Taking Relationship Cues from a Hooker

Okay, okay... it's not really like THAT! You see, I'm reading this book... (nothing TOO horrible can come from a story that starts like that, right?)... so, I'm reading this book... well, THIS book:

... which is about a prostitute that gets caught up in some orgranized crime, and a "love situation" of sorts.

Well, this "love situation" is a huge secret, and completely uncharted territory for her... she's never been with a man she's wanted to be with, never been in love, and has no way out of her current lifestyle.

So, through her adult emotions of first love it's pretty hard not to get caught up in the romance of it all. Secret dates, longing to be with one another, and hungry kisses...

When was the last time I missed my husband? When was the last kiss we shared with that passion? Hmm... this hooker may be on to something...

Distractions a Plenty

I've been MIA for a while now; I apologize! I do this every once in a while... get caught up in reading and ignore the world... It's Thursday and I've finished two books in a week, and I just started my third. While the others were in the fantasy realm of YA, dealing with harpies this time instead of vamps, the newest book is about ghosts... a long time literary favorite of mine. :) So far so good!! Now, please excuse me, while I attempt to work and read simultaneously!

This is the book I'm on now... and for those Kindle lovers/users... only $0.99!! :) I think I paid the same on my Nook. I just love that Nook! :)

OH! And don't forget... I signed-up for http://www.goodreads.com/ to track my reading, share book reviews with friends, and find new books to add to my ever-growing list! Is it just me, or does everyone spend a lot of time reading book summaries and adding to their "to read" list? :)

Valleys, Molehills, Mountains, and Views

SO many things filling my head… where to start, where to start?


Valley- The 3 year slump. (Which is apparently common in marriages, or so I've heard.)

I have heard it existed, but since my first marriage didn’t even last 2 years, I wasn’t sure. It does in fact exist.

It seems Justin and I don’t agree on much lately. At this point it feels as if we are cohabitating out of lack of effort to do anything else. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better today than it was a month ago, but we are by no means out of the “valley” and back at “sea level” if you know what I mean.

I’m not sure if it’s a “Justin and Krystle” thing, or if it’s a new baby thing, or if it’s just the path we walked like other married couples before us. It’s just… blah, and we can’t seem to pull ourselves out of it. We disagree, I get sarcastic, he gets defensive, we zone out at the TV or argue for 2 hours. It just cycles around and around. It seems that our views on parenting and obtaining material items differ greatly and are the source of constant battles. I’m just not sure if a truce is in sight, or if we are destined to continue on this way of not seeing eye to eye.

Molehills- Our battleground. What are the molehills exactly??

1. Parenting- Call me crazy, but I spend nearly every minute I’m not at work with my children. I am their mother, it’s my job to take care of them, and honestly… how could I not love being with them? The only exception to this is my recent addition of gym-time; which I carefully plan after bedtime as not to “burden” Justin with having to wrangle and coerce two kids to sleep. (How nice of me I think!) Justin, on the other hand, feels that during the days when he’s not in school or working, it’s his “free time” to do with as he sees fit, because Brittany is at home and prepared to take care of the children. This is where we differ. They are OUR children, and it is OUR responsibility (and privilege I might add) to take care of them and spend time with them when possible. Looking back, at us discussing him quitting his job and starting school, I remember him adding, “This will also give me a chance to spend time with Joey as a baby that the Army didn’t allow me when Jordan was.” There should have been a neon sign flashing “SALES PITCH” going off, because it hasn’t happened. When his best friend (next door neighbor) is home and Brittany is able to watch the kids, you can bet the bank Justin will pick best friend any day of the week. This is a source of major tension and a lot of arguments between us. I respect that he needs “guy time” or just time away in general, but there must be a limit! And really… how can I understand when I am not afforded the same consideration. I mean, he makes me feel guilty about going to the gym for an hour and a half AFTER I put the kids to bed! Urgh.

2. Money- Isn’t this a sore spot for a lot of couples? I hope so and I don’t hope so at the same time. Though I did FINALLY get him to agree to an allowance. My thought was $60 every two weeks for our personal spending. He interpreted that as “$60 every two weeks for our personal eating out”. Umm… WHO THE HELL NEEDS TO EAT OUT THAT MUCH BY THEMSELVES? When I corrected him and said, “No, that includes coffee, breakfast/lunch, and recreational spending like DVDs, golfing, whatever you do by yourself or with friends,” it was like I was being completely unreasonable. Great, glad progress is still NOT being made.

