They Get to Learn, He Gets the Germs!

The girls started school this week (I know, I might have mentioned it a time...or a zillion) but it's been a big deal around here. The Drama Queen transfered from Georgia after multiple problems there and we were all excited for her new start (which is not really going according to plan but we're still working on that).

Bug is, so far, flourishing in this world of learning and I'm so happy that she is so excited and acclimating so well. She got a case of the sniffles the first day of school (The first day? Ugh! Cut me a break!) but it came and went quickly. She seems fine and we all know germs are inevitable at the start of school and throughout the year. 

BUT...the one kid that didn't get to go to school this year...the one with the brain that would baffle the mind of geniuses...that ONE...is the one that got sick! He's been sad. Every morning, Bubby and I walk Bug to school. He carries his backpack and lunch box and he wants to stay. "You're too young Bubby", "You'll be in school before you know it Bubby", "You're a good boy Bubby...you just stay home with Mommy one more year and you can go to school". And all kinds of other prodding to get him to come home with me because he's only 3 and it's just not time!

But this walking in and out of school every day has taken it's toll. This garden of germs, a virtual germ-fest, attacked his little immune system and he's sick. You see, this baby has never been to day care. He's never been exposed to the yucky germy world other than in stores and parks. He has a crappy immune system. He's gotten sick once each year. He doesn't do sick well. I mean, he's not a big fat baby about it, but when it gets him, it attacks hard. 

Tonight I sit here. I should be asleep. I have to get up early to wake the girls up for school, but Bubby has been coughing. He's been sputting. And worst of all, he's been crying a very raspy cry. He hurts so in turn I hurt! He can't take medication because like me, when he takes the cold and cough stuff, it just makes him puke. Yea, I'd rather cough! It's just a cold, but it's a nasty one. After some sleep and TLC, plus a few days, it'll all be good again.

I just hate to see him so restless and I don't like that sad face on him! The girls get to learn, and all he got was the germs! My poor sweet Bubby!

Letting Go and Growing Up

Letting go is never easy, and for me, letting go of my children is incredibly hard. I know, it might sound a little overly dramatic for me to be calling the first day of Kindergarten "letting go", but in my mind, that's what it was. The first step Bug took in to that door on the first day was her first real sign of independence. She's growing up and I have to let her.

She's doing quite well in school, she likes it, and I'm proud of her. She will be 6 in a couple of weeks. Too many milestones in such a short period of time have left me feeling a little melancholy. I'll get over it, I always do, but in the mean time, a momma has a right to pout! 

Sunday Sanity: My Week In Sparkles #4

This week has been ROUGH! I have to send my baby girl off to kindergarten and we (actually only me) are not ready! My little hot mess is 5 and it's time to let go. Say it ain't so! OK, you can't say it because it is so! So although I procrastinated in the hope of delaying the inevitable, today I broke down and took the kids shopping for school clothes and supplies for tomorrow. This is a new adventure for us. Are we ready? Have I taught Bug well? Is she ready for school? Am I ready for her to go to school? I'm probably (most assuredly) not, but I realized today that I have taught her something. And that something is to SPARKLE! My baby girl gets it! No matter the circumstances, as long as you sparkle, everything will be fine!

We went from store to store and she picked sparkle after sparkle. I said, "You better watch out Bug or you'll be known as Sparkle Girl" to which she replied, "It's OK Mommy. I like to sparkle...just.like.you!". (Insert teary emotional outburst here.)

She didn't pick a single thing that didn't sparkle! I'm so proud! My baby girl and I clash on a lot of things, but sparkles aren't one of them!

We have a sparkly Backpack...Hello Kitty!

And a sparkly lunch box! Disney to boot!

CiCi and Rockie Sparkle Clothes (more Disney sparkle...thank you very much!).

Mini Sparkles!

And even more sparkles!

And Hello Kitty! Could you be more sparkly if you tried?

