How are your relationships?

So, church service this morning was amazing as usual.  It was all about relationships. 

Since the very first day I started attending church, every service I've been to has related to something going on in my life.  I supposed that would be god answering my prayers?  Whether it's been about cancer the weekend after my husbands Grandmother passed away from cancer.  Or about education as I was struggling with issues for my kids education as well as what I was going to do with my life and education. 

So, all week something has been bothering me.  I had a little fight (on facebook, ugh) with a friend of ours.  Well, she was really the girlfriend (at the time, but now fiance) of one of my husbands close friends (a groomsmen in our wedding).  My husband went to school with her but they weren't really close friends.  So, she had send me a long facebook message that really upset me just days before our wedding.  About how figuring out where my guests were staying and how they were getting home from our wedding was MY problem.  Which yes, for out of state guests it was.  But they lived like 30 minutes away from our wedding venue, so in my opinion they could get a hotel room, take a taxi, or one of them could stay sober enough to drive home (crazy idea, I know!).  Anyway, I sent my husband the message and he promptly handled the problem.

So, after the wedding was over she made a comment about thursday dinner night which is a night we get together with another couple for dinner at our house or the other couples house...  long story short it turned into a blow out.  A blow out where I said many many many hurtful things to her.  Things that I really hadn't seen first hand, I had heard through other people mainly.  I called her a bad mom, I told her to spend more time with her kid instead of causing drama on facebook.  She has custody of her child every other week.  To me, that's crazy.  I could NEVER be without my kids every other week.  And from what I'd heard from their previous roommates, they would stay in their room all day, having sex and whatever else they do in there and leave their at the time kindergartener to fend for herself.  Not even coming out to feed her.  Now, I did notice small things like other people feeding her child at a party why she was busy with her boyfriend... but, I do understand new love and... well, I honestly shouldn't have worried about it.  Her daughter is in good health, she's not physically abused, and besides them not making her a plate at a party, I've seen NOTHING with my own eyes that was abuse. 

Basically, what I'm getting at is no matter what she did or said, I should have never said the things that I said.  I should have just ignored it.  The Pastor brought up a good point.  It's not just about what you GET from the relationship, but what you GIVE TO the relationship.  So, this brings me to my though... maybe God had brought us together for what I could give and not so much what I could get.  At the time these issues happened I was very focused on myself.  Our issues happened to take place around one of the biggest days of MY life, MY wedding.  I was completely focused on my life and not others.  Is this why I wasn't as accepting of her. 

So, all week I had been thinking I should contact her, I should apologize.  I was very upset at the way I handled the whole situation and the fact that this couple was now having ill feelings towards me because of this fight was just starting to really get to me. 

I'm typically a very funny person.  I get along with most people, it's actually RARE that I don't get along with someone.  Even if they have some traits that bother me, we still don't have problems.  Sure I might get annoyed by something they say or do, but not to the point that it's an issue.

So after thinking about this issue all week, I show up to church today and the service is about none other than relationships.

Answer to my prayers?  Yes.  It confirmed that my thoughts are correct and I should make some effort and apologize.  Even if nothing comes out of it, it will set better in my head, and my heart. 

This couple happened to have quite a few life changing events since this blow out occurred which i believe was in September 2010.  They became engaged, they got pregnant, they found out the baby is a boy, they moved.  quite a bit in such a short time.  I know about all this stuff of course because we still have a TON of mutual friends.  I think this is another reason why this whole issue has just bothered me.

So, just another reason why I know that God is showing me I'm doing the right thing, that going to church is the answer for me and my family....  God is good :D

Now if only I could get my diet back on track tomorrow.  We'll see.  Maybe I should pray about THAT! ;) 

I did get the ceilings textured this weekend by the way, and mostly painted.  Finished off 5 gallons of primer and STILL need more.  That just confirms our living room is too big for sure.

If anyone's been looking for me...

don't worry, I've just been in ceiling scraping H E L L!

