Jersey Girl in Louisiana

The Christmas Singing

2011-12-09T21:05:00.001-06:00

(Book Review Coming SOON)

In the meantime.. enjoy this book trailer.. and the 1st Chapter excerpt !

Love You More

2011-11-04T08:25:00.002-05:00

Love You More is the inspirational and insightful memoir of Jennifer Grant. Ms. Grant and her husband had three biological children, but felt drawn to adoption to complete their family. They ultimately chose to adopt their daughter Mia from Guatemala, and this is their story. It is an easy read, well told story about all the trials they went through in the process of adopting their daughter Mia.

I love the way God weaves the stories of families together and that He has a plan for his children and their parents from the beginning of time.
It is a a true look at the ups and downs of the adoption process, from the frustrations of paperwork and red tape , the fears adoptive parents face, the unknown territory of bringing a baby home from another country, to the joys of cuddling a sweet baby and knowing without a doubt that this is the child who completes your family.

I received this book free from the publisher through the Booksneeze book review bloggers program.

Five Question Fridays!

2011-09-16T09:08:00.000-05:00

Head on over to 'My Little Life' and link up too!!!

1. If you had a weekly newspaper column, what would you name it?Obviously, 'Jersey Girl in Louisiana'!

2. Who is your mentor/inspiration?I guess the cliche answer is my parents, but it is 100% true. They both worked their butts off to give my brother and I the best life they could. And it was an awesome life. And they are the world's best grandparents to my boy.

There are a handful of amazing ladies at my church too, who are so caring and giving and full of Faith that they inspire me to be a better Christian.

3. What is your wake up beverage of choice?

Hmm.. Well if I could have ANYTHING I wanted I would either have a Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frapp or a Hazelnut Iced Coffee from DD, but since those are not my morning options, I either have regular Folgers coffee or a cup of tea. Occasionally juice too.

4. Would you wear your mom's clothes?
I would and I do! My mama is mega stylish. She has been in clothing retail for YEARS and definitely has a better wardrobe then me. I LOVE getting hand-me-downs from my mama. They are awesome and smell like home <3

5. When you were a kid, did you put posters on your wall? If so, what were they of?
Backstreet Boys!!! I LOVED (okay I still do, hush.) Nick Carter! I still joke with my husband that Nick Carter will be my second husband. My walls were COVERED. I went through a stage where I love JTT (Of Home Improvement) too, but no one held my heart like BSB.

My bedroom in 2000 and I still never close my drawers, much to my husband dismay.

Sunday School and 9/11

2011-09-12T10:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was my first Sunday as a Sunday School Teacher. I teach 2nd-5th grade along with 2 other ladies. I have to admit, I was really scared about teaching such an impressionable age and being fairly new to the church(I started attending the Episcopal Church at 16 with a friend and her family, stopped attending at 18 and started attending 3 years ago with my husband and our son), I don't want my lack of knowledge to hold anyone back from learning, but our rector asked me to teach and I felt God tug on my heart(He does that often.. so if you think I am over-committed, take it up with the Big Guy.), so I signed up for 20+ weeks of teaching.

Yesterday we had Little Chapel, so I only had my kids for about 20 minutes at the end of the time, and being 9/11, another member of our church had brought a book in for me to read to the class.

Let me back up a little and say that I lived in New Jersey on September 11, 2001. I was a senior in high school and I was sitting in my 3rd period class, ironically called 'Politics of Hatred'. I remember the announcement over the PA system that a plane had hit one of the towers at the World Trade Center. I remember hearing the second plane hit. I remember a friend in my class RUNNING out of class, crying, and I followed her. She said her father was suppose to be at a meeting in the WTC that morning and she needed to find out. We went to the nurses office and she called home. Her father's meeting was canceled that morning, possibly sparing his life. I remember the school went on lock-down and no one could come in and no one could get out. Eventually they let us leave and head home to our families. Being sandwiched between NYC, Philadelphia, and Washington DC, was a scary place to be. By now 4 planes have crashed and no ones knows what will happen next. Will they go to Philadelphia?? (Which was 10 minutes away from the town I lived in.) Will a plane just randomly crash somewhere else close by if passengers on the plane over take the hijackers again? I am sure everyone in this country was scared, but I don't think people who lived outside of the Northeast were as scared as we were. I don't think the anniversary of 9/11 effects them like it does me and many others who were so close to everything.

So back to Sunday School. That morning I didn't really have time to think about the 9/11 anniversary too much. Sure, I'd been watching shows on the History Channel for a few days, but in the hustle of trying to get myself ready and my 5 year old ready for his first Sunday School class, I just didn't dwell on it. Then I was handed the book I knew I needed to make time to read to these children. Most of them who weren't even born on that horrifying day 10 years ago. Then I wasn't sure how I was going to get through it. For me, when I watch 9/11 coverage and documentaries, it literally makes my chest tight, it makes me relive the emotions I felt 10 years ago, and actually may be even more emotional for me now, as a wife and mother. But I think it is so very important for the generations to come to know what happened on that day, and remember not just the horrible loss of lives, but the courage of those firefighters who were running into a building that everyone else was running out of, and the things that 'every day people' did, how this country was so bonded together after such a tragedy,

So after Little Chapel and a craft, I took my kids into our classroom and began to talk to them about 9/11. The book I was given to read was called "The Chapel That Stood" By A.B. Curtiss.

It was a sweet story about St. Paul's Chapel that stood next to the Twin Towers and how it sustained no damage, as the sycamore tree in front of it saved it. It talked about the pairs of shoes firemen left on its fence as they quickly changed into their boots, many never returning for their shoes. The story taught the lesson that terrorism is temporary and courage and faith is forever.

It was NEVER so hard to get through a story tear free. I didn't look away from the pages once, because I knew if I looked into the children's eyes, I would have lost it. 9/11/2001 is a day I will NEVER EVER forget. I will pray for the lives lost and for the comforting of those who have lost someone. I will thank all firefighters and police officers and military persons forever, whether they had a link to 9/11 or not, because these are the men and women who help to keep us safe every day.

So tell you young kids about 9/11.. teach them the history so history doesn't repeat itself.

PRAY.

And most importantly.... NEVER FORGET.

My Top 10 Reason why Preschool is better then Kindergarten.

2011-09-09T14:01:00.005-05:00

My little man has started Kindergarten. And do you know what I have learned in the 3 weeks since Kindergarten started. That preschool was waaaaay better. Do you think I could forge his birth certificate and send him back to preschool??? Yeah..... I figured that was probably a bad idea.

So without further ado, here are my top 10 reasons why I think Preschool was better then Kindergarten.

10. Preschool was at our church. Our nice, safe, loving church, full of familiar faces, good hugs, and warm smiles. A place where I could come and go on the property as I please. Where I could stop in the book store, or help in the pumpkin patch and catch a glimpse of my boy. In Kindergarten, I know no one. No one is hugging. And they pretty much tell the parents they don't want you on the campus.

