Candy Cane Lane

Jeremy took me past Candy Cane Lane once when we were either first dating or first married, I can't remember but for years, we didn't go back.  We brought Jacob down last year but, I didn't take any pictures - I seem to remember that it was COLD!  We finally made it back again without rushing through.  Though, I forgot how difficult it is to take pictures at night without a tripod (it's in the front hall - I remembered the camera at least) but, here's a few!

The rest of the year, this "castle" is a fountain.

"Mommy?  Can you take my picture with Rudolph?"  You can't see his red nose with Jacob's red coat.


Oh...and I found a new heaven!  It's called Sticky Toffee Pudding.  If you ever see it, never mind there are dates in it.  Just try it!  If you have tried it, tell me what you thought of it.

Festive Friday Nights

One of the little things that amaze me in our little city is this 'Festive Friday Nights' thing they do every Friday night of December in the weeks up to Christmas. 

We took a ride in a horse drawn buggy.

Have I ever told you that I love the smell of horses?  It reminds me of my Grandpa.  And the sleigh bells - oh, there's NOTHING like that sound!

We saw Santa.

Santa showed us how his elves make toys.

Our beautiful theater - all lit up.

And these hang from all of the trees downtown.  Aren't they pretty?

The 5YO Boy's Party!

I told you he wanted a Buzz Lightyear party!  I gave him a Buzz Lightyear Party!

This is Jacob's famous "I'm nervous, shy, embarrassed, or unsure" look.

All of the servers, the bartender, the manager on duty, and even a couple of guys from the kitchen came out with his cake and the candles lit, to sing 'Happy Birthday".  And I, I just cried.  That song gets me every time! (Can you see that white handled dish to the right?  It came out heaping FULL of pickles.  Jacob shared them with my brother.)



Five years ago today...

I remember working that morning, trying to finish some last things before being on leave for 2 months without a replacement. It was only a half day but, I’m so glad I went into work that morning, if nothing else, to keep my mind busy.

I left about noon to meet Jeremy and go to the hospital. We met up with A and her mom and followed them there. I think that may have been the longest drive of my life! Jeremy and I chattered about what Jacob would look like, how long labor would be, what would happen between now and his birth, and of course, if his biological parents would change their minds.

We all checked into the hospital at 2 PM. We took A. up to her room, she got changed and ready for the hard work ahead. The Dr. came in and got everything together to induce labor. And we waited, and we waited, we took turns going outside to smoke and we waited. A and I walked the halls, around and around, stopping first at the only the 2 diagonal corners so she could breathe through the contractions, and once that turned to stopping in all the corners, we headed back to her room and we waited. I remember the Dr. came in to ask if we wanted a baby on the 7th or the 8th. A. looked to us for the answer. “It doesn’t matter – do what’s best for him and for A.”, we said. The Dr. opted to help the labor along a little more and went to lie down.

The contractions increased but, she wasn’t making much progress. The nurse suggested a warm bath. A tried to relax, the contractions were increasing and the tub wasn’t providing much relief. A. crawled back into her bed. Jeremy took the opportunity to head outside. Soon after he’d left , the contractions were so close together, she could barely speak. A called for the nurse. When she arrived, she was hollering “don’t push, don’t push!”

A. finally spoke.  She yelled, “I have to he’s coming!”

There was no time to call for the Dr. The nurse moved the blankets, moved A’s knees apart and there was the most perfectly round, little head covered in brown hair. She was right, he was coming - he was here! December 7, 2005 at 11:15 PM my Jacob Andrew was born (Jacob = the last name of the guy that introduced Jeremy and I. Andrew = A picked for him). All 7 lbs. 15 oz. and 20 inches of him were finally here!

I called Jeremy’s cell phone and simply said, “Hi Daddy.  Come in and meet our son.”

Being Jacob’s mom these past five years, with all of the challenges, inconveniences, annoyances, smiles, laughs, tears, triumphs, the utmost pride, and absolutely overwhelming joy, have been the best 5 years of my life!  I'd do it all again, a hundred times over, with him.

Happy Fifth Birthday, (Bean, Toad, Jay, JB, JJ, Buddy, Babushka, Beautiful Boy) Jacob!

I love you more than EVERYTHING!

A few of my favorite things

Oprah does an episode, I believe it's annually, about her favorite things and as she lists these favorite things, everyone in the audience gets one of these faves to keep for their very own. I'm not giving anything away but, I thought it'd be fun to share with you some things I use or buy that I really, really like.  Of course, I'd take anything on Oprah's list too...

Shark Steam mop

Arizona Arnold Palmer Lite

Eli's Cheesecake

Bag Balm - for diaper rash

Cherry Republic - the cherry coffee, Original Cherry Salsa, and Boom Chugga Lugga Cherry Soda

Purex 3 in 1 Laundry sheets

Boogie Wipes

McDonald's Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha (let's not look at that calorie count, K?)

Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses (now I might have to add those cookies to the list!)

Homemade Soaps of any kind - including mine. I want to try these (they're cold process soap - I don't make that...yet).

Craftsmen 6-in-1 Flip Driver

Newman's Own Honey French dressing

Eddie Bauer Sweatshirts

MagLite 3D cell Flashlight

Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread and Spinach & Herb Dip.

