And The Winner Is...

Entry #68 Saratina Schultz as chosen by Rafflecopter.

If you are still interested in this software you can use a code I was provided with to get $10 off the purchase price plus $10 to use in their store for extra goodies!!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Hope to see you for my next giveaway!


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Hate when the babies are sick!

I knew Vanessa was getting sick. She started yesterday with a runny nose! Poor Princess.

She was up all night tossing and turning because she couldn't breathe well. Her nose is much runnier today than yesterday and she just sounds stuffy. So today is a stay in doors and cuddle and stay warm kind of day. In hopes that I dont have to break out the nebulizer at all.

I hate when kids are sick. Not only are they extra whiney (LOL) but they are clingy and you just cant seem to get everything done. Not only that, but as a momma, I hate when I cant make my babies feel better. Especially when the baby is sick. Nothing is worse than a miserable baby. We started the day with her not wanting anything to do with me. Tugs at a momma's heart strings because you just want to be momma and make them feel all better, but this morning Vanessa was all about daddy.

Right now she is laying next to me on the couch passed out and daddy is on the other couch passed out. Hmmm, I think perhaps I need to join them.

It's that time of year where I freak out

As a child I loved Christmas.

As an adult, not so much. Especially as an adult with children.

I'm used to Christmas's where there were tons and tons of presents to open and everyone had a great time and no one went without.

That's not how it is anymore. As October approaches and people start to talk about Christmas shopping, I sink into sadness and feeling like a failure as a parent. This is where my anxiety attacks become more apparent.

I cannot provide an adequate Christmas for my children and that bothers me so bad. I feel even worse for my children when they can't join in on the bragging of cool stuff they got. Even worse, I hate hearing people say what they have gotten their children because I'm jealous. I am thankful that my children aren't greedy and don't care about the amount of presents. Even though deep down I know it hurts them. They know the try meaning of Christmas and know that our family is in a rough patch. But that doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to be able to do amazing for them.

Every year I say I'm going to start saving early and that just never happens. Something always comes up that keeps me from being able to save that little bit of money. :o(

So, while your out there shopping for your kids I encourage you to buy one small thing and donate so that someone else's child doesn't have to go without. Everyone has a story. Some have good endings and most don't. If you can't afford to buy a gift, please consider dropping some change into the salvation army kettles. Every little bit helps.


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Good-Bye Forever Milwaukee

Saturday we closed the final chapter of Milwaukee and it was so bittersweet.

We went yesterday to get the final bit of our things and said good-bye completely to our life there.

I did not want to go in the first place being as I did not want to see that house anymore. Just the whole situation and reason behind why why had to move. I mean, that was our first home. I brought a baby home to that house, both my daughters took their first steps in that house, lots of memories (both good & bad) were made there.

The hardest part was leaving my neighbors. We were really close to the people that lived next to us and we considered them family. We were closer to them than actual family. They were there for us when we needed them and continue to do so even though we are not there. It was so hard leaving them for the last time as a neighbor. But the good thing is that we will always be friends and I know how to get ahold of them.

Best neighbors ever. No one could ever replace them.

But now it's on to bigger and better things. Our family is doing awesome and loving every bit of living here. And, it was nice to get rid of all the over dramatic people and stupid people that we had to deal with daily.

So with that, Good Bye Milwaukee. You will not be missed. Only some of the people you hold will be missed! My family is so much better off without you.

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First Day of Fall

Thanks to my daughter for reminding me that today is the first day of fall.

First day of the start of cold weather.

First day that I start begging for spring.

I dont like cold weather. I love spring time when its around 70ish degrees outside and where you dont need to be bundled up to the nines just to go outside.

I hate the cold. Im a big whiner and dont even want to look outside or be outside. Although, I will admit I love the way untouched snow looks and the way it looks on trees when its just finished snowing outside.

We have a few giant pine trees in our front yard, im excited to see what they will look like with snow.

I have to admit that I love the way the trees look when they start turning colors. So pretty and amazing.

Can we just have the leaves change color, then skip to spring? I dont think that is to much to ask for right?


Yeah, if only.

Northern Adventures

My family & I love to explore.

We like to play this little game called left, right, or straight. Its where we get in the car and drive and whenever we get to an intersection we choose left, right, or straight. We just drive until we decide when we should start to head back home.

We have ended up in Green Bay, Madison, small little country towns all over Wisconsin and even ended up crossing the Wisconsin/Illinois border in the western parts of the state somewhere. This was all before we had a GPS so we had to find our way home too. We always made it though.

Well now that we live in the NorthWoods of Wisconsin there is lots more to see and do. There are TONS of lakes just north of us.

