I took a bath.

On Friday night, I took a bath. I took THAT much time out of my schedule to actually take a bath. I took a bath with a BOOK, none the less.

I needed some me time. Something I rarely do for myself is take a bath. I don't think that actually sitting down and relaxing in the tub is that much fun when you have kids knocking at the door telling on each other.

MAAAAA! He won't get out of my room!

MAAAAA! I want a snack.

MAAAAA! When are you coming out??

This time the only knock that came to the door was followed by I LOVE YOU.

How can you get mad at that?

But my point is, with Hubs deployed, this is maybe the secong time that I have actually taken an actual bath in the actual bathtub. I musta been in there for over an hour. And you know what? It felt REAL good to say, "FORGET about the kids!"

President first State of the Union. Thought I forgot?

Good Friday Morning!

Now you didn't think I was gonna let the President's very first State of the Union Address go by and I not address it, did you?

If you did, I've been slacking!

Is it just me, or is this man one of the most charismatic people you've heard give a speech.

I love the way he just gets up there and Tells It like it T-I-Z, ya know? He is just so poised and so dignified... Shoot if I wasn't married, he is probably the only grey-haired man who I'd give a chance! LOL!

He said a lot of things that just made sense. I think that if those that oppose him so much would stop and listen to what he was saying instead of letting the fact that they oppose HIM get in the way, they would realize that the stuff he says make sense!

One of my favorite lines in the speech was when he said that if anyone had a better way of doing things, let me know. I mean, rather than complaining and opposing and trying so hard to get every single issue thrown out, come up with some real solutions, rather than trying to keep things that way that they were, cuz that mess didn't WORK!

I also liked this statement. "I know there are those that disagree with the overwhelming evidence of climate change." LOL! I mean, really, if the evidence is sitting right there in front of you in study after study after study, and you still disagree... either your mind is a little off key, or somebody, i.e. the big oil companies, is putting a little in your pocket to convince you to side with them on this very real and very evident issue!

"No one should go broke because they chose to go to college." How can anyone not agree with that? Why should people who chose to educate themselves to make money to support their families have to struggle to pay it back for YEARS. Ridiculous! It's like getting penialized for becoming a better person. A $10,000 tax credit for 4 years of college? Time to get my butt in school! If that doesn't motivate young people to get into college, nothing will!

And, some may not agree, but like he said, WE STILL NEED HEALTHCARE INSURANCE REFORM! I'm in the military and I already have healthcare that is government managed and you know what, I wouldn't want it any other way. The monthly premiums that the soldiers pay is LOW and alothough you may find me complaining about it sometimes, it is still great care. It is still care that I trust to take care of my 3 most precious things in the world. My children. It is care that I know I will never be turned away from getting because some paperwork isn't matching up, because an HMO doesn't cover what we need done or because the condition is pre-existing. Doctors should be rewarded on performance and not for how many patients that can push through the doors! Everyone should be able to have healthcare no matter what their financial position.

He said, " I didn't take on healthcare because it's good politics." His approval ratings are down and a lot of it is due to the fight for healthcare. But, you know that many great leaders had to fight for their belief.

All in all, for me it was a great speech. I mean, he let the people know that he is trying to do the things that he promised; don't forget that he inherited a mess that he has to first clean up. Yes he has added to the deficit, but, you know how you have to invest in a business to make money? Hmmm, same concept.

So for those of you who sit around being negative about what this President is trying to accomplish and who are always trying to find fault rather than find solution, realize that you are part of the problem. You are part of the reason that "change" is taking a stroll rather and a sprint into our country. Know that a country divided will fail. I'm not saying agree with everything, but give this man some credit for trying to get us out of the mess we are in.

It's my Birthday and I can NOT workout if I want to!

Today is my birthday! Whoo Hoooooo! I'm celebrating the 7th anniversary of my 25th birthday!

I have had a lot going on and a lot ot blog about as well, but now is simply not the time.

A friend of mine has offered to take me to lunch today and we are meeting in about an hour. I'm not yet dressed. Why, you ask? Well, I have been trying out my birthday present!

Hubs sent me a box about 2 weeks ago and told me not to open it until my birthday. Do you know how hard that it???

Okay I admit, I tried to take a peek in the box without actually peeking. You know.

Oops, I stepped on the box and it's a little bent in on one side. Oh no!

Didn't work.

So last night, he called after midnight and told me to go ahead and open my gifts. I knew what the first box was because it was from Ebay. Some white, pink and gray Nike's. Really cute and much needed with all of the working out I've been doing.

