My Birthday & 1 year anniversary of blogging!

Yep! Last year on my 32nd birfday, I started this blogging business. I promised to be a good blogger and I have been, for the most part. I also went into labor on my birthday last year as well!
Well, this year was spent a little differently. First off Tobbie had her Christmas program at school. Michael's parents and my mom and grandparents came to watch her sing. She was sooo cute! Then the in-laws and my mother and kids went to lunch then Tobbie had her Christmas program at her dance school. Also cute there too! Then later that week, my new Air Force wifey friends surprised me with a beautiful cake made by none other than the amazing Erin Fisher!
The only boo moment was not having my dear loving husband around. I miss him.

Oh, we also made a birthday cake for baby Jesus for her last day of school before the Holidays!

Nutcracker

I took Tobbie and my niece Callie to see the Nutcracker this year in our hometown. It is a production that is exquisitly done with children and just absolutely amazing. Tobbie had only seen the movie at school the day prior and we had only read the book once. But she loved it! I mean she really, really loved it! She said that one day she wanted to be Clara. I told her to aim higher and be the Sugar Plum Fairy!

Not even gonna go there!

I am not even going to apologize for my lack of blogging. I have had the busiest month of my life and I have been sooooo exhausted! From Thanksgiving to January 2nd, my life is go go go! I will fill you in later, but I only have 7 1/2 weeks until we welcome our new nameless baby girl into this world!

Ok, updates to come later:

*Tristan's birthday
*my birthday
*Tobbie's Christmas Program at school and dance class
*Christmas

Right now, I need to run to Kroger(s) and get some stuff for Tobbie's party and my ever craving self!

I Suck!

I officially suck as a blogger! But could I blame it on the fact that I am pregnant, have two little ones at home and has a husband that is deployed? I tell you, by the time the kids are in bed by 8:00, I am so worn out I hit the sack too. Then I lie in bed and come up with a million things I could blog about. But I always choose to stay in the bed and dream about blogging. I miss blogging. It is like my outlet to get things out.

We have our house decorated and both kids are excited for Christmas, at least I know Tobbie is excited. I made us all new stocking this year and they match each of our personalities. We also have the Elf on the Shelf and his name is Fred. I love Fred because Tobbie is terrified that he is going to tell Santa she has been bad. Plus she loves to look for him every morning.

Yesterday I took Tobbie and my niece Callie to see the Nutcracker. We had a blast! Tobbie has read the book and watched it at school this past week, but her seeing it live was the most magical thing I have ever seen. I don't know that I have ever seen her so excited before.

Weekend Re-Cap

Ok, I am *almost* done with all my Christmas shopping!!! I still have like 3 people to buy for, but they should be pretty easy. Now I just need to go get the kids their birthday presents.


Tobbie's Santa Loot





Tristan's Santa Loot

We had a full weekend and it should have been even fuller, but our dear friend Jessica that runs Captured Photography was sick and had to cancel our photo session. Hope she feels better soon.
The kids and I went with my mom to Columbus to watch the State Cheerleading Championships. My sister in law is the cheerleading coach for Northgate High School in Newnan and she was there with her squad. And they won, for the third year in a row! Yes, third year in a row! I have never been to one of these and it was so much fun! Minus the mean mommy's that were there. Cheer Moms are way worse than football, baseball and soccer moms! And talk about some sore losers. There was one team that got second place and they were so mad they couldn't even enjoy the fact that they got second. I guess it's true, "if ya ain't first, ya last!" And I think Tristan enjoyed himself more than Tobbie. WhoooHooooo, Way to go Sarah and Northgate!Coach Sarah




Yesterday we went to church, and no, the world isn't coming to an end! We visited a new church and we really liked it. Then we went and grabbed some lunch and did some more shopping. Tobbie talked me into a table top pink Christmas tree, we purchased a new nativity scene and an advent calendar. Plus I stocked up on more clothes for the kids. Those will be given to them for birthday and Christmas gifts from Michael and I.