But the cream of the crop? Bug has wanted "Twinkle Toes" for 2 years now! I keep telling her, "maybe when you start school baby". Guess what? She's starting school tomorrow and she has Twinkle Toes! She is so stinkin' excited! I'm so stinkin' sad! She'll sparkle and shine in school and Mommy will cry in the background. 

She's ready...I am not! Sparkle on baby girl. Mommy will cry behind your back but know that I am oh-so-proud of you. You sparkle even without all of the glittery stuff! You are a rock star and I will let you soar!

Creativity for Kids, Sparkles, Gnomes, and a Giveaway! SCORE!

To say that the kids were stoked that we received 3 #CreativityForKids craft kits in the mail MIGHT be a bit of an understatement. Faber-Castell Creativity for Kids offers the coolest craft kits on the planet and they have a huge selection! My kids were lucky enough to try some of them out. OK, so I might have played along too.

We received the Mossy Meadow Gnome Garden, the Deluxe Glitter Art Kit (our favorite..you might notice it sparkles a bunch), and the Tile Art Necklace Kit. We were so fabulously excited to get started. As you might imagine, we started with the sparkles!

The Creativity for Kids Deluxe Glitter Art Kit brought so much enjoyment to my family. Seriously...we had a sparkling good time!

When I opened the kit, the kids went wild. I loved that they played together and the kit engaged all 3 of them. You can't put an age on glitter! There were cards, and treasure boxes, and gift tags, and lots and lots of sparkles. It was a beautiful thing and the kids and I enjoyed every moment of this activity!

Bubby found the sparkles...and it was ON!

And by on, I mean, ON EVERYTHING! Thank goodness I laid out that blanket.

And Bug's creation was beautiful but not as beautiful as the fun and bonding they experienced. Creativity for Kids helped us create beautiful keepsakes and memories.

Once we used the sparkle kit up, we moved on to the next, the Tile Necklace Art.

The girls were especially excited about this one because they are always making jewelry. We liked the outcome and the overall quality of this kit. It came with everything needed to make these necklaces, even scissors. The colors are vibrant and the patterns are wonderful. I do need to point out that we ended up using our own glue because the glue and 2-sided tape provided in the kit didn't work very well for us. Once we figured that out, everything went beautifully and the girls enjoyed their crafting time together and are excited to make more. The kit comes with enough supplies to make 8 trendy necklaces.

Bug is a little young for this kit (ages 8 to 98) so her big sister did most of the work.

Bug had fun working the tile.

Here's Bug's final project. Came out cute, don't you think? She's so proud!

The one thing Bubby is looking most forward to, we haven't even gotten to yet. You see, here in The Woods, it's either been way too hot or stormy for us to play with our Mossy Meadows Gnome Garden kit.

We are so excited about this. In the coming weeks, we will be painting and planting! Soon, it will cool off a bit and hopefully it will stop raining. We could do this inside, but you saw how the sparkles went. Please understand, dirt and paint inside might not go over well on our light carpet! For us, this is an outdoor activity, and Bubby and I will more than likely partake in this activity when the girls are at school as a fun learning lesson for him.

This is Bubby's favorite character and I have a feeling he will be front and center in our garden. Stay tuned for updates. We will be sure to share how our garden grows!

Overall, we loved these kits and I encourage you to check out Creativity for Kids. They provide hours of fun for your kids and you to enjoy. And guess what? I have an awesome surprise for YOU!

I'm offering you the chance to win 2 fabulous kits, right here, right now! You have the chance to win the Deluxe Glitter Art Kit that we loved so much PLUS the Beach Buddies Shell Crafts Kit *JEALOUS* that we didn't have the chance to play with! Are you ready for your kits? You and your kids can thank me later. Good luck! The winner will be selected and notified on September 1st.

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for an honest review on my site from Faber-Castell and MomSelect. As always, all opinions, photos, and ideas are entirely my own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is My Bug Ready for Kindergarten? Am I?

