Boredom and Netflix

I miss my kids. I never really thought of myself as the loving and attentive mom who needs to be with her kids all the time. I thought that my life as a child of divorced parents with 2 loving families that I spent my time between had really trained me to not miss people like this.. I was wrong. I miss my babies. I have missed them since Tuesday last week, which means it took a few days to get to the sad point. I guess I could be proud about that.

While the kids are gone, I have promised myself that I would get some stuff done for them that has needed to be done for a while. I have been washing all of Caity's laundry and trying to get her clothes put away correctly. Part of this is me getting rid of all of her extra stuff and stuff that is too small. Ugh. it is a lot of work. And I HAVE to have it out of the house before she gets home, or it will just be back in her drawers when she finds it. She is such a little punk.

Today has really turned into quite a bust. I did help Trevor work on the sprinklers some, but I am mostly just watching Scandal on Netflix. There is nothing like watching a whole season of a show in one day. The only thing that would have made it a better day was to have my babies here, to have not felt super tired, and to have had a shake from Sonic.

Update on us... it has been a very long time

It has been just over 2 years since I last blogged and there has been so much happen in our lives. We have moved, finished years of school, I started a new job that I no longer have, and now this is what we are up to:


Trevor is still working at Autoliv. He has been promoted to trainer and really is flourishing in that role. He is doing his best to be a provider for our family and to do the best that he can to keep us afloat. Currently he is searching for a weekend job, Friday through Sunday, so if you know of anything, let him know..


I am staying home now, trying to find out what is going on with my body. Last summer, I was found to have a gluten sensitivity (I chose to forgo a biopsy, but I have had many doctors since confirm it is likely Celiac Disease, an autoimmune disease where if gluten, the protein found in wheat, rye, or barley, is ingested, our body will attack our small intestine. The amount needed for autoimmune response is as small as one crumb and damage can lead to issues as serious as cancer over time) so I have been eating gluten free and it has helped my stomach issues greatly. Over the last 9 months I have become more and more sick with my migraines as well as some other issues. In March, I was diagnosed with Vasovagal Syncope (it is a form of autonomic dysfunction where my blood pressure drops too low on standing and I pass out). It feels very much like a head rush.. This last week I was diagnosed with another autoimmune disease called Sjogren's Syndrome. This disease most commonly attacks the bodies moisture producing glands, kidneys, and lungs, but can also effect any other major organ system. I currently have issues with my eyes, mouth, skin, and joints.


Andruw has finished 5th grade and is still making improvements daily. He is still behind in school, but I feel that if we kept working as hard as we are that he could catch up easily. He was also diagnosed with Celiac Disease and this has helped greatly with his behavior and his focus. He enjoys playing xbox and watching cartoons, likes to ride his bike, and loves to draw and build with Lego's.


Caity is still just the biggest princess you have ever met. She is still a total mess, but less tomboyish. She just let us cut off her hair 11 inches and it is super cute. She just finished second grade and is just as lazy with her school work as her mother was.


We have moved into a great house just about half a mile from our old house. We still live in the same school boundaries but have moved into a different ward. We like our new ward a lot and even though my migraines keep me home often, I feel like we are getting to know some really great people.


Keep watching for more to come as I look for ways to pass the time!

Memorial Day Weekend

Happy long weekend world! Hehehe. It has been nice to be home more this weekend and be able to get some stuff done. We even got to go on a date thanks to our new friends watching the kids!

Friday we spent the evening at home. I can't think of everything we did, but it was fun enough. ;)

Saturday, the weather was yucky so we spent most of the day home until we went on our date. We went to our little favorite Asian place, Dragon Hill, then to the movies. Hunger games was pretty close to the book, but not close enough. Why do I keep watching movies that come from books??? IDK.

Sunday we went to church then came home and did nothing. I made some yummy fajitas with the help of Trevor of course. We spent most of the day being lazy. It was great.