Hey I didn't mention that I did a little over an hour on the elliptical yesterday! Yeah Me!

Anywho, Cam was so certain when the box came that it HAD to be the Wii Fit. He said that because the box said it came from Walmart, what else could it be? Smart kid, but I didn't wanna get my hopes up too much. What if it wasn't? I mean, yeah, I had dropped a ton of hints. Especially when my mom got one for Christmas. I was like "Mama got a Wii and Wii fit! I'm soooooo jealous!" If that didn't make him think, nothing would have!

So YES it was the Wii FIT!!! I'm so thrilled! Can't wait to get it going and get some routines and stuff.

The kids got up today saying WE HAVE THE Wii FIT!

Are we speaking French I asked? Who's birthday is it anyway??

Gone went the gas!

Having a car that I don't drive in the garage still requires attention.

So that the battery doesn't die, I have turn this thing on every now and then. I do this every 2 weeks or so and let it run for a while. Last time I wasn't so careful and when Hubs got back from his year tour in Korea the battery was dead. Now, he claimed that this also caused the alternator to go out and that I caused him to have to spend a lot of money on the BMW just to get it back running when he came back.

Okay, so this time, I have vowed that I am going to TRY to remember to take better care of his beloved BMW and make sure that I start it and let it run.

That's what I did today.

When I got home from dropping Miss Missy off at school, I turned on the Bimmer. It was a bit hesitant, so perhaps it's been a little over a week this time.

I came in the house.

And there where the problem began. I FORGOT I turned it on!

Here it is, an hour until I need to go back to pick up Miss Missy and I go out in the garage to put something in the fridge out there and notice the dim lights on the front of the Bimmer.

Radio is still Blamin' it on the Alcohol, so the battery is certainly not dead.

When I turned it on, the gas light was on with 26 miles to empty. Needless to say, I won't be driving that car those 26 miles until I can find me a gas can!

Thank goodness I was smart enough not to leave the car running with the garage down or I woulda been TOAST from carbon dioxide poisoning!

My Goodness! Redeployment can not come fast enough!

I'm such a Beautiful Blogger!

Ya know, just when I was starting to think that no one was listening to me, no one was really

reading my blog other than my mother and my few faithful, WONDERFUL commenter, I get an award! WOW! It's been a while since I've been awarded anything. Usually I'm just an after thought, you know. Like, "oh, Kay, I didn't see you standing there. Would you like one too?"

But not this time. I was actually given a award that much describes me... at least what I think of myself! LOL!

Yes, you've read it right! It's the Beautiful Blogger Award! And though Drama Mama @ Adventures of a Middle-aged Drama Queen was probably talking about my blogging, I like to think that it describes my physical beauty as well! So I will graciously and humbly except this award!

Now, I have to first begin by telling you guys 7 things about myself, then I must pass this on to some other beautiful bloggers that I know.

1.) I'm a huge procrastinator and I like to blame this part of me on my mom. Okay, I know it's not really her fault because procrastinating is not genetic, but I have to put the blame somewhere. So when Hubs asks, "Why haven't you gone to get the kids flu shots yet?" (I have, just an example), I say, "I can't help it. It's my mama's genes!" Can't possibly be because I'm forgetful, right?

2.) I'm a smiler. I smile at everyone. People I walk by at the store, people in their cars, people who don't smile back. I smile because it makes me happy and because maybe somebody might have needed that smile today.

3.) I feel that my husband and I are non-tradition in our roles. He is the cleaner of the two of us and he takes care of all of the bills and reminds me of things I need to do. I withdrawal from important conversation or arguments that I don't want to have and he is the "nagger". LOL! Sorry Hubs. I'm just WAY more unorganized that he is.

4.) I never finish anything. I start things and never finish. Do you know how many times I have started crocheting baby blankets for my kids and never finished? Maybe they will be done by the time my grandchildren are born! This is my mother's fault too! LOL!

5.) I DON'T like making phone calls. I'm just not a phone person. I know that talking to the way to keep in touch with friends and family, but I don't like sitting down and talking on the phone. I feel like it is taking away from something else I could be doing (like blogging hehe) and it just takes time out of my day to talk to people'

which brings me to #6

I am a HUGE texter. I will text EVERY I have to say. EVERYTHING! If I could text to make doctors appointments that would be great HAPPY BIRTHDAY! MERRY CHRISTMAS! SORRY ABOUT YOUR DEAD DOG! I mean, texting is the most awesome thing since caller ID!