I'm not ready to send my Bug to Kindergarten and she's not ready to go. I mean, I'm pretty certain I'll enjoy the peace and quiet and get a lot done but the emotional part is draining. I joked on Facebook about this, but I did start to cry when we walked in to the school. 

Thankfully B is not very emotional by nature and looked at me, shook his head, and said "that's pitiful". It was light hearted but brought me back to reality and I was able to laugh it off and dry it up. 

Then of course, to hide my emotions like I always do, I joked throughout the hallways and classrooms and people were laughing which pleased Bug. It's how I cope. 

Longer story than you'd probably care to read but I got really worried when we entered the Cafegymatorium (yes, I made that up because all 3 are housed in one room and of course that was one of the big jokes of the night and the teachers started referring to it as such). But I had a big pit in the bottom of my stomach. 

Bug, as you might have guessed, has some issues. How bad her "issues" are, we just don't know but I'm sure they will be evident this year and testing will be in order. For now, I just cope with her issues at home. But we entered that room and there were a gazillion people and lots of kids. 

Kids were running on the stage and playing tag. Bubby immediately said "Could I go Mommy?". "Of course!" was my reply as we waited in line to sign up to be walkers for the year. 

He ran up there with kids ages 5-10 and he blended perfectly and soon became the tag master and all of the other kids were laughing at his antics, as were B and I. Bug stood between her parents, as always, looking uncomfortable in the moment. I looked down at her, smiled and nodded, kind of prodding her to play with the other kids. 

She smiled but looked awkward and ran to the stage. She immediately gravitated to her little brother to guide her way and he took her hand, as always. As they ran and played. I realized that she really NEEDS him in a crowd, or me, or her dad, she can't do it by herself. She's not just "bad", she doesn't get social norms...at all! I'm worried and I'm kind of (really) a wreck about it. I know I might be overreacting but this is consuming me and seeing her like that tonight worried me even more than I already was.

She's so different from my other kids. This is new to me. Bryana seriously soared when she entered school. No she was not a stellar student (far from it) but every one loved her...still does. Paetyn was my shy hot mess, but she always had a couple of close friends who took her under their wings and kept her calm and she blended (never soaring, but always fitting in). Matt was, and still is, antisocial but he doesn't care. He is his own best friend and intelligent and he's OK with it (I'm not but that's just me...YOU NEED FRIENDS). Angel is a trouble maker and tends to be a little on the nerdy side with a flair for disaster and drama (and expulsion which is why she is back with us again). 

They have all done fine-ish in school in their own ways and I haven't worried about them like I do Bug. Bubby will do wonderfully although I never want to let him go. He's sociable, people young and old adore him, he makes every one laugh and at 3 (and OMG pushing the f word) he knows all of his letters, reads small words, knows all of his colors. You know...that kid! His speech problems will fix with time so I don't worry. 

Bug is different. She lacks social skills, she's bossy, abrasive, screams (squeals?) when things go wrong. She says "ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba" in a loud voice when she doesn't like something and she can be downright hateful at times. But she CARES that she doesn't fit in. It hurts her when people don't like her. She is prone to tears as quickly as she is prone to outbursts of anger. I'm just so worried and I know I keep saying that, but I'm just.so.worried! I want her to be unique, but I want her to fit in because she does care! 

I love my Bug, despite her differences, possibly because of her differences, but I'm JUST.SO.WORRIED. I'm a Mom, that's what I do. Fingers crossed, all my worries are for nothing. Hopefully she'll be just fine and everything will fall in to place. In the meantime, send sparkles because this Momma is out!

♪♫ I got a box full a'...box full a' Sparkle Shine ♫♪

Saturday, I got a notice in the mail that I had a package. I wasn't in a hurry to pick it up. Honestly, I have enough stuff to review and I'm back peddling so if I don't get it, I don't have to do it, right?!? But the work horse in me told me I had to stop by the leasing office to pick up my package on the way to Walmart for our weekly grocery shopping adventure.

