Oh, What a Year!

He Sees You when You're Sleeping

Parents, it is that time of year again when we get an extra parental aid. And I know I'm not the only one using this method of threatening. Every store you are in, you will hear a parent saying, "Be good because Santa is coming" or "Santa's watching you so behave" or "We aren't going to get that right now, because you don't know what Santa is going to bring you." And just like that, the child remains calm with hopes that Santa can see this good behavior too!

With my kids, I had to take this threat a step further because my kids may be on to me. Bryce says, "How can he watch all the kids everywhere, ALL over the world?" Good question! You know there is no such thing as a dumb question? Well, I'm not going to let a little half link out smart me. Think fast think fast.....

"You see these camera's in the store?" I point to the black dome shaped camera on the ceiling. It's genius. They are everywhere! Bryce says yes then asks, "Santa's in there?" I say, " No, he records people in stores to make sure they are behaving and then the elves review the tapes and only shows him the bad ones."

"Oh I see," says Bryce. He's buying it, he's buying it! I then tell him to wave up at the cameras, so he does. Whenever we are in a store they find the cameras and wave to Santa. It works great for distracting them from EVERY toy they want in the stores too. I tell them to hold it up to the camera and say, "Santa, this is what I want." They do this too. I love to see people's reactions as they pass by and my kids are holding up a toy in the sky explaining to Santa their need for it. Sometimes you have to get really creative.

Then there was an issue about Santa seeing us when we are at home. How does he see us? Another wonderful question! Think fast, think fast....

"You see all these plug-ins? The little circle in the middle is actually a camera too!" SCORE! These are everywhere too! The kids wave to the hole. Now I have all areas covered for this operation scare the kids straight.

It is so much work keeping this up! I have to get more and more creative to threaten them properly. Then after all this work, Bryce comes home the other day and is taking pictures, on his own digital camera, of everything Santa in our house. I ask him why he is doing this. He tells me that his friend told him Santa isn't real. Bryce argued and the friend told him to prove it with a picture. Whoever wins the Santa bet has to say out loud, "Santa is REAL," or "Santa isn't REAL." This kid is ruining my genius plan! His mom must have been NOT so creative at lying!

I'm going to keep this up as long as I can to have pleasant shopping experiences with the kids. It will either make them really appreciative one day or totally freaked out that Santa can see them EVERYWHERE! I would be really creeped out if that was true.

Enjoy the Holidays everyone, and remember Santa is ALWAYS watching....

Christmas Cheer Delivered

I have been the PTA president at my son's school for two years now. Bryce has only been in school for two years, so basically once they tricked me into this position, they may have me for life. Sometimes PTA is just super annoying. There are more meetings than I thought, more organizing, more time and lots more time. The school didn't really have a PTA for a couple years before I got there, so we have had some work to do, but we all got the ball rolling again.

When I am complaining or telling people I'm off to a PTA meeting, they often reply that I am nuts for joining, let alone being president. I have also known for a long time: I AM NUTS!! The thing is- I always say how important kids are, why doesn't someone do this for our kids, the kids are our future, blah, blah, blah and blah. You get it. The truth is, I feel like I have to or no one else will, and even though it is annoying at times, it is rewarding and necessary. Sometimes I even think about quiting, thinking why are there only a handful of parents for a school with 700 kids? If they don't care, why should I?

Well the answer came today. And every now and then I need reminders of why PTA is so important. A warm fuzzy creeped in.

We decided to have a food drive for a couple of our families in need for the holidays. Our school really came together and collected a ton a food for these families. AWWWW! But it gets even more chicken soupish.

There is a family that stays at a homeless shelter. They are not sure if they will get in every night because it is on a day to day basis. So every day after school they go and wait to see if they can. It is a dad with his two kids. Since they do not have access to a kitchen a food basket would have been pointless. Instead, Denny's donated gift cards for them and then we bought them a gift card for the family to see a movie on Christmas.

Our treasurer usually handles most of the affairs, since she works at the school, but today I got to hand the father our contribution to their holiday. He was so happy, so gracious and a little embarrassed. I shook his hand and told him that this was for his family to enjoy on the holidays. He thanks me and you can tell how grateful he is. He tells me that this is so wonderful and it is the only thing they will be getting for Christmas. I feel so humbled and happy to have the opportunity to brighten some one's holiday. It really meant so much to them...and me!

