College Football...SMH!

I think there have been a few people that have lost perspective that FOOTBALL is just a game.  That's all, just a game.
I am specifically speaking about Oklahoma football.  But if you are in a state where there is rival football, I think you might be able to relate.

I am a HUGE fan of Oklahoma State football.  OSU. Orange and Black. Orange Power.  I didn't attend college there, but I just love the campus, the town, and have had TONS of friends went to the school  there, some that work there now and have lots of memories from there.  When I get a chance, I go to games football and basketball, a fan of wrestling and softball and baseball too.

Yesterday, we found out that the women's basketball program lost two of their coaches.  Honestly, it is the saddest news I had read about and here is why.  1) I had just met one of those coaches on the Saturday before, 2) I regret not taking a visit to meet Coach B and 3) OSU family had suffered a tragic loss like this before.
Who would have thought plane crashes 10 years apart could happen?

So, as the OSU community was devastated from the loss of these fine people, the school decided to cancel all sporting events EXCEPT the football game that was to be played on the night that the news was delivered to  the kids and coaches on the football team. Do I agree with that decision? No.  Shouldn't have even played it that night.

OSU football until last night was flying high - #2 in the BCS rankings and was going on a perfect season.  They lost to Iowa State last night by a touchdown in double overtime.  Did we play our best game? No.  Did we execute when it needed to be executed? No.  BUT remember these are still KIDS playing this game, and they were still trying to absorb the news about the coaches.  They I am sure were mentally exhausted. One of the biggest nights of their lives, and that morning they find out about the crash.  It wore me out thinking about it. More less the pressure from the media, and everyone else to keep up with the perfect season.

So here is where my SMH comes in.
After the news broke of the accident, fans (who I call friends) that are not OSU fans, but are fans of the OU team were very sad to hear the news, some went as far as to say they were always OSU fans deep down.  Then after our loss last night they turned into these not attractive COMPETITIVE people again.  The comments that I saw across facebook were to say the least shocking.

I just want people to know, It's just a game.  Years from now, will we remember the score? No.  But we will always remember the tragic plane crash that took lives.

Life is too short.  Live for the real moments, not the fading ones.
PH

Pinning!!!!!!!!!!! Whhoooohoooo!

Hi, my name is PaulaH and I am completely and utterly addicted.  Yep, heard it hear first.  Addicted to pinning.  For those of you who haven't heard bout pinning or don't have a clue what it is, go to pinterest.com BUT BEWARE! Those who enter, rarely leave without a pin or two or some sort of project to fill their weekends.

Creating boards seems to be my only hold up - I don't know what to name them!!!!! 

There are actually a few things that I have pinned and created or tried to cook.  Unlike some of my buddies, who pin just to pin, I am going to eventually do all the things that I like.  Or something similar.  I mean, some of the crafts I can change up a little to (a) maintain my sanity and (b) use things I have around here. 

Seriously though, if I were to work on, bake, learn, cook, sew, read and travel my pins, I would be busy for who knows how long. 

I have incorporated a few of the pins to the afterschool program that I help run.  A few of the art classes have taken on the projects.  

The "cloud dough" was easy and was a big success.  The kids loved it.  The teacher said however, that it wasn't something we could pack up in a baggie and send home with them, the parents would kill us.  She compared it to moon sand.   It has a smooth, sand like texture but then you can pack it together to make different shapes and forms.  After making it, the kids dumped it into a big tub and stayed busy for at least an hour, and she cut their time from it off with the promise to play with it again.


The next project (taken on by the same teacher) was the "marshmallow shooters".  The kids grumbled while making them, but once she showed them what it did they loved it.  Sent them home with them along with about 10 marshmallow a piece.   They made targets during the class and tried to shoot towards the targets to keep them from shooting at each other.

Personally, I made some of the baked goods.  I love to bake.

I made "pumpkin muffins" which were good, but not as good as the ones that my  K daughter's friend's mom made apparently.   haha  but she added chocolate chips and after reviewing my recipe off of pinterest, I noticed that I left the oil and water in and I wasn't supposed to add it, the pumpkin takes the place of that moisture.  I wondered why they didn't rise well.

I also made "cinnamon croissants" , which has become a FAV of daughters R and K.  Pre packaged croissants with a bunch of butter, cinnamon and sugar all rolled up.  Made some glaze from powdered sugar and milk and yummy.  A warm one with a glass of milk is pretty good.  I guess it might be a fav of mine too.