I'm glad I stopped because it was a pleasant surprise. I didn't have to review anything. I didn't have to write about a single thing. I just had to open a box full of sparkle shine. It was a box from my friends at Collective Bias and it was full of sparkles. I opened it in the parking lot, standing by my car, with my kids in tow...big mistake for this emotional mess. I immediately pulled out the HUGE card you can see above. 

Then I saw the sparkly contents of the box. The bomb! How many sparkles can you fit in a box? Apparently....a LOT!

Then I started reading...right there in that parking lot. Big mistake for an overly emotional person! These people who pay me to be me...were thanking me! They were loving on me and they were APPRECIATING me! Appreciating me for just doing what I'm contracted to do because they are awesome like that!

And there were personal notes from people that I admire and love dearly even though this is a "work" relationship. These folks are awesome! I'm honored to be "working" with them all!

But...sappy moment over! Just when the babies had thought I lost my mind because I was standing in the parking lot bawling like an idiot...I saw THIS! Jay, our IT genius who can't seem to play kick ball without a hospitalization style injury, made me giggle through my tears. Nesticles you ask? Don't fret over them! Know that I've earned plenty and am the only 400 club member. I'm proud of all of my accomplishments and take what I can get. Do my nesticles mean anything? Heck NO! But I'm proud and I feel accomplished!

So what's the point of all of this nonsense? Probably nothing! But honestly getting a box full o'sunshine can make someone's day! If you feel it, do it! You might just brighten a life with your silly gestures. Today my life is brighter and even more sparkly. I will cherish my card and enjoy using all of my sparkly goodies (oh and the kids aren't complaining much about the candy either). Sparkle on!

Sunday Sanity ~ My Week In Sparkles #3

What sparkled in your week? 

Lately I've been struggling with my sparkles. You see, life is chaotic. Stay at home mom? Eh...not so much! Work at home mom...much more accurate! And I work LONG hours. I might have groaned about bitched about mentioned this before. When I say long hours, I mean from about 7:00 am to no less than 1:00 am. I'm not complaining (much) because we need the money and I don't mind hard work a bit! 

Work in itself has not been an issue. The addition of the Drama Queen 3 months ago has been a HUGE issue. She is disrespectful, hateful, difficult, and has been hurting my babies' feelings way too much for way too long. It's funny what 3 years of bad parenting can do to a kid. But it is what it is, and it is now mine to fix. I'll go into this later but tonight is all about the sparkles!

I've been trying to get all of my work done and register the girls for school this week. CRA-ZY! Bug was simple, but the Drama Queen has already drained hours and we're still not there yet. We've got this! But I'm stressed, and I'm behind. So where, oh where, do I find my sparkles this week? I was struggling. And then....

For no particular reason, on any given Thursday, B brought these home! They're beautiful, and although they don't actually sparkle, they make me feel sparkly! I sent him to the store for some things on his way home from the gym and although these weren't on the list, they made their way in to the buggy, through check out, and in to my heart!

They are sitting beautifully on my counter as a reminder that no matter what, no matter the trials and tribulations we've encountered, this man loves me, and he thinks of and appreciates me. He'll never know how much these simple gestures mean to me. Simple words cannot express true emotions. I try to express my emotions but some things cannot be spoken, they have to be felt. 

So tonight, I'll ignore the drama and enjoy the beauty! And I'll sparkle in the fact that B still loves me. Love is a difficult thing to hold on to. Things, life, people can get in the way of true love if you let them. Don't let anyone dull your sparkles or the beauty! Live in the moment and make that moment live forever. That's my plan! Have a great week and Sparkle On!

Kindergarten Registration AND a Lost Tooth? Make.Time.Stop!