7.) I hardly ever eat breakfast. I often skip this meal because I'm too busy to fix something to eat. I ofter go to the gym with having breakfast first which I KNOW hinders my workout. Imagine how much MORE I could do if I just ate breakfast before working out!

Oh, is that 7? I had plenty more, but I'll save boring you for another day.

Now the good part. There are seven blogs that are think are just and beautiful and deserving of this award as I am:

The Peach Tart

Chocolate Covered Daydream

Yonca is Cooking

These Little Girls of Mine

The African American Mom

Jiggety Jigg

Mama Still Wears Gucci

Read them! They are truly beautiful bloggers!

The Tooth Fairy is OLD!

The tooth fairy is getting old!

This morning, three days after losing his tooth, my 7 year old walks into the kitchen holding 3 dollars.

Me: Where'd ya get the money?

Cam: The tooth fairy brought it.

Me: Didn't you lose your tooth like 3 days ago? Why are you just now getting money under your pillow?

Cam shrugs: I don't know. I guess she's just slow!

CJ butts in: She's just getting old!

Me, a little offended: OLD? Why would you say she's getting old?

CJ: She use to be able to fly fast. Now it always takes her days to get to us. I figure she's just flying real OLD now.

He demonstrates a crooked, slow flying motion.

OLD may very well be the reason behind why the tooth fairy FORGETS to get the tooth the first night it is lost! LOL!

BUT in the tooth fairy's defense, she only forgot the FIRST night. The second night Cam was sick and didn't check for it!

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And another one came out tonight!

You know, having boys can really give you a heart attach if you're not careful!

The boys were wrestling, as usual and I hear,

OW! YOU DUMMY! WHY DID YOU DO THAT!

SORRY! OWWW! MY ELBOW HURTS!

OH MAN! YOU DUMMY, YOU KNOCKED MY TOOTH OUT!

Me: What Tooth??? WHAT TOOTH???

A bloody mouth comes around the corner with a HUGE empty spot right in the front.

My mouth falls open at the missing front tooth. Didn't he already lose that one?

It was loose anyway, the bloody mouth said.

I was able to breathe again as I realized that Cam had only lost one of his front teeth until now and that the one that was now MIA from his mouth was indeed a baby tooth!

He and CJ go into the bathroom to doctor up the bloody space with some salt water and I go back to cooking dinner, amazed that there were no tears with this accident.

In the bathroom I hear:

Cam: CJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHH! eeeeeeeeehhhhhh

CJ: Sorry!

Cam: Why did you do that?????!?!?!?! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhh!

CJ: Sorry!

I go into the bathroom to find out what the tears are all about. I mean, shucks! The painful part is over!

Cam in tears: CJ dropped my tooth down the drain!

CJ: I didn't mean too!

Tears tears and more tears.

Me: Why are you crying so much? You weren't gonna keep it anyway.

Cam: But.... the ... tooth fairy.... sniff sniff.... now she won't leave nooooothing..... eeeeeeeeeeee!

His brother comforted him with telling him the story of how he lost his first tooth before it could reach the pillow and he still got something for it.

I told him that it was okay. That the tooth fairy understands that sometimes those tiny little things get lost and that maybe she will still bring something. She can find those lost ones anyway. And she's small enough to go down that drain to get it.

Still mad at his brother. He dried his tears and all was okay in the universe again.

Now if she can just remember to come tonight!

OMG I'm almost too busy for MYSELF!

Is anyone else BUMMED by this rain??? OMG it is really coming down right now!

I have been keeping busy. We right at the 5th month point in deployment. Honestly, it has gone by fast. Staying busy the way that I am helps the time pass so quickly. Although I have slowed it down A LOT with PTO this year, I have picked up the slack with FRG.

I also have one in basketball. Tonight is our 3rd game and thus far, we are 2-0! Whoo Hoo!

My days are so not boring as I try to make it to the gym now about 3 times a week, make sure I go by the FRSA office once a week just to see if there is anything I need to do for FRG, and try to fit in all of my friends and family who require phone calls and special attention. That, I'm not good at. It is so hard for me to take the time to call my friends because I am always finding SOMETHING else that I could be doing rather than being on the phone. Send me a text and I'm GOOD! Ask me to call you and you may be waiting a while... sometimes a day or two!

This week has been really productive. The children and I are signed up for Disney's Give a Day, Get a Ticket program. If you haven't heard, all you have to do is give 6 hours of your time to participating organizations and Voila! A free ticket to Disney. It is soooooo worth it!

Our day just so happened to be welcoming in our very own Soldiers working with the ladies of the FRG that I would have been working with anyway! So when I saw the opportunity for Hug A Soldier online, I jumped on it! One of the companies our Brigade supports was scheduled to come in. Our job was to welcome them in with open arms. Too easy!

