Eight TV Shows

This week's edition of Tuesday Topics is all about TV shows.

Here are 8 of my favorite TV shows.


1.  Grey's Anatomy - my all time favorite

2.  F.R.I.E.N.D.S. - this comes in at a very close second

3.  General Hospital -  I never thought I'd be a fan of a soap opera, but my husband got me interested in this one and I was hooked right away.

4.  Everybody Loves Raymond -  this show is so funny.  Looking back on it, I see that Marie is a lot like my own mother-in-law.  Yikes!  ;)

5.  Once Upon a Time -  I just knew from the previews I wouldn't like this show, but my husband started watching it one night and I was hooked.  He figured I would like it.  Don't you just hate it when your hubby is right?  ;)

6.  Private Practice - I decided to check this show out because of Grey's Anatomy.  Loved it right away!

7.  NCIS:  Los Angeles

8.  Cold Case -  it's not on anymore, but I loved watching while it was

What are some of your favorite TV shows, past or present?

Favorite Movie Quotes

Happy Monday everyone!  Hopefully your week is off to a great start.

Today I'm linking up for Monday Listicles - 10 Favorite Movie Quotes.


1.  How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
Andie: Our love fern! You let it die! 
Ben: No, honey, it's just sleeping. 

2.  My Best Friend's Wedding
Julianne: I had the strangest dream. I dreamt that some psychopath was trying to break the two of you up. Luckily, I woke up and I see that the world is just as it should be. For my best friend has won the best woman. Um, I didn't buy you a gift. However, this is on loan until you two find your song.  

3.  The Avengers
Steve Rogers: Doctor Banner, I think now might be a good time for you to get angry. 
Bruce Banner: That's my secret, Cap: I'm always angry.

4.  A Walk to Remember
Landon: I might kiss you. 
Jamie: I might be bad at it. 
Landon: That's not possible. 

5.  A Walk to Remember
Dean: If there is a higher power, why is it He can't get you a new sweater? 
Jamie: He's too busy looking for your brain. 

6.  Mean Girls
Gretchen: I'm sorry that people are so jealous of me... but I can't help it that I'm so popular. 

7.  First Wives Club
Brenda: What's the matter, Morty? Can't you buy her a whole dress?

8.  Look Who's Talking
Mikey: [after Mikey's grandmother has been talking nonsense baby talk to him] Oh, yeah. She's gone. 

9.  The Last Song
Jonah: Mom says its because she has PMS. 
Steve: Do you even know what PMS is, Jonah ? 
Jonah: Of course I do dad, I'm not a little kid anymore. It's the Pissed at Men Syndrome.

10.  Fireproof
Michael: But just remember: a woman's like a rose; if you treat her right, she'll bloom, if you don't, she'll wilt.




Just for fun, I thought I'd add in a few quotes from a couple of my favorite TV shows.  


Grey's Anatomy:

F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

I hope you all enjoyed these!

What are some of your favorite TV show or movie quotes?

Nine Blogs

Hey everyone!  I hope your week is off to a great start.  

This week's Tuesday Topic is about nine blogs.  This was difficult for me.  There are so many great blogs out there and I love all of the ones I follow, so it was really hard for me to choose just 9 of them.

But here is a list of 9 blogs that you should most definitely check out, if you haven't already.  :)



1.  Abby at Confessions of an Imperfect Mom
She is one of my very best friends and a member of the Fab 4 that I mention sometimes.  ;)

2.  Summer at Summer of Many Hats
She is a real-life friend of mine.  :)

3.  Amy at Consider Me Inspired
Another real-life friend

4.  Cori at Everyday Enchanted
Another real-life friend

5.  Dusty at To the Moon and Back
Another real-life friend (do we see a pattern here?) hehe

6.  Leslie at Chips off the Old Block
Real-life friend

7.  Maria at Life on M Avenue
Maria is awesome.  She's one of the most real bloggers I've come across.  

8.  Erin at Living in Yellow
If you need a laugh, definitely check her out.  She's great.  

9.  If you're participating in this link-up, you already know them, but I think Tiffany at The Austin Family Diary and Lauren at Life.Love.Lauren are awesome as well.

That was technically 10 blogs, but shhh!  I'm sure it'll be okay.  :)

Now go and check these ladies out!  You'll be glad you did.