9. The dreaded bus in Kindergarten. Mason LOVES the bus, but he is a boy, of course he is going to love some big yellow vehicle with many wheels. In the bus, there are no car seats(yes, my 5 year old still rides in a car seat, I hope yours is too), heck there are no seat belts. There are too many big kids for my liking and its not like I know the bus driver. I know his last name and his boss' phone number and THAT.IS.IT. How do I know he isn't some crazy crackhead who is going to take my baby on a joy ride to the ghetto areas of New Orleans?? How do I know some big boy isn't going to pick on my sweet baby?? How do I know they will make it safely the entire mile to school?. I DON'T and when you are a neurotic mom, like me, you wait every single morning with your cell phone close at hand, just in case...

8. In Preschool we made friends. Now, I am sure Mason will make more friends as the year goes on, and that is all well and good for him, but what about me? In Preschool, all the parents waiting in the school hallways together for our kids classroom door to open. We saw each other every day, sometimes twice or 3 times a day. In Kindergarten, I send my kid on the bus, so I don't meet any parents and even if he didn't take the bus, you aren't allowed to get out of the car in the carpool lane, so no good that would do. We want out Preschool friends back!

7. Nap mats.. Seriously. Here are some comparison photos. I got these photos from Google.

In Preschool, nap mats were like this (Okay, a little less nice, with solid colors) with pillows and blankets attached to them.

This is the Kindergarten "nap mat" Looks like a mat for a gym if you ask me. No pillow, no blanket, nothing.

6. Communication with the teacher. In Preschool, like I said before, we stood in the school hallway every morning and afternoon for pick up and drop off. There was always a chance to chat with the teachers, In Kindergarten, you either have to write them a note and send it with your kid, or call the school, leave a message, and hope to hear back in the next day or two.

5. Kindergarten classes have tooooooo many kids. There are 30 kids in my son's class and ONE teacher. That poor, poor woman. In Preschool there was 16 and 2 teachers. And 15 other kids besides your own, is the perfect number of kids to invite to a birthday party. I would loose my mother trucking mind with that many kids running around. So then you can't send party invitations to school to hand out because you cant do that unless everyone is invited and its not like I know any of the parents of these kids, to mail them invitations or even hand them invitations. Great. It should be super easy to throw birthday parties for the next handful of years.

4. Bullying. Big kids, more kids, name calling, laughing, mocking, you name it. The stories I have heard from my friends who live in other states are experience the same kind of bullying in their Kindergarteners classrooms too. SERIOUSLY they are FIVE AND SIX!!! What the heck are these kids learning at home?!?!?

3. Homework. Bogus. Enough said.

2. The hours. Last year I was able to send Mason to school for 3 hours a day and then pick him up and get to spend the remainder of the afternoon together, or I could have him stay at preschool for 6 hours and pick him up then. We did mostly 3 hour days and a few 6's thrown in there through out the year. Kindergarten is 7 hours a day, every single day. And they expect him to sit still and be quiet. How on earth do you expect a 5 year old boy to be quiet and sit still for that much time of the day?? I mean because if I can get him to sit for 15 minutes to eat dinner, I am ready to celebrate my success.

1. Since when did Kindergarten become 1st grade? Because when I went to Kindergarten (which I still have very strong memories of.. Thomas Paine Elementary..Mrs. Yates, the big yellow tube, getting to pick up the milk from the lunch room when it was your "special day" etc... ) it was half day and it was mostly playtime. We also had music and art. Kindergarten now, they expect so much out of your kid.. way more then they did when I was in elementary school. Why does the world keep pushing kids to grow up faster?! Seriously, they do it fast enough all on their own... just sayin'.

xoxo

Jess

Hiatus.

2011-09-09T12:46:00.006-05:00

That is what it feels like I have been on. A hiatus from blogging. Besides a few book reviews, I haven't posted anything substantial in months. I read so many blogs that are witty and inspiring that it can discourage me from blogging because I think I will never be as clever as they are. But I'm back and will do my best to be witty and inspiring as well. I may rant, I may curse, I may cry, but I'll be real.

Here is a quick catch up of what our lives are like today. Mason our 5 year old (5 1/2 if you ask him, that 1/2 is sure important) just started Kindergarten in August and its pretty much kicking both of our asses. Between the awful 6am wake up, to the discipline marks he comes home with in his folder for talking too much (seriously, if they knew me, they would understand more, I never shut up, just ask my poor husband), and the teasing over his absolutely adorable Thomas and Friends raincoat I made him wear during the friggin' tropical storm (I mean seriously, who knew 5 year old could be bullies?!) by Friday at 5pm we are so thankful to have two days of less rushing and less structure.

See, I told you it was adorable.

My sweet husband is working extra hard at a new job. 45-50 hours of hard labor in this New Orleans heat and humidity is no fun, but we love love love him for all he does for us. He is cheering on the Phillies from afar, building complicated train tracks with Mason and taking us on new adventure all the time.

Building at the Louisiana Children's Museum

And I am keeping busy too. Still working full time as a nanny, but probably for only another 3 weeks or so. I am currently the president of our churches Episcopal Church Women's group and I start teaching Sunday School on Sunday from grades 2nd-5th. I am chairing our churches Annual Church Picnic next spring, and helping with our ESL (English as a Second Language) program at church as well. I also hope to get to spend some time volunteering at my son's school, though I will be on the hunt for a new job soon, even though being a stay at home mom is so tempting, it doesn't pay our bills, so off to work I will be going.

Mama and Mason

We are adjusting more and more to living in Louisiana, not that I don't complain when the humidity is 100% and the heat index has been over 110 for 2 week, or when we are standing in line at Walmart that are longer then they are at Christmas (seriously, WHY are there 787361 check out lanes in Walmart and it never fails that only 5 are open and someone is writing out a check in 1/2 of them) waiting to check out with every other person in our town who is stocking up their Hurricane Kit for an approaching Tropical System, but our friends and our church make missing home much more bearable.

Motherhood is still constantly keeping me on my toes and throwing me curve balls and I am always trying to be the best mom, wife and Christian I can be, though I will always be a work in progress. So I hope you will continue to come back and check out my blog, as I intend to be better about posting.

xoxo
- Jess

No More Dreaded Mondays

2011-08-12T15:23:00.002-05:00

Who really LOVES there job? Not me! and I bet not most. This book was an eye opener for me! Reading about people who became very successful in life, who were originally told they wouldn't amount to anything, is refreshing to hear! The book talks about taking control of your employment, control of your destiny! No one needs to be miserable. Definitely a motivational read and not just for someone looking for employment, I think its perfect for everyone who is employed! And the fact it is backed up with Scripture is icing on the cake!!

* I received this book for free by providing this review from Waterbrook Multhnomah Publishing group*

God's Love Letters to You.

2011-08-12T15:12:00.002-05:00

I have never been one to read devotionals, but this short but sweet book was just perfect for a novice. With a short reading and then references on where to read more about the days devotional was wonderful! As a working mom, it was perfect for me to read each night. I read many to my husband allowed and it gave us plenty of new things to discuss. Open your heart to the Lord and open your eyes on this book!

* I received this book free for my reviews by Booksneeze.com*

'Plain Wisdom' .... My thoughts exactly.

2011-04-30T17:21:00.002-05:00

Image from Google.