Not too much other than that, just supa dupa busy!

Oh, and if you haven't already, go check out www.sweetiemcsweets.com
I finally got my very own website! and I love it!

And, I am 24 weeks and 4 days pregnant!

and....I think the Imagination Movers on Disney are GHEY!

My Card's Better Than Yours

Na nana boo boo!
Ok, you have got to check out my girl Janell's blog. This chick can make a card like nobody's business! The name of her cute little card business is "My Card's Better Than Yours". Isn't that so stinkin' cute? Anyways, go on over and check out her blog and request an order form. She recently did the kids Halloween party invite and she will be doing their birthday party invites along with my Christmas cards. All you have to do is click on the little cute box down below that says "My Card's Better Than Yours". Go check her out!!

I am bad, very, very, very bad!

Ok, I took some time away from bloggin' to concentrate on The Big Pig Jig vending booth I was going to do last weekend. And that didn't; happen! Why you ask? Well, My little Sweetie and my little McSweet were SICK! I mean hard core sick!

Tristan began running a temp and not feeling too swift on the afternoon of Halloween and had trouble going down that night. At 12:30 in the AM, his temp had risen to 104 and wouldn't come down. So, off he and I go to the ER (and no TriCare, it wasn't LIFE, LIMB OR EYESIGHT). Luckily Tobbie had gone home with my mom since my neice was there visiting so she didn't have to tag along. 9, yes NINE long hours later, Tristan and I head home with a handful of prescriptions and because we live in the South and Sunday's are supa dupa holy, the pharmacies didn't even open until after church. So my sick little man and I headed home and took a little nap! Then Kroger didn't have one of his scripts so I had to go to Walgreens and listen to the Pharmacy manager tell me that she couldn't believe what doctors prescribed for babies these days and what made it worse were the mothers that gave it to their babies. Let's just say that this mommy had a few choice words for her. Then I got in my car and cried. Everything had finally built up!

Then come Wednesday morning, Tobbie starts running a temp. I call to get us a same day appt at the peds clinic on the base and they can't see us. But the kind nurse suggested I take Tobbie to the Urgent Care and Tristan back to the ER, he was beginning to get worse. Seriously lady? You want me to go to two different places to have my children seen? Finally she agreed to approve for me to take them both back to the ER. Fun times, fun times.

Tristan ended up with pneumonia and they barely looked over Tobbie and just gave us some cough medicine for her. Luckily we have been fever free since Sunday evening!!!! We went out of the house tonight and will again tomorrow evening!

Oh, they are both getting better. And only Tristan was swabbed for H1N1, and it was negative.


Ok, now on to the good stuff!!! Sweetie McSweets is launching a for realz website!!! I am going to be leaving Etsy and focusing primarily on my new website. It should go live this coming Friday!! Michael doesn't know yet and I want it all set up and looking purdy before he sees it. I hope he will be proud of me and not all, "why didn't you tell me you were doing this?", and "how much is this gonna cost a month?".

My new domain will be.....drumroll please...... www.sweetiemcsweets.com

I am so excited!! Go Me, Go Me!

hey, what happened to the little icon where I can add a photo? it disappeared on me.

what i have been up to

What have I been up to? SEWING! That is right! I have been having orders coming in left and right plus I am going to be a vendor at THE BIG PIG in November. So, I have been spending a majority of my free time with my creations. This has been keeping me very busy. That and raising two children with a deployed husband. My life is rich at the moment and I am loving every minute of if!

Rolling Thunder and Clean Craft Room

Since Tobbie has lived majority of her short life in the state of Washington, she is accustomed to rain, but not thunder storms. We had a major storm last night where the thunder was making the walls shake and the lightening was lighting up the house with the blinds closed and all the lights turned out! So, at almost midnight, a sweet little voice woke me up and said, "Mommy, the clouds aren't being nice to each other". She thinks that thunder is the clouds bumping into each other. I just couldn't explain the lightening in a way that made sense to her. So, she slept in my bed last night, curled up so tight against me that I was sweating!

