My computer time this weekend has been kinda sporadic, but to my surprise when I logged on after church I had an award from Kristin. Thanx Kristin!!!






The Rules
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least seven other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on your blog.
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

Here are my nominations in no particular order:

1. Jenny @ jennykate's spot
2. Julia @ Brainella the Librarian
3. Sara @ Me behind the camera
4. Becky @ My Crazy Beautiful Life
5. Mimi @ He & Me + 3
6. Keli @ Dream.Imagine.Live
7. Michelle @ One Crafty Mama!

I enjoy reading the above blogs (as well as several others)...Check them out..I'm sure you'll love them too!!!

So, while most of you are probably working like crazy in the kitchen tonight...I have been on the computer laughing out loud! This site may not be news to you...but I was "elfing" myself...and other people (pets) I know...I think you should try it too! Each one is a different dance...Thanks to Jen, Sara & Lil Man who did not give me permission to use their pics...Holden and Sam are fine with it...

No, I don't know who this 5th elf thinks he is...just joining in...guess he knows some good dancers when he sees 'em...





I think elf costumes are very slimming after watching these...I may just have to wear one everyday...

I find this HI-larious...of course, I never wear a headband...nothing against headbands...just not for me...But if my date ever asks me to be his "tweet-heart"...it's so over :)...


Thanks, Sadie for the graphic!

I was in a rare baking mood tonight and I got in gear to make Chex Mix Muddy Buddies (aka puppy chow) and no bake cookies...So, if I were to be honest, I wasn't in a baking mood, I was in a mixing mood...

I have all of the ingredients...or so I thought...no vanilla...I hardly bake (mix), but I think I have always had vanilla...not today...

So, I look online to see what could be a substitute...whiskey, rum, almond extract or maple syrup were my findings...yeah...don't have those either...

I opted proceed with the Muddy Buddies...no issues there...

Now onto the no-bakes...well, Sara came to the rescue and brought some vanilla by...

However, I don't know if vanilla really makes that much difference...and as Marchelle mentioned to me via twitter...recipes always seem to ask for 1 tsp...that's nothing...

I think adding vanilla is something that we've all bought into so we can purchase the Pure Vanilla Imitation Extract...so someone(s) out there is really rich because of us who continue to be fooled by this ingredient...almost the pure imitation definition of vanilla is "bland"...who wants bland Muddy Buddies...not I, says the one who probably ate her weight in vanilla free Muddy Buddies...

Other food conspiracies you've discovered? Let me know...

So, my niece arrived yesterday!!! She was 6 lbs 12 oz & was 18.5 inches long...

Lil Man is her older brother so I guess her blog name can be Lil Miss...

If you're like me you want to see baby pics right away...so no more waiting:

Here she is with her favorite Aunt...Aunt K
I cannot stand anything to do with inside the body...organs...blood...watching surgeries or anything like that...so now you know that I did not want to be in the delivery room at all...let me see my niece all clean and bundled as God intended :)...honestly, when I have my own children, I may not be able to be in the delivery room then either...maybe they can just blind fold me...


Just minutes into the world:


He's such a good big brother!

Lil Man definitely turns into an older brother in this video...watch how he starts out being so loving but doesn't quite end up that way: (be sure to pause my player at the bottom of the page so you can hear him)




First feeding...

I also took video of her being fed...You can hear Sara and I start to sing to her...yes, we are dorks...tired dorks...



OK...so now I'll let you in on what happened while Lil Miss's crazy family waited for her...

I see this in the room...just sittin' out...I think an artist could so use this as a painting tray...I was educated on dilatation thanks to this...and no, I will never plan to use what I learned...

Here is the grandpa anxiously waiting...

more of us waiting...

The tv was on the wall and no remote (except for me)...I did what I could to make sure the "waiters" were watching something they wanted...and they could hear it...

Lil Man performed puppet shows for us...


Here is Lil Man to sum up the day for you:




Kids...gotta love 'em...and their normal faces...now I have one more to love and spoil...
I am also so glad that his momma "got her baby out"...

