BC: Day 30

Car you drive and past cars too!...

When I turned 16, I was supposed to drive my parents 1990 Ford Areostar Minivan.....

I was mortified, to think about driving into my high school parking lot driving a minivan. Luckily days before my 16th birthday my parents bought a 1999 Hyundai Sonata for my mom. My mom had always been a stay at home mom, but my dad owns is own construction business was needing her help, and she didn't want to drive her new car to work.

So I went from this:

to this:

I drove the snot out of the "snotter".

I drove this car until after Brandon and I had been married for a year, and started packing to move to St Louis. The "snotter" wasn't the safest car in the world with over 100k miles on it, Brandon and I were about to have to start putting some major money into it for repairs. I guess my dad couldn't handle the thought of his little girl driving an unreliable car in the big city. To tell you the truth I wasn't too excited about it either, which then resulted in Brandon not being too excited about it. So about a month before we moved Brandon and I headed out to pick out a new car. We had a budget and I knew exactly what I wanted. A Pontiac G6. So pretty. Brandon and I drove by the dealership after hours one night, and the one I wanted was WAY out of our price range. We drove by the next day with the intention of going in and test driving. As I drooled over the exact car we saw the night before, I noticed that the price tag had been lowered about $10,000. WOOOO HOOOO! Test driving we did, and buying we did!

So I went from driving the "Snotter" to driving this:

I LOVED this car. Mine was a charcoal gray. It was just about fully loaded. Everything but the heated seats. It was just sporty enough but still roomy. Roomy enough for two car seats but not three. I drove this car until I was eight months pregnant with Greyson. I had to take the Pontiac into get serviced and walked out of the dealership with a Nissan Armada. I went from 29 miles a gallon to 14. I went from a cute little sports car to a Tank on wheels. It was a huge change.

So I currently drive this exact model of the Nissan Pathfinder Armada:

I like my Armada. It's roomy for the five of us and all of our stuff. It's not a minivan( nothing against minivans... I was 23 when I got this car and refused to get a minivan). It had a built in dvd and awesome stereo system. It handles great in Missouri's crazy weather.
I'm not crazy about the horrible gas mileage, the expensive tires, or the fact that it's no longer under warranty! I guess it will have to do until I can get something different!

BC: Day 29

Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days...

This is a hard one. I'm actually writing this in January... and we've already had a lot go on. ( I wanted to actually complete something that took an extended amount of time, and predating them or filling some of these out late made me accountable!)
Anyway, back to January. We are currently in the beginning stages of buying a house, many more details to come. I want to make a list of updates and actually complete them on a timely basis.
I also want to restart and grow my lia sophia business. It's something I love, and need to get focused on. It's something for me, and helps to bring in a little extra money!

I want to follow through on something I've been feeling led to do. After many months of prayer and putting it off, I need to follow through. Again, more to come later!

Anyway, that's a begining to a list of my 2011.

BC: Day 28

What's in my handbag/purse...

I'll add a picture soon...
But this is my all time favorite purse. Brandon completely suprised me and brought it home one day. It's a Coach bag from the Poppy collection. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this purse!

Inside it: My wallet, my poppy wristlet, usually my blackberry, my pink poka dotted lipstick/gloss wallet, Extra gum, sometimes my sunglasses, and almost always a couple of matchbox cars or other toys that I carry around for easy entertainment!

Christmas 2010

Christmas this year was a big deal for us for a few reasons. This was the first year that we were able to celebrate as a family of five, in our OWN house! In years past, we've either been at my parents(my parent's would hang out in their bedroom while we opened gifts) or in Brandon's parents basement for Christmas. So this years was huge for us! The other reason's don't matter as much, but being by ourselves was so exciting!

The boys kinda slept in. I think they were so worn out from Christmas Eve, that they were in a really deep sleep. We all woke up around 8:30, had the boys go potty and I ran into the living room, so I could capture their expressions! THis year we did it a little different, since they are hearing so much about Santa. We left out the presents that they had told Santa they wanted out, unwrapped, and wrapped up everything else. So that way mom and dad get the credit too!

Lincoln was so excited to see his Buzz and Woody Choo choo, and his big kid gun so that he can go hunting like his pappaw. Daniel was happy to see the B & W Train too, and batman car. Greyson was excited but a little scared of his remote controled Buzz Lightyear.