Yesterday we took advantage of some friends from Milwaukee being up north at an aunts cabin. We went to visit them and oh gosh was it pretty. Fall comes quick up here. Everything is already starting to turn colors. It's so beautiful.






I especially love this picture. I love little country roads like that.

The kids went fishing on the lake and had a BLAST.

I can't wait to do some more exploring next year.



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Little Fears

Ever since I was a kid, one of my biggest fears has been bugs. I just can't handle them. All those legs an funny looking bodies. Not to mention some of them bite and are highly poisonous.

Out of all bugs, my biggest fear is spiders. I will freak out at even the slightest sight of one. And not just a little freak out but a big high pitched voice, jumpy, crying, heart stopping kind of freak out.

In our new house, there are daddy long leg spiders EVERYWHERE!! Especially the bathroom. Whenever I go in the bathroom, there is always one in there. Also, just the thought of having to go into the bathroom, sends me into a little panic attack. It's really ridiculous. And annoying.

Last night I was putting laundry away in my bedroom. I bent down to pick up the laundry basket and a flipping spider nearly ran across my foot. I swear I jumped back like 10 feet and just said "Oh My God!" loudly. I then made my boyfriend get down on the floor and reach under the dresser to find it and kill it.

I mean how could I sleep knowing this is loose in my bedroom.

Today at work, I was slicing tomatoes on the slicer. And one appeared on the napkin after I was done. I made the people I work with giggle. Another lady came to kill the spider for me. When she moved the paper towel, I swear the thin jumped off and was hanging from it's web. *gag*

And a few weeks ago, I gave a friend a laugh. She was over visiting and I'm sitting on my love seat with Vanessa sleeping in my arms. Larry was sitting next to me. We were talking and all of a sudden, I see a spider hanging in midair coming down from the ceiling fan blade. I start screeching "kill it kill it" and both of them are looking at me like I am CRAZY because they just don't see it. Mind you I can't move because I have the baby. I'm pointing and yelling it's right there it's right there and they still can't see it. Meanwhile I start crying. YES, crying. You'd think I was 5 or something. These 2 are laughing at me & Larry FINALLY see's it, grabs the web and starts to come near me. Freak out mode even more. And my friend is just rolling.

He never did get close to me. Which is good because I might have kicked him in a not so happy place.

Seriously though. Anything with more than 4 legs just is not right and shouldn't be allowed.

I don't know what God was thinking when he created bugs, But he must have been angry at mother nature so now I have to suffer.


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An Open Letter to My Children about their Education

As my children embark on their journey of school in a new town hundreds of miles away from where they started school, I feel even more compelled to be there for my children in school.

So with that I am going to participate in Parenting & MomCongress' Blog-a-thon and write an open letter to my children on how I will help them with their education and schooling this year and beyond.

To Branden & Courtney;

This year you both have started school in a new town with new teachers and new faces. Anxious and Scared about what this year will bring you as you attempt to make new friends and become your own person in this new town. But I am here to help you.

I cannot believe what amazing young people you are becoming. And Branden, I cannot believe that you are in high school. It seems like just yesterday I was meeting you for the first time and becoming a positive mother figure in your life.

Education is important to me. I want you to strive to be the best that you can be in school and make something of yourselves as you grow older. And so with that, here is my promise to you as your mother and an important part of your education.

I want you to know that I will do the best that I can to make sure that you have all that you will ever need to succeed in school. New folders, pencils, backpacks, crayons, whatever it is. I will make sure that you have it. I want you to have the BEST chance at an education that you can get. You also need to know that I am here for you for ANYTHING. If you have a problem, a question, or just need to talk. I am here. I am your mother and I want you to be comfortable talking to me.

I will try my hardest to be as involved as your education as I can by volunteering. I hope you both remember all the times I chaperoned a field trip or volunteered in your class and how much you enjoyed having me there.

I promise to encourage your dreams and wishes and always push you a little harder to go farther than you think you can and I will always be there for you if something doesn't go the way you plan. I dream the biggest dreams for you and know that you can do great things with yourselves. You both are amazing people already with the biggest hearts of any kids I know. I cant wait to see what you will be like as adults.

My love for you goes farther than the farthest star. Here's to this school year and many more to come.

I see great things in your futures.

Love forever,
Mom

Product Review & Giveaway: MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking Suite

If your like me, you LOVE taking pictures and you have more than your fair share of them.

If your also like me, you have NO clue what to do with them. That is unless your a scrapbooker.

But if your also like me, your not crafty and you cant afford it. I have heard that scrapbooking is an addiction. A very addicting addiction.

This is where digital scrapbooking comes in. No materials to buy, store or clutter your house. And better yet, you can do it all on the computer. A few clicks of the mouse and viola! A masterpiece.

But some of those software programs can get quite expensive and confusing to figure out how to work.