Today was eventful to say the least. I got some really incredible news about my little piece of the web thanks to a really good friend (more on that later) but it was really big...happy dance...news! I worked my patootie off all morning (no big surprise) and then I readied to register the girls for school. New adventure for all of us here in The Woods!

After a failed attempt at registration (and almost 2 hours of missed work that I'll have to make up later) for the Drama Queen, we headed off to register Bug. 

Bug you say? School? Wait...what? She's not old enough for that! She's just a baby. My sentiments exactly! My baby is about to start Kindergarten and I'm scared as all get out (to let go, for her, and for...bless their hearts...her teachers). She's growing up too fast. I just gave birth! Swear it...I was there and it was yesterday.

But alas, she will be 6 this year. She's a September baby so she always misses the cut off but this year, it's time! She will go to "real" school. In itself, her registration was hard enough! I'm sending my baby away. I'm throwing her to the wolves and for the record, she doesn't want to go. I was coping and I was OK-ish!

Then we got home. I stepped outside to reflect. She can grow up...this is good for her. Then I came back in to a child that was jumping, elated, proud, and bleeding!

Let me tell you, I have 6 children, 4 older than her, and I have NEVER seen a child more excited about losing a tooth. She's been anticipating this moment for over a month when this tooth showed the first signs of looseness. This kid was beyond stoked. She was bouncing (literally). She was beside herself, and she felt accomplished and grown!

But all I could see was this little bitty tooth, in this little bitty hand, with that big old hole in her mouth that matched the hole in my heart. Today symbolized that my baby was growing up. No longer a "baby" indeed. She will be going to Kindergarten AND she lost her first tooth. It was a big day for us both but in such different ways. 

So tonight she sleeps. She is happy and ready for the world. Under her pillow is a crisp $5 bill delivered by the tooth fairy. Today was big and I'm exhausted physically and emotionally. Why do they have to grow up so quickly and why do I have to let them go?

I'm holding tight to Bubby tonight. He's the only "baby" I have left and I'm thankful I'm allowed one more go at this! I'm blessed beyond words to have had at least one "baby" for 23 years running now. Not many are as lucky as I. But each time I have to let go, even just a little, it hurts (a lot)! Bug will go to school, she'll flourish, and she'll lose plenty more teeth. I'll let her fly as I've done the others but I don't have to be excited about it. 

My Bug's growing up. I get that. But geesh...did it all have to happen in one day?

Join Us on Twitter to Bring Awareness and Help #SaveAmericasMustangs

Do you see this fabulous creature? This is one of America's Mustangs. That's right, these beautiful animals belong to us, the American public! But did you know that over 3 million roamed free 110 years ago, and today that number is just under 30,000? We can't have this! 

I love horses, it's a lifelong love actually! I "owned" my first horse in 8th grade. His name was Cochise, he was a Quarter Horse, and he was amazing! He was somewhat of a rescue horse actually because when I had my choice of horses, I chose him! He was a 16 year old, retired riding lesson horse. He had a stumble and he had no one to love him. We spent many years together and he taught me so much. I was trying to find myself in my early teens and he was trying to find someone to love him forever. I was able to give him a forever home in his old age, and he helped me through the rough times that we all experience as teens. This was not just an animal, a pet, to me. He was my friend!

So when I hear things about the abuse of horses, I get somewhat insane with anger and I want to help! We all need to help!

There is just too much to explain about what is happening to OUR American Mustangs, but here are some key points I want you to drill in to your head: 

• American horses are being sold to killer buyers who slaughter these animals in various parts of the world for financial gain. Recent legislation just passed making it NOT illegal to slaughter horses in the United States.
• The horses belong to the American people. The wild horses are just managed by the government (Bureau of Land Management), but the BLM doesn’t own them. Americans should continue to have a say as to what happens to their horses and we encourage all of our supporters to Take Action through the website, Saving America's Mustangs.