Then at about 0430, a certain little man woke up and didn't want to go back to sleep. So, Tristan and I headed upstairs and CLEANED the craft room!!!! I cannot wait to get home after dropping Tobbie off at school to go upstairs and start sewing and making hairbows! I am so excited and I really hope I keep it clean, We shall see....

Gift Favors, DONE!

Ok, so Halloween isn't for like another entire month and more away, but I love Halloween like WHOA! I cannot believe I just said, "like whoa!"! But I couldn't help myself. This year we will be hosting the 2nd Annual Mince Family Halloween Party and I had to get a start on some things for it. So, I decided to go ahead with the party favors, pinata and the bean bag toss is in the works! I can't wait!

On a sad note, the one thing I am missing is the weather getting cooler in Washington. I am really going to miss "Autumn". We don't get that season here in the South. boo.

Feeling Somewhat Normal

This past Wednesday I had a cerclage put in place. Seeing how this was going to be the THIRD time having it done, I knew it was going to be a piece of cake. WRONG! This was the most painful one yet! A cerclage is basically a stitch in your cervix. They do this in the OR because you get a spinal block. This one has seriously been soooooo painful and harder to recover from. But I must send out a HUGE Thank You to Michael's mother and grandmother for keeping the kids during the procedure and my Mother for taking care of me. And for all they are doing with my kids and around my house while I recover! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!! I wouldn't have made it thru this without you!

Hoarders

If you haven't checked out the show "Hoarders" on A&E, you so got to see it. It usually aires on Monday nights. It is the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life!!!! I cannot believe the filth these people live in.

Last night there was an episode on of this 21 year old gay guy that lives with his dad and a 71 year old lady that lives with her husband (they document two people a week).

First the gay guy: His dad is an alcoholic and had never thrown away a wine bottle or beer bottle for years, yes, I said years. And the son, he couldn't throw away the dog hair that fell off his dog because he said he felt like it was killing his dog (appareantely there are more screws loose than ever imagined in this guys head, and he had a boyfriend! Dude needs to learn proper hygine before trying stick his poking stick where it doesn't belong.) There were food containers in the bathroom and I can't even begin to describe what the toliet and sink looked like!

Old Lady: This old lady had so many cats that she didn't even know how many she had. Oh yes, could you imagine the stench in that place. Once all the cats were removed, they were able to count the live and dead ones. Oh, there were just about as many dead cats as live cats. I think all in all, there were a total of over a hundred live and dead cats, plus several dogs.

So, if you want to feel better about your house or just want to be really grossed out, check out A&E's Hoarders on Monday nights.


Shudder, disgusting!

Another Rant

I forgot to mention yesterday that I purchased TWO newspapers for the coupons, and neither had a single coupon in them! And it wasn't just the two papers that I bought. Apparantly there weren't any, ANY coupons in yesterdays paper. I want my 3 Bucks back!

Goals

I have a few goals for this week:

#1- make 25 hair bows that will be for sale
#2- Sew, Sew, Sew
#3- Cook dinner for my kids every night this week (umm, ok, maybe let me say not eat out this week)
#4- Contact the lady to see about getting in as a vendor for the Wesleyan Market
#5- Make sure my kiddos know how much I love them
#6- Make sure my husband knows how much I appreciate him

Ok, I can't take on more!!!

Mickey & His Club House Friends

Hmmm, remember a couple of months ago when I had that bad, BAD mouse problem? Well, I got a wild hair up my rear today and decided to clean out the garage because I wanted both vehicles to fit. While cleaning out a HUGE bookcase by the door, I keep the bird seed because we have a million bird houses and my kids like to watch the birds from the sun room. Well, while cleaning off the shelf, I notice that there is bird seed EVERYWHERE! And I mean everywhere! And then I notice a ton of little dropplings. I know, gross. Like, make me gag gross. So, I dive in and start cleaning. I cleaned off all the shelves and got all the bird seed and all the droppings off. I then notice that there are some droppings on a bag that I usually keep in the car and I decided that it needed washing. So, I take the bag out of the garage on the grass and start to knock the poo off and a freaking mouse jumps out and scares me so bad that I piss myself! I kid you not, I pissed myself and I screamed worse than 10 little girls!