2013 Goals/Resolutions

After each new year, there are always things we say we are going to do, or not do, and then it's forgotten about shortly after.  

Here are some things I am really going to work hard to accomplish/work on.  


1.  Stop cussing.  
This is something I need to work on.  Most of the time I don't even realize I'm doing it until it's already out of my mouth.  That's not a good thing, especially with little ears around.  

2.  Lose weight
I was doing really well last year.  I changed things that needed to be changed, exercised, drank more water, etc.  I just always seem to get bored or unmotivated after a while and then quit.  This time, I'm going to stick with it and work toward a healthier me!  Will you all help keep me motivated?  ;)

3.  Go back to school
I am going to go back and finish my college education.  

4.  Be a better cook
Let's face it.... me and pretty much anything that would go in a kitchen *do not* get along.  It's pretty sad, haha.  I'm determined to be better though!  

5.  Try more crafty things
Crafting and DIY just may never really be my thing, but I want to at least try.  There are tons of wonderful ideas on pinterest on crafty things to do, especially as gifts, but I've always been too scared to try them.  I'm not a crafty person by nature.  

6.  Go on a family vacation
We have never been on a family vacation, other than a weekend away over the 4th of July in 2011.  I would love to take the boys to the beach.  I know they would just love it there.  I sure do!  

7.  Work on my marriage
My relationship with Eric definitely still needs some work.  I want us to get past all of these issues we've had and get back to the way things were before all of the bad things started happening.  

8.  Save money
I would love to be able to save some money to use in case of emergency or things like that.  It seems like there is always something coming up though that takes all the extra money we have and we're unable to save anything.  Hopefully this year will be different so we can start to build up a "cushion".  

9.  Spend more one-on-one time with the boys

10.  Be more organized. 
I'm definitely going to look into some ideas on Pinterest for getting better organized around here.

What are some of your goals or resolutions for 2013?

2012 in Review

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope your 2013 is off to a great start!  

2012 was definitely not the year for my family, but there were some good times, too!  

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I started to become more active with my blog.  I'm so glad.  Blogging is such a stress reliever and I love the people I've met so far! 

Reached 200 followers!  Woohoo.

I let go of some of the anger I've been holding on to and forgiving the people that needed to be forgiven.  I still have a little way to go on that journey, but it's a start!  

I lost some weight (even though I gained it back later on.  Oops)

I got to watch Chris participate in his first field day.  He had such a great time!  

Watching Chris graduate from kindergarten and get better with his reading.  He's such a bookworm.  

Fun get-togethers with my best friends.  

Chris and Logan both learned how to skate really well.  

I celebrated my 27th birthday and 7th wedding anniversary.  

Logan had a neurology appointment with Dr. Evil to discuss possible autism and other issues.  We were treated horribly by this doctor so we asked for a new referral from his pediatrician.  Logan will see the new doctor in a couple weeks.  

My friend Abby and I got to meet Nicholas Sparks at a book signing he did at our local library.  That was just awesome!  I'd love the chance to see him again sometime.  

I was introduced to an awesome local band called Full Circle and even got to go to a couple of their shows. Abby's husband is a guitar player in the band.  :)  

Chris started 1st grade and Logan started pre-school (even though we had to pull him out a couple months later).  

Chris turned 7 and Logan turned 5.  

I learned even more this year who my true friends are.  I'm finished messing with the fake ones.  They just aren't worth it.  Lost a few friends and gained others.  

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I'm looking forward to 2013 and what it has in store for my family!  

Logan is 5!

My "baby" boy turned 5 years old today.  We probably won't be having any more children, so each year older he turns makes me a little sadder.  :(  It's hard to believe it has been 5 years already.  

Here is a little question session I did with him the other day so I could look back on this and remember what he was like at this age.  