I must say, our house is 2500 square feet.  We are completely blessed to have a house this size, on 3 acres, and lucky in this economy to have a Mortgage that's only $1000 in San Diego.  BUT, it was an OLD house.  Almost as only as I am... well, 1-2 years younger cause my parents built it when I was a baby.  When we moved into this house we were left with everything exactly the way it was when it was build....  popcorn ceilings, blue/gray walls, PINK walls (yes, PINK walls), PINK tile, grey marble, grey with brown dirt stained carpet, barely working and broken appliances, leaks, ugh... the list goes on.  When I wasn't working it wasn't bad.  For one I was BARELY home.  I was working from like 6:30am-5:30pm.  it was crazy.. I was home long enough to make dinner, do laundry and sleep.  And I was making a ton of cash so I knew once our wedding was paid off I'd be putting all the money into the house.  Well, of course my boss had a meltdown and demolished the office with me in it, putting my safety in danger and his crazyness had already killed my mental health.  I was over it.  So, he fired me and I pretty much never looked back besides going to take pictures for evidence.

So, what's a unemployed girl to do besides get a measly $1000/month from the the state and depend on her husband?  I decided to jump on the home child care train!  Choo Choo!!!!

So, sounds easy right?  Yeah, until you go to orientation and they tell you no dirty carpet, must be cleaned monthly, home in good repair.  HA!  Yeah, no problem.  NOT!  When you make enough to get by, you do just that, get by.. and your happy that you get enough to get by. 

So, then there's hope (a.k.a. Tax return!)....

So, we had already planned to use our tax return on new laminate flooring in the living room, hallway, entryway.  And we were going to do the bedrooms also, but we can do those ourself.  Our living room is 1000 square feet.  Yes, that's right, bigger than most one bedroom apartments.  I love our big living room... until it comes to home updating.  Scraping the ceiling in the kids bedroom (168 sq. ft.) took me a measly 2 hours.  But this living room... ugh...  4 different days I spend hours and section by section..  oh my gosh. 

Then Thursday I got the call from my child care analyst.  The 20 inspections in front of me, basically mean nothing to her and she was to get it done soon.  AHHHH!  Insert panic here.

Then Friday, I check our bank account and BAM, our tax return went in.  AHHHHHHH!

That means its floor time.. BUT, before we can install the floor I had to finish scraping ceilings, respray them, paint them, and paint the walls, at least anywhere they NEED painting.  We painted when we moved in 2 years ago and we're keeping the colors the same, so that part of the living room won't be bad. 

So, to say the least, I told my dad to get ready to spray!  I told him I'd scrap but he had to spray!  He kept telling me we'd notice mistakes more in the living room since it's so big, and I didn't want it to be my fault... must always have someone else to blame!  lol

So, yesterday with one big section left, I got my scrape on and got it done....

Here's some pictures throughout the process...

This area up to in between the two fans was about what was left for me to do last night...

I HATE how dirty popcorn ceilings look!

from the entry way...

Yes, this is how I suit up when I scrape!  lol

DONE!!!

Pardon the mess, stuff is always EVERYWHERE cause I have to move everything around.

I had to move everything from the mantle and fire place to the pool table...

And as I type my dad just came in... back from home depot with the ceiling stuff!  I only had enough to spray the one room we did before and he didn't like the stuff I bought last time so he got his own stuff..  Love that guy!  I guess I better go patch the messed up spots and get things ready to spray today!  I'm sure I'll be painting it ALLLLLLLLL day tomorrow!  It's so hard to paint ceilings as it is, but 1000 sq. ft. of ceilings... uuuuuuuuugh.  Not looking forward to it but so glad it will be done soon.

My Cheesecake is Cool, my cheesecake is poppin'! {CHEESECAKE POPS}

So, it came time for me to bring a nice little creation to the M.O.P.S. (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers) meeting this week.  As always I literally spend two weeks going crazy deciding what to make.  I think I'm always at a loss of ideas because it's more geared toward breakfast stuff.  So, I made muffins last time.  Lately I had been in the mood to make cake pops.  Like literally every time I went to starbucks (which was A LOT the past two weeks) I was having a stare down with the new cake pops on the menu.  I did finally order one yesterday when I got coffee too, just to see how theirs ranked...  I wasn't impressed I must say.  I tried the birthday cake one and the tiramisu, and really... not into them. 

So, I was browsing blogs and recipe sites for days..  Finally I found it... the Pop idea I'd been dreaming of.

CHEESECAKE POPS! 

Yeah, you can say it... just sounds like words from an angels mouth, right?  AMAZING!

So, that's what I made.....

These things turned out AMAZING!

Now I'm gonna be honest with you guys cause I'm all about being real, and I'm not always the best cook or baker.  I've had my fair share of screw ups.

