I have a bit of a problem. See, I buy way too many purses than I can possibly use a reasonable amount of times. I do carry all of them eventually but I’m constantly rotating them out so that I can actually get use out of all of them. My husband is always surprised to find out that I’ve switched my purse once again to a new one each and every day. He even says it’s one of the first things that he noticed about me once we started dating.

But my purse collection has slowly been creeping over to his side of the closet and I want to make sure that this stops. I was online looking for a better organizational system for my purses than stuffing them on a shelf when I saw the website http://debtcounseling.bankrupt.com/. I’ve slacked off on my purse buying lately because of our finances and I really think this website could give us some help with that, so we’re going to check it out.

I have found some pretty good purse storage ideas and I think there are going to be even more where those came from if I dig a little deeper on the internet.

That night, on the way home my mom and dad called to wish him a happy birthday and I overhear him saying to my mom “I only got chap-stick for my birthday, but it is okay grandma, because I really need it, my lips are so dry”. My mom said her goodbyes before I could get back on the phone and clear up the misunderstanding.

Matthew loved his cupcakes, had fun with his presents, and got some back from my mom, sister and I. The next day we went to a larger city to go to Toys R Us so he could spend his birthday money. On the way to TRU, he acted like he had enough money to buy the whole store. As soon as he got there, he realized how little he could buy. He quickly decided he did not want the $50 game he had wanted moments before. Something clicked on and he started prioritizing what he wanted. Within a short amount of time he had the top three items he wanted on his list, and had $20 left to spend. He decided he wanted an aluminum water bottle with his name on it, picked that out and was down to $10. Instead of getting the $10 he had just looked at, he decided his sister also needed a water bottle and found one with “Sophia” written on it.

I had some things I needed to do at the mall. I wanted to look at the iPad covers, I was planning on getting accessories since my case just broke, but Bobby said he did NOT want me to use my money on a new case, since that is a “need” not a want. He wanted me to go get myself something I wanted. I honestly could not think of anything I wanted until I went into Kay’s to get my rings cleaned and inspected since I was there. While searching for my receipts I realized they were in my big purse, the one I hate because it feels like a diaper bag, and because it is messenger style all my stuff falls out and the flap gets in the way and I just don’t like it. But my little purse is too small, and is starting to get holes in it. I complained to Austin that I needed a new purse as we watched by a coach store he suggested we go there. I rolled my eyes and said “no, too expensive” and he said “well, what about Macy’s then?” Seriously, what a freaking awesome 15 yr old kid.

So I walk in and it is wall to wall purses and my brain shut. down. It was like over-stimulation station. I walked around a bit more and decided there was NO way I was going to get out of there with something I liked. As I was about to leave I spotted a purse counter and realized THAT is what I needed. I asked her if she could help me pick something and told her what I wanted. Durable, medium sized, cross body design, lots of storage, easy access, and that I was brand retarded. She quickly took me to the fossil purses, and I was in love with the canvas purses, we looked at a couple and then the clouds parted, and the angels sang, and I found MY purse.
Just then… I. was. a. girl. I squealed. Austin rolled his eyes. I had moved in before we even made it to the car. When I slid my iPad in, and it fit, I did a happy dance. He rolled his eyes again. My husband was very happy I got something I liked. My 13 year old said “really mom? ANOTHER purse?” and I glared at him. The one purse I hated from day one, and I don’t think I paid more than $12 for either one. My small one lasted for a good 3 years, yet he is acting like I am some purse hoarder. Boy needs to learn when to shut up if he ever plans to have a successful marriage one day.

For my actual birthday, my sweet neighbors took me out for lunch and then we hung out and just chatted for a while. I stayed so long it was too late to start dinner by the time I got home. While I was out, not only did my teens keep the littles well cared for, but they rallied the kids into helping them clean and vacuum my entire house! BEST GIFT EVER!!! If you thought I was excited about the purse, you should have seen me then. Great friends. Great lunch. Great drinks. Great conversation. Great kids. Everything a mom could ever want.

I felt super sad, he said kids were screaming and hiding under the teacher’s desk. He said lunch was milk, cheese stick and a cupcake in the dark. I don’t know how much of this is true. I do know that at no time before, during, or after was I notified of the events. I did receive an email and phone call hours later, sometime between the time that the first two kids came home. They did update the facebook page, but I only found that because a friend with kids not even school aged yet posted it. I get that they did not want 100 parents on their doorstep demanding their kids, but I would have loved notice because I would not have normally been tuned into the news stations.

