Oh My, I’m 37 Years Old!

Link up at Mrs. 4444 

1. Yes, I turned 37. Do I feel old? I don’t know. Honestly, I feel blessed and thankful. BTW, my DH has the same birth date as I. He turned 39. Now he IS old! (Just teasing, babe!)

2. Thank YOU for all the wonderful, supportive comments regarding my Longevity pin for 15 years at my job. Wow, feelin’ the love ;-)

3. I have been sick with a nasty head/chest cold all week! Ick!

4. I want to thank Tree Lindsay from Mommies Faves for the $20 "Bath and Body Works" gift card that I won from 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party 2010.
And now, it’s time for:




After Mama M’s cccccrazy vlog (seriously, the funniest thing ever!) I just couldn’t skip 5QF!

1. If you could, would you go back to high school? No, I couldn’t wait to get out!

2. If a genie appeared and granted you two wishes, what would they be?

1. Long, healthy lives for my boys.
2. Long, healthy lives for DH and I.

3. What kids show do you secretly like? Does Madagascar II count? “I like to move it, move it!”

4. What is your beverage of choice? Coffee with creamer.

5. What is something that you would change about yourself (or are working to change in yourself)?

1. To not control everything and trust that God is in control.
2. Be more patient.

* * * * * *

Happy Friday!

Any fun plans for YOUR Weekend?

Spring!

A boy…

and his…

bubbles!

 

Woo Hoo for Spring!!!

Link up at Seven Clown Circus

LOOK What Has Hatched!

Last week, there were beautiful blue Robin's eggs in a nest under our deck. Click here to see.


Yesterday, little chirps could be heard. I waited until Mama Robin flew off to find a worm. I snuck out on the deck, peeked down between the slats, and this is what I found!

Amazing! Just look at these newborn baby Robins! Their eyes aren’t even open yet.

Don't worry baby, your Mama's gonna be right back!


After I snapped a few shots, I raced back inside before Mama Robin returned. What a beautiful example of God’s creation!


Link up at:

My First Car

Used '81 Camaro, One Previous Owner, One Accident,

Slight Damage to Driver's Door

No kidding, that is what the add said. But my dad convinced me to buy it anyways!

What am I talking about? Well, it's time for:

1. What was the first car you owned?

'81 Chevy Camaro

(Similar to this one, but without the stripe down the middle.)

2. What song are you embarrassed to know the lyrics to?

Wonder Pets

"The phone, the phone is ringing"...just shoot me now! ;-)

3. Have you ever had stitches?

Look closely at the bridge of my nose. Dog bite from when I was five. (Story for another day.)

4. What was your first job?

First real job, besides babysitting and cleaning, would be cashier at a convenience store when I was 16. A little dangerous, given the neighborhood, but it was better than flipping burgers.

5. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

Tie between Cookie Monster and Elmo

(Sprout, 2006, 2 months old.)

 T.G.I.F., my friends!

Any fun plans for YOU???

Mama Got Back!

I can't believe I'm doing this! My friend Kim from Mom Tried It forced encouraged me to participate in her body image link up today called, “We Are Beautiful.”

So here ya go, my least favorite part of my body:

That big ol' booty!


But you know what? I’m okay with it. You know why? Because it’s a product of being pregnant twice with two little boys that have stolen my heart!


I dare YOU to join in! Either link up over at Mom Tried It, or leave a comment here:

What’s YOUR least favorite part of your body? 

Remember: WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!

A Little Birdy

Look what we found…

under our deck!

Don’t worry Mama Robin, we’re not going to hurt your babies…

Just let us finish grilling the turkey burgers and we’ll leave you alone!

Every year, she returns to hatch her babies under our deck. We try so hard not to disturb her. We don’t let the boys out on the deck at all during this time and try to keep off unless we are grilling.

After she flew off the nest, I hurried up and took the top picture. I used a standard zoom lens and focused between the slats of the deck floor. I was so excited to get such a clear shot of her beautiful blue eggs. Then I headed back in before she did a nose dive at me! Of course, I left DH out at the grill to fend for himself!

