My babies are growing up...

I can't believe it, both of my babies are growing up so fast. On Monday night I set up the twin size mattress and boxspring in Franklin's room and moved the toddler bed into Grace's room.

I did not intend for Grace to start sleeping in the toddler bed that night, but she had other ideas!

Franklin was very excited to have a BIG boy bed. You should have seen the look of happiness on his face. He went to sleep just fine. He did wake up in the middle of the night saying he wanted his old bed back. But when he woke up on Tuesday morning, the first thing he said to me was "Mommy, I love me new bed!"

Grace climbed right into the toddler bed and wanted to go to sleep. We told her that she had to stay in the bed or we would put her in the crib-which is still in her room. She went right to sleep and did not wake up at all during the night. When she woke up on Tuesday morning, she called for me and still did not get out of the bed until I told her it was okay!

Naps yesterday were another story. It took Grace a long time to go to sleep and when she woke up, Filic went in to get her and there were several books in her bed, several pairs of shoes, several baby dolls and she was wearing shoes! How funny is that. Franklin didn't nap, but stayed in his room.

Here are some pictures of their beds:

Grace's bed, complete with her dolls and Mickey

Franklin's bed with his 4 blankets and several animals which always change!

not a good start

So my kids wake up pretty early and my saving grace is coffee. I make them some chocolate milk and then make my coffee. Well this morning I must have been pretty out of it because I forgot to put the coffee pot in the coffee maker. What a mess I had to deal with. And it delayed my first cup of coffee!

It's mornings like these when I wonder what is in store for the rest of my day. I am hoping that it will be an isolated incident.

a mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, without word, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family, children, health, friends, and Favorite passions - - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So... Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play With your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked". It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."


At the holidays life always seem to get really busy and crazy for all of us and I wanted to post this for us all to remember what is really important. I am already starting to think about my New Year's Resolutions, and one of them is going to be to spend more time with friends. I want to continue to cultivate the friendships that I have made and not neglect them. A friend of mine called last week and asked me to look at my calendar and find two hours so that we can both go to a coffee shop and catch up over the phone. She lives in North Carolina and we don't get to talk without the kids interrupting very often. I thought that this was a great idea. We are calling it a date, and acting like it is. You would never leave a date waiting at a coffee shop, right?

I hope that you are all getting everything you want accomplished for the holidays. Just remember to take time to spend with friends and family to just talk and hang out. Because not everything has to be about presents, cookies, etc.

Have a great Tuesday,
Cathy

Pictures from Thanksgiving

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to Virginia. I will post the pictures that I did later this week. These are of the kids and family.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.

Cathy

what did you do this week?

I had another busy week. What is funny is that I used to think that my life was busy pre kids, marriage, everything. That was nothing compared to now!

I finally counted it up and I spend 5 hours a week just taking Franklin to and from school. Which also means that poor Grace spends 5 hours a week in her car seat. I would do so much with that extra 5 hours a week. I had been considering a different preschool for Grace but then I thought, "what are you crazy" THe last thing that I need is to drive to two different schools each day or several days a week. I would have to start living out of my car, although sometimes it feels like it!

My class was great on Monday, I had a test and I feel pretty confident that I did well. I was worried because I didn't get a chance to study over the weekend, but I spent about an hour or so before the test going over everything. I missed a lecture because of the sinus infection that I had. This is crucial because the class only meets once a week for 3 hours and is strictly a lecture class. I tried to get notes from the person that sits next to me and she had only written down three things! Filic was great on Monday night. He decided us out for dinner in celebration of my test. We explained to the kids that mommy had a test at school and they were excited too!

Tuesday night I had an alone night. I just needed to get out of the house and do nothing. Went and saw the movie 'No Reservations' at the dollar theatre. It was a good movie. It was great to just sit there and be by myself, which is something that I need sometimes.

Wednesday, Filic and I ended up having an impromtu date. We were driving back from the library with the kids and they were just being very LOUD and we looked at each other and said "date night". We went to Sangria's for dinner which is on Main Street. It is a tapas place, the food is delicious and the red Sangria is soooo yummy! They give you lots of fruit which I love. (we went to Sangria's the night of my photo exhibit opening) Then it was off to the movies to see 'Across the Universe'. It is a movie about the vietnam war, people protesting it, life in general in the late 60's and 70's but it is a musical of sorts. All the music is Beatles songs performed by the cast. All of whom have amazing voices. Filic is a huge Beatles fan and he thought that they did a great job with the music. I loved the music. I will be downloading the soundtrack from iTunes soon.

