Life As I Know It

Testing blogger from my phone

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 04:07:00 +0000

Spooky Buddies

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:05:00 +0000

Space Buddies, and Santa Paws are 2 of Alanna's FAVORITE movies. She watches them about every chance she gets. Now that a new "Buddies" movie is coming out thats all she can talk about. Look for the movie in a store near you September 20.

For a goulish good time, catch Rosebud, B-Dawg, Buddah, Budderball, and Mudbud in their all-new Halloween-themed movie! SPOOKY BUDDIES continues the overwhelmingly popular franchise that features the adorable talking puppies, with action, laughs, and fast-paced adventure.

so in love

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:52:00 +0000

I've never given a photo canvas much thought, until recently.

I was asked to do a review for EasyCanvasPrints.com. The ordering process was as was as 1, 2, 3...literally!
1, you select your canvas size, 2, you select your picture, and don't worry about your picture having poor quality, because they tell you if your image has poor. medium or good quality, then you pick your border image, and 3 you basically add it to your cart. SO.EASY!

I received my canvas very quickly in the mail and was very impressed with the quality. The colors are so bright and the picture is beautiful. I have the perfect place on my mantel over my fireplace to hang my gorgeous picture, but now my problem is that I want to redo everything on my mantel. You know to update my living room {grin}. Everything must change and revolve around my new canvas!

I don't have a picture of my new canvas just yet, but I'll give you a sneek peek of my picture

Check out Easycanvasprints.com now, they are offering 25% off all canvas and FREE standard shipping!

feels like heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:29:00 +0000

Things are getting checked off our summer to do list left and right around here.

Three kids went to the dentist today and three kids walked out with clean, cavity free mouths. Today was a routine check up for the girls. The usual comments: Their teeth are so beautiful, great job girls, and remember to sign up for our cavity free club. I'm so proud of them. Brushing machines they are and they take pride in there pearly whites.

For Ben, this was a big deal. It marked his first dentist visit, and he did it like a pro. Xrays, brushing and flossing...no big deal!

After the dentist, I thought I would reward my awesome children with a trip to the beach. Sun, and Sand filled our afternoon. We walked along the shore, collected sea shells, and slashed in the waves. It was a fun time just me and my babes.

Now the babes are showered and sweet smelling, watching a movie and cuddling. This peace we have in our house feels like heaven..

The last days of summer

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:09:00 +0000

The weeks before school starts are becoming less and less. The talk of back to school shopping and schedules I'm hearing more and more.

The lazy mornings and late bedtimes will be put away until next year and out will come busy routines and homework.

This school year starts a new chapter in our family life.

All 3 of my babes will be in school some sort of way. This school year you will find Hannah in middle school. Switching classes and lockers fill her fears, but the excitement of a new adventure holds her grounded. Her biggest complaint right now is her bff is not riding the same bus as her this year, like they did last year...oh the simple complaints of an 11 yr old.

1st grade is screaming Alanna's name..loud and clear if you have ever met her, you know what I am talking about. {grin} Shes excited to be in elementary school on her own this year, meaning no more big sister to shadow. Her biggest accomplishment this summer was that we found a puppy backpack and "THATS EXACTLY WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED MOM"

My baby (can you believe I am already talking school and Ben in the same sentence? I mean it was just last week that I announced I was pregnant and yesterday my baby turned ONE) (sorry about that I'm still having trouble handling all this grown up-ness) who is now an independent 3 year old ~~little~~ big boy who sleeps in a big boy bed and is potty trained. He will start a wonderful "home base" pre-school program in a few weeks (the same one Alanna started with..LOVE IT!!). His teacher will come to our house once a week and work one on one with Ben for a few hours, then every other Friday he will ride a BUS and socialize with the other "home base" kids in school, eat lunch and will come home to his ~~weeping~~ happy as can be mommy.

So for now I am trying to cherish these last weeks of ~~screaming~~, ~~fighting~~ wonderful, blissful moments with my ~~dirty~~, ~~sweaty~~ clean and yummy smelling children.

A lesson in friendship and greatfulness

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:28:00 +0000

Things are slowly starting to feel normal around here again. I know I haven't talked much about it, but Chris was laid off in January and just recently in July got a job. It was a rough 6 months, but we are slowly beginning to stick are heads out from under water.

We used up all our savings, and plus some. Let me tell you, you really learn what friends and family are when you almost lose everything you worked so hard for. These past few months have taught me a great deal about friendship and who is meant to be in our lives and who isn't.

What I want to come out of all this is a lesson to the kids about wants and needs.
The kids can sit there all day and say they want things, but learning what you want and what you need is a hard lesson. I hope this helps them see how fortunate we are to have so many people around us who care. And as they get older I hope they choose the people that will have lasting friendships.

