This is our old television that is now in our room with a new stand that Chris also got for me. Nice, huh?
My parents are on their way. I am looking forward to some time with them.
Chris is on his way home from shopping. I have NO idea what he has done. I hope he has been "good".
This morning I took all of the kids to Target with me and we saw quite a few people that we knew. The Garret's, Julie Haught, Kristi Hopkins, Linda Fleming, Addie Donovan and her kids and probably more that I'm not recalling right now. It was not too bad of a visit since I didn't have too much to buy there and it was nice to see familiar smiling faces.
We stopped by Debbie's to give her a little gift because:
First and most importantly, she is my friend, and
Second, I am her visiting teacher.
Debbie, I hope that you don't have to throw it away. It is very hard to buy for you because you don't like junk food. Good for you, bad for me...
Then we were off to Tricia Desourdy's for the same reason. She wasn't there, so I hope that she finds her gift on her door step.
Last night I just needed a little time "off". So, I went into my room and locked the door. I got all of my supplies out and sat on the closet floor. Are you wondering what I was doing on the floor in my closet? Well, one of the things that I was doing was wrapping Christmas presents. I did it for about an hour and a half and came out with a better attitude. It's amazing what a little alone time and some service can do for you!
Ryck and Alyssa are on their way to stay the day and spend the night tonight. We just can't wait!
I went to Target this morning to finish with the stocking stuffers and some other items I just couldn't live without!
Now, I need to get back in that kitchen and resume cooking and baking.
Mom and Dad are coming Christmas Eve. Hopefully Ryan will be with them too.
I worked this morning at the office and then we closed it at noon to have the annual Office Christmas party. Chris, Nancy and I finally left around 1:15 and stopped by the post office before we headed to Mary's. The food was great and the company even better!
It was nice to get together as an office socially and enjoy each other's company.
The office will not open again until Wednesday, December 26. I am looking forward to having Chris home with us. It is truly a blessing.
I have been baking and have plans to do more baking and cooking. Something MUST be wrong.
Today Kerstyn and I made Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies. It is a Pampered Chef recipe and it is really tasty. I also made some brownies, just ones out of the box, but I made them!
Tomorrow, after my dreaded dentist appointment, I hope to make some more goodies. Maybe a couple of Chess Pies and some Spinach Artichoke Dip. I know that they don't sound good together, but you don't eat them together, so never fear!
As long as I can read a recipe, and follow it, they turn out great.
The chess pie tradition comes from my maternal grandmother. I am not sure how far before that, but I am at least sure of her. There was never a Thanksgiving or Christmas without them. I think that it is a 'southern thing'. The pie is mainly sugar with a few eggs, evaporated milk, a tad of cornmeal, and maybe something else but tastes great with Cool Whip. Did I peak your interest?
Watch out Martha Stewart!
Hot tub caving in.
I have decided that my Christmas present will be my house being cleaned by someone other than me. So... I set off asking and calling people that supposedly clean houses for a living.
I had it cleaned today by a cleaning company. It's better, don't get me wrong, but shouldn't THEY know how to clean better than I do? For example, I had to ask them to open up the microwave and clean inside it. Secondly, the bathroom sink in the boys bathroom was not totally clean AND the tub was not wiped all around the rim! Now that I am writing this, I want to go check behind the toilets. Maybe I shouldn't though, I just might get more upset. :(
Maybe I am just too picky to be pleased and I should either accept what they do, or just do it myself.
Frustrating.
It really bothers me to get poor service at a restaurant. Don't you think that they are there to serve you, therefore they should not be bothered when you ask them for something? It just boggles my mind!
I might have the lights up by Christmas Eve. Also, NO, I was not kidding when I said in my Christmas meme that I started Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve. I haven't gotten anything for the kids. I have only ordered Chris's presents.
I need to get going.
The tree does look great though. Chris, Lauklan and Greyson went to Target yesterday and bought the cutest ornaments. Then came home and decorated the tree. It was a lot of fun.
I feel like a hamster on a wheel. Going 20 mph but getting nowhere!