**Favorites**
Color -  blue
Restaurant - McDonald's and Chik-fil-A
Book -  any of the Biscuit books
Movie -  Berenstain Bears and Avengers
Holiday -  Halloween
TV Show -  Little Einsteins, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Doc McStuffins
Wii game -  Diego Safari Rescue
Toy -  his Diego toys
Animal - bears
Food - cake and mac & cheese
Drink -  tea  (he doesn't get it very often, by the way lol)
Thing to do - read books, blow bubbles
Thing to do at school - play with friends, do "homework" 

Best friend - Rachel

What do you want to be when you grow up?  a daddy

What scares you?  monsters, the dark

What makes you happy?  Christmas lights

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last night I blew up a bunch of balloons and put them in Logan's bed, so he woke up to a little surprise.  :)  

We've been doing the "elf on the shelf" with the boys this year and I thought it would be cute if our elf, Ginger, left Logan a little something for his birthday.  Ginger brought him a coloring activity book, a puzzle, and a cupcake.  

This morning we took Logan out to IHOP for a birthday breakfast.  They sent him a coupon for a free Rooty Jr breakfast.  It came with an egg, piece of sausage, piece of bacon, and two pancakes topped with real strawberries and strawberry sauce (which he added blueberry syrup to! geez lol).  He absolutely loved it and ate every bit of it, minus a bite or two of pancakes.  

Just as Logan was finishing up with his food, we all of a sudden heard a bunch of people clapping.  The next thing we know, all of the employees are heading toward our table.  They stopped and did the little "Happy Birthday" chant.  Logan was so embarrassed and was trying to hide from them.  Poor thing.  He recovered quickly though because right after the birthday chant, they gave him this huge cup of ice cream.  He was all about that.  ;) 

After that we took him to Toys R Us so he could get his crown and balloon.  They sent him a $3 gift card, so I let him pick out a cheap toy to use it on and just paid the difference.  Logan has had his eye on a little stuffed Sonic for a while now so that is what he ended up getting.  

Logan is pretty happy with the little goodies and fun things he got to do today.  We will be having his party on Saturday.  

Logan, the day after he was born

Logan at 1 year old

Logan at 2 years old

Logan at 3 years old

Logan at 4 years old

Logan now  :)

our elf Ginger left him a birthday surprise this morning!

surprise balloons in his bed

at his birthday breakfast this morning

ice cream that the employees brought him

at Toys R Us with his crown, balloon, and new toy

Thankful

I know it's a little late, but we should be thankful all the time instead of just on Thanksgiving, right?  ;)  

There are so many things I am thankful for.  

I'm thankful to God, for sending his son to die for us on the cross.  For never leaving us.  Being there for us always with a love that never fails.  

I'm thankful for my parents.  Even as an adult, they still help me out whenever I need something.  They are wonderful grandparents to my boys.  

I'm thankful for Chris and Logan.  I love my boys so much.  Chris is laid-back while Logan is a little firecracker.  They are as different as night in day in most ways, but they are alike in that they are both caring, kind, compassionate, eager to help and learn, bookworms, animal lovers, and as sweet as can be.  Although they never turn down an opportunity to drive me completely crazy, I wouldn't change it for anything. 

I'm thankful for Eric.  We have been married for 7 years.  Almost our entire marriage has been a struggle because of someone or something getting in our way, but we've managed to make it through.  He is a very hard worker and does everything he can to provide for our family so I can stay at home and take care of our children.  He makes sure we have everything we need and even some of what we want.  

I'm thankful for my friends.  I seriously have some of the best friends anyone could ask for.  I've been through a lot of rough things the past few years and they have been there for me through every single bit of it.  They love me for me and that is really hard to find these days.  

I'm thankful for Chris' teacher.  He has an absolutely wonderful teacher this year.  She is doing absolutely everything in her power to make sure that Chris gets whatever kind of help he needs.  It's sad to say, but that is a rare quality to find in a teacher now.  Most of them could care less and are only there for a paycheck.  I can tell that Mrs. Isley genuinely cares about Chris and wants the best for him and that means the world to me.  

I'm thankful for Logan's speech therapist, Christy.  She has been working with him for a while now.  Logan has a very hard time articulating certain letter sounds.  Now that we've built up his vocabulary, she is working on articulation and he is slowly getting easier to understand.  There are a lot of people though who still can't understand what he is saying.  I can't imagine how frustrating it must be for Logan to want to tell someone something and they can't understand him.  Christy is doing what she can to get him to where he needs to be though.  

