I have decided, after much pushing from my husband, to start a little "business" on the side. I wasn't sure I had a leg to even stand on while I was typing up my offerings, but here I am, not even 3 full days later, with orders in my hands and over 60 fans on my page. It's really happening, my dreams are coming true, I'm baking and loving it! I'm officially running "Sweet Eats" by Joli and it couldn't be more wonderful!
Dustin and I have always been frugal, but you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip- if it's not there, it's not there. As of late, with Laila's supplies and quarterly doctor visits, the trips to Phoenix, and a hungry family, the money seems to be stretching even farther than usual. I tossed around the idea of working even part time or babysitting, but nothing sounded worth the time and effort. He's told me many, many times in the past to start a baking business. Nothing big, just a few things here and it'll take off like lightning. I'm no pastry chef, but I am a mom, and I know how important it is to provide homemade goodness to my babies.
I was so concerned with the costs of starting something like this, I know it's so early on I can't charge much, and I won't be making much of a profit over the cost, but my name will be out there, and that's what counts. My ultimate dream, one day, is to have a storefront filled with delicious goodness! I hope to one day have shiny counters and sparkling glass cases, employees in cute pink aprons and pink ribbons on every chair. I have countless visions in my head of my dreams, but we all have to start somewhere. Lucky for me, somewhere is in my own kitchen. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it-it's going to be a bumpy ride!
June 23, 2011
June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day!
Happy Father's Day to all the great dads out there! My dad is visiting some of my brothers and sisters in Chicago, but Dustin is here and had the day off, so we spent the day together as a family. The girls were so excited to give him the gifts we picked out I thought they were going to drag him out of bed! Yesterday I scheduled an appointment with Portrait Innovations to get some quick pictures taken of the kids. Normally, I would much rather have Wendy take them, and I prefer a real scenic background, but I needed them printed that day, and cheap. The wait was ridiculous, there were kids screaming and crying everywhere, it was a total mess. I did end up getting a few good pictures out of the deal, and Dustin was really excited to see them framed when he got up this morning. Here are my favorites:
Obviously, I didn't order them all. I thought the last one (blooper!) was hilarious and was glad when it came on the cd. I did purchase a few though, and I'm happy with what I have. I have plenty to pass around, too, so if you're wanting a pic or two, let me know!
We also picked daddy up a shirt , and he loves it! I'm so fortunate to have a husband like Dustin, he's so easy to buy for! He loves clothes, tools, pictures, whatever. This morning I also brought out the coffee mug I had made for him with pictures of the kids on it. He is so excited to have a new one now that we have 3 kids. It's adorable, and thankfully durable. He loves to have his morning coffee and see pictures of our sweeties!
Lastly, this morning I ran to the store for a few things, and grabbed the finishing touches-doughnuts and coffee! I stopped at Starbucks and got his favorite drink and enough doughnuts for the kids too, it was a great morning, and even better day. I'm so fortunate to have him in my life, he's such a great husband and father.
Because we got married on Father's Day, our anniversary and Father's day are usually a day or two apart, so I tend to spoil Dustin on just one day, not both! We are loving our life together and our happy little family!
Obviously, I didn't order them all. I thought the last one (blooper!) was hilarious and was glad when it came on the cd. I did purchase a few though, and I'm happy with what I have. I have plenty to pass around, too, so if you're wanting a pic or two, let me know!
We also picked daddy up a shirt , and he loves it! I'm so fortunate to have a husband like Dustin, he's so easy to buy for! He loves clothes, tools, pictures, whatever. This morning I also brought out the coffee mug I had made for him with pictures of the kids on it. He is so excited to have a new one now that we have 3 kids. It's adorable, and thankfully durable. He loves to have his morning coffee and see pictures of our sweeties!
Lastly, this morning I ran to the store for a few things, and grabbed the finishing touches-doughnuts and coffee! I stopped at Starbucks and got his favorite drink and enough doughnuts for the kids too, it was a great morning, and even better day. I'm so fortunate to have him in my life, he's such a great husband and father.
Because we got married on Father's Day, our anniversary and Father's day are usually a day or two apart, so I tend to spoil Dustin on just one day, not both! We are loving our life together and our happy little family!
