SPT- top 100

This week is #14. My number 14 says, "We really like Chocolate." I tried to make the 100 list about the whole family, not just me. There is a lot of food on that list! I have written about our Chocolate obsession before- here. It is actually a really cute story. My favorite chocolate is Cadbury and Reeses. I don't know who came up with that fabulous combination, but make mine Chocolate and Peanut Butter any time.Recognize this picture? Lelly had a similar one and I liked it, so I copied!

What was I thinking?

Here are some beautiful flowers that Rob sent me all the way from Iraq to wish me luck for my first day as a volleyball coach. Did you do a double take. Yeah, me too. I volunteered to help out with volleyball at Emma's school if they would let 6th graders participate. Unfortunately, they took that offer and ran with it. There were too many 7th and 8th graders that signed up- almost 30, so I had to be the coach for the 6th graders. The more I read and downloaded from the internet to read the more scared I got and the more I realized I had gotten myself way too deep. Then I went to the 7th and 8th graders first practice and met their coach. She played in middle school, high school, college and is now playing for a national team. Umm, I have played with my family and with the church ladies a couple of times. Yep, that's the extent of my resume'. I have been lucky enough to find a lady in my neighborhood that has actually coached volleyball before and who is willing to help on Wednesdays. I just have to do Monday's on my own. Today was the first practice and wow. 24 6th graders in one gym and a fire alarm that went off for 30 minutes. Needless to say, I have got to get a whistle- I yelled myself horse. I am completely warn out. I'm so glad I have help coming on Wednesday!!
ps. I bought the flowers myself, but I'm sure that Rob would have thought it was a great idea!

Service Star

I made my own service star flag with help from this website. I couldn't figure out how to applique so I just did the wonder under thing and then blanket stitched around the star. I think it turned out pretty good. It is suppose to hang in your front window when your loved one is at war. Mine is in view of the front window, but not actually in the window. I don't want to go advertising something like that to the world.

Another point for me to Win Mother of the Year

I am pretty sure that I am in the lead by now. Today, sent me over the top. Last night I was suppose to work from 7pm-3am. The ward camp-out was Friday night, so we weren't planning to go. Some really wonderful people in our ward volunteered to take the children. At first I refused, but then work called and asked if I would please come in at 3pm and stay until 11 pm. So those two wonderful families did the great service of picking my children up from two different schools and taking them with a ton of camping equipment to the camp-out. They kept them safe in the woods where they like to wander and put them nicely in bed, before I got there around midnight. I had forgotten to give them all the childrens' sleeping bags, so the two littlest boys were tucked away together in one sleeping bag. Unfortunately, they were in my sleeping bag. I had two little boy sleeping bags that only came up to my waist. I unzipped and tried to wrap them around me. You get the picture- I didn't sleep a wink- I was so cold and uncomfortable. I got up a couple of times and tried to right everything. The last time I did, I heard Max start to whine, his belly rumble and then the puking began. In the morning Max seemed to be a lot better, so we went to breakfast. This is the point where the Mother of the Year Judges started really getting impressed. Emma ran off with friends, one of which fell down and got hurt. Sam and Joe ran around with strict orders not to leave the mess hall area. They actually listened to that. Unfortunately, I forgot the strict orders about not throwing each other off of rocks, while playing King of the big, pointy rock. Max stayed with me the whole time until suddenly he disappeared. The whole camp ended up looking for him. Finally they all stopped and gathered in the center of the camp and had a prayer to help us find him. Just as they finished and were giving out orders about which way each group should go, I spotted him running across the camp. He had followed some teenage girls to their cabin and had stayed with them while they packed up. I was so not happy. I threw him in the car after hugging him for awhile and went to pack up our stuff. He retaliated by peeing all inside the car. It was a beautiful start to the day. Now, can you think of anyone better to win Mother of the year this year? Thankfully the Lord definitely blessed us! Thank You Lord and all the wonderful people in my ward!

SPT- top 100

This month we are doing the things from our top 100 list. You can see the whole list here if you are up for it. This week is #7 ... My number 7 said that I was an impulse buyer. This is too true. That's why I scrapbook- I love to buy all the cool stuff! Oh, yeah, this is only part of my "stuff!" I have learned not to impulse buy big stuff. When we first got married I was trying to buy it all with the $10,000 we had. Some of it really lasted- like the the washer and dryer. The dryer is still kicking over 15 years later. I did however buy a cheap couch, so I could get the really nice dinette and bedroom set- which are both also doing well. I hated the couch within a year and I had to have that thing for 10! The couches I have now took me over a year to find. I have had them for over 5 years now and still love them.
The main reason I impulse buy isn't so much that I fall in love with something and want it so bad that I buy it, it is more of a patience problem. The other day my waffle iron broke and so off I went to buy another one. Who knew finding a waffle iron would be so hard. We don't like Belgium waffles, we like the thin, crispy kind. Well everyone only had Belgium waffle irons. I went to Wal-mart, Costco, Target, JC Penny's, our local PX (post exchange), Marshall's, Bed, bath and beyond. It was crazy. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I bought 2 different ones and had to return both of them, because of course when they say Belgium waffle iron, that's what they mean, but I wanted some waffles so bad that I just had to try them out! I finally found one on-line that is really cool. It also turns into a regular grill and the plates come off so they are easy to wash. I would waste so much less time, if I would just wait and buy what I really want, instead of just trying it out, just to see if it will work! One of the many reasons I really don't like to shop.

1 Month down!

It's our Anniversary tomorrow- 1 month in Iraq for Robert. 1 month and still no pictures. So instead I am posting a picture of the new cool flag they wear on their uniform. It is infrared, so that they can be identified by American's from afar as an American. Just a note, in case you didn't know: it's not backwards. It is the sign of riding into battle with the flag flowing in the wind. It is a sign that they are at war- something that many American's forget.
The month started out rough for Robert as he had a growth that was causing him great discomfort with his uniform and all that wonderful gear on, so he had to have it removed. Within two days he started feeling much better and has been good since. He sits in a box most days for 14-15 hours, but will be moving out soon to do more inspection type work and then really move. Right now he is in the middle of the Green Zone, but he will be moving to one of the camps on the outskirts of the town of Baghdad.
1 month down, 3 more to go.

Who will you vote for?

I just finished watching the Vice Presidential debate. I am not registered with either party and don't consider myself a Republican or a Democrat. When I took a test, way back in high school, I was just one check mark more on the Republican side than the Democrat. Each Presidential election some kind of quiz comes up like this and I take it. And guess what? Every year I am just one check mark more on one side than the other. This year was no exception. So every year, I leave it up to something that I just find that I can't support one of the candidates on and vote for the other. This year will probably be about who I think will actually do a decent job. I go back and forth on that one. I can't seem to make up my mind and that darn test didn't help at all! I guess I am just a confirmed republicrat! Did you get a definite answer on the test?