Christmas is here...bring good cheer!

The holidays has significantly decreased my blogging. No apologies... 

Every Christmas Eve we always make tons of cookies and decorate them. This year we decided to try our hand at a gingerbread house. The kiddos loved putting the candies on it. Even Ryker was able to participate, of course he was upset at the end when everyone dug into it and started eating it. We ended up having to stop because of that.





Finished product







I was being sinful...



digging in...



Our yearly tradition of opening only 1 present on Christmas Eve.



Ryker going to Daddy for help...



yes the carebears are his. He loves playing with his sisters so I got him his own.



he loves them.



Even got a purple one of his sisters to play along.

Linebacker part 2

Just in time for Christmas...

Neurotic mommy moment

Gotta love days that begin with Icy goodness.

Just to give an idea of our usual routine, every morning I leave from Springdale to drop off the younger two in Farmington, and then go back into Fayetteville to work. Simple reason why I drive to Farmington is because the preschool is through a good friend whom I know and "trust". Another neurosis I have as well, I suppose. Steven then by default travels from our home in Springdale to Bentonville, where he teaches and Gage goes to school. This morning as I leave the younger kiddos at their respected school, I hear on the radio warning drivers that a van slid off the road past wagon wheel road between Lowell. My first thought was, "hmm, I wonder if Steven got caught up in that traffic?" Only thinking that simply because he had tried to leave earlier to "avoid crazy drivers on days like this". So I try calling him. No answer. Then the neurosis hit. "Wait, did they say VAN!" So I call repreatedly with no answer and leave only 1 or 2 messages for him to call me. I then start calling his school to see if he made it, which he should have by then. His room phone rings and then goes to voicemail. I do this for the next 30 minutes in 10 minute intervals. Never have I tried to call him with his school phone and cannot get a hold of him. Finally, I get to work and by this time by stomach is in severe pain. I look up Gage's school and call them, they put me through to his teacher and it goes to her voicemail. Ugh! So I leave a message, which sounded something like this... "Hey Mrs. Mitchell, this is Gage's mom, I just called to see if he made it this morning, could you give me a call at ...-...." By this time my voice is shaking and I am close to actually crying for the first time in forever which made me feel human again.

So I call the school back and explain that I just need someone to go lay eyes on my son, because I can't get a hold of his father and heard a van had wrecked and just wanted to make sure it wasn't them. Anyways, they checked and he was there. In that moment I suddenly was filled with anger towards my husband, but relief they were ok. So I sent my dear hubby a text explaining my severe pissedness. I finally get a call, hours later stating his phone wasn't getting any of those calls until he turned it off and then turned it back on. Nice phone, I want to toss it now. He only checked his room voicemail at 10:30.

This is never a good way to start a day. The stomach pain doesn't go away when you find out all is well. And what little coffee I drank made me so freaking jittery I appeared high on crack.

Good news is I get a paid day off tomorrow because our census is low. So I am getting some Christmas shopping done.

Thanksgiving 2008

Ours was a normal quiet one. I slept in, Steven cooked due to him not having to work the prior 3 days. He and Kieran left for Oklahoma last night, me and the boys stayed in. Didn't really feel like traveling. So me and the boys went birthday shopping for Kieran's birthday next week. No way in heck was I going to do it today. People who shop on Black Friday and want to are nuts. I prefer to not have to wait or fight my way through shopping. I will pay a few extra dollars to do so as well.

So here are my thanks...

I am thankful for

-My family
-Their health and my own, including mental health
-My God
-For not losing loved ones this year
-For a job I actually enjoy doing
-Friends and Coworkers
-My Church Family
-For my hobbies, including the derb
-For the nice weather we had yesteday

I could go on, but this is my general list.

I have seen a lot of sad stuff over the last 2 weeks. Some work related, some news related, and some with my friends and family. So I try to take every resonable effort not to take my blessings for granted. And it saddens me even more when I see others continually taking their own for granted. To some extent it angers me beyond belief.

Simplicity

Been awhile since my last blog. Life keeps happening and I keep getting lost in transit. Obama was recently elected President. To bad I am not a betting person, I called this race long before Primaries were even ran. Steven even questioned me on occasion if I was sure. It was never a question to me.

Another thing passed here in Arkansas, the beginning of a state lottery. Another incident where Steven again questioned me. Now I promise this was not intended to be a political post, so now off to my intended thoughts...

I think I am one of millions of people around the world who often wonder what it would be like to have more money than I know what to do with. Many a conversation has been brought up if Ed McMahon ever showed up on our doorstep or if I ever got brave enough to by a lotto ticket and it actually won...

Honestly, I get so annoyed at seeing what celebrities and other rich socialites do with their money. I have never been one for wanting expensive cars or gotti jewels. And honestly I don't understand how someone can have that much money and not give any to charity. It will just have to paid in taxes so you might as well help people with it.

