Which One?

I found this on Trista @ Margarita Mama blog. It was cute. I love learning more about my bloggy friends. It is about me and my hubby, Max.


What are your middle names?Mine is Marie, hubby's is Lee
How long have you been together? 3 years
How long did you know each other before you started dating? Not long. We met on match.com and the point was to date.
Who asked whom out? Hubby asked me.
How old are each of you? I am 27, hubby 29.
Whose siblings do you see the most? Mine.
Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? Hubby's bad attitude but he may disagree.
Did you go to the same school? No.
Are you from the same home town? No.
Who is smarter? My husband is one of the smartest people I know.
Who is the most sensitive? Me.
Where do you eat out most as a couple? I would not say we eat out often and when we do we like to change it up.
Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? Maui, Hawaii and it was amazing!
Who has the craziest exes? We both married crazy people the first time! Bad job!
Who has the worst temper? Both.
Who does the cooking? Should be me but hubby has been helping a lot lately. Thanks honey!
Who is the neat-freak? Neither one of us. I like organization but I don't have time to be a clean freak.
Who is more stubborn? I have told my daughter she can never out-stubborn me but hubby has to be tied with me.
Who hogs the bed? Neither we have a queen and do just fine. I kind of like being able to touch him not have him on the other side of the room.
Who wakes up earlier? Hubby has been leaving for work at 5am. Crazy!
Where was your first date? Starbucks.
Who is more jealous? Me.
How long did it take to get serious? A month to 6 weeks, not long.
Who eats more? Hubby, I can only eat so much at one time.
Who does the laundry? Does hubby know what a washer is???
Who's better with the computer? hubby
Who drives when you are together? I wish my hubby would drive more.

A Thousands Words Thursday

Check out Jen @ Cheaper Than Therapy for more A Thousand Words Thursday posts.

This is B with his great-great grandma on his Dad's side. Grandma Honeydear is 92 years old and Brennan is almost as tall as her. B thinks she will make it to 100 and I hope she does!

Great DVD for young toddlers

I will start this post by saying I am very anti-TV. B didn't watch TV until he was almost 2 and then it was only Veggietales movies.

Baby Boy is a signing baby. Catherine at Evolving Mommy's daughter is also a signing baby, along with some babies I have worked with at church. I have loved being able to communicate with him effectively and teaching him some additional signs.

Catherine recommended the "My Baby Can Talk" DVD's. I was skeptical about a 16 month old watching TV but figured baby sign language was educational and learning more signs was good for him. I have now checked out all three "My Baby Can Talk" DVD's from the library and Baby Boy loves them!

If you have a signing baby or young toddler I highly recommend these DVD's.

If you have a young baby and you have considered signing with your baby I would also highly recommend it. You won't regret it!

I'll Love You Forever I'll Like You For Always...

As long as I'm living my baby you'll be.

Noah's Mommy @ Project Mommyhood inspired this post with her wonderful, and amazingly sweet post about her love, her son Noah.

With Valentine's Day a mere 4 hours away here in Colorado, I jumped on board with all the lovey, dovey stuff.

Love You Forver by Robert Munsch is my FAVORITE book. It holds a special place in my heart because it is B and my thing.

If you have not read this book to your children, you have to! Go the the library, Barnes and Noble, Target, whatever.

The story starts with a new mom. She rocks her new baby back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocks him she sings, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." It continues through all the phases of the little boys life from wild toddler boy, to naughty school age boy, to out there teenager boy, to grown man. As time goes by the mom gets older and sicker and the boy (now grown man) rocks her and sings, "as long as I'm living my mommy you'll be." The book ends full circle with the boy singing to his new baby daughter.

Oh, how just thinking of this and my B makes me want to cry!

I don't know how old B was when I got this book but a very small infant, maybe before he was born. I was lucky enough that my mom kept all my books, so B had those plus I joined a book club and had books mailed to me every month until he was at least 2. Needless to say, the child has an impressive library.

I have read to B all the time since he was a small infant and this was always our book. I loved it, he loved. I sang him the little song and he loved that too.

I kept reading B this book. As he got older he memorized it and it even more became our little thing.

I often tell him at night or other special times "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

He often tells me out of nowhere, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my mommy you'll be."

