2007; A year in review

3rd year I have done this. I like looking back and seeing them.

What did you do in 2007 that you've never done before?
Start a contact sport... Rollerderby!!

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
My only resolution was not to have any, and I kept that. I am going to stick with that one. Same as last year...

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Ryan did, i.e. Pro!

Did anyone close to you die?
No. And that means it was a good year. 3 year in a row, can't beat that.

What countries did you visit?
None.

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
After graduation, a awesome job that I love!

What date from 2007 will remain etched in your memory and why?
I believe July 2 or close to it, which is when I officially got on league.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Straight A's for the second year in a row. And getting on league.

What was your biggest failure?
hmm, I don't know of anything that was failed that i didn't choose to end. Same as last year.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
minor bruises and small sprained wrist, minor illnesses...again good year. 3 years running...woo hoo!!

What was the best thing you bought?
rollerskates

Where did most of your money go?
other than bills, probably derby stuff.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
derby

What scripture is a theme of 2007?
James 1: 2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Same as last year.

Compared to this time last year are you:
a. Happier or sadder? I am just as happy.
b. Thinner or fatter? exact same, but more muscle.
c. Richer or poorer? richer, Steven got a teaching job.
What do you wish you'd done more of?
Always spend more time with my family.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
time on the computer.

How did you spend Christmas?
With my family!!! Baking cookies and cakes, spending time with my family and just relaxing staying in my pj's. I loved it. Again same as last year.

Did you fall in love in 2007?
Stayed in love.

What was your favorite TV show?
Heroes the only one I really watched I guess, maybe some intervention

What was the best book you read?
Narnia

What was your greatest musical discovery of 2007?
Myself on karaoke, lol.

What did you want and get?
to get on league. And a minivan.

What did you want and not get?
hmm, nothing I guess.

What was your favorite film this year?
August Rush

What did you do on your birthday?
ate a cookie cake and went to class I think, it wasn't very memorable.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Maybe a better birthday now that it is brought up. Getting to see more of my family more often.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Comfy but trendy. Still the same.

What kept you sane?
Alone time an sleep and massages. And to add, derby.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Other than Clive Owen, none.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Candidates and their agendas

Who did you miss?
Still the same, my friends from home, and family.

Who was the best new person you met?
I met several great women.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
If there is something you want to do or try, do it. You don't want to look back on your life when your old and regret not getting on that bull!

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I'm in a hurry to get things done, I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really gotta do is live and die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why."

Christmas pics

Upon Waking...







With their gifts...

















We had lots more, but didn't want to overcrowd the blog...

Don't laugh

K, well I debated on whether or not to blog this as it tops my embarassing moments in the life of me. As you can see I need to spread my embarassment in order to balance out whatever anger or resentment my voodoo doll holder has against me.

So me and the fam decide to go bowling tonight. First time we have gone as a family ever. We have been playing with presents and card games and what not and decide a change of venue would be nice.

So we get there and get our shoes and what not, and the first 10 minutes includes me chasing Ryker up and down the area of pool tables and arcade games, waiting on the others to get ready. I have enough and ask Steven to get the stroller from the car as Ryker was literally fighting me everytime I try to corral him. Wasn't planning on doing that longer than I had to. So I get him buckled in and Gage is first at bat... or bowl... or whatever. Steven makes the mistake of just saying, just throw it!!! And what does Gage do but throws it... in a lane not ours or anyones. I yell, "NO" and chase the ball assuming that since it is closed down that the ball won't come back. I wasn't thinking, no time really. So I chase it and as soon as I cross that line on the lane I slipped. No this wasn't just one of those skating slides. No, this was a running, full throttle feet slip out from under you and you fly until you hit the damn floor! HARD... 4 drunk guys behind Steven were heard saying, "OMG, she busted her ass!" followed by unequivical laughter. Had it been someone else I would have snickered myself. However, being me I was not amused but instead throbbing in pain and silently cursing the place as to how freaking slick they had made the dang lanes. Assholes. Anyways, my wrist swelled up into a bright blue bulge as it bruised right on my main vein, and I am pretty sure it is sprained. It hurt like a mother, and still does, but with the help of Aleve has eased. Sadly, it is worse than any injury I have had derby related. And I can't even say I did it bowling, because I hadn't even started yet. Luckily I am young and used to falls here and there. So I will live. Not sure about my ego though.

The rest of the night was amusing watching me bowl with 6 and 8 pound balls. And it wasn't even my right wrist, luckily.

I see you laughing!!