There is a solution! Businesswoman and philanthropist, Madeleine Pickens, is committed to this promise. Through her Foundation, citizens from all walks of life are uniting to create a permanent home, a Sanctuary, to save these magnificent national treasures.

So how can YOU help? You should want to help! Give an hour of your time to help promote this cause! Come party with us on Twitter. Social Media is a powerful tool. Let's use this power for good to save our American Heritage.

Please join us on August 22nd at 1:00pm EST as we discuss these issues and the solution. This simple hour can raise awareness and you can be a part of it! 

You can follow along on our handy dandy tweet grid here: http://cbi.as/2qe-a

Follow your hosts: @notinsanemom and @mamacheaps

And did I mention the prizes? Yes, there will be prizes! 

• (2) $25 Visa gift cards
• (1) $50 Visa gift card + $100 donation to SAM in your name
• (1) $100 Visa gift card + $100 donation to SAM in your name           

Please be sure to RSVP below to be eligible for the prizes. You won't want to miss this. It's a win~win! We raise awareness to help #SaveAmericasMustangs and you win prizes! Hope to see you there!

Please see the official legal rules for the #SaveAmericasMustangs Twitter Party.

Sunday Sanity ~ My Week In Sparkles #3

Where did you find your sparkles this week? OK, so "technically" I know it is no longer Sunday. But you see, when I woke up today at about 9:00 am (slacker), it was Sunday and I'm still up so "technically", it still is Sunday for me. Might tell you how my week's been going. It's been busy...it's always busy! You know I like busy. But I couldn't neglect to tell y'all what made my week worthwhile...where I found my sparkles! This week's sparklefest happened at the pool. 

While the world was celebrating all of the US wins at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, we were hosting our own events here in The Woods. My babies rocked it! Seriously, they took every medal and they made me giggle. On Saturday, I decided to tune out a bit (OK so I did take my laptop, my DROID, and my camera just.in.case...don't hate...I am what I am). We headed for the pool...just me and the babies...let the games begin!

The opening ceremonies moved me to tears (of laughter...seriously what is with these kids?).

 The competitors are focused!

And excited for the games!

There was synchronized swimming!

A little prep before the diving competition (this cracks.me.up)!

I know I should be nervous! I'm her mother and she is about to do a full dive in to 3 feet of water...stay tuned! I know the outcome!

Bwahaha...the dive that shocked the world!

 Nailed it! She knew she won the Gold at this very moment.

And as if THAT weren't enough, there were even gymnastics!

Yes it was a good day and I was proud of my babies and their medals. But most of all, I was happy I found my sparkles! I spent time with my babies and we needed that! Make every moment count. Find your sparkles where ever they hide. My babies won gold medals this week! How did your world sparkle?

A Mother's Epiphany...It's All About The Bond!

I've shared this photo before but it deserves revisiting because of an epiphany I had tonight. Every time I look at it, my heart melts. I gave birth to these 4 beautiful creatures and I love them each equally in very different ways. This photo is my phone's wallpaper and my computer wallpaper. I'm drawn to it for so many reasons but until tonight, I never realized WHY it is my favorite photo ever!

As you know, my children are widespread in years by birth. Bry is 23, Paet is 18, Bug is 5, and Bubby is 3. There is not a lot of common ground as you might imagine. One's in to bars, one's in to boys, one's in to Barbies, and one's in to cars. Doesn't make for good conversation...so you would think! My babies are all very unique but share a common bond and it's not just their mom. They have a true bond, even with the distance. So on this occasion when we were all reunited for Paetyn's graduation, I caught this moment. I knew this was a special moment and just the sight brought tears to my eyes...still does!

But tonight, I noticed what compelled me to look at this photo, over and over again, on a daily basis. It wasn't just their beautiful faces (although look at them...they are beautiful, aren't they?). It was the pairing that really gets me. The connections in this photo are all telling about us as a family. 

