember!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Definitely National Lampoons Christmas Vacation! DEFINITELY! I am one of those that HATES...I repeat HATES The Christmas Story and I don't see anything remotely funny about it!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually the day after Thanksgiving

14. Ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yep.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Delicious potatoes, buckeyes, delicious yummy food! Oh, and Peppermint White Mocha's from Starbucks. :)

16. Lights on the tree?
Yes, and they are colored

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (although my favorite at the moment is This Christmas)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
We travel to visit the families on christmas...

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?
Of course....Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitsen and of course Rudolph

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Neither...I do a snowman! :)

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The Christmas Story movie! :)

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I LOVE Snowmen...I have them EVERYWHERE!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Delicious potatoes...:) Have I mentioned I love them???

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I want to really enjoy the time with the kids this year! I'm looking forward to it!

A Humbling Day!

Today, I am not going to work! YAY! :)

Ok, that's not what's humbling.

About 5 years or so ago, after hearing the Make A Wish Request a thon on a local radio station, I decided that I really wanted to get involved with the Make a Wish Foundation, a foundation that grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. Something about the tears and the joy in the voices of the parents and the kids who had their wishes granted struck me. I felt compelled to help with not only donations, but my time.

That is when I became a Wish Granter volunteer with the MAW foundation. I've been fortunate enough to help over 8 children with their wishes over the past few years. It is truly one of the most rewarding experiences that I've ever been a part of. I get to meet the families and find out their wishes, and the joy and excitement and awe that these families have knowing that we take the time and the organization funds this family trip make it all worthwhile.

I will say that when I first started, I was not a parent, and now that I am a parent, I feel even more compelled to help because I am SOOOOO fortunate that both of my children are healthy. The strength that I see from the children I have met is amazing. AMAZING!

So, this afternoon, I'm heading to the WZPL studios to answer phones for a few hours for the Request a Thon. I've done it every year since I started volunteering and I love it! The goal is to raise $199,000 dollars in the 36 hours! They've exceeded their goals every year. :)

So, if you're in the Indy area...call 317-239-1099 to donate and you get to request ANY song too! Who knows, maybe I'll be the one to pick up the phone! :)

Warning...You Might Pee Your Pants!!!

So, my good friend Shannon posted on her blog that she is currently obsessed with the website Cake Wrecks.

Intrigued, I decided to visit it myself.

Seriously, I've spent a good 45 minutes CRACKING UP! There are photos of how cakes have gone horribly wrong (spelling...things don't quite look right etc.)

I can't stop laughing.

Please, I beg you...if you need a laugh...check it out...

One of my favorites...

The cake is supposed to say, "Happy Birthday You Old Bastard!"

You'll thank me later. :)

Amazing Series!

If I haven't already told you about my love for reading....

I. LOVE. TO. READ.

My favorite books right now are the Twilight series. After hints (PLEADING) by my friend Kris to pick up Twilight and get sucked in. I did it. I bought the book. It was awesome. I love it! I am now 1/2 way through book 2 (new moon) and book 3 and 4 are on their way {hurry Amazon...hurry!}

It's been awhile (Harry Potter) since I have gotten so caught up in a story. I dream about it. I think about it, a lot! It also doesn't help that the Twilight movie is coming out on November 21st and I'm seeing movie trailers!!! :)

So, if I haven't hinted enough already, to those of you that haven't read it yet.

Pick up Twilight. You'll thank me. :)

{End of Public Service Announcement}

Whoopins.

Last night on the way home from school (when all the deep conversations about life take place) Mason was telling me all about his day. He was telling me about how he saw a HUGE Jet at school and how loud it was. He then went on to talk about how when we go to Disneyworld someday, HE's going to fly the jet.

I calmly explained that he can't fly the jet now, so he corrected and said that he wants to do it when he's bigger.

Then, being the super mom that I am (:-)) went on to tell him, "Honey, you can be anything you want to be...anything in this world!"

Cue complete silence in the backseat.

Mason then says, "Well, than I want to be Piderman (his rendition of Spiderman)"

Mason continues, "I'm gonna be Piderman and I'm gonna shoot Whoopins and get the bad guys."

"Whoopins" I say? I'm of course thinking of getting spanked, etc.

Then I realize he means WEAPONS! I immediately cracked up. I like Whoopins a whole lot better anyway. :) The things he says just CRACKS. ME. UP.

I Voted!

Whoo hoo! I've got my sticker to prove it. Unlike many lucky people here in Indiana, I had to wait over 2 hours (including 1/2 hour outside at 7:30 a.m.) to rock my vote!

I will admit that I felt very PROUD to have casted my vote! YAY me!

I was also excited that I got about 200 pages of New Moon read while in line too!

Seriously? November?

What the HECK happened to October...or September for that matter. It's November. There are officially 51 days until Christmas.

Where does the time go?

October was a crazy month for us...filled with exciting times...such as:

• My first FALL Vera trip! Whoo hoo!
• A very exciting Pizza train ride with Grandma and Grandpa, which whenever Mason thinks we are going to go to a park, he thinks we are going on a pizza train too! :)
• A fun birthday party!
• TWO trips to the pumpkin patch
• Beautiful family pictures were taken
• Mason's 3rd Halloween and Vannah's 2nd halloween!

I'm tired just thinking about it, and those were just on the weekends! If the trends follow, I'm sure that November will be just as exciting and busy. :)

I have so many things that I hope to get accomplished in November... how about you? What are your goals for this month that will be over before we know it?!