November 16-17-18

I am thankful for friends I have not seen in FOREVER! It was so nice to see Becky and catch up with her. It feels good to have friends that can pick up where they left off. A little stressful when you come home and your husband doesn't follow any of the "house" rules, but I guess I have to take the good with the bad. We are hoping to get together once a month.

Bonus...yummy dessert at Applebee's!!! Anything involving a chocolate chip cookie, ice cream, oreos and chocolate sauce is 1000% terrific by me!!


November 17

Today I am thankful for my health. I do currently feel like I am am swallowing hot razor blades, but it could be way worse and I do have health insurance that allows me to go to the doctor...just to tell me I have a virus!

Bonus...Sam's Club has take and bake meals. Wonderful. Food that makes me think I am a cook. Could it really get any better?

November 18

I am thankful to be going on another date with my husband today. I get to have the a great babysitter come back over to play with the kids and enjoy some adult conversation with the Raeths at the Melting Pot. Love adult dates!!!!

Bonus..Paul Mitchell's new line awapuhi ginger. Love the whole line and it makes my hair smell very good. Yes, it is the little things!

November 14-15

November 14...
I am thankful for Shelly. Poor girl thought she was getting rid of the Camp Chaos:)...no such luck!! It is so nice to drop my kids off and not worry. Eight years later, they still love going there!!! Very nice for a working mama who can not be ALL places at all times!! To be fair, I should include Aunt Steph in this thankful post as well:)!

Bonus...A kick ass DVD that literally kicked my ass. Lots of fun doing, bordering the line of death and excitement for actually doing it. Let see if I can get fit enough to actually do the full routine in its entirety and correctly!!!


November 15, 2011

I am thankful for friends who are there for me and let me rant and rave about things that effect my family (and life in general). As Mr. Hundt has said in the past, I am a verbal processor and I need to get it ALL out of my head. It is nice to have people who listen, don't judge and let me have my "crazy moment". Don't think for a second I don't appreciate it!!!

Bonus...getting my paycheck early because I have over spent...oops:)...this time of the year ALWAYS kills me. Need to budget better. Love to shop, love Christmas...the two together VERY bad news!!!!

Novemebr 12-13

November 12...

I am thankful for FABULOUS babysitters. I have been beyond blessed to always have a mom that will take my kids, but there are times when I just want to go out to dinner with my husband and have a conversation...just a few hours...not my mom's job to raise another set of kids...DONT get me wrong, I will still use my mom:)! Friday we had out very first "real" babysitter, not a family member or close personal friend, a real girl!! She was wonderful!! I walked in the house and Isaac came running up to me..."Mom, pay her extra. She was GREAT!" They bugged me all day Saturday wondering when she could come back...Friday is another date night:)!!

extra...haircare products...
I love the smell of my new shampoo and shopping at Ulta for a new curling iron and hairdryer (that are on sale!) are always a bonus!!!

November 13
I am thankful for family date nights with GREAT friends. Six kids, 4 adults going to BW's and Puss in Boots was a wonderful evening!!! I didn't get to talk to Brent or Kara very much. Hopefully, our next date we can actually have a conversation:)!

bonus...Ashley actually caring about gymnastics and kicking butt at it!!! Doing her valdez, back walk over and back handspring in progression was awesome to see!! Way to go babe!!!

Novemebr 11, 2011

Today I am thankful (well all days!) for freedom and people who graciously serve to protect that! I am proud to be a daughter of a veteran. I drove by his home today to see a US flag and an Air Force flag flying high and proud. I, too, felt the same way!! I was a little unnerved when my dad told me the story about buying the flags and how amazon had them for sale made in ANOTHER country. What? How could anyone own an American flag made in China? It is the one thing that should be American made!!!

Bonus...new babysitters and date night!!! Tonight I am having my very first, non-relative, non-friend babysitter. I hope the kids are good. I am excited to have a conversation with my husband without being interrupted 1000 times. Sometimes that is all you need. Dinner out with a great guy, catching up on our week. Kids get to be home, watching tv...everyone is happy!!!!

Novmeber 10, 2011

I am thankful for family. I am thankful for Jared and Kate having a baby. I am super excited to hold a baby again:)! I thankful that Keith can text me, and I quote, "Ur the shit girlfriend!" I am thankful that Jodi and I can work together and live next to each other and still mange to be friends:)!

bonus: Seeing my husband unexpectedly...even if it is just a drive by. I saw him driving down the road on his way to work and after all of these years, still brings a smile to my face when I get to see him!!!

