Found

I had a huge Golden Book collection as a kid.
They were probably my favorite thing in the world when I was 6. I took them everywhere I went.

I can still remember the musty , dusty smell of the pages, the golden edges of the spine...the pictures and the stories.

Over time I'd lost track of my books, we moved over 15 times when I was a kid, I think it was inevitable but I wanted my boys to be able to experience the beauty of these books.

I found a collection online that sells these books so cheap. $2 a book. So I picked up a few of the classics for my duo.

They are so sweet and innocent. I can't wait until they arrive in the mail!

Needing Inspiration

This week I am feeling a wee bit...hoo-hum.

As I type the only thing I can think about is being at home in my bed asleep. Where did my energy go?

My poor family!



I found this today and it made me smile and reminded me of the simplistic beauty that God gives us each day.

Rodeo

Ayden likes to ride Booger like a bull in a Rodeo.

He offers Booger a bribe...You can eat my "Elephant" while I sit on your back.

Booger allowed only so much...until it was time for him to go.

Then he passed gas and fell asleep while sitting up...Booger that is.

"The End"

**No animals were harmed in the making of this post**

The Wedding Singer

My best friend since Jr High had her 30th birthday party at the Blue Goose Lounge on Sunset Blvd in LA. Everyone had to come in their 80's best.


The outfits were insane:

• mullets
• leotards, (g-string leotards!!! Don't see those too often)
• neon everywhere
• blazers

(I wish I took more photos but people in LA get weird when the flash of a camera goes off)

Example #1:

1) I take a picture of Lisa and about 4 people behind her turn around and look at me angrily, obviously trying to shield their friend with their shoulders...the friend, Sandra Oh from Grey's Anatomy. By far the coolest thing.

It seriously looked like a scene out of the Wedding Singer.

It was fun. I'm glad we were able to be their for her big day.

Pay it Forward

Obama's act of kindness.
You have to read this story.
(Jess I know you'll like this)

http://www.operationnice.com/2009/01/nice-testimonial-obamas-act-of-kindness.html

New digs

So my page changed....a bit.
I'm very excited about it.

Tell me what you think???

Super-Mom

My 2 adorable children think I am a super mom and they say I need a cape!

But I can't help but feel a little guilty though...

My parents worked. My mom worked more but we had no choice, it was survival and I don't judge her in the least bit. She did what she had to do for my sister and I. She sacrificed so much and with children of my own now I understand the sacrifices she made.

But I always said I would never work when I had kids.

When Brandon was born. My situation at the time did not allow me to stay at home and every day driving to work my heart broke because that's not where I wanted to be.
I actually began to despise my job and treated it like an enemy who had stole something so precious from me.

When Ayden was born our family life was stable, and we agreed that I was going to stay home and I was able to for 2 years!
It was a beautiful 2 years.

In my heart I am a "Stay at Home Mom."
If that makes any sense.
When people ask what I do, I say "I'm a Mom."
Although I work full time, my heart is not here.
It's with my boys with every step they make during their day.

I take great pride in being a mom.

I love our home and everything it represents. A safe haven for us to escape from the noisy world. A place where we can feel safe, where we can thrive.

It's my favorite place to be and I want it to be that way for my kids too.

Paper Dolls

My Grandma used to do paper cuts for me as a kid.

Nothing fancy... snowflakes, paper dolls...but still so sweet and I've been a fan of them ever since.

If you admire Paper Cutting as much as I do, you have to check out Elisa Mora at http://www.elsita.typepad.com/.

She is so talented and her work is so fine and detailed, it's amazing that she does this with scissors!

Pretty Things

On my way to pick up my soup today for lunch...

(which might I add was $10!!! I was pretty mad at myself for spending that much money on soup, once she rang me up.
I actually stood there starring at my soup wanting to throw it and run! But by then it was too late.
Mental Note: Next time I need to ask how much the soup is before I place my order.)



So anyway back to my story, on my way to pick up my stupidly expensive soup I ran across an antique store that I've never been too and so I stopped in for a quick peek.



I found these pretty things....

$6.00 for the whole set. 3 teacups and 4 teacup saucers.

