I'm an INGRID!!

I found this link on another blog I read...so I thought why not. Funny thing is it pretty much describes me to a 'T'!!


You are an Ingrid -- "I am unique"

Ingrids have sensitive feelings and are warm and perceptive.

How to Get Along with Me
* Give me plenty of compliments. They mean a lot to me.
* Be a supportive friend or partner. Help me to learn to love and value myself.
* Respect me for my special gifts of intuition and vision.
* Though I don't always want to be cheered up when I'm feeling melancholy, I sometimes like to have someone lighten me up a little.
* Don't tell me I'm too sensitive or that I'm overreacting!

What I Like About Being an Ingrid
* my ability to find meaning in life and to experience feeling at a deep level
* my ability to establish warm connections with people
* admiring what is noble, truthful, and beautiful in life
* my creativity, intuition, and sense of humor
* being unique and being seen as unique by others
* having aesthetic sensibilities
* being able to easily pick up the feelings of people around me

What's Hard About Being an Ingrid
* experiencing dark moods of emptiness and despair
* feelings of self-hatred and shame; believing I don't deserve to be loved
* feeling guilty when I disappoint people
* feeling hurt or attacked when someone misundertands me
* expecting too much from myself and life
* fearing being abandoned
* obsessing over resentments
* longing for what I don't have

Ingrids as Children Often
* have active imaginations: play creatively alone or organize playmates in original games
* are very sensitive
* feel that they don't fit in
* believe they are missing something that other people have
* attach themselves to idealized teachers, heroes, artists, etc.
* become antiauthoritarian or rebellious when criticized or not understood
* feel lonely or abandoned (perhaps as a result of a death or their parents' divorce)

Ingrids as Parents
* help their children become who they really are
* support their children's creativity and originality
* are good at helping their children get in touch with their feelings
* are sometimes overly critical or overly protective
* are usually very good with children if not too self-absorbed

You can find out who YOU are by clicking HERE!

Thanks for sharing your results Bren, or shall I say Marilyn??

Thank you.

As the eve of Christmas fast approaches I find myself thinking of all the good things that have happened to me this past year. I feel I have so much to be thankful for. Here are just a few of the wonderful things that have happened to me this year...



The most important was the birth of my beautiful baby boy. Though I love Jo-Jo and the Daughter dearly, my family didn't feel complete. I can remember as a child planning my family. I always had three dolls and knew I always wanted three children. I remember a few days after we brought Bubba home we were all sitting in the living room. Dad, Jo-Jo and the Daughter on the couch, and me in the recliner with a sleeping Bubba. I started crying and dad noticed. He asked me what was wrong. I responded, "Nothing is wrong...this just feels so right, so perfect. Our family is complete and I am very happy."


The most recent is the birth of my cousin's beautiful first baby. I always knew my cousin would be a wonderful mother and she has not proven me wrong. In the few days since she has had her baby she has shown me what the term "super mom" means. I look forward to being able to watch her blossom in motherhood and watch her baby grow in the love she and her husband will provide. They are a beautiful family.


I am also thankful for my new job. Though I will always consider my "career" as mommy, the fact that I am allowed to do something I love so much and actually get paid for it astonishes me still today. I've met so many wonderful women embarking on the trials and tribulations of motherhood. I hope in some small way I've impacted their lives as much as they have impacted mine.

I am also thankful for being welcomed into the world of blogging. Again I have met so many accomplished, sweet and wonderful women who have touched my life in ways I never imagined possible. I am endebted to them for their wise words and their wonderful gestures. It's wonderful to realize what a big world we live in yet how much we all have in common.

I am now and always thankful for my wonderful husband. He may not always be the most affectionate person, but I know he loves me and our children. He works so hard so that I can be a major part of my childrens lives. I know money is tight, but he never yells at me when I spoil our kids. I can't imagine my life without him. He is my rock.

There are about 1,000,000 other things I am thankful for, but just know if you are reading this blog I am thankful for you too. The fact that you will take time out of YOUR busy day to read about me and my kids means the world to me. Thank you dear reader.

So as this year finishes and a new year begins I have so much to be thankful for. I'm a very lucky woman...lucky in love, lucky in family and lucky in life. I hope you all are as blessed and happy as I am...and if you are not I hope you find your piece of happiness because I believe we all deserve it.

God Bless and Merry Christmas.

The winning picture

As promised, here is the picture that made our Christmas card this year. I know, I know...Bubba isn't smiling, but I wanted to be done and so did the kids so we opted for one that had them all looking at the camera.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Welcome to the world

On December 20th my dear cousin and friend gave birth to her first angel. I just HAVE to share a picture so everyone can see how gorgeous this little baby is. Mom, dad and baby are all doing super well. My cousin is a natural at this mommy thing. She puts me to shame!

