*Pictures of Chelsea's room,
*tales of another exciting adventure of Ellyn and Gillian's day on the town,
*the list of copious amounts of birthday presents that I get on Sunday! HA--NOT!
*how I spent my day of birth (and Gillian's, and Joan J.'s, and Larry C's, and Ethan's, and Alia's)
*the freak out and stress of trying to buy and get packed and work and run carpool and get homework and projects done and be ready for Easter by the time I leave.
*what I think about LOST
*what I think about Mason going to the final 4
*what I think about Walk the Line---best movie EVER!!!! Love all things Johnny Cash!
Until then--hold your breath and wait!
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
nyc review
Yes, Chelsea made it back from NYC--the big apple....not sin city...that's Las Vegas....
She had a blast! She did call at most every moment she could. She had lots to report! If you check out her pictures you will see some of what they did. She was disappointed that the conference was set up in such a way that you didn't always get into the workshop you wanted. It was a first come/first serve basis. So one day they didn't get into anything they were remotely interested in. She was a little sad about that.
Her highlights were...seeing a woman dressed as an angel singing opera for her living in the subway, a pimp (see pictures), going to Times Square, NBC studios, Top of the Rock, the St. Patty's parade and all the drunk people, eating at Carmine's and seeing the 25th annual Spelling Bee of Putnam County.
She thinks she is soooo ready to move to NYC! I am glad she had a good time. She learned a few things are her eyes were opened to a world she is not a part of everyday but all in all...she's the same kid.
My parents pulled a "While you were out" on her with her room while she was in NYC. It looks really good. I hope to have pictures up soon..well as soon as my mom finishes her room...which hopefully will be Tuesday.
Oh I do have to say, that Chelsea probably got no more than 5 hours of sleep a night while she was gone and she has done really well with her attitude! I am very proud of her!
So all in all, I grade this test a "A". There is always room for improvement!
She had a blast! She did call at most every moment she could. She had lots to report! If you check out her pictures you will see some of what they did. She was disappointed that the conference was set up in such a way that you didn't always get into the workshop you wanted. It was a first come/first serve basis. So one day they didn't get into anything they were remotely interested in. She was a little sad about that.
Her highlights were...seeing a woman dressed as an angel singing opera for her living in the subway, a pimp (see pictures), going to Times Square, NBC studios, Top of the Rock, the St. Patty's parade and all the drunk people, eating at Carmine's and seeing the 25th annual Spelling Bee of Putnam County.
She thinks she is soooo ready to move to NYC! I am glad she had a good time. She learned a few things are her eyes were opened to a world she is not a part of everyday but all in all...she's the same kid.
My parents pulled a "While you were out" on her with her room while she was in NYC. It looks really good. I hope to have pictures up soon..well as soon as my mom finishes her room...which hopefully will be Tuesday.
Oh I do have to say, that Chelsea probably got no more than 5 hours of sleep a night while she was gone and she has done really well with her attitude! I am very proud of her!
So all in all, I grade this test a "A". There is always room for improvement!
Gotta love a smart preschooler!
What happened yesterday at church was just too precious to pass up so I am going to share the story for you!! For those of you not living in our area and who don't attend our church, I am going to need to give you some background info.
People constantly confuse my cohort and myself. We have learned over the past 5 years to just respond to each other's names. FEW people call us by the right name. So when someone is addressing me and calls me "Miss Lisa" I just respond and keep going. As you can see from our pictures there are some similarities. We have the same mannerisms. People get us confused on the phone. Even the children of the deaf adults get us confused and I am the one out of the 2 of us who knows sign language. You would think they could keep it straight.....
Anyway, all that to say, we have become accustomed to answering to whatever we are called now.
So yesterday there must of been a full moon or something because just about every little girl under the age of 6 was having a hard day. One little girl inparticular wanted her Dad to stay with her in Bible class. Miss Lisa said she would sit with the little girl to help her get adjusted so that Dad could go and worship. So Miss Lisa did that for a while. About 30 minutes later, the teacher peeks her head out of the door and said that this little girl needed to use the restroom and doesn't want to use the one that is there in the room. She wants to use the one in the hallway. Ok, so I go down that hall to get the little girl and we go to the bathroom in the hallway.
Upon entering, I ask her, like I do all the children at this age (3)...."Can you do this by yourself? or do you need help?" She took a look at the potty and then turned around to me and smiled and said..."I don't have to go potty. I want you to come sit with me in class." I smiled back at her and thought....clever little girl! So I made her try to go potty anyway and then probably because she is so clever she figured out, I wasn't going to sit with her.....she said "Where's the other you?"
The "other you"!!!!! That was a new one! So now we are just going to tell people that I am "the you" and Lisa is the "other you"!!!
I thought that was just so precious! It is things like that that make me smile and enjoy my Sundays! This you is going to run crew carpool! Later!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Put to the test
Chelsea leaves for NYC at 4:15 a.m. tomorrow....as I have been having hives about her going to NYC without me and with a bunch people who, more than likely, hold very few moral values in sync with ours, including her teacher who is living with his girlfriend and their year old daughter...i know because he feels the need to inform and update his students on his personal life in class.....i realize that what we have been doing with Chelsea for the past 15 years now comes to a head. This is our first big test of Chelsea and of us.