Aren't they sweet?

PS

I am craving some sunshine!

My Reasons

For loving yesterday....

1) My husband left to pick up something at the grocery store, came home realized I was out of gas and then left again to fill my tank up.

2) Ayden shouting "Oh Mama!" when Obama came on the TV.

3) Doing devotional with Mr. Fisher before bed and seeing how much he looks forward to it and doesn't just roll over and fall asleep.

4) Ayden staring at me and then saying, "I lub you Mom."

5) Brandon welcoming a new "Adult" tooth to the space right in front.

PS- The tooth fairy remembered to come! He was very excited that she didn't forget him this time.

Jack Talk Thai

My husband has been on a Thai kick these days.

I actually could venture to say he is a bit addicted to Chicken Satay and Peanut Sauce.

So in honor of my lovely other half I decided to make him Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce last night for dinner.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of peanuts or peanut sauce. The idea actually makes me sick but I suffered through it and the results I'd have to say were pretty impressive.

To my amazement both of my boys scarfed down the chicken satay which is covered in yellow curry and they dipped it into the peanut sauce! What? I was litterally speechless.

This is coming from two children that won't eat anything unless it's monochromatic or involves beans.

I think daddy would dip anything in that peanut sauce.

He made a comment about having it with eggs for breakfast....Gross.

Tooth-Fairy

Brandon lost another tooth and last night the tooth fairy forgot to come!
He woke me up holding his tooth bag, looking seriously bummed.
What kind of mother am I??

What we need more of...

Less talk of the bad economy, more babies with big eyes.

Picky Eaters

One of my favorite blogs posted this and I wanted to share it with you because it was pretty darn clever and so funny...
(Especially for us mommies that slave over the stove cooking a well balanced meal for our family)

Dear Miscreant Children,

Somewhere between some time ago and today, you’ve decided to boycott everything I make for dinner. It doesn’t matter what I prepare, it’s revolting. And I’m a good cook! I understand I shouldn’t complain since you both (especially Mikey) have been fantastic eaters for most of your life. But, frankly, no one has ever smacked my ass and called me “mature.” Therefore, I feel somewhat entitled to bitch, whine, and moan. And so I shall. I will also take the time to dispense some advice.

1. When I make chicken noodle soup from scratch, do not complain that it doesn’t taste like “the other one.” I know you all like Chicken Tortilla Soup. I didn’t make Chicken Tortilla Soup. Consequently, shut your pie hole.
2. When daddy decides to help me out the next night by making canned Campbell’s Tomato Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, do not proclaim it’s the best dinner you have ever tasted. I control the check book, and the check book controls Christmas. If you catch my drift.
3. Do not change your taste overnight without telling me. This means, if you have liked roasted pork loin, potatoes, and sauteed cabbage until now, do not tell me you now think “it’s really boring and awful” after I have spent 3 hours cooking enough pork loin to last us a month. Guess what? Your cute, tiny, fat free butt is going to be eating pork loin for the better part of a week in many, many different incarnations. Sucks to be you.
4. KETCHUP IS A CONDIMENT!
5. No, chips and ice cream will not make your stomach ache feel better. Don’t ask, and quit pretending like you are on death’s door.

You’ve been warned. Sit down at the table, eat your dinner, then call me the best cook ever. I don’t ask for much, do I? Just a little appreciation, is all.
I’m still debating how to coerce you into doing my bidding, so I’ll have to get back to you on that one. I’d threaten you with Hamburger Helper, but I think you’d like it, you sick, sick, children.

Signed,

The Management

Look what I found?

....Floating in my photobucket?
Oh lovely black & white wedding photos...how I've missed you.




Young love....

Brown hair,

Dimples &

skull tattoos.

This picture is perfectly me & you.

United by our love for each other.

United by our love for Christ.

But oh so different.



On a side note, I really loved my hair. I can actually say that this is one of the first Angi Bane back combs. It was so long or longer than it is now anyway.

Should I grow out my hair again?

Let's take a vote...

Tagged

16 things you probably never knew about me.