(BTW, try to ignore the half-done staining job.
One of many things on DH’s “to do” list now that it’s finally nice out!)

Linked to Seven Clown Circus

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

Why talk about "Mama Guilt," you ask? Because I think it’s good to share our Mama Guilt so we know we are not alone. We all struggle in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood! See the Linky at the bottom of this post to link up.

* * * * * *

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Balancing Blogging & Being a Mom

* * * * * *

Well, how do I start this one? I guess just by telling you…

I’ve decided to stop doing Mama Guilt Mondays. At least for the Spring/Summer months. For two very good reasons:

1. I never realized how demanding a weekly meme can be. I found myself being distracted on the weekends wondering what topic to post instead of focusing on my family. Yes, I know, major Mama Guilt!

2. Camping season is fast approaching! I just didn’t want to come home late on Sunday from a camping trip beat tired and still have to worry about getting a post together AND a prompt!

So, that’s the honest truth, my friends! Maybe in the Fall I’ll pick Mama Guilt Mondays back up. We’ll see.

With that being said, I am so proud of all you moms (and a few dads) who have shared your Mama Guilt along with me! I’ve felt encouraged reading the posts and comments every week. It’s been so refreshing to know that I’m not alone in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood!

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the Linky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the Linky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

 

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Prompt: Balancing Blogging & Being a Mom

 

Here is tomorrow’s optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share:

Balancing Blogging & Being a Mom

See ya back here tomorrow! The MckLinky will be up early!

A little history: Mama Guilt Mondays was one of the first blog posts I ever did. It stemmed out of the guilty feelings I get every Monday morning as I drive in to work. I miss my kiddos and the weekend we just spent together. I also wanted a place to share my struggles and challenges of being a mother. It’s so valuable for me to hear what other moms are dealing with too. So, I guess, in the end, Mama Guilt Mondays hopefully is a supportive place for moms to be real about motherhood!

Time

**Warning, may be a little graphic for some**

Time stood still as I watched his body fly

ragdoll like

over my Sunbird

I pulled over, ran back

Belly down, his head was…well, I’ll spare you

Deep breath, off duty, you can do this

I ran to the other vehicle, on fire now

Both occupants out and okay

Back to the motorcyclist

I supported his head while the medics,

who thank heavens, arrived instantly,

rolled him over

“Breathe buddy, breathe!”

I demanded of his lifeless body

ME’s report weeks later, .25 BAC

Author’s note: I was 22, brand new rookie, driving to Target. The motorcyclist slammed head-on into the small pick-up that was just ahead of me.

This is linked to the above photo prompt at Magpie Tales.

Good Morning, Sweetheart

Cuddles, snuggles

I hold you tight

You are my baby

my baby boy

and this morning

unlike most

Mama’s home

because

my sweetheart

it’s Saturday

Author's note: This picture was taken on a Saturday morning by my DH.

Link up at:

and

It's Time to Party!

I'm joining in on the fun at Five Minutes for Mom.

And now, a little about me...

Yes, I'm a cop. I'm actually a Sergeant assigned to investigations currently.

I have been married to my DH for six years.

I blog about work, family, and just about anything in between.

But my favorite topic is these two crazy little guys:

Welcome to my blog!

Leave a comment and I'll be happy to visit your blog too!

* * * * * *

There are so many cool prizes to be won at this year’s Ultimate Blog Party, but my top three picks would be:

1. US3 – Win a $150 shopping spree at A Rocking Horse To Love or Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles Provided by: 5 Minutes for Mom

2. INTL 11 – Custom Blogger Design- valued at $100
Provided by: Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates

3. US40- One winner will receive a 3 day 2 night stay from Holiday Inn Main Gate East in Kissimmee, FL (less than 2 miles from Disney World) a value of $250.
Provided by: Holiday Inn Main Gate
Follow here: bloggin2noggin

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

Why talk about "Mama Guilt," you ask? Because I think it’s good to share our Mama Guilt so we know we are not alone. We all struggle in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood! See the Linky at the bottom of this post to link up.