We decorated the post with yellow bows on the light post. I must have put together 50 of those things. Okay, maybe not quite, but you couldn't have told my hands that!

Last Saturday, the kids and I got up (in the rain, mind you) to go on post and put cups in the fence to spell WELCOME HOME 518th. Guys, the turnout for this was Amazing! There was a Girl Scout troop out there, and people drove in from South Carolina just to help out. I thought that was so wonderful! The entire post was decorated in an hour! People were back at the office making posters and signs and a school did a 70 foot banner with the kids hand prints.

It made the kids even more anxious for their daddy to come home. Yesterday, I picked them up from school just so that they could see the soldiers come in that they had worked so had to decorate for. It was part of our giving back just to be there and clap for these men and women in appreciation of all that they have done for us back at home. I hope the kids were able to understand the impact of their service.

The Homecoming Ceremony. If you have never seen the Soldiers come home to your families, you should grab a tissue.

Several Veterans and Freedom Riders came out to welcome the Soldiers home.

The soldiers stand in formation and wait to be released to their families.

The families wait for their soldiers to me released!

Okay, it off of the computer now because I have to get in the shower. I can finally understand where Stay-at-Home Moms were coming from when they'd say they were lucky to get one in everyday! I am SO busy most days, I have to remind myself to shower when I get home from the gym!

Yes, I am still keeping it up. There are many days when I wanna just come back home after dropping the kids off and kick my feet up and get me a nap, but I am hoping to continue with this Healthy Lifestyle change. One of my fellow bloggers, Renee at Cutie Booty Cakes, unknowingly has been a motivator for me after seeing her on the Wii Active commercial and seeing her results. I can do it. I just have to keep going!

Working through Staying at Home

The more I grow the more I realize how blessed I am. I look back on just a few years ago when I was an unhappy person and just couldn't wait for the days when my children were older.

Now I'm going to be perfectly honest here. Back when they were all still so young and I felt like they completely depended on me and only me, I couldn't understand why anyone with an ounce of sanity would want to be a stay at home mom. Back then, I was desperate to find a job and was willing to take just about anything just to get out of the house.

I use to argue with Hubs because he thought that working at a close to minimum wage retail job with 2 kids in daycare and one needing after school care would not help our financial situation in the least.

I use to argue that it would at least give me my sanity.

I believed that there was no way that THIS could be it for me and that there was no way that I was "doomed" to just be a mom. Afterall, how was that a reward for me?

Back then, I didn't see the benefits and the rewards of being a stay at home mom. I just wanted them to grow up faster so that I could be whatever it was that I wanted to be when I grow up. I felt like they were hindering me from having a life for myself, from following my own path, from being successful. So many people would say to me, "You are so lucky to be able to stay home and raise your kids." and "They are only this age once. Enjoy it." Those people HAD to be crazy!

When I grew up, those feelings changed. The more I stay home, the prouder I am to be able to do so. The older they get, the more I want them to slow down. Now that they are not needing me as much as they once did, I find myself needing them more. Does that make sense?

I have been a stay at home mom for the past 5 years plus and I now see the benefit in just being here everyday when they get home. I see, now, that God intended for me to not miss out on the important things and for me to be the one that they turn to when they need something. I appreciate them more than I every did. I know that it's my job to help them grow, but they have helped me grow. Being a mom has made me into a better person.

I don't complain anymore about having to stay home with them, having them depend on me, or just wanting to "do me". They are what it is all about. They are what it important to help me grow.

My Little Dr. King!

Okay, so I'm up and going again this week. Today is Monday and without any phone calls from friends or any begging or any excuses. I went to the gym.

I've decided that I like the gym a lot better than the treadmill at home.

At the gym, there's no TV to stop me.

No house phone ringing with telemarketers to bother me.

No Jehovah's witnesses ringing the doorbell.

No Kirby sells person at the door offering me a 2 liter Coke if they can come in and clean my carpet.

You know? There's no excuses to stop to let the dog outside

Or... did I check that email?

There are just other people, doing the same thing that I'm doing who are more motivated than me, unknowingly pushing me not to stop because did she start before me? Or Is she still running? I can't stop before her.

I'm not doing much yet. I mean, I still suck, but I'm out there, giving it my all most and doing it every day that I have available. I'm proud of myself for that much!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, so last night I was on Facebook, my favorite spot, and I'm playing Cafe World with the kids over my shoulders watching. Cafe World has me addicted to the game world. I have to check on my food every few hours. I mean, I can't let it spoil! Dang on shame that the Cafe gets more meals cooked than the kids do during the week!