June 18, 2011
5 Years!
Today is my anniversary and I believe a "Congratulations!" is in order!! Today marks the day 5 years ago Dustin and I officially became husband and wife. I looked back at my blog from last year, and not much has changed. Then again, everything has.
Last year at this time, we were happy parents of 2 beautiful little girls. We had more money in our bank accounts, more free time, and less worries. This year, it's quite the opposite, though I find myself much happier. Our son is here, our children are all healthy, (and costing us a fortune), we have fewer date nights and more on our plates than ever! I constantly worry about each of them, but that's what being a parent is all about. Honestly, there's no one I'd rather worry with than my husband, and that, in a sense, brings me peace.
Each year brings new adventures, new forks in the road, and decisions to be made. I think we have a strong enough relationship to tackle anything, and this past year has really put us to the test. Laila's diagnosis was hard, to say the least, it pushes my limits of sanity on a frequent level. When I crack, he's there to catch the pieces. Without him, there would be no me. Not long after Laila's diagnosis came Dustin's news of surgery. Handing this, in some ways, was harder than dealing with Laila. Spending nights apart, watching your child in pediatric intensive care, crying yourself to sleep- no one wants to do those things alone. Though the miles separated us during those times, we were never alone.
When Dustin asks me why I love him, my mouth goes blank. It's not that I don't have an answer, it's that no answer seems good enough. I love him for who he is, and who I am when I'm with him. He makes me face my fears, but he's right there to hold my hand. He's my biggest fan, and always there to catch me if I stumble. Without his smile, my life would be lonely, his laughter is music to my ears. Knowing I married my best friend completes the puzzle of my heart, and that's a feeling no words can describe.
Whenever I'm homsick, Dustin comforts me. He reminds me of the good times and leaves out the bad. He brings a light to the future brighter than the sun, a warmth to my soul no blanket could, and a feeling inside me I never knew possible. Every morning when I rise and I see his long eyelashes flutter open next to me, I know I made the right choice. I feel it in the depths of my being, this is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. Here's to another 5 years, 5 more after that, and the rest that follow. Even when we're apart, I know we're never alone, we're always in each other's hearts.
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| June 18, 2006 |
Each year brings new adventures, new forks in the road, and decisions to be made. I think we have a strong enough relationship to tackle anything, and this past year has really put us to the test. Laila's diagnosis was hard, to say the least, it pushes my limits of sanity on a frequent level. When I crack, he's there to catch the pieces. Without him, there would be no me. Not long after Laila's diagnosis came Dustin's news of surgery. Handing this, in some ways, was harder than dealing with Laila. Spending nights apart, watching your child in pediatric intensive care, crying yourself to sleep- no one wants to do those things alone. Though the miles separated us during those times, we were never alone.
When Dustin asks me why I love him, my mouth goes blank. It's not that I don't have an answer, it's that no answer seems good enough. I love him for who he is, and who I am when I'm with him. He makes me face my fears, but he's right there to hold my hand. He's my biggest fan, and always there to catch me if I stumble. Without his smile, my life would be lonely, his laughter is music to my ears. Knowing I married my best friend completes the puzzle of my heart, and that's a feeling no words can describe.
Whenever I'm homsick, Dustin comforts me. He reminds me of the good times and leaves out the bad. He brings a light to the future brighter than the sun, a warmth to my soul no blanket could, and a feeling inside me I never knew possible. Every morning when I rise and I see his long eyelashes flutter open next to me, I know I made the right choice. I feel it in the depths of my being, this is the man I will spend the rest of my life with. Here's to another 5 years, 5 more after that, and the rest that follow. Even when we're apart, I know we're never alone, we're always in each other's hearts.
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| May 16, 2011 |
June 17, 2011
Our Trip to Tucson!
We decided a little break from reality was in order, things have been extremly busy around the Smith compound and everyone needed a little time off. I found an awesome deal on expedia for $25.00 off the purchase of any room, so I thought, what the hay. We'll give it a try. Dustin had a full day off of work, so I packed everything up, loaded the car, and off we went for the night!