3. Materialism- I’m just so tired of hearing about whatever new truck Justin wants that day EVERY time we drive somewhere. “In a couple years, when I get my new truck…” or “I really want ___ truck I think…” or “If I had $50,000 to buy a truck, I would get…” or “Look at THAT truck! Oh my God, I can’t wait to get my new truck!” SERIOUSLY? Can we PUH-LEASE pay off our trucks (in the next 3-7 years bytheway) and be done for a bit? On top of that he wants a motorcycle, a trailer, a boat, a commuter car (so he can PARK the gas-hog of a truck) and Lord knows what else. You know what I want? I want to PAY-OFF our existing debt and revel in NOT making a payment for a little bit. He’s so gung-ho on all these items he wants that it sounds like as soon as 1 thing is paid of (or not even) he thinks we’re going to go buy something else! I’m just so overwhelmed thinking of all the money it takes to get and maintain these things. And just when I think he understands (well, kind of understands), “I’ve decided I’m going to wait to get a new truck.” (gee- ya think?!), the next day he’s back at it again with the motorcycle, boat, trailer, whatever talk.
It makes me feel like his life isn’t good enough the way it is. That what we HAVE (material or otherwise) isn’t good enough. And he doesn’t get it. So we continue to disagree and I continue to tune him out during every car ride we have together.

4. His “best friend”- A constant source of disagreement is how much time he spends with his friend. Yes, we are neighbors. Yes, you two did two tours of war together. No, that does not mean you owe him anything, including all your time/energy, and by no means does it mean it’s okay for him to be around all the time. And NO, he does not need to go to your doctor appointments with you. It’s CREEPY. He’s nearly 43 and his life revolves around my 28 year old husband… which includes text messages like “Hey bro, text me when you get out of your doctor’s appointment and let me know how it went. I love you bro!” It’s just a constant conversation between Justin and I about the appropriateness of their “friendship” and Jimmy’s (aka best friend) sense of entitlement in our family. To the point where, he takes our dog away from my family, walks in our house without knocking or calling, and, in the past, staying for dinner most of the week uninvited. While I’ve squashed most of it, it’s turned into a secrecy thing now. The guys meet for lunch at least once a week without telling me. Justin says he’s going fishing without mentioning Jimmy is joining him. Things like that. It just screams AFFAIR to me… maybe not in the sexual sense, but definitely in the sense where Justin has someone in his life that he leans on heavily and shares his time with.

Mountains- Have you ever heard the saying “don’t turn molehills into mountains”? Meaning, don’t turn a little problem into something bigger than it is. Well, I can’t tell what is or isn’t a mountain or a molehill anymore.

Views- Whoever said you have to climb the mountain to enjoy the view is probably right… but they probably weren’t married. Those mountains are strong, and sometimes the lack of oxygen climbing the mountain really shakes your relationship.I think we’re probably somewhere around ½ way to the mountain’s summit and the views are decent. But there’s a part of me that knows I’m not seeing all the way to the horizon.
I mean, we have the American dream, right? Okay, the home owner’s association doesn’t allow for a white picket fence, but who needs it? We love each other, have a beautiful daughter, an adorable growing son, dogs, an SUV and a stable income. What could be better? I believe that our friends that do not know us well think we have the life. I would like to think this life is enough… but how can you when you are afraid to start another fight by voicing your opinion, or feel like your husband’s friend’s happiness matters more to him than yours? How can I when I feel like my husband spends time with our children only when he has to? Or that he still thinks that s-e-x is a good idea after 2 hours of arguing… I guess I know that the mountain(s) has yet to be conquered, I’m just not sure that we have the right equipment to actually reach the top. I don’t want us to get stuck in the middle somewhere and never get to see that full panoramic. And I’m wondering if it’s even possible. I mean, marriages I’ve thought were so strong and happy aren’t always the case… so, I wonder if this is as good as it gets… and if I’m okay with that.

Unlike my first marriage… deep down, I am happy. I love Justin. I really, really do. And I am BLESSED to have our children, and the family and friends in my life that I do.
I have NEVER thought about leaving Justin, and the moment (in the heat of battle) he said, “I’m THIS CLOSE to walking out Krystle!” he shattered my world as I knew it and I started crying (in lieu of falling down from my whole foundation giving out on me). I don’t know if I’ll ever forget that he said that. I’ve considered giving him the out before, out of desperation not want, but I never did because it’s not what I’ve ever wanted, but the fact that HE said it… like he had put thought and consideration into it… It was a shock. I just felt like he would… and it crushed me. It hurt even more so, because I know that I’m the only one he would say it to. He would NEVER threaten to cut off his parents for disagreeing with him. And he would NEVER (I mean NEVER) walk away from Jimmy… through all the fights we’ve had on the Jimmy subject, he’s always maintained with Jimmy that I’M the one with the issue… it’s never been, “Jimmy, we really need to take a step back because Krystle and I need some time and space.” It’s always ME.