After a few minutes of playing with their Santa toys, we opened stocking stuffers, and then tore into the wrapped presents. Since Greyson is obssessed with helping, I color coded each boys gifts. That way he could help pass them out. For days leading up to Christmas, Greyson would go around the tree pointing at each gift a and saying what gift belong to what boy. Boy was I wrong! Momma ended up sorting all the gifts and the boys took turns opening, looking at what the other ones got.

After opening presents we called all the grandparents, and Aunt Heather called from Alaska. By the time we got around to eating it was nearly time for lunch. Luckily, we thought ahead and purchased a frozen pizza for lunch. Brandon's parents were heading down for dinner so I didn't want to slave in the kitchen all day. After barely eating lunch, we played some more and finished cleaning up all the trash and attempted to find places for the toys in boys room.

We attempted to put the boys down for a nap, but only Grey was successful. He power napped for a hour or so, and then was up and ready to play again. By that time Jeff and Carol were finishing up organizing the boys gifts. Greyson did help this time! We got the twins out of their room and let round 2 of present opening begin! Poppa and Grandma brought the boys their favorite gifts! Greyson got a policeman backpack, Lincoln got a Toy Story 3 Imaginext playset, and Daniel got the batman "castle" that he had been begging for! They also each got a nerf gun, and guitar.

Brandon was exited for his gifts too! Carol made Brandon his all time favorite Christmas snack... FUDGE! He also got a Kinect for his XBOX, and I got money! ( My favorite gift!)

While the boys played I started prepping for dinner. Every year since we got married Brandon and I have always celebrated Feliz Navidad. We have chicken enchiladas, refried beans, rice, and this year we added rotel into the mix. It's simple, it's yummy, and it's "festive"! We pigged out for a while, cleaned up and watched the boys play. After the food comma set in, we broke out the domino's and played an entire game of Mexican train domino's. We thought it was only fitting. We put the boys down around 9 and the adults headed to bed around 11!

Luckily we didn't have Sunday School the next morning, just a late morning service. We headed to breakfast at a local resturaunt and then went to church as a big family. After service we said our good byes in the parking lot, so Jeff and Carol could head to Oklahoma to visit their moms.

We had a great time but were ready for a day of R & R on Sunday!

BC: Day 27

My Worst Habit...

My worst habit would be my language. I'm sure Brandon would say it's something else... I am very particular about things and it drives him nuts! But in my opinion it would be language. Don't get me wrong, I don't say bad things, it just things that I don't want my kids saying. I say crap, butt, and sucks, way too much in front of them. I am really trying to work harder at not saying it at all, much less infront of them.

Christmas Eve 2010

We spent Christmas Eve with my family this year. We had a great time!




Take one..they had more on their minds than taking pics!

Take two....

Brandon woke up and went hunting with my dad( yet another topic for another post!), and the boys and I slept in for a bit. I woke up in kind of a panic, because my house was a mess and Brandon's parents were coming the next day. I cleaned for a bit, and started to get ready when Brandon walked in the door. He finished getting himself and the boys ready, while I got We head over around 2:30 hoping that the boys would at least lay down before everything started up, but they were so excited that they couldn't even sit still. My brother and sister in law came over around 3 and gave the boys their present. Brad says it is a present for me and for them. They gave them the animated Iron Man series. It's nine hours long, and they LOVE it. I can have up to nine hours of uninterrupted quiet time! (JK!) They also got to open their gifts from Aunt Heather, Uncle Nate, Rose and Brooke (Brandon's sister and family). They each got a game to play, CARS domino's, Spiderman Checkers, and a I Spy game. They couldn't wait to get the games open and put the movie on.

As we started the move Beth, Gordon and their three boys showed up. My boys thought that meant open presents now... but we had to eat first. We've decided that we do a fancy meal at Thanksgiving and a homey meal at Christmas. We had potato soup, corn bread, little smokies, rotel and chips, ham, sausage balls, brownies, fudge, and cake for dessert. It was yummy.

After cleaning up the kitchen, the big boys helped the little boys organize out the gifts... that's when I realized that I had left the big boys gifts at home! I panicked. I felt so bad. They didn't care though, they had a blast opening their gifts.
Before the chaos began!

