Yet another "Challenge" thing. Day 3.

So, I'm up to 6 followers now :) One of them being myself... Not sure how that happened :/

Today is "Eight Fears". Muhahahahaaaa (evil laugh)

Number one: Since this past year when a friend of mine found he had a tumor hiding in his stomach I almost daily wonder if something nasty is hiding in my body or Chris'. I honestly don't how I  would make it through life without him. His migraine's worry me the most and the fact that his skull is un-even. Weird. He won't go to a doctor either.... ugh.

Number two: A hospital birth. Yes, you read right. The thought of having a baby at home is a lot more comforting to me than the thought of having a baby in a hospital. Strangers in and out of the room. Needles and machines hooked up to me. A catheter. An epidural :( I've never broken a bone and never been sick enough that I had to be in a hospital. The thought terrifies me. The thought of having to get a C-section makes me light headed. lol.

Number three: Having a child with autism or any other disability. I love Gabe and Joey with all my heart and if Chris and I had a baby who was born with a disability or was diagnosed autistic it would make me love them no less. But I do worry about the effect that it would have on the rest of the children and the effect it would have on our family relationship. And of course the stress and worry.

Number four: Gabe and Joey and how they will manage adulthood. It's something I think about often. Right now they are but 8 and 9 years old, but soon enough (I'm sure the years will fly by) they will be 18. And what does the world offer them? For themselves I want them to be self sustaining adults who can make a living and make a difference in society. It's what we all want for our children right? To find happiness with a special someone. To have a family if thats what they want. I just want them to be able to do the best they can do. Whatever that is. And if it's living at home with Chris and I thats ok too :)

Number 5: Mary's developing diva nature. Not really a big concern or "fear" bc she is a good kid. But believe me when I say she can tell a lie better than anyone I know, and can shake that head around like someone off the "Bad girls club" if mad enough. Teenage years = ughhhhhhh. lol. She's a boss!

Number 6: Heights. I can barely stand on a step ladder without getting nervous. lol.

Number 7: Letting people down. I will commit to almost anything if someone asks me b/c I feel like if I don't they will be super disapointed in me. Me = Pushover

Number eight: Peoples mouth. lol. Not really a fear. But! If you have ANYTHING out of the ordinary about your teeth or mouth. Includes but is not limited to: braces. no teeth. bad teeth. retainer. something stuck in your teeth. or bad breath. lol. I will not be able to look away from your mouth while you speak to me. Another one of my bad habits :/

Got to work tonight so I think I'll go take a wee snooze now. And leave some comments. Don't you love me anymore?!

Challenge day 2. I have a tat of Obama.

Ok so today I'm supposed to put nine loves. Here I go.

Number one:  I love Chris and the kids. I never thought I would fall in love again after my first love, but destiny had something else in store for me :) I got a husband and a house full of kids in one swoop.

Number two:  I love my family. Especially now that I'm grown up I can appreciate having a big family and brothers and sisters.

Number three: Right now I would love A BEER! omg. The kids are driving me nuts! Go to sleeeeeep!

Number four: I love spring amd summer. I hate being cold. Hate bland weather and no leaves on the trees. I could skip winter every year.

Number five: I'm in love with dirty romance novels :) Bertrice Small is my fave dirty novel author. Reading one of her tasteful books right now actually. Well not right this second bc I'm typing. Duh.

Number  six: I love my hair. It can go curly or straight. I'm versatile.

Number seven: I love the fact that I'm cheap. I hate paying full price for anything! Clearance racks. Thrift stores. Out of date items. Ebay. Amazon. Consignment shops. Yardsales. Coupons. You get the point by now. I'm the crazy lady who digs through the clearance bin of underwear for an hour just to find my size. lol.

Number eight: I love tattoos :) On men. SEXY! (wish Chris would get a few!) and I love them myself. Planning on getting another one soon. My first color one. Hoping to cover up my first tattoo, you know, the one of Obama winking. lol.

Number nine: I love my life right now. Couldn't be happier when it comes down to it. Yes, I have my bad days. BUT! I feel soo blessed :) To be able to make a difference in the lives of my favorite kids is the greatest gift ever. No words can describe how much I love my family and how much pride I have :) People think I'm crazy or they think I'm a saint for doing what I do. I'm just a woman who loves kids. I always have. Heck, if Chris left it up to me we would have two of our own. lol. He says one child and a dog. lol.