Bubba kicks back

My little Bubba (who isn't so little) definitely has the relaxation thing down!!

Jo-Jo takes the stage...The Daughter wears legwarmers...and a Winter Wonderland.

I am so lazy about downloading pictures from my camera onto my computer so when I get around to it I have all kinds of fun pictures to post. So here it goes!! Enjoy!

Jo-Jo had his Winter Concert at school last week. His 1st grade class sang, 'Light the Little Candles', 'Let's Play in the Snow/It's Snowing', and the classic 'Frosty the Snowman'. He did a great job!


I found these great knee high socks on clearance at Target...so I brought them home and cut the bottom foot part off...thus making a pair of socks for me a pair of legwarmers for the daughter...she LOVES them!! (For those who don't believe me, that is about as crafty as I get...oh and ignore the mess in the picture *blush*)


We had a pretty good snowfall earlier last week...so I put Bubba and The Daughter down for naps...and when Jo-Jo got home we went outside to clean up the driveway. I'm pretty proud of the job I did.

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Here are some of the funny out-takes of our Christmas card photo. We just did it today...

Bubba launching himself...he thought it was funny!

The daughter smiling so big her eyes disappeared.

The requisite "ARE WE DONE YET??" photo.

After only 8 pictures we did have a winner. I will post it after I send out my Christmas cards so I don't ruin the surprise.

Miserable

I wish I had one of these right now...


Well, my kids finally shared their cold with me and I am MISERABLE! Fever, aches, pains and general yuckiness. I will return to my regularly scheduled blog when I'm feeling more human. Hope you're all having a great weekend...healthy style!

Bubba's 9 month pictures

Well -- you all KNOW how I brag about my kids so you had to know I would post these. Isn't he an angel?? This is truly his personality too. Sweet, cute, fun...Awwwwwww!

Tis the season!

Wouldn't this just be the cutest Christmas card this year??



It's not ours though. I had Bubba's 9 month pictures done and they threw this one in to tempt me. I usually do our own Christmas card picture with all the kids on it. Geesh -- another thing I have to do.

Oh Boy, Oh Boy

There is nothing I like better than a good deal...and thanks to one of my favorite fellow bloggers, I found somewhere you can donate to win................A Canon Rebel XSi Digital Camera. Wow. I just bought one of these and lemme tell you -- they aren't cheap. So click the link above, make a donation, and tune in on December 14th to see if Santa came early for you. All the proceeds of the raffle are going towards three great causes. Best of luck!

No autographs please.

My first encounter with Lorena of Custom Boutique Jewelry was in March of 2007. I bid on, and won, an auction on ebay for the most adorable Easter Bunny necklace for The Daughter to wear for Easter. I also won a matching barrette.

Anyway, this lovely sweet and extremely talented woman designs and makes the most adorable polymer clay beads and jewelry. I've bought The Daughter countless bracelets and necklaces from her. She even custom made me a laynard for my work ID and a custom Wizard of Oz necklace for the daughter to wear for Halloween.

Today she sent me an email inviting me to check out her store...

CUSTOM BOUTIQUE JEWELRY

WOW! Thank you Lorena -- what an honor!!

P.S. THIS (4th one down) is the lanyard she made for me. I get compliments on it daily when I'm working. She is so talented!!

Beautiful jewelry giveaway going on NOW!

So dear readers...I'm just letting you know to jump on and post your story about family heirlooms so you can maybe win some seriously gorgeous jewelry. Wanna know where to go?? Check it out here at SimpleMom's blog spot -- and while your there read through some of her posts...I think she has good advice and information we ALL can use!

Good luck! Click here: SimpleMom

Today was a chilly day...so why Jo-Jo was at school we hung around the house and just fooled around. It was fun having a do-nothing day.


We ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and played dollhouse...


We read stories and watched Noggin, and when Jo-Jo got home...



...we all took a nap.

Perfection!

Again with the Etsy!

I cannot express how much I L-O-V-E Etsy! I keep finding treasure after treasure there! As much as I love buying stuff for my kids, I also like finding unique and fun gifts for myself!

My most recent find is a wonderful woman, Rene, who runs a shop called DeSignsbyRene (click on the shops name to be taken to her store). She has a HUGE bank of pictures she has taken of signs with different names on them. I purchased three of these -- my name, the husbands name and our last name to create a one of a kind art piece perfect for my home. I couldn't believe that she had our last name!

I think these would make excellent Christmas presents so check out her Etsy shop! The prices are really reasonable and you can purchase the pictures in 4X6, 5X7 and some 8X10 sizes! WOW! So check out her work, convo her to see if she has the names your looking for and be ready for a pleasant transaction on Etsy!