Tonight was the ward Christmas Party AND the Dave Lowe Christmas Party. We needed and wanted to attend both of them. However, you know how it is when you try to do too much at once. Neither one seems to go too well.
First mistake was that I did not feed the kids before the ward party. Even though I knew that it was not "dinner", I knew there was food, and I thought we would eat first. However, we weren't eating until after all of the rotations through the Christmas story. So, Aislinn and Greyson were trying to eat all of the Hershey's kisses and peppermint candies! Chris ended up leaving with them and going to Burger King while I stayed with the older three and participated in the Primary portion of the show. It all worked out okay, but not as I had planned in my mind. Know what I mean?
Then, we left the ward party early to make it to the work party only an hour late. On the way, Chris was over it all and had a bad attitude to put it lightly. However, after we got Melissa home with all the kids a little after 8 and headed to the party, just the two of us, I told him to get his work face on. He did, and we ended up having a nice time.
I wonder when, if ever, I will learn not to over-extend myself.
I am so excited to go over to the Carter's house to serve dinner to the High Council and the Stake Presidency. Debbie asked me for the first time last year and I had such a good time I told her that if she didn't ask me again my feelings would be hurt. So, because she is a good friend, she asked me again. I know that it could sound odd that I am looking forward to serving dinner tonight, but I am. The company is wonderful and the atmosphere is fun. Ashlea and Mary both did it last year and are doing it again with me tonight.
On another topic - I am VERY upset with Chem-Dry. I had an appointment scheduled this morning at 8 to have the carpets cleaned. They called at 8 and said that they were running late. Well, I couldn't wait around for them because I had to get the kids to school, so I rescheduled. However, I got upset because I was actually looking forward to having them cleaned and I called back to see if they could still come because Chris said he would wait for them for me. They were not very friendly to me and said that they already sent them somewhere else because I ONLY gave them 5 additional minutes. RUDE! I just told them to take me off the schedule and the mean woman replied, "10-4" and hung up. I cried. Silly, I know, but I was really upset.
Once again, Chris saved the day and scheduled someone else to come tomorrow. I am happy again.
I'm odd, aren't I?
I don't know what Aislinn will do once Christmas is over and the inflatable Snowman and Santa get put away. She loves those things and even talks to the snowman. It is so sweet. It is wonderful to see the kids' eyes light up with Christmas talk, lights, etc.
It is great to have them bring back the magic in this time of year as far as the excitement is concerned. I haven't done much shopping, and I am not doing much this year because of the pool, but we are all still enjoying the sweet spirit that Christmas brings.
I was getting all of my stuff ready to go in the gym this morning and I shut the van door. Just as it was about closed, I realized that my keys were still inside it! See what happens when I wear different shorts! I am such a creature of habit. I had on my longer exercise pants this morning since it was nice and cool and sure enough, they don't have pockets so I decided to put my keys in the diaper backpack. Well, I didn't take the backpack into the gym and my keys remained safely tucked inside the backpack, INSIDE the van.
I knew immediately that it was going to be, "One of those days". It is. Help...
I have already spilled a Danimals on my carpet and for those of you who know how I am about my carpet, you know that I am FREAKING out. :(
Today during the third hour of church, we were in a 'parenting class' taught by President Carter. I was glad to be invited into the class, because it consists of the parents of the 12 - 18 year olds, but the Bishop asked Chris and I to attend because we had one coming up soon. I responded with a thank you, because I can use all the help parenting that I can get!
We discussed ONE topic today. It was the first of 12 key issues that President Carter plans to talk with us about during the next several weeks. The first topic was that parenting is not easy! That, I do know without a doubt! I don't know how many times since I have become a parent, and a whole lot more since our children are getting older, that I have said, "This parenting thing isn't for wimps"!
Also mentioned was something that I have said a lot in the last 3 years, since I have been Primary President. It was said how important it is to be valiant in your service in Primary. It was mentioned how the children are so eager and malleable in those years and how we need good teachers and leaders for them. I must say again how I love serving the children. They are so sweet, their testimonies so strong, their faith so pure! I do know that my life is blessed by the opportunity to serve the children, my own children and the Eustis ward children. I know that Heavenly Father lifts me up and guides my counselors and me to do what He wants done.
