Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Elyssa

Ten years ago today my beautiful baby girl was born. That was one of the most amazingly happy days of my life. Today she has grown into a beautiful talented smart young lady. On this special day I want to leave you with a little note to let you know just how much you mean to me.

Letter to a daughter from mom

My dear beautiful daughter, Ten years ago today the good lord blessed our family by giving us you. It was one of the happiest days in my life. I remember when I was first told that I was going to have a little girl. I was so happy because One i always wanted a girl and two you would be the first granddaughter on both sides of the family. All of the family was very excited to finally have another girl in the mix of so many boys. Now it is 10 years later and you have grown into a beautiful young lady. It amazes me how much and how fast you have blossomed. I can't wait to see how you turn out to be when you grow up, just promise not to do it so fast. I still want my little girl for a little longer. My hope for you is that you will grow to be a very smart and well rounded woman and one day marry a man who is equal to you. I hope that you have a family that you are proud of and I can spoil. He he he. I love you my sweet daughter. Enjoy your day.

Love your mom.

Letter from Dad

Hello there my beautiful little princess!! You have finally made it to the double digits. There is no turning back from there. You are becoming such an mature and intelligent young lady. The day you were born was a day of sheer excitement and joy for me. You are flesh of my flesh and blood of my blood. You have exceeded all my expectations of you for your life. But do not try to please me or think that I expect you to be perfect. I expect only for you to have the most abundant and fulfilling life possible. Just be yourself. You are so unique and wonderful. My little Elyssa. You will always be my little princess, even when you are a fully grown woman with her own family and priorities. Please slow down a little with you aging though, for it means that I am getting older and you are becoming more independent. I wish for you to have a wonderful husband that will treat you with the love and respect that you deserve. (If he doesn't, he WILL answer to me ;-)) And I pray you have the most wonderful children that give you all that you have given to us ( both good and bad...haha...karma sweetie, karma) But I love you and wish you a very Happy Birthday and many, many more to come.

Love,

Daddy

Meet me on Monday

1. What is your favorite way to eat chicken?

That would have to be in my family's favorite dish called Cheesy Chicken and Rice.

2. Have you decorated for Christmas yet?

Started to but still have a long way to go.

3. What is your favorite article of clothing?

Wow that is a hard one. I can't say I have a favorite cause I really like all my cloths.

4. Do you pay your bills online or write checks the old way?

Ohhhhh so on line I don't do the whole check thing it takes to long.

5. Do you make Christmas cookies?

You better believe I do and my kids help me every year. I hope that is one tradition that will never change.

You and I have memories...

Another blogger posted this CUTE questionnaire about couples.

Here are our answers:

1. What are your middle names?

Mine is Christine and His is John

2. How long have you been together?
We have been together for almost 12 years. Married for 11 of those.

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
About three weeks

4. Who asked who out?
He asked me out a couple of times before I said yes.

5. How old are each of you?
He is about to be 36 in January and I just turned 32

6. Did you go to the same school?
No different schools in different states.

7. Are you from the same home town?
No I am from California originally and he is from Louisiana

8. Who is the smartest?
That would be him with no doubt

9. Who majored in what?
He went to collage but didn't finish and I did not go at all.

10. Who is the most sensitive?
I would have to say we are both sensitive to a point but I more than him.

11. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Colorado Springs, Co.

12. Who has the worst temper?
In the beginning it was me most defiantly but now I think we have both leveled out

13. How many children do you want?
Two which is what we have. A boy and a girl.

14. Who does the cooking?
Mostly me but sometime he does when I'm not feeling well.

15. Who is more social?
Neither of us are social bugs but I would say me more than him.

16. Who is the neat freak?

OH he is most defiantly. I can tolerate a little mess but it doesn't stay that way long.

17. Who is the most stubborn?

Ummmm, I would have to say me on this one. He can stand his ground if he really feels it is necessary but I am very stubborn.

18. Who wakes up earlier?
Its hard to say because I work during the day but he works at night. When he is getting home I am usually just getting up or have been up for awhile if he works overtime.

