Fragment Friday and Fill In..

Update on the family: Rick is working on getting a new contract from the DOD with his job.. Another year or more on at NG is great we look forward to it so pray he gets the contract negotiated. Its always stressful same time every year to know whether or not you will have a job following... James is still waiting to get approved for SSI we had a nice talk yesterday we hadn't talked in about two years like that. Its almost like old James. He still seems to struggle with depression, frustration, and just not understanding the world at large. Skylar is struggling with school but pulling in good grades. William is doing better by leaps and bounds always surprising us with a new fascination- this week corn bread- who knew?

Highs and Lows this week... Lows I am still not done decorating one tree and keep tweaking a second tree. Kids aren't feeling tip top and my best friends father passed away she can't afford the funeral and I can't be there by her side as I promised. #sucks... Highs as I said I talked to James I mean we were basically just chit chatting but it was something. I have been selling off some of the extra stuff I don't need which is nice. 

The statements:

1. Sometimes I think I talk too much is that why I ended up blogging?
2. Do you love Home and Garden TV  as much as I do?
3. Black Friday shouldn't be on Thursday. I don't mind shopping on Thanksgiving if I want to go out I can but I think Black Friday should be Black Friday... It also shouldn't end at 11 o'clock like Kohls did this year. 
4. Having my husband close is my favorite thing about long holiday weekends

FFFFF...

The statements:

1. I just ____
2. ___ is _____
3. If I could, I would ________
4. _____makes me_____

My Answers

1. I just need to get this house organized and ready for Christmas. Things keep slowing me down!
2. Is it just me or is it colder now?
3. If I could, I would have more pictures of people that I don't have enough of. I would also write down more memories.
4. William (my son), makes me laugh.

Fill in the blank Friday

1. I used to enjoy __scrapbook____ but now I don’t really anymore except for when I_do it on my computer
 2. My first job was ______ at Publix store 545 in Hampton (Is it Hampton?) Georgia on Tara Blvd.
 3. I am a bit obsessed with ________ at the moment. Making sure I don't take my life or my kids lives for granted
4. If I don’t have my ___________ at night, I don’t sleep well HUSBAND!

Five Question Friday

1. Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks? In my desk which is usually just my Dove Chocolates
 2. Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van? Um I am a clutter bug in my car but my husband cleans it for me he's the OCD one =)
 3. Have you ever been to Vegas? Not that I can remember
 4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket? Warm Room Snuggly Blankets lol I like a lot of fuzzy blankets or nice quilts. I would have a fireplace going in the middle of the summer with a fan on me as a matter of fact I used to do that when I lived as a live in nanny.
 5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you've ever had? I have never had one I LOVE to fly

Feeling Beachie

This week’s statements:

1. I have never eaten ___ maui nmaui they are other wise called Dolphin and that creeps me out

2. I like to ___ in ___ bathe in the nude haha

3. If I could go back and change one thing, it would be _______. the day my son was taken by his father

4. My greatest _____ for my ______ is ______. joy of my life is my kids

Five Question Friday

http://www.katesworldbykate.blogspot.com/

http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

1. What's the last thing you bought for yourself? clothes

2. What is your favorite meal on a cold winter day?  Rick's Chili
3. Have you started looking at swimsuits for this year, and do you buy a new one every year? I have one but I am with you Pam I love it as long as it fits I won't buy a new one until I loose it or it wears out. 4. If you could be any candy what would you be and why? Blow Pop I have no idea why lol

5. What are you most passionate about? GODMy extra credit question is what do I pin the most on Pintrest? Probably crafts I want to try and quotes

My Children's Creepiest Toys

The only toy I can think of that my children have right now is this Play Doh Dental set. My dear daughter says its not as creepy as this one...

But my daughters best friend got a doll years ago that would cry and laugh well after a few weeks of play the motions in the baby dolls face changed and it looked like Chucky lol. I don't know what the doll was called but I hope when my best friends Chris and Jennifer read this they remember that creepy doll when they were my neighbors and they get a good laugh lol.