So, there is no right or wrong cheesecake for these pops.  If you have an amazing cheesecake recipe then use it!  If you suck at making cheesecake then just go BUY a cheesecake.  Once you make or buy the cheesecake, just put it all in your mixer.... crust and all.  I had see these done without any graham crust and in my opinion it would be WAY harder.  The Graham give the filling a good texture and make them easier to roll into a ball.  I mixed all mine and then I used some blended graham crackers and put them on a sheet pan.  Once I plopped out the cheesecake and crust mixture I rolled it around in the graham crackers I had blended.  This gave them a nice coating on the inside so they didn't stick to everything.  Then I rolled them into balls.  I put these balls on wax paper on a cookie sheet and stuck them in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

I then melted my chocolate candy melts.  Just like I said in my last post, put them in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time ONLY!  You WILL burn the chocolate if you do more.  And stir between EVERY heating interval.  Even if they don't LOOK melted, STILL stir them.  The head doesn't always transfer evenly and if you leave them in the same spot, your gonna burn them more than likely.

So, then I took my sticks, dunked them about an inch into the melted chocolate, then stuck them into the balls.  Now I found if you let them set like this for a minute and let the chocolate that's on the stick harden, you're much less likely to to loose a ball in the chocolate. 

So then I simply dunked the balls on the sticks into the chocolates, let the excess fall off by tapping the stick on the side of the bowl.  Then added sprinklers and stuck them in the foam to dry.  

I stored mine overnight in the fridge cause my tall rottweiller would LOVE these pops.

They were a HIT!  Got everyone's approval! :D

Lucky Treats!

So, of course every time a holiday or gathering comes around it's a great excuse for me to do some creative cooking/baking.... and St. Patrick's day isn't any different. 

I'd been contemplating what to make for days.  I had a VERY busy week and really didn't have time to be doing anything.  Also, since Nolyn started Preschool, that's 24 MORE kids I have to make treats for on top of the 18 in Aiden's class I already had... and I absolutely can't leave either child's class out cause they would be super disappointed. 

I REALLY wanted to make Cake Pops for their class but I thought I'd go a little simpler since I really didn't have a ton of time.  I was literally browsing blogs for WEEKS!

I had seen similar recipes on a few blogs... well, at least the pictures I didn't pay much attention to the recipe.   I'm ALL for customizing your home made treats....

Use your favorite brownie recipe for the bottom later.  If your favorite is a box of brownie mix from walmart or vons..... USE IT!  I don't expect anyone to become Betty Crocker or Martha Stewart overnight.  Some people are just NOT good at recipes.  I swear, some recipes I've tried and followed EVERY step, word for word of it and it STILL doesn't turn out right.  It is very frustrating so I say just do what you know works and what you know you like.....

So, you've got your favorite box of brownies, now grab your favorite thick frosting.  Add a few drops of green food coloring (or other holiday associated color) and a TINY bit of Mint extract.  I can't stress TINY enough.  I barely put any in mine and they were SUPER minty.  So make sure you just add a tiny bit, like one teaspoon-ish.... or a "dash" lol.  You can always do a taste test and add more if you think it needs it.

So, now you've got all but the last part.  CHOCOLATE!!!!

Grab AT LEAST two bags of the chocolate chips of your choice.  I always get a semi-sweet, milk chocolate based chocolate chip.  I say get AT LEAST two bags why???  Because if you're anything like me, you'll burn the chocolate and be glad that you got a back up and didn't have to run to the store.  I can't tell you how many times I've needed TWO bags and burnt one.  ugh.  Not fun.  And my recommendation is warm in the micro at 30 second intervals and stir them EVERY time in between.  I always get antsy and jump the gun and just throw those suckers in for 1 minute right off and BAM... throws the rest of them off.  ugh.  horrible.  As soon at the chocolate's nice and creamy just poor it over.  I kept mine in the fridge overnight but I'd probably suggest you don't do anything fridge 'til they're CUT.  cause they're HARD to cut once they're cold and they turn our a little ugly like mine! ;) lol 

So yeah, that's the low down.  Enjoy these Minty treats! :D

Mud Run! {PICTURES}

Sunday (March 20th, 2011) was the Mud Run at Church! 

My friend Mendy and I Volunteered for the morning, we help set up.  Then for the afternoon we DID the Mini Mud Run with our kids.  SUPER fun!

