Yesterday I came across this website through Pam Farrel. I signed up for a four-day conference called the Mom Mastery Summit. It's all online and there
are over 20 workshops!
I got a free pass, so I
wanted to pass it along while there is still space available.
Check it out: ----> www.mommasterysummit.com
The summit will be covering marriage, money, homemaking, health,
parenting, homeschooling, personal success, and faith.
Make sure you grab your spot!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Art Show
The woman's club where we live had an art show. The local schools submitted art projects from their students. My girls didn't win anything, but they had fun visiting the show to see their art projects. Adah was in the local paper. A reporter happened to be at the show when dad and Adah went to get an early peek. Unfortunately it was closed, but a reporter was coming out of the building. She wanted to interview Adah and get her spin on event. I was mortified when I found out that her picture had been taken that night and would be in a newspaper. Her hair was a mess! She had been at school all week, it was Friday night and we had been at a soccer game. All that plus me as a mom equaled what is called-"White mom hair." I will try and scan the article when I get to my other computer. Until then enjoy these little gems.
Love this little face
My new mug
I was serving in the church nursery a few weeks ago when a friend of mine brought me a little gift. She said when she saw it she thought of me. I was delighted that she would think of me while she was out shopping and even more delighted when I saw what it was.
It was a perfect gift! She knows me well since she grew up with my oldest boys. I do embarrass my children quite frequently. I kiss them when we're out in public. I dance in the car with them. I say things outloud that I'm thinking at the moment-good or bad. I threaten them within an inch of their lives if they misbehave when we're out. Sometimes I'm loud and obnoxious and sometimes not. My daughter used to beg me, "Please don't talk to anyone here!" She asked that because I strike up random conversations with strangers. So on that day a lady came from across the grocery store to strike up a conversation with me. I looked at my daughter with a smile. The lady said, "I just wanted to tell you how beautiful your skirt was." I thanked her and I looked at my daughter and said, "She pursued me and started the conversation. I had nothing to do with that." My daughter looked at me shaking her head and thinking I'm sure something along the lines of what was on the cup, "Oh, why does my mom have to be so embarrassing?" It's my job, honey, it's my job.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Makenna's 3rd birthday
My granddaughter's 3rd birthday was earlier this month. She celebrated by having a princess tea party. Her cousin turned five so the party was for both of them. Lots of little princesses running around!
Cuteness
Adah with Ariel
Anna with Ariel
My son Jared on the right in the blue shirt-Makenna's dad
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Life at full speed
Seems as though I don't have time to blog or post little pictures here and there. Life is happening at breakneck speed and I just try to stay on top of the chaos.
I hesitate to blog when I do have time because I really don't have any lightbulb moments to share with you, I don't think that deeply that I could share some unknown wisdom on how things work or enlighten you to change your life or give you some wild wisdom. I'm just a wife, mom of thirteen, grandma to four trying to get through the day.
I'm lucky if I get some laundry going and a meal or two made. It doesn't help that I've been losing weight which means I don't cook the yummy stuff I normally do. I'm slowly starting to getting back to cooking my yummy meals, but that means I can't eat very much of what I cook. Seems as though I'm usually hungry, but that's okay. As long as I get my frozen yogurt with granola I'm good.
Tonight I made Black Bean soup. My daughter-in-law made a yummy salad with different lettuces, avocado, tomatoes, and onions. My husband brought home flour tortillas to go with the soup. We put a dollop of sour cream on the soup too to give it a little somethin', somethin'.
My second son and his family have been living with us for the last few weeks. They sold a house and are buying a house. While all the legal and financial things are being settled we get them for a bit. I've enjoyed having little Scotty Boy around. The first week he would wiggle free from my arms, but now he's resigned to the idea that gma is going to scoop him up and kiss his cute little face so he might as well enjoy it. :-) He's now laying his head on my shoulder if he's tired.
Usually we have our oldest granddaughter with us several times a week. I love how the different ages work together and how we all learn patience from different ages being around. Our youngest is six and our granddaughter is three. So in someways they could be sisters or cousins. One helps the other and they both exasperate the other. It will be so much fun for them when they're older and they have a close relationship with each other.
Two times a week I've been going to acupuncture to help loosen my facial muscles and nerve endings from the Bell's Palsy. It is helping and the acupuncture has helped my health in other ways also. When I go I have needles from my ankles to my head, sometimes as much as 27 or so needles in my face. Try scratching your nose when you can't move. Some days I'm in a room with up to three other people. I'm afraid to go to sleep, we lie there for an hour, because I just know I'm going to snore. I can't not snore when I sleep, but I really don't want others to know that. It's bad enough my family knows!!!
I just took our little Meskerem to the doctor yesterday. She's growing and thriving. Last year it was estimated that she would be 5' given her size and this year she has grown so much the dr. predicts she will be 5'3" and possibly taller if she is younger than her legal age like we think she is.