Here goes:


1) I am addicted to lotion. I have to have it on me at all times and if I don't my thoughts are consumed with how to get it. It's sad.

2) I hate the sound of Styrofoam. (Especially coming out of a box) The noise drives me crazy.

3) I am notorious for throwing everything and anything away. My husband thinks I'm crazy...I just don't want to become a pack rat.

4) I hate dirty feet.

5) I buy tons and tons of books but never finish them.

6) I love going to bed listening to Kyle watch TV. I will sneak into bed before he does just so that I can hear it.

7) I have had 3 step mothers, 3 step fathers, 5 steps sisters and 2 step brothers. All past tense, except for one.

8) I am extremely indecisive and very random. If you read the last 6 blogs of mine you can see how truly random I am.

9) My grandma is probably one of the most amazing women I have ever met.

10) I like to write weird words down that I hear people say or that I read. I used to keep a journal of weird words, now I just have them written in odd places in my wallet or on scrap pieces of paper.

11) I have a fear of bad breath.

12) I get nervous around new people.

13) I met my husband when I was 16 years old at market night. He gave me a squash.

14) I always lose my ATM card. I've reported it stolen so many times I can't even count. It's embarrassing.

15) I love to eat oranges with salt.

16) My favorite Chap Stick is called Chicken Poop! (it doesn't actually contain poop but the name is incredibly funny and it smells like oranges and lavender)

AI

American Idol last night. Good to have you back.

But Ryan Seacrest trying to give a blind guy a Hi-5?! What!

Next time maybe give the blind guy a little warning before you throw your hand in the air.

It was so awkward.

MLK Day

Yesterday my after school ride with my oldest went a little something like this:

"How was your day dude?"

"Great, we learned about Larry King. You know it's his birthday next week?"

"Umm..(desperately trying to rack my brain for some idea as to who Larry King is, because after all I am the parent and have to appear that I know all answers that a 6 year old throws my way)...Larry King???? You mean Martin Luther King?"

"Oh yeah, that's right!"

"Brandon, do you know what Martin Luther King did?"

"Ummm ...yeah mom. He was an man who had a dream...and he wanted to change the world. But he was ass-anated"
Hey mom, what about that lady who had to sit at the back of the bus? She was cool!"

"So cool dude."

He is so smart and so funny.
I am so happy he is my kid.

Dinner Dates

We had friends over for dinner last night.

The menu : pasta & chicken.
Although it didn't make Mr. Fisher very happy... you see he's been on Atkins now for 2 weeks and so seeing cheesy pasta with tomato sauce was torture.

It's fun to see your significant other around house guests. How they present themselves, our home and the stories they like to tell.

For my man, the mood is always nostalgic.

He likes to go back in time, show old photos (look how skinny he was? We look like babies!),
go thru all band memorabilia and vinyl.

Let me say that the world of vinyl collectors is a world like no other.
Did you know that they have special terms for the colors of the records, besides the obvious?
You did?
O, not me.
They have a color of a record referred to as "Puke!"
Sick, but I dare say creative.

I like to see him have a good time, smile and laugh.
That brings a smile to my face.

And just because we laughed so hard about this and it was mentioned that I probably would blog about it....I just couldn't resist.

During dinner, our four legged friend decided to poop on the carpet right by the table.
A serious poop that was as looonnngg as it was smelly.

For the next 20 minutes, we watched as chaos ensued on the proper method for removing the poop effectively and still somehow continue to eat our dinner peacefully.

Dinner Date's are always entertaining at our house.

Things I hope I Never Forget...

Ice Cream cones with my boys.

And this is the New Year

So far this year I am insanely scurrying through my house listing everything that I am ready to fix, paint, change, throw away, or am just plain ol' sick of (which let me tell you is a hole bunch)!

4 years in our house, we are now busting at the seams and things are looking shabby.

Rather than try and hold myself to a resolution I am undoubtedly never going to live up to (for example, loosing 25 pounds or growing out my hair - because we all know that's never gonna happen).

I now have....

My ever growing honey do list:

1) Paint bedroom. Brown maybe?

2) Paint dressers black.

3) Make curtains for bedroom & living room.