As I walked away, I couldn't help but cry. All day I thought about that encounter. When I now say I am blessed to have the family I do, it has a whole new meaning. We are so big and so tight-knit, we would never be in that situation. I have never thought about what a security that is. If you are a part of my family, you can sleep on my couch forever if you needed to, and I know that I have my choice of couches as well. I was naive to think that everyone had a family capable of taking care of them.

It's easy, especially during the holidays to wish for more money. Money for gifts, money for your tree, money for your Christmas cards and postage, money for gift wrap, money for work parties, etc., etc. When I think about my life, I realize how truly blessed we are to have the job my husband has. We do all these Christmas traditions without even thinking. Totally take it for granted. We go out to eat at least once a week and don't even think twice about the money. This family was so happy to going to get to go out to Denny's, something we get to do often. Wow, my perspective just changed completely.

I know it sounds cliche, but when you volunteer, it really does make you feel good. Not good because it can give you perspective on your own life, although it certainly does. But good because had I quit, had I not been president, there would be a family on Christmas without a good meal and a fun feeling. We did that! We made some one's life better and there is no way I want to quit now. It was a moment where I didn't care why this man was homeless, no family should go without a little Christmas cheer.

GO SUMMERWIND PTA!!

This is Getting Old

I have never had great skin. I guess it's genes, or hormones, or because I don't wash my makeup off at night or because it is just a bunch of bull! I don't think it's fair for a 27 year old to get blemishes. I think this is a mean trick. I couldn't wait to get older when I was in high school because of the false dream that I may have "great skin." Wrong!! This must be a funny joke to God. Well, I'm not really laughing anymore! Doesn't He know that He needs to give the teenagers the zits?



Will I be 45 still getting these blemishes?



The Proactive commercials are just so tempting. All their celebrity endoresemnts, their before and after pictures really makes me excited about great skin. Then I'm too lazy to go and get my credit card out of my purse! I guess I may just be too lazy to get great skin. For a while I was washing my face at night. But it got old. I was tired and wanted to go to bed. By the time I splashed my whole face with water and soap, I was wide awake for another hour. So instead, I manage the blemishes and complain.



Sometimes I get one giant blemish! I cover it with makeup and more makeup and more makeup. It only looks worse, like a big mountain caked with skin colored goop. So I wash the crap out of it, as if to make up for all the times I don't wash my face. It only dries the sucker out so much I have the worst dry spot on my face in history.



I almost want to make an announcement when I walk into a room or go to dinner.

Yes, go ahead and quickly glance at the spot that has taken residence on my face. Yes, I am a grown ass woman that still breaks out. Yes, I am aware this make-up may be making it look worse. No, I have not named it yet!


Recently I was walking through the mall and behold!! I see this:

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!! A Proactive Vending Machine. It's as easy as getting gum?!

Now my first thought, is of excitement! So easy to get!! My second thought was if I was to stand here in the middle of the mall and start the buy process, I am pretty sure someone from high school would walk by and try to make small talk while I'm trying to purchase some zit cream. How embarrassing! Worst idea EVER! It would probably one of the girls with "good skin " too. Nothing could be more embarrassing, except maybe buying condoms and running into your parents or something.

I guess I will just keep managing these horrid blemishes, praying about them and reminding God I'm not 16 anymore, and continue not washing my face at night. I will just be a walking- before ad for proactive! Maybe when I am like 90, I will have good skin, or it will be so wrinkled it won't matter anyway...

To My Dear Papa

Today would have been my grandpa's 90Th birthday. He passed away four years ago, but it's still easy to remember how wonderful he was. Although he lived a great full life, I wanted to believe he'd be here forever...

I was suppose to say some words at his funeral, but I couldn't bring myself to talk without turning to hysterics. My oldest brother bravely stepped in and said beautiful things about him. I wish I could have pulled it together long enough to talk because there would have been so many things to say...

I am so lucky to have had such a positive role model in my life. I didn't realize until after he was gone just how much he had influenced my life.

