1/23 - enjoying hot chocolate on a cold rainy day

1/22 - You can take the girl out of the Bay Area...

But you can't take the Bay Area out of the girl...

So it's not a photo taken today. I was in the car for 7.5 hours. But after the 49ers lost in overtime to the NY Giants, I thought I would make this tribute to my favorite teams. 

1/21 - Kermit in Camouflage

This has to be the greenest bathroom I've ever seen!

Photo courtesy: Heather Anderson (from Facebook)

1/21 - computer ordering at Jack in the Box.

I can even order my tacos with no lettuce! Quick and easy, and no language barrier!

1/20 - Kookie Monster at Psycho Donuts

1/20 - Red Lobster dinner

Full Cajun Chicken Linguini Alfredo. Glad I'm sharing!

1/20 - Red Lobster pre-meal

Potato Bacon Soup, Cheddar Bay Biscuit, Scooby Snack, and iced tea

1/18 - Sleeping Cutie

1/18 - multiplying fractions and whole numbers

Oh, my. This is a challenge getting her to follow the steps. When I prompt her through it, it's easy. Left to her own devices, she's all over the place. I'm praying she gets it done before we have to leave for church.

1/15 - Big Sis makes a new friend

While at Penfold's today, Big Sis saw this giant Baloo look-a-like. She wanted to take it home...

1/15 - What I did yesterday (1/14) before tackling the garage

The bed was under the window and the bookshelf was where the headboard is. Now I won't stub my toe on the bed when I'm getting to my desk!

1/13 - Random Pictures for the day...

Little Sis showing off her pretty coloring...

Such a pretty girl, isn't she? Pictures like this prove to me that she is still only 10.

1/12 - I've been tagged...

My friend, Wendy, tagged me in this picture with my friend Heather and her daughter, Christina (in the Kermit hat). Can anyone please tell me what we're laughing at???

1/10 - Watching 3D Sharkboy and Lava Girl

My cousin was visiting and brought her laptop and movies. This was what I found when they were all supposed to be in bed!

1/9 - Google Maps Street View Car

On my drive to Palm Springs to pick up my cousin, I saw the Google Maps car on eastbound I-10. The highlight of my day.

1/8 - (triple treat) Disney Soda Fountain and The Muppets at The El Capitan

Big Sis and her friend enjoying a sundae...

The really cool napkins...

Kermit and Miss Piggy singing Christmas songs...

Sunday January 8 found us in Hollywood at The El Capitan with my Disney friends. It was such a blast. It was my 3rd time seeing The Muppets, but the real treat was seeing Kermit and Miss Piggy before the movie as we sang Christmas songs. I hope I have a chance to go back!

1/7 - Alandra's first ride on California Screamin'

When Alex and I would beg, she would refuse. Her friend Andy asked her, and she agreed. She loved it! She even rode Golden Zephyr and Goofy's Sky School - both which I won't ride! Love my Disney girl!

1/6 (bonus) - Spending their Christmas gift cards at Build-a-Bear

1/6 - Smiling Mojito

1/3 - Obsession?? 10 Build-a-Bear animals...

1/2 - Is it still January? Or am I in Australia?

I'm baffled by this weather. I hope it gets cold again soon. I haven't been to the snow yet!

1/1 - Happy 2012. We are loving the Muppets!

On 12/18 I finally saw The Muppets! I love the movie, so I downloaded the soundtrack. I took Big Sis to see it on 12/20 and she loved it! We've been listening to the soundtrack over and over and now we get to go see it at El Capitan Theater!
Welcome to 2012... it's going to be a great year!

Have you seen 180?

Over on Facebook, San Diego 6 News has posted that "Proponents of a measure that would ban abortions by giving equal rights to fetuses have been cleared to gather signatures in California. The state proposal would define a person as a living human being from the time of fertilization."


What great news! However, there are people posting comments who are saying that women should be given the right to choose, and that "life begins at the heartbeat." I find it quite funny that these people believe that life begins at heartbeat (which begins at about 4 or 5 weeks post conception) but they think it's ok for a woman to have an abortion after they find out they're pregnant, which is generally at the 6th week or later. One also said it's ok for a woman to have an abortion if a man walks out on her. If that was the case, why wouldn't it be ok for a woman to kill her children after the man walks out on her? It's absurd, isn't it?


So, why am I posting such controversy? I am doing so because I want to tell you about an amazingly eye-opening movie. It's only 33 minutes long, but you may not need that much time to see how abortion is murder. 

You can also find 180 Movie on Facebook. 

CHOC Walk -- October 16, 2011 -- CONTEST!

It's that time of year again!

Children's Hospital Orange County's Annual 5K through Disneyland is less than a week away! My daughters and I are walking to raise money for CHOC. Big Sis has already raised over $60 (through the website and cash donations). However, Little Sis and I have not raised a single cent!