Anyhoo--this is where Jay and I's parenting skills will come into play. In some ways this is the beginning of things to come in the very near future. Our daughter is an amazingly responsible young lady. Who loves the Lord and seeks to follow Him in all that she does. It has been rather easy since she is still living at home and when things don't turn out right, mom and dad are right around the corner. Well for the next 4 days we will be 5 hours away from her.
As much as I hate to see my children fail at something, we really try to tell them that it is a redirection and not a failure. What they tried didn't work, they need to try again....sounds like an old proverb huh?!
So tonight, I tucked Chelsea in bed and told her that I trusted her. That no matter what happens, I will always love her. There is nothing she can do to take my love away. That I am proud of who she is. That I am confident in her abilities to make good choices. The clincher was I told her that at all times, God sat on one shoulder and I sat on the other. And while God holds eternity in His hands...I hold the next 3 years until she graduates!!!!
I don't know about you but, when I was a teen, it was the image of my mom sitting on my shoulder that kept me from doing many a thing that I should not have done. It owuld have been a fate worse than death to have to tell Becky that I had really really messed up and confess my sin to her and to see the disappointment on her face. That kept me out of ALOT of trouble that presented itself during my teen years....alcohol, sex, drugs, lying, stealing, cheating...you name it...it all presented itself to me at one time or another.
So when you are done reading this...please pray for the safety of the 23 who are going to NYC on this trip.
This is one test that I am sure Chelsea will pass with flying colors!
Anyhoo--this is where Jay and I's parenting skills will come into play. In some ways this is the beginning of things to come in the very near future. Our daughter is an amazingly responsible young lady. Who loves the Lord and seeks to follow Him in all that she does. It has been rather easy since she is still living at home and when things don't turn out right, mom and dad are right around the corner. Well for the next 4 days we will be 5 hours away from her.
As much as I hate to see my children fail at something, we really try to tell them that it is a redirection and not a failure. What they tried didn't work, they need to try again....sounds like an old proverb huh?!
So tonight, I tucked Chelsea in bed and told her that I trusted her. That no matter what happens, I will always love her. There is nothing she can do to take my love away. That I am proud of who she is. That I am confident in her abilities to make good choices. The clincher was I told her that at all times, God sat on one shoulder and I sat on the other. And while God holds eternity in His hands...I hold the next 3 years until she graduates!!!!
I don't know about you but, when I was a teen, it was the image of my mom sitting on my shoulder that kept me from doing many a thing that I should not have done. It owuld have been a fate worse than death to have to tell Becky that I had really really messed up and confess my sin to her and to see the disappointment on her face. That kept me out of ALOT of trouble that presented itself during my teen years....alcohol, sex, drugs, lying, stealing, cheating...you name it...it all presented itself to me at one time or another.
So when you are done reading this...please pray for the safety of the 23 who are going to NYC on this trip.
This is one test that I am sure Chelsea will pass with flying colors!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Tag! Thou art it!
I was tagged by Malia to fill this out! Let's see what I can come up with!
1. Who is your favorite Biblical personage, other than Jesus? Not just one but the 4 women in the lineage of Christ. A great reminder of what God can do thru women!
2. What is your favorite book of the Old Testament? Proverbs--I write some down for my kids to read on their bathroom mirror!!! Very relavant!
3. What is your least favorite book of the Old Testament?hm.....maybe Numbers
4. What is your favorite non- gospel book of the New Testament? James! Lots of very relative topics that I use on my kids!
5. What is your life verse? James 1:2-6 Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters) when you face troubles of various kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
AWESOME STUFF!
6. Tag 3 people who might want to play. Shayna, Sammie, Jacque, It gives you something to post that is easier than writing prose, come on, you know you wanna play!
1. Who is your favorite Biblical personage, other than Jesus? Not just one but the 4 women in the lineage of Christ. A great reminder of what God can do thru women!
2. What is your favorite book of the Old Testament? Proverbs--I write some down for my kids to read on their bathroom mirror!!! Very relavant!
3. What is your least favorite book of the Old Testament?hm.....maybe Numbers
4. What is your favorite non- gospel book of the New Testament? James! Lots of very relative topics that I use on my kids!
5. What is your life verse? James 1:2-6 Consider it pure joy, my brothers (sisters) when you face troubles of various kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
AWESOME STUFF!
6. Tag 3 people who might want to play. Shayna, Sammie, Jacque, It gives you something to post that is easier than writing prose, come on, you know you wanna play!
Monday, February 27, 2006
love him, hug him, squeeze him and call him George
Here are pictures from our evening with George. He is fast becoming a curious George!
shocker
I have been sick for about 4 weeks now. So this past friday, I made an appointment and went to the dr. I couldn't take being sick anymore. I absolutely love my dr. Shout out to Lisa for introducing me to Dr. Nguyen. She is a fireball and just lovely! I have only seen her once, a year ago, and when she saw me, she asked all these personal questions such as; "how are your kids?" "are they still liking swimming?" "how does your daughter like high school?". I saw her ONCE a year ago!!!! She is great!!!