He taught me the importance of recycling. I used to go to help him around the house and tease him because he would save anything with a 1-6 recycle code on the bottom. The recycling often took over the counters because the bin was too far for him to walk. I would come over a couple times a week and take them out for him. I remember saying, "What's the difference? Just throw it in the trash." He would lecture me about taking care of the planet for my children and their children. I am now obsessed with recycling and limiting the trail I leave here when I go.

He was so passionate about politics. He was a hard-core democrat. I would go and eat with him and we'd watch the news and talk about politics. I didn't realize how much his passion would make me feel passionate about voting and becoming involved. He use to tell me it was our responsibility to vote. That it was a privilege that shouldn't be taken lightly. He came to America to give his children a better life. We recently found a paycheck stub from when he first came here. It was for 96 cents an hour. I think about that a lot! How hard he had to work for us and become a citizen and do it the right way. I am forever grateful for those hard choices he made. He helped me understand why America was great, so great, he uprooted his family to be a part of it. I will always vote....specially in his honor!

He could cook up a storm! When I'd go for my visits he would make the best tasting food. Then he told me I would have to learn to cook this way. I loved how he'd measure. He take a fist full of rice and say, "This is how much you put in." I'd tell him that my hands were smaller and he'd say, "Doesn't matter." It always turned out good. I am so thankful for the dinners we had together. There were these pork chops he would make that I always requested. He taught me to perfect these and I made them tonight for my family to celebrate his birthday.

I miss so much about him, but mostly I feel so lucky to have had him in my life for as long as I did. He was always kind and patient. The best kind of grandpa to have. He taught without seeming to be lecturing. He was simply there for us when we needed him. If you complimented something of his, he would insist you take it home with you. He always had candy in his pocket to share. He always addressed birthday cards: To my dear, and the name...

So Happy Birthday, to My Dear Papa!

Everyone calls you AMAZING, I just call you MINE!

The title of this blog happens to be a new Martina McBride song. It also happens to be the way I feel about my husband. Since he is not one to brag, I have taken the liberty to dedicate this blog to how awesome he is. All right girls, I am NOT holding back on this one, so sorry if you gag a 'lil.

Of course, I have always thought my husband is great, that's why I married him, right? He works for 24 Hour Fitness and had worked his way up through the years. He may be one of the hardest working guys I know, and does so without complaint. Although he isn't one of the highest paid Club Managers, which I think is a shame, he is one of the best! I have often been frustrated with the company and wonder if they really value him the way they should. Well in the last year, I think his hard work and way with people has really paid off and for anyone who doesn't know...He is AMAZING!

Within the last year he has won an award based on integrity. Just call him Mr. Integrity. Not a bad quality to have in a husband(take notes Tiger)or boss. Then we got to go on a chairman's cruise with the best from the company. All expenses paid! Nice way to say, "That a boy!" Then he received a raise to better reflect his value. This last week his club and him won another honor based on engagement, which means how well the employees are informed and feel a part of the company. Out of ALL the clubs in the company his employees took a survey that put him at the top of the list. This coming from of a club that is in desperate need of an overhaul; the place is OLD! He has created this great atmosphere for his employees to work in and he created a feeling that everyone feels a part of the team. I couldn't be more proud of him!!

The CEO announced during a conference call his name and gave a shot out to the great job he is doing. Then they gave his club $2,000 to spend on a party!

He is always the type of guy to go in and get the job done. He's not in your face or over the top. He won't brag about all the wonderful recognition he receives. He just gives over 110%, all the time. I am so proud of his style and way with people. You just can't meet him and not like the guy!

OK ladies, this is where it gets even more ridiculous! He comes home from work that day with flowers. I think, "Wow, he's in such a great mood because of this award." He hands me the flowers and thanks me!!! He gives me a great big hug and said if it wasn't for me, he couldn't do the stuff he is doing at work. I find that hard to believe, but it felt great to hear, regardless. He tells me thanks for taking care of the kids and that the job I'm doing at home allows him to do a good job at work.

Let me get this straight, he gets an award because he is awesome, and he turns it around to make me feel awesome! How awesome is he?? And there is no extra charge for this?

I usually try to downplay how great he is, for some reason. BUT not today!!! Today, I shout from the roof tops: BOBBY is the BEST, and am proud to call him MINE!!