Sigh… now that I’ve vented, I’m still not feeling much better. These are not new things for me to say/feel. But thanks for providing me an outlet anyway.



P.S.

I did not intend for this post to be what it turned out as, so once I collect myself I will tell you of my day. Which WAS my intent!

Operation Clutter Detox- Mission 2

We have a really bad habit of using our kitchen island for everything! And how can we not? It’s basically a giant table in the middle of the downstairs that just begs to be used! Many a bills have been lost in the Island of Clutter. Not anymore!

I’ve had a magnetic whiteboard calendar for years now… it’s a great thing really, I don’t have to buy a new calendar every year, and if I don’t like my handwriting I can erase and try again. Love it. However, our fridge is NOT magnetic on the front… so, the calendar has been banished to the side of the fridge where visibility is limited.

This looks like the perfect opportunity for some Clutter Detox!!

Welcome to Grand Central Station!

I used, what was a complete waste of space between the pantry and bathroom doors, to house this organizational masterpiece. In one spot we have a calendar, place to pin invites/notes/etc. and a basket for mail. It’s wonderful! This $13 project is going to help us stay organized, which is always nice! Here’s the break-down:

Calendar	FREE	Already had it!
Corkboard w/frame	$5	On sale!
Thumbtacks	$3	For 100
Mail Basket	FREE	Already had it!
3M Strips to hang it	$5
TOTAL:	$13

For that little price tag, why didn’t I do this sooner?! I couldn’t be more excited at how easy this project was and how much it’s going to improve our chances of becoming clutter-free!



In Pursuit of Becoming a Good Wife

So, in my quest to “save” my marriage (are we really “there”?) I have been doing TONS of research and reading… primarily because I’ve tried doing things my husband has asked, without improvement, or there are things that I just can’t do (like control my feelings, because then I don’t show any and that makes me a “robot”)… which leaves me with reading and decoding things on my own. This is what I’ve determined:

1.      Men want a woman to be independent… but not TOO independent.

2.      Men want a woman that can make decisions on her own, as long as his opinion is a part of that decision.

3.      Men want to fell needed (reference #1)

4.      Men want women to initiate in the bedroom, however they will complain of lack of variety, so women are expected it to change-it-up as well.

5.      Men want some mystery, but to be involved in your life.

6.      Men want you to mother their child(ren), but don’t want it to be the prominent thing in your life.

7.      Men want a woman to be spontaneous, as long as it’s something they want to do.

8.      Men want guy time, no matter if you have something you want to do with them.

9.      Men want a variety of dinners, but always say “I dunno” when asked what they want to eat.

10.   Men want to be taken care of, but not “mothered”

11.   Men want to do things, but don’t want a schedule

12.   Men want to be encouraged, but not told what to do

13.   Men want you to love them, but… I don’t know…

How the heck is anyone supposed to meet those needs?! I just don’t get it. Women are simple!!

1.      Women want men to love them.

2.      Women want men to participate in their lives.

3.      Women want men to be active fathers.

4.      Women want men to enjoy partaking in family activities.

5.      Women want men to do the “manly” things around the house (fix stuff, maintain vehicles, etc.)

6.      Women want men to believe them when they say “I’m too tired tonight,” because they really are too tired.

7.      Women want their men to defend them when their parents/friends smack talk them.

8.      Women want men to understand that they are pulled in 10 directions while trying to keep everyone else happy.

9.      Women want men to love them, not because of the girlfriend they were, but because of the woman they’ve turned into.

10.   Women want to feel like the most important person in their men’s lives.

You see? No hidden messages, no “I want this, but this way”, just plain and simple.

Which brings me to around to… how much of this is US related? I mean, is it just that I’m this total control freak and I have to have everything my way? I would like to think that I am flexible, and that my expectations are not unreasonable… I just don’t know anymore, and the seeds of self-doubt are definitely growing. Am I just not cut out for marriage?? IS it me? Maybe I am just not able to change, that I am what I’ve always been… my own worst enemy. I turn off too quickly and don’t turn back on because of pride. I am incapable of being wrong, because my logic guides me to wherever I go. Maybe I am not who he thought I was, maybe I tricked him because I was in a state of lust, maybe the only good that can come of this are the two little kids that I have waiting for me at home.