Okay, back to the original topic. Needless to say, the class was wonderful today and Chris and I both commented that we look forward to the ones coming up.
Tricia had gotten this in an e-mail and put it on her blog. So, here are my answers this year... By the way, I got a new tree today and I absolutely love it! I'll take some pictures of it and post them later. (It's not special except for the fact that it's pre-lit and big!)
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as I can after Thanksgiving. That would be today 12/1, this year.
4. When do you take the tree down?
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really. I'll drink it if it's there sometimes, but I don't miss it if I don't have it. Make sense?
6. Favorite gift received as a child ? Remote controlled car.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No. Sad, isn't it?
8. Hardest person to buy for? Chris9. Easiest person to buy for? Mom and Dad. They just want a family pictures. Done.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, to me it is way more personal.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Is there such a thing? NO!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? When I was a child I love to watch all of the ones that came on network television. Frosty, Rudolph, etc. As an adult, I still love all of them, but The Christmas Shoes gets added to that list. Oh, Polar Express, too.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day before?
14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? Not a nice question!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Dressing
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.
17. Favorite Christmas song ? Mary did you know?
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Home to open presents Christmas morning. We used to travel before all of the kids came along, but now, it's way too much fun to see all the excitement Christmas morning.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star ? We rotate each year.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People pushing you to donate. We donate all year.
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? The ones the kids do at school or at church.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? My pool! However, I am afraid that it's going to be late.
Aislinn was playing with her friend. Check out Ashlea's blog and find out about her morning with Grace. It looks like it was A LOT of fun!
Please TOTALLY ignore the Gator attire that Ashlea loved to put on my daughter! We love the Whites and we won't hold it against them that they are Gators. Not everyone can be a Seminole you know... :)
That is the sound that I hear about every 5 seconds. Between the 7 of us, we have quite a little cough chorus going on.
Also, I am trying to stay motivated about going to the gym. I have pretty much stayed within a two pound spot since June! How frustrating. However, I need to mention that after my trip with my mother to San Francisco and New York City, I had to come back and lose around 5 pounds!
I guess that i just need to focus on the positive. I haven't gained any weight and mentally I feel much better. Yes, that sounds good...
We had family home evening tonight and the lesson was on prayer. We discussed the correct way to pray, who we pray to, how often to pray and other good stuff.
We also sang these songs to help with our lesson:
A Child's Prayer
I Pray in Faith
I recently found myself on my knees with the children one morning during family prayer (Chris had already left for work) and out of my mouth came a request. I asked Him for the firm to get more real estate deals. (The real estate market is very slow and half of the practice is real estate.) Well, He answered! They have gotten at least one deal a day since then. That is nine in the last week. Not a coincidence! I am indeed grateful!
I had my parents take some pictures of our family before we left for church this morning. Which one do you like the best?
Today during closing exercises, Maria was talking with the primary children about being thankful. Several of the children had comments and/or questions and they were really paying attention. At the very end, Maria needed to wrap it up, and she said the last question or comment would be Kerstyn's. I was sitting in the row in front of Kerstyn with Jared and Lauklan, and I hear from a familiar voice, "Mommy brought me home on Thanksgiving Day."
I looked up and Maria looked at me to see if it was accurate, and it was. As I heard that out of my dear daughter's voice, a sweet spirit touched my heart and I teared up. As did Maria, and Sister Lugo as I looked at them.
What a blessing each of my children are in my life. Thanksgiving has not been the same since that day in 1998. I did bring Kerstyn home from the hospital on that day. I thought then, and still do now, that it was a really neat thing, to bring a child home for the first time on Thanksgiving Day.
Just thought I would share that with you. I am so thankful for the blessing of the spirit. That I can feel it often and know what it is. It keeps me safe, comforts me, and is a friend.
It's the day we get ready for Sunday. We go to the gym, we wash our face, we go to a baptism, on this fun day!
