Reading

I follow along on several blogs and one of the ones that I read has been talking about what she is reading lately. She has a preteen daughter (see notquitewhatihadplanned.blogspot.com) that has been having to do a lot of required reading. Hopefully she won't mind me posting her blog here for the world to see (or all of my 2 followers, *wink*). Anyways, it got me to thinking about what I am in to with my reading. First of all, let me just go on record to say that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read. I will just about read anything, but if I can't get into the book after the first couple of chapters I will put it down and move on.
The best book I have ever read is called The Shack. I would highly recommend it. I am a Christian and came to know Jesus at the age of 9. However, I have never really understood the whole trinity thing. Now don't get me wrong, I read my bible, attend church, bible studies, etc. This is not even a "religious" book. It just really makes you see God differently. In my opinion it isn't too far off theology. It is a fiction book though. If you have read it, leave me a comment and let me know what you thought about it. Right now I am reading "At home in Mitford", which is by another Christian author. Several other books that I have thoroughly enjoyed are all books by Terry Blackstock. I can't wait to get my hands on another one of her series. She has lots. My sister turned me on to these and we were not able to put them down. How about you? What do you like to read?
We had a great Christmas. Tried to keep it a little lower key this year, which was nice. Not as much running and being on the road as we normally do. My Tori-bug really was excited by the gifts Santa brought, namely her Nintendo DS, but cried Christmas Eve when her elf had to go home. Oh well. Maybe she will come visit us next year. Hope you all enjoyed yours. Looking forward to the New Year. My mom is doing much better and actually looks a lot better. Thanks for checking in with us.
Wendy

I'm just saying.....

Did it occur to anyone else that today is December 18th? Did you hear me say it was Dec. 18th? Today the high was 72 degrees. What????? In December?? I'm just saying....... it is supposed to be cold in December. COLD, I tell you!!! Now don't get me wrong, I loved walking to McDonalds across the street from the hospital this afternoon with the sun beaming down, but I truly thought it was spring for a moment.
Let me also just say......... that I have the best friends in the world. Both of my two bestest friends have called me every day since Sunday when my mom got admitted. They even came down to the hospital on Sunday to show me support. Things are getting better for my mom. She won't get to come home until at least Sunday, but that's okay. We want her completely well before she does anyway. The family drama seems to be getting better too. We all need our mom and want whats best for her.
Tomorrow officially starts the holiday season for us. The kids get out of school tomorrow, all the class partys, and then holiday gatherings this weekend too. YUM!

Blah, blah, and more blah

I haven't been able to get on here all week b/c my mom had to make an emergency visit to the hospital on Sunday morning. Mom has always been a smoker, but supposedly quit several years ago after finding out she had COPD (emphysema). I say supposedly b/c I found out on Sunday that she has been smoking quite a bit lately. Everybody knew she was except my sister and I. Anyways...... she got admitted to ICU for respiratory failure and aspirin toxicity. She had apparently taken 30-50 Goody powders in one day trying to get rid of her headache. She thought that the more she took the better it would get, but everybody knows that Goody powders have caffeine in them and you get a rebound headache. I am happy to say that she is doing some better but not completely out of the woods yet.

Sunday night, when we got home Tori-bug wanted to give Joy (the elf) a jelly bean. Monday morning when we got up Joy had made herself a bubblebath out of cotton balls in our bathroom sink. That silly 'ol elf.

Joy put a tree in my room!!

Last Sat. night after being gone most of the day we came home to not being able to find Joy, our elf. Tori-bug looked all over for her and finally found her in her bedroom. She had been spreading a little Christmas cheer in there.

She had left a decorated tree with ornaments that all said "JOY" on them and she was sitting at the top. She had also left a pair of new red shoes under the tree. Tori-bug was so excited. We were supposed to leave her a jellybean last night (she can only feed her jellybeans 2 nights a week), but Tori-bug was feeling a little under the weather so we forgot. She is feeling much better today though so she might get a jellybean tonight.