It is hard to imagine before you were a parent fully understanding what a strong bond you have with your child. It truly is amazing!

And to even make it sweeter! Last year on my birthday Max didn't help the kids get me anything so they took it upon themselves to give me and wrap things they had access too. Wyn gave me a half used body spray I gave to her because I didn't use it, I can't remember what FiFi gave me, but B wrapped up the Love You Forever book and gave it to me for my birthday because he knew it was my favorite book! Oh, how sweet! If this kid can't melt your heart, I don't know who else can.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you can spend it with the ones you love!

The next month is going to be hectic for me

So please forgive me if I don't comment/post as often as I would like. We will be without internet for several gaps of 3-4 days at a time. I envision having our internet hooked up when we move into our new place but we will see.

Thanks ladies and even if I am not commenting I am thinking of you!

We are movig to Maryland!

You heard me right! For someone who has lived in Colorado for almost 19 years now this is a little exciting and a little scary. First, my husband got a good job offer, which is why we are moving. Second, being commuting distance from DC opens up a lot of possibilities for me with a background in politics. Yes, you heard me right again, this stay-at-home mom is going to be looking for full-time employment outside of the home. No, I am not going to take $35,000 a year again at a job I don't like, only to be paying nearly 1/3 (2/3 during the summer) of my income towards daycare but for the right position, salary, and opportunity, I will be back in the corporate world again. Maybe once we get all our debt paid off I can really stay home, no strings attached.

Most of you know me from the online world not here locally so it won't make too much of a difference but since it is big news I had to share.

Our last day in Denver is March 10th, with Max starting his new job March 16th. I know this will be a hectic month for the whole family but I hope this will be a good opportunity for everyone and we can all be happy in Maryland.

Thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. All you cross-country movers with any suggestions, please share.

Birthday Recap

So yesterday was my birthday! I turned the big 27! I have already decided I am old because I rang this birthday in without a lot of fanfare and it was perfect.

First off, my husband is awesome. He woke up early went to the store, surprised me with a card and pink roses (my favorite), and piping hot white chocolate mocoa from Starbucks. I would have never guessed he would bring me Starbucks in bed so I was very excited. He also made me delicious french toast and bacon in bed. Then B gave me his present my mom helped him pick out from all the kids, a new hand mixer. Sounds boring but I was also very excited because the motor on mine is going out. Good job mom! Then the girls bring me a gift because B neglected to tell Max or the girls that the mixer was from all the kids. The girls got me a $15 Starbucks gift card and chocolate. Now I can buy Starbucks and not feel guilty! The kids all made me cards and B even sounded professional. The front said "For the Greatest Mom Ever" and the inside said, "Mom, I hope all your wishes come true. Happy Birthday. Love, B." I think he has a future in card writing.

Max took me to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch with the kids. We had never been. It was yummy (especially the baked sweet potatoes with marshmallow whip with pineapple) but a little expensive. Oh well, I guess everything is expensive when you have a family of 5.

The rest of the evening was low key and relaxing. How nice!

Today me and my girlfriends went and saw "He's Just Not That Into You." It was adorable and was especially cute if you have read the book. Being a newly divorced women back on the dating market a few years back I read the book and tried to stick to its principles. I was determined not to fall into the same dating "loser" rut that many women fall into. If you have not read the book. It is great! I would recommend it to anyone who is single.

It was a great birthday!

Random Picture Challenge May 2008

Check out 4 little men and girly twins for more random picture challenge posts.

This is from my 10th picture folder, 5th picture from the end.

This picture was taken in September 2008, in Venice Beach, CA, went my BFF Michelle and I took a weekend trip to LA. The trip was a blast and the break from the kids and everyday life was wonderful!

Oh, How I Love the Gym!

When I left my full-time job in August we had to make some budget cuts. I still work 3 jobs of a total of 60-70 hours per week but I make a little more than 1/3 of what I did before. Before more than 1/3 of my income went to daycare and the rest was deductions so I almost break even but we still had to cut back. The gym was one of the first things to go since at that time we were going less than once a week. I wish my husband was much more motivated because it keeps me going.

We had put our gym membership on hold. The hold period was expiring but I was hoping we would know where Max's job would be. Tuesday night I decided who cares if we can afford it or if we may be moving in the next few weeks, I need the gym.