November 7-8

November 7...
I am thankful for healthy active kids...who actually listened! It was kind of a crazy day driving to Muskegon twice in a few hours. Allison's spacer fell out AGAIN and had to be recemented in. I guess to be truthful, I have to be thankful for health insurance as well:)! Got her back to school for a few hours just to turn around and pick them all up. All of them were super good in the morning and at Northland. That never happens!! Left work early to get Isaac to soccer. I love to watch him play. He is such a fun kids to watch. So determined! Left the game a little early to drive back (shoot, maybe I should be thankful for my car!) to Whitehall to drop Tude off at dance. I really like that they all have their own thing and they are good at their own thing. The smile on their faces makes it worth the price and time spent on these things!

"Bonus thankful"...G&L. Isaac's team lost 28-0, bad I know!!! Nothing dinner with Dad at G&L couldn't fix :)!

November 8

I am thankful my my life group at church. It has been really enjoyable getting to know people better and feeling really good when I leave!!

Bonus...my mom is taking my kids on a school night next month so I can go with my husband to T.C. for a night and pretend like we are in love:)!

November 9

I am thankful for GREAT schools. I got to help in Ashley's class today, minus her crying (that really, sad trying not to cry, but crying). It was a lot of fun to see her in "action". It is SO TRUE...everyday that girl is a little bit more her mom!!!!

bonus...weight loss. I started my "weight loss journey" early this summer and I am currently down 39.3 pounds!!! Clothes not fitting sounds like a good thing, but when you really need everything and you have no money...things get difficult...oh well, I am happy!!!

Thankful Cont.

Update, I also decided to be thankful for something "silly"...you know something that you really like, but could do without...challenge myself a little :)

November 5... I am thankful for unexpected friends. Friends you never knew you would "end up" being friends with, but are. Who knew the girl holding my other leg while pushing out the twins would end up being such a great friend!!! Thanks for being my"good" friend and for letting Jimmy come crash your bachelorette party!!

I am also thankful for s'mores at Bonfire. Our food was not so tasty, but the s'more and the FIRE were wonderful!! I also have to include moscato. Super yummy!!!

November 6... I am thankful for church that fits my family. It was a big change/choice to change churches back in March. Once we did, we have never looked back!!! It is a great place for my family!! It is especially wonderful that my parents and my sister (and her family) go there! We walked in yesterday to Keith and Kyle sitting there without Jodi. She was sitting in the front of the church going over the verse for call to worship. I realize she was the one reading, but somehow I felt more connected to the church. As she began reading, she said Psalms 100...Allison got a huge smile on her face, stared at me and starting reciting it to me. She had to memorize that verse for Awana. I was very proud and thankful for both of them!!!

Christmas trees on November 6th!! Maybe I should be thankful for Jimmy for letting me be the crazy girl that put up 4 trees on the 6th of November! too bad, 3 out of the 4 prelit lights didn't work. Good thing I have time to correct that!!!

Thankful

What if today you only woke up with the things you thanked God for yesterday...

My mom had this on her facebook page a few weeks ago and every night I think about it. I am so busy with my day to day that I forget to be thankful for my day to day. I figured (with the help of reading it on Kate's facebook) that I am going to be thankful for something new each day this month. I am a little behind so I will catch up...

November 1st...I am thankful for my job. A place where I feel at home. I like the people I work with and I like the job I do. I like the added "bonuses" of picking up my kids from school and getting to help in their class. I like that for birthdays we go out to lunch.

November 2nd...I am thankful for my mom. First, I have to be thankful to any lady who is 5 feet all and has a 24" baby. Not sure how I managed to fit into such small quarters. Probably why I hate being in tight spots now!!! I was a little sad about my birthday. I had the day off and nothing to do. No one to spend it with. I really didn't want to stay home and clean my house and I didn't want to shop or eat alone. My mom said she would be "my friend" and spent the day with me. It was so nice getting coffee, shopping, having lunch, shopping :). I take my mom for granted. She helps me out with a lot of jams that I get in. I am VERY thankful for her.

November 3rd...I am thankful for "smart" kids. I was a little concerned about having parent teacher conferences on my birthday. I love my kids and I know them very well, so I had the right to be a little concerned:)! It usually goes something like this...Allison is a very good student, does really well in class, a joy to have around, but she needs to understand it is ok to make a mistake and not be so hard on herself. Isaac is a smart boy, VERY BUSY, tends to not sit still, needs to have "jobs" to keep him busy, talks a lot, but does the work well. Ashley is a joy to have in class, everyone is her friend, very bright girl if she applies herself.
The twins conferences went really well. Better than I expected. Both of them tested in the 5th grade vocabulary level. Allison is reading at 4.5 level and Isaac 3.8. Both of them tested very well on their math. The goal is 10/20. Isaac did 20/20 and 16/20 and Alli 20/20 and 14/20. Crazy enough Allison is starting advanced math and Isaac is not. Thank goodness for Jimmy abd his "politically correct" ways to ask why Isaac didn't get asked to join the advanced math group with better test scores...could it be because he is busy?!?!? Long story short, both kids get to be in advanced math and Tude will start advanced reading this week. I am very thankful for their ability to do their best in school. Even better, Isaac is following the rules, making huge improvements on not being so busy. Allison has only cried one time at school and is learning to calm herself down. Ashley is doing great...everyone's friend, following the rules and she is reading in class. I was a happy to hear that. I spend a lot of time with Al and Iz and Ash gets what's left over which is not enough. I am going to try to do better with that.