There is no time to rest, they day is full.
Daddy is off doing moving chores.
We shop at Publix on the way home, and bring home dinner for the fam-i-ly.
Then was wash again because we played in the dirt and try to get presentable for church the next day.
Saturday is a special day, its the day we go crazy before Sunday!
Crazy, but fun...
Not going to Tallahassee. :(
No shower.
No Thanksgiving with Tallahassee family.
No church in our old ward.
No dinner with friends.
No leisurely drive home on Monday.
Sad, sad, sad.
Since we will be leaving tomorrow night for Tallahassee, I am trying to get stuff ready to go. Like, washing and putting clothes away, getting my car aligned and 2 new tires, etc. This is VERY stressful! Only stressful because I let it be, I know that, but still...
I am looking forward to our weekend back in Tallahassee. We will be giving Holly a baby shower Saturday at 11 a.m.. Then we will be having a Thanksgiving with our family there Saturday night. Sunday, we will go to church at our old ward which I am looking forward to. Then, Sunday evening we are going to have dinner at Matt and Leigh's who were in the singles ward with Chris and I and got married about 8 months before Chris and me. It is going to be a busy weekend, but I am sure it will be fun too.
I can't wait for Thanksgiving day. It is hard to believe that it is only one week from today! There goes all my hard work at the gym. Oh well.
Today Chris's office is closed in observance of Veteran's Day. At the last office, the employees would sometimes decide that they wanted to work today and get another day off at Christmas. Chris downright refused to do that! Now that he has his own office, he can do whatever he wants. And he does.
I feel that I need to take this opportunity to tell the veterans that are close to me how thankful I am for them.
Chris - served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield in 1990 - 1991 as an Army Medic. I was still in high school, but I remember how I was concerned about the United States being at war. Not knowing Chris at the time was a good thing. I am sure that I would of been a basket case if I knew that my future husband was over in the war. I love you Chris, you are certainly MY hero!
Daddy (Jim Cottingham) - Served on an aircraft carrier during Vietnam. I know that you are great Daddy. Thank you for serving our country.
Ryan (my nephew genetically, but like a brother) - Served in the Army in the 82nd Airborne in Operation Iraqi Freedon twice and Afghanistan once. Ryan, you are a true soldier and a wonderful person.
Chris, Daddy and Ryan - thank you for your sacrifice and dedication to the United States. You are an example to many. Also, thanks to all the others that have served and are serving our country.
The community had their annual garage sale today so I drug out a lot of the stuff that I didn't want or need anymore. I made around $140! Not too bad for a morning's work.
After the garage sale, I headed off to Publix to get the stuff that I needed for the Fall Festival and the children's treats after their presentation. I could not believe that Publix did not have any fall cupcakes! Well, too bad, I just bought generic ones. You all know that I could NOT make them myself! It's against all that I know. :)
We went to the fall activity and it was a great time. The kids got to play on all of the farm stuff and they thought it was great. The adults go to play too and visit. The primary/ward activity was fun for all.
Glad its over now. Time to panic about tomorrow...
I had to call Dr. Soto this morning to tell her that Kerstyn is not much better at all. She called in Amoxicillin.
I also told her that Aislinn was running a 102.2 fever last night before bed. I was worried that she shouldn't be running a fever after 4 doses of her Augmentin. Dr. Soto wants to see if it will be gone by tomorrow. If not, I am to call back. I sure hope she will be doing MUCH better by tomorrow morning.
That is the temperature that Aislinn had yesterday when I got home from church! I was very worried, to say the least. I gave her Motrin, 2 popsicles and a bath. It came down.
Then this morning at 6:45, she was crying from her bed and it was 104.7. More Motrin and off to the pediatrician. She has an ear infection in the right year and is wheezing. Augmentin was prescribed for 10 days and Albuterol 3 times a day until the cough goes away.
Also, the last practice for the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation was yesterday and it was SUPPOSED to be better than last week. Well, it wasn't! :(
I LOVE Megan Berge! She sure knows what to say. You're too funny Megan, but thank you. You are always there to make me smile.