Ok, so besides the "Challenge" thing I had to fill you in on some other happenings.

First of all I made home made laundry detergent! Super proud of myself! And it actually works really well. I marked todays date on the calendar and I'm going to see how long it lasts. It said that for a large family it can last up to six months! We shall see!

Second, yesterday Joey came home from school and wanted a snack (which is typical. they always come home from school famished) I can't remember what he asked me for but I remember I said "Hmmm..." in response to his question and he said, "Hmmm. Spell it. H-M-M-M." I found it hilarious just bc Joey is always spelling things. He can spell almost any animal you can think of, and here lately when we say things or he hears things he will ask us how to spell it.

Also, later he walked in the kitchen with his arm inside his shirt and the one sleeve swinging and he just fell in the floor right in front of the dish washer. lol. He was re-enacting "Plants vs. Zombies" hahaha...

Thank God, I think they may be.... CRAP! Ethans calling me. Mary was in his room and he told on her I heard her scamper back to her room. Skunks.

... and Chris is playing with lego's.

10 challenge thing

Okay! I'm a copy cat. Thanks Rach.

Day 1: Ten secrets... It may be hard to come up with 10 honestly bc I like to talk and everyone may know my dirty secrets already lol.

Number one: I can't stand to have buggers in my nose. It drives me nuts. If I can't blow it, you best believe I am picking it. I've even sustained some car damage due to a bugger picking. It's no joke.

Number two: I do not have a weak stomach. You can discuss virtually ANYTHING disgusting and I will not care. I can watch gross surgery shows with blood and guts, and I can clean toilets and throw up all day. No big deal. The last time I gagged over something gross was about a month ago I changed the litter box and Batman had done a very disgusting poo in it.

Number Three: Speaking of Batman. I loveeeeeee my Batman. He is the only pet I have ever had this long and we have been through so much together. I told Chris the other night I think he is some bad ass person thats been reincarnated lol.

Number four: I bite the skin around my nails and cuticles. I've done it since I was little. I do it more in the winter months when my hands stay super dry and when I'm nervous. I will bite the skin til they bleed and not even notice til it begins to bleed/hurt. A very hard habit to break :( The only time I don't do it is when I have my nails done.

Number five: I am possessive. I like to be in control of just about everything. This has been super hard on me the past year or so. Since moving in with Chris I have played a big part in how the kids are raised. How they are dressed. What they eat/drink. How their hair is cut. School things. It's very hard for me to take that step back and let Jennifer be the momma. I love them too. I want to be the one who makes the important decisions. No two people are exactly alike either so I think it goes without saying that we don't always have the same tastes. I want to do it all MY way. Period. But I can't :( The next several years will be full of adjustments for me.

Number six: I am a compulsive Facebook user. I log on several times a day and night. It's not as bad as it used to be.

Number seven: I rarely watch television. I do catch a few minutes of Nick jr a day and when Chris gets home we usually watch "Who's line is it anyway?" or a movie, but I rarely sit down and watch the entire thing. I'm always up doing something and then by the time the kids are in bed and I have everything ready for the next day I would rather play on my Nook or cruise FB.

Number eight: I love sweet and salty foods. Like chocolate covered pretzels. Or putting potato chips on a peanut butter and honey sandwich..... Excuse me while I go make myself something to eat. lol.

Number nine: Now this is a real secret. Chris and I are planning to have a child of our own. CRAZY! Actually, we may be. lol. When I first started dating Chris he made it very plain that he did NOT want anymore kids, and I understood why. Four kids is a lot of kids. He never aspired to become the Brady Bunch  or The Duggars. So as our relationship became more serious and I knew I loved him I told myself that was a sacrifice I was willing to make to be with him. He even at one point called his health ins co to inquire about a vasectomy procedure. Thats when I took it all back though, I just feel like as much as I love him and the children I deserve that experience. The experience of being pregnant, of giving birth, and having my baby :) I love his kids with all my heart, but no amount of me loving them will ever make them truly mine. So Chris consented :) He understood where I was coming from and he would do anything to make me happy. So eventually we will have our own little bean.