So here's the deal: I'm holding a contest to raise money.

The prize? A $20 Gift Card -- to Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, OR Starbucks (your choice!)

Here's how to enter:

1 entry: Donate at least $5 to my CHOC Page. (Click for link)

Extra entry: Donate at least $5 to Little Sis' Page. (Click for link)

Extra entry: Leave me a comment below with your donation amount and a contact email address.

Extra entries: For each $5 extra over the minimum, you'll get an extra entry. For example, if you donate $20, you get a total of 4 entries.

Each entry will be placed into a hat and winner will be drawn randomly on Monday, October 17. An email will be sent to the winner to verify address.

Please, help me help the children at CHOC. No child is every turned away for their inability to pay. This fundraiser helps the hospital help those families that cannot pay.

First Day of School Tomorrow

So the clothes have been laid out, prayers have been said, and the girls are settled down for the night. We went over our morning routine and lunches have been made. The only thing left is to wake up and put everything into motion to get them off for their first day of school.

The girls helped me put together their own lunches. One girl and I will work together to make her lunch while the other girl is in the shower each night. The biggest challenge they had last year, though, was remembering to bring their lunch boxes home at the end of the day.

So here's what each girl chose for lunch:

 Big Sis chose the mini bagel and turkey. She got six slices of mesquite smoked turkey breast (our personal favorite). She will NOT eat white cheese whatsoever. So her cheese selection is Colby jack stick. Strawberries and a banana round out the meal. She also added a 90-calorie granola bar at the last minute, and a bottle of sugar-free Hawaiian punch (anyone have a good leak-proof reusable bottle for juice?)

Little Sis's meat of choice is pepperoni. She does like turkey pepperoni, but I don't, so I didn't buy it (although, if I did, maybe I wouldn't eat it - haha). She got 16 reduced fat Wheat Thins, 5 baby carrots, and grapes (which she snuck a taste while I was putting them in the container). She also got her lite string cheese and a 90-calorie granola bar.






Both meals are in Easy Lunchboxes. Little Sis has the blue lunch cooler, and he lid will be the blue one. Big Sis and I both have the pink lunch coolers, but Big Sis will get the red lid and I'll use the orange and green ones. I really enjoy the fact that they are sturdier than the Ziploc Containers (I even did the squeeze test like Kelly did while I was at Walmart. I didn't ruin them though). Other options we bought today is whole wheat bread (for sandwiches), peanut butter and jelly, 100-calorie packs of cookies, apples, and pineapple. The only rule I have is the girls have to pick the same fruit, but only if I have to cut an apple or open a can of pineapple. Otherwise, Little Sis doesn't like strawberries, and the grapes are washed in a container in the fridge.

I still have to make my lunch. I'm thinking a turkey sandwich, Wheat Thins, Laughing Cow cheese spread (sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and ... something else, I can't remember), grapes and strawberries, and green tea.

I'll post again tomorrow with pictures of the girls as well as the verdict on their lunches (my biggest questions will be if they had enough food, and if they ate everything).


I'll leave you with this, borrowed from a friend on Facebook:

"T'was the night before school started, when all through the town, the parents were cheering - a riotous sound!! By 9, kids were all washed and tucked into bed where memories of homework filled them with dread! New pencils, new folders, new notebooks too! New teachers, new friends - their anxiety grew! The PARENTS just giggled when they learned of this fright and shouted to all "GO TO BED!!!! IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!!!"

Happy School Year

Every year, on the first day of school, I always say I'm going to keep up with my blogging. So this year, I'm going to say it again. But it's not a "resolution." I like to think of my blog as a way to keep my family involved in our busy lives, and a way for them to see what the girls and I are up to.

So here's an update:

I'm still in college. I've been attending Kaplan University online for a year. I'm majoring in Early Childhood Development, and should be done early 2013. I am still working in Borrego, but my position was moved to the Middle School. I'm looking forward to seeing the 6th graders again (have been with them since they were in 3rd), but I will miss my colleagues at the Elementary School.

Big Sis is in 5th grade. Her last year of elementary school!! How did that happen? She's looking forward to GATE again, as well as hoping there is an after school band class. We got her CST scores, and she scored Proficient in English Language Arts and Math, as well as passed the 4th grade writing test with a 6 (out of 8). I'm so proud of my smarty pants.

Little Sis is in 2nd grade. She's still in the dual immersion program. She read all summer, but most of it was in English. One of her best friends moved over the summer, but her other BFF is still here and in her class. She's looking forward to a new school year, and has promised me that she will be "a better student." I'm hoping and praying, because I know her teacher won't put up with her attitude, and I don't want her to be "that kid."

