14.11.09 / Family / Author: Anna / Comments: (0)
Tags: christmas shopping, gifts for teenagers, kids gifts, samsung hdtv
Christmas is only 41 days away from today. I can’t believe how fast it has come this year. It seems like just last week, we were in Florida celebrating Christmas. Guess that is what happens when you get older, time goes by way too fast!
I have been thinking of what to get my kids this year for Christmas. Of course they have their own list of things that they want. From cell phones, to iPods, to new Samsung HDTV’s. You name it, they want it. And of course, the older kids get, the more expensive the gifts get. But, fortunate for me, my kids only get 3 gifts at Christmas. I’ll explain why later.
My 2 year old is getting a Barbie Jeep. I found a great deal on it at a Consignment sale that I went to a couple of months back. I paid $50 for it and it looks brand new. I was thinking of getting her a Mr & Mrs Potato Head and a new bed.
My 13 year old daughter wants a horse. Of course, that isn’t going to happen. She wants a camera, which, she may get that. She will be getting a lot of clothes. She may get a new CD player.
My 15 year old son will be the most difficult to shop for. He wants a cell phone, a guitar, an amp, and so on. I am looking for good deals on guitars. That may be what he gets along with some lessons.
I think that we have lost the reason behind Christmas and it has gotten too commercialized. I enjoy spending the time with the kids and seeing the joy on their faces on Christmas morning. But what I want my kids to learn more than anything is that it is better to receive than to give.
14.11.09 / Family / Author: Anna / Comments: (0)
Tags: H1N1, philadelphia job, stomach bug
My children and I have just recently gotten over a stomach bug that attacked so suddenly that it left us all scratching our heads and wondering where it all came from. (and no, it wasn’t the H1N1)
It all started on Tuesday evening around 9pm. I put my 2 year old daughter to bed and was getting ready to relax and enjoy the evening. Then I heard her call out to me, “Mommy, I need to use the potty”. She is being potty trained and so anytime she tells me she has to go, I drop everything and go and take her to the potty.
I went in and got her. She used the potty and as I was taking her back to bed, without any warning at all, she throws up all over me, herself, the floor, and the couch!!!
By the time I got that her, myself, the floor, and the couch all cleaned up, she was puking again! I figured it out then, that it was going to be a long night. And it was.
My poor baby girl threw up everything she had in her and then proceeded to dry heave the rest of the night. I would have to leave the light on until she feel asleep and then I would turn it off hoping to catch a few minutes of sleep myself. That was wishful thinking.
Every time that I was about to fall asleep, she would move which would trigger her throwing up. I ended up with 3 loads of laundry from that night. We both had to change clothes about 3 times as well as blankets and sheets!
By Wednesday morning, she was back to her old self again. But we were both wore out.
So life continued as normal until Friday morning! And it started all over again, except this time, it was me that had the stomach bug. I felt horrible!
Then I get a call from my son at school telling me that he is throwing up and is sick and I need to come pick him up. I thought to myself, you have got to be kidding me!!! I didn’t want to move from the couch much less drive to the school and pick my son up.
But I did it! I wasn’t sure if I would make it or not, but I did. So now, my son and I are both home sick. by the time we got back home, it was nap time. Oh, blessed nap time. I was looking forward to this time so much.
I did get to take a nap with my daughter until I got woken up by my 13 year old daughter coming in from school telling me that she had just thrown up on the bus and she was sick.
ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! I couldn’t believe it. I felt like total crap and here my other 2 children are sick and I have a 2 year old that I have to take care of. Are moms not allowed to be sick?
What was even harder is that my husband wasn’t here to help me, he had a Philadelphia job to do and so I was all alone!
I had counted on my older kids to help me with the 2 year old so I could rest and get better, but that plan quickly flew out the window when they both came home sick.
Needless, to say, I did survive. I feel 100% better now and all of my kids are back to their usual selves!
The one blessing with the stomach bug was that it was a very quick one and we all got it at once, so we got it out of the way! But I thank God that we are done with it!
31.10.09 / Family / Author: Anna / Comments: (0)
Tags: espresso, espresso machine, make your own espresso, Nespresso, Starbucks
Have you ever had one of those days that you wake up and you KNOW you need a cup of coffee?
I woke up to one of those days this morning. The cobwebs in my mind took a lot longer to get rid of than usual. The kids were more rambunctious than they normally are, and of course, the potty wars aren’t helping at all!I was not in the best of moods and really didn’t want to face the day yet. I felt that I needed a few more hours of sleep!
I went to fix me a cup of coffee and was thinking to myself how great would it be if I had my own Nespresso machine. Make my own espressos and cappuccinos. I mean think about it, how great would that be.
I wouldn’t need to go running to the closest Starbucks or coffee shops, I could have my very own whenever I wanted it, no matter what time of day it was.
Now that I am really thinking about it, I think I am going to put that on my Christmas wish list. Then on mornings like this morning, I will get up looking forward to my cup of coffee and would be excited to make it!
Hey, its a thought!
30.10.09 / Family / Author: Anna / Comments: (0)
Tags: floor tiles, new carpet, redecorate, remodel your home, traveling, when visiting family
I absolutely love to go visit my sister, her husband, and my new niece, who, by the way, is only 4 months old. And yes, I spoil her every chance I get! After-all, isn’t that what Aunts are for.
I was just up visiting with them a couple of weeks back and I must say, I had a blast. My sister is not one to stay at home and just ‘hang out’. Oh no, we are constantly on the move when we are there.
They live up in North Carolina, which many of you know is where I am from. To be honest with you, it is where my heart is. I love it there and have even thought of the possibility of moving back there someday. Well, if God opens those doors, I certainly would not hesitate in moving.
She has been doing some remodeling lately. New carpet, new floor tiles, new paint, and so on. She definitely has a great sense of color and style when it comes to redecorating her home. She has done a fabulous job.
She has everything ready for the holidays and my hat is off to her for doing it all in record time. I know her home will be filled with lots of fun, love, and laughter this holiday season as it is on any day of the week.
It is just so refreshing to be so close to someone in your family that you can go and visit whenever you want and their home is always ready for you and open to you and your family!
Thanks sis!
29.09.09 / Family / Author: Anna / Comments: (0)
Tags: 88 days til Christmas, Barbie Jeep, bluetooth headset, Christmas
Make Christmas Comments at GlitterBell.comOh my gosh!!! I can not believe there is ONLY 88 more days til Christmas. Where did this year go?I have known for some time now that the old saying is true. “The older you get, the faster time flies!” Of course, that still brings no comfort to me. I certainly don’t need to be reminded that I am getting older, I already know that.
I counted the days left til Christmas because I was thinking of my husband’s present. I am thinking of getting him a Bluetooth headset. I believe that he would get a lot of use out of it. Especially with all the driving that he does.
And, I obviously would feel a lot better knowing that both hands are where they need to be while he is driving instead of holding onto a phone.
I have been doing a bit better this year too as far as buying gifts. I already have my 2 year old’s big gift. She will be getting a Barbie jeep for Christmas. I know she is going to love it! She always wants to sit in them when she sees them at the stores.
It is the older kids that I will have to use my imagination for. I have no idea what to get them as of yet. But I am thinking about it and looking, so I am way ahead of where I was last year as far as being prepared for Christmas.
It will be here before I know it!