Christmas cookies 2007

Bless the person who invented cookie decorating kits... I spent a whole 5 minutes preparing to let the kids decorate vs. last year spent hours, mixing, rolling dough, cookie cutting, baking, making frosting, and then using my tips to decorate. And then the endless supply of cookies that never did get fully eaten. This year required no baking, we decorated a few one night and then the next decorated more. Just enough to eat. I like this...

Here are some pics.

The new Total Recall... my version

I love my life! Don't get me wrong it's amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. However, wouldn't it be nice if there was such a thing where you could take a vacation from it... in virtual reality of course (not vegas style). My version of Total Recall however, is a complete metamorphoses. You would completely change who you are, even change sexes if you prefer(not for me though). Now there would be no, living as someone real, like a celebrity... honestly I think that would be annoying and is in no way my idea of a vacation. One would be able to choose their own physical features and where and what they would want to do. My idea for me would not be a trip to Mars (such as in the movie), I would choose to go to Ireland.

In a nice cottage setting, with simple rooms, running water and basic utilities. Warmth at night would be created by a nice fire in an old rock fireplace. During the day I would take walks and view the country in it's beautiful splendor. I would of course be a nice auburn creature, with simple dainty features. Nothing extreme or dramatic. Everything average... height, weight, whatever! I would read books at night in my rocking chair by the fire, cook my own dinner using whatever is on the land, vegetables in the small garden nearbye, and if I am desperate for meat maybe hunt me a rabbit. Occasional nights I would go into the nearbye tavern and greet the locals and even drink a nice good Irish beer. The point would be the simplest things and quiet nature would be my perfect vacation. 2 weeks would be all I need, of course with this futuristic type reality the whole process would take minutes in the real world, leaving me with a lifetime of memories.

Well luckily for myself and my childlike imagination that I am blessed with, I was able to take such a vacation last night before I fell asleep. I had the best sleep I have had in a long time. It was nice. I do this occasionally. Of course always different settings and people, however this is my ultimate favorite as it speaks of my simplest perfections. But it's not a lifestyle I wish for as I would miss too many things. Just a nice escape.

Gratitude

Got 2 sick boys in the house... 1 being treated for strep and in the morning we are taking Ryker in to see if his fever is from that as well. Basically only a matter of time before Kieran, Steven, and I get it. Had a horrendous nightmare last night about Ryker disappearing in a Wal-Mart parking lot. I remember my mind racing on what all horrendous things can happen to a 15 month old in a lot full of vehicles. I woke up in a sweat panting. Haven't done that in many years. It was one of those dreams you wake up and thank God was just a dream, yet it follows you all day long. Makes you really thankful and reminds me not to take them for granted.

This post did not go as I had planned, this was the point of my gratitude. But none the less it's all about gratitude just the same.

Gage's Rabbit-Duck illusion

Have you seen those artists drawings of the old lady, then if you look from a different view it's a young woman? I think the name of those are Rabbit-duck illusion, correct me if I am wrong. Yesterday after the kids went to bed, Steven went to the grocery store and I was going through Gage's school folder. I came across a picture he drew that gave me quite a scare...



To me I see a bigger person holding a child upside down and blood coming from the child's head... What do you see?

Now my first reaction from seeing this was some fear. Usually when I see this from a kid, my first gut reaction is they have watched to much gory television or seen something similar in reality. Often times it can be signs of abuse. So I run up to Gage's room hoping he isn't asleep yet. I ask Gage what the drawing is of. He tells me, it's somebody riding a scooter. Huh??!! I don't see it. Well he has to turn it around...



Ahhhhh! I see it now. Ok then what is the red stuff, I ask. "It's his hair!" Gage says laughingly.

Woo hoo!

I finally won something. Thanks to Amie and her drawing of MonKEYS!. They look so cute. can't wait to get my hands on them.

Check out Amie's blog (Boy Story... and Beyond) to see the cute keys and get some of your own.

Kieran's birthday and other stuff

I have been meaning to write Kieran's birthday blog for awhile, but alas my bronchitis has made me pretty lazy. Kieran turned 4 on the 3rd, which was a week ago today. I had class that night, so for her birthday I went and picked her up early from preK and took her to the mall to eat and shop. She is such a girlie girl and that's what she wanted to do. Her actual party was going to be the following Saturday so I let her pick her out a present at the mall and the rest of them would wait until her party to open. Kieran immediately went to the Disney store and picked her out a princess doll, of course being Kieran it was the pink one, Little Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, ironically the one that looked the most like her (even same shape of eyes). We ate some pizza, then went and got some cookie cakes for home. She got to blow her candle out on a cookie when she got home.
The day of her party was actually warm, thank goodness. Steven's parents and mine came up from Oklahoma, along with my sister and my neice Zoe. I did not make the cake this year for me being sick, so I gave in and ordered one from Wal-Mart, even let Steven pick it out. It was cute, but the lady making it had to keep redoing it because she kept writing Karen.
The day went smoothly, even got to play outside for awhile since it was fairly warm. Of course the day didn't end before Gage broke the top off of her CD player. Never fails something gets broke.
Hard to believe my little girl is 4. We have also decided that she is staying home with me starting in about a week. As much as I like her prek it was getting too expensive to pay even when she wasn't there. She will go to the home daycare Ryker goes to, the 2 weekdays I go to my internship. She is actually happy about the change. I was thinking the whole time she would be upset. She is even asking me if I plan to homeschool her like I did Gage last year. I told her, if she wanted to I could. Strange girl.