Thursday, Franklin said he wasn't feeling well. I took his temp and he had a very low grade fever. He stayed home, which he did not want to do. I decided that it would be a great time to give him something that he had been really wanting. The Little Einstiens Pat Pat Rocket. I have been trying to get the toy for him for about a month now and it is always sold out. By some odd chance I called the Target on University and they had two on Monday. I was thrilled. I put it in my closet for just the right time. He was so excited to get it. He shared with Grace, which made me proud. I had an eye appointment on Thursday and got new glasses. I love the way they look on me and I can see so much more now! It's great. Went to a first anniversary party. YUMMY food! There were fresh french fries, filet and mini portabello kabobs, a bruchetta with a sweet pea mash on top, and more. And the cake was great too.

Friday I worked. Filic took Grace to Jungle Gardens for the first time. He said that she wasn't that into it. He wanted to take her for a Daddy and Daughter day. She doesn't get a lot of one on one time that doesn't involve an errand of some sort. I guess she is fine just hanging out with us. Friday was a busy day at K2. Lots of inventory came in and needed to be entered. I literally spent all day entering inventory, pricing it and getting it onto pegs or into trays for Karen to put out. I have some paper cuts but the new stuff is great.

The kids woke up at 6:10 this morning. I have a lot to do today. The list is a page long. Filic and Franklin have soccer today. Grace and I are going to run errands and clean the house.

I hope that everyone is enjoying the cooler weather and has a great weekend. Let me know what you did this week.

Cathy

What are you?

I found the link to this fun and very short quiz on my friend Jocie's blog. I love dessert and had to know what I would be!

You Are Cheesecake

Rich, sweet, and simply perfect. You're not boring - you're just the best!

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

It's been awhile, but a lot has been going on!

I realize that I have been a bad blogger lately. Haven't posted something new in a very long time. A lot has been happening here though.

I have been fighting the cold that has been going around for almost three weeks. Found out on Sunday after spending 6 hours in the ER that I have an acute sinus infection. This is my first sinus infection and it sucks. Thanks so much to my dear friend Jessi and her amazing hubby Dana for not only watching my kids but driving me to the ER. I am so blessed to have her in my life. She is truly a wonderful friend.

My house was infested with Carribean Crazy Ants. I had never even heard of these before. But for whatever reason, they really liked my clean laundry. With being sick I had a ton of folded laundry in my bedroom in baskets that I just couldn't get put away and they LOVED it. Right before leaving for our Club Med getaway ( and I am talking about the morning we left) is when I realized they were in all of my clean laundry. I had to buy clothes when I got to Club Med. Thank goodness there was a Marshall's and a Target very close by! We had the pest control guy come while we were gone and were lucky enough to come home to a lot of dead ants.

I have had a lot of laundry to do! Had to rewash all of the clothes that were infested. But since I have been battling this sinus infection I couldn't get all the laundry folded and it had been piling up. Finally yesterday I sat the kids up with a "picnic lunch"(I let them eat on the floor in the living room while they watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and folded about 15 loads of laundry. The bed in my guestroom was fully covered in folded clothes. Then came putting everything away, for the kids anyway. Was too tired last night to get to my laundry, but will be doing it first thing today before more crazy ants decided to invade!!

My computer deleted the images off of my cameras memory card before I had a chance to uplaod them. And they were the most amazing photos. I was able to find a computer repair person to do a data recovery for me. But the most amazing part was that he came to the house to pick up my memory card and then brought it back to me at K2 while I was working there on Saturday. And he was able to recover all the images!!! YAY!!! I was so thrilled.

While heading to the pharmacy on Monday to drop off my prescriptions I got a flat tire on Clark Road. What is worse is that I could see the tire repair place from where I was sitting, I just couldn't get the car there. I called AAA to come and tow the car. I figure I pay for the service, may as well use it. They showed up within 20 minutes and towed the car. Had my friend Jen come by and pick up Grace for me so she didn't have to sit with me at the tire place. The tire place was great, they got me out of there in just over an hour. I was pleased about that.

So, after all of that, I am sitting here blogging to you all. Still fighting my sinus infection. But just happy to be alive. Becacuse no matter how bad the past few weeks have been for me, it is nothing compared to the lives of a lot of people in the world. I have to remind myself of that a lot. But I figure that the world, God(s) won't give me more than they think I can handle, right.

I hope that everyone in doing great and I can't wait to hear from you.

look at this

I found this photo this morning on the website http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/07/09/26/ they have a section called the Daily Dose and they feature a photo everyday. I love this photo. The people all dressed up, holding umbrellas, the rain falling. I feel as though I am there which makes it an excellent photo.

Cheers,

Cathy

this is a test

I was forwarded a link to take this test, and thought it was really cute. I am sure that I have seen it before and done the test before but when you are awake at 5:45 am you need cute emails and tests like these to keep you sane!

Here is the link: http://memoriter.net/flash/test.html

I think that it will put a smile on your face. I hope that everyone is still asleep this morning and has a great day.