I absolutely LOVE books pertaining to the Amish. Author Cindy Woodsmall is one of my favorite Amish Fiction authors and when I learned that she wrote a book along with her Old Order Amish friend, Miriam Flaud, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

'Plain Wisdom' By Cindy Woodsmall and Miriam Flaud is filled with short stories, advice, scripture, and some recipes that just sound delightful. It feels like you have been invited into an Amish home with two very different, but very similar women who share their life lessons with you.

I was inspired by some lessons, such as always remembering that a conversation with a love one could potentially be your last. To remember to never judge a book by its cover or a women by her kitchen. That a good friend removes loneliness and God is always your Good friend.

This book was heartfelt and inspiring. Full of Plain traditions and love for God,

I recieved this book free from Waterbrook Multhnomah Publishing group for this review.

Still Discovering Our City

2011-04-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

5QF

2011-04-01T10:20:00.006-05:00

Go link up 5 Question Friday!

1. Have you ever had surgery?

When I was 10, I had my tonsils and adenoids out. I have vivid memories of that visit. The raccoon on the nightgown I wore, the dream I had about flying through the clouds in a car with the nurse who had stayed with me, weird.

2. Ever ride in an ambulance?

Twice, but never on the stretcher.

The first time, I had been a passenger in a car with a friend when I was 16 and we got in a car accident. She said her neck hurt so they took her by ambulance and I rode in the front passenger seat.

The second time was when my son had his first febrile seizure.

3. How are you in a medical emergency? Panicked? Calm?

I panic. But now that I am a mom and a nanny who is often in charge of many little ones, I am working on it. I have handled 2 seizures pretty calmly.

4. Do you have a garden? Flowers or veggies?

We have a tiny little area in front of our front window that we plant some plants and flowers in every year. My thumb is not very green.

5. When did you move out of your parents house?

When I was 19.

Sandy Spring Sundays

2011-03-29T10:31:00.004-05:00

One positive of southern life is being able to enjoy the beach in MARCH! Just an hour ride into Mississippi and we have gulf beaches to enjoy.

Sandy Spring Sundays Spent Smiling!

(How's that for some alliteration!)

A recipe!

2011-03-15T10:26:00.003-05:00

For a few months, I had a cooking blog with two of my friends called '3 Moms and a Kitchen'. We arent blogging there anymore, but obviously I am still cooking!

Every so often, I will post a recipe. Here is one I had posted in '3 moms'.

Banana French Toast

I don't think I can really call this a recipe... It is pretty much just adding bananas to the french toast recipe I use. French Toast is a super easy, super affordable, and definitely not only for breakfast! And you probably have all the ingredients on hand all the time, so its a good quick go to item.

Ingredients (serves 2-3, but easily doubled or tripled!)
(all measurements are approximate.. You can't mess this up y'all!)

4-6 pieces of bread
1-2 tbsp butter
2 eggs
1 1/2-2 cups of milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp sugar
2 bananas cut into slices

Directions

-Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

-Whisk together your eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.

-Dip each side of the bread into the mixture and place into hot skillet. I can get 2-3 pieces in at a time.

-Add the banana slices to the side that has not hit the hot pan yet.

- After you lightly brown the first side, flip carefully. The bananas will use the egg mixture like a glue and will stay on the bread well.

-When both sides are golden, remove from pan and finish the other slices.

-Add some warmed up maple syrup and a side of bacon or sausage or corned beef hash!

Enjoy!

Just some pictures....

2011-03-13T21:04:00.003-05:00

Untitled.

2011-01-26T11:01:00.008-06:00

I had an abortion.

There, I said it. I have been staring at this blank blog post for days now trying to figure out how to even begin a blog like this. Nothing sounded right.. I though about calling it a confession, or a secret, but none of those seemed right.

If you are horrified enough by the first 4 words of this post, then I suggest you stop reading now. I am not writing his because I want anyone's pity or anyone's opinion on it. If you liked me before you read this and you stop after, then you really aren't the kind of person I want in my life, or even reading my blog, anyways.

But, let me back up a bit... Almost 12 years....

I was 15 and in love, well you know that "in love" you think you are in when you are 15. Like the Taylor Swift song.. " When your fifteen and somebody tells you they love you, you're gonna believe them". I really did believe and I think in my own 15 year old way I loved him too.

I made the decision to have sex with him and we didn't use any protection.
I don't know why..
I wish I did..
I was stupid, that's why.

I think I was in denial about being pregnant for a long time too. The boy who loved me had already decided he didn't love me anymore and he didn't even know I was pregnant yet.

But I remember it like it was yesterday.....

I remember not getting my period the first month and thinking nothing of it.

I remember going with my mom to try on bathing suits for a school trip and none of the tops in my usual size fitting me because my chest had grown so much.

I remember finally realizing and crying on the phone to a friend that I though I was pregnant but I would never have bought a pregnancy test myself.

I remember him telling me I HAD to tell my parents.

I remember my mom who must have over heard my phone conversation coming into my bedroom and tell me to get off the phone so we talk.

I remember telling her I though I might be pregnant.

I remember her walking out of my room and hearing her car pull out of our garage.

I remember her coming back with the CVS bag with the EPT test in it.

I remember peeing on the stick and how fast those two telltale lines popped up.

I remember falling into a pile on the bathroom floor.

I remember my mom telling me we would handle it.

I remember calling my ex and telling him I was pregnant.

I remember him calling me a whore, telling me it wasn't his child, and hanging up on me.

I remember crying.

I remember calling back 7 billion times that day and never getting an answer.

I remember my mom getting the phone book.

I remember there was no yelling.

I remember her making an appointment for me to "handle it".

I remember crying all night long.

I remember calling my ex the next day and hearing "The number you have called has been disconnected".

I remember feeling alone.

I remember my mom waking me up at 5:30am to go to the Women's Center.

I remember them laying me on a table for an ultrasound.

I remember NEVER looking at the screen.

I remember refusing to be awake for the "procedure".

I remember sitting in an awful paper gown in a waiting room with other women in awful paper gowns.

I remember crying.

I remember them calling my name to come back....

I remember laying on another table.

I remember them starting the IV.

I remember crying.

I remember my mom's comforting face when I woke up.

I remember leaving the clinic and driving through the crowd of protesters that always stood on the sidewalks in front of the women's center.

I remember they called me a murderer.

I remember crying.

I remember my friends and my parents NEVER judging me.

I remember being really, really sad for a long time but NEVER talking about it, because its such a taboo subject in the world.

I remember every single day, even almost 12 years later.

I do not for one second feel ashamed for what happened to me. It was a decision I was incapable at making at 15 and so full of teenage emotion, so my parents did what they though was best for me. And it was what was best for ME at that specific moment in my life.

I think the people who need support the most are sometimes shunned and unforgiven for things they have done. But I know that only God can judge me, and me and the Big Guy are pretty tight.

And if even ONE person feels like they are not alone out there because they too have had an abortion, then this blog post.. the hardest post I have ever written, was worth all the tears that fell on the keyboard as I was typing it.

Five Question Friday

2010-11-26T09:54:00.002-06:00

Head on over to Mama M's and join the blog hop!