Well, once I get over that drama, I begin to go thru some boxes from a yard sale I had about 3 months ago to sort thru the stuff. And wouldn't you know it, I stick my hand in the box and a freaking mouse runs around the bottom of it! It is now time to change my pants for a second time.

My father in law calls and I tell him what happened and he offers to come out and help. He put out about 5 traps and a ton of DeCon and some other stuff. He also helped me get all the mouse poo out in an effort to combat the mouse problem I seem to keep having. And I mean he cleaned every inch of that garage of mouse poo! What a wonderful man! I don't even know if my own husband could have done that! Umm, yes he would because I would have made him!!!

Anyway, hopefully this will be the end of the Mickey Mouse Club House taking up in my garage. And I did get a pretty spectacular looking garage out of it!!

Looky here!

Look at what I have here! It is a video of baby #3! It is finally kicking in that I am going to be a mother of 3. And they will all be ages 4 and under once #3 arrives!!! Crazy, but I can handle it. Enjoy this:

I am very, very bad...

But in my defense, I have had a lot going on around here.

First off, my poor little Pudgey is dying. It was confirmed last week that he has lymphoma. Michael and I decided to not do the chemo. It would buy him at most a year and I can't do that to him to be selfish. So we have decided to do prednisone and the vet said that he *might* make it 4-6 months. Currently, the dog isn't going to live another month if he keeps peeing on my floors! I am just teasing, about the not making it another month part.
Tobbie is going to have a hard time when he does pass. We all will. I had Pudge before I ever met Michael. And Michael feels bad because he can't be here to help me with him or to say goodbye when the time comes.

In other news, Tristan can *crawl*. Ok, he can low crawl, but he can get to where he wants to go in a jiffy! He kind of looks like a parapalegic (I am not making fun of anyone here), because when he low crawls, he pulls himself with his hands and his legs are just kind of there. Every now and then he will use them to push off.

Tobbie is doing good in school and is LOVING her dance and gymnastics classes. She is becoming quite the young lady. A little sassy, but she is learning manners and using them appropriately.


I will try to do my best at blogging, I am just soooo tired all the time. On the bright side, I am almost 14 weeks along with #3!

Shame on me!!!

Yes, shame on me. I am a bad mommy blogger these days! Things have been a little hectic around here. Not to mention that usually when I blog, it is when the kids are napping or have gone to bed or haven't woken up yet. These days, I am enjoying sleeping when they are sleeping so that means no blogging and a messy home!

Things that are new:
1.Tobbie started school yesterday (we were both ready for it!)
2.Met some new friends in Canton (it was fun)
3.Tobbie has started dance and tumbling (she loves it)
4.Tristan is super lazy and doesn't want to crawl (look who his parents are)
5.Tristan is sleeping thru the night (I just wish the dogs would)
6.I am changing OB's (I couldn't stand the one I had)
7.Changed my health insurance coverage (to be able to see a better doctor)
8.I am really scared of this Healthcare Reform (I don't like it at all)


Ok, that is it for now. This was a start to get me back to blogging. Expect to see me around more!

GIVEAWAY WINNER!

First let me say that I did not choose the winner. I had some of my family members view and choose. There were a ton a great entries and I learned some new ways to use a burp cloth!


And the winner is (insert drumroll please).............................................
MANDIE!

They all loved her unique use for a cloth diaper. It totally makes sense to just use the burp cloth that is on your shoulder than to take the time to grab a pot holder, especially in my case when your dinner is burning!

This was a lot of fun and I think I might start doing giveaways more often. Please check back later today, I might have a new one listed!

Thanks for all of you that entered and Mandie, don't forget to claim your prize! Just comment on this thread with your email address and then I will contact you then.