Cathy

Today is the day!!!!!

I am so excited, the butterflies in my stomache are all aflutter! Spent last night doing some pampering to insure that I would look radient in all the photos that are going to be taken of me today. I honestly feel as though I am getting ready for my wedding all over again. After I drop Franklin off at school this morning I am off to the salon to have my hair colored, cut and styled and a mani/pedi.

The kids did not seem to know what an important day today is for mommy. They woke up at 5:45 this morning. I am a bit tired to say the least. Franklin has a big day today, his first field trip! I have his school shirt sitting here on my lap, ready for him to wear today. They are taking the kids to the fire station. All the children in his class are obsessed with firetrucks and emergencies and play pretend emergency several times a week. Gracie is going to her first story time at the library today with Flannery. I think that she will really enjoy it, today's theme is "farms" and she loves animals especially cows!

So I am enjoying my coffee this morning and blogging to you all to calm my nerves. I don't think that I will have too much time this morning to focus on them. I have to pack Franklin's lunch, set out their clothes for tonight, prepare snacks and goody bags for them for tonight, make sure I have everything I need for tonight, make sure I know what Filic is wearing for tonight and that it is ironed, write my speech (uuugghhh!!), etc. Yet I can't seem to tear myself away from this post. I think that I am delaying!! haha

Have a great day everyone. I think that I will!! (wink, wink)
I hope to post some photos tomorrow of the excitement that will ensue.

Cheers,
Cathy

Suprise for me!!

You will never guess what I had to deal with today at 6 am. The kids have been wanting to "help" around the house a lot lately and I have been letting them if I have time to "fix" it. Well, this morning at 6 am I was getting ready to do some more laundry. I opened the washer to put the last load in the dryer and found that a pull-up had been put in the washer as well. AARRGGHH! So I had to shake out all the clothes and wipe out the washer. Thank goodness for the front loading washer because I can see myself climbing in the top loader! Nice visual, right. If you have never had to do this, it is not fun. The pull-up explodes and the gel gets everywhere. As I am writing this I am rewashing that load of laundry. It definitely needed it after all that. In the last few weeks many of Franklin's cars have gone through the laundry courtesy of Grace. She is fascinated with putting things in the washer. I guess that from now on I will have to check what is actually in the washer before I start it!

Today I start my first day back to work. I haven't had a job outside the house since 2002. I am working part-time at K2. I am so excited to start. I trained all day on Tuesday and loved it. So if you are free today at any point come in and say "hi" to me.

Have a great Saturday,
Cathy

Book Club anyone?

I was talking to a friend last night and we both had the idea to start a book club. Is anyone interested?

I just finished the book Veil of Roses by Laura Fitzgerald and LOVED it! I highly reccomend it. I read it in a day and a half, which says a lot considering I have Franklin and Grace! I took every moment I could to read that is how awesome this book is.

The other books that I have read lately are:

The Sleeping Beauty Proposal by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee

The Russian Concubine by Kate Furnivall

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

What books have you read lately?

Have a great Tuesday,
Cathy

You are invited and I am in awe

Here is the invite to the opening reception for my photography exhibition. I am so excited that we are getting closer the "the day". I feel like I am counting down for my wedding all over again!

I spent yesterday shopping at International Mall in Tampa for a new dress and shoes for the occasion. Went to a lot of stores before I found the one. I knew it was the one as soon as I put it on. Oh, and it is about two sizes smaller than I would have thought I needed, you gotta love that! Found a few pairs of shoes that would have looked great with the dress, one of which had a $1300 price tag! No thanks. Can you imagine spending that much on just one pair of shoes. Wish that I had taken a picture of me wearing them, just so I could post it here. Maybe the next time that I make it up there I will try them on again just to show you all. The pair of shoes that I picked are just perfect for the dress and they are comfortable too. (I was really happy about that!) Now I just need to figure out what to do about my hair and accessories and I will be all set.

I am in awe because I just found out that the school is keeping all four of my images on permanent display because the President of MCC loves them and wants them to inspire other students. Can you believe that? This just keep getting better!

Hope that everyone is having a great day!

Cathy

he asked for what

Franklin was sitting in the tub last night with Grace and asked why we only have 2 kids. I wasn't sure what he meant by it so I asked him if he meant why we don't have 3 kids or more and he said that is what he was thinking. He then asked if we could have another baby. He said that he would like a brother. I asked him would it be okay if it turned out to be a baby girl, he said yes and that he would name her Gracie, too. He then said that maybe an older brother would be nice.

I have no idea where this came from. I was very shocked to be receiving these questions from my 3 year old.

Anybody else get odd questions from their kids this weekend?