Number ten: I was inspired by Rachel Clark to let you in on my own sleeping habit that I have had since childhood. I have to rub my feet inside the blanket as I fall asleep. It can't be just any blanket or just laying any way. It has to be tucked under my feet and I will move and re-situate the blanket several times til I find the perfect rubbing spot.

Well thats it for now. As you were.

Weekend in review.

So am I the only one who doesn't really care about Lauren Alaina? lol. She came into Logans Friday (this is the 2nd time she has come to eat on a shift I'm working) and everyone is like "Omg! It's Lauren Alaina! Blah Blah" maybe I would have been more excited if I had watched that season of AI or maybe if I listened to country music, but I really don't care. So everyone is bugging her and tripping over their tongues and feet trying to get in a 3 foot radius of her and I was not. I think it's cool she is a hometown girl that "made it" but I'm not starstruck.

And.

Last night Chris and I go on a double date with The Clarks. We went to dinner at Genghis Grill which was AWESOME! It was our first time and I loved it, but I def will not be getting it as spicy next time. My nose was running! Then we went and saw "Sherlock Holmes" at the Majestic.

RUDE PEOPLE are so rude. Really. Just when they dimmed the lights about 25 juvenile teenagers came in talking to each other. checking their cell phones. laughing. picking seats then changing seats. It was ridiculous! Then as the movie starts a couple comes in and sits right next to us, and I thought "Oh good, they can share in our misery." but they ended up being worse than the kids!!!! I even "shhh"ed them at one point , but they weren't even listening.

Eventually a Chatt Police Officer came in and things got a little quieter, but he actually has to come stand by our row for it to completely get quiet.

So what kind of parent lets their child just roam the streets of Chatt that late at night with about 20 other kids of the same age without  any chaperone's? Have they not heard of the crime rate?

And how big does your ego have to be that you think you can talk with a regular (loud) voice during a movie that others have paid good money to see? The world does not revolve around you!

Anyways the parts of the movie that I saw were funny and I want to see it again. In the privacy of my own home. lol. That was honestly the worst movie theater experience I have ever had.

Now the kids are back home and another week begins :) This weekend we are going to my dads to celebrate a late Christmas. It's the first time he will be meeting the kids :) He has no idea whats coming. lol.

Til next time!

My glass is half full.

Literally. lol. I'm drinking some "Cool" juice (saved a $1 with my coupon). and it really is called "Cool" juice I'm not just saying that I"m cool... although I am.

I've been really positive about things the past few days. I have had some good nights at work and I can honestly say I'm ready to tackle this 10-12 hour shift and make some money!

Got the kids up for school this morning and Ethan asked me what the smell was in the kitchen sink (it was an empty can of cat food. No sure why I thru it in the sink last night instead of the garbage...) I asked him what he thought it was and he told me he thought it was a dead rat. lol.

Jennifer (the kids momma) is keeping the kids this weekend and Chris and I are going on our first official date as a married couple! We haven't been on a date since our weekend honeymoon get away in November and I am more than ready to let loose and have a nice dinner and see a movie :)

After work last night I went to Walmart and got a few things and I noticed they had these savings bin type things in the middle front isle. Got some great savings.You should check it out! some things I got for less than 50 cents after my coupon. Occasionally you find good deals like this at Walmart, but I usually hateeeee going there. I also got Mary a cute "Owl" outfit marked down to 4.25 it came with a top and matching pants. cute! and 2 pairs of shorts for summer each were $3. I love a bargain!

Speaking of me loving a good bargain I found a recipe for homemade laundry detergent on Pinterest :) Thinking I may give it a whirl next week! It says that after you buy the supplies and make it, it ends up costing less than 1 penny a load! whoa! As much laundry as we do here. That would be HUGE savings.

Well thats it for now. I'm going back to bed for awhile!

Much love - Your fave cheapo

The "s" word.