I've been using FLYLady to get my house and schedule in order, as well as the Cozi Online Calendar. I love both because FLYLady is on Facebook and Twitter, so she's always in my pocket. Cozi has an app for my phone (Android) so I can carry my shopping list, to-do list, and calendar everywhere. FLYLady has even partnered up with Cozi and has her Zone Lists available to download into your Cozi to-do lists.

I'm hoping all this planning can keep the house running smooth. The girls and I are already practicing our morning routines (I went back to work Tuesday, but they don't go back to school until September 6) but I still need to get into my afternoon routine and bedtime routine. It's a process, but we're getting there.

I also ordered the EasyLunchbox System from Amazon. I bought the four-box system, as well as lunchboxes for the girls and me. My mind is overflowing with lunch ideas for the girls (super picky eaters). I see fresh fruit and "Lunchables" type meals with turkey, cheese, and Wheat Thins. Their lunches last year were healthy-ish when I did pack one for them, usually consisting of a sandwich, fruit, yogurt, and a juice box. This year, I hope to pack lunches for them more often, since the school's lunches tend to be lacking in stuff they'll actually eat.

I'm really looking forward to this school year. We also are adding in Wednesday night church as well as Girl Scouts (Big Sis is a Junior and Little Sis bridged to Brownies).





 

Royal Family Kids Camp Walk-A-Thon

It's that time of year again! All the Walks for Charity.

This year, I am again raising money for Royal Family Kids Camp. This is my Mission Trip for the year.

Royal Family Kids Camp is a camp for abused and neglected foster kids that happens through the love and generosity of volunteers. For one week, we go and love on these kids, and show them the love of Jesus through just BEING THERE.

I need to raise $300 or more. This pays for all the necessary supplies and materials needed for the camp, including the fun fun fun stuff needed for "Everybody's Birthday Party" that happens on the last full day of camp. Some of these kids have never had a birthday party, and some don't even know WHEN their birthdays are. This day we celebrate everyone's birthday. We have jumpers, water games, and last year, we even had ice cream!

This is the best week of the year for me. I give up a week away from my girls, but they understand what I'm doing. They know they're sharing their mommy with kids who don't have loving parents, and in turn, they are showing the love of Jesus to these kids.

Please, can you help? No amount is too small. To donate, click on the "DONATE" button below the Royal Family Kids Camp logo on the top left of the screen. Be sure to include your name and address on the form if you would like a tax receipt.

The Walk-a-Thon is April 16.

Thanks so much, from me and the children I get to serve during this year's camp.

More Committments

So today marked the very last day of the 2011 Girl Scout Cookie Site/Booth Sales for our Girl Scout troop. YAY! I still have about 8 boxes left to sell, but I'm hoping to get rid of those tomorrow while we are out and about.

Today was also the Borrego Springs Health Fair. Big Sis dances with her Hip Hop/Jazz dance class first thing in the morning. Little Sis ended up dancing with the Mexican Dance class. She has not been going to class, but knew the dances the kids were performing. So she was dancing out in he crowd. Her teacher saw her and told her to get up there and join them. It was so cute, I was laughing so hard.

Big Sis also had her Elementary Ban debut. She plays the flute, and is the only flute in the elementary school. A couple of middle schoolers joined them, so she had another flute playing with her. They played 5 songs: Frere Jacques, BINGO, the Mexican Hat Dance, Minute Man March, and Climbing Stairs. (I think I remember playing the Minute Man March at one point in my musical career.)

While we were at the Fair, I also signed the girls up for Softball and T-Ball. I wasn't going to, but they really wanted to play, and since about half of the kids at the school are playing, I figured we may as well join in on the fun! I am hoping the weather doesn't get too hot, though. Looks like my Saturdays are packed until June!!

Into the arms of Jesus...

The girls and I got some very sad news today. A friend, who we have known for 2 years, was involved in a car accident this morning and passed away. We are very saddened, and are praying for her family, including her husband, sons, and 4-year old grandson.

Bambi has always been a ray of sunshine. We met her through the Methodist Church in Borrego, where the girls and I have been going to OaSis on Wednesday nights. Bambi was the sweetest, and, last year, was the OaSis "Comforter." When children were not showing the love of Jesus, whether they were tired, cranky, or hungry, she would swoop in like the angel she was and cheer them up right away! This year, she started as the Coordinator and was also the Cook, but stepped down to "only" Cook just a few weeks ago. This last Wednesday, it was "Diversity Night" and we had a rainbow of colors for dinner: baked chicken, rainbow pasta, and broccoli. We also had rainbow Jell-O for dessert: red at the bottom, then orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. When asked how she made it, she said "Magic." I wish I'd taken a picture, but it was very yummy.