By the time we went to bed I thought we had all put the day of multiple helicopters hovering over us, images of SWAT taking down suspects that turned out to be ruled out as suspects, reports from friends who knew the family of the deceased, reports of drugs, and robbery, and reports of the perp jumping over fences and trying to enter homes. The youngest quit talking of hiding in a dark room and screaming classmates and we all settled into bed. Then, at 5:45am the dog started barking. But not the one or two woofs of a dog walking around outside, or the warning woof of someone knocking on the door, but loud, urgent, incessant barking. My heart started racing as I snuck to the kitchen to find a flashlight. The kids did not see anything and did not know what she was barking at. They did say two other dogs had been barking. I figure it was probably raccoons, but she was nervous to go outside. The 2nd oldest was scared it was the suspect of the nearby shooting. And I was just thankful that the dog decided to alarm us, even if we could not find the source and it probably was a false alarm.

It is likely the victims will not identify the shooter, and that he is long gone, so I am not holding my breath awaiting his capture. Hopefully soon we won’t be so on edge.

With new cute shoes, I am daydreaming of jbs ltd ruffle shimmer dresses to complete the look. And just to prove how ADD I am, in different tabs I have a search for intex skimmer parts for this first day of spring, since frog season is coming up and Austin had to throw out his frog catching bucket and stick. I am also browsing men’s hunting gloves 3xl since everyone is having clearance sales and I would not mind picking up some Christmas gifts a little early.

I have a feeling today will end like last night though. A dozen or so things added into carts, and then removed. I have such a hard time pulling the trigger on stuff, no matter how good of a deal it is. I guess 30% off $19 ballet flats at Payless is not as good as 100% off at walking away on shoes I won’t wear. Even if it means spending a ton more on shoes I WILL wear, and for a very long time.

I worry because croup is supposed to come with a cold, and happen for 6m-3 yr olds, then taper off. She used to get it about every 6 months, with a cold… but since turning 3 it has gotten worse, it comes on stronger, faster, and with or without a cold. I had the sense to grab my phone and hit record, and it is a good thing I did, because the next morning she was acting like nothing was wrong. Until I played the recording, I don’t think the ped took me as serious, until she heard the recording. I mean here was a child bouncing off the walls and I was trying to convince her that 12 hours before was as sick as a dog?

Unfortunately, what stands in my way is that I have never had her seen for croup before. I have a list of conditions in my head I treat at home, croup being right up there on the top of my list. So here is this kid I am saying has been sick monthly since September, but she has been seen exactly one of those times. So now we wait to see if her regular ped thinks she needs to see an ENT and then decide what, if anything the Ear, Nose, Throat doc decides to do.

This is getting long. I will update on the other subjects in later emails.

Our trip this summer may consist of heading down the coast into southern California, then up through Nevada, over to Colorado, then heading back I want to go through Utah, Oregon, then back home. Out typical trip was Washington>Idaho>Montana>Wyoming>Colorado. Pretty enough, and it only takes 2-2.5 days, but after making the trip a dozen times, I am BORED of I-90 and I-25. Give me the path less traveled!!

I decided it was time for some good old fashioned forced vitamin D and fresh air. I had finished about 1/4th of the top of the box hedge when my sunshine turned to clouds and blue skies started dumping hail. I unplugged my electric trimmers and started whacking at it with shears until the rain passed. My sunshine never did come back, but my hedge looks so good (except for the two bald spots, oops!) and we raked, swept, broke down boxes, cleaned the garage, the storage room, then swept them both. Within 2 hours my house was looking so nice again, until we finished and tracked mud all over the stairs. Oops!

I’ve been checking out all the Dish Deals available right now, and I’m not sure what I want to do. I’ve really tried to become a much more local shopper, trying to support the whole Occupy movement. I get as much as I can at Farmer’s Markets, and from locally owned stores and restaurants. This past Christmas, my family challenged ourselves to purchase every single gift from a local seller. It was so cool to see what gifts people found. The items were so unique and special, and it was nice knowing we were supporting actual people and families, rather than a Big Box Boss. So, anyway, back to tv. The deals I am seeing now have some tie-in to Blockbuster, or other big chain video stores. I like to get all our movies from the little locally-owned video store, and never shop at Blockbuster or the like. I want tv for the shows, not the movies, and I definitely don’t want any of our money going to support the big chain video stores. Not sure what to do.

It has been nearly a week since I left my house. Saturday the older kids and I took down the Christmas tree while the little three napped. Let me tell you, pine water does NOT clean like pine-sol. We tossed the tree over the back deck and the plan was to take it to the dump the next day. I ended up not going because I had someone coming to buy some furniture from Craig’s List. When Liam woke up from his nap, the moment he saw the tree was gone, he burst into tears, poor little sweetie was so sad his tree was gone. That night we got some snow, not a lot, but enough that I didn’t want to leave the house, as I need new tires.