Hands down my money would be sending me and the fam to Ireland. Steven and I have always been in agreement we would like to move there. I think I not only love the idea of the beauty and culture of it, but its simplistic nature. I have discussed this before. But tonight I actually found myself looking for visuals to dream about.

My Irish Cottage Dream.











Small cozy living area.



Irish landscapes.





Maybe one day a trip will suffice...

So much...

Stuff I haven't blogged about, and I probably can't remember half to put it down. Most of what I put down, I do so, so I can look back and see where I was at this point in the year. I have been blogging since 2004 so I like to review where I was at this time last year. Good review to see how far I came.
Anyways...
End of season for derby is here. My nose is mostly healed. I got some ugly wicked face shield that makes me appear to be kin to Hannibal Lector. Would make a good costume for the holiday. Something I have put off and put off is my knee, I now realize it is messed up something fierce. The few who have felt it's awkward bumpiness knows of which I speak. I am pretty sure I cracked my patella on that fall at Dill's party. Now it feels like there is a dent on it and boy is it freaky. Weird thing is it doesn't hurt at all to walk on or skate. Even falling doesn't hurt. But when I put it down on the ground and put pressure on it, it does twinge with a slight pain. I probably should get it X-rayed, but part of me is afraid it needs surgery, and well there just isn't time in my life for that. Derby Ball is coming this weekend and I have to admit I am somewhat unprepared in several ways. But oh well. Next seasons schedule sounds awesome. In August we are heading up to Colorado where I will get to see some family I haven't seen in a few years. That of course makes me ubber happy. Steven and I are going to make a small vacation of it.

On the professional side of my life, work is going good. I do get tired of parents at times, but that's just the nature of what I do. Something I have considered this past year or so and finally made a decision... to pursue a Counseling ministry through my church. I was asked by my preacher before I graduated if I would consider doing private practice using the church, rent free. Opportunities like this are not common, so I put great thought into it. I will be doing this on top of my regular job, only working a couple nights a week. If it turns out to be more, great, I can quit Vista if that miracle ever does happen. I hope to have this all up and incorporated by January, but if not I am patient.

Family is good, we are preparing for the up coming Fall carnival at Shiloh. I much prefer it to walking around outside, freezing, begging for candy, plus it seems the past few years have been rainy on Halloween. So far we don't have to buy any costumes. Ryker is wearing an old one of Gage's. Kieran is going as a princess and already has most of the stuff. Gage just wants to make him a shirt, yes make his own shirt. He was always hard to shop for anyway. Curious to see what he comes up with.

8 and 10

A little late on Gage's birthday blog. Things have been a little busy. Work is super busy but at least it makes the day go by super fast. But having 5 minutes to eat my lunch is getting... lame (Kieran's new word).

Last Saturday was my Gage and Ryker's birthday party. Gage turned 8 on the 26th. We just do family parties right now, not exactly ready for the tons of kids ones. Didn't exactly plan it, but it was more of a musical theme than the original plan of planets as Gage had in mine. Both both got instruments. Gage got the guitar he had been wanting for awhile, as well as a bike and scooter. Ryker got a toy electronic guitar that he loved and didn't even care to open any other gifts, so I had to. He also got a piano keyboard and some kind of leapfrog drum.

This month also marks the 10th Anniversary of my discharge from the NAVY. I guess that makes me a 10 year veteran, lol. Time is flying by too fast.

Last night was our 80's dance fundraiser for NWARG in hopes to raise some money for the Killbillies to go to Minnesota this month. I am not able to go due to my nose breakage, kinda sadenning, but Apache wanted to go really bad so it was a blessing in disguise. Anyways, the dance was super fun and I of course was the first one out there, and would have been the last had my feet not had cramped up on me and forced me to leave and drive home barefooted using my big toe to push the gas. Gosh I love the 80's, and the outfits people wore were perfect. My fav was definitely Mellow and her Jane Fonda get up only she could pull off and still make it look sexy. Too bad I didn't take my camera, but others did and when I get some pics I am definitely stealing them.

So, for some pics from last weeks birthday party.

Gage helped me design the picture to use.


Gage playing his guitar like August Rush.





Notice the huge orb.

Two years

My baby turned 2 yesterday. We didn't have a big party since we are having a joint one for him and Gage next Saturday. So we just went to Cici's and ate cupcakes. We got him one gift to open on his day, so it felt more like his birthday. Hard to believe it's been 2 years since he came racing into the world. When he decided to come he decided to do it fast. Woke up at 3:30 a.m. with a cramp and he was here at 4:56 a.m. Still refuses to go slow at anything.