Bambi will be greatly missed by everyone in the community of Borrego Springs. I know the kids especially will feel the hole she leaves at OaSis. But we can all take comfort in knowing she's in the arms of Jesus right now. Please pray for her husband, Brian, and her sons and grandson, Devon. I know they are hurting right now. Big Sis and Little Sis are, as well... Big Sis has known since I've known and has been crying off and on all day (as have I). Little Sis just found out not more than an hour before this is being written, and I hear herself whispering to herself "She's in the arms of Jesus" as she's crying and walking through the house.

We love you Bambi... We'll see you in Heaven!

1-13 Disney Junior & A Day at the Beach

Next month, Disney Junior is going to premier. My girls cannot wait! Heck, even I can't wait! I love all things Disney, which most of you all know.

Over at Disney Junior, there are having a photo contest. The top 6 photos (3 boys and 3 girls), will have their picture on Disney Junior during the premier week, starting February 14.

I have entered this picture of Little Sis in the photo contest. It's called "A Day at the Beach" and it's one of my favorite pictures.

So, if you could all be so kind as to head on over to Disney Junior (that's a direct link to the photo voting page) and vote for Little Sis. She would be so thrilled to see herself on the television.

Thanks so much in advance!

Disney Junior & A Day at the Beach

Next month, Disney Junior is going to premier. My girls cannot wait! Heck, even I can't wait! I love all things Disney, which most of you all know.

Over at Disney Junior, there are having a photo contest. The top 6 photos (3 boys and 3 girls), will have their picture on Disney Junior during the premier week, starting February 14.

I have entered this picture of Little Sis in the photo contest. It's called "A Day at the Beach" and it's one of my favorite pictures.

So, if you could all be so kind as to head on over to Disney Junior (that's a direct link to the photo voting page) and vote for Little Sis. She would be so thrilled to see herself on the television.

Thanks so much in advance!

1-8 Idyllwild road trip

The girls and I decided to take the "long way" to grandma's today and stopped at Idyllwild Park. They loved playing in the snow, and even went sledding a bit thanks to a few generous strangers.  It was a blast, but very cold and wet. We have plans to go camping there during the summer.

1-6 Finger Crocheting

This is something the girls learned during the after school program.  Little Sis made some scarves as Christmas presents. Big Sis is enjoying some quiet time with Mommy.

1-2 "Crazy Love"

Tonight we finished the book "Crazy Love" for Bible study. I love our small group from Crossroads Church in Temecula, California.

1-1 NYE at Dave & Busters

Since I was driving home all day on New Years Day, here is the last picture of me taken in 2010. I was at Dave & Busters with a friend, waiting for dinner.

Apparently, whatever was going on on my phone was really intense!

Happy New Year everyone!

Handmade Christmas Cards!

**DISCLAIMER: If you are a member of LaughingPlace.com and are participating in the swap, be prepared to have the surprise spoiled if you continue reading. Please, only positive comments on my cards, as well.**

This year, I am participating in the LaughingPlace.com Christmas Card Swap. The premise is you make cards for everyone who signed up and send them to the Hostess. Then she distributes each of the cards to the other participants, then you end up with a different card. This year, it should be 22. :)

So I ran to Michael's and could NOT find what I was looking for. Of course, I have to have them mailed out this week, so I am kind of pressed for time. I bought some pre-folded cards in a "Winter" color scheme (blues and silver) and blue and white stamp ink pads. I also bought a snowflake stamp and a "Season's Greetings" stamp. Also purchased was some jeweled snowflake stickers and some jeweled Mickey silhouette stickers. I also bought some Christmas Quotes Vellum, but ended up deciding not to use it.

Here are the pictures of my generic-looking but cute hand-made cards:

Dark blue paper with white ink.

This was the reject. Not enough "snow" themed quotes. Had I not made this, I could have returned the vellum and the sticky dots.

Grey/Silver paper and blue ink. Each card had a Mickey on it, because LaughingPlace.com is a Disney Fan Site. The BEST one, in my opinion! :)

Winner of the $20 Gift Card (CHOC)

Last weekend, October 17, the girls and I walked for the Children's Hospital Orange County. I ended up raising $55 and Big Sis raised $50. I signed Little Sis up at the last minute to walk with us, and I donated $25 to her name, and Disneyland Resort matched that. We walked for the Disney VoluntEars, and we had a great time!

I had 6 people donate to me, and of those 6, 4 also donated to Alex. So I had a total of 10 entries, which were given random numbers. Here's how it worked:

Robert A. 1, 7
Brooke F. 2, 8
Wendy C. 3
Liz K. 4, 9
Barbara M. 5, 10
Robbin M. 6

And the winner is.... Number 3!!!! Congrats, Wendy! You get a $20 gift card from Amazon, Starbucks, or, as an added bonus, Disney! :) Let me know what you choose, and it'll go out by November 1!

Congrats again to Wendy, and thank you to everyone who donated to CHOC! :) (Pictures will follow soon!)