My boys got a ton of stuff. Beth and Gordon got them each a mini Toy Story Character.. Buzz, Woody, and Jessie ( special request from Daniel). My mom and dad got them each, a cars watch, a Star Wars figure, an Iron Man outfits (mask, center chest piece, and the arm piece), Greyson got a few shirts, and a couple of more things.

Iron Man Daniel


Playing Apples to Apples Junior

After gifts we sat and played apples to apples for a while, and then started loading up to head home. After we got home, the boys were able to open one gift... new pajama's! We started this last year, and they get super excited about getting their pictures in their new jammies. After we were done opening, they played for a few minutes, while I got milk and cookies ready for Santa. They placed them on the table near the tree, and ran to bed. We never heard a pep out of them again! We were shocked.
The boys in their new Christmas pj's

Brandon and I put on Love Actually, and started putting together the toys that Santa was to bring. We had a really good time, having some quiet time and getting everything together. We even played with their new toys for a few minutes! We finally headed to bed around 11:30. We weren't sure what time the boys would wake up, but we knew we wanted to get some sleep!

BC: Day 26

Your week in great detail...

This might be a LONG post...

I have great kids, in the fact that they let me sleep in. I guess they know that mommy requires a great amount of sleep! They normally wake up around 7:45-8:00 in the morning. They'll play in their rooms together or out in the living room for about 30 minutes. After that I wake up and make their breakfast, and while they are eating it, I run and hop in the shower. I wish that they would sit like the perfect angel's that I know they are, and eat. But they are little boys, so I get interrupted in the shower no less than times. It can be anything from wiping a bottom, settling an argument over toys, are answering the phone. Atleast they know to shut the door after every interruption...that way it stays warm! That's how every morning works out, except Sundays...

Mondays-
Get up and get ready, get breakfast ready, get laundry started &
Get all three boys ready and loaded in the car by 9:45
Take Daniel to "Big kid School" get him and the other two in the door by 10:00
Hang out in the car for an hour while he's in there learning until 11:00
Get home- get all three ou and in the house without the dogs running around like crazed
animals and get lunch started and served by 12:00
Eat until 1:00
Start picking up the toys through out the house, and pick up the boys rooms until
NAP TIME!!!!! at 2:00
Finish up some more laundry, sweep and mop the kitchen and dinning room, make up my bed, and clean up around the house, and repeatedly go into the twins room, and threaten them within an inch of their lives to go to sleep or ELSE! until 3:00
Continue cleaning and picking up around the house until Greyson wakes up or it's time to start dinner around 4:00
Cook dinner, hold a kid, make sure kids don't kill each other, or make sure that kids are awake, and call Brandon to see when he'll be home until 5:00
Eat dinner until 7:00ish
Clean up kitchen until 8:o or 8:15
Put kids to bed around 8:30
Finish putting kids to be around 9:00
Snuggle up on the couch with BRandon until about 10:30
THEN GO TO BED!

Tuesday
Starts out the same...
But no "big kid school"
after a quick lunch the twins go to preschool from 12:30 until 3:30,
inwhich time Greyson and I go to my parents house for him to nap and me to play on facebook.
3:30 pick up twins and head home,
feed the dogs, and either start fixing dinner or
Call Brandon to figure out what to do about dinner.
Then the rest of the evening is the same as MOnday... maybe a bath maybe not... just depends on my mood!

Wednesday
Similar to MOnday except:
We take Lincoln to "big kid school"
then lunch,
then cleaning,
then nap time,
then threatening of lives,
Then wake up get ready for church, rush out the door and go eat at church
Go teach a preschool class, send BRandon home with the kids while I go to choir until 8:30...
(on the first Wednesday of each month I stay late to help set up for the next days MOPS meeting, so I am there until 9ish)
THen go home and put the kids down

Thursday
Just like Tuesdays... Except
on the first Thursday of everymonth we have MOPs meeting.. so we have to be out the door by 8:10.... and are at MOPS until 11:30 then rush to get lunch....

Friday
Just like Monday minus the "big kid school"

Saturday
SLEEEPPPPPP!!!! Run errands or go out and do something fun as a family.