Pre School Pack Giveaway

Ok, I am all about some free stuff now that we are possibly going to be kid poor with a new little one on the way!

If you have a preschooler, go check out this blog, she has an amazing giveaway for you little preschooler!

I'm taking it back!

What am I taking back you ask? I am taking back my house, my life, my role as a parent with my children! Some may think I have it all together, but since this move and with Michael being gone, I have let a lot of things fall apart, at least in my opinion they have.

For starters, Sweet T is really starting to back talk and is even hitting me. I will NOT stand for that. She will show respect to me because I am he mother. One of our biggest issues with her would be the eating habits she has. She wants to eat in front of the TV all the time and I have caved in to her because it is easiest. I usually only let her eat one meal in front of the TV and it is usually her lunch. I have always been cool with that, but not anymore.

She also isn't sleeping well at night. She is waking up numerous times during the night and wanting to crawl into bed with me. I am so tired that sometimes I don't even know that she has gotten in bed with me and it is stopping tonight. I might be one tired dog tomorrow, but I want my back! Hey, that is one of the perks of deployment right, the bed all to yourself?

Another thing is that I have become a sloppy housekeeper. I did manage to clean the bathrooms yesterday, but my house isn't up to par and I am ashamed of it. I will not go to bed tonight until it is all sparkly clean (I might have to take a nap though). I need to get back to my FlyLady ways!

Ok, off I go to tackle two kids to get them ready for the day!


And don't forget the GIVEAWAY!!! Enter if you haven't already!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Ok, I am going to do my first GIVEAWAY!!!! I am going to give away TWO burp cloths with an appliqued initial on them. The initial will come once the winner is chosen and they choose the letter the would like. Ok, so here is how it is going to go down. The GIVEAWAY contest is going to be open until Sunday night and close at midnight. I will announce the winner on Monday morning and ship out the prize on Tuesday morning. All you have to do is leave me a comment with some unique ways to use a burp cloth, other than the typical uses! The most unique comment will get the two FREE burp cloths. Sounds easy enough, huh? These burp cloths are handmade and you will love them and they will be geared towards a boy or a girl (your choice).

Oh, and at the bottom of your unique use of a burp cloth comment, please specify if you would like them to be for a boy/girl and what initial you would like. Once the winner is announced, I will then ask for the winners email address and contact your for shipping info that way (gotta be secure these days!).

Ok, leave those comments and pass this on to all your friends!

THE WINNER WILL HAVE ONE WEEK TO CLAIM THEIR PRIZE, IF IT IS NOT CLAIMED, THEN I WILL SELL IT ON MY ETSY SHOP!!!

My kid is more talented than your kid!

My little T-Bone ROCKS! Take a little looksie: That might be a pink Barbie guitar, but that's ok, he is secure with his masculinity and if he gets picked on when he is older, it will only make him tougher!

And this video will probably cause some controversy in Michael's family. His Uncle the other day said that boys that play the piano are sissy's, I beg to differ, it will probably win him some tail when he is older! What girl wouldn't love a handsome guy playing the piano for her?


So there! My kid is more talented than your kid!

For Realz, I am back!

Ok, my computer died two weeks ago and I waited until Michael came home to get a new one. He bought me a "cute" new mini HP. It is going to take some getting used to because of its size, but I am happy with it!

Today the kids and I dropped Michael off at the airport. He has left for the big, long one. There were tears all around, but we will survive. We always do and we will this time too. He has been gone many, many times before, but this time is the longest ever. But, we are all set up to go with our web cams so we can keep in touch.

Now, on to other news in the Mince Family.


What is this you say? Well, that my dears would be the first photo of future baby Mince! Yes, we are pregnant with baby #3! And we couldn't be happier!

I suspected something was up when Mr. Hungry Man weaned himself. After a few days of no nursing and finally, finally taking a bottle, I decided to take a test "just to make sure." And what do you know, I got a BIG OLE FAT POSITIVE!