4) New rug for living room

5) Organize my closet

6) Organize under my bed...it it's scary under there.

7) Clean out the backroom/junkroom/sewing room...

8) Sell all my unwanteds on craigslist

9) Continue my hunt for a new 6 seat vintage dining room table with beautiful legs

10) Kitchen - new floor.

11) Bathroom - new floor.

12) Back room new floor perhaps? If we are lucky.

So that's it?...says my poor, dear, sweet husband.

Meet Squid

This boy is a mamas boy to the max.

• He has to be by my side at all times.
• He crawls in bed to burrow by my side in the middle of the night.
• Remember how much he loves my bras?
• And when I wake up in the morning if I take a bath he's right there with me laying on my stomach or if I shower...he's on the floor desperately awaiting my return.

He nickname is, "Squid."

There is no unglueing this boy!

For right now anyway.

Part 2

My husband & I for a very

l

o

o

o

n

n

n

g

time now have been trying to decide if we want to add to our family.

At first we said no.
"House is too small."
"Car is too small."
"Do we have enough money?"
All important in those own rights, but...

Then we said, "YES!"
It was a very exciting time, but sadly it didn't last very long.
(Mr. Fisher got cold feet)

Now here I am, longing for another baby.
I want to see another face that we created... with the one I love most in this world.

I can manage the house being too small. I can get crafty and move some stuff around.
We do have a bigger car now.
And we'll just trust that God will provide for our needs.

So the other night during a serious battle of Guitar Hero, I blurted out, "Let's have another baby for real!"

And he said, "Okay."

I'll take that.

Inspiration

This new year I'm determined to get organized.

I found this idea on one of the blogs I frequent and thought it was such a great idea.

It's a Inspiration Journal and here is why it's amazing:

# 1 - It's rids my life of the millions of magazines I have collected around me, collecting dust.

#2 - It's a place to store all the stuff that inspires me and future crafts I want to attempt.

It's so easy. All you do it cut and paste the things that inspire you from your magazines or from the Internet; to save to look at later or when you are ready to embark on that task.

I have it sectioned by things that I am interested in: organization, recipes, decor, gardening & wish list (things I love but can't necessarily afford.)

That's it.

One step closer to organization!

Project Saturday...a disaster.

Sometimes my vision of what I want my craft to become, doesn't exactly turn out that way.

Example: My headboard.

I had dreams of a beautiful, plush, romantic headboard, but instead I have a skinny, flat, falling off my wall headboard!

It's U-G-L-Y!

Problem # 1: I ordered the wrong fabric. It doesn't compliment my walls or my bedspread.
The lack of planning on my part can be my worst enemy.

Problem # 2: I thought I could secure it with cardboard?!!? What was I thinking!

Problem # 3: I thought I could nail the cardboard to the wall! Someone please slap me for thinking I could nail cardboard to plaster walls!

Now I have a headboard that is slowly sliding down my wall which is exposing the dozens of holes...exposing all my secrets to my husband who I'm sure doesn't appreciate what he is going to have to fix.

Dang it!

Another resolution added to my list:
I REALLY need to learn how to be patient and take my time.

We made it.

With all odds stacked against us, we made it successfully to Yosemite.


An hour and a half into our trip, happy kids & happy parents....dead stop traffic. Not just traffic, I use that would loosely....I'd call it a parking lot.


Toxic chemical spill in the grapevine, caused a 27 car pile up. And we were just 14 miles from our exit.
A trip that should have taken us 4 hours, took 8.


Thanks to my husbands amazing skills (backing up on the freeway cutting through 5 lanes of cars with very angry drivers), he was our hero and our Garmin... We wanted to marry our GPS after our trip, what would we have done without her? She rocks!

When it was all said and done Yosemite exceeded our every expectations.

It was breathtaking.

And in the valley was an untouched winter wonderland.


Here is some of the stuff that we saw, enjoy:

A family of dears passed us on the road.

The sun shined on the snow so perfectly it shined like diamonds.

We decided that every new year we are traveling to a new location.

I think next year, the grand canyon!?

A resolution we can keep.