Heavy sigh.

Operation Clutter Detox!

I’ve made up my mind, got Justin on-board, and it’s happening. We are ridding our too-full house of all the crap we don’t use, don’t like, and generally bitch about seeing just lying around taking up space. I’m done. I want it gone!

 I find it utterly amazing that our house, which we thought we wouldn’t fill up for many, many years, is bursting at the seams after 2 ½ years. We’ve filled it with furniture, impulse purchases, and stuff that people have given us that we would never buy ourselves. All of these things cost money, collect dust, and make me feel overwhelmed just looking at the sheer amount of it all!

(These are the pictures Justin sent me of our house the 1st time he saw it.)

So, Operation Clutter Detoxification (with a detour for organization) is underway! I started last night with “my” table. This poor little end table gets piled with my laptop, paid bills, Ikea catalogs, crochet supplies, and whatever else I set down and forget about. I’M DONE!

Only my laptop and the Kleenex box made the cut!

(I even eliminated a bunch of cords that were going in all sorts of directions! And moved the lamp back to the corner.)

Mission 1- Success! Table is de-cluttered and, amazingly enough, I threw out so much old mail and multiple years’ worth of Ikea catalogs; don’t worry, my 2012 catalog is safely tucked away! Crochet binder and supplies were moved to my “craft station” upstairs and everything else that needed to be returned to its rightful home was. It was glorious!! I’m addicted!

I’ve got a plan of attack for the kitchen island as well. I’m going to create “family central station” of sorts in the kitchen. This will consist of a calendar (not on the fridge) and a hanging basket to drop mail in below it. Everyone will know what’s going on when and it will be a designated area for mail… that is not the island!

And I’m not stopping there!! All the e-mails with “deals” and information that I delete without opening… done! I am unsubscribing from them as they come in, and freeing my time in the future! I’m hoping my inbox will thank me!

So this is my mission. Out with the crap and in with freedom from Stuff! My hope is that this process will make us think twice, not only about what we bring into our home, but about what we spend money on and what it ACTUALLY costs us in the long run! Fingers crossed!

Marriage and Football

It’s official; I’m a much more fun person during football season! I love me some Seattle Seahawks! And, as an added bonus, I get to yell at people that don’t get offended or upset; I guess refs ARE good for something!

I think that it’s going to be an annual tradition for Justin and me to make it to at least one football game in person each season. It’s just nice to get out of the house and have some fun! And sporting events are perfect for that! You always have something to talk about that doesn’t start out, “Jordan said…” or “Joey did the cutest…”! While I love my kids, it’s amazing to have an adult conversation that revolves around the two of us.

In addition to my added “fun-ness” level… football is a great boost for the ole marriage. I know a lot of chicks that LOVE football just as much as I do, and I think it’s awesome! It’s one of those things that used to be considered a “guy thing” (or in Ryan’s world, a “blue” thing), that chicks were left out of. It’s so nice to actually enjoy something as much as my hubby! Contrary to car shows, which I sweated it out at yesterday for the love of my husband. Car shows can be a guy thing for all eternity for all I’m concerned. I just don’t get the fascination with old cars without modern conveniences! My favorite car there was the 2011 Pink Dodge Challenger! Yes, I’m spoiled with my memory seats and back-up camera, I don’t care, I’m worth it! LOL!

(Case in Point- needed couple time, because I only ever take pictures of Jordan and Joey otherwise!)

So, all in all, a successful weekend in the Marriage Department; which, let’s face it, has needed a successful weekend for a while! Thank you NFL for having a season after all- it would have been a bleak fall/winter without you!

Will Change Lanes for Starbucks!

There’s nothing like going two days without a chai tea latte, because you’re too tired to get out of bed on time in the mornings. Since I don’t have to get Jordan up and out the door anymore I tend to stay in bed WAY TOO LONG these days!

This morning, I decided that it’s weekly Starbucks day. Happy Friday to me! I get in my truck, on the main road, and what do you know… a cop, right behind me. Fabulous. Now, normally I would switch lanes just to avoid the stress of driving in front of Copper Joe, but, of course, we are the ONLY two cars on the road and there isn’t a reason for me to change lanes except him. Double fabulous. Cruise control set at 45 mph, because even though I’m sure that the speed limit is 50 mph, why chance it? Finally we find other commuters on the road and Copper Joe switches lanes and nearly immediately flips his lights on. Phew! The beginning of a long day for sure! Thankfully the first drive-through Starbucks was just ahead! Two lane changes later and a left turn, and I’m there!! Grande… no, wait… Venti vanilla chai tea latte please!