Cathy

Hot or Not

Did anyone watch the Teen Choice Awards last Sunday? I didn't but wish that I had. Jessica Alba won the award for Female Hottie and gave a very cool acceptance speech. Here it is:

“I would like to dedicate this award to a young man who has been on my mind for the last 19 years: Ross. Ross didn't love me. I was pigeon-toed, I had a sway back, I was slightly cross-eyed, buck-toothed, I sucked my thumb. Look at me now, Ross! Look at me now!"

That is totally me. I was a very big geek in school, and no one ever thought I was pretty or fun to be around. I am so glad to know that she can stand up there and say something that I have always dreamed of saying. Kudos to Jessica Alba.

By the way, I am still a big geek! I am just comfortable with it now and accept who I am. Here's to anyone that was treated poorly by classmates!!

Happy Friday,
Cathy

Halley Came to Jackson

I love this song by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Halley Came to Jackson. Everytime that I hear it, I think of what it must have been like in 1910 and seeing the comet and what people must have thought it was. I am sure it was beautiful and amazing thing to witness.

Here are the lyrics:

Late one night when the wind was
brought the baby to the window sill
To see a bit of heaven shoot across the sky
The one and only time Daddy saw it fly
It came from the east just as bright as a torch
The neighbors had a party on their porch
Daddy rocked the baby, Mother said "amen"
When Halley came to visit in nineteen ten

Now back then Jackson was a real small town
And it's not every night a comet comes around
It was almost eighty years since its last time through
So I bet your mother would've said "amen" too
As its tail stretched out like a stardust streak
The papers wrote about it every day for a week
They wondered where it's going and where it's been
When Halley came to Jackson in 1910

Now Daddy told the baby sleeping in his arms
To dream a little dream of a comet's charms
And he made a little wish as she slept so sound
In nineteen eighty-six that wish came 'round
It came from the east, just as bright as a torch
She saw it in the sky from her daddy's porch
As heavenly sent as it was back then
When Halley came to Jackson in nineteen ten
Late one night when the wind was still

I hope that I will get to see it when it comes again in 2061!

Cathy

Has anyone...

watched the series 'Big Love' on HBO?
had a odd allergic reaction?
had to fly with just the clothes they had on?
sat somewhere all day doing nothing, yet knowing they had to be there?
experienced Newark at 6a.m on a Friday morning?
attended a wedding having only been invited 30 minutes before the ceremony?
had something named after them for all the world to see?
felt a sense of accomplishment that overwhelms you?
wanted to live somewhere else?
met someone on a plane that you will remain friends with for a long time?
been so embarrassed that you whole body aches?
been asked to photograph an event only days before the event?
watched Kimora:life in the fab lane?


It has been a very interesting time for me since my last post. Franklin started at his new school and is loving every minute of it. He is the "shining star" today, which means that he gets to be the line leader and gets to bring in something to show and share. He is so proud about being the shining star today. I kept with the theme and made french toast sprinkled with powered sugar for breakfast. He decided to take his new Clifford book and his Megladon tooth as his show and share items. He is so cute and sweet. I can't believe that he is 3 already. It seems like just yesterday he was born and I was holding him in my arms for the first time. He is a big boy now and does not like to be called a baby. He has learned to peddle his tricycles and rides all over the house. Grace is still the same. She is jealous that Franklin goes to school.

I hope that everyone has a great Tuesday.

Cathy

What's a Southern girl to do

when she has a stressful day? Well, this Southern girl makes fresh peach cobbler. And that is just what I did this evening. Had a lot to deal with today. I am enjoying a nice big piece of my peach cobbler and some milk right now, and it is yummy and I am starting to feel better already.

Here is a picture of the peach cobbler I made this evening:

On a lighter note I had a great time playing with the kids in the hose tonight. Really brought me back to my childhood.

Hope everyone has a great evening,

Cathy

I love this place...

My favorite place to be, other than with my kids and husband, is New York. I love all the lights, sounds, people, things to do, etc. I took this picture from the steps of the New York Public Library main location at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. The red streaks that you see in the photo are cars. This is a long exposure, that is how you only see the lights of the cars and not the cars themselves. I love to do this kind of night photography.

Have a great day,
Cathy

Stop Breast Cancer for Life

Every 2.5 minutes a woman is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Help to make a difference in the lives of those who are affected by Breast Cancer. Please check out this link http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php and sign the Brest Cancer Patient Protection Act petition. This is a bill that is going to be voted on in Congress that would make it mandatory for women to have a 48 hour hospital stay after a masectomy. A lot of times women are discharged only hours after this serious surgery.

My grandmother had breast cancer twice and finally had a masectomy several years ago. This is something that is very important to me and I hope that you will take the time to check out the site, learn more and sign the petition.

Remember to do your self exams, early detection is key.

Have a wonderful night,

Cathy