 

Me and the kids running to the mud!!!  On the left we also picked up a stray....  lol!  Her mom couldn't run with her cause she has a baby so she joined up with us.  Don't mind my "BRIDE" pants from my wedding day!  lol!  They're comfy and I used them for all my dirty home projects.

 

Yes, that's me going down the hill on my bottom!  Wow, after about 5 times of that I must say, this morning my butt is all scratched, red and sore.  Those little pebbles... OUCH!  

 

Helping the munchkins over the hill

 

I LOVE that boy.  He was so excited and just had an absolute BLAST!

Obviously this was towards the beginning so we weren't super dirty yet

Into the tunnels

Lucky my little man can easily walk through instead of SWIM on my knees like I had too!  lol

crazy!  

SO glad I got to be a part of this!  They do it twice a year at our church.  Last time was October and I didn't do it cause I had no idea how it was going to be.  Of course this time I knew I had to go with them.  Last time our friends ran with the kids.  It was definitely a WORK OUT!  lol!  But well worth it.  

I have more pictures but I'll save those for later cause I have to get them off my phone :D

The Results are in...

I finally got a call from my doctor.  Well, first actually I got a call from her assistant.  She said "yeah, we got your biopsy results back and it's just "fatty tissue."  Lol!  DUH, I'm fat so if you stick a needle in there, and pull tissue out, it will probably be fatty tissue.  So I asked for the results of my aspiration because they emptied out the fluid pocked and they had said it was infected fluid.  She said they were waiting to hear back from the pathologist. 

So, another day went by and on St. Patty's day My actual DOCTOR called me.  She said they can't figure out what exactly it is.  It is definitely inflamed tissue but they are not sure WHAT is causing it or how to make it go away.  So, no real answers still but it is NOT CANCER!  Which is very very very VERY helpful in reducing my stress about it.   Especially cause a friend of mine that's younger than me (25), just passed away from cancer this week.  Well, she had beat the cancer, but a spot came back in her lungs about two weeks ago.  She had heart problems and apparently after the chemo he body was just so weak. She passed in her sleep.

So, I now have a referral to another doctor that will hopefully be able to figure this out. 

I have SO MANY entries I need to get caught up on, but I REALLY need to do some more ceiling scraping, clean my house, do laundry and dye my hair... then get ready for a housewarming party :D  And tomorrow's church as well as the MUD RUN!  which I'm volunteering for as well as running with my kids in the mini-mud.  Can't wait!

another one bites the dust.

You know what greats REALLY old when you're trying to get pregnant? 

Other people announcing THEY are pregnant.

Ugh.  Yup, I swear every day either one of my friends has a baby or announces their pregnant.  Ok, ok... maybe not EVERY day but probably almost one a week. 

I dealt with not being able to get pregnant for two and a half years....  YEARS!  Then I gave up and fostered a sweet baby girl, Renee.  Renee left us after 2.5 months and I got through that.  Then we got Aiden and of course the month we got Aiden, I became pregnant with Nolyn.  But now, it's been 8 months since my IUD has been out and.... Nothing.

I know it my head it's Gods way of saying it's just not the right time.  I still have a TON of thing to finish in the house for my day care inspection which I know I shouldn't do while pregnant (lots of chemicals and dirt and just nastyness)... but no matter how much you KNOW it's not the right time, doesn't make me want it any less. 

But I guess I should just be happy that I do have two amazing, healthy, growing boys in my life right NOW and hopefully eventually we'll get to add to that.  I would LOVE to foster a girl but I'd have to talk my husband into that.  He really wants to have a child together first.  Which I completely understand. 

But AHHHHH!  Hopefully all the positive pregnancy test pictures, baby showers and new births slow down a bit! 

More Rockin' Out Rock Climbing Pictures! :D

Ok so, the party was awesome.  It was Transformers theme and Bakugan.  There was 2 hours of rock climbing, tight rope walking, rope climbing.  Then after was time for lunch & cake and then time to go!  Even though I was skeptical of the rock climbing since the kids were mostly 5 and under, I think it actually HELPED keep the kids interest.  I thought there was going to be a kids size rock wall but there wasn't, they did the same as the adults do.  I must say, the Birthday boy Logan was amazing!  Fayth rocked it too, like one of the boys!  And like I said before, I was just proud of my kids for TRYING.  So my verdit, AWESOME party! 