Anyway, she takes my blood pressure and well according to the numbers, I should be stroking out at anytime now. My blood pressure was high last year but I had taken 2 weeks worth of decongestants and that raises your blood pressure. I was suppose to (suspoose to--that is Gillian style) come back a year ago for a full physical...yeah, I didn't.
So one year later, I come back...sick and my blood pressure is through the roof! So she does what every good dr. should do....give me a talkin' to about my diet, weight, life style, job, etc.
I relfected with Jay all the way home about my life and how I choose to live it.
Yes, I am about 70 pounds overweight. I live for my family. I work a job outside the home from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m. and when I get home at 3 the amazing race begins. We have homework, housework, practices musical and sports, we have meetings, and phone calls, school stuff church stuff and then there is the blogging!!! Just kidding..that is a side activity. We eat out ALOT or else we are eating at 8 p.m.!!!
What I am trying to say is, I live for my family. We choose to have kids. I choose to be a mom. This is my "season" of being a mom with kids at home. I know that I am completely against what the world says but "my time" will come in about 3-6 years when at that time both my kids will be at college and I will only be 43. When my house is empty then I will have time to work out and focus on me. Don't get me wrong. I do do things that I like and that fill my cup now. But contrary to the world's view, being with my kids and doing things for them is what I love and that does fill my cup! My kids are not going to be in my home fulltime in such a very very short time. NOW is my time to talk and listen and laugh and cry with them. This is my time to take them and use teachable moments to move them closer to their relationship with God.
When I say "this is my time" I mean from the time they have been born. So, after I reflected and Jay's eyes finished glazing over...poor guy, he tries so hard to keep up but I am not easy to keep up with....I come to the conclusion that I will work harder at taking care of myself. My family needs me to be healthy. I will watch my salt intake and drink more water and take my meds. I will run carpools, help with homework, make/order dinner, read, laugh, talk, cry and sit with my kids. I will go to BUNKO or book club. I will keep the house picked up and laundry caught up. I will keep fridays as my day off so that my hubby and I get "quality" time. As we learned at Winterfest, I am going to live for the line (eternity) and not the dot (today).
and then in 2012, when Alex goes to college, the basement becomes a workout room!
Rock on all you moms, rock on!
Anyway, she takes my blood pressure and well according to the numbers, I should be stroking out at anytime now. My blood pressure was high last year but I had taken 2 weeks worth of decongestants and that raises your blood pressure. I was suppose to (suspoose to--that is Gillian style) come back a year ago for a full physical...yeah, I didn't.
So one year later, I come back...sick and my blood pressure is through the roof! So she does what every good dr. should do....give me a talkin' to about my diet, weight, life style, job, etc.
I relfected with Jay all the way home about my life and how I choose to live it.
Yes, I am about 70 pounds overweight. I live for my family. I work a job outside the home from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m. and when I get home at 3 the amazing race begins. We have homework, housework, practices musical and sports, we have meetings, and phone calls, school stuff church stuff and then there is the blogging!!! Just kidding..that is a side activity. We eat out ALOT or else we are eating at 8 p.m.!!!
What I am trying to say is, I live for my family. We choose to have kids. I choose to be a mom. This is my "season" of being a mom with kids at home. I know that I am completely against what the world says but "my time" will come in about 3-6 years when at that time both my kids will be at college and I will only be 43. When my house is empty then I will have time to work out and focus on me. Don't get me wrong. I do do things that I like and that fill my cup now. But contrary to the world's view, being with my kids and doing things for them is what I love and that does fill my cup! My kids are not going to be in my home fulltime in such a very very short time. NOW is my time to talk and listen and laugh and cry with them. This is my time to take them and use teachable moments to move them closer to their relationship with God.
When I say "this is my time" I mean from the time they have been born. So, after I reflected and Jay's eyes finished glazing over...poor guy, he tries so hard to keep up but I am not easy to keep up with....I come to the conclusion that I will work harder at taking care of myself. My family needs me to be healthy. I will watch my salt intake and drink more water and take my meds. I will run carpools, help with homework, make/order dinner, read, laugh, talk, cry and sit with my kids. I will go to BUNKO or book club. I will keep the house picked up and laundry caught up. I will keep fridays as my day off so that my hubby and I get "quality" time. As we learned at Winterfest, I am going to live for the line (eternity) and not the dot (today).
and then in 2012, when Alex goes to college, the basement becomes a workout room!
Rock on all you moms, rock on!
Saturday, February 25, 2006
hit the bullseye in 2 questions
Took this test for Shayna's blog....it pegged me perfectly!!!! I am so predictable!
the HelperTest finished!
you chose CX - your Enneagram type is TWO.
"I must help others"
Helpers are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.
How to Get Along with Me
Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.
Share fun times with me.
Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.
Let me know that I am important and special to you.
Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.
In Intimate Relationships
Reassure me that I am intersting to you.
Reassure me often that you love me.
Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.