Unfortunately, one of my Christmas boxes got moisture and water in it and almost all my ornaments were covered in black, fuzzy mold.  I was really sad because I made the majority of the ornaments that were ruined for my children when they were little.  Every year I would make a new one for them.

So, since that happened we found some ornament ideas on pinterest, and they are big enough now to help me make some.  More memories.  More ornaments.  More fun.

I am going to post this blog first without pictures, and then edit it soon with pictures of the fun things that we have made so far.  :)

Happy pinning.  PH

Are ya freakin' kidding me?

Here I said that I would post everyday of the year, and I found today I haven't posted in FREAKIN' forever.

March? Really - 7 months. A lot happens in 7 months.


Work has been extremely extremely busy - but great fun! :)

Lovin this cheer thing, we have competitions coming up at the first of the year. EXCITED! It is a really great group of kids.

My girls are growing up too quickly on me. A has decided to live with my sister, closer to work and closer to activities that 20 year olds like to do. So that still leaves R and K at home. R is a high school cheerleader, K a middle school cheerleader. I can't believe that they both will be in high school next year, leaving me only 4 years to have them around FULL TIME.


I am not sure I am ready for this empty nest stuff. They still seem like little girls sometimes to me.

This is my ABSOLUTE favorite picture of my three babies...it had been a very long photo shoot day, and K was a little fussy. A was like "OMG, not crying again, please hurry", R saw her big sister put her hands on her face and was being a copy cat - but I think it is just precious!!!! So glad the photographer wasnt waiting on the perfect smile, cause at that point it wasn't happening.





Found a new love, and that may get me to posting more! I LOVE PINTEREST!!!! And want so badly to share some of my ideas and creativity....so who knows, maybe my blog will see a little daylight and a few more eyes fall upon it.

Looking forward to the holidays, I think there are 6 saturdays left before Christmas. That is just wonderful, but also stressful. Lots of shopping left to do. Heck, what am I saying. All my shopping left to do. I haven't bought a single thing yet.

I sorta miss shopping for the little ones, but am glad that my girls can tell me what they really want. I still like to throw in a few surprises here and there.

I am so sleepy, so I suppose that I am going to get off here. If you build it, they will come. Ready blog - here they come!

PH

A little heavy, a little light...

Please, please, please don't question my relationship with God. Heavy issue - I know. In my opinion - be that as it may a little skewed at times - a person's relationship with God is so personal, that not one other person could ever know what it was like. Over the past few weeks, it has been pointed out to me that I probably am not considered a Christian because I don't go to church on a regular basis. One person actually had the nerve to question why I pray, or tell people that I am praying for them? #1 - Church doesn't make me a Christian, my belief and my relationship with God is what makes me a Christian. #2 - Because I have a relationship with God, I know that my prayers are every bit as important and heard by him as someone who is in the pew every service. I have needed to get all that off of my chest for the last few weeks, and now I have and I feel so much better. SHAME ON me - for not turning it over to the heavenly father in the first place and letting him handle it. On a much lighter note - I attended a training today and really had a great time with a wonderful lady who traveled there with me. Oh and my husband forgot to pay the satellite bill and they shut it off. So, a night without TV (american idol specifically) has been quite ....interesting we will say. Watched a dvd, cause we couldn't get the regular local channels to work - and watched the kids play the wii, until bedtime. Now here I sit watching the idol contestants that I really wanted to see on youtube videos and typing on my blog. Guess I should probably go...daughter A will be home soon! Haven't seen her in a few days and I really miss the girl!

Here's to you having more light than heavy days! PH

Jeopardy music...or crickets?

Today was hilarious!

Had a pretty dang productive day. But I love when I am around people and they say something that they think is funny, but really isn't, and they sit and wait for your reaction.

That happened today and you talk about awkward silence! lol I thought at one time I heard crickets. For sho.

Then one of my co-workers asked me a question, and I seriously sit there for a long time (maybe a minute) thinking about my answer. She actually started humming the Jeopardy music! What the heck? haha

Then one of the girls that works for our afterschool program had a wreck on the way to work. She called and was understandably upset. Me and the girlies hopped in the car to go stay with her until her support system (mom and dad) came down to our little town. Felt really badly for her. She was so upset and mad at the same time. I have felt those two emotions all balled up into one myself so I know how it is.

All I could do was to try to talk it out with her so that she wound down a little bit, and I tried to make her laugh. Oh and got her a bottle of water. I try to be such a comforter. Never know if I am doing the right thing or not, but just being there with her till her family showed I know was the right thing.

Speaking of crickets. My community involvement class will be writing and collecting letters of appreciation for and to the local volunteer fire department.