 

Fayth climbing with Sean (Logan's Dad) working her rope

 

Ty, who is like Super mom!  She's Logans mom and we LOVE her! :D  She works at the church we attend, she's a mom of 3 (that ALONE makes her super mom to me), and she's just the sweetest person!  

 

Logan's Grandpa helping Nolyn climb

 

Peighton (Logan's sister) climbing with the help of her Grandpa

 

My Aiden!

 

Ethan, My close friend Alex's son.  I LOVE the look on his face for this one!  He was starting to climb upside down with no ropes!  lol

 

Fayth!  She kept up with the boys!  I brought her to the party cause he poor Mom (who I also adore) and sister were sick (like throwing up sick).  They just live right down the street, less than a mile so I was more than happy to help and keep her away from the sick germs for a while.

 

Fayth and one of the other kids from the party climbing

 

Peighton walking the tight rope with the help of her dad.  I thought this was so cute, her Grandpa was taking a picture of her on his new iPhone! :D  They are the sweetest family.  

 

Aiden walking the tight rope.

 

Nolyn walking the tight rope

What a great day with the munchkins!  Happy 6th Birthday Logan!

Rockin' Out for Logan's 6th Birthday!

Today we went to a Birthday party for Aiden's friend Logan.  SUCH a cute kid.  I love that guy!  He just has the most adorable voice.  Total sweetie!

So, his Dad's getting certified for rock climbing so I'm guessing that was the inspiration for the location.  At first I was like hmmm.... rock climbing?  But it was AWESOME!  I knew my kids would be chickens but they did both attempt to try a little without me even pressuring them.  I knew I wouldn't do it so I figured they should have the same choice.  My kinds are kinda shorties, so it was a little rough for them to grab onto the rocks once they were more spaced apart.  The taller kids did awesome.... And the birthday boy, WOW!  You'd think he was a pro!  He was unstoppable!

The kids also walked a tight rope and did some other rock climbing spots that didn't require being hooked up to the ropes.

Aiden & Nolyn attempting their climbs.  Poor Nolyn has such short legs!  lol  And that's the great Miss Alex working his rope.


Ok, more to come Later.  Gotta take Fayth home and work on Lunch/Dinner, cleaning and hopefully a NAP!  :D 

Coors Light 6 Packs to super cute baby shower gifts??? YES PLEASE!

I make a diaper cake for EVERY baby shower I go to.  But, what do you get the person who you know will end up with MULTIPLE diaper cakes???  I have a friend who has a HUGE family and tons of friends, I could pretty much guarantee that she would get a few.  Who needs 5 diaper cakes???  lol  Usually when I make them, I'm typically the ONLY person who makes them.  But I knew I had to do something different, AND we were low on cash.

 

There is is, HELLOOOOOO Coors Light!  lol!  This friend happened to be a pretty frequent drinker.  Like us, very social, goes to the desert, goes to the river, goes to the popular bars in our part of San Diego.  Not an alcoholic or anything.  lol

So... what would you do with this?

turn it to....

Cute, right?

I went to walmart and asked for one of the 6 pack boxes, so that was FREE!  

Then I spent $5.00 on a scrapbook kit at walmart.

$1.00 on a pack of glittery self adhesive letters at walmart.

and Voila!

Then you stuff it with whatever your heart desires!  I originally wanted to stuff it with the large bottles of soaps and lotions for baby, but once I was at walmart and saw the size of the slots, I didn't thing that would work to well.   SO, I got something I LOVED when I was a new mommy, all the travel sizes!  I got powder, soap, shampoo, lotion, diaper rash cream.  Then in the extra holes I stuffed in a 2 piece outfit and a sleeper! :D  SUPER cute!

I definitely spent under $50 total, and usually when I do a diaper cake I end up spending closer to $100 just cause I end up going ALL out.  At least this way I was confined to the small spaces in the box so I couldn't really spend all that much. 

If you make one, leave me a comment, I'd LOVE to see pictures of yours!  And by the way, the Momma LOVED it! :D  I have a few other pregnant friends who I probably won't go to the shower cause we're not super super close but I'd love to deliver one of these to their house.  So, you'll probably see another one of these in the near future.  lol

And P.S. for anyone waiting for an update on my breast lump biopsy and aspiration tests... STILL haven't heard back.  :(  I've been so busy I haven't had much time to think about it.  LUCKILY!  I think all my friends are purposefully keeping me busy which I'm extremely blessed and thankful for.