War

In the last few days all of this has come to the surface of my attention of what needs to happen in the next month:
Kensi's b-day
Bent's b-day
YW Camp due for 3 girls
Dallas trip to see our family friend return from Afghanistan
Cali has an abscess from a broken tooth & needs to see the dentist
Kensi is on her last pair of contacts and needs to have an exam before she can get more
Brae would like her permit
Mormon Prom for the two older girls


Since last night the following has broke:
Ironing board (we are in the middle of a project)
Iron
Engine Light came back on this morning
Washing Machine

There were two pretty big emotional ordeals last week that happened and are still hanging over my heart. One of them has pretty big implications about what may be happening this week.

I am honestly feeling that Satan has waged a personal war on me. It's comical how much has happened all of a sudden. And all at once. It feels much bigger than me.

It's a good thing that my God is bigger than all. I don't know how He will handle all this. I just know I can't.

Somebunny Loves Me

This was taken on Easter Day and I forgot to post it. 

Brazil is Cool

Saturday night I went on an awesome 2nd date to the Houston International Festival spotlighting Brazil. 

It was fun! I have never been to anything like it. There were lots of food booths & live music. 

This was my leftovers after funnel cake. 

I brought it home to add to my collection...

We listened to two bands. They were great. The second one was Bootsy Collins. 

I think he even wore this outfit that night. haha He was very psychedelic!! 

I had never heard of him before but the crowd had though. They were singing every song.

Is it cruel of me to say I felt like I was in an episode of "Whatcha doin at the courthouse?" ;)

It was a way fun night! 

Grateful for my keepsake ;) 

Sad Day

Yesterday two bombs went off at the finish line at the Boston Marathon. :( It's horribly sad. 

This morning Bella was getting out of the car for school and she paused and turned to me and asked: "mom, are the bombs coming here?" :(

With all the energy I could muster up within me I said, "no" ,when inside I felt very exposed. Like she could see right through me. I pray for our protection every day and am thankful everyday for our protection. I try to teach the kids about faith and protection from our Heavenly Father. However, there is nothing I can do to ensure that. I can't protect them when they are away. I can't protect them when they are home. I feel weak in comforting my babies. 

Cali is scared to go to school too. :( That's what I hate more than anything. That our small people are scared. I'm very grateful to have the Gospel in our lives that will bring comfort to their growing hearts. 

MY Smoothie ;)

I walked in the door this morning with a smoothie. Kensington immediately asked "mmmm, what flavor is that? Strawberry Banana??"

Strawberry Banana is my favorite and what I always get. It's good. Ken knows it's good!

I replied "Swiss Berry with Acai".

K: ewwww gross!

hahahahaha I'm so smart! What a delicious strawberry banana smoothie I was able to enjoy all myself. ;D Sometimes you just need to have something just for you.

No Hot Date Tonight

You should read my previous blog entry first.

I am texting this dude in Utah and he asks me if I have a hot date tonight. When I said I didn't he asked what I'm doing tonight instead. hahaha I just replied "nothing too exciting"...

In reality I am literally retrieving a roll of soggy toilet paper out of the toilet with paper towels and a stick and putting it into a plastic bag.

Shmexy, ay?! It's hilarious! Ummm definitely no hot date tonight. ;D

I'm Quite Tired

The past two days have been so insanely crazy with no down time. Today is Saturday. I was planning to go to a bridal shower for an amazing woman this afternoon but needed to make her present first. To do that I needed to go to Lowes to get the supplies. Before I could go to Lowes I needed to finish my mom's birthday present and get it in the mail! Before I could do that I needed to get photos from Walgreens to put in her box. Before I could do that I needed to let my sister in law's doggie out and feed him. Before I could do that I needed Bentley to wake up and get movin so we could get started with our day. Before he woke up I woke up at 6:30 on a stinking Saturday so I could finish work orders that I didn't get to yesterday because I was busy driving my kids halfway to Dallas and back and helping at a fundraiser until late last night.

I made it to Lowes finally and was able to start cutting the wood, routing the edges, painting and prepping my board for Alona at 1:00!!! The shower started at 2:30. That was interesting- and I soon realized I wasn't making the party on time. So, we made a cameo and gave her the present to find out the ModPodge (sealant on the board) didn't dry thoroughly so it left wrapping paper marks on the board :( I brought it home with me to try to find a way to fix it.