19. Where was your first date?
To a ride in Biloxi, Ms called the Ultimate Rush. I had Dj and my little brother with us so I don't know that you can really call it a date.

20. Who has the biggest family?
That would be me for sure. I am the oldest of 14 kids. Not all by the same mom and dad but non the less 14 of us. He only has a sister.

21. Do you get flowers often?
Not often but that is because I think the spontaneity of giving flowers would be lost if I got them all the time. I love when he surprises me with flowers.

22. How do you spend the holidays?

Mostly here with just the four of us. Once in awhile we go to a family friends house for the holidays but mostly just here. That will change of course when my mother and four younger siblings move here at the end of the year.

23. Who is more jealous?
In the begging of our relationship it was him most defiantly but now I would have to say neither of us. We have gotten to a point in our relationship that we can be totally honest with each other about everything.

24. How long did it take to get serious?

Not long at all I think we were dating about five months when he asked me to marry him the first time, it was on the side of the road on our way home from work and I said yes but that he would have to talk to my dad first and do it right, So he did and on our 6 month anniversary he took me to Olive Garden and proposed in front of everyone on a very busy night. We finally tied the knot so to speak 11 months after we first met.

25. Who eats more?

I honestly couldn't say because we both like food but we hardly ever eat at the same time due to his work schedule.

26. What do you do for a living?
Currently he works for the Prison in Nashville but hoping to be working for Clarksville PD in January and I will be starting on my carrier as a nurse in February.

27. Who does the laundry?
Everyone does the laundry. The kids do their own and Dale and I take turn doing ours.

28. Who's better with the computer?
I don't know because there are certain things that I can do that he can't and vice versa so I would have to say we are about equal.

29. Who drives when you are together?
Mostly him but sometimes I do to. It really just depends on the situation. like if we are traveling he does most of the driving but around town I would say about equal.

30. What is your song?
You know I really don't know because it changes all the time. Currently it is " When I look at you" by Miley Cyrus.

Thanksgiving Coma

Ha ha. Well today was just a day of relaxing and munching on the leftovers from Thanksgiving. I think we all just ate to much the day before because no one wanted to do anything but just hang out and chill. So that is what we did. Now I am headed to bed to try and sleep off some of this food.

Blog at you later.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Now most of the time we go to a family friends house for Thanksgiving and really enjoy ourselves but this year we had planned to go to my brother Tj's house but our plans fell through so instead of intruding on someone Else's thanksgiving we decided to have our very first family thanksgiving alone. I think it turned out pretty well considering the fact that I have not made most of these dishes ever before. I even made a pumpkin pie. Not that I ate any of it cause I personally don't like it but the kids and Dale really liked it. Anyway here is our meal i made.

this is our table all set and ready to eat

Dale carving our first Thanksgiving Turkey.

The Turkey. You cant tell but when dale pulled the Turkey out of the cooking pan and it broke in half. It was pretty funny.

Whole wheat croissants

Black olives

Stuffing. I must say for the first time ever making it it came out really well.

Mashed potatoescorn

Green bean Casserole. Now I have to say I have had other peoples before and not liked it but I really like how mine came out.

Cranberry jelly. Not a big hit at the dinner table. Guess I wont put that out next year. lol

My cranberry salad. I think I may have put to many Mini Marshmallows in it cause it didn't turn out the way it was suppose to this year. I think it may be time to pass the tradition down to my children.

Well that's all for now. Blog at you later.

Thanksgiving HodgePodge

1. If you had known what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower?
probably, I guess it just depended on what my personal situation was at the time. But I am going to go with Ya probably.

2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?
I have not been on a boat before. I know sheltered life but I would love to soon.

3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed? If you're single what are some of your family's favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
we really don't have a tradition for Thanksgiving. Its just usually by the seat of our pants but this year I think we may be starting a new one.

4. What time is dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving day?
usually around 5 or 6 for dinner. This year will just be the four of us around the table. My cranberry sweet salad that has been passed down for generations. I just love it.

