A birthday redo

This past weekend was my birthday redo! Well actually, Billy had given me a "night away" as my gift. So, here's what we did....



We started with a cheap lunch...in the Walmart -- bc for some reason we always end up at the Walmart. We ordered a Veggie Sub with hot peppers and a side of Buttered Popcorn Jelly Belly's. No, I'm not pregnant...and I didn't eat them together. It was just symbolic that I'd get to pick what I WANTED for a change. After all, I wasn't having to share with anyone!




We checked into an out of the way hotel room in Denver. The people were sweet and pleasant. The lady origionally sent us up to the wrong room -- but she gave us $25 of FREE breakfast gc's for our "trouble".




Next morning we ended up here....




We decided to tour the Coors Beer factory. Some may think that is in bad taste, but it was free and interesting. This is Billy on the self directed tour listening to his electronic tour guide.




Here's me sitting on an ice cube!




In the "sample" room, I got a ROOT BEER bc it tastes better than COORS!




Finally, Billy saw this car outside...and well...he just thought it deserved a picture!

We so appreciated this night away. Two nights would have been spectacular...and for all those parents who manage to get an entire week away...hats off to you! We are looking forward to that one day too!

It's cold here!!!

Here are some pics of us and some good friends, The Rodger's Family, out on a frozen lake!

Can I please have a quarter?

Victoria is a member of the Little Mozart's, the beginning beginners of the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. Each year, parents of this assosication agree to contribute $100 via the sale of raffle tickets. No, I didn't wanna buy $100 worth of raffle tickets myself. So...we shamelessly signed up with other like-minded families to sell our tickets in front of King Soopers. Today, we did our second (and last) 3 hour shift. Here's a pic of Victoria playing the Cello for some interested little visitors.





As we were out there for a purpose, I duitifully set about asking each and EVERY person who left the busy store, "Would you like to support the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony and buy a raffle ticket?" MOST of the time, I wasn't able to finish my sentence before the patron responded, "No. Not today." I truthfully understood and would politely say back, "Thank you. Have a nice weekend." I imagined in some small way to be blessing the people of my city.

I often leave Walmart or the grocery store and I too walk quickly past the people sitting and fundraising at tables outside the door. I usually DON'T have cash in my wallet. But after the past 2 weekends of taking my turn on behalf of a very worthy organization, the CSYSA, I have a few insights.

Alot of times, the people running these make shift "stands" are just passionate parents trying to do something good for their kids. Maybe they can't actually afford the fees expected of them. Maybe they are of the small presentage of people who are willing to give their time and contribute to the worthwhile organizations of our city. Here's a biggie you should know the next time you see them, actually making EYE CONTACT with them when you're coming out the door -- does not obligate you to donate any money. Actually walking past them, versus turning your buggie in an ackward direction coming out the door, still doesn't obligate you to give money. They DO understand when you don't have cash or when you're in a hurry. They also understand LOTS of people can't afford to part with their cash...especially these days no matter how little.

However, if they hold the slightest amount of interest to you, take a moment and ask what they are doing there. This too doesn't obligate you to give...however...you might find joy in putting that $1 or loose change in their bucket. You might even win a raffle!

Today, Victoria and I raised MORE than our required amount -- all while she got in some good "performance" time. Last week she was chosen to be interviewed and photographed by the newspaper. We were able to contribute the "excess" we raised to another family who hadn't quite meet their quota. It was fun to have finished our task sucessfully and we are thankful to have blessed and been blessed by so many generous people in our community!

Wanna See?

My mom is a great gift giver. She has to date bought me the perfect pair of pants, cute shoes and more than one ring (all three of which I'm a very hard fit for). Getting a package in the mail from her is always fun. This year when she called and asked what I wanted for my birthday, I duitifully answered, "Money. I need to get the tags on the van renewed." Boring. I know. But I live a VERY grown-up life and it just goes with the terriority some years.

A few weeks later, I got a sweet card and a $200 check in the mail. However, like I said, my mother isn't your average gift giver. She also sent a BIG box via UPS. Wanna see what else she got me for my birthday?



This vase is similar to one she has that I just love. It was hand made by a family friend from a block of wood from a Camphor tree. It's beautiful and I love it's uniqueness.



This necklace is a gift she had previous bought me, however, it had broken. So at Thanksgiving she confiscated it, took it back to the botique and had them replace it. Just bc she's my mom, she threw in a new pair of earrrings to match! So pretty.



Finally, she got me a Christmas Ornament (I dream of a tree COVERED with Hallmark Ornaments). It says, "Like mother, like daughter". :)

Well, there ya have it. Might sound like I'm bragging, but my mom deserves it. ;)

If you don't like Controversy, turn back now! ;)

I know the current "Health Care Debate" in our country is controversial. After all, I DO pay WAY TO MUCH for my families Health Care. However, my friend David posted this on a FB Note and I liked it. Since this is MY blog -- I'm gonna repost it here!

Blessings.....

I was reading this article in the BBC on the health care debate. Very revealing in it's condescension and complete misunderstanding of the United States' deeply rooted aversion to governmental authority. In it the author poses the question: 'Why are so many American voters enraged by attempts to change a horribly inefficient system that leaves them with premiums they often cannot afford?'

I just started laughing hysterically because the immediate answer that came to my mind was in the form of the lyrics to a Jonathan Coulton song:


I made this half-pony half-monkey monster to please you
But I get the feeling that you don’t like it
What’s with all the screaming?
...
Isn’t it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you?