1. What is your favorite part of a Thanksgiving meal?

Mmm its a toss up between the turkey and the mashed potatoes.

And I honestly love the Ocean Spray cranberry in a can that comes out still shaped like the can.

2. Are you a host or a guest for Thanksgiving this year?

Both! We had some extended family in town last weekend, so I cooked for the 6 of us. Yesterday we went to my in laws to eat and spend time with family.

3. When you think of one Thanksgiving tradition, what comes to mind?

Talking about what you are Thankful for. And the mom of the house spending 5+ hours in the kitchen making the entire place smell amazing!

4. You have two pieces of pie in front of you and you HAVE to eat one...do you choose
pumpkin or pecan?

Pecan please! This jersey girl use to pronounce it "pea-can" and all the southerners laughed at me. I know now the correct pronunciation is "pa-con".

No offense pumpkin pie.. I just prefer you in cheesecake form, specifically from Olive Garden.

5. Are you a Black Friday Shopper?

As in wake up at the butt crack of dawn on a day I don't have to get up? No. I am not. I have gone mid day on a rare occasion, but the crowds, the messy stores, and every awful driver giving me panic attacks is NOT my idea of fun.

Maybe my attitude will change when our little man is old enough to want some high priced, sought after electronic, but right now, there is NOTHING I want or need bad enough to deal with the madness.

You can catch me on Cyber Monday looking for some steals online... and seriously folks.. you know that come the last week or two before Christmas, everything goes on sale in the stores...

I'm Thankful for...

2010-11-25T10:14:00.008-06:00

And so, so, SO MUCH MORE!

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

Russell the Sheep - Holiday Gift Guide Week 1

2010-11-07T22:26:00.005-06:00

I'll be linking up with Mama M. for the next 7 Mondays participating in her 'Holiday Gift Guide'

This week edition is: Off the Beaten Path Children Books.

My pick is a silly read that my 4.5 year old loves.

Russell the Sheep.
by Rob Scotton

A cute sheep has trouble falling asleep. He tries many different ways to help him fall asleep, looking for the perfect place, counting stars,and taking a walk. The pictures are delightful and funny. The story is a good length for preschoolers attention span. Check it out, you won't be sorry. And just maybe it'll help your bedtime routine go quicker too.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-01T20:11:00.001-05:00

Coming soon...

2010-10-11T11:03:00.003-05:00

A new blog venture with 2 of my wonderful friends.....

Check us out here....

Official.

2010-10-11T10:56:00.003-05:00

This pictures somehow just makes it so much more official for me. I don't know if it is the generic portrait background that every school photographer uses or the forced smile, but this picture cements to me that my sweet little boy who came into this world at 5lbs 8oz is no longer as little as I would like to think he is....

Five Question Friday

2010-09-23T20:19:00.003-05:00

Head on over here to join link up and join the fun!

1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)?
Ohh British for sure! And then I'd have little children with cute British accents, cause that is the cutest sound.

2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck)
No. I mean I am sure if I was tired enough I could, but I like my bed and occasionally a couch. Now my husband could sleep standing up...

3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet?
I do *ducks head in shame* I wipe the seat first and use a liner or toilet paper to cover it. and of course if its mega gross, I don't. Don't lie, I bet you do too! :o)

4. If you were stuck in an elevator for 24 hours, what celebrity would you most want to be stuck with?
Ooooh this is a tough one. Jennifer Garner. I think she just seems like a cool down to earth mom. If I wasn't married and a mother, Nick Carter ;o)

5. Where did you & your significant other go on your 1st date?
We never truly 'dated'. We had many mutual friends and spent time together before we were ever a couple. I couldn't remember the first place we ever went together...

Cousins.

2010-09-18T20:32:00.002-05:00

Five Question Friday

2010-09-17T06:00:00.005-05:00

Head on over to Mama M.'s for more fun and to link up!!!

1. What is the first nightmare you remember?
In the dream I woke up in the middle of the night because of a noise in my childhood home and I realize people have broken in. So i decide that if I stay realllllllllly still and pretend to be asleep, that they will just take our stuff and leave without hurting anyone. So I lay in bed trying not to move an inch and hear them come into my room and leave and come back and leave. Then I heard my brother wake up and scream and then I woke up... I still haunts me.

2. Even if you're not a sports fan, what's your favorite sport to play/watch?
BASEBALL!!! We are HUGE Philadelphia Phillies fans!!!!!

3. If you could pull off one piece of trendy fashion, what would you want it to be (jeggings, hats, thigh high boots, etc.)?
Jeggings. Cause the sound comfy. And I wish it was cold enough for Uggs in Louisiana.

4. Did you make good grades in school?
I was a decent student. More so before middle school when I discovered boys among other... ahem things. :o)

5. What magazines do you subscribe to?
Well thanks to Coke Reward Points and all these freebie blogs I read and follow on FB, I get A LOT. Parents, Parenting, Everyday Food, Cosmopolitan, Southern Living, Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Harper's Bazaar, and I am sure I am forgetting some. And my 4 year old gets Hi-Five from Highlights.

You know you're from South Louisiana

2010-09-13T21:59:00.002-05:00

You know you're from South Louisiana if... (I had to remove a few.. cause I am just a newbie New Orleanian!)

You can properly pronounce Lafayette, Bossier, Natchitoches, Opelousas, Shongaloo, Pontchartrain, Ouachita, and you know that New Orleans doesn't have a long "e" sound anywhere in it

You think people who complain about the heat in their states are sissies.

You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to door but by the availability of shade.

You cringe every time you hear an actor with a Southern or Cajun accent in a "New Orleans-based" movie or TV show.

You measure distance in minutes.

You listen to the weather forecast before picking out an outfit.

You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition, beer, and bait all in the same store

A Mercedes Benz isn't a status symbol. A Chevy Silverado Extended Bed Crew Cab Truck is

You know everything goes better with Tony's or Tabasco.

You actually get these jokes

You are 100% Louisianan if you have ever had this conversation:

"You wanna coke?"

"Yeah."

"What kind?"

"Dr Pepper."

you have ever had to switch from heat to AC in the same day.

you use "fix" as a verb. Example: "I am fixing to go to the store."

All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, insect, or mammal.

You know only four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco, and Tony's

You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.

You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good gumbo weather.

Fried catfish is the other white meat

You reinforce your attic to store Mardi Gras beads.

Your sunglasses fog up when you step outside.

You sit down to eat boiled crawfish and your host says, "Don't eat the dead ones," and you know what he means.

You push little old ladies out of the way to catch Mardi Gras beads.

Little old ladies push YOU out of the way to catch Mardi Gras beads.

You leave a parade with footprints on your hands.

You believe that purple, green, and gold look good together.

You know that Tchoupitoulas is a street and not a disease.

Your grandparents are called "Maw-Maw" and "Paw-Paw."

Your Santa Claus rides an alligator and your favorite Saint is a football player.

You have to reset your clocks after every thunderstorm.

When it starts to rain, you cover your beer instead of your head.

You eat dinner out and spend the entire meal talking about all the other good places you've eaten.

You know what it means for food to come 'dressed'...

you 'ax' for things...