By Monday it was a huge mess, we kept getting more and more snow. They canceled school on Tuesday, and the kids were so happy to have a four day weekend. Wednesday we got a huge storm and had over a foot of snow. For this area, that is a lot. I had the boys shovel the walk, in case it iced over, and it did. Thursday morning I heard my sleep number bed clicking, which told me we had lost power. And indeed we did. I knew we were running low on staples, and the only gas in my home is a gas fireplace that we did not have the gas key too, and that has never worked. We had enough cereal for that day, and we had stuff for sandwiches, but none of my meat was thawed, so I BBQed some potatoes in foil and we topped them with cheese, sour cream, and bacon chunks. The sun had set, so we were enjoying dinner by candle light, with plans of all the kids and I sleeping close in proximity, when the lights came on.

Now, we were excited, but not convinced they would STAY on, because they had been flickering on and off all day. One time Austin said “I hope we have lights by bedtime” and I said “I hope we have lights right. now.” raising my hands to my ceiling… and just then the lights turned on! But were off almost immediately. As soon as it was clear the lights were on to stay, we sprang into action. One kid heated up leftover meatloaf and green beans to go with our dinner. Another kid plugged in all portable electronics, cell phones and the space heater. I turned up the furnace and made sure the pilot was on. We did not have high hopes it would last. 200,000 people in this area were without power, and could be for up to a week, so I did not think we would be one of the lucky ones to get lights within 12 hours. The new housing development behind us was not as lucky. A full 24 hours later, their windows are still dark.

In the night we lost most of our tree branches on our shade tree in the front yard, all barely missing my car. My neighbor was also fortunate that her large tree, that lost its largest branches, also missed her cars. Our enormous tree in the back yard was leaning, and it was clear it would probably come down. There were concerns it would take the fence with it, but my neighbor and I watched as it tipped, and then broke off, landing a few inches from the fences. Until the ice melts and we can move the branches, I will be stuck in my driveway. The kids have had a full week without school. Power flickered off again this afternoon, and I let out a string of profanity, but thankfully it came on before I could add a 6th word to my diatribe.

I also got a nice long nap this afternoon which was MUCH needed as I have been sick since earlier this week with a cold that has now settled deeply into my lungs. Christopher and Matthew have also been sick. Between the three of us, I think I have lost half a bottle of Tylenol, and most of a box of Kleenex.

We live all the way up here in Minnesota and it’s been hard being away from my family. When we first moved in I got Internet Minnesota for the house because I wanted to be able to email and chat with my sisters like I always had and that’s the truth. I love being part of their lives and I didn’t want to miss anything just because I lived farther away so I did what I could to make sure I was taking things seriously. I love that there are so many ways to keep in touch but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss our weekly dinners at mom’s house – I miss being able to hug them and their children but I’m going to make sure I’m going down to visit as often as humanly possible. I love that there are so many holidays and occasions that warrant a visit but if you ask me there aren’t enough. I wish I could see them every single month but that’s just not in the

So if you had any effect from post holiday blues, what did you do to shake the funk??

Because he missed Thanksgiving because he was traveling, I made him a complete turkey dinner with all the fixings. We also had a great Christmas and got our very first live tree, and went to a tree farm to get it. Then, for new years, my sisters and I all went to my moms house and had an incredible weekend together. The kids did an ornament exchange and my mom made a huge, wonderful, dinner for the 22 of us. Today, the fun was all over. The kids went back to school. Bobby boarded a plane back to Afghanistan (via Paris and Dubai). Thankfully I was so busy with driving to Seattle, and first of the month errands that reality has not yet set in. I am sure as we transition back into our old routine, that will change and we will all struggle in our own ways, until once again we get back into routine and it will get easy again. Until then, I will continue to hug my kids extra close, and remind them how special and loved they are.

I asked God for a daughter. And he gave me a son.
He grew in my heart, and not in my womb.
And I praised Him. And I loved my boy.

I asked God for a baby. And he made me wait.
I loved on my sons. And I praised Him.
I accepted His plan, for just two sons, and he filled my womb.

I asked God for a daughter. And he gave me a son.
And I cried. But I praised him. And I loved my boy.

I asked God for a baby. And he made me wait.
I loved on my sons. And I praised Him.
I accepted His plan, for just three sons, and he filled my womb.

I asked God to give me whatever he wanted, I just wanted him/her healthy.
And he gave me a daughter. And I praised Him.
He made her three times as girly. Three times as sassy. Three times as sweet.
And I praised him. I loved my girl. He completed my family.

He filled my womb, which came as a shock. But I praised him.
And I said “PLEASE GOD, MAKE HIM A SON!”
And he did. For God does not give you more than you can handle.

I hate that my husband deals with chronic pain. I would take that burden from him in a heartbeat if I could, and it would STILL be worth every single struggle. I once saw an interview with a young Native American teenager who said he would chose the muddy road over easy street, because only the man who struggled and built his muscles on the muddy road emerges a warrior.