Now, here we are, on Monday, doing nothing. We did some errands and yard work, then some cleaning.. but we aren't really sure what we are going to do with the rest of the day. I guess we see.

another update

Hey all.  It has been another long while since I posted and our lives have been just as crazy as usual. We spend a lot of time working every week and it seems like the playing is far between. Recently we have been able to make the time to go fishing as a family but that is about it. We are hoping to go camping this weekend for some of the time, but how long depends on who you ask. Heaven knows I don't want to go camping for more than one night. LOL

On the good news front, I did get my property and casualty license for insurance.  That means that I can now help you with your Home, Auto, and Commercial insurance needs. Hit me up.. hehehe.

Trevor is working a lot of overtime right now which is good. It isn't fun on payday when he hasn't worked any, ya know?

Andruw will be finishing up 3rd grade next week. Seems like just last year we were putting him in preschool... lol. He has some work to do over the summer to catch up the rest of the way to the reading level that he should be on,  but we are confident that we can do it.

Caity is just about finished with Kindergarten and her tender heart is sad that she is not going to be in class with her teacher and friends anymore. She just realized that there is only a week left and she is very very broken hearted. She has been very easy to tears lately over most everything, and I am wondering if the pending end of school is what is driving her to be that way. It is hard to say!

Anyway, I am not going to be doing daycare anymore after the start of June and hopefully I will make more time to post on our blog! :)

Update

We have been busy again lately.. it seems like that is the story always though, right?

Trevor and I have been trying to lose weight together.. sometimes we do well, sometimes we don't, but we have both been making time for the gym which is awesome! Now if we stopped making time for McDonalds and Carls Jr........................

Today I have been running around getting shopping done and stuff, so while we were out I turned on my new (this is so awesome) Billy Ray Cyrus CD and taught Caity, Lily, and Layton the Achy Breaky Heart.. so awesome.

Trevor has been fishing a lot lately catching the kids and I dinner. It is pretty awesome of him I'd say!! MMMMMM. LOL What a stud.

Life.. it is busy

I have been working on so many little things and projects and being lazy lately that I have been avoiding posting kinda. I promise that I will catch up soon, but until then, check out my recent blog posts elsewhere.... jenscookingadventures.blogspot.com and 3crazybowmakers.blogspot.com

Loves all!!

Trying out Windows Live Writer

Thanks to Mindy for teaching me a new trick with my computer, I am trying out Windows Live Writer.. She said that it is good for pics, so I will have to take some this week… that will be my goal

Today is just another laid back Sunday and I love it. It was nice not getting up until 10 this morning also.. Just sayin’!
Tomorrow we will start the “New Year, New Jen” moments that I have planed so today is the last hurrah for some of my bad habits. WATCH OUT WATER, Jen is a thirsty girl!!

We are winterized!

Now I have given our blog a winter theme, it better snow soon! I want to have some winter with snow so my kids can try out their saucers! I want to make snowmen! I want to watch my kids have fun while freezing in the snow!

I WANT SNOW BABY! (I just don't want to drive in it)

#2, Sledding with family

Friday night, we had a family party and then went out to finish our shopping. When we got home, there was a fun surprise waiting on the porch:

Also, Mary was there.. I really enjoyed getting each piece of this nativity! It has been fun.

#1, Playing games with Family

The last night came on Christmas Eve. It was both sad and good. We knew that we would be getting the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve just as he had been born that night, but we also knew that was the end of the surprises.. and guessing what else there could be!

Crafty times....

Like I have said before, making a gift is so much more fun than buying it. This is the apron that I made for my niece as a Christmas gift. It took me like 10 minutes, but it was SOOO fun! I am getting more crafty everyday.

#3, Candy Canes

Tonight we got candy canes and what I think has to be Joseph for our Nativity. I have been thinking a lot of Joseph today and thought of this song:

When Joseph went to Bethlehem

When Joseph went to Bethlehem I think he took great care

to place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. 

He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back

And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.

I think there ar the busy inn that he was meek and mild

And awed to be the guardian of Mary's sacred child. 

Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smootherd the swaddling bands

And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph's gentle hands

And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern's light

And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.

#4, Stockings filled with goodies

Tonight's special gift was 2 little stockings so cute and full of the perfect treats for our kiddos! Also, we got our third wise man! Friend, you have made our family's Christmas season so special. The kids love waiting for you to come, then going through the gifts. I am having so much fun taking pictures to remember these days forever. It has been so sweet.

#5, Hot Cocoa

 Today was a box of hot cocoa, these CUTE snowman mugs, and a second wise man for the stable. I am so excited!! Whomever this is, thank you for being so kind. It is making Christmas sooo fun for us!

Day #6, Wrapping paper and bows

Last night we received some cute wrapping paper and bows from our "Christmas Phantom" as Caity is now calling it. We also got a Wise Man for the stable. I can't wait to see what comes tonight!!

Day #7, Christmas stories

The Christmas giver wanted to share Christmas stories with us tonight. The story that they gave us was Christmas Oranges. If you haven't read this book, it is a good one. As you can see, there is 2 copies, a nice big one, and a cardboard child book. The story was accompanied by 4 oranges and a Shepard for our stable!

Day #8, Christmas Music

Saturday night's gift was a Christmas CD and a sheep for our stable.. this is so fun not knowing what to expect. I know that we are going to have fun listening to this CD!

I am not sure why, but it usually seems that each year you get gifts that you don't want or need, but feel obligated to keep. This year I was bound and determined to let people know exactly what we needed or wanted.. and what sizes the kids would need, books they would like to read, things like that. Well, the first gift we have needed for a while. I know that we had a microwave, but the one that we had wasn't the best. It is so small that popcorn bags get stuck. Sometimes is is too hot, sometimes not hot enough, all around a little frustrating all though for free, who could complain? I was even hesitant to ask for one because we had one, even though it didn't work perfect. Why be wasteful? Well, we needed it and Trevor made sure that when I was talking to my mom that I told her that, yes, we did need it. This is what we ended up with:

Andruw gave it the "maiden voyage" last night, warming up his taco soup for dinner.

Then, who doesn't need paper right? Well, Bekah got me paper made from recycled horse poop. Yep, I said horse poop. Don't worry. It doesn't stink or feel weird. It is a yellowish green. Anyway, it was a great gift.. I was baffled for a second, that doesn't happen!

Lastly, the traditional gift from Grandpa and Grandma Thompson! Pajamas!! Here is a picture of Caity and Andruw pulling funny faces for me. This possibly is the best way to get what you want out of them for a picture because otherwise you will get a funny face and want a regular face.. haha, love my kids.

Sometimes making the presents is MORE fun!!

I have been really into crafting lately.. if you didn't know, know you do! I have had so much fun making fancy things for Christmas to use the things that I have in the house already and maybe purchasing one little part to add.. in this first picture, I made the bow around the candle, and glued on the glitter that is on the candle. The only item I had to purchase for the gift was the candle itself.. it was inexpensive and quite cute in the end.. although the glitter is probably going to come off a while.. sorry dad!!

Sorry about my messy table in the background, but this was the best picture of the bows that I made for my sister Ryann. I tried to make things that she would really be able to wear because I didn't want her to think that I thought her nearly 16 year old body was still a kid.. I ended up making these out of my ribbon scraps I had left from some orders so it was a perfect plan. Also, I came up with 3 perfect color schemes for her! Love you Ryann!!

I also had the kids make my parents some cards. I am sorry I didn't remember to get photos of them because they were "interesting". Caity gave Rudolph "boobs" on his face. I think that will be the highlight of this Christmas season for me, teaching my 5 year old that Rudolph is a boy so A, he doesn't have boobs and B, if he did, they wouldn't be on his face. Merry Christmas to all!!

Day #9, Christmas Movies

Friday night our special friend left us a movie to watch as a family. The kids were so excited! Also, we got a donkey for our stable! Thank you again awesome!