Frankie Ballard's song - Tell Me You Get Lonely

Pampered Chef Apple Peeler Corer Slicer

Netflix

So those were things I have, I use, or have used.  Let's get into the Money-is-NO-object-Wish-List-portion:

Ford F150

HGTV 2011 Dream Home (even though I'm partial to Fords, I would take that GMC Acadia Danali too).  The Dream Home eliminates all kitchen appliances and home decor - I mean, it's the Dream Home, right?  It has everything I dream of!

Sleds.  One for me, one for Jeremy and of course, Jacob needs his own.

I'd even let Jeremy get his boat.

A trip to Alaska (the photos on this site are amazing!).

C'mon my other blogging friends.  I hope you'll share your favorite things! 

Spoiled Brown Dog!

Seriously!  Look at that face.  And she's so comfy.  Could you make her move?  Me neither!



We're a little over Kelsey's half birthday (as they call it in Jacob's preschool).  In honor of her 6 month birthday, Kelsey was spayed.  As cool as it would be for Jacob's dog to have puppies, Jacob's mom - she doesn't want to deal with that whole mess - and then trying to find homes for all those puppies!?!  With the spaying, she is also officially licensed.  Kelsey is weighing in at about 50 lbs.  Her back is about to my knees.  She's looks a lot like her momma.  We're working on walking - I can't walk her without using the Gentle Leader - she PULLS too much!  This head collar doesn't stop her from barking, it's not a muzzle, it just makes it difficult for her to pull.  She's learning fetch, and give - but she'll only give me the things that she doesn't really want.  She tries to hide and chew her other treasures.

And the cat...that poor cat!  But, I do love when I holler at Kelsey for chasing the cat and I walk into the kitchen where she's sitting so innocently pretty, as if to say "What Mom, I'm being a good girl?" with a HUGE tuft of orange cat hair in her jowels.  Reminds me of Tweety and Sylvester!  "Bird? pbblfft (as he's blowing out the yellow feathers)  What Bird?"

We had our first snow yesterday, Jacob and Kelsey had so much fun outside.  Kelsey kept wanting in and then back out.  She was running, jumping and eating snow!  She'll about tackle you for a snowball!  And she'll bite at your hands until you toss the one you're holding.  I spent a lot of the time watching the snowflakes land on her back.  Looking at each different one.  Her brown fur was a perfect background.  Sorry - no snow pictures, not a one turned out. I can't wait for more snow! 

Mid-Mid-Life Crisis

It's good/strange to be back here.  I feel this need to write again, to create again.  I feel like it's been so long since I've been here and so much has changed.  I have changed!  Looking back at myself, I can't believe where I once was!

I went shopping a few weeks ago...I was looking for a pink sweater.  For those of you who know me, well then you know that pink, pink ain't really my thing.  I found said pink sweater, and a pink tee with a white fleece, as well as a pink 3/4 sleeve with a white vest.  Jeremy's first question as I was pulling all of these pink things out of my bag, "What is wrong with you?"  And my dog, my dog has a pink collar and matching leash.  But, in my defense, pink and chocolate brown go together so well!

As if all the pink wasn't strange enough, I decided that I needed a camouflage sweatshirt.  Camouflage - one thing that I hate more than pink ( besides flip-flops - I better be careful, I'll be buying those come summer if this keeps up!).  My sweatshirt (mossy oak pattern from Cabela's) is due to arrive today.

I've had a bunch of little epiphanies in the past few months.  Little things like, you are not responsible for another person's happiness.  You are not responsible for another's actions or reactions.  Sometimes things/relationships/people are what they are and nothing more.  That it's very easy to succumb to another's negativity and tough to learn how to get around it.  I'm not saying that I now go through life ignorant of others and their thoughts or feelings, I think I was dwelling on others so much that I wasn't paying attention to myself or my little family and what is best for us.

I find myself smiling more.  I say 'hello' to people and I look them in the eye, rather than mumbling to my shoes.  I'm still not real outgoing and I don't care to venture far from my home, those things haven't changed.  I still don't care for busy restaurants, stores or large public events (i.e. concerts, etc.).  I get very overwhelmed and kind of suffocated, some of which has to do with the next paragraph and some I simply get very nervous and I try to be witty or cute and I totally come off like a big fat JERK!  I'm learning that it is okay to just be quiet too.

And to really knock your socks off, I've been doing a lot of reading.  I haven't updated my Goodreads to reflect this because of my choice of subject matter.  I've been reading a lot of books on psychic development, intuition and mediumship.  Call me a gypsy, call me a witch, quote to me what the Bible says about fortune telling, tell me I'll burn in Hell - it's nothing I haven't said to myself so, unless you have seen or really talked to me in the past 6 months, you haven't witnessed the difference in me.  You haven't noticed the skip in my step, the excitement I have for what lies ahead of me (no, I don't know but, I'm thrilled to find out!), or the smile on my face!  If it's evil, how can my spirit feel so awakened?  Shit - I've even gone back to church!

Whew!  Now I got that I just showed you my porn stash...talk about some relief!  Talk about a mid-life crisis.  This place just got really interesting, huh?  It's good to be back!  :)