November 4th...Getting two loads of laundry done before work this morning...thanks again to my mom for taking the kids last night...and for getting to go to my husband's soccer game last night. It is nice to be the wife. He did really well and I enjoy watching him play.

Think Spring

I am not even going to say that I am going to keep up with the blog this time because everyone knows I don't mean it. I think I will try for like a once a week to start. Baby steps!! At the very least I will highlight important events. I like to think/write about it, so why not.

I will have to update pictures on the vacation and my big kids turning 8 so stay tuned...to anyone still reading this:)!

Big Catch Up

OK, big catch up for the past few days. On Thursday we went to the new Great Lakes Salt Company. I like Jimmy having a business that is actually close enough for us to get and "check on him". Building was a little scary, but it is cheap and services it's purpose.

Yes, that is Isaac on Jimmy's shoulders.

Ash driving the machine equipment around. Such a girl:).

We have been busy. With all the snow and ice we have got, Jimmy has been crazy busy at work. We REALLY like snow..."pennies from heaven" in the words of Jimmy!! This weekend with ice, it actually got upgraded to "nickles from heaven"!

I have no idea what we did on Friday. I know we did something, but could not tell you what it was.

Saturday was Isaac's first indoor soccer game. BEYOND FABULOUS!!! He played hard, hustled, did 2 headers and scored a goal. I love watching that kid play soccer. To see him play hard with that gigantic smile on his face is priceless!! Did a little Christmas shopping and worked on the basement. And of course, went sledding!!!

Sunday was another day to Muskegon to get everything we needed to "start" to "finish" the basement. There is just something very wrong with 5 people in 1300 square feet. The extra 1300 would REALLY come in handy!!! We did manage to get 3 rooms painted and the closet. Not bad!!! Took the kids to lunch and got hot chocolate at Target...that is the Christmas thing we did :)! I also bought National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I remember watching that as a kid and thought it would be OK. I popped it into the DVD player and was driving down the road listening and ended up popping back out...not what I remember:)!!!

school...

Today I got to help in the school Christmas store. It was wonderful!!! It always is. The kids are so full of the Christmas spirit. They have just a few dollars and want to find just the right present for their family. It makes me appreciate what I have. There is always a few kids that do not have enough money to buy that "special" present that I just tell them they do. I just makes me sad that these kids care so much, I guess sad is not the right word...
If you ever get a chance to do it, I would recommend it; especially little ones.

In the Allli and Isaac's class, they are learning about different Christmas traditions around the world. It is amazing all the different things that last for weeks and weeks. Yesterday, they celebrated traditions of France. I had to bring in chocolate cake. The tradition goes something to the effect of they have a big party and serve the cake one person's cake will have a bean in it. The person with the bean in his cake is declared the king of the party. For the record, if a girl has the bean, she is still the king, not the queen. anyway, Isaac got the bean and was the KING OF THE PARTY!!! He was so excited. He left his classroom and found me in the school store just to tell me/show me! Love that little boy!!!

Sledding, baby!

Tuesday was another sledding day at the TenBrink's and we got to bring Andrew along. Like I said before, we don't get to see the Stratton/Tallquist kids that much, so when Andrew did not want to go to the basketball game, I was thrilled to have him come over. I was not sure he would want to sled (not that much of an out door kid), but he seemed to have a great time. It is VERY difficult to ride on the back of a 4-wheeler, trying to take pictures in the dark. So the pictures are not the best but the laughing sound in unforgettable!!!

Thanks Jennie, again, for reminding me to find something special about each day in December. It has been really nice to do!!

Dad's home

Monday was pretty uneventful...until 6 o'clock hit. Jimmy walked in the door and angels sang in my kids world. They were thrilled to have him home. He almost did not make it. In Atlanta he had to run to make his next leg of his flight and missed the turn and kept running in the wrong direction. Adam and Dale tried to yell for him and called him 9 times, but Jimmy was on a mission to run in the wrong direction:)! They tried to hold the plane for him and gave him 2 minutes to get there. He got there with 30 seconds to spare!!
Dad being home meant one thing...SLEDDING!!!! The kids could not wait any longer. Twenty minutes after being home, I put his dirty clothes in the wash and he was outside pulling the kids. Life was back to normal!! Screaming kids, laughing dad and me doing laundry, yeah I would say that is just about right:)!