What I Like About Being a Two
being able to relate easily to people and to make friends
knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better
being generous, caring, and warm
being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings
being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor
What's Hard About Being a Two
not being able to say no
having low self-esteem
feeling drained from overdoing for others
not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish
criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should
being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them
working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings
Twos as Children Often
are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism
try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding
are outwardly compliant
are popular or try to be popular with other children
act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention
are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Twos), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Twos)
Twos as Parents
are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)
are often playful with their children
wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"
can become fiercely protective
Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages
You liked the test? so please RATE it :-)
The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Testhttp://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=12721960859055255705
Go ahead...take it! Ya know ya want to!!!
the HelperTest finished!
you chose CX - your Enneagram type is TWO.
"I must help others"
Helpers are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.
How to Get Along with Me
Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.
Share fun times with me.
Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.
Let me know that I am important and special to you.
Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.
In Intimate Relationships
Reassure me that I am intersting to you.
Reassure me often that you love me.
Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.
What I Like About Being a Two
being able to relate easily to people and to make friends
knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better
being generous, caring, and warm
being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings
being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor
What's Hard About Being a Two
not being able to say no
having low self-esteem
feeling drained from overdoing for others
not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish
criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should
being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them
working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings
Twos as Children Often
are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism
try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding
are outwardly compliant
are popular or try to be popular with other children
act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention
are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Twos), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Twos)
Twos as Parents
are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)
are often playful with their children
wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"
can become fiercely protective
Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele
The Enneagram Made Easy Discover the 9 Types of People HarperSanFrancisco, 1994, 161 pages
You liked the test? so please RATE it :-)
The Quick and Painless ENNEAGRAM Testhttp://www.okcupid.com/tests/take?testid=12721960859055255705
Go ahead...take it! Ya know ya want to!!!
Thursday, February 23, 2006
...let all the earth rejoice....
How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God....and all will see how great, how great is our God!!!
Lauren Schwamb is coming home!!! The baby that THE top pediatric doctor's said would not likely live through birth much less out of the womb...is coming home on Monday! 5 days before her due date!!! Simply amazing!!!
All I have to say is .....prayer works! If you have not had a chance to check out her care page on the web...go to.....
www.carepages.com and sign in as a new member and then type in LaurenSchwamb. You will see how great our God is!!!
Now I need to go take more drugs because I feel awful and I hate being sick!
Lauren Schwamb is coming home!!! The baby that THE top pediatric doctor's said would not likely live through birth much less out of the womb...is coming home on Monday! 5 days before her due date!!! Simply amazing!!!
All I have to say is .....prayer works! If you have not had a chance to check out her care page on the web...go to.....
www.carepages.com and sign in as a new member and then type in LaurenSchwamb. You will see how great our God is!!!
Now I need to go take more drugs because I feel awful and I hate being sick!
Monday, February 20, 2006
ramblings of a weekend spent w/ no sleeping
Winterfest '06--Gatlinburg, TN---amazing! an incredible weekend! spiritually uplifting and rejuvenating. 14,000 teens and chaperones came together to praise God, learn more and be edified!
--we stood in FREEZING temperatures, snow and ice.
--we ate krispy kreme donuts from a real krispy kreme store--not Giant
--we sang "How great is our God"!
--we heard that we we should believe in "Gesus"!!! yes i spelled it correctly---Jeff Walling had a little freudian moment there and spelled "G-E-S-U-S"!!!
--we saw 2 kids from our youth group turn their lives over to Christ!
--we (well the teens) went swimming at an indoor oasis at 11 p.m.
--we had a boys with special needs have an allergic reaction to his meds and suffered most of Friday. On sat. when his episodes were over, one of our teen boys took him swimming at 7:30 a.m. because he had missed it the night before!!!!!! This kid is amazing! They both are!
--one of the kids who was baptized has been ready for a year and he was reassured that "there was room for 2 in the pool and that his mom was there and no time like the present!" God at work!!!!
--we had no teens get piercings and tatoos this year! well at least not that i know of today! last year was a different story!
--jay got to go for the first time!
--our bus driver was hard of hearing...i would prefer this to the crossed eyed bus driver we had 2 years ago!
--we saw and connected with friends and family that we had not seen in a year!
--i had very little, i mean very little sleep this weekend--but it was all worth it!
--bus rides--so much fun!
--mexican food---yumm-o!
--what is up with gatlinburg having mostly pepsi and not coke!!!!???? I am a coke girl--preferably cherry coke!
---can't complain too much because we did have sweet tea! gotta love the south!
Can't wait for Winterfest '07---Heaven! by the way alex gets to go next year....he will be in 7th grade....now there is something to blog about...my baby in the youth group!
sigh!
--we stood in FREEZING temperatures, snow and ice.
--we ate krispy kreme donuts from a real krispy kreme store--not Giant
--we sang "How great is our God"!
--we heard that we we should believe in "Gesus"!!! yes i spelled it correctly---Jeff Walling had a little freudian moment there and spelled "G-E-S-U-S"!!!
--we saw 2 kids from our youth group turn their lives over to Christ!
--we (well the teens) went swimming at an indoor oasis at 11 p.m.