5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? Do tell....
Can't say that I have.

6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and feet dragging, only to realize later it was a true blessing.
That's an easy one. That would be Hurricane Katrina in 05. I thought I would never recover from that but instead we moved to a town we knew nobody in, was adopted by a family whom we still love to this day and have made friends and a life here in Tennessee. I am very grateful for mother nature bringing us here.

7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned or french fried...which one's your favorite?
I wold have to say Baked, hash browned and french fried would be my favorite.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

My random thought for today is my thanks. With it being Thanksgiving tomorrow I thought I would put down everything I am grateful for. I am grateful for my wonderful family that I get to spend everyday with. I am grateful for my friends whom I don't see all the time but I know that I can count on them at any moment to help me out with anything I need. But most of all I am thankful for the good Lord who has always lead me to where I have needed to be in my life, who has set forth challenges that he knew would make be a better person in the long run and given me a life set out so that I may one day return to him again.

A much better day

Wow its amazing what a great weekend can do for ones attitude. Today was a great day. All the kids were in amazing attitudes and not only did I get paid on time I found out that I have been refered to a lady who works at the school also. She is a teacher and so I will be working school hours. Not only that but it is a steady job as well as great pay. All in all I would say it was a wonderful day. Sorry so short but I have another work day tomorrow.

Night all. Blog at you later.

Meet me on Monday

Welcome to the 23rd edition of
"Meet Me On Monday!"

Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other!
"Its a great way to to meet new friends and for others to get to know me better....one Monday at a time!!!"....as quoted by the Chacogirl!!

1. How many pillows do you sleep with?
two. a fluffy for my head and a flat folded in half for between my knees

2. Where will you eat on Thanksgiving?
probably at home since dale has to work

3. Would you rather go to a party or host a party?
attend i think but sometimes its nice to host

4. How many purses (for the guys..wallets) do you own?
about twenty or so. i love purses

5. What is your favorite kind of seafood?
that would be shrimp and crab legs

Santa's Secret Wish

I saw this on a friends blog and loved it so much I couldn't help but post it on mine to share with everyone. I hope yall like it to. Thanks Alex.

Santa’s Secret Wish

Betty Werth

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes
Looked deep into Santa’s eyes, to Santa’s surprise,
And said as he nestled on Santa’s broad knee,
“I want your secret, tell it to me.”
He leaned up and whispered in Santa’s good ear,
“How do you do it, year after year?”
“I want to know how, as you travel about,
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.
How is it, Dear Santa, that in your pack of toys
You have plenty for all of the world’s girls and boys?
Stays so full, never empties, as you make your way
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,
From nation to nation, reaching them all?”
And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
“Don’t ask me hard questions. Don’t you want a toy?”
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see
That he needed an answer, “Now listen to me,”
He told the small boy with the light in his eyes,
“My secret will make you sadder, and wise.”
“The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside
It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.
But although I do visit each girl and boy
I don’t always leave a gaily wrapped toy.
Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.
Some homes are broken, and children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?”
“My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives, toys aren’t enough.
So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,
And pray with them that they’ll be given the joy
Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets none, but gives.”
“If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.
It’s a very hard task, my smart little brother,
To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.
But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each need.
“That’s part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth,
Is that my sack is magic. And that’s the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day
More love than a Santa could ever give away.
The sack never empties the love or the joys
‘Cause inside it are prayers, and hopes. Not just toys.
The more I give, the fuller it seems,
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.”
“And do you know something? You’ve got a sack, too,
It’s as magic as mine, and it’s inside of you.
It never gets empty, it’s full from the start.
It’s the center of lights, and of love. It’s your heart.
And if on this Christmas you want to help me,
Don’t be so concerned with the gifts ‘neath your tree.
Open that sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care.”
The light in the small boy’s eyes was glowing
“Thanks for the secret. I’ve got to be going.”
“Wait, little boy,” said Santa, “don’t go.
Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?”And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
Touched his heart with his small hand and whispered,
“I will!”