You save newspapers, not for recycling but for tablecloths at crawfishboils

Drive-thru daquiris -- it's not drinking and driving until you put the straw in.

You know cowpatties are not made of beef

You have a monogrammed go-cup.

You've ever worn shorts at Christmas time

You pronounce Lafayette as "Laffy-ette" not "La-fy-ette"

You know the meaning of a "Delcambre Reeboks" (that would be a pair of all white fishing boots)

You've ever had Community Coffee

You pronounce the largest city in the state as "Newawlins."

You prefer skiing on the bayou

You can list all the ingredients of a gumbo or a jambalaya

A mostly picture post...

2010-09-11T20:25:00.002-05:00

This is me and my mama on our trip to San Antonio at the Alamo...

Mason at the aquarium.

Swingin' with Dad.

Park 09.11.2010

My preschooler!

Where were you???

2010-09-11T10:24:00.003-05:00

Nine years ago today, was absolutely the second scariest day of my life (the first being in 1999 when my little brother was shot, but that's another blog to be written..)

The day America was attacked...

Everyone I know remembers where they were when they learned what was happening. I was a senior in high school. I was in my third period class, which was ironically, Politics of Hatred. I remember the announcement on the PA system that said something along the lines of a plane crashed into the World Trade Center and they didn't have much information. I remember our teacher turning the TV in our classroom to a news channel and watching the second plane hit live on TV. I remember a girl in my class running out of the classroom saying her father was suppose to be in the WTC today for a meeting. I remember running after her, so she wasn't alone. I remember the joy on her face when she found out her fathers meeting had been canceled. I remember the school being locked down. I remember it being extra scary living in New Jersey, sandwiched between New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. I remember them closing school. I remember going home and sitting in silence with my mom on the couch while we couldn't take our eyes off the TV.

I remember the brave individuals who went into those burning towers to try and save as many lives as they could...

I remember all the lives lost on that tragic day...

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER 09/11/01 ♥

I want to blog...

2010-09-09T20:37:00.002-05:00

BUT I am not feeling very, I don't know, interesting or creative currently.. I need to change that. I need my bloggin mojo!

Preschool

2010-09-07T12:36:00.003-05:00

Today my little man started preschool. For him it was nothing but excitement for school. For me its bittersweet....

like...dislike...

2010-09-01T21:30:00.001-05:00

i like...
*youtube videos w/lyrics
*texting
*The Amish and all things 'plain'
*reading
*being a mama and wife
*our church and the people who fill it
*visiting with my parents
*naps on weekends
*presents
*ice cold cans of Coke
*the Philadelphia Phillies
*the smell of Gain laundry detergent
*cooking something new that everyone eats
*crockpots
*babies and puppies
*Wii
*Taking pictures and making them purty!
*facebook
*snoballs on a hot day
*Wawa hazelnut coffee
*buying books on amazon.com
*random road trips
*skype
*blogs
*the city of new orleans
*old navy tank tops
*cheesesteaks
*phone calls with old friends
*country music
*The Backstreet Boys, yeah I said it.. got a problem with that :o)
*Tosh.O
*shopping
*my march mama's
*Facebook.

i dislike....
*bees and wasps
*sweating
* waiting in line at Walmart when there are 65 checkout lanes and 3 open
*people who dont call when they know you are waiting on them
*oil spills
*hurricanes and evacuations
*hot food gone cold and cold drinks gone hot
*sharks and other creepy aquatic things
*rollercosters
*slow computers
*onions
*flying and ear popping
*shoes
*the sound of grinding teeth
*waking up
*warm sink water to drink
*stupid questions(yes, some questions are stupid)
*putting away laundry
*rainy days I have somewhere to be
*geometry
*living far
*not having money
*people who don't take the hint
*reading the backs of inside flaps of books before you read them. it tells toooo much!!
*forgetting to take something out to defrost for dinner

A Day at the Audubon Zoo

2010-07-27T22:21:00.006-05:00

We have a membership to our local zoo and aquarium and try to go as often as we can, though its pretty darn hot in the summer! But with the threat of a tropical storm the following day, we headed out and enjoyed a gorgeous and fun day at the zoo.

Mason getting a game plan with Daddy.

Lions...

Tigers..

And Bears, oh my! (seriously how cute is this bear?!)

I took pictures of funky signs.

Mason cooled off in the misters.

and enjoyed a snoball.. until he dropped it 5 seconds later, then he enjoyed MY snoball..

I like giraffes.

Mason and I rode the carousel

We saw a gator feeding..

Mason posed for a few pictures.

Got a souvenir

and rode a pretend T-Rex.

Vote for Mason!!!!

2010-07-20T09:58:00.001-05:00

My son is entered in a contest by our local aquarium and we want to win!!!

Could you vote for my boy?? Please?

Go here to see the photo entered and vote!

http://www.auduboninstitute.org/photos/finsandgrins/1082

Need to contact me???

2010-07-20T09:56:00.001-05:00

email me!

jessica.kotzbeck@yahoo.com

Celebration Station

2010-07-18T19:34:00.002-05:00

Made by Auntie Tanya

2010-07-18T19:33:00.000-05:00

Monday Minute

2010-07-12T20:15:00.002-05:00

1. Can you burp the ABC's?
Not even close. I cannot burp on command.

2. So lets just say you have a 9+ hour drive ahead of you would you consider wearing Depends so you didn't have to stop multiple times?
Haha noo. I am a rest stop kinda girl.

3. Would you rather...run your tongue down five feet of a NYC street or press your tongue into a strangers nostril?
STREET!!!!!!! No contest.

4. If you had an envelope that contained the date you would die would you open it?
My gut says no, but I don't know if I'd have the power to destroy it or never peek.

5. Which one song describes your sex life best?
Ummm.. Woohoo by Blur. ;o)

'Who says you can't go home..'

2010-07-11T11:07:00.012-05:00

Back in May, after 3 loooong years, we headed back home to New Jersey....

Mason loved having his Grammy and Grampy to play with.

Grammy and Shia handled baths...

My husband and I got to go to one of our favorite places..

To see our favorite boys....

With my brother and his girlfriend.

Mason played baseball with Uncle Buddy.

Then rested in the shade...

Snuggled with Great Grandma

Played games with Dayna.

Watched one of my best friends get married!!!

Visited with Gabby.

Played at my childhood park.

Down by the crick..

Looking for a rock to bring back to Grams in Louisiana.

Saw Uncle Buddy and Grampy's dragster.

Grammy's Sous Chef.

Mason LOVES his Grammy.

I got some Zach time!

Mason saw his best girl, Roxy!

Had fun with Catherine.

And Aunt Kath.

Took many bike rides, with Shia and Grammy.

And we can't wait to go back again!

Thunder Jam

2010-07-11T09:55:00.007-05:00

Ever since our trip back home to Jersey in May (I'll get to bloggin' about that trip soon!), both my husband and my son have been on a drag racing kick. So we headed west to State Capital Raceway for an evening of fun!

Mason posed for some pictures in the pits.

Wore cute headphone things to protect his ears!

Though of Uncle Buddy and Grampy seeing cars like this one.

Sat with Daddy.