--we had a boys with special needs have an allergic reaction to his meds and suffered most of Friday. On sat. when his episodes were over, one of our teen boys took him swimming at 7:30 a.m. because he had missed it the night before!!!!!! This kid is amazing! They both are!
--one of the kids who was baptized has been ready for a year and he was reassured that "there was room for 2 in the pool and that his mom was there and no time like the present!" God at work!!!!
--we had no teens get piercings and tatoos this year! well at least not that i know of today! last year was a different story!
--jay got to go for the first time!
--our bus driver was hard of hearing...i would prefer this to the crossed eyed bus driver we had 2 years ago!
--we saw and connected with friends and family that we had not seen in a year!
--i had very little, i mean very little sleep this weekend--but it was all worth it!
--bus rides--so much fun!
--mexican food---yumm-o!
--what is up with gatlinburg having mostly pepsi and not coke!!!!???? I am a coke girl--preferably cherry coke!
---can't complain too much because we did have sweet tea! gotta love the south!
Can't wait for Winterfest '07---Heaven! by the way alex gets to go next year....he will be in 7th grade....now there is something to blog about...my baby in the youth group!
sigh!
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
riddle me this
ok, so we are going on the disney cruise for spring break. we have worked very hard to save money and pay for it outright. our destinations are key west, grand caymans, cozumel, and castaway cay (the disney owned island). because we are going to other countries, we need passports. technically my children don't need them but why carry around paper birth certificates if you don't have to and can carry passport books instead. besides chelsea is going to the DR (dominican republic) this summer on a mission trip..she needs one anyway.
so in true sergio fashion, we don't have birth certificates for me, chelsea and alex. we looked absolutely everywhere for them. the obvious places and the not so obvious places. none were to be found. oh, we had jay's because his mom had just given us all of his medical records and school records and old passports and stuff. so now we are in a pickle. we are 8 weeks from departure.
so this past friday, i call the state of virginia and go through their whole process to have certified copies of their birth certificates sent to us. i explain to the lady that i need to have them overnighted. she kindly explained with glee in her voice that i would have to pay extra money...um, duh! all this happened last friday. so, i gave her my credit card number and verified that they were going to overnighted and i would have them by monday...yes she confirmed. she did however, fail to explain that i would have to be home to sign for them!
so while i am doing all of this on the phone, i am online ordering my birth certificate from the great state of TN. i have it overnighted too. by the way, it cost me $27 to order and overnight it from TN. it cost me $50 a piece to order my kids from RICHMOND, VA!!!! which is only 2 hours away!!!!
monday comes and i get my birth certificate. no kid's. tuesday comes--no kid's. wednesday mid-morning and thank God, jay is home and he signs for it. which was required...but not explained...
so, my question is...why can TN be 1/2 as much and get here on time? and virginia cost twice as much and took 4 days!!!! i am sorry but last i checked 4 days is not the same as overnight. well, it is overnight, overnight, overnight.
anyway, all is fine, we have our passports in the process. the cruise is just 7 weeks away!!! just a small price to pay for a vacation of a lifetime...and yes, we will probably do this only once but from what i hear it is completely worth it!!!!
so in true sergio fashion, we don't have birth certificates for me, chelsea and alex. we looked absolutely everywhere for them. the obvious places and the not so obvious places. none were to be found. oh, we had jay's because his mom had just given us all of his medical records and school records and old passports and stuff. so now we are in a pickle. we are 8 weeks from departure.
so this past friday, i call the state of virginia and go through their whole process to have certified copies of their birth certificates sent to us. i explain to the lady that i need to have them overnighted. she kindly explained with glee in her voice that i would have to pay extra money...um, duh! all this happened last friday. so, i gave her my credit card number and verified that they were going to overnighted and i would have them by monday...yes she confirmed. she did however, fail to explain that i would have to be home to sign for them!
so while i am doing all of this on the phone, i am online ordering my birth certificate from the great state of TN. i have it overnighted too. by the way, it cost me $27 to order and overnight it from TN. it cost me $50 a piece to order my kids from RICHMOND, VA!!!! which is only 2 hours away!!!!
monday comes and i get my birth certificate. no kid's. tuesday comes--no kid's. wednesday mid-morning and thank God, jay is home and he signs for it. which was required...but not explained...
so, my question is...why can TN be 1/2 as much and get here on time? and virginia cost twice as much and took 4 days!!!! i am sorry but last i checked 4 days is not the same as overnight. well, it is overnight, overnight, overnight.
anyway, all is fine, we have our passports in the process. the cruise is just 7 weeks away!!! just a small price to pay for a vacation of a lifetime...and yes, we will probably do this only once but from what i hear it is completely worth it!!!!
