My First Vlog

Hi guys! There's change in the air around these parts, and it's not just the weather. I'm trying something out tonight and I don't know if it's something I'll keep doing. Probably just once in a while, but it's easier for me to blurt out what I want to say in a video instead of agonizing over what to type on here. So without further ado, here is my very first vlog (video blog).

Mamatography: Days 323-329

 

Mamatography: A 365 Day Photography Project. At least one picture per day of what you did that day.

Sorry I'm late again. It was a long weekend, and it completely slipped my mind. 

Sunday was my first time singing with the worship team in service. Have to admit, I was a nervous wreck. I definitely have a bad case of stage-fright. After church, we had dinner at my parents' house, where Isaiah was really unruly. Hitting and kicking and throwing things. Ugh. So we came home mid-dinner and he took a nap. 

Monday,  I did some Christmas shopping for Isaiah while working on a research paper. Isaiah was watching Dragon Tales (another show from my past.. or rather my B's past).

 Wednesday, I only had my first two classes because the university closed at 5pm. So after school, we decided to go to my parents house since my mom was off. While at my parents' house, Isaiah displayed his love for music by playing "Jesus Ah-Ha" ("Jesus Messiah")

I took videos too. It was hilarious at the time and I was laughing and making fun of B--or rather the guitar, which was out of tune and sounded quite tinny... (it's my guitar, which is a completely different story.) Anyway.. here's a video of some of it:


Sorry for the sideways video for a bit.. but I realized it and turned it. Lol

 Thursday was Thanksgiving (of course) and after all the family, food, and shopping (we left my mom, sister, and other family at Walmart around 7:30, before the actual sales started) we decided to get milkshakes from Rally's, the only fast food place that was open.

Friday we relished in the fact that I didn't have to go to my 7:45am class by making loud "music" with the hose to the air pump from my exercise ball. Who needs fancy instruments when you have plastic hoses?

 
Saturday was the Big Game, a.k.a. OSU and Michigan. For some reason, I the Goodyear shirt I got out for Isaiah didn't make me think of Michigan until we got to my cousin's house. We root for the Buckeyes though, so only the Michigan lovers of the family even gave it a second thought.

Another Cliché Thanksgiving Post.

     I haven't really had to think about being thankful for things this Thanksgiving. Ever since some really irritating moments with B saying I never say, "Thank you" a while ago, I try a lot harder to let people know when I'm thankful. For watching Isaiah, for helping me out with something, even just for a kind word. I try to let everyone know I appreciate them, love them, and that I wouldn't be where I am today without them. I still complain about things, but I'm hoping that is something I can work on some more and get rid of.

     I'm just really thankful for everything in my life. That wasn't the case a year ago, but so much has changed since then.   So here's a short list of some things I'm thankful for:

1. God. He is my rock and has been, through everything that has happened over the past few years. Everything I have endured, he has turned into something good in my life. 
2. Isaiah. He may agitate me to no end, but with one smile or hug or "I love you," he makes my whole world better and brighter. 
3. My parents. Enough said, right? But they do SO much for me that I used to take for granted. They watch Isaiah for me so I can go to my night class. I live where I do and comfortably because they own this twinplex and let me rent a side from them. They give me their old/unwanted stuff (table ware, bedding, furniture, etc...). If I ever need help, they're only a call away. And also, they have keys to my house and care, which I have found to be quite useful tons of times. 
4. My sisters and other family members. Built in baby sitters, shoulders to cry on, secret holders, help with classes; you name it, they've been there for me and Isaiah. 
5. My church. They've been there for me through thick and thin, gotten me back on the path when I lost my way, and don't judge me for the mistakes I have made.
6. My old job. Or rather, them firing me. You helped me even when you didn't intend to. This year would have been a whole lot harder without the unemployment checks.
7. My car. It may be 16 years old and a clunker (literally) but it gets the job done and I have never truly been stranded.

And last but not least..

     7.  The bars on my windows. Without them, I wouldn't feel safe here and probably wouldn't get a full nights sleep ever.

So there's my list. There are plenty more things that I am thankful for, but I'm not trying to write a several page long post.

Tomorrow, I will once again spend time with family and friends, eat good food, and be surrounded by love. Tomorrow will be the first big holiday that we will spend without Mamaw. I know it will be an emotional day, but through it all, I will be thankful.

Wordless Wednesday: Mascara? What Mascara?