After more errands this afternoon B is out sleeping. I am exhausted and still have to work on my lesson for Primary tomorrow and do many things around the house.

And... I discovered B (while potty training and locking himself in my bathroom to go potty) took ALL the toilet paper off the roll. :( AND shoved it all in the toilet. Now it's backed up too.

Calgon...

I need a break. Again.

You Look Good...

This afternoon I heard the three words I hoped to never hear ever! I was telling Cali & Kensi in a car ride home that I was tied for my all-time heaviest weight (without being pregnant) and am starting to get it back off!

Cali looks at me and said: "You look good mom... FOR YOUR AGE". Oh my goodness :( hahahahaha I have had a crazy realization the last week that I will be 35 this year!! I can't even fathom how this has happened. I was just turning 30. I feel 26! Well kinda... when I'm not exhausted, feeling like a 65 year old! 

Thank you sweet child! She really did mean it to be a compliment. :)

Tardy Party

This morning in true Amanda fashion I was pushed for time and a little stressed. I went about 20 miles or so with the gas light on and desperately needed the chance to stop for gas! I squeezed that in between car rides and right before I was to take Cali to school. We got to the gas pump and I swear we got the slowest pump in Houston! It took, no lie, 12 minutes to fill up the tank! Dinosaur pump! We were exactly across the street from Cali's school and she was freaking out that she would be tardy. She and I both decided to go in the front entrance of the school since it was practically walking distance from the grandpa gas pump instead of the back entrance we've always taken (since we learned our lesson long ago that the front entrance is a nightmare mad house and to NEVER go the front entrance ever again)! We made our way quickly across the street and sat in the left turn lane into the school for a few minutes. As the minutes ticked by I noticed my little worry-wart start to cry and get noticeably more upset. "I can't be tardy or else I won't get to attend the No-Tardy-Party at the end of the year." As we sat perfectly still in the line NOT moving at all and more minutes went by we arrived at the time the sixth grade bell was ringing. I asked if she could just run in when we turned in and could go straight to class? No was her reply. She had to go drop off her instrument in the orchestra room and go to her locker because they won't allow backpacks in the school. She was pleading at this point to stay home, horrified at the concept of getting her first tardy this year. In the stress and pressure I caved! I can not fathom how her way of thinking makes sense - you miss an entire day of school over being ONE MINUTE tardy just to save your seat at the No-Tardy-Party! Does the school know the kids are finding a way around that?? Does the school know there are parents who are really jacked up and who cave to pressure and let their kids be absent over being one minute tardy? Dumb gas pump, dumb idea to go to the front entrance even when I knew better, dumb tight schedule, dumb backpack rule. ;p

Guess what though? Cali came home and mowed the front & back lawn which needed it so badly! She helped with Bentley while I completed all my orders from my store. She got along with Kensi which is unusual for the two of them. It was a really nice day having her home overall.

This afternoon I was telling this "funny" story to Kensington & Cali was in the back seat listening and her reply was "What??!! Now you think I'm a bad person, mom?!!!"


Does my consent today qualify me for "Parent of the Year"??

What do I win??

Nothing in this World

I feel the need to write this down. What my heart desires more than anything else (besides what I already have) is to find the right man, get married & buy a house. :D It's a great dream, right!! What's so difficult is that it's completely out of my control, all I can do is pray about it and prepare myself for the blessing. What I struggle with is feeling "ok" in the meantime until it happens. Some days/weeks I feel completely fine and sometimes even that it's better this way for now. But lately, oh my goodness, the desire has been SO INTENSE I can't even handle it. I've been pondering lately about other potential blessings filling in the void, for example I think, what if I was blessed with an amazing house in the country- would that satisfy my desire? Or if I was blessed to inherit a lot of money- would that make me satisfied? Truthfully, and I'm not sure why I need to write this down, sounds pretty obvious as I'm typing, NOTHING would ever satisfy that desire. Nothing worldly can replace it, no house and no amount of money can take it's place.

I believe that realization to be a good thing. Means my heart is where it's supposed to be. Even if I struggle with my situation in the meantime.