The drive was pretty short, I thought Tucson was a lot further away than it really is, thankfully the kids behaved well and even napped a bit. We made a pit stop for some greasy fast-food and sodas on the way-what a treat for the kids!-and we were off. Instead of stopping at the hotel first, we headed straight to the Pima Air and Space Museum. Let me start off by saying we had absolutely no idea what we were in for when we stepped foot in that museum! It was the biggest place I've ever been to! There were multiple buildings, plus an entire airplane "graveyard" outside we didn't even see. The kids enjoyed walking around and seeing all the neat airplanes, even getting to sit inside a few.
The heat outside was scorching, the vending machines didn't work, and they didn't allow outside food or drink. Kenadi was feeling pretty nauseated and mumbling about a chimpunk, so we decided we better head out. After arriving to the hotel Dustin and Kenadi took a nap while Laila, Little D, and I headed into the sun for some swimming in the hotel's pool. To say the water was cold wouldn't even begin to cover the freezing I felt to the core of my body, but the kids didn't seem to mind!
Kenadi seemed to be feeling better so we decided to head out for dinner. After stopping at Walgreens to pick up some more tylenol for Lil D's teeth (which is when I discovered tooth #3 had cut through!!) we headed toward town to find a respectable place for dinner. About 5 minutes into our drive, little miss Kenadi threw up all over the back seat of my car. Back to the hotel it was! We ordered dinner from the Denny's attached to the hotel lobby and had "breakfast in bed" for dinner! The kids all seemed to enjoy being able to stay up late watching tv and eating food in bed-I sure didn't hear any complaining! We called it a night and decided to try for a better tomorrow. We packed our things early in the morning and headed to (yep, you guessed it!) Denny's for breakfast. The kids ate really good and no one got sick, so we had high hopes for the day!
After breakfast we headed to the Reid Park Zoo! What a tiny little zoo! It was fun, not crowded, and clean. The kids were able to see almost all the animals, the tiger was missing (he was on a "date" with a woman tiger) and the bear was sleeping. At the end of the rounds the girls decided they enjoyed seeing the Monkeys (Kenadi's favorite), the Polar Bear, and the Elephants the best. I loved how close you could get to the giraffes! I jokingly told Laila they were looking for a kiss and she responded, "Not until they brush those teeth! Their tongues are black!" I got a good chuckle out of that, and so did everyone else hanging around the exhibit.
After the zoo we made a pit stop at the Missions Sans De Xavier. It was such a beautiful church, posting photos doesn't do it justice. Laila and I went inside together and talked a lot about what church is all about, God, and the importance of believing. The experience was really great for both of us, I needed the spiritual "awakening" and she needed a little boost to want to learn more about our faith. We left the church and headed back home. The ride home wasn't nearly as pleasant as the ride there, but we made it in one piece.
The trip, in all, was a good one. We all made it there and back in one piece, and on a pretty low budget. Now, Dustin and I recovering from a nasty flu bug! Here's to hoping for a better tomorrow.
The drive was pretty short, I thought Tucson was a lot further away than it really is, thankfully the kids behaved well and even napped a bit. We made a pit stop for some greasy fast-food and sodas on the way-what a treat for the kids!-and we were off. Instead of stopping at the hotel first, we headed straight to the Pima Air and Space Museum. Let me start off by saying we had absolutely no idea what we were in for when we stepped foot in that museum! It was the biggest place I've ever been to! There were multiple buildings, plus an entire airplane "graveyard" outside we didn't even see. The kids enjoyed walking around and seeing all the neat airplanes, even getting to sit inside a few.
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| Peeking at the inside of the plane! |
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| Laila taking the simulator plane for a test drive! |
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| "Freedom", the plane retired and was replaced by "Air Force One" |
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| My tiny little girls! |
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| Laila ready to hit the water! |
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| Swimming in the ice cold water! |
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| Drying off with mommy! |
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| A diabetic's dream come true! Laila loved her breakfast! Pancake bites, whip cream, syrup, jam, and juice! |
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| Quick pit stop for a photo! |
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| Handsome! |
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| The polar bear-he was hiding out in the back pacing around in the shade. |
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| The girls checking out the rhino. |
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| The girls by the giraffes. |
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| Oooh! |
The trip, in all, was a good one. We all made it there and back in one piece, and on a pretty low budget. Now, Dustin and I recovering from a nasty flu bug! Here's to hoping for a better tomorrow.