Sunday
Get up, get ready, get breakfast ready and get myself and the kids ready by 9:30
Be out the door by 9:30
Get to church and have kids dropped of by 9:45
In church until 12:15ish
Eat lunch either out with my parents, by ourselves or VERY rarely will I cook
get home and clean up breakfast stuff, clean up around the house,
get the boys down for a nap by 2 :00
get up and readyto be out the door by 5:00
go back to church from 5:15-7:30 for class
go get something to eat somewhere
go home and let the boys play and then put them down by 9:00

This is just a rough estimate of the day. There are days with errand running, or grocery shopping with all three boys, or the four of us getting out and doing something fun. There is a lot more play time in there than it looks. And big kid school is speech therapy for the twins, but that's a whole other post. Brandon sums it up best, for being a stay at home mom--- I am never home. I feel like I live on the road. The bad thing is , nothing is really close together for us. So I am actually on the road more than I am at any one particular place... other than Walmart or Church...
I am hoping that once these boys get into school, life will not consist of so much running....

BC: Day 25

Guilty pleasure...

Eating sweets...as any woman's guilty pleasure should be! I was never a big sweets eater, until I was pregnant with the twins. Don't get me wrong, I loved to eat them, but I could control myself. I have always had a love affair with ice cream, especially when Cold Stone Creamery came into my life.
In my first trimester I ate relatively healthy. I knew that I was going to gain a ton of weight, but I tried to control myself. I didn't gain more than 3lbs in the beginning. Second trimester...completely different story. I couldn't control myslef on my sweets. I could have ate an entire package of Oreo's by myself in one sitting, if Brandon would have let me!
Sad to say after being pregnant for 18 month straight.... those bad sweet eating habits are harder to break than I thought. I crave sweets, especially late at night, and can still eat like I'm a pregnant woman!

BC: Day 24

Where I live- in detail what makes is special?...

I live in Southwest Missouri. There's not a whole lot to do in this area. We are three hours from St Louis, two and a half from Kansas City. I live about 30 minutes away from Branson, and just a rolls throw away from the famous Lambert's Cafe.

We live in the middle of the beautiful Ozark Mountains, with the always bustling traffic from Branson, the Grandaddy of Bass Pro Stores, and Lambert's. Some call us rednecks, but I don't think everyone here fits into that "stereotype". The scenery here is always beautiful, and life goes much slower here than in the big city.

I'd take the Ozarks any day over the 'big city'. I lived there for almost four years, and dreamed of the day I'd get to move back to my small little town!

BC: Day 23

A youtube video...

This video has been posted on tons of my friends pages on facebook.
I watched in silence. It's pretty cool



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sghwe4TYY18&feature=player_embedded

BC: Day 22

A website...

My favorite website is my blog...however the website I visit the most often would sadly have to be Facebook. Sad, I know, but ever since getting a blackberry, I check it constantly. I really need to change that. Hmm.. I'll start looking for a new website now!

BC: Day 21

A recipe...

My favorite recipe would have to be a homemade salsa recipe that my cousin gave me.
It's super simple and very healthy!

1 can of whole tomato's (juice and all)
1 can of rotel original
a dash of salt
a dash of cilantro
a dash of pepper
a tsp of vinegar
(if you put too much, put a dash of sugar)
optional: If you like really spicy salsa, add a couple of jalapeno slices
a tsp of extra virgin olive oil.

Put in a blender and grate to consistency that you like! Put in the fridge or enjoy as is! It's super easy. It took me one try to get it down. Everything is really to taste, the rotel provides a lot of the spice, so you don't have to go all crazy with other stuff! Hope you enjoy!

BC: Day 20

A hobby of yours...

Watching my kids... being a mommy of three little boys, I don't have a lot of time for a hobby. I've actually complained to Brandon a lot over the past three years, that I don't have a hobby. I would love to get into scrapbooking, but it's just too expensive, and I'm too OCD to complete a single page.
If you have any ideas as to something I could do for a hobby besides laundry and going to the grocery store PLEASE let me know!!!

It's Christmastime, in the City

This year we had our second annual Sunday School Christmas party and gift exchange. Our friends, Andy and Betsy have just finished building and moving into a beautiful custom built home, so they hosted the event. We had a delicious buffet style dinner and fellowship upstairs and moved the party downstairs for desserts, a coffee bar, and the White Elephant Gift Exchange.