Weekend Plans

Well, today is Friday. I was very ready for a relaxing weekend at home. Well, maybe not at home, but not having to work either. We have plans to wrap presents tonight (I have not wrapped a single gift yet and there is only 2 weeks left before Christmas). Tomorrow morning we have a gymnastics Christmas party, then going to my bosses house for a family Christmas party. Sunday, we have church, then a going-away party for a gentleman that is going to Iraq in January, and a birthday party for my niece. The school called this morning and said my Tori-bug was complaining of a stomachache and she had vomited. I hope our busy weekend plans aren't busted. She has been asleep since I picked her up from school. I really need people to leave a message in my comments so I know that I am not just writing to the wind (even though I probably am)!!!! It would be okay if I was. I am mainly keeping this blog for a written journal for myself and Tori-bug anyway, but it would be nice to hear from you folks.

I know, I know

I know, I know!! I said I would do my very best to keep up this website, I have already failed at it. I just haven't gotten around to posting my pictures yet. We are having a blast with Joy, the elf. She has put Tori's underwear all over the Christmas tree, watched a DVD with the tooth fairy (we know this b/c the tooth fairy left the money for the tooth under the elf's pillow), and she brought a 4ft. Christmas tree in Tori's room. She did this on Sat. while we were not home. The tree was decorated with ornaments that all said JOY and she was sitting at the top. Under the tree was a pair of new red shoes. My Tori-bug was ecstatic. She loved it!!! Thanks for checking in on us and I will try really hard to post pics really soon.

Mom2Tori-bug

What Joy!!!

Last year, my daughter and I decided that we would write Santa a letter and ask for an elf to visit us the month of December. We had the idea from hostanelf.com and a little girl named Catie. Catie passed away from a brain tumor, but her mom was blogging all about the fun Catie and her elf had during the Christmas season. Basically, you write a letter requesting an elf from Santa then you document the journey. The elf comes named, with jelly beans and oatmeal flakes, and a letter stating that during the day the elf will be watching the child to be able to report back to Santa on their behavior. But, sometimes they get into mischief at night. They come ALIVE!! Our elf arrived last year and her name was Joy. She got into all kinds of mischief. She poured baby powder all over the bathroom floor and made snow angels, she wrote on the bathroom mirror, etc. On several occasions she wrote back to my daughter in her journal. She even went to see a play with us, Annie Jr., and brought my daughter an "Annie" movie that night for her. On the nights that you don't mind if she gets into mischief, the child can feed her a jelly bean. On the nights you want her to sleep or rest, you feed her oatmeal flakes. On Christmas Eve, she has to go back to the North Pole when Santa comes to your house to deliver toys. Occasionally, during the year, Santa sees fit to allow her to make special trips to your house, i.e. birthdays, special holidays (ours came last year with the Easter bunny with a special note and left jelly beans for my daughter, Joy's favorite is jelly beans). We had so much fun with her. On the last night she left a note on top of my daughter's daddy. Joy was mischievous the night before she left and had gotten into the wrapping paper. The note said, "I know I've been bad. I wrapped up your dad". My husband was wrapped from head to toe in wrapping paper while he was asleep!!!
Last night, Joy made her way back to our house. We found her under the Christmas tree this morning with a pair of new pajamas for my daughter. She also brought with her jelly beans and oatmeal flakes. Let the fun begin. I have told my daughter that she would only be able to give her jelly beans 2 nights a week b/c I don't have time to clean up her messes every morning. She thought that was a good idea and can't wait to see what she does tonight. Incidently, my daughter's tooth fell out this morning. It had been loose for a few days so I think Joy and the tooth fairy are getting together tonight. They should have lots of fun together. I just got a new camera (my other one and laptop) were both stolen 3 months ago so all my pics of Joy and Tori were stolen, but I will post pics along the way of the fun we are having with her. Come along with me and if you are interested in helping out a good cause and having tons of fun go check out Catie's Elf at hostanelf.com. They are giving a portion of their proceeds to Cure Childhood Cancer research.

Love,
Wendy

Been wanting to get started...

I have been following along on quite a few different blogs over the last couple of years. I am totally addicted to some of them. I decided I wanted to start one for myself.
First, let me introduce myself. My name is Wendy. I am a pediatric nurse, wife of 10 years to hubby, Kevin, (who was also my high school sweetheart), and a mom to 2 beautiful girls. Don't know how much I will be blogging, but I hope to get on here occasionally and spread cheer, thoughts, and give you a little glimpse into my world.