You see, Bry and Bubby are my clones. They look like me, they act like me, and they are both prone to daily nervous break downs like me. They have deep feelings that they share openly. The 3 of us are one. Paetyn and Bug on the other hand are so much like B, it's ridiculous. Although B is not Paetyn's birth father, he might as well be. The 3 of them have tempers that flare when the wind blows, they are irresponsible with their feelings, but they have a deep love for others that they do not know how to express.  Such is life and we are all different for a reason, and that reason is to make the world interesting. 

So tonight I noticed it. This photo that contains the 4 chambers of my heart also proves my point. Do you see it? As the 4 of them sat there together, bonding as siblings, sharing the same space, the connection is so obvious! The bar hop and the car lover shared a moment over a game on Bry's phone and they were happy in that moment. At the same time, in the same space, the boy lover and the lover of all things Barbie shared an intimate stare. What was running through any of their minds at that moment is not important...the beauty and the bond is what matters! 

The 4 of them, sharing that space, bonding as I should have expected? That is all that matters and that is priceless! This photo will probably forever be my favorite. It captures a moment that will live in my heart forever.  I'm just elated that I captured it and that I can live it over and over again. 

Branded...For Life!

A tattoo says a lot about you! Years ago (in a land long ago and far far away) B came home with a new tattoo that spoke volumes. I was forever branded on his back! Yes, you can cover a tattoo but it never works out well. You can check out his other shoulder for proof of that (damn her...she'll forever be a thorn in my side)!

He decided, without being prompted, to "brand" himself MINE! It meant a lot to me then and it still means a lot to me today. This "brand" has lasted for 10 years. Our relationship has survived this long as well. In today's world, that's something to be proud of! It hasn't always been easy, but it's always been worth it. 

I'm branded as well with a big fat B on my mid back. I wear my brand proudly and I'm happy to call him mine! Life isn't always easy, but the daily reminders of how wonderful it is are worth the struggles!

So are you branded? Are you proud of your brand or do you wish you could cover it up? Wear your brand with pride! We do!

Sunday Sanity, My Week In Sparkles #3

What? Sparkles? She promised us sparkles and we see this old ugly box! What the heck is going on here? Yes this box is old, beaten, and ugly. But this is what brought me sparkles this week. 

You see, it's been a rough week. I've been busy of course, but that hasn't stopped me from being all *sad face* about missing BlogHer 12. So many of my bloggy friends were having a blast and learning incredible things while I remained at home! 

And then there is the ridiculously dramatic and disrespectful step-daughter. I'm tried of that issue actually and being all negative pants is not my style! I'm actually thinking of sticking my tail between my legs and running...yes, it's that bad!

So I've been working away and trying to just enjoy my time with B and the babies despite the let downs and drama. B had a boxing match this weekend that didn't turn out as planned but I was proud of how well he did in his first official match (more on that later).

But nothing from my week really jumped out to share with you for this...until tonight!

I'm doing a post about horses (stay tuned...this is something I'm passionate about and you'll want to read...I hope). I wanted a personal spin on my post. I wanted to find THOSE pictures. I dug through the closets and I found "the" box I was looking for. You can see it above. It's not pretty. This box has traveled with me for years (more than I care to mention). And it says "mostly pictures" for a reason. 

This box holds treasures. There are photos...photos of my own mother when she was a teen. Photos of me as a toddler with my sisters, as a child, as a teen, as a bride. There are photos from my high school years, from my college years. There are photos of my now "grown up" girls as infants, of their toddler years, of their school aged years...of them growing up in front of my eyes! There are photos of my "step" children from their early years...before they learned the difference between "real" (ha ha) mom and step mom. 

There are photos of my Mom and Dad when they were still together.  I sat with my young children tonight and we dug through the box. They were confused...who was who? Which one was I? Where was "Bry-nana"? Is that Paetyn? They were so uncertain and yet so excited! It was a beautiful hour and I enjoyed every second of it!

