LAUNDRY -- the one thing that never ends.

This is really what I spend my days doing.

My Great Aunt Eileen used to always say, "If you do at least one load of laundry then you can say you've done something for the day."

Well, Aunt Eileen, I would make you proud. I did about 5 loads today.

Who said being a mom isn't glamorous???

Happy Halloween

Halloween was great this year!

Lake loved Trick or Treating. He kept saying, "Rick or Wheat". I was like, Who is Rick and when did you start liking wheat?
He went as a Devil and Libby as an Angel. She wouldn't wear the halo that goes with the dress. So, I had to cut it off. I guess she ended up as a princess fairy. I was supposed to be an 80's rocker but it turned out more like an 80's hooker. The sad thing is I secretly liked wearing 3 neon belts at once.

p.s.
I truly did try to pull Lake's ratty pink pillow and sippy cup out of his hands for the pictures, but every time I tried there was a lot of tears involved -- so I opted to just let him be a devil with a pink ratty pillow.

Bubbles!

So, the kids were taking a bath the other day. I walked out of the bathroom for about 30 seconds to get towels. I hear the kids laughing and yelling, "BUBBLES". I didn't put any bubbles in the tub so I wondered why there were saying that. Well, Lake happened to find the bubbles and decided to put the ENTIRE container of bubbles in the tub.
The pictures I am posting are after I cleaned up half the bubbles but you still get the idea. Once I took out most of the bubbles, Lake started saying goodbye to them. He would wave and say, "Bye Bye Bubbles." Once he did that I couldn't be mad about the mess they had made. In actuality I was envious they got to have a bubble bath and I didn't.

Daisy Duke

We were down visiting my brother and his family the other day. Libby got in my nephew's police car. She climed in it Dukes of Hazzard style. She didn't even open the door --just slid right through the window. Daisy Duke ain't got nothing on my girl. Once she finally made it in, she sat there 20 minutes strait. She would try and push it on the grass but couldn't get it to move so she would just sit. Not sure how I feel about her being okay with just sitting in "parked" cars. Hopefully that's no prediction of the future.

Lake is in constant motion but we got a quick shot of he and I together, so I thought I'd throw it on here.

Lake searching for pumpkins

Here are a few cute pictures of Lake looking at pumpkins at the District. Every time I look at him he seems to have grown up so much.

Feminine yet masculine......

Why is it that I can't get Libby to wear a bow for the life of me but Lake constantly puts on her headbands? I guess my only saving grace is that he wanted to hold the football while he was wearing the headband.

I am living with a Duck????

Is it just me or does Libby look like a duck in this picture? She has been making this face for the past two weeks. No joke, she kisses all her stuffed animals about 20 times a day. She has a constant pucker.

STAY AWAY BOYS!!!

You Two Make Me Happy!!!

Why is it that your children can exhaust you more than anything, but they make you happier than anything in the world?

No Ones Love Is Better Than Ice Cream!!!

Okay, so I bought a CD by Sarah Mclaughlin. I must have been in a weird mood. I guess I was feeling wild and crazy (because we all know how wild all her songs are). It came with 3 CD's in the album and I swear there is only 2 good songs out of all of them. Well, there is only 2 good songs out of 2 CD's since the 3rd one kept saying, "ERROR" when I tried to play it. This is why I don't buy CD's. It's like, Sarah.......you could at least give me a CD that freaking works? And, if that wasn't bad enough, I kept yelling at the CD. Every time I hear that song, "Your love is better than ice cream" I get mad. No ones love is better than ice cream. How can she get away with lying like that? Isn't that illegal?

P.S.
Does anyone want to buy my 2 CD's? I will throw in the one that doesn't work for free.

BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE

I was laughing because my last post was so positive. I must have really been out of it that day. Usually my days consist of me praying to make it until the kids nap time, then praying again to make it until their bed time. But, at the end of the day they are my life and I would give everything I have for them.

I had the flu for about 6 days. Today is the first day I have even felt somewhat normal. I seriously thought I was going to die. I had all the flu symptoms: Chills, Sweats, Fever, Headache, and Really Sore Muscles.