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
a day for love
happy valentine's day!
jay--thank you for 16 great years. i wouldn't trade them for anything! yes, and thanks for lovely flowers. they are perfect!
chelsea--thank you for being the most amazing daughter! i love you just the way you are!
alex--thank you for being the light in my life. thank you for keeping me from taking myself too seriously.
guess what? i found the book "fresh faith"!!! long story...anyway, i am rereading it. don't let satan steal your joy!
pray for the committment to keep the joy in your life. the joy that Christ offers. the joy of a husband, child or friend.
have a great and LOVEly day!
jay--thank you for 16 great years. i wouldn't trade them for anything! yes, and thanks for lovely flowers. they are perfect!
chelsea--thank you for being the most amazing daughter! i love you just the way you are!
alex--thank you for being the light in my life. thank you for keeping me from taking myself too seriously.
guess what? i found the book "fresh faith"!!! long story...anyway, i am rereading it. don't let satan steal your joy!
pray for the committment to keep the joy in your life. the joy that Christ offers. the joy of a husband, child or friend.
have a great and LOVEly day!
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Saturday, February 04, 2006
new skills
i have new skills to add to my already extremely long list! i figured out last night how to add pictures to my posts!
i did find out however that i need to remove/update my list of skills because today we had gillian again...and i forgot to bring another diaper and wipes to alex's game. so she tells me she needs to go potty. we head to the bathroom and her diaper is soaked. she goes potty but um, i dont' have the goods. so i explain to her that i don't have a diaper and she is going to need to be a big girl and tell me everytime she needs to go to the potty. "ok" she says to me. we spend the rest of the game running down the hall because every 15-20 mintues she tells me she needs to go potty. she thinks it's funny!
here are some shots of alex playing his game. he plays the #5 position under the basket. he's tall, 5'3" to be exact so he is the rebounder and defender. he rebounded 10 times to score 8 points for the team. he took the ball away from the opponent and while doing so threw the kid to the ground. the final score 54-4....that is not fun for the other team. good for us but not them.
here's the pics....
i did find out however that i need to remove/update my list of skills because today we had gillian again...and i forgot to bring another diaper and wipes to alex's game. so she tells me she needs to go potty. we head to the bathroom and her diaper is soaked. she goes potty but um, i dont' have the goods. so i explain to her that i don't have a diaper and she is going to need to be a big girl and tell me everytime she needs to go to the potty. "ok" she says to me. we spend the rest of the game running down the hall because every 15-20 mintues she tells me she needs to go potty. she thinks it's funny!
here are some shots of alex playing his game. he plays the #5 position under the basket. he's tall, 5'3" to be exact so he is the rebounder and defender. he rebounded 10 times to score 8 points for the team. he took the ball away from the opponent and while doing so threw the kid to the ground. the final score 54-4....that is not fun for the other team. good for us but not them.
here's the pics....
Friday, February 03, 2006
how quickly we forget
gillian is with me tonight. she is almost 3.
we share the same birthday. she is very very smart. gillian and i have an aunt/niece night tonight. we go to mcdonalds and to target. at mcdonalds we talk about who is related to whom in our family. she tells me about how daddy picked her up and put her on his shoulders "last year" (everything happens last year) and they went to toys r us but it was closed. she starts every sentence with "um" or "remember". she is talking non stop.
it all comes screaming back to me. chelsea was just like that at almost 3. she could talk about anything. i used to have to tell her that my ears needed to take a "time out" for a while and then they could listen to her. she talked non stop about everything. gillian is the same.
there is one thing that is different though...thanks to james and/or ramona...gillian is my backseat driver. "um, ellyn? remember that when the light is red you have to stop." thank you james and ramona.
at target gillian gives me this sob story about how she has...and no i am not exaggerating, these are her words verbatim....she has no tea set. she has always wanted a tea set but mommy won't get her one...she has always wanted one. she also needs more polly pockets. oh yes and she always wanted dress up clothes, she is sad because she does not have any dress up clothes.
so what did i do? yes, i bought her waht she wanted. well, she had to pick between the polly pockets, dress up clothes and the tea set. we found all 3. she chose the polly pockets.
then she see the clothes and she talks about how she needs new pretty pink dresses. so what do i do? yes, i buy her a pink shirt with a sparkly elephant and a green skirt. it was her choice.
oh then, she pulled at the thread in her pink tights she was wearing. now there is a hole. she is sad. what do i do? yes, i buy her new pink tights with no holes. that's what aunts are for.
on the way home, she reminds me "remember ellyn, red lights are for stopping. God wants us to stop at red lights." that's what almost 3 year old nieces are for.
there is a deep lesson there...everyone...God wants you to stop at red lights!
now we are watching monsters, inc. she keeps reminding chelsea that it is pretend...even though she is digging her nails into chelsea's arm.
i don't know what's up with the no caps, other than i am tired. notice that i did however, cap it up for the big guy.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
it's baaaaaack
Survivor! Exile Island! AHHH now Thursdays has something good on. Although The Office is pretty darn funny! Survivor should be fun to watch though...the guy going thru nicotine withdrawals, or the lady who hates leaves or the professional lumberjill!!!
So now, I have something fun to watch most every night of the week.....
Sunday--Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy
Monday--24
Tuesday--American Idol, Gilmore Girls (tivo), Supernatural
Wednesday--American Idol, LOST---although Chris B. keeps telling me how good Beauty and Geek is.....haven't seen it yet....
Thursday--Survivor, My Name is Earl, The Office
Friday and Saturday--movies or sleep :)
Superbowl is this weekend. Most of my household is routing for the Seahawks (sorry Shayna)...they are the painfully obvious underdogs. I just like the commercials!
