Recipe for a Happy New Year

Author Unknown

Take twelve whole months.
Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness,
hate, and jealousy.
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.

Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or
thirty-one different parts,
but don't make up the whole batch at once.
Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.

Mix well into each day one part of faith,
one part of patience, one part of courage,
and one part of work.
Add to each day one part of hope,
faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.
Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation,
and one good deed.
Season the whole with a dash of good spirits,
a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,
and a cup full of good humor.

Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness,
and cheerfulness.
You're bound to have a happy new year.

My Wishes for the New Year

I wish you Health...
So you may enjoy each day in comfort.

I wish you the Love of friends and family...
And Peace within your heart.

I wish you the Beauty of nature...
That you may enjoy the work of God.

I wish you Wisdom to choose priorities...
For those things that really matter in life.

I wish you generosity so you may share...
All good things that come to you.

I wish you Happiness and Joy...
And Blessings for the New Year.

I wish you the best of everything...
That you so well deserve.

Wishing you a Very Happy New Year.

Written by: Author Unknown

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I completed 400 pages in the year 2006!

This is page 400 that I posted both on the triplets blog and on my blog. I keep a running total all year.

In 2005 I did only 315 pages.

So my goal for 2007 is to do more than 400 pages.

Circle Journal

I belong to a scrapbooking group on the internet for many years and this year I hosted a circle journal where a couple members made books that went from member to member throughout the year contributing their artwork and pages to their theme. We are winding down to the last 2 months on the circles. Each journal had a different theme. The theme of this album that I was working on tonight was, "What song, quote or poem expresses what being a woman means to you." Well, I thought and thought about this and searched the internet. I came up with a song by SheDaisy (which by the way is now playing on my blog). Okay, why does it mean so much to me? Well, since I have had the children I feel that me and my husband have drifted apart a bit. We are slowly trying to bring some passion back into our marriage but it is so hard with the children and him working all the time to support us. Every chance we get we try to spend some quality time together.

Oh, by the way these two pages are actually done with real paper and ribbons. Imagine that? It's been 5 months since I touched my papers and embellishments. I so was not happy to get glue all over my fingers again - he, he! I think it also took me longer to embellish these two pages then if I did them digital but hey, the rules were to use paper so I did my best and I'm glad it's now complete. All the papers and ribbons were from Stampin' Up. The brads were from my stash unknown company.

Quote from Oprah

"I am woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull."

What Makes a Good Mother?

What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time? The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 am to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 am when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home? Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child, when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, or a child dying? This is for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep depreviation and mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at- home mothers, single mothers and married mothers. This is for all of us. Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray.

Author unknown

Little Man Tag - Font Challenge

I made this tag for a Font Product Sample Challenge located here using the font DSP Old General Store Font

Credits:
Rustic Affair by Lisa Carter
Gift Tag Template by Rene Bross
Modern Princess by Lisa Carter
Fatherhood by Lisa Carter

Story of Us - Title Page

credits:
Story of Us by Lisa Carter
Love Song by Lauren Bavin
BB Hopes and Dreams by Lisa Carter
Tuscan Romance by Lauren Bavin
Fonts: CK Serendipity & Deco Caps

2007 Dreams

Share something new that you want to experience in 2007!

I'm hoping that in 2007 my husband will be able to have more time to spend with not only the children but to also spend time with me and to be more of a family. I can dream right?

No more diapers! I'm hoping in the year 2007 the triplets become potty trained and we no longer need diapers. They will be 3 in 2007 so I'm sure with a lot of hard work this is a realistic goal. Plus this will cut down on our grocery bills.

I'm Having a Nervous Breakdown

Yesterday I really lost it. I think all the whining is really getting to me and the lack of help. I lost my weekly helper about a month or so ago and my mom has been sick so I've been on my own. It was dinner time. I finished cooking a big meal chicken and rice. It was served and put on the table for the triplets to eat. The girls were eating, however, Justin didn't touch his food and was asking for ice cream. I told him, "No, ice cream until you eat your meal." He said, "No, Ice cream!" I again told him, "No, ice cream until you eat your meal." He took his meal and dumped it onto the floor. I got so upset that instead of hitting him (thank God I didn't) I took his plate and smacked it onto the table. Well, it broke shattering plastic all over the kitchen. Luckily no one was hurt.