Dale's Blog

For those of you that don't know, my husband Dale has his own blog also. It is a very interesting blog to say the least. So I am asking all my friends out there in blog world to please stop by his blog and follow it. He is a great man with great ideas and just wants to put them out there. I hope that you will at least take a look at it. You can find his blog by scrolling down to my blogs I follow and click on Dale Bellard. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do and as much as he enjoys writing it.

Thanks
Quon Bellard

Thanksgiving Bouquet

I recieved this in an email a couple of days ago and loved it but never thought to put it on my blog to always remember it until I saw it on another friends blog so I am also putting it on mine. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.



Sandra felt as low as the heels of her Birkenstocksas she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease.



During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer.



"She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.



Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an air bag that saved her life but took that of her child?



"Good afternoon, may I help you?" The shop clerk's approach startled her.



"I....I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.



"For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving "Special?" asked the shop clerk. "I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"



"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.



"Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you.



"Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi, Barbara...let me get your order.



"She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses; Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.



"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.



Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.



"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.



"Uh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!"



"Right, said the clerk, "I cut off the flowers. That's the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet."



"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that!" exclaimed Sandra.



"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."



"That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk, "and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel."



"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.



"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others.



"Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God.



"Just then someone else walked in the shop.



"Hey, Phil!" shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man.



"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement...twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems," laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.



"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?"



"No...I'm glad you asked," Phil replied. "Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from "thorny" times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us.



"As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special.



"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life," Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too...fresh."



"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns.



"Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment.



"I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.



"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."



"Thank you. What do I owe you?" Sarah asked.



"Nothing; nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me." The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first.



"It read:



"My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the life I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant.



"Praise Him for your roses, and remember to thank him for your thorns



Author Unknown

New Recipe

Today was a much better day. I woke up, after getting a lot of sleep, feeling like a million bucks. I don't think I slept that well in a long time. Then I spent some time just hanging out with the family and enjoying the peace and quiet. I finished a couple of cards I was making and then finished organizing, to best of my availability, my scrapbooking stuff and then made out my wish lists of things I want and need. Later we played some games as a family and then the kids headed out to play with their friends and run off some of that pent up energy they were storing. Once everyone was home Dj started on his laundry and Elyssa finished straiting up her room and I got started on dinner. It was really good. Anyway as most of you know I hate being in the kitchen cooking. I think it must stem from not getting to learn at a younger age but either way I don't like to spend a lot of time standing over a stove and cooking so I tend to go for the really quick meals that are still healthy to a point and don't take much time to cook. So since I know I am not the only person out there like this I am going to start posting one recipe a week on my blog that is quick and easy to make. So here is my first entry.

Slop Over Rice

1lb of ground beef

1can of green beans

1can of whole corn

1can of cream of mushroom soup

1/2 cup water

1can of diced tomatoes

1cup of white rice

1 medium onion

In a skillet cook ground beef and onion until beef is no longer pink, season to taste, drain, place back into skillet. In a medium bowl add green beans, corn, cream of mushroom soup, water, and tomatoes together and mix. Pour mixture over meat and cook till heated through.

Make rice according to directions. Put rice in bowl and meat mixture over rice. Enjoy.

prep time: 5 minutes

cook time: 15-30 depending on how you cook your rice.

Substitutes: You can use brown rice instead of white if you prefer or put it over noodles instead and you can also use different veggies and a different type of cream of whatever soup. Its really all about what your family likes. That's what makes this meal so great and easy. You can also double the meat and rice to make it go farther. I have to do that because my kids are in their growing stage and eat me out of house and home. Lol. But you could also make the slop part and freeze it for another time. That is what my mother did growing up, so that if we were busy and she didn't have time to make dinner she would just make the rice and thaw out the meat mix.

Well that's all for today. Blog at you later.

TGIF

Thank Goodness Its Friday. I have had the week from heck so to speak. I am tired and no matter how long I sleep I don't seem to ever get enough. I have the two little boys from downstairs again today. At least they are feeling better today. We shall see how the day goes.

