I'm thinking he might be a savant?

Nicholas can totally copy a picture after only seeing it once..Seriously..does this look like the work of a "mentally handicapped child"?

The picture at the top is what happens when you leave 5 kids alone to use their imagination with a toybox lid and some karate belts...trouble but freakin' funny trouble

First Thanksgiving without mom..

Well I survived...I made it through the turkey, mashed potatoes, squash, buns, appetizers and even the creamed corn. The creamed corn that my mom made every year and that we all LOVE..My aunt made it and it was good but not the same. I bit my lip, sucked it up, missed her like crazy but made it through. I only had to go into the bathroom to compose myself once, because I knew if I lost it..we all would. We were all tip-toeing around the massive feeling of loss in the air..but we made it and we all came out okay. We even had a good time. Now Christmas is going to be what is really hard becuase Christmas was our thing..my mom and I..we were all over Christmas. She was my other half in the kitchen and we had a system so..I don't know what I'm going to do for that day..maybe medicate?? We'll see. We did manage to get a good family pic that I promptly made into Christmas cards and sent on out. Can't tell you how much fun that was..geez..Well so far today I have done as much as i do in 3 days so I'm beat and going to bed. here is some pics from the holiday...

Things that bring me Joy Tuesday

1. Clean laundry that is put away.
2. A clean house, especially when I am not the one that cleaned it.
3. Freshly painted toenails.
4. Clean. good smelling children..vs. dirty, stinky little boys.
5. A baby laughing
6. Nicholas signing mom!
7. christmas..and everything about it..
8. Me in my suit (with a better body) sitting in achair in the Lake with a margarita in one hand and a huge bowl of tortilla chips with lots of lemon and a big ole bowl of guacamole.
9. Reading
10. Writing in solitude when something inspires me...
What brings you Joy on this boring Tuesday?

Deep thoughts and silent prayers

Well it has been 2 months since my mom has died. Things have gotten a little easier but she still crosses my mind every day. My Dad and I are luckily VERY close so we talk everyday and have little counseling sessions with each other. Through these little sessions we have gone through every emotion..sad..sadder..heartbroken..angry..etc.Finally, I think we are starting to move to a little bit of a better place. We have both realized the following:
1. God is always good. God always "has your back". God always knows what he's doing, even if you don't understand.
2. So..if #1 is true..then God had a reason for taking my mother so young..there is a deeper meaning and she is with God. Safe in the arms of Jesus people..what a place to be!
3. Thus, heaven exsists, she was good with God and all of us, and we know without shadow of a doubt that she is there with HIM...so..life is but a short glimpse of time and soon we will all be together again for eternity. Her passing brought my Dad closer to GOD then he has ever been..he will go to heaven for sure now and maybe the loss of a mother in order to bring her husband and countless others closer to Christ is worth all this pain? Yes..for sure YES! We only had 50 short years with her but we will see her again and spend eternity together!
All of this has been swirling around in my head for so long and I feel a sense of peace in relaizing the fact that life is short. Life is but a moment..soo short so fragile and we take it to lightly. We should give life all we have and God all we have. He uses what we do here as a way of seperating out the good from the bad so that He can fill heaven with all those that truly seek him. Its amazing how the acceptance of this can change ones life. happiness, personal, individual happiness is overrated. People..it is NOT all about YOU! Your actions effect many and sometimes one has to sacrifice a tad to keep those you love on the right path. Live life as if God is watching you and as if it may all end tomarrow. Don't wait to do the things you know you should..I feel very strongly on this which is why I went off on this crazy tangent. it would literally kill me if my mothers death is in vain. She was worth so much more than that and i pray that losing her will continue to keep myself and others in a constant "life check'.

Not me Monday!

I need to learn how to link this to MCKmama..her's are soo funny!

So here goes....
1.I did not..no not me..drink way too much at my friend's birthday party and proceeed to puke on myself, the car and a friends driveway..nope not me..

2.I did not forget to read the part where it said.."While you are on this diet you should NOT DRINK ALCOHOL as you will metabolize it much quicker"..nope not me I always read the whole book and pay close attention..

3.I did not go and see NEW MOON twice already..nope not me..I am not overly addicted to some teeny bopper books..

4. I am not in love with a fictional character..see #3..nope not me..I just love the love story.

5. I do all my laundry ever week and never...ever let it pile up to an insane amount..nope not me I'm perfect..ha ha..sorry couldn't help myself.

6. I did not take a sip of wine tonight..see #2..and the proceed to spen the next hour in the bathroom..nope I learn from my mistakes!

Ahh that was so much fun! So glad to be back in the blog world. I'm challenging myself to update my blog everyday for a month!