I can't tell you the amount of hot bathes I took to get warm. Just to counteract it with sweating and having to to take cold showers -- not to mention changing my sheets daily from the sweat. It was a good reminder to me to be thankful for my health.

Sometimes I beat up on myself. I am constantly thinking how I should eat better, be a funner mom, exercise more, grow my hair longer, shave my legs more, file my nails better, chew my gum softer, use Tide with bleach instead of just Tide, the list goes on and on and on....

I swear being sick is good for me so I can get knocked down to reality and see how lucky I really am. I felt lucky to be able to have the energy to make homemade cinnamon rolls today. I also felt blessed to be able to eat all of them but one (it was the corner piece and I didn't put enough sugar on it).

All jokes aside, I am happy I have my health. I may not be the healthiest person out there but it is nice to be able to keep up with my kids and not permanently feel like I did last week. Hopefully I won't need this lesson/reminder to be grateful for another 5 or 10 years -- and even then not sure if I really need the sweats, chills, and muscle aches to be my reminder.

Woke up in a good mood today.

I woke up in a really positive mood today. Some days I wake up and just know it's going to be a crappy day, but today I feel good. I put the kids in the stroller and went for a long walk. They loved it and so did I. It was warm and I loved having the sun beat down on me. I think I am am going to post a positive poem I read since I am feeling good. Now, don't hold me to my positive thinking because I was in a yucky mood yesterday and am sure I will be there again. I swear I heard the song by Cher, "If I could turn back time" 3 times yesterday. What's up with that? I haven't heard it in years then couldn't get away from it. Hide the knives when you listen to that after a divorce. So depressing!!!!!!!!

Anyway, here is my positive poem for the day:

I am moving on
reaching toward my hopes and dreams
It has taken me far too long
to reach this place, it seems

My fears may try to hold me back
To try and block my way
But with courage and faith in my heart
I will get there come what may

The road will be a long one,
And it may be rocky, too
But when I reach this place in time,
My dreams could all shine through

I am coming nearer to my goals
And my excitement grows
The plans I have made will soon be real
Along with the destiny I chose

Though I have been tossed and turned in life's storms
I will surely see a brighter dawn
I'm no longer held back by my fears
I'm finally....Moving On

What's up with the flies in Herriman?

I have killed about 15 flies today. I give them fair warning but they still hang out begging me to smash them. Here is proof of what I've done all day long. Poor guy -- should of gotten the move on when I warned him.

This always reminds me why I had kids..........

For some reason when I see the kids sleeping it always makes me thankful I have them. It's the one time I know they are truly peaceful and content.

I saw this poem and loved it. It has really centered me through my divorce. It makes me know why I am here on this earth. Everytime I read it, I want to be a better person.

Live your life full today
Follow all your dreams
Take each day as you find it
Life's not always as it seems

Enjoy traveling this great journey
Try not to hold on to the past
As Life will pass by quickly
It moves by so very fast

Listen to your voice within
And let God be your guiding light
Reach for the Heavenly stars
Be shining and be bright

Be kind to the many people
You meet along your way
We all learn from one another
To make a brighter new day

Enjoy and treasure your experiences
Share your joys and your pain
You will never be alone
Someone, somewhere is feeling just the same

Remember Life is very short
It is over in a flicker
Beat feelings of Anger and Hate
Don't get cold, don't get bitter

And when your time on Earth is done
And you move on out of sight
You will reap a great reward
To have lived a life so right.

Libby's 1st Birthday!

Today was Libby's 1st birthday party. She turned one last Sunday but we celebrated it today.
The party turned out really well. It was the first big event we had without Jeff.

The divorce has been hard, but today made me a stronger person. It showed me I can move on and things will somehow be okay. Blowing out Libby's first candle really touched me. She is just starting her life. One year ago today I gave birth to her. It is crazy how much someone's life can change in only a year.

I usually don't write serious posts but no matter how much I tried to joke on this post, I just couldn't do it. The truth is, it is painful for me to see my kids go through these types of events without both parents, but I do know we can make through the rough patches of life.