Sick kids

Today was not a better day. Both the little boys that I watch are sick and cranky. I was able to get a small break and go hand out with Diana today for about and hour and see how her new kitchen is coming along. It looks great. Makes me kinda jealous actually. I love her kitchen. It is just what I wanted for my kitchen. Not that I have a house of my own to do that to but I will soon I hope. Anyway I got home just as Lori showed up with her little girl and she wasn't feeling well either. She cried most of the time I had her and the only time she didn't cry was when she was sleeping. Which was only a few minutes at a time and a couple times all night. Wow makes me glad I don't have small children of my own anymore. I love that mine are pretty much independent and only need me for immediate things when they are sick. I know that sounds mean but the older I get the happier I am that I don't have little ones anymore. The good lord knew what he was doing when he only gave me two children to raise here on earth. I know this all sound cynical today but really I guess its just the result of a really bad day. Anyway everyone is gone home now and I am headed to bed. These kids ware me out.

Blog at you later.

Wednesday HodgePodge

1. What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen?
That would have the be the thunder and lightning storms we get here in Middle Tennessee. Most people wouldn't like them because they are like nothing I have ever seen before in my life. But I just love to sit on the deck and watch them. I guess I'm silly like that. Lol

2. What is a sound or noise you love?
This is going to be cheesy but its the sound of my children laughing. I don't know why, maybe its a momma thing but that sound just makes my heart happy. No matter what is going on in my life that sound just cheers me up.

3. Do you like seafood? What's your favorite seafood dish?
I'm not a big seafood person but I do like crab legs and shrimp. Just not all the time. I really have to be in the mood for it.

4. What part of your day requires the most patience?
All day these days now that I am watch little kids. I just have to remember that they are not mine and they are going back to their own homes at the end of the day. I love them and they are a blessing but they take all my patience during the day.

5. What's your favorite shade of blue?
OH I don't know I guess all shades of blue. Its funny cause I was just thinking what shade of blue to use for my blog answers today. Lol.

6. Do people underestimate you?
All the time. That's all I am going to say about that.

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?
I honestly can say that I don't remember.

8. Insert your own random thought here, and remember...I have a wooden spoon and I'm not afraid to use it.
My random thought for today is a quote I read the other day.

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -Thomas A. Edison.

One of those days

Today was one of those days when I should have just stayed in bed and slept the whole day. It started with me completely sleeping through my alarm and getting a late start to the day. Then when I went downstairs to get the kids the youngest had wet the bed. Right after I changed him into his cloths for the day he did it again. I was like really this is how my day is going to go. Yes then it was whining all day from the kids and more whining when my own got home. I have had a massive migraine all day and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. To top it all off the boy's mom was late getting home so I had them an extra hour and half. I think I might just scream and then die. No really I have had the worst day ever. Sorry for the ranting today but If I just keep it in I will explode. Here's hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Blog at you later.

November 15

Today was a pretty calm and quiet day. I had Roddy and Vally all day today and for the most part they were really good. I didn't have to get onto them at all. Later I got a visit from my visiting teachers so they could chat a bit and drop off some gifts for my birthday, which I loved by the way, and then stayed and visited a bit. After they left it went back to a pretty calm quiet day and then the kids came home from school. Need I say more. Roddy and Vally went home at about four. Finally I made dinner and put my kids to bed. Now I'm headed there myself. Sorry for the short post. Just really tired.

Blog at you later.