I am so excited that I am traveling to meet you today! You have been created in the heart of God. When you arrive this afternoon I want you to know that you have a family of wonderful, loving individuals who will always care for you. Life can be tough little one, but remember that love never fails.

I cannot wait to hold you and to see your beautiful face. As you grow up and I grow older, it will be great to witness all God has in store for you and your life. You will be a blessing to so many...So, welcome to the world, Little Ms. Difference Maker!

Love,

Aunt K

So I am a humongo slacker and did not have a Friday Confession last week...so, I guess

#1 is that I skipped a week of confessions...

But I was SUPER busy...remember that I met 2 sisters for the first time...I think that is a good excuse to miss a confession session...

But with missing a week you'd think this post would be jammed packed with my mis-steps...and if I would have done a better job remembering all of them...it would be...

#2 I bought a new belt for my vacuum over a week ago...have I put it on yet...ummm no...I do have one that I borrowed though...

#3 Almost every night this week I have eaten some raspberry sherbet (which I pronounce sherBERT...but it sure isn't spelled that way...) before I go to bed...it's fat free...so who cares, right?

#4 I enjoy showing people my tattoo...sorry that when you see it you get to see my gut also...
(this doesn't mean that I walk around with my shirt up or anything...)

#5 2 baskets of laundry need to be put away...I am one person...how many clothes do I really need? a lot I guess...

#6 I have yelled at Holden on numerous occasions because of his continuous desire to have kitty biscuits (aka gets into the litter box)...this totally grosses me out! I even have the auto kitty box and everything...aarrgghh...

#7 Took my dear friend who was dog watching over to let the dog out...the house alarm goes off and I am in the car...so looking like the getaway vehicle...no cops though...even if there were I'd just flash my embroidered badge on my citizen's police academy polo...

#8 Didn't even set foot in a grocery store this week...that is why I ate out too much and ate Lean Cuisines that had probably been recalled...I feel fine though...

#9 Went through and budgeted for Christmas gifts...how does everyone feel about handmade gifts? Who couldn't use another pot holder or no bake cookies??? Or better yet how about a festive picture of me like this: ( I could even photoshop Santa hats onto our heads)



#10 Almost used my crazy self defense moves on an unexpected guest last Sunday night...good thing he identified himself...I probably should have used those skills anyways...jerk...

#10b I called someone a jerk...

#11 Two of my favorite kiddos in the world had birthdays last week and I forgot to call them both :(... guess they'll get extra no bake cookies at Christmas...

#12 Holden likes to knock over his food bowl...which leaves kibbles n bits everywhere in the utility room...have I cleaned it up...no...I just step around it...I guess I am waiting for him to eat it off of the floor as some kind of punishment...pure laziness...ok...I'm going to sweep it up right now...I am...


Guess that is all for now...I need to go sweep...My niece should be arriving soon! I will definitely have pictures up as soon as possible!

Thanks, Kimberly for the humbling & thought-provoking pictures...

Last week in my citizen's police class we learned about defensive tactics...even though it may better be categorized as dance moves, because that is what it looked like when Sara and I practiced the "get away" moves...


So I need to warn you before you read any further...I have debated if I should even post them...scroll slowly people...you've been warned...


these pics are not very flattering....


I know it is difficult to see what I am doing...but I about to elbow that bag...



Sara really got into it: (She may have even yelled out like she was doing karate)...



Speaking of karate...ever seen Karate Kid?? Well, here is my sad interpretation of the crane...my stance prior to kicking the tar out of that bag...yes...I said tar...


Now it's Sara's turn...and you can defend off someone when you are wearing flip flops...it's all in the technique...


Now for the most unflattering pic EVER known to man...what is that all about? Do I think I am in some commercial...the long flowy hair reminds me of Fabio or something...see how I sacrifice looking dorky for you all to get a total experience?

So the best part of the class was when I practiced how to flip an attacker over my back...THIS IS NOT A TUTORIAL by any means ha...my hands are facing the wrong way anyway (thanks, Sara for so loudly pointing that out on the video)......but let's focus on the positive...I so totally fling this fella over my back onto the mat...so in case you were unsure about my techniques above, you definitely now know not to mess with me or my baggy, highwater red sweats...