This is also a creepy toy. It reminds me of a dog in the pound you walk past it and all of a sudden they scream take me home lol


and this is probably the creepiest toy I owned as a kid LOL

Friday Blog Prompts

Sorry I missed Friday's blog prompts because I had cut my hand and it was hard to type. Saturday and Sunday I try to limit my time online.

Blog prompts for Friday

Blog prompts from Paper Coterie http://www.papercoterie.com. Get a $38.00 credit by using the code BeAThankful

Day three of blog prompts is

Permission to cheat. Today doesn't have to be today. You can write about a conversation from family dinner last Tuesday.

In 10 years it won't matter if it was Tuesday or today. You'll remember you had one of those rare nights when they liked the food, didn't pick at each other through dinner, and didn't make you wonder why you try to do it in the first place.

Review the questions and edit your answers.

Picture:

Date:

What Happened:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are some conversation or sentence starters for your blog

The One Minute Writer

When do you put up Christmas decorations? Do you have them up yet? What do you decorate? Do you have a theme? Do you make any of your decor yourself? Share some stories about some of your Christmas traditions or special ornaments that have been passed down etc...

If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, what would you want it to be?

What are 3 things you would like to put in a time capsule?

Who is the most inspirational mother you know and why?

Choose a poem you like. Take the last line and use that in a new poem by you

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blog Meme's and Carnivals

Four Foods on Friday

Four for Friday

Friday Favorites (Inactive but you can still play on your own)

Milspouse Friday Fill In

Fashion Friday

Fix It Friday

Family Friendly Fridays

InstaFridays

Flashback Friday

Mommy Moments

Photo Friday

Top 5 on Friday

Skywatch Friday





and other random meme's listed here
http://www.3garnets2sapphires.com/2008/08/blog-meme-listing-miscellaneous-memes.html




/>

Five Question Friday

1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood?

     Revelation Song by Kari Jobe, Hey Soul Sister by Train, Don't Worry Be Happy, I Feel Good, Hey Ya, Love Shack, and Queen

2. Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one?

    I really bought one doesn't that count? hehe. I like Real ones but I am not too experienced with one. We bought a fake one to save money.

3. What are you thankful for?

    Credit Cards to save us!

4. Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today?

    Full skirts

5. Do you wait until the "low fuel" light comes on before you fill up the gas tank?

    Nope I believe a full tank is a happy tank

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~~~ Maya Angelou

Feeling Beachie Follow Friday

This week’s statements:

1.       I love the smell of ____ Baby Magic on my Toddler after a bath, Suavitel fabric softener, I love the smell of Christmas.... Vanilla, Cinnamon, Pine...

2.       When I fly, I ____I am exhilarated. I grew up my "daddy" was a pilot so I have always loved to fly.

3.       I don’t like ___ but I ___. the cold but I love Fall

4.       My favorite ___ is ___.

Thanks Pam you know I stalk your blog because I always use your meme's haha!

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. ~~~ Maya Angelou

Mil Spouse Friday Fill in

By Wife of a Sailor

1. Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook the Twitter world is still a bit confusing

2. Hard Tacos or Soft Tacos?
Soft only

3. Gardening or crafting?
crafting

4. Fruit or vegetables?
Fruit. I love my vegetables for sure, but I love the sweetness of fruit. <~ I agree

5.  Motorcycle or bicycle?
I haven't ridden on a Motorcycle since I was very young. I promised someone I wouldn't ride after a family friend lost his leg to a Harley. I drool over them though... I did ride bikes a lot before moving to Huntsville now I wish I had a bike. We have a bike trailer for the kids, a bike car seat for just William but no BIKES! Maybe perhaps one day I would like a Harley trike :p

Fill in the Blank Friday

1.   I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person)       I am not a morning person I am a groggy mess in the mornings. In the afternoons the kids usually run me ragged and I am tired with a headache, Night time I am exhausted...

2.  My favorite Pandora stations are    I just made one yesterday consisting of Rock like 90's rock... Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Evanescence, Matchbox Twenty, Live, Hinder, Train, Fuel, Goo Goo Dolls,  Breaking Benjamin, Tonic, & 30 Seconds to Mars etc...