A day out with my buddy

So today was the day I got to use my gift card to Olive Garden that Michelle gave me for my birthday. So I called her up and asked what she was doing today and when she said what she was up to I told her to make time for me cause I was wanting to spend the day with her. She said yay and we met up at Olive Garden for lunch. We both got the stuffed Chicken Marcela and it was way yummy. Then we headed out for a couple of places. First we went to Hobby Lobby so she could pick up some yarn then headed over to Koles and I got one sweater but they didn't have much and I wasn't in the mood to dig for anything. Then headed over to my favorite store Cato's for some birthday shopping. Plus I so needed some girl cloths as well as some winter cloths. We had a blast and I picked up 5 sweaters, 3 shirts, a skirt set and 2 necklaces all for 161.00. I think that was a great deal. Plus the two sweaters and three shirts the other day for twenty five dollars. So total all in all I spent less than 200.00 and got about 20 outfits. My mom would be proud. Lol. Anyway it was great getting a chance to spend some quality time with a friend I don't get to see very often. Love ya Michelle. Thanks for today. Well I am home now and as much as I love shopping it wears me out so I am headed to bed.

Blog at you later.

Day off

So today is Veterans and I have the day off from babysitting. The kids are out of school and Dale is off work so we got to spend the day together as a family. It was really nice. We all slept in which was wonderful let me tell you. Then when everyone was up and chores where done we sat together on the floor where our couch use to be (another blog post about that later) and watched Ramona and Bezzus. It was such a cute movie. Everyone loved it. Then we ate lunch and hung out a bit. Then the kids went out to play with their friends for a bit. At about two we headed over to the Skate park off of Peachers Mill rd and met up with Ryan and her gang. We stayed and chatted for about two hours and Dj skated like crazy. He is really getting the hang of it. After that we came home and watched another movie called Charlie St. Cloud which was a great movie also. Then we did a little research on the computer then ate dinner and headed to bed. The kids have school tomorrow and I have to get up early to babysit. It was a great day off with my family. I can't wait till this weekend though. I get to go hang out with a couple of my girlfriends and buy some winter cloths. Well that's all for today.

Blog at you later.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joyce has taken the initiative to pick up where the Random Dozen has left off...kind of! This is the first edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge: 7 questions to answer with
the opportunity to add your own random item. Thanks, Joyce!


1. Do you think you're more like your mom or your dad? I think that I am a little like both of them. In good ways and in bad. I even look like both of them depending on which one I am standing next to at the time.



2. Do you like roller coasters? I use to when I was younger but I just don't have the stomach for it anymore.



3. How did you name your blog and do you now wish you'd thought about it maybe another five minutes before you hit publish? Would you change your blog title if it were not a huge pain in the derriere? (French makes everything sound a little nicer doesn't it?) I named my blog Boppin along with the Bellards because we are the Bellards and believe it or not we do a lot of boppin around her. Both of my kids are very active children and my husband and I are trying to be a lot more active, so with that being said no I would not change it because it fits us perfectly.



4. What is the best wedding gift you received? Not married? Didn't get any gifts? Then what is the best wedding gift you've given? The best wedding gift I received was my wonderful husband. We did not have a traditional wedding. We woke up the day after his birthday packed the car and headed over to Alabama by ourselves and got married by the JP. It was the best wedding ever. I don't care what anyone says its way better than spending thousands of dollars on a gown you will only wear once and lets face it our children do not want to get married in our old out of date hand me down gowns no matter what we delude ourselves into thinking, and a reception that everyone is just going to attend for a day. I really don't see the point. Or maybe that's just me. Either way I love the way I got married and it was the best gift I could have ever gotten.



5. What is the one bill you most hate to pay? Rent. I know that sounds silly but I would much rather be paying my mortgage than paying someone else's.



6. Is the glass half full or half empty? For the most part Half full but sometimes its Half empty like me.



7. What is your favorite word? At the moment it is "Right". Dale says that's because I have been spending to much time with my younger friends lately and that is how they talk. lol



8. Now, this is where you insert one random thought of your own...maybe something that struck you as funny, something that recently had you scratching your head in confusion, something that annoyed you a teensy bit, something on your to do list, something you are looking forward to, whatever. As long as it is in keeping with the friendly tone we've all come to know and love on Wednesdays then we're good. Don't make me get out my wooden spoon. My random thought for today is this fact. Why is it that when you are baking that even when you follow the receipt to the t every time nothing ever comes out the same. I just don't get it.