Random I know. That is how my thought process works.

Wild fires are usually lit by ranchers and farmers to burn off the weeds (and kill the bugs) from their farming pastures for cows, pigs, goats, etc...around these parts and we just had some crazy wildfires. found a tick on me tonight...wondered why the cold air and fires didn't kill them. Then I thought - haven't heard a cricket yet (but have bull frogs), so who has to fight those fires? The volunteer squad in town.

TaDuh...you now know how very awkwardly my brain thinks.

PLus I am so sleepy and really don't wanna fall asleep on the couch .... again.

May your next conversation be free of music and nature noises. PH

Woodchucks - GEICO Commercial

One of my all time FAVORITE commercials. I have got to meet the GEICO commercial writers on day!

Enjoy - PH

Time flies!

I just cannot believe that my daughter K will turn into a teenager on Tuesday! Yikes! 3 teenage girls in the house, what on earth will I do.
One thing - I will vow to keep midol and kleenex on hand at all times. Second thing - I will vow to stay in their business at all times and they will probably hate me for it. Third thing - I will vow to keep them busy so they stay outta trouble!
There, with that said I feel much better.

My oldest daughter, A, is starting her first FULL time job this week. She is uncontrollably giddy about it and it makes me very happy to see her excited about something. She is so cute in her little scrub uniform. Told her I was gonna start calling her grey - you know like grey's anatomy? Just as long as she isn't sneaking into any janitor closets and doing what they do in the janitor closets on the show. lol

Had a very busy month so far, but got the CHEER tryouts for my squad out of the way - daughter K tried out for my squad again and MADE IT, daughter R tried out for the varsity squad and oh my gosh! She MADE IT too! Don't be fooled if you don't think that wasn't a huge relief for me, cause we have already been there done that thing where one makes it and one doesn't.

Spring break has come and gone - fast and furious it was! Kids had some friends over, and went over to friends houses...went and watched a movie, out to eat, started and finished a couple of home improvement projects. So, in a couple of ways I am ready to get back to work for some sort of normalcy.

The time change happened during spring break, and although that is probably a good thing - It may be harder to get about and around since we haven't been waking up at our regular time.

TIME FLIES! :) After while y'all - PH

UpS and DoWnS....

Ups and Downs ... we all have them.

Today is one of those down days. Not sure what is making it a down day - perhaps the cold air that has happened to move back in. Or the fact that I am headed to a wedding today and I don't know what to wear.

Another down since I need to get it out of my system. Tired of feeling like I am the only one who does anything around the house. So, from now on, the girls are folding and delivering all the laundry. I told them if I found another folded shirt in the hamper that they would be doing their laundry by themself. I should do that anyway so they maybe cut down on changing clothes three times a day.

So far my diet has been an up and down thing too...not really diggin it. Can't seem to get into a routine on exercise. Been using an app on the iPad to keep a food diary, so I know what's going in. So far I have been on target or under target on the food. Exercise and more water is what I gotta get on board for.

On a more positive note, so my friends don't think I hate weddings, the wedding tonight is an up too! I am sure it will be a very fun night.

Another up is the wood that was left on the back porch can be burned off today cause of the cold air. We were gonna have to stack it off the porch so I am thankful we are able to burn some of it and may just have a couple arm loads to go back out to the wood pile.

Since I seem to be on an "upswing"...dropped our taxes off today. Can't wait to see what happens with them this year. Last year we had to pay. Hoping we have an UP year on those. Can't afford too many DOWN years.

Up note - my blanket is warm, I am gonna take a nap.

Well I am gonna finish on an up note!
PH

The Latin flair...

Well, I have caught the fever...nope not the flu, not the Bieber FEVER that everyone else seems to be catching...

its that Latin dance fever - ZUMBA! I can do the Salsa, the Flamencio...and I can't remember the other ones...lol

Day two of my weight loss journey and day two of Zumba. Starting to feel it a little, my bones are old and my joints are rusty. But I have been hanging in there. It's great cardio, and eventually I will get most of the steps down and get off of the basic dvd, and on to the PARTY dvd!

My BIG GOAL of weight loss is 60 pounds. Yep you heard it 60. Don't necessarily think I need to lose that much, but I wanna set a huge goal for myself. And no it isn't so I can let myself down. SHUT THAT NEGATIVE THINKING UP ON MY BLOG!

I am setting 5 small goals of 12 pounds and will celebrate with each goal met. :) I am down 2 pounds, whether it be the zumba, the water intake, the stopping eating after 9, the no night time snacks OR the stomach bug that I have manage to catch.