Our Sunday School class has only been in existence for a little over two years, and we have some of the greatest people I know in it. We have every type of person in our class, but the thing I love the most, is everyone is so laid back. We have some very funny people, that help to make our events extra entertaining. The gifts last year were pretty funny, but this years topped them.

Brandon was unable to come to the party last year, so we were both looking forward to an evening with grown up conversation and no kiddo's! We had a great time, and are very grateful to Betsy and Andy for opening up their beautiful home.



The weekend after our Sunday School party, we had Brandon's firms Christmas Party. We didn't really know what to expect. He had heard stories from last year's party that weren't too good, so we didn't really know how long we would stay. The firm rented out a banquet room in a restaurant downtown, and as soon as you walked in the door you were handed $500 in Monopoly money. They had rented a craps table, a blackjack table, and a roulette table. You were able to "gamble" all evening, and then they had prizes to give to the high rollers. Brandon and I were a little terrified at first, so we just mingled( He mingled, I followed him like a lost puppy) and snacked on some appetizers. Once we had been asked by just about every single partner when we were going to start playing, we went to the craps table and just watched for a while. Slowly we started putting our pretend money out, and winning a little bit. I kept asking Brandon what to do, and the guy behind the table was getting a little frustrated with me. I have never ever gambled. I hold my money to dear, to lose it so quickly! Brandon's office manager's husband was standing next to me, and he was winning big. I think he felt sorry for me, so he bid out, and gave me all his winnings.... $5,000 in winning. I that point, I left the table and went to eat. For just a moment I pretended that I was holding $5,500 in real chips. I was in heaven for a few pretend moments. We ate dinner with two guys who had just made partner and their wives. It was hard trying to make conversation with them, I'm not gonna lie. They live in a totally different world than Brandon and I do. All of the wives work, in a professional field. I was the only stay at home mom, of an associate. They take weekend shopping trips to Kansas City or Chicago, and go out for drinks and happy hour. Maybe in a few years, B and I will be able to do the shopping trips, and not be so worried about everything.
It was fun to see Brandon's dreams come true. This time last year, we didn't know if he would ever get a job, much less to be in a room with some of the best attorney's in Southwest Missouri. It was pretty cool.
Afterward, I was still starving (I didn't eat a lot, all of the other wives looked like twigs), so we head to our favorite dive...Steak N Shake. We pigged out on cheese fries and chicken fingers, and had some husband and wife time.
We had a great night. I am glad that it only happens once a year, it's kinda intimidating. But it was nice getting to meet and visit with the people that Brandon is around everyday. Note to self for next year..either lose 30 lbs and start going to the gym everyday, or get pregnant and time it out just right, so that I won't be the biggest wife at the party!!!

BC: Day 19

A talent of yours...

I'm not really sure of a talent. I love to do many things, but wouldn't say that any of them are a specific talent. So I'm gonna pretent that cooking is a talent! I LOVE to cook. I don't do it nearly as often as I should, but I love getting and trying out new recipes. I am a very picky eater, so sometimes I make stuff that I think Brandon would enjoy and I don't even taste it...wierd, I know.
I'm still on the hunt as to what my specific, God given talent is. Maybe, just maybe, it's having three little boys in one year, and not losing my mind!

BC: Day 18

My wedding/future wedding/ past wedding...

Brandon and I were married on August 6, 2005. We got married in the church that I grew up in, and that we now attend as a family of five. Growing up, I always wanted to have a huge southern wedding, but as the day grew closer I wish we would have just eloped! Planning a wedding is stressful. We had a great day, but of course as time went by and my girlfriends started planning their weddings, I started to think of all the things I would have changed. I tried to make things special.. instead of having flowers on the end of pews we had mated initial pictures, instead of doing a traditional signature book(I'm really who ever looks through those things) we had a scrapbook where people could sign and write a message, we had a slide show during the lighting of the unity candle. While leading up to the wedding was a TAD bit stressful, I was not stressed out at all on the day of the actual wedding. Our dear family friend Pam, planned everything. I didn't even have to show up the day before to decorate, she had it all under control. And after the wedding, my mom didn't have to lift a finger. It was all taken care of.. it was all so nice!

My favorite color at the time was pink..dark pink. So of course my bouquet was white hydrangea's with half a dozen pink roses placed in it. My girls carried a variation of dark and lite pink astromerius flowers with a little greenery in it. Our reception was decorated the same way. Black and white table cloths with dark pink flowers, picture confetti, and their bouquets as the centerpieces.