If you actually read what I blog, please let me know. I read all of my friends blogs and they have all of these comments, and look at me... hardly any!
Please give me some hope. Or, am I just that boring?
Comment, please. :)
I worked in the office today for a little over 3 hours and got quite a bit done. However, not all of it was done, and already more things are piling up for the next week! I think that this job will take as much time as I will give it and I am not able to do more than one time a week right now.
No wonder Chris was constantly overwhelmed with the accounting issues and the administrative duties that the firm requires! They NEVER end! I hope that I am helping, even though I am feeling right now that I can't do enough. That's not what I need! I already feel that I don't have enough time or do well about being a wife and mom and keeping up with all of those duties. Now I get to add on the office duties too? HELP!
The whole family went to the Peeler's subdivision last night to do Trick or Treating! We had NO idea that so many people from the ward would be there. It was really nice. We got to walk the street with the kids AND visit with our friends! It was a late night, but we all had a lot of fun!
I'll post pictures later.
We had practice in the chapel today for the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation. The presentation is on November 11 and we always practice the 2 weeks before in the chapel. The kids ALWAYS complain about how boring it is and that they have to stand up too long, but I kind of agree. It is a long time (2 hours) for practice, and they do have to stand longer than they ever have to, BUT, we have to practice.
I got a call on Saturday night that my music leader was having to go out of town on Sunday to visit her Grandmother who is very ill. Ok, I can handle that. I can do the music, it's not ideal, but we will survive, AS LONG AS my pianist can make it. And, she did, thank goodness.
After church, at the linger longer activity, Debbie Carter came up and asked me how it went. Here was my response, "It was better than I had feared". And it was! We still have another week to practice, and the kids actually did pretty well considering I changed the presentation this past week and ended up assigning talks to the Senior primary.
I was conducting the music to Families Can Be Together Forever and when it was finishing, I looked over at Bobbyn (our pianist) and she was all teared up. That got me going too. The children's voices are so angelic. Then a little later, while the girls were singing the first verse to Love is Spoken Here, I totally lost it! Then the boys, piped up for the second verse and it was just beautiful. I am tearing up as I am writing this, just remembering the sweet spirit as they sang. You must click on the song links and listen to the words if you are not familiar with the songs. They are powerful.
Stay tuned, the kids are going to be just great, I can feel it!
First thing this morning, was off to the ball fields for Lauklan's game. He enjoyed himself, and I am glad. I left Kerstyn there for her game that started at 11 and Chris returned at 12:45 to pick her up.
While the kids were at home with Chris and Kerstyn was off playing baseball, Mom and I went to the Craft Fair for a few hours. We had a very nice time even though our visit was brief. It consisted of a quick walk through the streets and lunch at The Frosty Mug. However, Mom found a vendor that made artificial foods and she was very excited that he would make her a fake piece of cake to put inside her cake dish. Interesting... Glad you were happy about that mom. :)
In the afternoon, our neighborhood had a block party and we went down for that. They had games for the kids and a bouncy house, and the adults could visit or play horseshoes. There was a good turnout and we had a really good time until it started pouring down rain. Well, we'll try again next year.
Brennan received his Arrow of Light award last night at pack meeting. This is the highest Cub Scouting award and it is the only thing that carries over onto his Boy Scout uniform.
They had a very nice presentation tonight for Brennan and Nate Sage. It was given by Jon Sage, the Cubmaster, and he and his wife Katie went above and beyond! They made a plaque for the boys to hang on their walls with an arrow and seven feathers all with different colors representing the seven rays of light on the Arrow of Light badge. It was impressive! When we get it hung up, I will take a picture and post it.
I was beaming from ear to ear! I have found out already, in my short time so far of being a mother, that this is an emotional roller coaster! How challenging, rewarding, frustrating, trying, wonderful, crazy and WELL WORTH IT a ride it can be and IS! Do we ever get it figured out?