A sweet and wonderful Birthday

Yeah it is my Birthday today. I am a big ole 32 years old. Probably shouldn't have said that but who cares right. Anyway it was a wonderful day. I got up as I do every morning got the kids up, dressed and off to school then started work with the two young ens that I watch from down stairs. I got a call from my dad singing me happy birthday which was the best part of my day. Yes even at 32 my daddy can still melt my heart with the sweetest of things. I got a few calls from friends, lots of Facebook birthday wishes from all my online friends and a few people I don't know on my husbands list and a couple of cards in the mail. I even made a home make chocolate chip cookie which was fantabulous by the way....ya ya I know that's not really a word but thanks Michelle for it. Then my wonderful friend Ryan called me to let me know she was on her way over to pick me up and take me out to lunch. She had a tag along with her and the three of us had a wonderful lunch. After I got home Dj had made me a small lunch and a card which was the best ever. I didn't eat the lunch only cause I had just eaten like twenty five minutes before that. Then the kids made dinner and even used one of my favorite recipes that I was a little worried they would ruin but they did a great job on it. Then we all relaxed a bit and the kids hit the bed. As I was heading to bed myself I came across a letter that Dale had written in secret and laid on my pillow. He is just the most wonderful husband ever. It even brought a few tears to my eyes when I read it. I am only posting it on here because I am afraid the paper wont last forever and I will loose it so here it is.

Letter from my husband

Even as a child, I dreamed of someone special to share my life with. On November 9, 1978 that dream was made manifest. In February 1999, that dream found its way to my presence and unfolded, revealing itself to me in the person of Quondaila Christine Shields. And finally it detonated with an explosion of love and became Quondaila Christine Shields Bellard. Our love has reached a maturity and openness that nothing can compare to.

So today, on this special day that embraces my wish fulfillment, I wish to celebrate and remember our special life together and you unique birth.

Happy Birthday "my angle"

Love you always,

Dale

Even now as I write it, it warms my heart to know that I have such a romantic and loving husband in my life. Thank you babe for all you do for me on a daily basis to make me feel like a very lucky and special woman.

Well that's all for tonight.

Blog at you later.

Letter to my son

Well today was not a very good day. I have no excuse other than there must be something wrong with me. Dj and I seemed to fight over everything all day today. No matter what it was it was a fight. I feel so bad about it that I just want him to know that I love him with all my heart and soul and would give my life for him. I can't seem to say it so that he understands now so maybe in the future he will read this and truly understand how much I do love him and only want the best for him. So with that being said here is my letter.

Letter to a wonderful son

Dear Dominic,

I just wanted to write you this letter to let you know just how much I love you. I know that as a teenager you think mom's don't know anything and all is right in your world. This is something I know you will grow out of and see just how much that is not true. I want you to take from this letter the knowledge that I am not a perfect person or parent. That I love you and have always only wanted one thing for you. That is to be happy.

Even as a young girl I always said that I only ever wanted two children. First a boy and then a girl. So you can only imagine how happy I was when the doctor told me that I was having a little boy. Sure I was young and probably should have waited at least a couple more years before getting pregnant but at that moment I couldn't have been happier. I was even more happier ( if that is at all possible) the day I had you. The first time I held you in my arms ( and was aware of it) I couldn't believe that something so beautiful came from me and I couldn't understand how I could love you so much and with all my soul when I had just met you. You made all my dreams come true at that moment in time. I know all this sounds silly now but when you have a child and hold him/her in your arms for the first time you will understand. I remember your first bath and the first time you walked and the first time you talked and the first time I heard you say those four little words that meant the world to me. I LOVE YOU MOMMY. My heart melted all over again. I even remember one time when you had done something wrong and I put you in the corner for time out. You turned around, tears in your eyes, and said to me " Mom you are breaking my heart." I just about fell out of my chair laughing. I couldn't very well continue to keep you in time out after that. So I sent you to your room instead. You were only two and I couldn't believe those words had just came out of your mouth. To this day I still don't know where you heard that from or if it was really how you were feeling but I will always remember it.