We've had birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays! James, Addis, Abi, and John celebrated as well as our granddaughter. We've had parties, dinners, and lots of fun. Abi wanted to take her friends out for Ethiopian food. They loved it!
The three youngest girls have been taking swimming lessons. I need them to know how to get to the side of the pool. They can't wear floaties forever!!! We've been doing that twice a week for the last few months and we'll continue through April. Living in Southern California we NEED to be water safe.
That's just a glimpse into what has been happening around here.
I hesitate to blog when I do have time because I really don't have any lightbulb moments to share with you, I don't think that deeply that I could share some unknown wisdom on how things work or enlighten you to change your life or give you some wild wisdom. I'm just a wife, mom of thirteen, grandma to four trying to get through the day.
I'm lucky if I get some laundry going and a meal or two made. It doesn't help that I've been losing weight which means I don't cook the yummy stuff I normally do. I'm slowly starting to getting back to cooking my yummy meals, but that means I can't eat very much of what I cook. Seems as though I'm usually hungry, but that's okay. As long as I get my frozen yogurt with granola I'm good.
Tonight I made Black Bean soup. My daughter-in-law made a yummy salad with different lettuces, avocado, tomatoes, and onions. My husband brought home flour tortillas to go with the soup. We put a dollop of sour cream on the soup too to give it a little somethin', somethin'.
My second son and his family have been living with us for the last few weeks. They sold a house and are buying a house. While all the legal and financial things are being settled we get them for a bit. I've enjoyed having little Scotty Boy around. The first week he would wiggle free from my arms, but now he's resigned to the idea that gma is going to scoop him up and kiss his cute little face so he might as well enjoy it. :-) He's now laying his head on my shoulder if he's tired.
Usually we have our oldest granddaughter with us several times a week. I love how the different ages work together and how we all learn patience from different ages being around. Our youngest is six and our granddaughter is three. So in someways they could be sisters or cousins. One helps the other and they both exasperate the other. It will be so much fun for them when they're older and they have a close relationship with each other.
Two times a week I've been going to acupuncture to help loosen my facial muscles and nerve endings from the Bell's Palsy. It is helping and the acupuncture has helped my health in other ways also. When I go I have needles from my ankles to my head, sometimes as much as 27 or so needles in my face. Try scratching your nose when you can't move. Some days I'm in a room with up to three other people. I'm afraid to go to sleep, we lie there for an hour, because I just know I'm going to snore. I can't not snore when I sleep, but I really don't want others to know that. It's bad enough my family knows!!!
I just took our little Meskerem to the doctor yesterday. She's growing and thriving. Last year it was estimated that she would be 5' given her size and this year she has grown so much the dr. predicts she will be 5'3" and possibly taller if she is younger than her legal age like we think she is.
We've had birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays! James, Addis, Abi, and John celebrated as well as our granddaughter. We've had parties, dinners, and lots of fun. Abi wanted to take her friends out for Ethiopian food. They loved it!
The three youngest girls have been taking swimming lessons. I need them to know how to get to the side of the pool. They can't wear floaties forever!!! We've been doing that twice a week for the last few months and we'll continue through April. Living in Southern California we NEED to be water safe.
That's just a glimpse into what has been happening around here.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Healthy Changes
This last week I joined Weight Watchers for the umpteenth time. I'm going to devote until August to lose the weight I need to lose. I'm doing this for my health. I was advised years ago to lose fifty pounds, but you moms know how it is. We take care of everyone else but ourselves. This is the year this mama needs to reclaim her health.
I was surprised when I weighed in heavier than I thought I was. Our at home scale is obviously light........ I'm on track now with 29 points a day. I've done really well so far, and I've gone out to eat almost every day.
I went out to Panda Express twice (I couldn't resist the second time). I changed up the fried rice for the vegies which are a big fat 0! Added the Black Pepper and Mushroom Chicken for a points value of 10. When I went back the next day I had a Panda bowl with vegies and Black Pepper Chicken and that was only 5 points.
We went out for bbq and I ordered the steamed vegies and 1/4 chicken with sauce. The chicken was breast and a wing. Since this restaurant isn't in the WW Eat Out book, I guesstimated that it was about 7-8 points for the meal, add in an ice tea and I was set.
We got pizza for our Friday night in-house date. Two pieces of that with raspberries and water, came to about 14 points.
On Thursday we went out for our weekly
I needed to go to the grocery store so I ended up in the misc. aisle. I bought the cup featured above. You can find it at Cool Gear. It has been my faithful friend all week. I just wish it were bigger so I wouldn't need to keep filling it up all the time.
I did give up Diet Sodas in 2010 because my joints were always so sore. Getting away from the aspartame fixed that problem for me. I switched to Iced Coffees at home recently and have shied away from those too this week.