Check out the other posts regarding my Citizen's Police Class to see other exciting happenings:
Such a Tase
CSI: Mycity
Charlie's Angels Tryouts
FADD-Feather Against Drunk Driving
It's Official
That'll Leave a Mark...
Go Speed Racer...

Wow! I haven't posted anything since last Wednesday...I promise I will catch up with everyone else's sites soon...This weekend was amazing! Not sure if you know the history of what I am about to share, but you can check it out here...

But to sum it up, a half sister contacted me in April and I found out that I have 5 half sisters!

Two of my sisters came up and I met them for the first time! I had already met one of my sisters she is the one next to me...


They are so friendly, caring, beautiful and have great senses of humor. It was such a pleasure to meet them! They arrived on Friday night and we stayed up way late just visiting and getting to know each other. On Saturday we went to lunch and met an aunt...They hadn't seen her in almost 15 years and I had never met her. She was lovely...she also filled us in on some history. We met her husband and son later that night.



It was very interesting to hear their voices and see their mannerisms...we also went to get manicures and pedicures...such a sisterly thing to do, right?? :)



It was great getting to know them and I can't wait to see them again...
There are still 2 more sisters that I have yet to meet...but hope that changes soon...

On Tuesday night Sara and I drove about an hour and half away to see her mom in the hospital. We got a late start due to when Sara got off of work...we visited her mom for a bit (my uncle had me show the nurse my tattoo...little awkward) On the way back home as we were driving on Main Street going about 20 mph I looked over and saw this:

I had her look too...these statues were in front of the town pharmacy...I don't get the connection...child and parent are happy to get drugs? So happy that they can balance on one leg and lean? I told her that I wanted to take my picture with them...so she turned around...I totally get now why our cameras should be available at all times...I could have missed this opportunity to help prove that I am a dork :) ...no worries...I've learned my lesson...

Sara and I both show our "happy to get drugs that we can balance on one leg and lean too" pose:


Now for the "star" pose:

So...here's to the cowboy in the Silverado who honked while we were out taking the pics...and to the small town cop who probably would have pulled into the parking lot to do a field sobriety test on us...thankfully he was assisting with the escaped cows...

What would your caption be for the last picture?

So...I finally did it! I have been wanting a tattoo since before I was 18...I always knew what the main concept would be for it.

I am anxiously waiting for the room to get set up...



Sara says I should do a before pic...so I do...of course, I have to take a deep breath to hold in my stomach...and to hold it enough, apparently I need to look to the heavens as well...also, don't worry I assure you this will be the most skin you will ever see of me in this blog...

David Bruehl is the tattooist...He is very talented! Here is David's sketch:

Now the stencil is being applied...so to answer the quiz...the tattoo is going to be placed over my right hip:

I'm checking in the mirror to see what I think...cause it's permanent, you know...

Yeah...Thanks to Sara for your viewing pleasure...You will get to see my initial reaction to the start of the tattoo...my expressions are funny...I had to psych myself up or something...you'll see that I start to go to town on my gum...but I didn't even tear up through any of the session...though there were some areas that were more tough to bear than others...no worries...you'll see some grimacing pics....




When I would turn to the left...I would get to see Sara...It looks like she's in a picture frame...I really appreciate her documenting this for me :)


Here's one of the grimacing pics...I had to focus and go to a quiet place for a few seconds...




the lining is now finished...


Another sensitive area I guess...


Now the color is being added...I really think I was a trooper...


Now it's finished!!!
This is directly afterward...yes it's red and there is blood...

Here it is the next day...See, I'm hardly red at all anymore...


In case you are wondering...yes, the feather is because of my name and Eva was my mom's name. To know more about her story and to understand why I added that element you can click here.

This process was not "just to get a tattoo"...It has a much deeper meaning to me. The overall experience was great...sure there was some discomfort...but I think it was well worth it! I am proud that I did it and I think it looks awesome!!!