I sure hope these faces tell how grateful we are to be on our way, catching up on bills, paying off debt and being able to support ourselves again!

For those who have helped us along the way (and you know who you are) I want to give a special {{Thank you}} and {{HUGs to you}} We couldn't have done it without you and God will bless you as you have us.

Silver Lake, camping fun

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:29:00 +0000

Playing at the park

Shes so brave

mystic fire

park fun

waiting in line with Uncle Larry for the go carts

Ben waiting in line with Aunt Pam for the go carts

Hannahs getting ready

Alanna and Uncle Larry getting ready

Ben and Aunt Pam

Go Alanna

There goes Ben

and Hannah

racing Uncle Mike and Matthew

zoooooooom

eating lunch before we head home

giggling Ben

Hannah 1 and Hannah 2

What a cute name for a restaurant :)

Ben and daddy waiting for lunch

Silver Lake, Lake Michigan

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Last weekend, Chris and I took the kids camping in Silver Lake, Michigan. Its a beautiful setting with the sand dunes and Lake Michigan practically everywhere you look. Chris' brothers and sister and all their families shared the amazing adventure with us. Below are just a few of the pictures from our trip to the beach on Lake Michigan.

the "small" sand dunes

playing in the waves

beautiful light house

the "big" dunes

sand dunes

a little blurry, but more "mountains" of sand

Alanna says it looked like a desert {grin}

more of the light house

playing in the sand

concentrating on the sand castle

family swim

trying to bury Jack the dog

still trying

guess the dog wasn't working, so they buried Uncle Troy

Sand Castle, Uncle Troy

trying to get the kids sleepy, so they take a nap later, LOL

Ben and Daddy in the lake

three

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:01:00 +0000

This boy is so amazing

He is the "son" in my shine (sunshine) :)

He leaves me breathless

and speechless

I am so proud to be called his momma

He is growing so fast

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

so.random

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:45:00 +0000

A few random pictures since summer started

from the wonderful phone!

Alanna's kindergarten concert

Hannah's 1st trip over the Mackinac Bridge

Beach Bound

Alanna got a fish

Look closely, Hannah did too!

Hanging out at Aunt Tracy's house!

peaceful

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 13:41:00 +0000

Hannah had to take some pictures for 4H. This is what she came up with.

E.N.J.O.Y

This little boy

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:30:00 +0000

This little boy, sure knows about adventure.

He never has a fear of jumping, running, and sliding.

This little boy sure knows how to make his momma happy

and keeps her on her toes.

This little boy sure brings joy to his family

This little boy is growing so fast.

This little boy is turning 3 in a week.
This little boy has skinned knees
This little boy still crawls in his mammas lap for a hug

This little boy is potty trained.
This little boy runs through the house playing pirates and monsters

This little boy has no more baby, and all big boy

special friends

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:17:00 +0000

friends are something special

friends are there through good and bad

even your best kindergarten friends, at graduation

teachers always share a special place in our hearts

friends may move away

but the memories that are made

will last a lifetime

eleven

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:52:00 +0000

always smiling, brown eyed girl

4H Lover, always helping

endless laughing, carefree ways

Best friend, thoughtful listener

awesome big sister (and cousin) with the best hugs

great photographer, my little lady

summer sum up

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 00:49:00 +0000

Wow! Its been awhile. I dont even know where to begin. We have a temporary computer. My sister had an extra laptop that was broken and said if we could fix it we could have it....we fixed it!

So much has been happening this last month. The girls are on summer vacation which means that its extra busy around the house. But im getting ahead of my self, so lets start from the beginning.

May:
My was busy. I had surgery, my mother came to visit from Florida to help with the kids while I was laid up. I also had my brother, SIL and niece and and nephew staying here awhile. Also in May was Hannah's 11th birthday. I cant believe that my baby is growing into such a beautiful young lady. She deserves her very own post, which she will get very soon.
May also marked 1 yr for my mother in law passing away. It was a stressful year but the family pulled through. We went to Mackinac (Upper Michigan) so we could all be together and remember. It was a freat getaway and a fun time.

June:
June just flew by. It was filled with sun, sand and beaches. We also snuck in a small camping trip over Fathers day weekend. That also happens to be the weekend my dad had a major heart attack that affected the whole family. He also deserves his own post, so keep an eye out for that :)
June was also the month we started potty training Ben

July:
And here we are in July already. We had a wedding over the 4th, Chris' nephew is in the Marines it was a quick but beautiful wedding. We have "camped out" at my husbands step fathers farm, pond, fire, smores, its like out own private campground just for us, its beautiful! July is also the month that I turn 30, and Ben turns 3. Potty training is going GREAT! Ben deserves his own post as well! And lets not forget about Alanna. She learned how to ride a 2 wheeler with NO training wheels over the weekend. She is now a pro and deserves her own post as well.