3.  3 of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are    . 30 Seconds to Mars, Across the Universe Soundtrack, and Adele Someone Like You

4.  My favorite pattern is   Java Blue by Vera Bradley

5.  My favorite perfume is     I have a few I rotate. My four all time favorites are 
Anais Anais Perfume by Cachare, CK One, Pink Musk (or Peony)  by Avon, and Bella by Mary Kay. I also use Katy Perry, White Diamonds, and Brittany Spears. I think I've had Celine Dion's at one time but I can't remember how it smelled. I love Sunflowers as well

6.  Rules are      set to make people accountable for their actions.

7.  My most overused phrase or punctuation is      LOL or the F word...

Mil Spouse Friday Fill IN

From Wife of a Sailor

This week’s questions are:




1. If you could have a private concert with any singer, who would it be? submitted by An Air Force Wife’s Blog

He's dead but if he were still alive I would have to say Elvis Presley or maybe Michael Jackson. I had to pick them because in my mind no one has become the icon that they have. I am not sure I could choose just 1 person that is still alive. Maybe James Durbin?


2. Is there anything you do to supplement your family’s income? submitted by Our Life, One Adventure at a Time

I am a Close to My Heart Consultant but I haven't made any money off of it as I haven't been pushing it in the last few years due to having William etc. I also sell my crafts and hand me downs online and at Consignments.


3. During your pregnancy (whether past, present, or future), what did you nickname your unborn baby before you knew the sex? submitted by Explosions of Love

Mackenzie didn't have one that I can remember. Skylar was Peanut, Bunny, and finally Skylar. William was Peridot (his birth stone)


4. Have you ever won a blog giveaway? If so what did you win? submitted by Mrs. O’s Life

I wish!


5. If I looked into your refrigerator right now, what would I find? submitted by Married to the Army

Coca Cola is my addiction, Lactaid Whole Milk for William, a gallon of 2% Milk, and a half Gallon of whole milk (James' my 23 year old), OJ, James wine coolers, cheese, ham, condiments, fruit cups, Bottled Water, White Grape Juice, James' food not sure what all he has in there he hasn't been shopping in a few weeks.


Please don’t forget to add your blog link to Mr. Linky below by clicking on it. But also if you are not participating in MilSpouse Friday Fill-In this week, please do not put your link on there… I will remove it. It is unfair to others who do participate.

Mil-Spouse Friday Fill In

No Mil Spouse Friday Fill-In today because her Father in Law had a heart attack. Prayers for her family today!

Fill in the Blank Friday

1. Something that makes me a great friend is, A person who is a good friend of mine. Will accept me for me. If I buy you things. Its not because I have more money than you (lack there of) its because I want to. Its not Charity or because I feel sorry for you. I enjoy buying things for other people.. Giving gifts its part of my charm haha. If I say something off color or that may have stung a little perhaps I didn't mean it like it sounded. I am bluntly honest and I speak my mind.  A Great friend really listens. I know people that I speak to everyday that say they are a good friend but they never listen because I find myself repeating what I said. We all can forget certain things its true I do but not an entire conversation. A Great friend listens even when its not about them maybe I am having a bad day I just need an open ear and a praying heart. If I hurt your feelings say hey... what you said really hurt my feelings. Be as BLUNTLY honest with me as I am with you. Don't talk behind my back. If your not confrontational then we may not get a long. Honesty, Loyalty, Love my family as you love your own. Respect, A true friend is someone who can sense something has gone a miss for you that day and know to bring you something to cheer you up... like me its simple A Dove Chocolate can cure almost anything!
A true friend is someone if the fate's be that you've disconnected with for months and you can get together again and it was like you never missed a beat. Friends calm you down when your pissed off. Best Friends start saying so-and-so is going to get it!  A true friend your always comfortable with, Ok I am stopping there because I just need to write a separate blog on this subject..

2. I am a sensitive person with a larger than life personality . Sometimes I am too much for some people

3. I am not deceptive except about Santa Claus, The Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny and anyone else I can use as black mail against my children .

4. If I had to describe myself in 3 words, Blunt, Loyal, Creative

5. Something I'm really cheap about is things for myself except my shoes.

6. Something I'm willing to splurge on is my shoes because they take care of my feet which carries the rest of me... My poor feet!