Not this one friends. This software is VERY user friendly and easy to use. Infact, I made a simple scrapbook in less than 5 minutes!!! Nothing fancy. Just something to test out the product with. And I am super pleased with the results.

Hello MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking Suite

This program is AMAZING and has now become my new best friend. It literally takes seconds to click together your own digital scrapbook with their amazing drag and drop or double click features. You can add music, turn your scrapbook into a movie that you can watch on a DVD or an iPod, burn it to a disc to send to family and share on any computer! (Mac's included) You can include video, narration, and place web links in the scrapbook for viewers to click on and even share on Facebook!

Turn your digital scrapbook into a calender or a book with a few clicks of a mouse! Easy Peasy!

You can create your very own digital scrapbook using your own ideas or using their already pre-made templates! There are lots and lots of freebie items for you to use while creating. The options are ENDLESS!

Here are the pages I created:

LOVE IT! I cannot wait to have more time to put something more fancy together!

Take advantage of Nap time mama's and put those pictures to use!! Get your hands on a copy of this Digital scrapbooking software NOW!

Want to get your VERY OWN MyMemories Digital Scrapbooking Software?

Here are 2 ways:

You can go to MyMemories and purchase the software. Use coupon code: STMMMS35863 when checking out and get $10 off the purchase price AND $10 to use at the MyMemories.com Store! A $20 value!

OR

You can enter this amazing giveaway!! (And if you dont win, you have the above option! Either way you cant loose!)

Wordless Wednesday

Well, not so wordless but it's a short post.



My son wants to be an engineer. How lucky is he that his high school as engineering classes that will give him college credits!!

Here he is working on his first drawings.

Ground Zero 9/11/11

The view of Ground Zero tonight is breathtaking.




Photo Credit: The New York Post

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9-11 Never Forget

I cannot believe that it has been 10 years since 9/11 happened.

My heart still breaks at the very thought of the tragedy that happened to our country on that day. The freedom that was taken away from us in an instant is almost to much to handle, even 10 years later.

I can still remember what I was doing at the moment I found out what was going on.

I was sleeping and awoke to a phone call from my mother who was at the Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage Alaska awaiting to board her flight to New Jersey then to the Virgin Islands. She called to tell me she wasn't going to the Virgin Islands anymore. I remember asking her why and she told me because a plane had crashed into the world trade center. Huh what? I was half awake and asked her what the world trade center was. How naive. I then turned on the TV and watched the 2nd plane crash into the 2nd building. My jaw dropped.

They then said that this was an act of terrorism.

Stunned and shocked I was thankful my moms flight had not left yet because I would have been FREAKING.

I proceeded to be glued to the TV for months. The visions of the actions on that day forever scar my mind. I remember watching the "shock & awe" bombing live on TV and I was really shocked.

Our country was tested that day but we will never back down. We will prevail.

For the husband who told his wife I love you one last time before his plane went down in a field, for the wife who stopped in the stairs to call her husband to say I will love you forever, for the mothers and fathers who kissed their kids goodbye the morning they died, for the policemen who rushed in with the firemen to help get others out only to die themselves, for the soldiers who fought back and lost their lives. Today, tomorrow, ten years from now, we will remember. ♥

All those people who lost their lives, my heart is out to you and your families. Especially the children affected.

Gone, but never forgotten.

9/11/01

What where YOU doing when life as we knew it stood still?

When Life hands you lemons

Sometimes you just have to make lemonade.

And there is nothing else you can do but drink it.

I don't like this kind of sour lemonade but when everything comes falling down, you have to deal with it.

The good thing is when you have fabulous friends around to help pull you through!


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Chaz Bono on Dancing With The Stars

I am appalled at the controversy that is being caused by Chaz Bono being on Dancing With The Stars (further referred to as DWTS). Does it really make a difference that Chaz was born a girl and then had a sex change?

How does that matter?

Sometimes people are born in the wrong skin an the wrong gender. I believe this can happen. Just like I believe that you are born gay, lesbian, or bisexual and it's not something that just "happens".

I also can't believe that there are moms that say they couldnt let their children watch DWTS if Chaz was to be on the show because it would be confusing to them. Well guess what, children only know as much as you tell them. So when your watching DWTS, I highly doubt that your little one is going to realize and point out that, that guy used to be a girl.

The way society is today towards gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender people is disgusting. I understand some people don't believe in it or for whatever reason cannot accept it but guess what people it's out there and Its not going away.

So, get over yourselves, put on your big girl/guy undies and deal with it. Who cares if Chaz dances. Who cares if he was born a girl and is now a guy. Let him be and let him let other people who are in the same position as him know that it's ok!! You are who you are and nothing will ever change that.

I for one will be supporting Chaz Bono!

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