So that about sums up everything thats been going on around here. I know I have been out of touch and promise to get back into the swing of things. I also have been very crafty lately and cant wait to show you my projects and also have many more to start. Thanks for being so patient and not losing faith in me and my absence.

~With love~

Be Back Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:36:00 +0000

I only have a minute.

Our computer crashed, and with Chris still not having a full time job, we are out of luck for a little while. I can still keep up on facebook and email through my phone, so feel free to drop me a line every now and then.

As for blogging, well, as soon as we get a new computer, I will be back FULL force!

Have a GREAT summer!

Mickey's Great Outdoors

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:58:00 +0000

We were first introduced to the Mickey Mote last December, and ever since then Ben has been in love! This time around we watched Mickey's Great Outdoors. Ben loves how he gets to choose the color or the shape on his own.

Disney’s Mickey Mote works with any Disney Preschool DVD that includes the Discovery Mode™ feature – an interactive “Watch & Play” feature on the DVD. All parents have to do is program the remote control - there’s an easy and quick set-up guide in each DVD - and select the Discovery Mode feature on the menu screen. Within minutes, kids will be easily able to respond to questions about scenes they just watched by pressing one of four color-coded buttons on the device -- a yellow star, green circle, orange triangle or blue square – to click in their responses. Discovery Mode features include two levels of play, which provides more challenging questions as the child grows. To date, there are more than 13 Disney Preschool DVD titles for parents to choose from that can be used with the remote control.

Mickey's Great Outdoors is all about camping, fishing and all the fun things to do outdoors. This DVD arrived just in time since we are heading "Up North" Memorial weekend for a camping trip with my Husbands entire family. We got to show Ben what camping would be like and how much fun we can have outside.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Great Outdoors was released on DVD May 24th. The Mickey Mote Play Set includes DVD + Digital Copy + Mickey Mote and is available for $29.99 U.S. / $35.99 Canada. The 2-Disc Combo Pack includes DVD + Digital Copy and retails for $19.99 U.S. / $24.99 Canada.

Sharpays Fabulous Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:37:00 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I received Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure in the mail. I thought it would be a fun movie for Hannah to watch, since she LOVED all the High School Musical movies..and who wouldn't with all the fun music and characters.

This movie is a spin off of the Sharpay character played by Ashley Tisdale. Sharpay has never lacked self-confidence, so when a Broadway casting agent sees her perform with her dog Boi and offers to set up an audition in New York, Sharpay assumes she'll immediately succeed as a Broadway star. Her father is skeptical, but Sharpay quickly arranges for a penthouse in New York, sets up an appointment to audition, and convinces her father to give her a month to follow her dreams and achieve success. New York has some surprises in store for the aspiring young actress, starting with a no-pets policy that lands Sharpay and her dog out on the street on their very first day in town.

This movie is sweet, funny and just the right amount of pink. Hannah has watched this movie at least 3 times this week and says that it never get old. This movie is a great movie for teenagers, particularly, one with the acting bug.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides-GIVEAWAY-CLOSED

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:16:00 +0000

Yo Ho, Yo Ho…..you know what that means! Captain Jack is back and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES sails into theatres everywhere on May 20th!

A NEW movie out, you know what that means. I have a GIVEAWAY to offer. I have 1 prize pack to offer to 1 lucky winner.

- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES in adult sizes of S, M, L, XL

- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES bandana in black

- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES temporary tattoo (2 per winner)

For each one of the following you do, you will be entered one time. Make sure you leave a seperate comment for each that you do.

~Go to is go to the Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Facebook page and like it

~Tell me your favorite Johnny Depp movie

~Write about this giveaway on your blog linking back to the contest page

~Post about the contest on Twitter and leave the link in your comment

This contest will end on May 25th and winner will be chosen at random. GOOD LUCK!

Due to low entries the Winner is Tammy..congrats! I will email you further info!

Houston, We have a WINNER!

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Congrats to Teresa who won the Mars Needs Mom contest. Teresa, you should be receiving an email from me to obtain your mailing info. Congrats again!

Mars Needs Moms, pre-screening FUN!

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:27:00 +0000

My family and I were lucky enough to have a pre screening of Mars Needs Moms in our area, and were invited to view it.

First let me start off telling you, how cute, funny and heartwarming the movie is. Mars is run by women who have been told by the "supervisor" that they don't have the time to take care of the young babies and need the memories and rules from the Earth moms to raise the babies.

The movie then introduces you to Milo. Your typical boy, who loves his family, but doesn't ever want to do his chores.

The Supervisor of Mars sees Milo's mom keeping rules and order in her home and wants her to be brought to Mars. Milo wakes in the middle of the night to an adventure most of us will never have the chance to discover.