I'm thankful for the yard sale sites on Facebook.  That may seem like a silly thing to be thankful for but with us struggling financially right now, those yard sale sites were how I was able to buy most of Chris' birthday presents and I've been putting away things I've bought off there recently to give the boys for Christmas.  You can find some really nice things on there for a cheap, reasonable price.  

There are a lot of other things I'm thankful for but we could be here all day. ;)

Remember to be thankful always....not just on Thanksgiving.  

I'm baaaaack! ;)

Hey everybody!  I took a bit of a break from blogging, but I'm back now.  If you all remember this post, I was really starting to feel pressured in blogging.  That just takes all of the fun out of it, you know?  I just had to step back for a while and try to not let it bother me so much.  

I thought I'd use this time to share what's been going on in my life since my last update.  But first of all, WELCOME to all of my new followers.  So glad to have you here!  

** Chris is doing really well in school.  He got his first report card of the year a couple weeks ago and got all S's or S-'s.  Being in the first grade, he isn't on an ABCDE grading scale yet.  In other news, he finished up his soccer season and is now starting basketball.  He's pretty excited about that.  Tonight was his second practice.  **

** Logan is doing well in school other than having some behavioral issues at the moment.  I'm hoping it's just a phase and will be over soon.  In other news, his birthday is coming up in a couple weeks so right now I'm busy planning his birthday party.  He has chosen Jake and the Neverland Pirates as his party theme.  :) **

**  A couple weeks ago I went out for a day of book shopping with my friend Abby.  I introduced her to a couple of the used bookstores in our area.  This one store in particular has great prices and a good selection, too.  I ended up getting a bunch of new books for the boys to read.  I can't seem to go to a bookstore without buying at least one ;)  (or two, or three....hehe) **

**  I also went out on a lunch date with my friend Joanne.  We went to Ruby Tuesday.  The food was pretty good, thankfully  (the last time I'd ate there, the food and service wasn't that great) **

** I took the boys to "science night" at Logan's school close to the end of October.  Two of the employees from our local science center came to teach the kids about reptiles.  All of the kids loved that, especially the boys!  Chris and Logan ended up getting to pet a snake and a blue tongued skink.  That was pretty neat.  ** 

**  For Halloween, Chris dressed up as Lightning McQueen and Logan dressed up as Tow Mater.  I love putting them in matching costumes like that.  I'm not sure how much longer they'll let me get away with that though, so I'm enjoying it while it lasts ;).  We took them to a couple trunk or treats.  One of them had a little train that the kids could ride.  That was pretty fun. **

**  Eric and I went to see our friend play in his band again at the local country music bar.  They are a great band.  I'm glad we got to go see them play again.  **

** I got together with a couple of my friends for lunch a while back for a book swap.  We decided it would be a monthly thing, where each month we bring books that our kids aren't interested in anymore and swap them out.  It's a great, free, way to get new books for the kids to read.  **

** Last night we went downtown to the "Light Up the Town" event, where all of the Christmas lights are turned on.  It was a lot of fun.  It was really cold outside but thankfully there was a table set up offering free hot chocolate, so that warmed us up a little.  After seeing the lights turn on, the kids were able to visit with Santa and have their picture made with him.  **  

**  Today I went out to lunch with the Fab 4.  We're going to be getting together in a couple weeks for our annual girls' Christmas party, but we needed to get together before that so we could draw names for Christmas gifts, so that was pretty much the purpose of today's lunch.  It was great getting to see everyone.  We don't all get to hang out together very often because of conflicting schedules and things like that, so it's always extra special when we're all together :).  It's kind of funny how the drawing worked out.... we literally drew names out of a hat that I borrowed from my husband, haha.  Erika and I ended up getting each other and Joanne and Abby got each other.  **  

(If you noticed I didn't mention anything about Thanksgiving, don't worry!  I'll be writing about that and being thankful in another post)

Here are a few pictures from the past month or so.

dressed up for Halloween :)  

Abby, Joanne, Erika and I getting ready to go into the bar for
Full Circle's show

Chris and Logan petting the snake at science night

watching the Christmas lights being turned on downtown last night

Chris and Logan's visit with Santa

at our lunch today.  Abby was maybe a little too excited
about the name drawing?  LOL!  ;)

Logan coloring while Chris had basketball practice tonight

Chris dribbling the ball up the court.  He's getting really good
at it!!