Mamatography: Days 316-322

 

 

Mamatography: A 365 Day Photography Project. At least one picture per day of what you did that day.

 

I've been kind of busy the past week. Nothing important, just regular old school stuff, parenting stuff, and being sick. I chose sleep over blogging a lot this week, to be honest. 

 

Trust me: I had a lot of things I could have written about, like thinking the other side of the twinplex I live it was being broken into--which, apparently, was just city workers repairing a water main break a couple blocks from here (hey, I could hear what sounded like a drill through the wall in the bathroom. turned out to be from the pipes pipes); or how Isaiah managed to poop ALL over my bathroom without even letting me know he had to go; or how my dad and his pastor friend are fixing up the other side of the twinplex now and I really just want to swap sides, because it would come with a brand new kitchen, bathroom, and flooring. Instead, I turned off my computer and TV and silenced my phone and slept.

So, now that the week is over and I am STILL tired, here are my pictures. 

 

Sunday, I locked myself out of the house and car on the way to church. Luckily, I had my phone and my mom came and picked us up and took us to her church. After church we went back to their house and B, our cousin J, and I played around outside with B's new camera.

 

Monday, someone from the cable company mistakenly turned off my internet without notice around 9 am. Let's just say Isaiah was NOT happy. They couldn't come out to fix it until 3, so Isaiah and I played outside and went over to visit Papa and Pastor Brown next door.

Tuesday was a lazy day. B and I made plans to go to see Twilight on Saturday, Isaiah and I watched the Little Engine that Could, and pretty much did nothing.

Wednesday, I had class, Isaiah had Awana, and I had worship team practice*, so by the time we got home, Isaiah passed out. It was fun, though. Only having 3 classes per day is pretty awesome, actually. And I only have 3 weeks left of the semester, so it's coming to an end fast.

*I got roped into it by my cousin's husband.

Thursday, I got hit on by two random guys at two different gas stations. First, when Isaiah and I went to the Circle K to get drinks for Pastor Brown and Papa. Then, when I got gas at the Speedway after picking B up from school and taking her to my parents' house and then to work. Ugh. At least it (maybe?) means I'm getting in better shape.

 Friday was my early day at school. After school, I put Isaiah down for a nap, and went next door to watch Papa and Pastor Brown work. They're making great progress! New bottom cabinets, painted the upper cabinets and walls (first with Kilz, then with regular paint... the previous renters were Horrible). They also did some plumbing and electrical work and everything is looking great. Great enough that I wish I could live on that side.

Friday night, we got word that my older sister, N, was really sick. Her doctor sent her to the ER to get tested for meningitis. Luckily, she doesn't have meningitis, just a really bad virus that caused her to get dehydrated. She's now on bed rest and staying at my parents' house.

 Saturday, Isaiah and I hung out until it was time to drop him off with my mom and take B to the movies. Twilight was pretty much just as I expected. Bella and Edward's kid was horribly fake for most of the movie. Like, really? Could you not hire some kids to play her? Oh well. At least it was a fun day and B and I got to make fun of it some.

Mamatography: Days 309-315

 

 

Mamatography: A 365 Day Photography Project. At least one picture per day of what you did that day.

 

This week has been awful. I started getting sick Sunday, and I still haven't gotten any better. Then Isaiah started getting it too. Bleck. But I kept plugging away at the Mamavation 2 week challenge, and Isaiah with me (both of us coughing all the while.) So please forgive me for not having as much to say about the week.

Trying to put on his vampire fangs.

Homemade cough syrup. It works for Isaiah, but not for me.

I voted!

The big boo-boo he got in the parking lot at school. And the mess that is my house

More waffle sticks.

 

I got a Diamond Candles candle. I burned it all day to get it to this point.

 

Finally got the ring out.

 ^^Evidence that I got Isaiah to eat all of his dinner. He wanted chips, so I told him he could have 1 chip for every 2 big bites he took. He ate all but the sauce and some bits of veggies at the bottom.

It would have been better if it were a homemade dinner, but being that I've been sick for a full week now, I just didn't care tonight.

Wordless Wednesday: Big boy boo-boos

Isaiah fell in the parking lot at school.

2 days later. Ignore the mess in the background. ;-)

Indoor Fishing▬Pinterest Sunday

Another Sunday is here, which means another Pinterest project. This one is from Blissfully Domestic. I was originally thinking about just making it for Isaiah, but I think I may make a couple more sets (using a dowel rod or something) for Christmas presents.