I was only four minutes late to work today, which is pretty good. However, most of my morning has been spent “stumbling” around the internet. No, I’m not throwing back beers at my desk and stumbling around. My friend turned me on to a website called www.StumpleUpon.com, and it’s totally addicting. What you do is: register (for free), save your interests, and press “Stumble”! The website then acts as a personalized search engine for you and shows you a random website it thinks you may be interested in. Let me tell you… I’m interested in a LOT of things!! This is the primary source of all those “super amazing” new projects I was telling you all about yesterday! Needless to say, it’s a very dangerous website for me, because not only does it take up my time, but it adds to my list of time to be taken later. Thankfully I’m feeling like a more motivated person these days, so I’m seeing some accomplishments in my near future!

I’ve got BIG plans for this weekend; even with the unexpected addition of a Seahawks pre-season game Saturday night! Go Hawks! Hoping to finish a kiddo scarf- which I have decided would make a better Christmas present for my Katie-bug than for Jordan… it is Pink after all, and anyone that meets Jordan knows that her favorite color is Purple, just ask her! And I love how much Katie loves things I make her! I’m thinking that my “simpler” Christmas presents are going to get started before the more complicated ones. I think it’ll help me practice sewing (don’t worry recipients, I’m sure that my practice ones will look great, too!) AND get some things checked off The List.

Here’s to good intentions of having an amazingly productive weekend!! Oh, did I mention that this is also the weekend Brittany’s out of town? Sigh… hopefully Jordan actually takes naps and Joey cooperates!

Project Pile-up

I really need to stop finding new, “totally awesome” projects that I could “totally do”, because I already have a giant list of such projects that I haven’t even started! On top of that, I start random projects that are in no way beneficial to the reduction of previously mentioned list! For example… making a scarf for Jordan just because I’m teaching Brittany how to crochet. Yes, it is easiest to teach/learn in straight lines, however, it does not have to turn into a scarf. Even if it does become a scarf, that does not mean I should add extra steps or colors to make it “super cute”, because it wasn’t supposed to be a project to begin with, and now it’s a multi-step project. Sigh.

New, “totally awesome” projects should not include things that took the person writing the tutorial 60+ hours to make. I mean, it’s not like I can start the project and two weeks later say, “Man, this sure is taking forever,” because I already knew how long it took the expert to make!

(T-shirt/jersey shag rug! Imagine the possibilities!)

I would love to say that I have time to spare to do crafts. The truth is, I probably do, and occasionally I do find time to start and finish projects. However, summer is speeding to an end and the “summer projects” list is nearly as long as when it started. I tend to write it off, because I did have a baby this summer and, with that baby, spent a lot of nights without adequate sleep. However, winter brings new seasons of TV shows that cannot be missed, and my DVR doesn’t seem to empty out nearly as fast as it fills up.

I’m thinking a “Project Priority List” is in order; I heart Excel! The only problem with that is, I would tend to do the easy/quick projects first (I like results), rather than the most important. It’s like getting an assignment in school that’s due in two weeks… I would complete it the night before and get better results than working on it for those two weeks. Maybe it’s the pressure to perform. Waiting until the last minute is not only unavoidable, but I also know I don’t have a choice except to rock it! :o)

My goal for the year is to NOT find anything else to add to my list. Believe it or not, but projects not only take time, but cost money! Sigh- can nothing be simple?!

Don't forget the baby!

Finally! 10 PM has made its way into the day and I’ve given in to Exhaustion. Grab my phone and I’m off to make baby bottles for the night, so I don’t have to come downstairs half asleep later. I ask Justin to bring a clean laundry basket up with him, take bottles (with pre-measured formula and rice) upstairs, grab the baby monitor off the banister where Brittany left it, and give her a bottle for the morning. Justin calls to me from downstairs, laundry basket in hand, “What are you doing?” I respond, “Uhh… going to the bedroom.” Duh. He continues, “Did you forget the baby?” Uhh… mental scan of each child's whereabouts... shit. Yes. Yes I did forget the baby, who is snoozing away in his swing… downstairs.

Back down the stairs I go to fetch the sleeping infant. I would love for him to be already sleeping in his crib, however he believes that, while falling asleep at 8 PM is okay, sleeping in his crib before 10 PM is not. So, I grab the baby and back upstairs I go. The dogs won’t go upstairs with Justin because I’m still downstairs, and really, who wants to go to upstairs when someone is still downstairs? Okay, I will go back for them.

