Happy *HEART* day!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day! I actually had a kid free night (even though I am a single mom it was nice). I went to dinner with some friends, came home and did nothing pretty much.







Sunday the kids and I had our annual Valentine's Dinner. It is such a fun way to create some special memories and show them they are MY only Valentine's.


Valentine's for class:














Hope you had a lovely week as well.

Fun Chalkboard

I saw a great post at Joys of Home about creating a chalk board from a thrift store painting. I found a great piece of "ugly" art for $3.00 and the kids and I went to it. Her instructions were so easy to follow!

We have a few other "chalk" pieces around here. I painted Kyler's dresser with the chalkboard paint. They love to draw on it and I like to leave secret I love you's on there as well. Also, the kids have a cubby stand that is also free for creativity! I love it. I think our new piece will be used for reminders or inspirational quotes. Here is my project instructions. Visit her blog Joys of Home, she has great ideas!

First you will want to sand down your frame.













Then get some kids and a patient mother and let them paint the frame. I released some perfectionism and let them get paint wherever they needed to get the project done. I love the frame color I chose! It matches my rug in the living room perfectly.




















Then go ahead and tape off your frame after it dries. I gave it 3 coats of the chalkboard paint. It was leftover I used from doing the dresser and the kids cubbies.















Finally rub chalk all over the paint after it dries. The paint can says so, okay...haha.














Finally you are free to decorate. I may distress this a little still. I love the way it turned out. Give it a try...so thrifty and easy to do. I think I am going to make smaller versions for the kids room for reminders.

Holy Snow Batman!

Wow, the snow out there is insane!

This morning I go to start my car and am shocked by the amount of snow, a good 2 feet I think. I get the car cleared off (after soaking my pants to the knees). I backed out and backed in to make sure I could get out. Came back inside, got the kids gear on which takes so long. We get back in the car and I am STUCK. There is no amount of gassing it that is getting me out.

I give the boss a call. He says he has a tow rope. I said I am going to see if maintenance can get me out and see if they plow and I will call him back in a few. 9:30 rolls around and I get maintenance to push on the car, they can not move me at all. So I called my boss back and he says well I can come get you. I think okay cool but I have the kids to take to daycare. That's fine...if I tow you out you'll probably just get stuck on the roads. The plows can not keep up with the snow.

So thankfully my boss came and got the kids and I an took us where we needed to be. I do not want to use my sick/vacation time yet so I am thankful he did that for me!

Well we get an email from HR that they are closing our work. The snow and roads are so bad they are closing my work which says A LOT about the place I work for. We are a huge company too. We all get to leave with pay....awesome. So of course the boss brought us home. My very best guy friend (this guy would do anything for me and his friends...he is amazing to have in life and I am thankful he is a good friend to me, I adore his friendship) came over and between the two of them my car is pushed back in it's spot but still stuck.

I am okay with stuck. Warm day inside is a perfect day for me.

A New Begining

I am looking forward to 2009! This last year was pretty hard emotionally and medically. I will not let this next year of my life be as hurtful as the last. I do not have it easy BUT I am thankful for so many things. I refuse to let emotions get the best of me again.

I went out with 2008 with a bang. Makayla was up with a fever and puking all night. I myself was in so much pain I headed off to Urgent Care. They thought I had kidney stones or even appendicitis. I had to have a CT and everything. They have no idea why I am hurting and was sent home with a "go to the ER if it gets worse" lol. I am still in pain but I guess I am just dealing with it.

2009 will be filled with making new memories, being happy and enjoying my life! I feel I learned a lot about myself this last year. Resolutions are few and it is okay if I fail. I look forward to blogging on a regular basis to keep track of some of the funny things my kids say and do!!

HaPpY nEw YeAr!