Drove his car between races.

Posed a bit more..

Had a snack or two...

Met some cool peeps.

Were on the SPEED Channel.

Cheered on the fast cars!

Learned what track smells like

A girl was the driver of this dragster... awesome.

It was ridiculously loud, really hot, and...

An exhaustively wonderful day!

Here is a video I attempted to take at the track, but it was SO loud, I dropped the camera to cover my ears.

I've had a change of heart...

2010-07-11T01:00:00.000-05:00

I have decided I will not let other people make me not blog! If taking pictures off my blog makes certain people feel like they have a relationship with my family, then fine, so be it.

So I am back, no new blog, and no drama cause I do not need it, thankyouverymuch!

Do they ever stop growing so fast?

2010-07-10T22:16:00.001-05:00

Lafreniere Park

2010-07-10T22:15:00.000-05:00

Some photographs of the city

2010-07-10T22:13:00.001-05:00

Read This Book! 'A Promise of Hope'

2010-07-10T21:00:00.000-05:00

I read Amy Clipston's first book in the Kauffman Amish Bakery,A Gift of Grace: A Novel (Kauffman Amish Bakery Series) and loved it. When I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book not only was I honored, but excited to see what was going on with the Kauffman Family. I certainly suggest picking up a copy of ' A Gift of Grace' by Amy Clipston, but if you haven't read it, no worries, you can absolutely pick right up with this book.

'A Promise of Hope' is set in Bird-In-Hand, PA, the main character, Sarah, is a first time expectant mother who is grieving over the tragic loss of her husband. Sarah moves back in with her parents who are trying their best to love and support their grieving daughter, reassuring her that people will help her take care of her babies. Sarah is overwhelmed with grief and sadness. While working in the family bakery she meets a man who has come to Bird-In-Hand to learn more about her husband's death. This man, Luke, claims to be a relative. Sarah learns many things, some quite troubling, about her husband's past that she never knew, but she also learns quite a bit about herself as well.

You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll definitely fall in love with the hero of the story, as I did. A MUST READ for anyone who is a fan of Amish Fiction. If you like Wanda Brunstetter and Beverly Lewis, well the Amy Clipston should be a new favorite author of yours as well! I personally, cannot wait until the 3rd book in the series becomes available.

Mississippi Gulf Coast

2010-07-10T17:40:00.005-05:00

I'm a Jersey Girl, and a true Jersey Girls L O V E S the beach! Or said in true Jersey fashion, we love going down the shore. I went down the shore every single summer for two week with my family when we lived in New Jersey. Since moving down the bayou in '07 the only sand my feet have touched is sandbox sand and the sand they use to keep the houses from sinking down here! Yeah you heard me right, we sink constantly! So we decided to take our boy to the see some beach since he has been asking for a year, and sadly with the oil spill, we don't know when the beach will be enjoyable again.

Here is a few shots from our day in the sun. I wont mention that this trip was nearly a month ago and I am still peeling, because I definitely was not that pale when we arrived.

Beach Babe

Looking little in the big Gulf of Mexico

Diggin'

Trying to keep the oil away from the shores...

New Blog

2010-05-12T09:44:00.003-05:00

Some recent events have made it so I will NO LONGER be posting on this blog and I will be starting a new blog. Unfortunately, I cannot give you the address to that blog on here. Please comment on this post or on facebook or email me jmxdk143@yahoo.com and I will provide you with the new address.

♥

2010-05-04T20:15:00.000-05:00

Have your cake and eat it too!

2010-04-28T21:37:00.003-05:00

Baking with

Mason is

always a

sweet

funny

treat.

Gardening...

2010-04-23T21:36:00.000-05:00

Flowering the Cross on Easter

2010-04-08T21:25:00.002-05:00

Mason singing....

2010-03-29T12:37:00.000-05:00

2010-03-28T21:36:00.000-05:00

Just an update...

2010-03-04T21:21:00.007-06:00

I always say I am going to be better about blogging, and when I say it or type it, I really do mean it. But as I am sure many, many of your know, the days go by so fast and between being a wife, mother, employee, and an involved member of our church I am wiped. Most days after getting up to date with Facebook ( I know its pathetic Facebook is my biggest communication device, but its a very efficient way when most of your friend live about 1300 miles away,) and reading the blogs I follow, I have no choice but to step away from the computer and be a bit more productive, though if you saw my house, you might beg to differ that I am being productive at the moment.

So here is a little recap on whats been happening in our lives since 2010 begun.

It has been a unseasonably cold winter here in Southern Louisiana. The New Orleans Saints won the Superbowl and the entire city when crazy! It was impossible not to get swept up in the excitement that was Saints Fever! Still on a high from winning the big game, we headed right into Mardi Gras, my personal favorite time of year in NOLA. The below average temps and whipping winds did not keep this family from seeing EIGHT Parades, 3 of the 8 on Mardi Gras Day. We just bundled up New Jersey style, found a good spot at the beginning of the parade route, and yelled our best "Throw me somethin' Mister!'s" We saw tons of great marching bands, including the Marine Corps.

Top 3 Thursday

2010-03-04T21:05:00.002-06:00

Found through Kimber's blog, brought to us by Confessions of a Working Mom

TOP 3 FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT SPRING

1. Opening the windows! I need fresh air in the house, or I feel completely suffocated. Living in the Deep South, my open window opportunities are much less then they were when we live in New Jersey. It almost seems like we go from heat to air conditioning, so I thoroughly enjoy the short spring season I can open 'em up!

2. BASEBALL!!!!!!!!! We are die hard Philadelphia Phillies PHANS in this house!!!!!! I miss going to see games in person. Louisiana has no MLB team (not that I would cheer for anyone but my boys in red and white pinstripes!) so this year we will go see some Zephyrs games for the ambiance of a baseball game.

3. Spring Forward! I just love changing the clocks forward. When it stays lighter outside later, I just feel like I have more of the day ahead of me even after the work day is over.

Sunday cooking with Mason

2010-02-28T16:07:00.000-06:00

2010-02-27T17:37:00.001-06:00

Our Mardi Gras Boy

2010-02-23T17:05:00.000-06:00

Happy 4th Birthday Mason!

2010-02-14T16:50:00.002-06:00

GEAUX SAINTS!

2010-02-07T04:26:00.001-06:00

Krewe of Caesar Feb 06 2010

2010-02-06T20:06:00.001-06:00

*unedited*

They will probably kill me...

2010-02-02T18:41:00.000-06:00

for posting this picture, but how cute are they?!

Post It Note TUESDAY

2010-02-02T13:51:00.002-06:00

2010-01-14T21:51:00.001-06:00

Wordless Wednesday

2010-01-13T22:26:00.000-06:00

V8 contest!

2010-01-12T13:29:00.003-06:00

Head on over to this wonderful blog I follow and enter to win!

Even though I am going to win.. (insert evil laugh)

A few videos of Mason

2010-01-12T09:29:00.002-06:00

It is not the easiest to get our rambunctious almost 4 year old to sit still or talk on the phone, so we make silly little videos to send back to my parents in New Jersey. So here are a few recent ones.