Sunday December 5

The first Sunday in December is our annual "Mom family Christmas". It was rather small this year, but is always nice to see the family and the new babies that are born throughout the year. 5 new babies in the family this year!
Crazy, my baby is losing her teeth and other people are just beginning...the circle of life:)!

Ash and Poppy. She loves her Poppy so much, not as much as her food, but loves him just the same.

LOVE!!! Such a handsome man and a mom that loves him so much!!

The family photo, minus the Dad because he was too busy racing:)!

It is nice to have tradition and family. I am very blessed!!

Mama Love

Christmas Program

OK, anyone who has followed my rule and blocked out last years Christmas program, let me recap. I have a problem visualizing. When something is in my head it must be that way. It can not be changed. Most of the time, it does not turn out that way and I am disappointed. I am working on changing that. OK, who am I kidding? It is never going to change.
Anyway, last year was our VERY first church Christmas program. Jimmy was racing and I was ready with 3 cameras. My family was there, Jimmy's family was there, even Shelly and her family were there...I was ready, proud mom with a vision. Let's just say the vision did not happen and Isaac is lucky to be alive to hear this story today!!!

This year, however, I got "shy" kids. Oh how wonderful shy kids are!!! I have NEVER had a shy kid before. They are so calm and well behaved!!!!! Seriously, the kids did FANTASTIC!!! Isaac kept his hands to himself and even tried to sing along. He said he had stage fright:)!!

Ashley forgot to smile. She was "concentrating" on being good:)!

Yes, in case you missed it in the last photo, that would be my daughter flossing her teeth with a rubber band. Can't win them all!!!

He did really well until the end, but this was the worst thing he did all service. I consider that a HUGE SUCCESS!!!

Good Will

Not to be confused with the store!! Today, I did something nice to help others. Actually it really was no big deal, but I have to have something Christmasy so I am going with a good deed. Keith had to work late and Jodi had a date with Caleb so I took Kyle. We played 100 games of Old Maid and had a good time just being. It is always fun to watch "both sets of twins" play together. With Kyle living next door you would think he would be around a lot, but he really isn't. It really got me in the Christmas spirit. Just enjoying family, playing with my kids. Taking it all in slwoly. Thanks Kyle, Allison, Isaac and Ashley!!!

Kaos Motorsports

Sending a lot of love and hopes of success to Kaos Motorsports as they attempt Snowball Derby again this year in Florida. Yes, Florida. Very jealous, but it makes me feel a little better that it is in the 40's. Wish I could see Kelley but she is still HOURS away from Jimmy. Last year they did not farewell when John forgot to turn in his first lap. Anyone who knows anything about racing will know that you MUST turn to go around the track!!!! When you don't you hit the wall. NOT GOOD:)!!!

With back to back championships under their CRA belt, I feel this year is going to be GREAT!!

Nothing better than this on the finish line!! Well, John may feel different.
(yes, that would be Rebecca at the races...all American Girl dolls go to races, right? Maybe that will the next girl of the year...Racing Reagan!)

Good luck Jimmy and John!!

Day 2

Well, I actually did something Christmasy today. We put the ornaments on the tree!!! With the house is its crazy state and not knowing where ANYTHING is, Jimmy was kind enough to buy me some new ones; pretty red, green and gold ones. Lovely!! We also got caught back up on the advent calendar. The kids were very sad getting 2 pieces of candy instead of one:)!

A couple of pictures of the "process". For some reason, my camera has been having issues. It has lead a very full life with a lot of use. Things are starting to break on it and for some reason the focus is having some issues. Oh well, still love it!! The best Christmas present e.v.e.r.!!!

Kisses to all and to all a good night!!!

For you Jennie

I do not have a picture for today's post and it is going to be short and sweet!!

I was having coffee with my friend Jennie yesterday and she was talking her December daily and committing to writing something everyday for the month of December. I am hoping that it makes me take the time to breath and enjoy every moment of the great season. I love Christmas and everything about it. I start early just to enjoy the moments, but this year like EVERY year, things are spinning out of control. The basement is not done, the house is not decorated, I have no place to put presents (so I can not wrap them or hide them). Life is just a little crazy, but it would not be Camp Chaos without a little crazy.

So anyway, yesterday was the first day of December, the first day of enjoying the season. WE DID NOTHING!!! We did not even open our advent drawer. Not a good start!! OK, let me see if I can put a positive spin on this. We had our first snowfall of the season, well, the first snow that actually stayed. Very pretty. Very Christmas like. I did buy ornament holders to put the bulbs on the tree (yes, the tree that has been up for 5 days without any ornaments!). Allison skipped ballet to go to Muskegon so I could buy snow pants and boots for the kids. All three grew again this year, imagine that:)!!!

So that is what I did...I purchased the hangers for the tree and prevented illness on Christmas. All in all a successful start!!!!