Ok so today has been sooooo busy. Last night I didn't go to sleep until after 1 a.m. then I woke up at 6 a.m. to get the kids ready for school. I volunteered at the elementary school til 10 then went to the bank then went to Goodwill to rummage for some more boys long sleeve shirts. They all got some for Christmas but I still didn't think they had enough. Then I went grocery shopping at Bi-Lo. Sub-total before savings 61.47 and I paid 42.77. Go me! It's not the best I've ever done but a dollar is a dollar right? Also ran into my MIL before the store trip and had a nice chit chat about couponing and cows milk. lol. then back home with enough time to cruise FB for a few minutes before going to the end of the drive way to get Gabe and Joey off the bus :) Chilled for a few more minutes before grabbing my keys to get Mary and Ethan off the bus when my phone rings....

It's the kiddies mom. The bus driver didnt see my car so she took the kids back to the school. What? :/

So, I load up Gabe and Joey to go to the school which is less than a minute away and Ethan and Mary are munching on pretzels in the office. Back home to do homework and read books. Change the litter box ( I let Batman have some milk this morning so he had the runs. lovely ).

Chris gets home at 5 :) and we decided to go to Chick-fil-a for dinner ( Thanks for the gift card Aunt Crystal and Uncle Justin! ) and it's family night! Sweet! We eat. The kids play. They get ice cream. Fun times.

On the way home Ethan asks Chris what he's afraid of Chris replies "Carnies. Nomads. They smell like cabbage." or something like that I know I didn't get it exactly right. lol. Anyways! the kids thought that was hilarious.

So you are probably wondering why the title of by blog is "The "s" word" well....

The end of todays eventful story is that before getting ready for bed Mary is playing with leggos and she says something to the effect of "Oh sh*t!"

Now... of course I immediately ask her what she said and so did Chris and she goes to Chris' ear and whispers the bad word, and we thoroughly get on to her and she is sufficiently embarrassed and reprimanded. It's not funny. but......

In retrospect it is. lol. She is a good kid. I'm not at all worried about her turning into an adolescent potty mouth. So, I'll have a quick laugh. lol.

P.S. Chris reads my blog so maybe he'll get embarrassed when I tell you that he crop dusted me earlier. The End!

2012!

Well I must say that 2011 was quite an eventful year for me. At its beginning I was still living with my room mate Josie and by the end I was married to Chris :) No kids then kids. lol. Life happens. One thing I really struggled with in 2011 was faults... Yes, I actually have them. lol. jk. I will be the first to admit that I am a judgemental person. Somewhat overbearing. Superiority complex..... I'm not perfect :/ but it's not with everyone that I'm like this. Just a select few...

SO...

In 2012 I'm going to try my hardest to check myself when I feel the swells of Superiority building up. I know I'm better than that :) I can't change people, and no amount of me snooting them and looking down on them is going to change them. Just so you know I don't judge people for things they can't help but the things they can ( I can see the potential in everyone!) SO! Like I said I'm going to try very hard  to either make a positive impact or just deal.

On to other things :) I'm so excited for 2012. So many things going on this year :) First of all... TAX SEASON! rakin rakin rakin in the moolah. lol. Of course it is already spent but we have big plans with our refund. Pay off the debt! yay! and... Fix up the house! bigger yay! I will be so SO glad to get rid of these 2 MAJOR stresses :) Can we say house warming party at The Gilberts?! Cocktail Weenies anyone?!

Then allllll my fave kids birthdays :) Gabe's is March 1st. Joey's is on the 21st and Mary and Ethans is on the 25th :) I'm ready to start planning now! Partay. They are all growing so fast. It makes me sad. I know things happen for a reason and all in due time, but I've made the comment to Chris before that it makes me sad that I didn't get to have them as babies too :( it feels like I've missed out to a certain extent.

Also, as of this week I'll be working on beginning to substitute teach at Rockspring Elem. Really excited! It'll be much more convenient as far as the kids are concerned AND I'll be at home more!

It amazes me how far my life and myself have come in just a short while (one year). I think back to when being the life of the party, going to parties, bars, and clubs was what consumed my life. When being on the dating market was how I liked it and when being Ms. Independent was ME. Don't get me wrong I'm not some mousy house wife. lol. Things are just so different now. I wouldn't change anything. I can't wait to watch my step-kids grow up and become intelligent and educated adults. And to grow old (er) with my *no words can describe him* husband :)

2012 is going to be an awesome year. I can feel it! I got a feeling! And as far as the "Letting go" thing. Just say a little prayer for me. lol. I'm going to need it :)