Anyway I get this e-mail this morning from Ellen. It's a group I belong to about disaplining the triplets. I am also reading tons of books when I have time from the library on this issue. I am doing this alone since my husband is always working. There are days like yesterday that I just can't manage any more. I'm exhausted and to top it off I have another migrane headache. I've been getting them more and more lately. Back to Ellen's comments:

"After the next explosion, I'd try to remember to say to myself:

It's not the end of the world. Anyone can violate his own
standards of behavior- given enough provocation. Don't be so hard
on yourself. No more orgies or self-condemnation. Some of the
guilt you can use- to prod yourself into making changes. The rest,
push away or it will drag you down- paralyze you.

I'll say to myself: 'My temporary breakdown doesn't define me. It
doesn't tell me who I am. I am what I will choose to be- and I'm
not finished yet. I'm still in the process of becoming. What
happened was upsetting- regrettable- but much more important is how
I will conduct myself afterwards.'"

Diet Tips for the Holidays

Best diet tips and ideas for healthy eating during the holidays. My best advice would be to have triplets or children for that matter. Since I had them I can't remember the last time I ate a full meal. No, I'm wrong. I actually ate an entire meal at the moms club night out last week. I so look forward to those nights without the children.

Anyway, back to the subject I baked cookies one day and in 2 days they were gone. The triplets eat all day long. Not only do they get fed the three meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner but they have snacks as well. By the time I finish getting their dinner all prepared and I finally try to sit down to eat they are finished and want to get down. After getting them down. I finally sit down to eat and they become little doggies begging for me to feed them again. So I never get a full plate because I'm always sharing my meals with the kids and it's always cold.

If you really want to lose weight during the holidays why not help anyone who has children during feeding time. Cut up their food, prepare their plates, give in to their every whim and need so the mom can eat a meal instead of stuffing your face.

Favorite Memory from this Year's Celebrations.

I was a bit disappointed in this years Hanukkah celebration. I guess my idea of celebrating the holidays would be for us to celebrate as a family. However, that did not happen. First, I hated the fact that my husband had to go off on a business trip in the middle of the holidays leaving me home to deal with the children. Even when he was home from his trip he was working. I had to light the candles on the menorah and say the blessing alone and had to give the gifts to the kids alone. Most nights and days I just felt like crying but I managed to stay strong for the children.

I think that the children had a lot of fun opening gifts each night. I tried to make it fun where each night they would open up a gift and then I would sit down and play with them and try to get them to laugh and have fun even without daddy's presence. My only wish would have been if my husband would have had the time to celebrate with us. Sure hoping next year will be different.

Well, back to the subject. My favorite memory from this year would have to be the one night that my mom stayed over. That night we took the children to the Holiday Light Spectacular at the Arts Center. We drove through to see the lights with the kids. No, Mom, this was not the favorite part - keep reading. We traveled over an hour to get to the arts center that cost us $15 and it lasted for about 5 minutes which I felt was a waste of time and money. We will definately not do that again next year. It wasn't until we returned home from that trip and drove around the neighborhood to hear Victoria say, "LOOK, LIGHTS" and "LOOK MORE LIGHTS". She said it over and over again as she pointed out the window in the back seat to her brother and sister. Naomi wasn't feeling very well because she was still suffering from an ear infection and it was past her bedtime by the time we got back home and so she says, "NO MORE LIGHTS!" She just wanted to get home and go to sleep. This was my favorite memory. Thanks mom for being there to cheer me up and make my favorite memory with us. We will definately just drive around the neighborhood next year and maybe make it a family tradition.

Even after seeing the many many lights in our neighborhood the children would run to the Menorah each night and say, "LIGHTS". The funny thing about it was after we would turn them on they would all stand there and try to blow them out. They can be so adorable at times.

Dear Santa

This was forwarded to me via e-mail. I changed the words a bit.

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctor, changed a zillion diapers, and picked up items every 2 seconds. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years. Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a new back that isn't in pain and I just hate the smell of bengay which is now my new perfume.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the third month of my pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the
phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with three kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room", "Take your hands off your brother or sister," "Get Down. Don't climb." and "No, No Don't touch that." because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the cat.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, time alone to take a crap or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding bribes as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.

Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, TRIPLET MOM...!

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

*Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the mommies you know

Happy Holidays 2006

Credits:

dabratt_SNL20_Paper3
The night before Christmas by Lauren Bavin
SADS ornament

Colour of your Dreams by Carole King

"Live in the colour of your dreams. Know everything you see is not quite as it seems. Take everything that you have to give. If you believe it, you can make it what you want to. All you gotta do is say you will.

Go for the vision in your mind. Throw all your doubts away, just leave it all behind. You are the owner of the game. Nothing will ever be the same once you have played it. You know you're gonna win if you just say you will.

So dream of the day when you will fly. And let the wings of your destiny carry you through the sky. Take everything you have to give. If you believe it, you can make it what you want to, and be living in the colour of your dreams." - Colour of your Dreams by Carole King.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Your Birthdate: February 13

You're dominant and powerful. You always need to be in charge. While others respect your competence, you can be a bit of a dictator. Hard working and serious, you never let yourself down. You are exact and accurate - and you expect others to be the same way. Your strength: You always get the job done Your weakness: You're a perfectionist to a fault Your power color: Gray Your power symbol: Checkmark Your power month: April

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Recipe for Happiness

1 Hardworking Sexy Husband
3 Healthy Good (*Note: I said good not bad) Children
2 Cute Furry Cats
Lots of Hugs and Kisses

Mix first three ingredients in a warm 73 degree house. Add lots of hugs and kisses and cook for years.

5 Things in Winter

List five things that make up a perfect winter day.

Well, lets just start out by saying that I dislike winter, so, my 5 things will sound negative but I will do my best to turn it around to the positive side to make it a perfect day. Some of what I say may be a fairy tale or a dream because it will never happen in real life.

1. If the temp could be warmer than freezing. 50's are good. Anything lower than that is freezing. Well, really anything lower than 70 is cold to me. However, I can handle 50 with a nice coat and gloves. It's the colder weather that I cannot tollerate. Every winter I wind up getting chapped hands and lips from the cold weather. I'd much rather stay in the house then get all bundled up to go in that cold air. Not to mention the longer time it takes us to get out of the house with all the coats, hats, mittens, etc. It's not easy with 3 little ones who still need help getting dressed.

2. Snow that doesn't have to be shoveled or driven in. If it snowed and it was there for the day for us to play in such as sleigh ride, make snowmen and maybe snowballs would be fun. The children enjoyed the snow instead of cring. Last year they totally hated the snow. I'm hoping that this year it will be different. If the next day it melted so there was no clean up involved that would be a perfect winter snow day. If we didn't have to drive to the store or to work and didn't have to leave the house for any reason that too would be a perfect snow day. Or maybe if we had someone else shovel or snow blow our driveway and walkway so I don't have to worry about my husband having a heart attack while he's cleaning up the snow mess. Cleaning up snow is not fun and just a hassle. Can you tell I hate snow?

3. Come inside after playing in the snow to a hot cup of hot chocolate with marshmellows. Who am I kidding? A cup of hot chocolate any time is delicious.

4. If it didn't get dark so early. It gets dark here at 5 pm which is way too early in my opinion. Why does it have to get dark so early and light so early? The sun starts to show up at 6 am which wakes up everyone. Luckily I got some dark shades for the kids rooms so they can sleep longer but before I got those shades the waking up at 6 am was ridiculous.

5. If we were all healthy and didn't suffer from colds. It seems since winter is approaching we are getting more and more sicknesses in our house. We've had our share of ear infections, colds and even stomach viruses in the last 2 weeks. Last year we stayed inside the entire winter so the sicknesses were less. However, now that they are older and we are venturing out to different activities we are starting to get sick more.

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

You Are a Snowman

Friendly and fun, you enjoy bringing holiday cheer to everyone you know!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

Loungeroom/Play Room

Our couch has a pull out bed where my mom sleeps when she visits. Drapped over the edge are blankets that my grandmother crocheted for us. You can see the kitchen behind it..........