Last week I started working for Chris' office for real. I say for real, because I have been an employee since he opened on August 1, 2006, but I haven't been physically working in the office. I was just making the daily deposits and running errands as I could.
Well, last week, he pleaded for more help! He asked, "Can you please find someone to watch Aislinn tomorrow for just an hour so you can do some insurance stuff for me?" He asked with this look on his face that I knew he was desperate.
So, I called Kristen Higley last Thursday morning and asked her if she could help me out for an hour or so watching Aislinn. She said yes, so I dropped her off, then Greyson off and went to the office.
Three and one half hours later, I had to leave and Chris offered me a job. (Cute, huh?) I told him that I would come in one morning a week to keep his corporate stuff up and current and he was elated! I spent the whole morning making copies for unemployment compensation insurance and faxing them the completed job and working on the professional liability insurance renewal.
Today was my time to go in for this week. I spent my morning inputting deposits and paying bills. I think he is quite appreciative (at least he is until he sees how much I messed up the books not knowing where each little thing goes). I sure hope so...
Tonight we had a nice, brief FHE. What was really great about it was the children singing. We let Lauklan and Geyson pick the songs that they wanted to sing. Geyson wanted to sing Families Can Be Together Forever, and Lauklan wanted to sing The First Article of Faith.
It was so sweet to sing as a family and to share that with one another.
UGH! Does that say enough?
Can I make it?
Will it be ok?
Can we pull it off?
Will I lose my mind?
I woke up this morning to a WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL sound! It was rain! Now you ask, "Why was it so wonderful to hear rain?" Well, it is because it meant that it was likely that Lauklan and Kerstyn's baseball games would be canceled. And...they were! :)
I felt bad that I was so happy, the kids were not happy! But, I sure was! So, what did I do not having to spend from 8:30 - 1:30 at the ball fields? I went to Publix, ALONE!
Well, guess where I spent the night? I dropped Kerstyn off at the ball fields for warm-up and then a game and decided that I did not want to get home at around 8:30 and still have to make dinner and give baths. So, I left with the other four and came home to feed and bathe them. Around 7:30 Chris called and said that he was heading home. He then graciously volunteered to watch the remaining part of Kerstyn's game and then bring her home.
I was so happy! Small things really do make a difference!
I haven't been keeping up on blogging lately because I am just doing well to keep everyone fed, clothes washed, and try to get where we are supposed to be! I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed at times. Many prayers have been given up from myself asking for help to get it all done, and to try to do better than I am.
I know that General Conference was perfect timing for me. When I am feeling discouraged, I think of the mother talk, or other ones that apply and try to regain my focus. I am SO thankful for my testimony!
Chris and I have designed our dream pool and here it is on it's way! We are all SO VERY EXCITED!!!
I took this picture standing on the Lanai. The end of the pool is where you see the boards. It is 8 feet of decking on the left and the right. The pool is 17 feet wide and 34 feet long with a 6 foot kiddie pool in the front (closest to the house), and a 6 foot hot tub on the end that is elevated. That is why there are boards up so high.
The kids ask EVERY day, "Mommy, is the pool done yet?" Can you imagine?
I just LOVED every talk this weekend. I felt that each person had a message just for me.
My favorite talk was the one given by Sister Beck called "A Mother Who Knows". It was so uplifting and empowering. If you didn't hear it, you should go read it.
Another moving moment was in the Saturday Afternoon conference when Elder Wirthlin was giving his talk. He started shaking in the middle and I sat straight up and started to cry. I was thinking, "someone go help him!" Well, guess what, right after that, Elder Nelson walks up behind him and stands there right behind him and literally held him up so that he could finish his talk! On top of that, Elder Wirthlin was talking about the greatest commandment, to love one another. WOW!!!
Aislinn a year ago after the first cast was put on. What a trooper!
Aislinn being two, but perfectly healed!
Brennan was initiated in the Order of the Dolphins today. It is Round Lake Elementary's honor society. I was very proud of him. This picture was taken after the ceremony with his friend Daniel Manry. (I also taught Daniel when he was in second grade. He's a great kid!)