* * * * * *

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Hand-me Downs, Thrift Stores, & Garage Sales for YOUR Kid's Clothes? What's YOUR Secret?

* * * * * *

I was attempting to get caught up on my scrapbooking (I’m like 3 years behind), and look what I found:

This is Sprout when he was about 16 months old (Nov. 2007.)

Then, as I was looking at more recent photos, I found this one:

Here is Cubbie from this past winter.

Notice anything??? Yes, the same EXACT clothing! Talk about Mama Guilt!

But when you have two boys, and the hand me downs from one child matches the same seasons for the second one, why not use them? Do I go buy all new clothes, especially outerwear, when it’s still in perfectly good condition? What would YOU do?

I don’t have a “secret” so much but I buy pants from Children’s Place (on sale, coupons, points card) then I buy less expensive tops from Target or Kohl's. With my little guys, the pants are what take a beating! Plus, I’m always happy when I find a good clearance rack item or happen upon a garage sale.

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the Linky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the Linky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Prompt: Affordable Kid's Clothes

Here is tomorrow’s optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share:

Hand-me Downs, Thrift Stores, & Garage Sales for YOUR Kid's Clothes? What's YOUR Secret?

See ya back here tomorrow! The Linky will be up early!

A little history: Mama Guilt Mondays was one of the first blog posts I ever did. It stemmed out of the guilty feelings I get every Monday morning as I drive in to work. I miss my kiddos and the weekend we just spent together. I also wanted a place to share my struggles and challenges of being a mother. It’s so valuable for me to hear what other moms are dealing with too. So, I guess, in the end, Mama Guilt Mondays hopefully is a supportive place for moms to be real about motherhood!

Thanks, Mr. Wilson

It’s time for:

1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

Evangeline Lilly (Kate) from LOST. She’s tough, pretty, and I can only dream to be in that kind of shape some day!

2. Did you ever go to summer camp?

Yes, thanks to *Mr. Wilson, my 5th grade teacher. He knew about my mom’s drinking problem. He also knew (like the rest of the town did) how poor we were. So imagine my surprise when I found out I won a free week at summer camp for being the top school safety patrol guard! And guess who was in charge of selecting the winner? Yep, Mr. Wilson.

*not his real name

3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?

I already answered this one here.

4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?

I just asked my DH and he said, “When you tell me what to do.”

Um, isn’t that what wives are for!

5. What is currently your favorite song?

“Lay ‘Em Down” by Needtobreathe (Awesome contemporary Christian group!)

Want to join in? Hop on over to Mama M’s!

(BTW, I’m so excited, my DH and I are having our first date night in months on Saturday! :-)

So What are YOUR Weekend Plans???

I Want to Retire!

I took a vacation day on Monday…

 

and refereed these crazy, silly boys!

 

We had so much fun!

 

So, I’ve decided…I’m retiring!!!

(No, not really.)

It’s just…we really had a great day together! Now that they are almost 2 and almost 4, it  seems like less work and more fun. Look at that smiley face! I wish I could spend every day watching them wrestle.

After naps (me included), I loaded them up in our used double stroller I got for $25 and off to the park we went. Then, once I wore them down, I was able to get in a half-hour jog while they watched the scenery from their mama-driven chariot!

At what AGE did it get easier for YOU?

Link up at:

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

Why talk about "Mama Guilt," you ask? Because I think it’s good to share our Mama Guilt so we know we are not alone. We all struggle in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood! See the MckLinky at the bottom of this post to link up.

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Tell Us About YOUR Kiddo’s First Big Owie: Black Eye, Broken, Bone, ect.

* * * * * *

 

Cubbie’s first black eye. How did it happen? Day care, five minutes before I arrived! He walked in front of a swinging horse on the swing set.

The worst part? I ran home BEFORE going to the day care so I could change out of my dress clothes. Oh the Mama Guilt! I felt terrible because if I would have just gone straight there, it wouldn’t have happened. What’s a mama to do?!?

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the MckLinky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the MckLinky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!