7. I would trade my too small too short too outdated wardrobe for a nicer better fitting wardrobe in a heart beat. I NEED new clothes but I am a horrible clothes shopper when I am alone...  Rick is ZERO help

Friday

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." -Albert Einstein

I saw this on another blog here and they said it speaks to them like the education system. It has the same meaning for me. I have had my own struggles with my daughters education and her rights. As a child I was stuck in an alternative school (children that are in danger) not because I misbehaved but because I had gotten my head shaved and had a major surgery (One required the other.) I was the one who was treated with kid gloves when all I needed was a teacher that could do their job not stuck in a room by myself with a load of work. Children need to be taught not handed paperwork to do. I get the whole Teachers are in high demand and under paid. I get that... But dealing with the princess and her school(s) I have began my own struggles with just simply getting what we pay for. The school is more focused on who pays taxes (I live in a different county than the school so they don't collect taxes from me), BUT her being a Military Child brought in extra money to the school as I am sure there were moneys set aside for IEP which what do you know they put her in! Kindergarten year I fought with the school over speech problems. Yeah my little girl has speech she is missing most of her teeth. They basically told me without proper speech she can't learn to read which by the way she was supposed to learn in the non mandatory Pre K program that I would have to pay for. So they would just hold her back, several security issues coming out of this public school that mostly military families attended btw.. They weren't at all Military friendly IMO. Then 1st grade year. I liked the teacher at first she had an impressive resume but I noticed the princess wasn't learning anything. she constantly had work sheets after worksheets... (Yes they do ask for money for paper!) They gave the princess a test that she would have to read all by herself and no help at all from teachers... she failed. DUH of course she can't READ! Still in speech (showing improvement) they wanted to submit her to more testing. I was apprehensive and started doing my own research. I started asking my own questions. During one of the very few Parent Teacher Conferences the teacher was concerned about how The princess was coloring. The princess really doesn't color that often. She doesn't really draw either. She goes through phases and spurts. Well we live in Alabama and we see a lot of Tornado's which we didn't really see in our former home. So the princess became paranoid of Tornado's and House Fires so that's what she would draw .. black swirly clouds... the teacher didn't approve. WHO the CRAP are you to not approve of whatever creativity my daughter has or hasn't gotten! She only had spelling homework every week every day... We asked where is the math etc? Teacher said no worries she is doing it in class. After winter break rolls around and the teacher sends home an email saying that she was going to put the princess on a retention list when she sent out the progress report the next day.  she told me not to mention anything to the princess about it. Again WHO THE CRAP ARE YOU LADY? I wasn't appreciative and if there were signs of trouble shouldn't we have had more than one or two Parent Teacher Conferences the only conferences we had were regarding speech. Both my husband and I were blind sided by the school and had to endure several more incidents from the staff that were just completely uncalled for. I talked to some people that were not associated with the school system or the military I got prices for testing etc.. After much pushing I agreed to have her tested for learning disabilities. Her biological father and I both have them so I knew it was a possibility but I didn't want her labeled if she was "fine". I pushed the superintendent and the principle to not retain her and I told them I would fight it or pull her out all together. I did fight it until I just prayed about it and realized if the idiot teacher with the beautiful resume didn't give her the building blocks to succeed in second grade maybe retention was for the best. I had very grown up talks with Skylar during this time and at the time she thought it was also a good idea to do a "do over". My husband was retiring from the military and we really had no idea where our lives were headed and big uncertainty. I didn't need to put this on my daughter and her education as well. I decided that we would home school during the summer and see if things improved and have her retested in the Fall. The principle and superintendent told me I would be in the teacher picking process for the coming year and that the superintendent would personally handle it as well as put a friend of Skylar's in her class to avoid the social stigma. Fall came and we were over looked Go figure but after a rocky start things are going better where she currently is. She is almost caught up with the second graders and confidently learning finally.

After so much tension on my husband and I arguing about the future of our princess when in a time when we didn't need the stress we are now working together to give her the best education.

Last month I watched Waiting on Superman. It explained a lot about why this is happening in our school systems and how our children are being left behind with very few life boats to save them (reminds me of the Titanic). Its an awesome movie if you would like to sit down and watch it. I encourage you to do so..