I am thankful I have my parents support. I am thankful I have my beautiful kids to love. I am thankful I have my health and that my kids are healthy as well. I am thankful I have a roof over my head. I am thankful I have people in my life who love and care about me. I am thankful I get to live this life and grow as a person from my experiences -- good or bad.

I just hope one day I will have all my crap together and look back on my struggles and be thankful for those as well.

Mary, where are you when I need you?

What my day consisted of:

1. My son, Lake, putting his head in the toilet and giving himself swirlies.
2. Lake teaching his sister, Libby, how to give herself swirlies as well.
3. Pulling stuff out of the vent that the kids had shoved in there. Finally found those strappy heels I had been looking for.
4. Washing chocolate milk off the carpet after Lake decided to take the lid off he and his sisters sippy cups. If he only knew chocolate milk was $4 a gallon he would think twice.
5. Eating leftover potato chips off the floor (some came with the carpet and lint on them) that the kids decided not to eat.
6. Moved furniture to clean and found a stash of gummy treats and old fries (still full from the chips so I'll save that for tonights dinner).
7. Found two sippy cups that had been thrown in the laundry and got washed with all the clothes.
8. Cleaned up vomit from Libby throwing up. Glad it happened today since I already had 30 things on my list to do.
9. Lake took Libby's dirty diaper and threw it on the ground. He then looked at me as it sat there and said, "STINKY". Glad to know he understands stinky. Just wish he didn't have to have the poo fall out of the diaper before he understood that point.
10. Libby learned how to open her drawers -- she just didn't learn how to move her fingers before she re-closes them. I've done a lot of hugging today with all the tears that have been shed.

I really am thankful for Monsters Inc. and Mary Poppins. Those are the only two things that get me through the days at this point. There is a point in the show where Mary Poppins pulls out a tape measure and measures her height. A close up is done on the tape measure and it says, "Mary Poppins -- Practically perfect in every way". I agree with that. She makes my kids happy which makes me happy.

Here is a letter I have written to her:

I love you Mary Poppins. How can I get you to come be a nanny for me?
If you are out there and are reading this, please stop by. I have a few things I couldn't reach out from the vent and would like your help. Get here by 6pm and you can share the gummy treats and old fries I found today.

Sincerely,

Chanel

Lake loves himself some good kissin'

My Son, Lake, has been kissing tons of stuff lately. I had to post this pic of him kissing a turtle at the fair. He literally squeezed under all the sheep to get to this turtle to kiss it. The 4-H girls were mad he kissed the turtle over them.

I am also posting a picture of Lake kissing his sister, Libby. When they fight I pull up this picture to remember he still loves her. I have proof :).

Why don't they still make men like this?????

I was going through pictures today and had to post this picture. I took this picture at my college graduation because the guy was so nasty on every level. Is it sad I have kept this picture for 9 years? I have no idea where my college pictures or degree is, but I sure as hell kept the picture of some random dude at the graduation. I really am a sicko!!! I wonder if he thought it was weird I was snapping shots of him while wearing my cap and gown?

This is why I keep this picture......

Exhibit:
A. awesome comb over by his receding hairline. The Fonz would be so jealous.
B. Kick Butt sideburns. Bet he grooms those himself.
C. Thick glasses to see his sugar-baby-lover -- and every other woman he was staring at during the ceremony.
D. mouth open drooling over his young..... not so hot girlfriend (he kept whispering things into her ear and making her giggle).
E. Gold Chain Necklace -- nothing needs to be said on this one.
F. Shirt unbuttoned to waist - Yum, still gets me going.
G. Pegged Shirt cuff. Gotta show off those big arm muscles.
H. Gold Bracelet gently caressing his woman -- tender yet still a man.

Talk about free advertising

My friend at work got this shirt for my son. He said I should have him wear it to remind myself I am hot in case I ever have down days. Is it sad that my child wears this everyday and the rest of his 50 shirts just sit in the closet?

It's kind of like my motto. When your cleaning and wearing sweats, make sure to put on high heels and a tiara while you do it. It makes you feel good.