Christmas Morning 2009 (excuse my camera flipping...and loudness)

Playing with one of the toys Grammy and Grampy sent for Christmas.

Mason "writing" a letter to my parents.

Carnival Season has BEGUN!

2010-01-06T12:27:00.003-06:00

It's Jan. 6th!

One of the things I love about living in a very close surburb of New Orleans is Mardi Gras! And its not just a one day thing, like it was in NJ when everyone went to South Street in Philly. Here its over a month of celebrating!

We devour tons of King Cakes.

We collect throws at the parades that start weeks before Mardi Gras Day!

We wear purple, gold, and green proudly!

It gets a little wild in the French Quarter..

AND we all get actual Mardi Gras Day off from work and school!

It is a fun, fun time for all. Whether like us, you rather stick to the family style parades in the suburbs or if you want to head into the city to expierence Mardi Gras there, flashing and all, its a fun season here in The Big Easy. It is a time of year like no other here in South Louisiana.

Post It Notes Tuesday

2010-01-05T10:34:00.003-06:00

i LOVE this place and the people who fill it.

2009-12-29T20:25:00.001-06:00

Santa comes to our house

2009-12-25T17:26:00.001-06:00

Our 2009 Christmas Card

2009-12-19T16:47:00.000-06:00

2009-12-13T00:46:00.001-06:00

'Tis the season........

2009-12-11T13:13:00.003-06:00

Stolen (as usual..) from my Louisiana girl Kimber

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? I like both. But I can only enjoy egg nog in small doses.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? WRAPPED!!! That is half the fun, tearing open unknown packages!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored inside, white outside.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We had this fake mistletoe thing in my house growing up, but I've never seen real mistletoe

5. When do you put your decorations up? Thanksgiving weekend, usually. Except the tree. We wait til December for that.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Oooh toughy.. Turkey or mashed potatoes.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Everything on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Sneaking downstairs with my younger brother at 4am and trying to figure out what was in the boxes without waking up our parents.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I snooped and found a gift and Christmas morning, it was labeled from Santa. I was embarrassingly 10 years old.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? I don't really get gifts anymore. I may let Mason open one gift. We are really starting all our traditions this year, as its the first year Mason is really understanding the whole Christmas thing.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We collect ornaments from all different places we visit. Some were given to us by our parents when we moved away from home. It is an eclectic hodgepodge that brings up tons of memories every year we open the ornament box.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Eh.. I like falling snow and just fallen snow, but after a day or so when its all sludgy and dirty and stepped in.. no thanks.

12. Can you ice skate? Never tried....

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? As a child, Barbie Ice Cream maker. As an adult, my engagement ring!

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Making memories. Loving Jesus.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? PIE!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Reading 'The Night Before Christmas' and baking cookies Christmas Eve for Santa.

17. What tops your tree? Currently nothing!! Ours broke.. I will remedy that tomorrow. It'll be a star though.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Who doesn't like getting presents? But I do get TONS of joy shopping for my kid and other children in my life.

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? YUM!!! As long as they are original flavor.

20.Favorite Christmas Show? Christmas Vacation!!!!!

21. Saddest Christmas Song? Christmas Shoes... thats song gets me every year...

22. What is your favorite Christmas Song? So so many! I guess ' Its the most wonderful time of the year"

wordless wednesday

2009-12-09T10:11:00.000-06:00

5 Laps You Rather Sit on then Santa's

2009-12-07T14:28:00.005-06:00

Stolen from my girlfraaaand Kimber

1. My Husband's! (It would just be wrong if I didn't include him!)

2. Nick Carter- Yes, I am aware I'm in my late twenties and he is a Backstreet Boy

3.Edward- And I mean the vampire, not the actor.

4. Kris Allen - Mmmm.

5. Cliff Lee - A pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and one fine piece of a..

Makes ya think........

2009-12-06T12:42:00.001-06:00

2009-12-05T21:56:00.000-06:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-02T06:03:00.001-06:00

Biggest Lemon EVER..

2009-12-01T21:33:00.002-06:00

Courstey of a parishoner at our church. We used the store lemon to compare the size. Mason won't allow us to cut it, but as you will see, he keeps diggin his nails into them so he can smell them.

Thursday was the worst day of my life.

2009-11-21T10:24:00.002-06:00

Mason had a seizure. Just typing those words make me feel sick. He is fine now. It was only a febrile seizure caused by a temperature that raised too quickly.

But it was the scariest moment of my life. Holding your child in your arms while they have a seizure is horrible. The postictal state he was in after the seizure was just as bad. I can't really even talk about it yet, it really effected me.

My wonderful neighbor stayed with the children I watch until their father arrived, and Mason and I took a ride in an ambulance that Mason doesn't even remember. He finally started to come around in the ambulance a little bit. It was all awful.

THANKS BE TO GOD that he is a-okay.

But, it was the worst day of my life, up until he was fine.

Just so darn busy!

2009-11-16T08:36:00.002-06:00

We are non stop at our house right now. Between working and church things and the holidays around the corner, I feel like we never stop. I'll be back to bloggin' ASAP.

Wordless Wednesday Halloween 2009

2009-11-04T21:04:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween..

2009-10-31T15:10:00.000-05:00

More to come.....

Flashback Friday... (2006)

2009-10-23T10:48:00.002-05:00

five question friday

2009-10-23T08:57:00.002-05:00

Head on over to Mama M's blog to read the others and link up!

1. Whats your favorite horror movie?
I do NOT do horror movies. If I HAD to pick.. something M Night Shyamalan, I guessssss.

2. Bath tub or Hot tub?
Depends. Is it a huge jacuzzi tub with jets? The Bath Tub for sure, but like a standard tub in a tub/shower combo, I pick hot tub.

3. Do you prefer to view a movie at the theater or at home?
Home. I like to be able to pause. And my husband always fall asleep, so its kind of a waste of money to GO to the theaters.

4. If you could chose a maid, cook or chauffeur, which one would you choose?
Chauffeur. I already don't drive because I'm terrified, so this would be helpful, but I do need a maid.

5. Electric Slide, Boot Scootin' Boogie, or the Macarena?
It's electric, boogie woogie woogie!

I gave in and bought Photoshop...

2009-10-17T12:43:00.002-05:00

Now i just have to learn to use it.. hmmmm...

Wordless Wednesday my parents visit!

2009-10-14T09:57:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2009-10-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

5 ? Friday

2009-10-02T18:32:00.003-05:00

By Mama M.

1. What is your favorite ABBA song?
Blah, none.

2. The thing you love most about fall is...
As a Jersey Girl, I love apple picking, cool weather, cider donuts, leaves changing colors, sweaters, and hayrides. Now living in Louisiana, they have none of those things. So now I look forward to cooler tempatures, were talking in the 70's-80's an I'll take it!! Oh and Halloween and my birthday and my husband's birthday.

3. What store you would love to spend to heart's desire (money is no object)?
My first instinct was Target, is that sad? Hmm.. I guess Nordstrom's.

4. What is your favorite snack food?
Tough. I really like cereal. Cookies are good too. And vanilla yoplait yogurt with fresh strawberries.