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #33

Please link up at Wife of A Sailor

The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter. 
~Author Unknown



This week’s questions are:
1. During military separations (whether short or long) how do you keep yourself positive and motivated? submitted by Married/Single Parent
I keep myself busy. If your new or not in the Mil Community I am sure you've heard that more than once. Well its true for most of us. Before my husband deployed we established a schedule. HE MADE TIME and got leave to go over his pre-deployment stuff, establish me in a schedule.. play group, two story times, movies, ballet, gymnastics, swimming, and my Waiting Spouses group. I knew i couldn't fall apart in front of my then 4 year old. I pushed on. I just too busy to think about it. We went on vacations to see family and went on a marriage retreat. The marriage retreat was just a few weeks before he left for training in Kansas and that was kinda rough but there was little time to pout. I think the time he was gone we made more time for ourselves than we ever have and that kept my home fire burning. It was actually wonderful!


2. What is your favorite concert you have ever been to? submitted by Young but Not (Completely) Dumb
Actually I have been to two main stream concerts. Lynyrd Skynard in 2006 my boyfriend went psycho crazy and I left him there. I decided to take cover with the biker dudes until my sister got me. Then I went to the Army Concert Tour in 2008 and watched Kellie Pickler and Brad Paisley. I had to take Skylar my daughter since my husband was deployed and she eventually just got tired so we left right before Taylor was to come on stage. I pouted but I got over it and my friends met Taylor back stage.


3. What do you miss most about your “hometown”?  submitted by A Florida Girl and Her Soldier
I miss the people I grew up around, They are as much part of my family as my family is. I miss the past honestly a lot of things that were there like a mirage and are now grown since I am grown. My Grandfathers' farm which is now a large housing development, I miss the little fruit stand on the end of Tara Rd (I think) where she had Boiled Peanuts... I wonder if she is still there... I miss all the stuff there is to do in Atlanta and the history of Jonesboro. Home of Gone with the Wind, I miss wonderful Dean's BBQ... I haven't had BBQ I like since then! My family (except the guardians) have all but moved away so I can't just go back and visit them but I would like to visit my child hood friends and others!


4. If you could run in any race, which charity would you choose to support? submitted by Wookie & Co.
Oh geez there are so many I have been a big supporter (Yes I donate money) to Autism Speaks, St Judes, March of Dimes, Epilepsy Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, AIDS Atlanta, and Wounded Warrior Project and other great great ministry's out there to serve those who serve us!
5. You find out Willy Wonka is your father, what 3 course meal do you INSIST he create in that stick of gum?  submitted by A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench
Olive Garden Salad, Logans Steak cooked to Medium/Medium Rare with Skewer Veggies, Big Portabella Mushrooms, Grilled Shrimp, and the Applebee's Blonde Brownie with Maple Butter... I would be a smacker... you know those who chew gum like cows? That would be me LOL

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #22

http://wifeofasailor.com/

This week’s questions are:

1. If you had to be shipwrecked on a deserted island but all your human needs – such as food and water – were taken care of what two items would you want to have with you? Recharging Internet Connected Device to read email, cruise the net, get GPS, play music, watch TV on .... and maybe pictures unless those are on my internet connected device lol



2. If you were a salad what kind of dressing would you have? Cucumber Ranch :) IDK why thats just what came to mind and Cucumber is my favorite veggie lol.



3. If you had to live on a ranch what kind of animals would you raise/own? I am a farm girl. My mom and Grand Father have both owned farms. I don't like the clean up or I would own horses now. So I would say Horses, Birds, Ponies, Donkey's, Cows, Chickens, Maybe a few pigs... William loves piglets..., Dogs, Cats, and maybe a wild animal of some kind legally licensed of course.



4. If your life was was portrayed as a movie who would you choose to play you and your significant other? Christina Ricci would be me and my husband is... um sheesh I don't know maybe if you look at his picture

Look at his picture and leave your vote in the comments (he's the one holding the baby.)

5. What was the last thing you put a stamp on (envelope duh but what was in the envelope)? Greeting Card