We had a bridal party with a total of 17 people including Brandon and I. I had six bridesmaids, he had six groomsmen, and we had three ring bearers. Out of all of our bridesmaids and groomsmen, only three of them lived within 15 minutes of the wedding location. IT WAS HORRIBLE trying to organize people all over the country! The girls wore at tea length black strapless dress with white trim, and the boys wore black tux's with a silver vest, and pink rose. Girly, I know, they complained a lot.

My bridesmaids

From L to R: Sara, Amber, Erin (MOH) ME!, Megan, Sarah(SIL) and Heather(Brandon's sister)

Brandon's Groomsmen
L to R: Dennis (the reason we met), Courtney, Eric(best man),Brandon, Derrick, Brad(my brother), and Scott

We had a simple reception after the church following the wedding. All of our families came from out of state, so we were wanting to be able to spend time with them after the wedding, and not be at a reception for hours on end. We had a good time, ate some yummy cake, took A LOT of pictures, and then headed back to my parents house.

After getting to my parents house, and getting out of my dress, I finished packing for our honeymoon and we had a mini impromptu shower. Since most of my family lives in Louisiana, they were unable to attend out actual wedding shower. This way we were able to visit in a relaxed setting, and open all the presents that we got at the wedding. After a hour or so, we went to the hotel where Brandon's family was staying, hung out with them for a little bit, and then headed downtown for dinner and to get some rest! We flew out bright and early the next morning, headed to the happiest place on earth....Disney World!

BC: Day 17

An art piece...

I grew up in Southwest Missouri....there's not a huge art scene here. With that being said, I've never been a big fan of art. I just don't get it. I guess as much as I always wanted to be a city girl, there's just too much country in me!
Last year, when I went to visit my dear friend Amber in San Antonio, TX, I had the opprotunity talk with her soon to be husband about art. Sean is a HUGE artsy smartsy guy. He grew up around it. His dad own an art gallery, Sean works at it, has art walks/shows at it, and they even had their wedding reception at it last year. So I was able to learn a little about art.
While it was interesting to learn about art... I'll stick to playdough and stick figures! But you can check out the link to Blue Star Art center here

BC: Day 15

Your role model...


Hard question.. I'm at the age where I don't necessarily have a role model. There are people that I guess you could say I look up to or would value their advice. My mother would of course be one of the top ringers for my role model!

Busy Day

December has kinda been a whirl wind. I have been so used to Brandon being around the whole month of December, that we haven't gotten a whole lot done!
The twins had their preschool Christmas program on December 2nd, which in my personal opinion was like the longest day ever. I had to stay late at church the night before and didn't end up getting home until 9:30, and then had to make six dozen cookies. Four dozen of those were for my MOPS cookie exchange on Thursday morning. After MOPS, the boys and I headed out the church doors- straight to lunch, quickly followed by preschool for the twins and nap time for Grey. I am so grateful that my parents house is not even a five minute drive from the preschool. After picking the twins up at 3:30, we headed back to my parents house so they could have 'rest time' and they ended up passing out for over a hour. After a quick dinner, and getting dressed we were back out the door by 6 heading back to the preschool.

The kids did a great job of singing their ABC's and a couple of other songs. Daniel and Lincoln were so excited all week for their program. I was in complete shock when they lined up on stage and this is what Daniel did:

While Daniel is more of the class clown and definitely the more out going out of two, he also can be the most shy little boy you have ever seen. Daniel is fine being the center of attention after he has had time to warm up to everyone, but if he hasn't- this is what you get. He stayed curled up pretty much the entire time. Lincoln never missed a beat, and wasn't fazed by Daniel. He was the performer that night!

After they were done with the first part, they headed back into their classroom to get changed for the Nativity Story. I went back to help get them changed and see if I could give Daniel a little pep talk. When I walked into his room he ran up to me and said," Momma, did I do good???!" I couldn't help but giggle, and respond, "yes, Daniel, you did GREAT!". For the Nativity story Daniel and Lincoln both got to be wise men. They were a hoot!

After their lovely interpretation of the story of the birth of Jesus, we had cookies and punch, and looked around their room. The boys had a great time showing off their room and getting to see their friends and family!