:) On to my goal - Stick with me, or by me, but don't get in my way!!!

Off for the night, I'm sore.

PH

SnOMG!

Yep, you heard it here first, or actually heard it probably all over facebook, all over twitter, all over the news...We got snow - and not just snow - LOTS OF FREAKING SNOW!

Now, I have to admit, I am one of those, who thinks if it is gonna be frigid cold, it might as well snow. I am not sure that I was wanting this much. It did give everybody something to talk about, and alot of people time to slow down and be in the house with their kids and spouses or significant others.

It all started last Tuesday when the Blizzard of 2011 moved into Oklahoma! I lived in Nebraska for a bit, so I had seen a blizzard before. But my kids and some of my friends hadn't. They couldn't believe the snow was blowing sideways, and when it was all over and there were some 6 foot drifts and higher.

Then this Tuesday, more snow moved in along with FRIGID temperatures.

People are sick of snow - we usually get one big snow and it moves on. But we haven't seen grass around here in over 10 days...

I am not complaining about the snow or the cold that to me living in the country equals less bugs this spring. I don't have cabin fever cause my husband drives in the mess and can get me out if I need out. PLUS I love spending time at my house cause I am always on the run with the kids.

The only thing I am tired of doing is stoking the fireplace. (which heats our house during the day)...and carrying wood in from the porch.

:) So, snOMG! hasn't been terrible to me mentally or emotionally. Been a little physical work. but I need it.

Now, financially, its a different story. My husband worked only 12 hours last week. He typically works about 50 or 60. So, his next check will be short. We have bought more propane this winter then we have ever bought...the kids and us being at home for about 10 days we have doubled almost tripled our food budget for the month. I have missed 6 days of my 2nd job, which is our extra spending money.

So, financially speaking - LEAVE NOW SNOW AND DONT COME BACK SO FORCEFULLY NEXT YEAR.

But, if I am speaking from my heart - Stick around and keep being beautiful! :)

See ya! ph

Mamby pamby land!

Lovin that commercial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhlWddAXSRA


I think I shall begin to use that phrase on my girls when they whine or fuss about something. ??? sounds like a plan, Stan.

Said that to a 2nd grader the other day walking down the hall and he said - "my name ain't stan!" I cracked up and said sorry charlie... "ugh!" hahahahaha Sometimes it is funny to talk with kids.

Bout to get busy making earth day plans.

:) PH

So much for resolutions

Good night! One week into the new year and I have already broke a resolution.

I was going to try to blog everyday. It wasn't so hard when I was on break, but with work and busy schedules, it really is harder than it seems.

Television

Well, I basically spent my entire Sunday sitting and watching the bridalplasty show.



First of all, the drama and fakeness on any reality show is unreal...but to have girls (which are pretty big drama queens in the first place) compete for plastic surgery...??? What the heck.



Fake noses, fake boobs, fake friends! Geez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Now, don't get me wrong, I am a fan of reality TV, I love Big brother and Amazing Race, but this may just be pushing it over the edge.



Sometimes it is upsetting to me the things that people compete for when there are so many that don't have food on their table, or a car that works!

off my soapbox for now.

Resolutions

Resolution: a decision to do something or to behave in a certain manner

How many people proclaim a resolution or maybe even more than just one on New Years day?
I have to confess I am one of the suckers that usually does that..I think it is more of a tradition than it is a promise. Like the definition says above - it isn't necessarily a promise, it is a decision to do something.

So here are my DECISIONS for year Twenty and Eleven. I am thinking that if I write them down and can review them occassionally, perhaps I can keep better track of them.

Decision #1: To lose weight. (Yes, I know that everyone makes this one - well maybe not everyone, and GAG if you are one of the ones that doesn't have to..) But I need to get to a weight that I feel good about myself again, and I know I can do it!

Decision #2: To let my kids make mistakes. Now, I am not going to just stop being the mom I have always been, but little things they need to make mistakes and learn how to get out of them and fix it themselves.

Decision #3: To blog - even if it is just one sentence, every day for all of this year.

Decision #4: To actually use the time clock at work. KL will love me for this one.

Decision #5: To get my finances in order. I have got to make a budget and stick with it.

Decision #6: To finish all my home projects that I want to get done around here.

So some of you may think that this is unrealistic, my list is too long...blah, blah, blah And here is what I wanna say to that.
These are my DECISIONS and only mine. If I fail at them, no one is harmed but me, if I succeed there won't be a party. So, make yours, I will make mine and we will all live happily ever after.

Happy New Year. May 2011 be filled with blessings and love.
ph