June 10, 2011
Finding Love
Before I get into the nity gritty, I want to say this is post #300!! Thank you to all my faithful (and sporadic) readers out there! Whether or not I even know you, that makes no difference. You're there for me and I appreciate you! Now, here we go.
Every person comes with their own skeletons in the closet, we all bear scars-both invisible and skin deep. We all expect to be loved just the way we are, and in hopes of finding that special someone, we do all we can to cover the damages and pretend like they're not there. So what do you do when the scars are unable to be covored, or there's an illness you're stuck with for the rest of your life? I suppose when my children grow up, I'll have to ask them. For now, I only have my own experiences to reference, and they're not all that pretty.
When Dustin and I met, I hid so many things from him, I was damaged, broken, hurt. I thought if he knew the struggles I'd been through he'd never want to be with a person like me. I found out later we were so much alike, there was no sense in hiding the things that hurt me in the past, he had way too much to offer my future.
This afternoon while I was driving into town, I started thinking about things. I wasn't having a pity party, but I was feeling discouraged, sad, and scared. All 3 of my children are healthy, happy, and beautiful. I have nothing worth complaining about, but I will admit the future is terrifying.
I was looking at Lil D's back today while I got him dressed, and was admiring how nice it was coming along, however, the scar will still be ugly. The vitamin E has brought the brightness down some, it's helped soften the skin, but I know it will never go away. My heart was saddened thinking one day he'll fall in love, and some special girl's heart will be captivated by his gorgeous smile and those baby blue eyes. In the midst of loving what the eye can see, that girl will have to love his scar, too. She will have to admire the beauty in his ability to walk and run, and not see the ugly line left behind by the struggles. No one can love a boy like his mother, I can say that's a fact. I hope one day he finds a girl who's willing to try.
Diabetes is always hovering in the back of my mind, it's like a bad dream that will never go away. A haunting of sorts, a silent killer. Being a mother is a full time job, but tie in diabetes and you're talking double time and a half. The sleepless nights don't stop, the worry never goes away, the fear of leaving your child with a sitter is breathtaking, and not in a good way. I know as she grows older, it will become more Laila's responsibility, and less of mine, but that's no consolation prize I'm holding out for.
Agreeing to marry someone means you take on their life and love, in sickness and in health, till death do you part. One day, my beautiful daughter is going to grow up and start dating, and eventually marry. The mere thought of trusting my precious baby's life with another person's is enough to make me ill. I don't know how I'll cope, I have a difficult time leaving her with the nurse at school for a few hours each day, and I live minutes away. One day this man she loves will have to love her back so completely, so truly, and be willing to care for her during the times she can't care for herself. He'll have to constantly watch for her highs and lows, be prepared for the stares, questions, and whispers, and do it all with a smile on his face and love in his heart. I know it's possible, anything is possible, but her knight in shining armor have to make it worth it.
I hope one day my heart opens to those my children choose to share their lives with. I pray I will have the confidence in myself now to be able to trust their decisions later. I have set the bar high for each of them, and I hope they set it even higher for themselves. Only time will tell, but I have a good feeling about this.
Every person comes with their own skeletons in the closet, we all bear scars-both invisible and skin deep. We all expect to be loved just the way we are, and in hopes of finding that special someone, we do all we can to cover the damages and pretend like they're not there. So what do you do when the scars are unable to be covored, or there's an illness you're stuck with for the rest of your life? I suppose when my children grow up, I'll have to ask them. For now, I only have my own experiences to reference, and they're not all that pretty.
When Dustin and I met, I hid so many things from him, I was damaged, broken, hurt. I thought if he knew the struggles I'd been through he'd never want to be with a person like me. I found out later we were so much alike, there was no sense in hiding the things that hurt me in the past, he had way too much to offer my future.