BC: Day 14

A Non-fictional book...

My FAVORITE non-fictional book is a tear jerker entitiled Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman.

MaryBeth is the wife of Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. This is the story of the days that changed their lives and one heart breaking day that will forever change them. I read this book in two days. I couldn't put it down. It was hard to read through the tears and heartache, but I was blessed by this book. I would recommend any parent to read this!

BC: Day 13

A fictional book...

My favorite fictional book would have to be a collection of books written by Karen Kingsbury. There are a total of 14 book in the total collection. They are great! I have never been a big reader, but couldn't put these books down. It starts out with the Redemption Series, followed by the Firstborn Series, and ends with the Sunrise Series. Go to your local library or book store and get these books NOW! I promise you won't be disappointed!

BC: Day 12

Something you are OCD about...

Is it sad that I've had this one saved in the draft folder for a couple of days?! I have had to narrow the list down of things that I am OCD about! After having a conversation with my SIL, Heather, I've decided that I'm not OCD, I'm just particular about A LOT of things.... that helps me to feel better about the craziness in my life!

Here's part of the list:
The way the dishwasher is loaded
The way the decorative pillows are put on the bed
My teeth
The kitchen having to be cleaned up before eating(all the dishes that I've used to cook with are cleaned and usually put away. All though since moving and having a TINY kitchen for the past nine months, I have relaxed on this one!)
I used to be ABSOLUTELY CRAZY about the twins and their schedule... think Kate Gosselin (EEK!)
Ironing clothes- I iron just about everything that comes out of the dryer
In which bins toys go in the boys rooms

I know it might seem kinda crazy, kinda not to some. Heather could probably list tons more! I know Brandon could list millions of more things! Like I said it's not OCD, I'm just super particular about certain things!

BC: Day 11

A photo taken of you recently...

This is our first ever complete family photo! It's not the best picture of me ever taken.. I could stand to lose about 30lbs, but I think Lauren did a great job with all the pics! I'll post some more of them soon!

BC: Day 10

A photo taken of you over ten years ago...

Since my computer isn't that old and I am WAY too lazy to upload one, you'll just have to miss out on this one!

BC:Day 9

A photo you took...

A beatiful day at the park with Lincoln and Daniel!

BC: Day 8

A photo that makes you angry/sad...

This photo makes me angry.. very angry. This was taken Valentines' night of 2007. I was pregnant with the twins and Brandon had taken me downtown to the Old Spaghetti Factory. We had a great night and ended with a horse carriage ride and a picture... that wont get any bigger than this! I think that it's a great photo.. but I've never seen it any bigger! Oh well, that just means that he'll have to take me on another date downtown!

BC: Day 7

A photo that makes your heart melt...

I cheated and picked two pics! It's not fair to pick only one when you have multiple kids!

This photo was taken about an hour before we got to come home with the twins. I had an easy pregnancy, but we ran into some complications post delivery. My boys were little. Daniel was 4lbs 9oz and Lincoln was 5lbs 12oz. Daniel had a hard time maintaining his body temperature and was kept in an isolate for a few days. While we weren't put into NICU, Daniel was placed in the special care nursery for five days, while Lincoln remained in the full term nursery on a Billi bed. While all of this was going on, Brandon was between the hospital and home studying for law school finals. After LONG days and nights at the "Palace on Ballas"(aka St John's Mercy Medical Center in St Louis), we were finally able to take our still small boys home! We were so relieved!

The first picture that melts my heart in once again of the twins, but was taken after Greyson was born. L and D were only 10 1/2 months old when Greyson joined the Howard clan. Up to this point I had only been away from them for one night, when they were three months old. When I went into labor with Grey, we had to take the twins with us to the hospital until Brandon's parents were able to make it home. Greyson was born the following morning and the twins were brought to the hospital as soon I was placed in to a post partum room. They played for a few minutes and them Daniel passed out cradled in my arms. He missed his momma!

( For some reason my computer is going crazy and won't let me move the picture! Sorry about the captions being out of order!)

BC: Day 6

Twenty of my favorite things...