1.) Make a pattern and cut it out.

Isaiah didn't believe it was a fish until I drew on fins, eyes, and a mouth.

The cut out fish.

 2.) Use your pattern to cut out your fabric fish, it's easier to do two layers at a time to make sure they match up.  I made two different patterned fish to try.

3.) Sew the pieces together. Wrong sides together if you're doing an unfinished edge and using fray check, or right sides together if you're going to turn and top stitch. Leave about 2 inches undone to stuff (or to turn it inside out and then stuff).

Isaiah picked out the fabric.

 4.) Stuff the fish. 

All sewn and fluff filled

5.) Add the magnets, and hot glue them in, then stitch the opening closed. The tutorial said to use 1 inch round magnets, but the ones I got didn't have much power, so I used these ball magnets that I got at Walmart. They're perfect.

6.) Use Fray Check on the edges of the fish.

7.) Attach another magnet to  either twine or fishing line. I hot glued a small piece of twine to the magnet then tied it onto Isaiah's Spider-Man fishing pole.

8.) Fish!

9.) (Optional) Try to "catch" mom's camera.

Edit: In case you noticed, we used Isaiah's trampoline for our "pond." This made it fun for not only just fishing at random, but also, by putting one fish on each color, an opportunity for learning. Isaiah already knows all of his colors, but I plan on doing it with letters, words, and other things. There are almost endless possibilities!

Mamatography: Almost done!

Mamatography: A 365 Day Photography Project. At least one picture per day of what you did that day.

 

Sunday was good, as per usual. We had dinner at my grandma's house (Isaiah's Meemaw) and it was just us, Grandma, my cousin, her husband, and their three boys. If you know me, you'll know that's pretty small for a Sunday dinner at Grandma's house. Then we came home and for supper, Isaiah wanted waffle sticks. Again. At least it's not that hard to whip up 3/4 cup of batter to make 1 batch of waffle sticks. Haha.

 

Love his hair in this. It just shows off his nap hair.

 Monday started the 2 week challenge with Mamavation and Bob Harper.
That night, after class, we stayed at Mama and Papa's house for a bit to watch the weather reports on Hurricane Sandy, and so Isaiah could watch Magic Mike and other shows he can't watch here since we don't have cable.

Sitting *on* my mom watching TV.

Tuesday, we stayed home while Sandy stormed around us, losing power for a few times a couple of times as the transformer by us blew again and again. We had fun, did the new workout for the 2 week challenge, and tried something new for dinner: Spaghetti Squash. It's really quite good with just butter and salt. It tastes kind of like Acorn squash, if you like that.

Wednesday was Halloween, and Isaiah knew just how to start it off: by saying let's work out, then getting his "weights" and pointing at the computer screen telling me "That's Bob! He's a teacher." Then he went to preschool for his Halloween party, where he dressed as Thomas the Train, and I went to my classes.

Pointing at Bob. See his cute little "weights"?

Wednesday, after class, I also took some pictures of the storm damage. Missing shingles, damaged shingles, and a downed tree limb, but no leaks and no big damage.

Thursday, we stayed for most of the day. We did take a trip to the store for some groceries, which was pointless because I got home without buying the most important thing I went for: boneless, skinless chicken breasts. But I had some leftover beef vegetable stew my mom made, and for dinner we made some crescent roll tacos▬the only form of red meat Isaiah will eat.

Mmm Beef Vegetable Stew.

Crescent roll tacos.

Friday, I had class again. After class, we cleaned some and I reorganized Isaiah's toy shelves under the TV. We also took a looong nap and then Isaiah went to bed around 9:30, while I stayed up and read until 2:30. Sigh, not my intention. Especially when I knew Isaiah would only sleep till 6:30 or 7.

Yay for organization! Somewhat.

Today (Saturday) started off great. Isaiah was a bear, and had his "berries" along with his waffles for breakfast. Then we had every intention of going to Joann Fabrics for supplies to finish his indoor magnetic fishing game. But, alas, he threw an epic tantrum, peed his pants, and was put in time out. So instead of going shopping, he ended up in an early nap, where he is now. And tonight, we'll be going to my parents house for dinner.

Isaiah's "berries" on top of his memory game.

Any tips for dealing with epic tantrums which include peeing his pants for revenge? I could use them dearly.