Once the movie was over both my girls came to me and gave me a BIG hug, and told me they loved me. Maybe they were excited I brought them to the movies or maybe they were scared the martians were coming for me, either way I got a hug and had a great time with my family.

...Then we got home and all was back to normal {grin}...

Mars Needs Moms will be released to the public this Friday March 11 at a theater near you.

After the movie, hurry home and take advantage of the story line, and have the kids finish those pesky chores :)

Low entry for giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:52:00 +0000

I have a really low entry for the giveaway below...Please help spread the word and sign up for the Mars Needs Moms fun gift pack!

Mars Needs Moms giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:33:00 +0000

A new exciting movie will be in theaters on March 11, 2011

Mars Needs Moms

Mars Needs Moms is a wild adventure in Disney 3D and IMAX 3D. In anticipation of the show date I have an awesome prize pack to giveaway.

- MARS NEEDS MOMS T-Shirt (Adult Size)

- MARS NEEDS MOMS T-Shirt (Youth Size)

- MARS NEEDS MOMS Temporary Tattoos (3-pack)

To Win this prize pack, you must do all 3 of the following:
1. GO to Mars Needs Moms facebook page and "like" it
2. Be a Blog follower
3. Leave a comment telling me how awesome you as a mom are, or if you're not a mom, tell me how awesome your own mother is.

Thats it. Now hurry, this contest will end March 11, 2011 and the winner will be notified by email, so make sure your email is in your comment somewhere...Have fun!

One Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:00:00 +0000

Chris took a temp job, working with his brother for the week. His brother travels to different places and tears downs stores, packs them up and then cleans them. Right now they are in Virginia. Its been 5 days since I seen my husband. The kids have been VERY good while he is away, and its been an easy week. Except for the hassle of working with the DHS office and the new LOUD noise now coming from our van.

Yesterday I thought I finally figured this DHS stuff out. I called and spoke with the supv. Well, I'm not really sure we should call it spoke, maybe yelled is a better term, but I think I got my point across very well. I received a call from my case worker less than an hour later telling me, we were approved, and money for January and February should be on the card by the next day. For the first night in a month I actually fell asleep and slept the whole night.

That restful nights sleep was much needed for the day I just had today. I called the food card and no money was added. $0 balance.
After calling my case worker, her supv, and DHS more than 50 times today I get a call at 4:30 telling me that the money was placed on another card, a card I didn't have and no one knows where this card is. I called customer service for the food card and was told that the card I had in my hand was not active since 2008 and there is no open account for 2011. I gave her the card # that the money was on and she told me it belonged to a man..I asked if it was Chris and she said yes, but she couldn't talk to me because I was not authorized.

(insert SCREAMING IN MY HEAD)

I called Chris in Virginia and asked him to call and get information for me. He calls me back and said that yes the card was in his name and it had all the money that was supposed to be on it..on it. He then said that the new card was mailed on the 16th and we should be receiving it in 3-5 business days

(insert more SCREAMING IN MY HEAD)

DHS has confused me, angered me, made me cry, and down right makes me want to write to the government to tell my story. Per Michigan law, DHS had up to 30 days to process our application for food assistance...tomorrow marks our 30 days.

I ask myself several times how people live like this. It makes no sense. We have had family help us, the Salvation Army, MCOP, and friends have dropped off groceries and supplies to get us through...What if we didn't have family and friends who were in the position to help us? What would we have done...

I'm making a promise to myself right now, that when we get back on our feet, I will donate as much of my time and money and assistance to anyone I can to help out those families who truly and honestly need the help.

playing the waiting game

noreply@blogger.com (Tasha) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:29:00 +0000

I called the local DHS supervisor this morning at 8:30am. Its now 2:30pm and I am still waiting to hear from someone.

Because when it rains it pours.

We had our taxes filed before February 1, 2011. We are STILL waiting on our federal return. I checked the IRS site and the "processing is pending". I spoke with our "tax man" and he advised that random returns get picked out and it is being personally reviewed by the IRS now. There is no telling when we will see our return. On a small bright note, he did tell me that its his job to handle the IRS so if we do get officially audited he will take care of it...Please Lord don't let it come to that....Just hand us our nice little return and we will be merrily on our way :)

...and because I don't want to sound super depressing or anything I will leave you with warm fuzzy feelings.

I am still taking Ben to our local library once a week to a small playgroup called Small Fries. Today was their Valentine's Party. Ben brought in some dum dum suckers, and proudly passed them out to all his friends. He was amazed in return that his friends gave him a Valentine, he continued to talk about it an hour later before he passed out for nap time. Oh the sweet and simple life of a 2 yr old. He is currently in bed sleeping with his VDay bag full of goodies.