Indian Carnage

So yesterday after work Steven, the kids, and I all head up to Talequah, OK to see about my nose. I had him tag along just in case I wasn't able to drive back for whatever rhyme or reason they try to mutilate me. My insurance hasn't quite kicked in at work thanks to Murphy's Law, so being Indian is my only salvation at this point. Actually it's been my only salvation the last two years. So we head the hour drive there and wait the usual hour for X-rays, then another 2 hours to be seen for 5 minutes. It didn't take a surgeon to read the X-Ray I had to hand deliver myself to the Dr. "Ummm, isn't that middle thing supposed to be more on that side?" Needless to say, yep it be broken. Nasal fracture is nice medical jargon. Apparently though it is not bad enough to require being "set". HOWEVER, if by chance AFTER it heals... if I CONTINUE to have trouble breathing... they will refer me to an ENT Doctor. Their reasoning is it "should" heal straight. Keep in mind these are the same people that told me when I was pregnant with Kieran that the bronchitis I had for 3 months was viral, until I finally put my foot down and told them to give me antibiotics which cleared it up in 5 days, but not before leaving my lungs scarred. So I am still walking around with a crooked nose. Luckily the swelling is going down, but the bruising is going through the ugly phase. Even with makeup I am getting some weird looks. Poor Steven wants me to wear my derby shirt around all the time so he doesn't get the bad looks. I also am supposed to get one of those ugly face shields for scrimmaging. Yay...

Anyways, here is the latest damage shots, without makeup. I have a pretty good concealor I love, but it slowly fades throughout the day.

Day 3

And I feel so ugly. One eye is getting particularly blacker and blacker. Tried to cover it up as much as I could this morning with makeup but it didn't do as planned. Wasn't an hour being at work and a very pissed parent threatened me by saying.. "And I see someone already hit you in your eye, as they should have." At the time I was laughing inside for she had no clue to where this shiner came from. I just held my tongue. Not a normal occasion btw, as most parents love me, as well as the kids. Hoping to get this nose thing set tomorrow. The swelling is going down a little. Had several nurses today tell me that I better get it set quick to prevent the need for surgery. Horror stories plus parents threatening me... not a good start to the week. I just want to go to bed for a week.

Here's some new pics. Not sure why it won't show up as good on camera, but the bruise on my right eye is significantly bigger than what it appears on here.

Smell the roses...

Trying to anyways...

St. Louis trip was this weekend. We lost. Another sport court fiasco similar to that in Houston. Slick but not quite as slick or maybe it was my imagination. Toe starts were fumbled and corners were a bit slow. I knew coming into this bout that aggressiveness was going to be needed as I heard the Arch Rival Girls held a good defensive wall. I managed to break through with some penalties but it was far from easy and most of the time done in vain as the jam would be called off right before I got to the pack to score. It was my second to last jam of the night when my nose got elbowed by Dis Missle as I came up from behind for an assist. It took a second to realize I just got punched. Never been punched before, and especially in the face. Luckily I didn't fall down. Instead I clinched my fists and yelled like, (as quoted from Mack Data) "the Incredible Hulk." I felt as pissed off as the hulk so I am not surprised. I skated a stride or two before I realized I could keep going and pushed it continuing to check for blood so I didn't get in trouble. I made it through that jam and another a few later, but after that I was done.

I am sure I didn't make the best overall nice impression to the St. Louis girls as the rest of the night I was mostly a cranky bitty, even yelling at people to shut the door of the dressing room. After a bit of ice, ibuprofen, aleve, and fiddling around with my nose I wanted to try dancing as it was torture not to dance when everyone else was. So I get out there and dance for maybe 1 minute before I get nailed by Ms. Bloody is the same dang spot on my nose. I immediately grabbed it thought to myself the irony of it all. The rest of the night I mainly sat on the side watching. I did get brave enough to dance again and actually made it through a song or two, but I didn't want to push my luck so I went and sat out again. When we got back to the hotel I showered up and went to bed as everyone else partied in another room. I felt like a stick in the mud, especially considering this was supposed to be the last league game of the season (besides a recently added one to Minnesota next month for the Killbillies). Alas, I had succumbed.

Today I woke up to an alienish swelled nose, plus a much harder ability to breathe through the nostrils. And with that included the job of my eyes growing more black by the day. Hopefully I get a chance to go to the Dr. in the next couple of days to see if it needs to be put back into place. Although I am not looking forward to that if it's needed.

I guess, I will end this post with pics as well as apologies to those I may have been mean towards last night. I know I was a bitch.

First pic, taken soon after bout, showing a little crookedness.



Side view, with bigger than normal bump.



And today's image of beauty even with foundation trying to cover the blackness of the eyes.

Sassy McFly

So I jumped and went through with a haircut I have wanted for months. It was inevitable. Since high school I have had this cycle of really long hair, then gradual cuts, ending with somewhat short do's. This time my back is officially the shortest it has been ever. The front about even with my NAVY cut. Although I must say this is much cuter than it was back then. The wonderful Maggie at Be Salon is the artist. Maggie is also one of my ol' derby buddies and the only person I have let touch my hair in the past year. She cut a ponytail off which I am hoping is long enough to donate to locks of love.