I really do consider this a blessing because with my previous four pregnancies, we had to have help in the fertility department. Two of those (the first two) resulted in miscarriages and then Sweet T with her amazing early debut. So, us getting pregnant on our own, is amazing to me and I couldn't be happier.

All of Michael's family is excited and majority of mine is. I say majority because I think some of mine feels like I can't do this on my own while Michael is gone. Plenty of women do it all the time. Is it going to be scary? I do believe so! Is it going to be hard? Oh hell yes! But we will get thru this. Plus, I think that some of my family isn't as up to date on modern medicine and they just think that I am INSANE for getting pregnant again. I do believe the exact words were, "NO, Why are you doing that?"

Here is the answer, I didn't mean to! But I guess that song about the Patron making your clothes fall off is a little true! So now you all can be bored with pregnancy stuff and all the grossness that goes along with it!

Oh, and the due date is March 5th and T-Bone and the new baby will be 14 months apart in age. Two in diapers!

It's been a while!

Ok, my computer died, like, died hard. My computer whiz of a cousin tried to fix it, but it was too far gone. Michael and I are going this weekend to get me another one and I had to wait for him to get home so I could have computer access. Yes, Michael is home, but only until Tuesday. The he is off for the big one. So, I am going to go and enjoy what little family time we have together and I'll update later!

Another big Yay!

Ok, I promise not to blog EVERY time someone requests an item to be made, but that is now two, TWO! I cannot believe it! Plus, last night I made the cutest burp cloth that is for any mini Dawg fan! I just wish I had an embroidery machine and I would stitch "Sick 'Em" across the top! I also made the cutest hooded towel last night. I'll have to post pics later on because I am running really behind and need to get my butt in gear. Oh, and my swim lessons are going great! I can swim, I am just trying to get my strokes down real good for lap swimming. So don't be out there laughing at me because I am taking swim lessons. I will be the next Michael Phelps, minus the penis!

YIPPEE!!!

I have just received a request for a custom order on my ETSY store and someone hearts my shop!!! Yay for Sweetie McSweets! Ok, I am a dork, but I am super excited!!!

Photos from the 4th!

Here are some photos from our 4th of July weekend! Many of you know that Michael got to come home for the holiday weekend and Tobbie was super duper attached to her daddy! She fell asleep holding his arm on the couch and was all over him! She loves her daddy and was sad to see him leave, but he will be back in two weeks before he leaves for the big one. Oh, and Tristan has discovered grass, and he now thinks he is a goat!

Enjoy!

New To Sweetie McSweets

Here are a few items that are new to Sweetie McSweets. They are so adorable and perfect for that little extra added touch for a baby gift or just to give to brighten someones day!




I have been trying to think of a cool giveaway to kind of get the shop really selling, so if you have any ideas, throw them out there at me!
I am

Happy 4th!

And a big YAY for me! Michael is home for the weekend and we are going to have a fun weekend!

New Items for Sweetie McSweets!!!

Ok, I haven't had time to upload all of the new items to my etsy store, but there are some new items. I will list the rest of them over the weekend. I have added about 10 new items this morning and I am super excited about them. You should go check them out, just click over there on the Sweetie McSweets banner and it will take you to them. Oh, here are some adorable washcloths that I have made, but ran out of time uploading items on etsy (I have to get ready to go pick up Mr. Wonderful at the airport!!!!). check 'em out!









Besides having a couple of super duper cute models, I got all professional and got me some labels too! Now I just need to master photographing my items!

Play group

We have been a little busy this week with our playgroup. We hit up the park and played and made a 4th of July craft, a t-shirt we painted with our hand.

I know that the kids are to do the craft, but my kid ain't gonna wear no ugly shirt! So her mommy made sure hers came out PERFECT!

We also hosted the playgroups Luau at our house on Tuesday. We had loads of fun and of course, because I am their mommy, my kids were the cutest!

Tobbie the Hula Girlsee where the mosquitos ate up my poor baby? He still seemed happy!