This afternoon while I was driving into town, I started thinking about things. I wasn't having a pity party, but I was feeling discouraged, sad, and scared. All 3 of my children are healthy, happy, and beautiful. I have nothing worth complaining about, but I will admit the future is terrifying.
I was looking at Lil D's back today while I got him dressed, and was admiring how nice it was coming along, however, the scar will still be ugly. The vitamin E has brought the brightness down some, it's helped soften the skin, but I know it will never go away. My heart was saddened thinking one day he'll fall in love, and some special girl's heart will be captivated by his gorgeous smile and those baby blue eyes. In the midst of loving what the eye can see, that girl will have to love his scar, too. She will have to admire the beauty in his ability to walk and run, and not see the ugly line left behind by the struggles. No one can love a boy like his mother, I can say that's a fact. I hope one day he finds a girl who's willing to try.
Diabetes is always hovering in the back of my mind, it's like a bad dream that will never go away. A haunting of sorts, a silent killer. Being a mother is a full time job, but tie in diabetes and you're talking double time and a half. The sleepless nights don't stop, the worry never goes away, the fear of leaving your child with a sitter is breathtaking, and not in a good way. I know as she grows older, it will become more Laila's responsibility, and less of mine, but that's no consolation prize I'm holding out for.
Agreeing to marry someone means you take on their life and love, in sickness and in health, till death do you part. One day, my beautiful daughter is going to grow up and start dating, and eventually marry. The mere thought of trusting my precious baby's life with another person's is enough to make me ill. I don't know how I'll cope, I have a difficult time leaving her with the nurse at school for a few hours each day, and I live minutes away. One day this man she loves will have to love her back so completely, so truly, and be willing to care for her during the times she can't care for herself. He'll have to constantly watch for her highs and lows, be prepared for the stares, questions, and whispers, and do it all with a smile on his face and love in his heart. I know it's possible, anything is possible, but her knight in shining armor have to make it worth it.
I hope one day my heart opens to those my children choose to share their lives with. I pray I will have the confidence in myself now to be able to trust their decisions later. I have set the bar high for each of them, and I hope they set it even higher for themselves. Only time will tell, but I have a good feeling about this.
June 06, 2011
Routine
I must say, there are days I'm so "routine" I want to choke myself. I probably would, if not for my kids. They truly benefit from the structure, and it shows.
Laila's diabetes has placed a strain on things, no doubt, but it's also brought the timing to a more strict level when it comes to meal times. Before, I'd let the kid snack and push of dinner if I knew Dustin was on his way, or if one child was sleeping the other could eat without having to wait. Now, we do everything together, and I think they will have a stronger relationship because of it. Never does a night go by that we don't sit down together for dinner, whether Dustin is working or not. If he's absent, the girls and I sit together and enjoy our meal, whether it's a gourmet meal or just take-out from Little Caesar's.
I don't mean to brag, but night time is the best around the Smith house! The girls are in bed and asleep before 9pm every night, and we no longer have issues with resistance from any of the kids. They all fall asleep on their own, and in their own beds. During the summer, they all sleep until at least 8am, if not later! That means a happy mommy. When the kids sleep in, I get to sleep in, and that makes things better all around. The girls are allowed minimal television, so they are excited to watch one show in the morning while I make breakfast. They usually watch a show in the afternoon around lunch time, and it's a treat if the tv is on at all the rest of the day!
Bath time is a breeze as well, having a specific way of doing things makes everything go so much smoother. Laila's old enough to shower and bathe herself, and Kenadi, if I needed her to, but most of the time I just enjoy spending time with them playing in the bubbles and giving them crazy soap hair-do's. They're usually really good for bath time, and Lil D even gets a chance to play with them sometimes, too.
I attribute my love of structure to my lifestyle growing up. I remember sleeping in, and plenty! But I also remember getting up every day for school, having meals at the same time each day, and bath and bedtime followed without a hitch each night. My mom and dad took the time to explain why it was important to get enough sleep, and to eat right. Now, I hope I'm instilling these same things into my own children. One day, when they grow up, I hope they thank me for a healthy, happy childhood. This is really what being a mom is all about.