We went last night and did about 30 minutes of weight training and 20 minutes of cardio. I felt so much better than I had been feeling. It was a great stress reliever, I feel like I had more energy, and I slept better. As an added bonus my kids love the kids club and I only pay $15 per month membership for all 3 of my kids to go an unlimited number of times. I am officially in love with the gym!

My goal is to make it there 5 times a week, if only for my sanity!

What to do when kids lie?

FiFi is going through this lying phase. I don't mean the occasional fib here or there but the I got caught in the act, will look you right in the eye, and lie to your face, at least once sometimes twice a day phase. This phase also includes hiding things, being sneaky, and otherwise deceptive. So far this phase has been going on for a few months with reprieves of normal behavior in between.

Currently we are in a two week all out lying phase and mom is not sure how to get through to her. I know B went through this at a similar age as well as other challenging phase such as the terrible twos starting at 1 1/2 phase, the biting non-stop from 1 1/2-2 years old phase, etc. I know all these phases pass and all kids have them even if not the same phases. I cannot for the life of me remember what I did when B was in his lying phase or if it worked. It has been probably 4-5 years ago at this point and my memory just isn't that good.

So if anyone has gone through this and has any wonderful suggestions please let me know. If you just want to encourage me that I am not the only parent dealing with these type of things that would be wonderful too!

So far we have tried taking away privileges such as TV, DS, computer, etc., time-outs (quiet time alone in her room), and positive reinforcement (sticker chart) but she just cheated on the sticker chart to try to get the reward instead of it helping her to be honest.

Thanks! You ladies are great!

And the Award Goes to...

Me! J/K but I did receive some bloggy awards recently and wanted to acknowledge the award givers.

La Mom at La Mom - an American Mom in France gave me this wonderful award:

My 10 random facts are posted here. Thanks again to La Mom!

Everyday Mom over at Mom of One gave me this fabulous award:

Why thanks so much! I think your blog is fabulous too. I also love your fun giveaways.

This is a new award for me so here are the rules:

List 5 addictions you have and pass on this award to 5 other fabulous bloggers.

My addictions:

1) COFFEE! I have only been drinking coffee daily for over a year now but I am very addicted. I chalk it up to my early mornings and crazy stressful previous job at the law firm. At least I brew it at home to save money.

2) Being outside! I crave the outdoors, fresh air, and anytime it is above 50 in the winter we take walks and head to the park.

3) I also love reality TV. The Hills, now The City, and Jon and Kate Plus 8 are my recent favorites.

4) My Mary Kay Timewise skin care! This past weekend I saw one of the National Sales Directors (the top of the top money makers/leaders in Mary Kay) speak in a small group setting. Not only had she earned over 4 million dollars in just commission from Mary Kay she was 61 years old and looked AMAZING! I wouldn't have guessed her a minute over 40. She has been using Mary Kay since 23 and if that doesn't convince me nothing else will. I have been using it since 24 and I only hope I can look as good as her at 61.

5) My cell phone! Aren't we all but I text my husband and BFF all day and use it to multi-task. It is hard to imagine that a mere 10 years ago I didn't even have a cell phone as well as most people I know. How quickly culture changes in America. What is the latest and greatest now will be old news 5 years from now.

And the award goes to:

The Incoherent Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mom

4 Kids, No Dog, and Living the American Dream!

Running From the Little People I have been reading Heather's blog for a little bit now and I love it! She seems like someone I could be friends with in "real" life.

24 Hours is Never Enough

Home of the Lazy Dog Ali I can't remember if I have already given you an award but I think your blog is fabulous!

Thanks again for these wonderful awards!

Mary Kay Lipstick Giveaway Winner!

My random number from Random.org:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:6
Timestamp: 2009-02-02 00:35:08 UTC

And the winner is:

Joy said...
I'd like to try a new lip color ... maybe the Amber Glow.fmgirl40 at hotmail dot comThanks!!
January 26, 2009 9:25 PM

Joy left the 6th comment on my giveaway posting and she is the winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered! I hope you enjoy my blog! Check back later this month for my Timewise Firming Eye Cream giveaway!

I just emailed Joy and she will have 48 hours to contact me before I draw a new winner.