Understand- it isn't just that we resent being told by someone in Washington what is in our best interests, it is that we have deeply ingrained in our culture (and enshrined in our Constitution) a philosophical belief that government simply should not be given any more power than is necessary for the safeguarding of our liberties. That way lies serfdom. The ancients knew it. Our Founders knew it. History has proven it - and deep down in our gut the American populace knows it even if some of us cannot express it so eloquently as Madison, de Toqueville, or Friedman.

Yes, Virginia, they would be inept tyrants if you let them

Proof that I really do have a Toddler again!!!

36 year old Birthdays on the cheap....

This is me pretending like it's really ELIZABETH'S bday when they were singing the Happy Birthday song. :)


Yesterday was my 36th birthday. It started well. On Saturday evening we got the chance to go out to dinner at a favorite resturant with some good friends. We both had coupons and the balance for me and B's split burger and all-you-can-eat fries was $0.00. I actually made B purchase another drink -- so we could tip the waitress. Total = $7.76

On Sunday (my acutal bday), my teenage girls brought me breakfast-in-bed. It was sweet, complete with english muffin, scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon and fruit. Not to mention, yogurt and milk (skim for me, whole for B). They claimed that they left behind a "clean kitchen". As it turned out, this was "mostly true". As a mother of 5 children, my request for my bday was a "clean house and total family harmony for a day" -- and all mothers realize -- this is a big, if not near impossible, request. I can dream however. The morning buzzed along. My oldest daughter took responsibility for helping her 2 youngest siblings pick out church clothes and dress. Benjamin tucked in his shirt and brushed his hair for the occasion. Before we walked out the door to church, he even vaccumned the kitchen floor without being asked (all this being proof that they do have the ability to do this daily if they so wanted).

Church was good as usual...oldest daughter serving the nursery, 13 year old daughter participating in worship at the altar, 10 year old son sitting by his father underlining things in his Bible (this bc he got in trouble the week before in Children's Church, but hey, it was going well THIS week), 9 year old singing her lungs out and enjoying the worship set, Eli on our laps also seemingly enjoying just being there, Godly husband and in-laws.....and I enjoyed a brief moment where all seemed right in my world.

Then enter: The Crown. The Thorn and The Crown are two HUGE Easter productions put on by our church. Really, the magnitude of these productions can't be over stated. 1,000 plus volunteers. Weeks of rehearsals. Tons of prayer. Live animals. Crazy schedules. Anyhow...I could live without the extra stress and busyness of having a crazier than usual schedule, but keeping my kids away from this is nearly impossible. They LOVE it and this will be our 5th year participating (and yes, every year I say "I won't do THAT again" -- and there I am the next year right back on the participants list!). The "kick off" meeting was scheduled at 1pm -- and whereas it wasn't set in stone, in the back of our minds, we knew that the possiblilty of a surprise, and extend "audition" was there. Surprise! The kids auditioned for everything from main characters to angels and demons (Elizabeth is ALWAYS a demon and Hosanna is ALWAYS an angel -- but they are all open to other parts). We were done....at 5pm. Yes, that's right -- on my bday -- we were at church from 10:30am - 5pm.

Once we were done, we were all pretty much exhausted. Long gone were my hopes of grilling steaks for lunch (we ate bags of popcorn at the church), a bday hike through Garden of the God's and catching a dollar movie. I sucked in my disapointment and tried to remember the joy I experienced during those hours where little Eli ran all over the church's Theatre acting like he owned the place.

After much deliberation, we decided to scratch any plans we might have had -- and go out to dinner. It was fun -- we don't go out as a family much anymore -- and I was happy for a nice ending to what became a very LONG day.
Cost of spontaneous family dinner out = $43.00.

At dinner, Billy gave me my gift. Knowing I've been wanting a weekend away, he used our Frequent Flyer miles to get us a nice hotel room in Denver and a few resturant gift cards. I loved it. Cost = $0.00.

After dinner, we took my bday cake ("Banana Split Cake" -- my Granga's receipe which, incase you doubted I'm from the South, contains 3 sticks of butter) over to my in-laws where I took 2 Advil and watched Extreme Home Makeover. Cost = $0.00

Finally, we came home and watched a movie. FAME was checked out, so I had to settle on Terminator Salvation. Beings that Terminator is a hard movie to follow (in my opinion), I feel asleep before it ended. Cost $1.

So -- there ya have it. A 36 year old bday party on the cheap (all in all, gift included we spent $51). My special day included 5 kids, breakfast in bed, a little less house work, one husband who tried real hard, a church I love, about 150 virtual Happy Bdays, real life flexibility, 6 and 1/2 hour stint up at Thron/Crown rehearsals, a change of plans, an unexpected dinner at a resturant, an evening with friends, one with family and well...you get the point.

My life is filled with all kinds of things...I've experienced some tradegy, loss and dissapointment. I reguarly experience a messy house, sassy kids, financial ups and downs (I prefer the "up" times), and job changes. I've gone through years of finishing college (no small task) and years of dieting and working out -- and still have 40 lbs to go before I'm satisified. I sometimes fight with my great husband, kids and friends. We've moved, we've loved and laughed. We work very, very hard MOST of the time. Then we play and vacation with all our hearts as well. I've now known Billy for as many years as I didn't know him. All and all it's a life that I love and am willing to work of -- even when it's really, really hard -- and even when special days don't go just as plan.