On a seperate subject. I am officially done with this semester of school. This semester was by far my easiest, not sure why. I am hoping my last one will be just as easy.

Anyways, I am tired and fixing to start reading the new Narnia book that will be out on the big screen in May, Prince Caspian. I am also wanting to go see "I am Legend" this Friday if anyone is interested in going and watching it with me. It's been awhile since I saw me a good movie.

For your viewing pleasure here is the slideshow of Kieran's birthday.

Changing things up a bit

I am sitting here too sick from coughing to fall asleep so thought I would do some minor updating around here. Kind of got tired of seeing all the pink. Plus I am stickler for change in general. I am sure this won't last super long either.

On a side note, I made the mistake of going to derby practice under the impression that it would help my lungs get over this bronchitis. I was wrong, it made it worse. I won't go into the nasty details of what happened as soon as I stepped in the cold air as practice ended, but let's just say I had me a good ol' asthmalike attack and I don't have asthma. Here I sit even worse off than before. I know I need to go to the Dr. but I am the only one without insurance in this family and well we just don't have the money right now for me to go. It sucks! If anyone has any great cures for acute bacterial (not viral) bronchitis, let me know. I have gotten it yearly since I was pregnant with Kieran and the Dr.s let it run 3 months and kept telling me it was viral. It was the Indians of course, which is why I won't go to them for this. But they finally gave me antibiotics and it cleared up in 3 days. It's a pain in the bootie. I actually thought I had made them stronger with the amount of exercise and cardio I get but nope. Can't excape it. I felt so out of shape tonight too. It was the first time in ages I didn't enjoy practice.

My Big project!

Some of you know I have been busy with a project for one of our leagues bouts coming in March I believe. In Tulsa actually. The charity that took part in this with us as well as the Green Country Rollergirls was Breast Impressions. Several from each league took part in this event by having our "ninnies" (love that term) casted. Then an artist would decorate it and they would each be auctioned off at the bout itself, to raise money for another breast cancer charity. Well, because I am a nerd and love art I wanted to do mine myself. Plus I had a vision for something asian when I saw the cast after it was done. It just hit me. I had all kinds of plans. Ironically though I didn't realize that the cast would turn out better than I thought, therefore nixing some of my plans. I was going for the asian corset theme, one similar looking to asian fabric (which is what inspired me). I also thought about adding lace around the top and bottom, well by the time I got that point Steven told me not to do that because it looked fine as it is. I started contemplating, and I have to agree, no reason to risk messing up a good thing. So I tried to take pics of the process, to give me some memories just in case by chance I do not win my boobs back. Yes, you heard me, I am bidding on my own boobs. I really want my hard work, lol. I also loved doing this so much that I am definately doing one the next time I am pregnant of my belly. Of course that one will take forever I am sure. Over all this particular cast, not counting the drying times (which were days and days), includes approximately 15 hours of work on myself. I of course did not cast myself, the founder of Breast Impressions drove up here and casted all of our lovely ladies. It was a blast. Even our captain Jay took part! So anyways without further waiting, here is a little slideshow of my casting from start to finish.

For those who are big on Fiber

I came across an article a couple of weeks ago about this pasta you may have heard about. It has 18-20g of fiber per serving and only 130 calories. I have been trying to get my family to eat more fiber due to the many health benefits mainly the reduction of colon cancer. So I am one that adds that fiber stuff to everything. Anyway, I went ahead and ordered the pasta from www.fibergourmet.com. You basically have to order in bulk but I got 10 bags for $20 plus shipping, not too bad. We got it yesterday and I went ahead and cooked half a bag (2 servings) tonight for myself with some veggies and chicken broth. The whole pot of it with veggies and everything was only 370 calories. The pasta tasted just like normal pasta and I couln't finish it all, which is odd for me. So I was very impressed and I will definately be eating this pasta from now on.

I also wanted to add that Weight Watchers is a big advocate of this pasta, if that makes any difference to anyone.

Gosh I sound like a infomercial... I promise this is me. lol