And the "mostly pictures" thing reminded me to dig deeper into the box. There were letters, there were notes, there were memories. Yes, in this old beaten up box, I had notes from high school friends, I had letters that were mailed from friends and family during college, and I had cards saved from the birth of my children. This box is NOT ugly. IT SPARKLES! 

I will NOT be moving the contents of this box into something more stable. The box is fragile. It is like my emotions. To some it might look broken, but is stands the test of time. And it sparkles from the inside out! 

That box holds so much of my life and we have so much in common. Like the box, my corners are bent, my color is faded, but my memories and sparkles remain! Life is good...enjoy the broken boxes in your life...they hold the best treasures!

Tomorrow B Boxes...For Realz...and I'm Nervous!

So I've told you over and over again that B has been boxing at a gym for work out purposes. I've gone and watched him and it's all cool and stuff but it's just been practice. It's all been about the work out. I'm OK with that. I'm a fan of work outs. 

But I have to tell you, I am not a fan of violence and he knows this. A while back, he accepted a challenge and he will be boxing...for real...tomorrow. In a ring. With another dude. Punching and stuff. The hype is out there and people are coming to watch. Much to his surprise, I will be attending this violence-fest! How can I not be there?

You see, if he wins, I must gloat. If he gets hurt, I must be there to fix him. If he loses, I must be there to pump him up. If he throws that danged shoulder out again, I have to be there to  solicit someone else to pop it back in to place (I can't do it, it grosses me out...ask him about our trip to Pensacola!).

I'm pretty confident he'll win. He's a strong booger despite his size (in my eyes he's huge but apparently that's not the case in the "real" world). He's strong though, and no one can deny that. Wish us BOTH luck tomorrow. He needs it for his fight and I need it for my sanity. 

I'm sure that if that guy hits my husband too hard, I'll have the urge to jump in and fish slap him. B told me that is unacceptable. Heaven help me! Thank goodness I have a new camera to keep me busy. He wants lots of photos and video. I'll busy myself with that during the fight and hopefully mind my p's and q's. 

Send sparkles that he wins and sparkles that I can contain myself. I know he'll get hit at some point and I know I'll have the urge to fish slap!  

I'll be back to report after the fight!

Hello Handsome! Meet My New Nikon D3100!

I am so incredibly excited! I don't covet much, but over the past 6 months or so, I have coveted this camera more than I care to admit. It's shameful actually. I would visit it at whatever store I was in, I would stalk it online, and I'd secretly cry a tear or 70 before bed each and every night. I could have bought it but I'm a tightwad. I just didn't want to plunk the money down. But the other day, I just couldn't get this lovely beast out of my head, not even for a second.

The minute B got home, I kind of assertively announced, "I'm going to buy that camera today.". His reply was simply "Ummm...OK". You see, he'd been telling me to get it all along. Then we went into a stupid (on my part) discussion about my reasoning for getting this particular camera. I was trying to get him to talk me out of it. Every point I brought up, he agreed with, so actually I was arguing with myself (that's not really all that uncommon anyway). When I was through with my argument for one, B looked at me with "that" look and said, "So when are you headed to the store?". Everything is so simple to him. I want to be him when I grow up and stop worrying so much! 

So yes, I got it! WOOT WOOT! I've been snapping away ever since. I'm still trying to get the hang of it but wanted to show you just a couple of shots of the babies (no editing, just plain and simple awesomeness from my new BFF). I need practice but the days of the blurry, out of focus photos are gone forever!

And speaking of handsome! Look at this little man. I'm finally able to capture those amazing eyes.

I am highly aware that the lighting of this photo isn't great but the point here is that this fantastic piece of equipment is fast as lightning. Now instead of just telling you about Bug, I can show you her many personalities through photos.

So my friends, it has been a good week. I can't wait for the weekend when I really have time to get to know my new friend better! I'll be back to share. In the mean time, Sparkle On!