Laila's diabetes has placed a strain on things, no doubt, but it's also brought the timing to a more strict level when it comes to meal times. Before, I'd let the kid snack and push of dinner if I knew Dustin was on his way, or if one child was sleeping the other could eat without having to wait. Now, we do everything together, and I think they will have a stronger relationship because of it. Never does a night go by that we don't sit down together for dinner, whether Dustin is working or not. If he's absent, the girls and I sit together and enjoy our meal, whether it's a gourmet meal or just take-out from Little Caesar's.
I don't mean to brag, but night time is the best around the Smith house! The girls are in bed and asleep before 9pm every night, and we no longer have issues with resistance from any of the kids. They all fall asleep on their own, and in their own beds. During the summer, they all sleep until at least 8am, if not later! That means a happy mommy. When the kids sleep in, I get to sleep in, and that makes things better all around. The girls are allowed minimal television, so they are excited to watch one show in the morning while I make breakfast. They usually watch a show in the afternoon around lunch time, and it's a treat if the tv is on at all the rest of the day!
Bath time is a breeze as well, having a specific way of doing things makes everything go so much smoother. Laila's old enough to shower and bathe herself, and Kenadi, if I needed her to, but most of the time I just enjoy spending time with them playing in the bubbles and giving them crazy soap hair-do's. They're usually really good for bath time, and Lil D even gets a chance to play with them sometimes, too.
I attribute my love of structure to my lifestyle growing up. I remember sleeping in, and plenty! But I also remember getting up every day for school, having meals at the same time each day, and bath and bedtime followed without a hitch each night. My mom and dad took the time to explain why it was important to get enough sleep, and to eat right. Now, I hope I'm instilling these same things into my own children. One day, when they grow up, I hope they thank me for a healthy, happy childhood. This is really what being a mom is all about.
June 01, 2011
Peek-A-Boo!
I'll admit it, my son is handsome. Downright gorgeous, even. Today, we played peek-a-boo, and thankfully I had the camera ready! Take a look at the little ham!
First Day of Preschool
Yesterday was Kenadi's first day of "preschool". Technically, she's enrolled in a summer program, but it's ran by the same woman who teaches preschool in the fall. Laila attended two years ago, and Ms. Jen has been waiting all this time to have Kenadi fianlly in her class.
I can hardly believe my eyes, when I see my beautiful daughter growing up so quickly, I wish I could stop time. I swore to myself the second time would be easier. I've been through this before, the mold has been broken, it wouldn't be so difficult. Boy, was I wrong! I was crying before I even shut the door to leave; I was proud and happy, also heartbroken and sad. We've been preparing for this day for a few months, Kenadi couldn't have been more excited, it's me that's having trouble coming to grips with her being away, and someone else teaching her the things I can't.
I'm so impressed with Kenadi, every day is a learning experience with her. Her personality is so different from Laila's, I constantly struggle to figure her out. We have such a bond, it's amazing. The best part about yesterday was walking through the door and hearing her scream, "Mommy! I missed you!" I was only gone 3 hours, but it felt like a lifetime for the both of us. I hope this is the perfect beginning of the wonderful lifetime she has ahead of her.
I can hardly believe my eyes, when I see my beautiful daughter growing up so quickly, I wish I could stop time. I swore to myself the second time would be easier. I've been through this before, the mold has been broken, it wouldn't be so difficult. Boy, was I wrong! I was crying before I even shut the door to leave; I was proud and happy, also heartbroken and sad. We've been preparing for this day for a few months, Kenadi couldn't have been more excited, it's me that's having trouble coming to grips with her being away, and someone else teaching her the things I can't.
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| On our way- ready for the big day! |
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| Showing off her very first craft! |
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| So super proud! |
Daddy Loves His Babies
Yesterday, after another long day at work, Dustin came home and was attacked by the kids. Poor guy barely makes it all the way in the door some days before one or more of the kids are attached to his side. He's always been such an involved father, I'm sure I don't let him know enough how much it means to me. Last night, each of the kids took a turn in Daddy's lap. Here's the end result:
Each with their own personalities, it was a fun evening. What a great guy I married, and how lucky my kids are to have them in their lives.
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