LOVE

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30 | Warmth

We are still snowed in! We have gathered in the living room in front of the fire - which I love. I have to admit I kind of being stuck with them for the weekend :)

January 30

"He who wants to warm himself in old age

must build a fireplace in his youth"

~ German Proverb

28 | Plans

Today Aubrey and I hung out at the house. She is getting to be more and more of handful everyday. She has discovered the toilet and that things can go in there and disappear. . . this is not a good thing. She also has taken up a love for JoJo's Football and Basketball. This is quite cute- they are so big but she tries her hardest to throw them - in the bathtub. As a result I trip over a football everytime I go into the bathroom.

JoJo had an interview today at a local high school. He has always wanted to be a coach and I really hope that he gets to do this. He was late to the interview because the person that was suppose to fill in for him didn't show up but they didn't seem to hold it against - at least I hope.

January 28

"If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.

If you can dream it, you can become it."

-William Arthur Ward

24 | Individuality

We had most of the day to ourselves so we did what any couple who hasnt had any alone time in months. Joey cleaned and I worked - HA!! That afternoon my mom brought Aubrey home and we ate dinner and put her to bed. Of course she found the 3D glasses and had to wear them throughout dinner - such a ham!

January 24
"If I'm going to sing like someone else
then I don't need to sing at all"
~Billie Holiday

21 | Nourishment

I spent the entire day at home - just Aubrey and I. I was so excited because for the first time since we met I had dinner cooked and on the table for Joey when he got home. . . .he was late, Aubrey and I ate by ourselves. I had a frustrated housewife moment later that night!

PS its funny that butter and Salt have prime position - hahaha!

January 21
"When you discover something that nourishes
your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself
to make room for it in your life"
Jean Shinoda Bolen

17 | Silver Lining

The weather has been awful the past couple of days. For about an hour today I thought that we were going to have a beautiful. When I walked outside I saw the light peeking through the clouds but very quickly the weather turned awful again.

Toya brought Jordan over today to spend some time with JoJo. He thinks the world of him and they never get to see each other it was much needed time by both of them. He was suppose to only work a couple of hours but as usual he had to stay late and take care of problems. He was so upset because he missed calling and telling Ayden Happy Birthday!

January 17

"After every storm the sun will smile;

for every problem there is a solution,

and the soul's indefeasible duty is to be of good cheer. "

~William R. Alger

16 | Happiness

Joey kept all the girls entertained today and still managed to clean the house! That night I decided I wanted to take photos of him and Aubrey and I caught this one of him while he wasn't paying attention and I just fell in love with it. I love the expression his face, it reassures me that he is where he wants to be :)

January 16

"All men have a sweetness in their life.

That is what helps them go on. It is towards

that they turn when they feel too worn out."

ALBERT CAMUS:

15 | Expression

This day was way too busy! From the moment we got up we have been going full speed. Joey had a client this morning, then we had to pick Jordy up from school, Aubrey up from my moms, back home so Joey could teach his FIRST set of classes. Yes, I took the classes and YES I AM TIRED. We then picked all 3 girls up from my sisters for a slumber party. That night I caught Aubrey and Riley drawing on the walls - Thank God for the magic eraser!

January 15

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,

and paints his own nature into his pictures."

~Henry Ward Beecher

10 | Instinct

It was daddy daughter date day. Joey and Bre were gone most of the afternoon which gave me some much needed time to get caught up on some custom orders. When they got home that evening we all headed down to the kitchen to cook dinner. While we were cooking Aubrey grabbed her doll and sat in the middle of the floor to play. It's amazing how quickly she became interested in dolls and how much of a little mommy she is. Maybe thats a good sign that I am doing something right.

January 10

A girl is Innocence playing in the mud,

Beauty standing on its head,

and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot

8 | Life in a Fish Bowl

Cindy, the fish, and I had a connection today. Dawn was explaining to me that Cindy was pissed because she had put snails in her bowl to help keep the water clean and Cindy didn't like the snails. I thought well maybe Cindy just wants some Cindy time. I mean she sits here in this bowl all day every day and she entertains you and she allows people to come up to her bowl and stare at her whenever they feel like no matter what she is doing. She gives and gives and what do you do in return. . . . . you give her something else to look after!

Sometimes Cindy needs to hear that you appreciate how beautiful she swims, and how beautiful and clean she keeps her bowl. Sometimes Cindy may need a day to herself without the snails so that she can sit in her little fishbowl and scrapbook or surf the internet or maybe just veg out.

Don't worry Cindy I understand you!

January 8

"If today were a fish I would throw it back"

3 | Mommy Time

I love nap time! It is the time of day that I don't feel guilty for working on stuff I need to work on. Today Joey decided to join Bre and Mr. Bear for a nap. Virgil gave her Mr. Bear for Christmas and it is literally bigger than she is but she carries it EVERYWHERE!

Nap Time - January 3

"No day is so bad it can't be fixed with a nap."

Christmas Wrap Up

Can you believe it? Can you believe that 2009 is over? This year has gone by in a flash for me. If you had asked me January 1 2009 where do you think you will end up 365 days from now I would have not even come close to describing my life as it is today - I will discuss more of the details when I do my post on the 2009 wrap up (cliffhanger lol).