Over the years we have had our good days and our really bad days but through it all you have grown into such a wonderful young man. I know we have our up's and down's and we fight more than we should but despite all that happens between us in the end you are still my little boy. And I still hear those words in that little voice saying I love you mommy. It breaks my heart when you are in pain and I can't do anything about it or when it is my fault that you are feeling that way. I want nothing in this world to harm you and I know that is not possible but as a mom it's just the way I feel. I want you to continue to grow and become the man that I know you are capable of becoming. I want you to be a better parent than I was to you and I want all of your dreams to come true. I want every experience in your life to be a rich and fulfilling one. I want you to love a woman and have lots of beautiful children and get to feel the kind of love that a parent feels for a child. It is the best feeling in the world.

I know that things are hard and life is not easy and sometimes there is pain when you really don't want it. That we have to do things that are hard and boring and we really don't want to do but we go on doing them to get to the end result. The prize at the end of the rainbow so to speak. I know that in the end you will see that everything that we have gone through together both the good and the bad were for a good reason and that even the stupid fights and the yelling back and fourth that through it all I loved you. It may not always seem that way but its true. You are my world and without you in it my life is not complete. I am SORRY for all the disagreements that we go through and the fighting that happens. It is something that your non-perfect mother has to work out on her own. I try my best with the experiences and knowledge that I have at the time. I promise to always work harder at our relationship and to always let you know that no matter what, you are the light of my life. I thank God each and everyday that I have such a wonderful son in my life. I don't know where I went right to have gotten you. I love you more than you will ever know and I just hope that one day you will look back on this letter and know that it came from my heart. That you are loved. That you are a very special gift from God sent strait to me. I love you my son.

Love your loving mom,

Mom

Another short weekend.

So this week has been a long week. Babysitting non stop and keeping up with my kids is proving to be more challenging that I thought it would be. I guess its true about the older you get the less patients you have. Don't get me wrong all of the kids I watch are great but there is only so much Mrs. Quon I can take in a day. I was hoping to have a full two days off this week but it didn't turn out like that at all. I got a call today asking if I would watch Zoie and Zack for about 7 1/2 hours so their parents could go to a friends birthday party. I said sure no problem. I probably should have said no thanks cause I really need some down time but I just cant bring myself to do it. I am just to nice sometimes. It really is no good for me. Anyway I am pooped and getting burned out pretty quick. I wish I could just stop but we really need the money. Honestly if it doesn't get pretty regular soon I am going to have to get a job outside the home. Anyway sorry for the down mood tonight. I am hitting the bed. Don't forget to turn your clocks back an hour tonight. Happy day to you all.

Blog at you later.

No Down Time.

Today was a day I thought would never end. I woke up this morning and got the kids all ready for school and was expecting to spend the rest of the day cleaning and catching up on my scrapbooking but just as Elyssa was heading out to the bus Mindy showed up with her two youngest. I was still so tired and had planned to go back to bed at least for another couple of hours but I had promised her weeks ago that I would watch the boys for her while she went to court today to try and straiten some things out with her first ex-husband. That seemed to take forever and by the time she got back home It was time of Dj to be home so that shot my whole day out the window. Dale got home from work and I headed out go and spend a little time with Michelle since I hardly get to see her anymore. I don't get to go and see her at the gym three days a week like I use to now that the Y is no longer allowing Nanny passes ( for those who don't know it was a way for us stay at home moms who babysit to still get to the gym by buying a pass to allow the kids into the daycare) and she hardly ever comes to the Wednesday activities at church so the only time I really see her is on the Sunday's that I get to make it to church. Anyway I spent a couple of hours with her then headed home to be with my family for a bit before sending Dale off to work and the kids to bed. Tomorrow I am free from babysitting but my kids will be home from school so again no down time. Anyway I am just about pooped out so I am going to end here and head off to the bed. Hears hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Blog at you later.