Anywho, I have check in because after 12 hours of waiting, it was time for my pumpkin pie to be served.

Cam is checking out that pumpkin pie and says,

"Mom, people say pumpkin pie is for white people... WE ARE AMERICANS! We can eat what we want, do want we want and be whatever we want to be... in America! We can eat pumpkin pie!"

During the holidays, he wanted pumpkin pie. He was jokingly told that we (as in black folks) don't eat pumpkin pie. We eat sweet potato pie. He decided he wasn't gonna eat any pie because he likes his pie PUMPKIN!

So last night, I was taken aback by my little Dr. King because he said these world SERIOUS, with feeling and conviction! He meant those worlds. And he didn't leave out the fact that everyone should be able to make their on decisions!

Amen, Cam! Amen!

Something we all need this year

A friend of mine sent me something that made me smile. Often times while reading it, I found myself shaking my head in agreeably. So many things I need to take heed to this year and every year to follow. Many of them I already do and I'm proud of myself for. After also reading it over on The McMommy Chronicles, I decided I better post it for many of you who might also need to hear these words today.

HANDBOOK 2010

Health

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy,Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Two hour snow delay

Our schools are on a two hour delay today. Yesterday we were anticipating a snow day. Being from Michigan, I STILL can't for the life of me understand how this

could be cause for a two hour delay!

One Accomplishment Down!

I went to the gym today.

A HUGE accomplishment, mind you.

Okay, so yesterday I pulled out my treadmill and dusted off the 6 months of dust caked on it. Plugged that baby up and.... it wouldn't work. Apparently the magnet from the emergency cord is missing and without the magnet, it gets no power. Greaaaat!

Okay, so away with the treadmill until I can figure out how to fix the problem.

Today, I got another wind of motivation and decided to go to the gym, which, by the way was PACKED with all of those other New Year's Resolution dreamers!

I amazed myself because with all of the many excuses flying around in my head...

and believe me there were many!

The laundry needed to be done,

the bed wasn't made,

the car needs to be vaccuumed,

I'd miss Reba,

down to the dog would get lonely

..... I still got up and went. And although I didn't push myself as long as I woulda like to, y'all, I did get on the treadmill and walk/run my flabby self for more than 2 miles.

Huge accomplishment. HUGE! Because I haven't done ANY exercise... ANY... Not so much as a squat... since my walking partner moved back in November.

So here I am now, enjoying a spinach and iceberg salad with cucumbers and tomatoes, and beans, which I gave up my beloved HAM for, and cottage cheese, which I gave up some of my cheese for, because I LOVE cheese and just decided to go with less instead of none, and DRASTICALLY less dressing than I normally pile on.

It's definitely a start!

Domestic Duties stink!

I just have to face it. I'm just no good at this organized and neat and clean thing. I can spend HOURS cleaning one day and by the next morning the house looks even worse! I mean, really, who can keep up with all that has to be done AND blog and Facebook too????

I'm not Conceited. I'm Convinced!

A friend of mine told me the other day that what she really liked about my was how funny I am and how confident I am about myself.

This is funny because I tend to look at myself in the mirror and LAUGH sometimes. But that's neither here nor there, so moving right along to the story at hand....

But the reason she says this is because we're friends and when we are together, well... I tend to express to her how absolutely HAWT I am. I mean, I do that with all of my friends. I do it even more with my family. It's like a competition with my family and me.

WHO HAS THE BIGGEST EGO!

Quite frankly, I think I win that one, hands down.

Just as I do with the who's the best looking sibling and who's the favorite child.

I. win. period.

So anywho, she's one of those wives that would freak out if her husband turned his head in the direction of another female. One that goes crazy if he gets a call from a female co-worker.

I told her that I've never been like that. I told her that I have no concern of my husband looking at other chicks because I am WAY hotter than any of those chicks he works with. My way of thinking is that I'm a boatload of beauty. And I like to think that there are few people in the world who can compete.

Sounding a little shallow? Okay, so I'm really not all that confident deep inside. I mean, there might actually be one or two chicks out there that can give me a run for my money. But, thanks to my dad, I was brought up with WAY too much confidence in myself and it isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I'm NOT Conceited. I'm Convinced.

That's the model that my dad always taught me to live by.

So yes, I do think that I am all that and YES I will raise my daughter and sons with the same kind of confidence that I was raised with. That way, no one can ever break you down if you believe that you are truly fabulous.... as do I!