The next thing I did to make a healthy change was to buy myself some new tennis shoes. I've been looking for months, but I hate to commit to shoes and purses so it takes me forever to decide on the right one. I found mine on the clearance rack at Famous Footwear for only $30-Nike's to boot! My husband is convinced I like them more than him, but I don't. (not yet :-) )
Then tada!!! I joined the YMCA yesterday. I signed up as a one-parent family and all nine of my kids get to go too!!!! Sarah will get to go to since she is moving home in May. Her husband is going to Korea for a year, so we get her for a whole year! The boys are excited since their friends go, and Joe wants to train for possible entrance into the Coast Guard. He passed the first round, next is the ASVAB.
Look out 2013, here we come!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Enjoying my older kids
This last week has found me spending time with adult kids. It's such a reward for all the training and parenting that we did. The reward being that we can now enjoy one another's company and just be together.
For Christmas our oldest son bought his dad tickets to Rain: The Beatles Cover band. The show was excellent. If you like the Beatles and you're ever able to go, you should, you won't regret it. It was so much fun. They sounded and looked just like the Beatles.
These pics are from from the Rain Website. Rain He and his wife went with us to The Old Spaghetti Factory and then to the concert. It was fun just being with them.
In the middle of the week we went to Phil's BBQ to celebrate our second son's 28th birthday. We met him, his wife and little guy there. It was the first time for his wife, and about our fifth time or so. We always get the rib tickler with some added onion rings. Big greasy onion rings dipped in ranch dressing-oh so good!
Phil's BBQ
This weekend we headed to Luke Air Force Base where my daughter's family lives. We went for an overnighter so Grandpa could meet his newest granddaughter. We had fun playing with our grandson too. He is only two and so full of energy. I think we were welcome playmates.
We were able to go to Cracker Barrrel TWICE!!! Yes! In California we don't have Cracker Barrels so we can't go to one unless we're in a different state, that means if we hit Yuma or Phoenix we always go. It was Fish Fry Friday which is my FAVORITE so I was able to indulge my taste buds.
I'm having trouble uploading pics, but when I'm able I will post a new picture of the little Miss and her brother.
Today is my third son's 23rd birthday and he is stationed in Baltimore. We were able to call and chat with him for awhile. We so enjoy him and miss him since he's all the way across the U.S. When I went to Ethiopia this summer I stopped at his house for half a week on the way back. I get to see him in June when they come home for a few weddings.
Hopefully you have a relationship or will with your older kids. It's one of life's greatest blessings.
For Christmas our oldest son bought his dad tickets to Rain: The Beatles Cover band. The show was excellent. If you like the Beatles and you're ever able to go, you should, you won't regret it. It was so much fun. They sounded and looked just like the Beatles.
These pics are from from the Rain Website. Rain He and his wife went with us to The Old Spaghetti Factory and then to the concert. It was fun just being with them.
In the middle of the week we went to Phil's BBQ to celebrate our second son's 28th birthday. We met him, his wife and little guy there. It was the first time for his wife, and about our fifth time or so. We always get the rib tickler with some added onion rings. Big greasy onion rings dipped in ranch dressing-oh so good!
Phil's BBQ
This weekend we headed to Luke Air Force Base where my daughter's family lives. We went for an overnighter so Grandpa could meet his newest granddaughter. We had fun playing with our grandson too. He is only two and so full of energy. I think we were welcome playmates.
We were able to go to Cracker Barrrel TWICE!!! Yes! In California we don't have Cracker Barrels so we can't go to one unless we're in a different state, that means if we hit Yuma or Phoenix we always go. It was Fish Fry Friday which is my FAVORITE so I was able to indulge my taste buds.
I'm having trouble uploading pics, but when I'm able I will post a new picture of the little Miss and her brother.
Today is my third son's 23rd birthday and he is stationed in Baltimore. We were able to call and chat with him for awhile. We so enjoy him and miss him since he's all the way across the U.S. When I went to Ethiopia this summer I stopped at his house for half a week on the way back. I get to see him in June when they come home for a few weddings.
Hopefully you have a relationship or will with your older kids. It's one of life's greatest blessings.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
My new granddaughter!
My daughter delivered her baby girl a few weeks ago. Since she was being induced I was able to drive out the day before so I could be there with her to help. Sarah walked into the hospital and found out she was already 5 cm. She wasn't in labor or even having contractions.
After being on the pitocin for a bit she was checked again and was at 7. The next time she was checked she was at 9-9 1/2 so the nurse did what nurses do, and she was at 10 and ready to push. A few pushes and Elizabeth was here. Sarah did a fabulous job!
Meeting her little gal.
Wonderment and awe like only a newborn can give.
Beach in November
My extended family lives in Washington and Florida and the Washington contingent couldn't wait to see the ocean. I had Joe take them while I was out with Joel. They went to La Jolla Shores and some other beaches. My mom loves the ocean and everything about it.
Mom and Sierra
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