5. What was your first car?
A red Jeep Cherokee that I never drove. I still don't drive.

Busy Bees...

2009-10-01T15:16:00.003-05:00

That is what we are in my household! Between everyday things like work to more special things like my parents coming to visit in about a week!, and lots of going on's at our church, the days seem to just FLY by! And not to mention, our computer at home is completely shot, so with a new baby at work and no computer at home, I am finding it hard to find time to blog. We should be getting a new computer this weekend though, so hopefully I'll be back to more regular blogging soon, maybe not in full effect until after my week off and my parents visit!

Though I'm still reading most of the blogs I read, I am not finding the time to comment or post on my own.

Things with us are good! No more stress producing "family" members breathing down my neck, less financial stress, a week off is around the corner and my parents are coming back down! Looking forward to Halloween and my BIRTHDAY this month too! Along with many fun events and such through our church! AND our favorite baseball team clinched the NL EAST last night! Playoff baseball!!! Go Phillies! Very exciting for us, being 1300 miles away we dont usullay get to watch the games, but we will during the playoffs!

Busy as bees here in the still pretty darn hot deep south!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-09-30T14:24:00.002-05:00

oOo Wordless Wednesday oOo

2009-09-23T10:06:00.000-05:00

He's my favorite....

2009-09-20T21:09:00.001-05:00

Best Friends

2009-09-18T15:33:00.000-05:00

Five Question Friday

2009-09-18T13:38:00.003-05:00

By Mama M.

1. What's your favorite line from a movie? Ahh! I really don't know! That is sad.

2. What "group" did you belong to in high school? I was pretty popular. I guess I hung out with the "cool kids", though I did talk to many people not in my 'clique' and many people from different towns as well.

3. If you had $1000 just for yourself what would you spend it on? Clothes. I need new clothes BAD.

4. What was your favorite childhood cartoon? Oooh.. its a tie between My Little Ponies and Flinstones.

5. What kind of sleeper are you? Back? Tummy? Side? Sprawler? I'm a side sleeper, or a back sleeper, but almost never a tummy sleeper.

What a slacker...

2009-09-18T13:06:00.000-05:00

I can't believe how much I've been slacking on my blog! And I LOVE my blog! Well I had some pretty big changes at work, the family I work for adopted a newborn baby girl 3 weeks ago, so going from watching two 3 year old boys every day to watching an 1 month old and two 3 year olds is A LOT more work, so I do not get to sit down and use the internet much at work anymore and by the time I get home after work, and make and clean up dinner and get my own 3 year old in bed, I'm beat. Hopefully we will be on somewhat of a schedule soon and I will be back to bloggin' more often, but for now, just bear with me while I get adjusted to the newness (that will again be changing in October.. *siiiiiigh*)

I'm still reading blogs when I get the time, but I'm usually to lazy to log in and comment, pretty pathetic right?

Soon it'll be better, I hope :o/

oOo Wordless Wednesday oOo

2009-09-09T20:25:00.000-05:00

Five Question Friday (on Sunday..Ive been sick..)

2009-09-06T21:36:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of Mama M

1. The clothing outfit you remember from childhood and why? I remember alot. I have an uncanny long term memory of random things. I remember this horrible pale purple sweater with pandas on it, haha, thanks Mom!

2. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? I've always just wanted to be a mom and wife.

3. What is your must have for Fall? Hmm.. Phillies Hoodie.

4. If money were no object, how many kiddos would you really have? My husband wants 7.

5. The best part of your birthing story (other than the beautiful child at the end)?
I made it through 3 days of labor and 3 hours of pushing completely natural!

I'm gonna get caught up..

2009-09-03T21:54:00.001-05:00

But I'm sick and so is Mason.. and I've had MAJOR changes at work, so it'll take a bit.

BLEEEECH.. That's how we feel in this house.

Five Question Friday

2009-08-28T20:59:00.003-05:00

Courtesy of Mama M

copy the questions to participate & head over to her blog to link up!

1. What is your favorite Holiday and why? Its a tie between Halloween and Christmas. Halloween cause its the day after my birthday and free candy is AWESOME. And now I can dress my kid up and that's just fun. Christmas cause i like the whole holiday season. The music, decorations, cookies, and of course the joy on my child's face when he comes down stairs to see what Santa left.

2. Who has been the most influential person in your life? Hmm.. I know a lot of great people. All good parents. Being a parent is HARD.Really hard.

3.If you could give up one household chore forever, what would it be? Folding and putting away the laundry. How the heck to 3 people create so much laundry!?

4. What is the BEST practical joke you have ever been a part of, on the giving OR receiving end? Nothing good really. Just silly stuff one my brother when he was little.

5. Where (or how) did you meet your spouse? Originally when I was about 15, when a mutual friend asked us to meet him at Doug's house. Then about 2 years later we sporadically saw each other when he became roommates with a friend of mine. But we didn't become "official" til August of 2002 ♥

Jumping on the bed..

2009-08-27T20:59:00.002-05:00

Jersey Girl in Louisiana

The Christmas Singing

Love You More

Five Question Fridays!

Sunday School and 9/11

My Top 10 Reason why Preschool is better then Kindergarten.

Hiatus.

No More Dreaded Mondays

God's Love Letters to You.

'Plain Wisdom' .... My thoughts exactly.

Still Discovering Our City

5QF

Sandy Spring Sundays

A recipe!

Banana French Toast

Just some pictures....

Untitled.

Five Question Friday

I'm Thankful for...

Russell the Sheep - Holiday Gift Guide Week 1

Halloween 2010

Coming soon...

Official.

Five Question Friday

Cousins.

Five Question Friday

You know you're from South Louisiana

A mostly picture post...

Where were you???

I want to blog...

Preschool

like...dislike...

A Day at the Audubon Zoo

Vote for Mason!!!!

http://www.auduboninstitute.org/photos/finsandgrins/1082

Need to contact me???

Celebration Station

Made by Auntie Tanya

Monday Minute

'Who says you can't go home..'

Thunder Jam

I've had a change of heart...

Do they ever stop growing so fast?

Lafreniere Park

Some photographs of the city

Read This Book! 'A Promise of Hope'

Mississippi Gulf Coast

New Blog

Have your cake and eat it too!

Gardening...

Flowering the Cross on Easter

Mason singing....

Just an update...

Top 3 Thursday

Sunday cooking with Mason

Our Mardi Gras Boy

Happy 4th Birthday Mason!

GEAUX SAINTS!

Krewe of Caesar Feb 06 2010

They will probably kill me...

Post It Note TUESDAY

Wordless Wednesday

V8 contest!

A few videos of Mason

Carnival Season has BEGUN!

Post It Notes Tuesday

i LOVE this place and the people who fill it.

Santa comes to our house

Our 2009 Christmas Card

'Tis the season........

wordless wednesday

5 Laps You Rather Sit on then Santa's

Makes ya think........

Wordless Wednesday

Biggest Lemon EVER..

Thursday was the worst day of my life.

Just so darn busy!

Wordless Wednesday *Halloween 2009*

Happy Halloween..

Flashback Friday... (2006)

Wordless Wednesday Halloween 2009

Wordless Wednesday my parents visit!