1. My three sweet boys; Lincoln, Daniel, and Greyson



2.My husband; Brandon


3. Not feeling horribly fat in skinny jeans!


4. Target


5. Pay day!


6. Watching my boys PEACEFULLY play together


7. My phone dates with my sis in law, Heather


8. Holidays with my family and Brandon's extended family


9. My momma's chocolate pie


10. Not having to cook dinner on Wednesday nights( We eat at church!)


11. Mashed potatoes from TGI Fridays


12. College football


13. Tv Show: Modern Family


14. My blackberry


15. Coldstone Creamery Ice Cream


16. High school football


17. The excitement of Christmas


18. Praise and Worship Music


19. Hanging out with my friend Carrie


20. Shopping with my mom

BC: Day 5

My favorite quote...

I don't really have a favorite quote. My high school drama teacher used to always tell us "proper prior planning prevents poor performance". I always thought that was a good motto.

Instead of a favorite quote, I would go with a favorite Bible verse... cheesy as it sounds, John 3:16, would have to been among my favorites. It's an obvious verse, but as I was talking to my uncle the other night, he pointed out that it is the story of Christmas and salvation. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Do you see the Christmas part? Do you see the salvation part? In all the years that I have known or read this verse, I must admit, that I've never thought this to be a
"Christmas" verse. Everyone knows that the Christmas story starts in Luke 2! I thought that was pretty cool!

BC: Day 3

My favorite teacher...



I had several teachers in school that I loved. I was fond of some of my college teachers too, but my favorite teacher by far was Ms Nell Greenwood. Ms Greenwood was a "social studies" teacher. I think I took every class she taught. She made studying psychology, sociology, and the law interesting. It was actually after taking some of her law classes, that I began to want to be an attorney. It wasn't until I saw Brandon studying to take the LSTAT, that I decided it wasn't for me!
Anyway, thanks Ms Greenwood for all of your encouragement throughout four years!

BC: Day 4

My favorite book...

I've never been a big reader but my favorite book would have to be a Karen Kingsbury series entitled the Redemption Series. This series follows the Baxter family through a few years of life's. Like I said, I am not a big reader, but I began reading them after I had the twins. I could not put them down! I read all 14 books in less than a year I believe. It was like the Baxter's became my friends! I would definitely recommend these books!

BC: Day 2

My Definition of Success...



My definition of success would have to being happy in your circumstances. I know several people that have wonderful jobs, make tons of money, but are absolutely miserable. Then I know several people that have a good job, don't make tons of money and are truly happy. I would say that they people that are happy regardless of what their financial situation is are truly successful people. They have been able to find happiness in life, not making their life all about money. I hope that Brandon and I are able to keep ourselves focused on all of the happy things in our lives. We have a healthy family, a family that loves and supports us no matter what, and a always growing relationship with Jesus.
Silly or not, my simple definition of success would be happiness!

BC: Day 1

My Biggest Accomplishment.....


I personally don't think that in my short life that I have accomplished much. I would say though, that the past five years of my life as a whole, is my greatest accomplishment. I got married, I lived with my in-laws for 4 years, I had three babies in one year, I survived my husband going through law school, I survived my husband taking and passing the Bar Exam, and I have survived my husband as a first year associate in a law firm.
I would personally say that the past five years have been a HUGE accomplishment on my end! I am looking forward to my future accomplishments!

30 Day Blog Challenge

I saw this on my friend Sara's blog, so I thought that I'd give it a try too! She started it from this blog the Erickson's. Since it's the holidays, I'll have normal posts, and then these fun topics over the next 30 days!

Day 1 - your biggest accomplishment

Day 2 - your definition of success

Day 3 - Your favorite teacher

Day 4 - your favorite book

Day 5 - your favorite quote

Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things

Day 7 - a photo that makes your heart melt

Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad

Day 9 - a photo you took

Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you

Day 11 - a photo of you recently

Day 12 - something you are OCD about

Day 13 - a fictional book

Day 14 - a non-fictional book

Day 15 - your role model

Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)

Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding

Day 19 - a talent of yours

Day 20 - a hobby of yours

Day 21 - a recipe

Day 22 - a website

Day 23 - a youtube video

Day 24 - where I live- in detail, what makes it special?

Day 25 - guilty pleasure

Day 26 - your week, in great detail

Day 27 - my worst habit

Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse

Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days

Day 30 - car you drive ( and past cars too!)

I hope you enjoy reading, and getting to know me a little better!