I wanted to take a moment to wrap up our Christmas and Aubrey's first REAL Christmas. Last year she was 4 months old and none of this stuff even mattered to her. I can't honestly say that any of it mattered to her this year but hey at least she was aware of it all - hahahaa. I loved this Christmas - for some reason I was in more of a Christmas spirit than I have ever been. Maybe it was I was experiencing it through the eyes of Aubrey, someone who was seeing it all for the first time. Maybe I have just learned to appreciate things more this year? Whatever the reason was I am not complaining it was a great Christmas.

| THE DECORATIONS |
This was the first time we decorated the outside of the house and I have already warned JoJo (husband) next year there will be climbing and a ladder involved!!!!

The Wreath - gotta love Target

The Windows - I used real garland

The Mantle

The Christmas Tree - we have used the same ornaments
and tree since we moved into our house 3 years ago.
I really do love it!

I love a tree with gifts under it and every year I match
all my wrapping paper to my tree - hahaha!

| MEETING SANTA |

We were so excited to take her to see Santa. Everything was going great. . . she loved standing in line talking with the other kids. She loved all the decorations that were up and she seemed sort of interested in Santa. . . until she met him and then it all went down hill!

Enjoying the wait and the decorations.

Still happy. . . .

Not so happy anymore!

| THE GIFTS |
Of course the gifts we mostly handmade. This year I stepped it up a notch and created shuttefly books. I decided I would create one for my 3 oldest cousins (18, 15, 14). I used my photography plus some family pictures. I then searched the internet for some really great quotes and words of wisdom. This is what I came up with (completely inspired by Brit Girl):

Click here to view this photo book.

** photos were processed using Totally Rad Actions**
**photobook was created with products from designerdigitals.com**

That Time Of Today

Yes it is that time of day, nap time! I so look forward to this time. Usually by now she is so ill she can't stand herself or much less me. With the help of some milk and Noggin we both get much needed relief!

Today has been extra hard for both of us. She has spent the last 2 days at Nana's getting to do what she wants to do and I have spent the last 2 days sleeping and trying to get over this "cold". Which means I have to deal with a spoiled 14month old while trying to get caught up on 2 days worth of stuff - can anyone say frustration?!?!

I a feeling a lot better today, my eye still hurts and it looks like I have gone about 2 rounds with Tyson - yeah I am that bad ass I could last 2 rounds *insert laugh here*. I also have a new idea of what mommy/wife life should look like. For the past 2 years I have been concentrated on 2 people and neither of them are me. I have let a lot of things about myself change some for the good some for the bad. I decided while lying in bed these past 2 days and after watching my new hero - Liz from the biggest loser, that I need to start getting some of me back. It is going to be a process because honestly I don't even remember what me looks like or what I want it to look like. So the first step is going back vegetarian.

Around 2000 I gave up meat for health reasons and it changed my life. I lost weight, I felt better, I was happier and I never ever ever got sick! Then when I got pregnant I was told that I was anemic and I wasn't getting enough iron, protein, vitamins. I tried to take supplements but it just made me sick and honestly I was craving Bojangles Fried Chicken. So I started eating meat with the thought of well once I have the baby I will just stop. 14 months later I have not stopped. I have lost the will power to stop. It is just easier to eat what she eats and what Joseph eats. As a result I have held on to about 25 pounds of baby weight and I am a walking cold. So NO MEAT! Today is day 2 and I feel good.

I <3 Apple

So my husband is a professional football player - arena - or at least he was until the league decided to cancel the season then the entire league *insert boo here*. He has been working really hard at staying in shape in hopes that by the grace of God they will resume. He works as a personal trainer and a guy at them gym heard about him and went up and introduced himself. Apparently this guy is a sports agent and wants to help Joseph get on a NFL team *insert cheers here*. He told him he would need a highlight tape to shop to all the teams and of course Joey (that's what I call him because it annoys him hahaha) went into panic because he forgets how to check email and making a highlight tape may cause him to stroke out. So I did what all good wives would do. I sat down at my computer (APPLE) and I started googling instructions on how to work iMovie and iDVD and 2 days later VOILA a highlight film.

I am so proud of myself and once I figure out how to post it online I will post it. I love Apple and how easy it makes my life!

Halloween Wrap Up

This year was Aubrey’s first year trick or treating. I still don’t know if she understood what was going on but we had fun. We talked for months about what we were going to dress her up as. I thought I was set on a Fairy, afterall I had those amazing fairy wings and I wanted her to use them again and again. If it was up to me she would wear them EVERYDAY!!! Then as stated in the last post we changed our mind :)

A lot of folks won’t believe this but when we put the jacket on her she actually started walking backwards!! We fell out - we both said IS SHE MOONWALKING?!?!?! Here she is doing the thriller dance - at least that is what we say :)

My niece dressed up as “something so scary that when other kids see me they drop their candy and run”. I think she accomplished her goal:

My husband took them door to door and held the iPod and played Thriller. Everyone got a kick out of it and we all had a great time!

Happy "Late" Birthday To Me

I just may have the best husband on the planet. It is about 2 weeks late but for my birthday I got this:


I have been saving my own money to make the purchase after the holidays. Not only will it come in handy for those dreadful workouts but it actually will hook into our portable DVD player and allow me to play videos. This is great for Aubrey - I no longer have to buy DVDs or transport them in the car. All I have to do is load them to my iPod and we are good to go! HOLLA!!!