So all of Chelsea's friends are getting either their permits or licenses! I can't believe we are there already! I have learned though that if Chelsea is going to practice driving it is going to have to be with her father....my heart can't take it! So tomorrow while Alex is at basketball, jay and chelsea are going to practice driving....watch out! Don't be near Frost intermediate and Woodson High School between 6 and 8 p.m.
I need a drink--a cherry coke! Puhleeze--I know what you were thinking. :)
So now, I have something fun to watch most every night of the week.....
Sunday--Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy
Monday--24
Tuesday--American Idol, Gilmore Girls (tivo), Supernatural
Wednesday--American Idol, LOST---although Chris B. keeps telling me how good Beauty and Geek is.....haven't seen it yet....
Thursday--Survivor, My Name is Earl, The Office
Friday and Saturday--movies or sleep :)
Superbowl is this weekend. Most of my household is routing for the Seahawks (sorry Shayna)...they are the painfully obvious underdogs. I just like the commercials!
So all of Chelsea's friends are getting either their permits or licenses! I can't believe we are there already! I have learned though that if Chelsea is going to practice driving it is going to have to be with her father....my heart can't take it! So tomorrow while Alex is at basketball, jay and chelsea are going to practice driving....watch out! Don't be near Frost intermediate and Woodson High School between 6 and 8 p.m.
I need a drink--a cherry coke! Puhleeze--I know what you were thinking. :)
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
um......
I know it's been like a week. I just don't know what to blog about. I have the blogger block. Nothing is spurring me to blog.
Yeah it's sad that Coretta Scott King died. Yes the Oscar noms came out. Yes the President made his speech....I hate to admit it but I watched American Idol instead. I know for a very patriotic person that was not very patriotic of me.
I have been home for 2 days with a sick son and all I ahve done is read blogs and catch up on 24!!! My laundry is not done. The bathrooms are not clean...well they are now, Alex and I ran to Target and I got those Clorox toilet wand thingys. Not bad. But a better invention is the mr. clean magic eraser!
I did cook dinner 2 nights in a row this week! That is almost a record!!! For those of you who don't know me...I don't cook very often! I am trying....Dinnermyway helps!
OOOO---Dinnermyway results--2 thumbs up for Chicken and black bean burritos and Chicken Parm and Cumin and Lime pork roast!!!!!
Hand slap down for the skillet chicken pasta thing that looked and smelled like prison food. Not that I ahve eaten prison food but that is what I imagine it to be like.
A So-so for the shrimp stir fry--I let it thaw for too long...it was mushy!
Good news is that my sister in law has a blog!!!! It's on the side there under Tanya's blog! She has 3 kids--6 year old boy and 4 year old twins (girl and boy). She has many numerous stories to share! Her life is a trip! Hopefully she will share her Colby stories that include body parts! He is Jim Carrey in a 4 year old body!
Apparently people are all a buzz about the Oscar's. Ya know there should be an Oscar for best mom or something. I'm happy that we honor these people to entertain us but really they earn millions...i mean millions of dollars for us to honor them and then they get to make more millions becuase then we will go see their next movie regardless if it is worth seeing or not.
I wouldn't change what I do for what they do. I LOVE being a mom! Even when I have to miss work to take care of my sick child. I feel a little guilty about not going to work but not a lot guilty becuase I choose to have kids and raise them. I only have them for a short time. So when Jay and I decided to have kids...or should I say when God decided for us to have kids (another blog), this became their time. Our wants are put on hold, not a lot of them but some of them. They will all too soon move out and then we can do all those things we wanted to do.
um.....i guess i had more to say than i thought. A shout-out to Shayna who is apparently not having a great week! I am sending out to you 100 good thoughts and hugs!
Yeah it's sad that Coretta Scott King died. Yes the Oscar noms came out. Yes the President made his speech....I hate to admit it but I watched American Idol instead. I know for a very patriotic person that was not very patriotic of me.
I have been home for 2 days with a sick son and all I ahve done is read blogs and catch up on 24!!! My laundry is not done. The bathrooms are not clean...well they are now, Alex and I ran to Target and I got those Clorox toilet wand thingys. Not bad. But a better invention is the mr. clean magic eraser!
I did cook dinner 2 nights in a row this week! That is almost a record!!! For those of you who don't know me...I don't cook very often! I am trying....Dinnermyway helps!
OOOO---Dinnermyway results--2 thumbs up for Chicken and black bean burritos and Chicken Parm and Cumin and Lime pork roast!!!!!
Hand slap down for the skillet chicken pasta thing that looked and smelled like prison food. Not that I ahve eaten prison food but that is what I imagine it to be like.
A So-so for the shrimp stir fry--I let it thaw for too long...it was mushy!
Good news is that my sister in law has a blog!!!! It's on the side there under Tanya's blog! She has 3 kids--6 year old boy and 4 year old twins (girl and boy). She has many numerous stories to share! Her life is a trip! Hopefully she will share her Colby stories that include body parts! He is Jim Carrey in a 4 year old body!