Now, we have a door style gate at the bottom of our stairs to “help” keep the toddler and dogs downstairs and in sight of at least one adult. This set-up however, is a complete danger and nuisance. Have you ever tried carrying a laundry basket downstairs, while attempting to bend forward to fight with a gate, without toppling onto the 2 year old on the other side of the gate that is asking, “What are you doing?... Why?... Why Mommy?... Why?” It’s even harder to do than it is to explain. If that weren’t enough of a problem, try coaxing two dogs to go through the door and up the stairs while you’re holding it open. It doesn’t happen. What DOES happen is:

-        You hold the door and beg the dogs to go through the gate and up the stairs, neither do.

-        You give up, leave the gate ajar and go up the stairs, at which point you stop and continue to attempt to coax them through the gate with phrases like “C’mon! You can you it!” and “C’mon! Let’s go to bed! It’s bedtime!” All while fake smiling in hopes they think you’re happy with them.

-        Finally, ONE dog comes through the gate and up the stairs! The other dog loses interest and disappears into the darkness.

-        You walk back down the stairs, with the first dog in tow, to find dog #2.

-        You proceed to chase dog #2 around the coffee table, through the kitchen, around the dining room table, back through the kitchen and finally trap the pea-brained creature by the front door.

-        You pick up dog #2 and make your way back to the stairs where dog #1 is waiting on the other side of the gate.

-        Open the gate with 25lb dog #2 in one arm, while not tripping over or releasing dog #1 from the stair way.

-        Do no trip over either dog while they slowly walk/hop up the stairs.

-        Contain the beasts in their respective kennels for the night.

The moral of the story is… never buy a 2-story house.

Try not to mess anything up too much.

So, here it is.... my life in text. I wonder if that will make it look better or worse than it actually is. It will be interesting to find out. I used to love blogging on my Myspace, but since Myspace is from a period of time BFB (Before Facebook), I have decided to upgrade.  Not to mention that my Myspace blog was filled with my “Adventures in Divorce” and amusing in its own respect.

Currently I am balancing a toddler, an infant, and a husband that feels left out somehow. I would like to take a moment to file a complaint on life, because no one tells you, when you’re growing up, that you will be expected to master so many tasks in life and expected to juggle them all at the same time. It just doesn’t seem reasonable that there wasn’t a warning somewhere along the line. I mean, is it so irrational to expect a heads up? “What do you want to be when you grow up?.... Really? Okay, don’t forget that your husband is going to want a clean house, and you’re going to have to read 5 story books in a row, because your child wants ‘Just one more’, and that child is also going to need to be bathed regularly, even if you only get a shower or two a week. Oh, and multiple people are going to feel left out if you don’t make time to call or visit them on a regular basis.” See… it’s not that hard. However, I have learned that communication, tact in particular, is not everyone’s forte.

So… toddler, infant, husband… let’s make things a little more interesting and add a couple dogs, a 2 ½ hour round-trip work commute, and a huge extended family. There is not enough time in the day, even with three adults living in our house.

Crafting is something that I completely love doing, but have no time for. I finally gave up scrapbooking, because photobooks are cheaper and easier. However, crocheted items and personalized quilts cannot be made and ordered online; thank God that most of my Christmas shopping CAN however be done online! Is it so horrible that I have a vision of quilts and clothes and purses in my head, a huge stack of fabric in my room, and still haven’t sewn a stitch! It’s really okay, because I know I’ll love it and be great at it! ;o)

 I’ve discovered that men cannot get along with both their wife and their mother at the same time. Why is that? And why is it the wife that is determined to be the problem? Because we wives know that we are, in fact, not the problem. Which I believe is precisely why we are blamed… it’s easiest to place blame on the newest woman in said husband’s life. Women “sharing” a man cannot peacefully coexist, even when they are hundreds, if not thousands of miles apart. It’s just not possible, and I’m sure it never will be.

This is my into blog, my first entry of many more to come. I plan on sharing my triumphs, struggles, discoveries, confusion, and all the life in between. My favorite things to share are stories of my kids, especially my daughter, who does say the darnedest things! Like last night she thought a picture of her father (in his younger days) was of Kenny Chesney. Or of the times she holds my face in her hands and says to me, “I very love you Mommy.”

If you are along for the ride, put on your seatbelt, because you never know where this life is going to go. And I will... well... try not to let a dog eat the kids....