My one complaint is that because my hair grows super fast I have to actually be proactive about keeping it cut, because I would actually like to keep this for some time. I am not used to that.

Anyways, phase 1 is complete. Now to continue with phase 2.

A change is brewin'

September is here and with it comes an early Fall. Fine by me, I love fall. The temps suit me nicely. Even in the midst of all this rain I got some good news this week. I finally got my counseling license and with it comes a huge sigh of relief. I cannot say how many hoops I had to jump through this summer to get that dang thing. It's weird but when a goal that you have been working on for so many years is finally reached it's almost a surreal feeling mixed with a "now what?". In my adult life I have become very driven and goal oriented and that is not going anywhere anytime soon. I always have to have some goal that needs working on, usually more than one going at a time. This year has brought several goals to closure. I am running on low for goals now. While reaching all my goals have definitely opened the door for opportunities and longer roads, I feel the need to have some small minor goals reached before the end of the year. My subject is my personal self. I actually started it several weeks ago, but I am doing some tweeking here and there. So don't be surprised if you see me one day and I am significantly different than the day before. No details yet, but I will say I am being brave with it. I make no apologies for them either. Sometimes the only reason for change is not necessarily improvement but changing in general. I have gotten into a slump and the same ol' tends to be rather boring to me... overtime.

Even Perez hasn't caught this yet....

Oh and if you don't know who either one of these women are, you need to crawl out of the hole you have been hiding in and read the news and read up on Sopranos.

Me for President

http://www.thelopezfamilyonline.com/play.php?first=Blazen &last=Glory

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Birthday take 28!

Another year has come and gone already. Seems twice as fast as each preceding years. I don't dread getting older. Other than seeing my grandchildren there is nothing left in my life that I feel I "need" to do. So everything else is just icing on the cake from here on out. Of coarse I always wonder where my life will bring me when I am 35 or 40 and so on. The curse of bad birthdays must have finally left me or at least given me a break. Although this morning I was beginning to wonder if it was on it's way to becoming another cursed one. Ryker has a severely red bottom and could not sleep well last night at all. Of coarse, Steven was once again out of town working with his Dad. So the lack of sleep didn't make for a perfect bday. Steven made it back into town in time to go to our couple's class dinner, with birthday flowers in tow. What I thought was a cookout ended up being a very nice homemade Northern New Mexico dinner made by a very talented man in our church. And his wife says he cooks like that all the time. It was followed by a nice Dairy Queen frozen cake especially for muah. It was nice as childcare was taken care of so it was just adults for the evening which is a change for myself. Now that we are home I am debating on going to see a good horror movie by myself. I have like 5 minutes to decide. So anyways here are some pics from today while at home.

lounging most of the day.



My flowers...



Kiddos eating the rest of my cake



28 today pic

I'm a dork!

I am sitting here unable to sleep as usual. Just got back from Dil's surprise 70's skating party and I am sitting here with my knee propped up after a spill with my derby wife Blonde Ice. I find the irony of being a rollergirl sometimes sadistic in the fact that I can never skate in a normal atmosphere without getting hurt. Why? Because I am so used to pads and when I fall my memory automatically goes to fall on my knees. Both got hurt, but my left took the brunt. The pain shot up like a torpedo to my brain and there for a few minutes I just rolled around on the floor doing breathing techniques. Why? Cause I have forgotten how to cry. Seriously. I have cried like maybe twice this year. I do believe it is a good coping mechanism, but for some odd reason mine has been shut off for awhile. Every now and then I might get a small choke on something on TV or on the news, but it ends as quickly as it started. And as far as getting hurt well, I notice my body instead just shoots pain everywhere to cope. I get a headache from hurting my knee. That sucks! Crying would be so much simpler. But alas I am broken.

On a better note, we got in from Oklahoma around 10ish tonight to find my Board approved letter stating I will get my license soon. Woo Hoo! Finally. I also got me a derby ball gown from my sister, which is better than anything else I have looked at thus far. Tomorrow... or I mean tonight is the NWARG potluck so today I will spend getting ready for that. Hopefully my knee cooperates. Will post the pics from the party soon. I have some really good ones I must say... just none of me and my fancy play skates with jump bar. Shame on me. Although, those things are cursed now and I am afraid to ever wear them again. Anyone wear a size 5?

Last home bout pics

Giving my derby wife Blonde Ice some derby love.



Dimah reaching out her hand to me.



Jammer take out by Dis. Check out our bench in the back.



Awesome whip by Dimah...



She blocked her just enough so I could get by.



Slamming my way through the inside.



I got so low on this the other girls was grunting to try and get me.