Apparently people are all a buzz about the Oscar's. Ya know there should be an Oscar for best mom or something. I'm happy that we honor these people to entertain us but really they earn millions...i mean millions of dollars for us to honor them and then they get to make more millions becuase then we will go see their next movie regardless if it is worth seeing or not.
I wouldn't change what I do for what they do. I LOVE being a mom! Even when I have to miss work to take care of my sick child. I feel a little guilty about not going to work but not a lot guilty becuase I choose to have kids and raise them. I only have them for a short time. So when Jay and I decided to have kids...or should I say when God decided for us to have kids (another blog), this became their time. Our wants are put on hold, not a lot of them but some of them. They will all too soon move out and then we can do all those things we wanted to do.
um.....i guess i had more to say than i thought. A shout-out to Shayna who is apparently not having a great week! I am sending out to you 100 good thoughts and hugs!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
no faith, yes headache, yes jury duty
Well I have looked everywhere at home for the Fresh Faith book. No luck. So apparently I gave the book away. Which I tend to do. So I am sorry for bringing up a subject that I can not continue. Could have been interesting! I would write about waht I think but I have had a killer headache all day, I can't seem to shake it long enough to be productive today. Then to top it all off, I have been called for jury duty tomorrow. I know it's my civic duty and right but this is not happening at a great time!
So to sum it all up...I have faith. I work on it everyday. Am I convinced that anger is a lack of faith? Nope, not convinced. I am convinced however that excedrin migraine is excellent medicine! Thank you excedrin people! I also know that it is great that we live in a country where democracy reigns and that people die to protect our freedom and so to honor that I can go to the courthouse tomorrow and wait to see if I am called to be a juror. Hm...I am wondering what they will think of my job and how that will affect a lawyers decision to pick me or not!?
Should be interesting!
By the way, God is answering all kinds of prayers for baby Lauren! She has opened both eyes as of today and she is at her lowest weight! I have seen pictures and she looks GREAT! Now, we need continued prayers for her to be able to keep off the fluid and breathe on her own. The doctors are not optimistic about her heart condition and she is not a candidate for a transplant or corrective surgery. So more prayers in that area too! The family at Fairfax has been praying without ceasing!
So to sum it all up...I have faith. I work on it everyday. Am I convinced that anger is a lack of faith? Nope, not convinced. I am convinced however that excedrin migraine is excellent medicine! Thank you excedrin people! I also know that it is great that we live in a country where democracy reigns and that people die to protect our freedom and so to honor that I can go to the courthouse tomorrow and wait to see if I am called to be a juror. Hm...I am wondering what they will think of my job and how that will affect a lawyers decision to pick me or not!?
Should be interesting!
By the way, God is answering all kinds of prayers for baby Lauren! She has opened both eyes as of today and she is at her lowest weight! I have seen pictures and she looks GREAT! Now, we need continued prayers for her to be able to keep off the fluid and breathe on her own. The doctors are not optimistic about her heart condition and she is not a candidate for a transplant or corrective surgery. So more prayers in that area too! The family at Fairfax has been praying without ceasing!
Monday, January 23, 2006
anger later...24 now
I like the thoughts of Shayna and Malia regarding anger. I am going to look for the book Fresh Faith and read my Bible and I will post tomorrow....right now...24 is on.....i am all snuggled in my select comfort/sleep number bed in my fav. pj's with a warm krispy kreme doughnut!
I will pick up anger tomorrow!
I will pick up anger tomorrow!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Angry words
We all get angry. I especially hate it because according to my strength finders test, harmony is my numero uno strength. Yes it is true, I love for everything to be in harmony and it really really bothers me when things are not. So as you can imagine, I tend to stay stressed out alot! Cause if you haven't noticed lately, there is very little in the world that is harmonious--is that a real word?
Anway, I remember reading a few years ago the book called "Fresh Faith" by Jim Cymbala, I believe is his name. He said in his book that anger is showing a lack of faith. I remember that because it made me stop and think. I had never put being angry and letting anger control you with having a lack of faith.
So I am curious. What do you think? Is being angry or letting anger control your words and actions a lack of faith. In very many ways, I think that yes it is. But I will share with you my thoughts so as to not sway your thinking.
I am serious. I would love to hear what you have to say on the matter. I can go for a very very long time without being angry and then when I am...well it seems to be overwhelming. Hey, maybe I am as dysfunctional as the rest of the world! :)
Ok so to recap...anger...a lack of faith or what?
Anway, I remember reading a few years ago the book called "Fresh Faith" by Jim Cymbala, I believe is his name. He said in his book that anger is showing a lack of faith. I remember that because it made me stop and think. I had never put being angry and letting anger control you with having a lack of faith.
So I am curious. What do you think? Is being angry or letting anger control your words and actions a lack of faith. In very many ways, I think that yes it is. But I will share with you my thoughts so as to not sway your thinking.
I am serious. I would love to hear what you have to say on the matter. I can go for a very very long time without being angry and then when I am...well it seems to be overwhelming. Hey, maybe I am as dysfunctional as the rest of the world! :)
Ok so to recap...anger...a lack of faith or what?
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