Our family room turned into the play room when the triplets were born. This is where they watch their tv shows. Favorites would be Sesame Street, Barney and Comfy Couch.

Our tv was purchased when we first got married over 11 years ago. It was serviced once. The wall unit was purchased when we moved into our house 7 years ago. We love TIVO.

Credits:
Element chipboard loungeroom - DSP Designers
Ribbonorama by Lauren Bavin
Text Path 2 by Lauren Bavin
Fonts: LD Beatnik and CK Wellington

Digital Scrapbooking

Fill in the blank and then tell us about it:

I enjoy Digital Scrapbooking now, but if anyone had told me that years ago, I would never have believed them.

This is a totally true statement. A couple of years ago my husband tried to get me to go digital and I kept saying no. I was totally addicted to scrapbooking the paper kind that I just couldn't see myself going digital. My husband kept saying that digital was the way to go and that many others will follow but I guess I just did not believe him. He is always right about everything so why didn't I go digital back then? I guess I was afraid of change and all the money I have spent on papers and embellishments I didn't want to give up. When the triplets turned 2 years old this past August my husband bought me a laptop computer and I decided to take the plunge and downloaded adobe photoshop elements the trial version (30 days they give you free). In the 30 days I took tutorial after tutorial when the children were napping or sleeping. Since August I have not turned back to my regular paper scrapbooking and I have turned into a major digital scrapbooking junkie. I can't get enough of fonts, freebies, and I have been purchasing lots of stuff (which I really need to cut back on). But hey, it's been my major stress reliever. I have even started to make digital items. I have been carrying my laptop all over and find it way easier and faster than paper scrapping. I love the fact that I can take one piece of paper well I should say digital background and change the color to match my photos. I am a major perfectionist and always had to have my papers and things match my photos so doing this digital fits my perfectionism so much better. If I would have listened to my husband years ago I'm sure by now I probably would be a digital designer but right now it's at a slow pace just learning new things every now and then but hey, in 4 months I have come a very long way.

Honey, you are always RIGHT!

Women's Poem

This poem I thought was very cute. I received it from one of the triplet mom's I don't know the original writer but wanted to share.

He didn't like the casserole
And he didn't like my cake.
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.
I didn't perk the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue........

Then I turned around and smacked him...
Like his mother used to do!

Author: unknown

What sets you apart from the crowd?

Well, that's an easy question for me. I have 3 children (no not one, two, or twins even) their triplets. They were born all the same day. When we go out somewhere especially if I am alone you should hear the questions I get asked or the stares we receive. It's like we are the circus or I have three heads or something. And, of course, I'm not the mommy of Victoria or Justin or Naomi. People remember me as the "Triplet Mom". It's like I lost my idenity when I had the triplets. However, I am very over protective of my children. I tried for a very long time to have them so that maybe is the reason why I am protective. I just cannot relax when we are out in public. Always paranoid that they could get hurt or even worse get stollen. I have seen lots of moms who don't even watch their children and they wind up hurt.

My Get Away

Where do you go when you want to get away from the pressures of life, family, work, etc. Since I am a stay at home mom I cannot get away from my children but lately I have been locking myself in the laundry room and shutting the door so they can't come in just to get a breather away from them especially if it is a rough day when they all are tantruming at the same time. The whining and crying can certainly get to you. It's like they know how to push your buttons until you have no patience and explode by screaming. So when this happens I try to distance myself from them for a few minutes just to relax. This is also when I sometimes run outside to get the mail. The fresh air and just that walk to the mailbox can certainly calm me. After they finally go to sleep I then go to my computer to wind down from the day. Checking e-mails or just scrapbooking tends to lower my blood pressure as well.

Hardest Person to Shop for

Who is the hardest person to buy a gift for and why? I would say the hardest person to shop for would be my husband. Every time I get him something he doesn't like what I pick out. He always says that I didn't get the better gift or I didn't get what he wanted. So we agreed to purchase our own gifts this year. He got himself a Wii (which we both have been playing together) and I got myself a lap top bag. Since the children are more into the holiday this year we decided that one gift would be it and the rest we would get things for the children.

Holiday Questionaire

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
They are wrapped
3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house?
colored. I preferably like blue lights.
4. Do you hang Mistletoe?
no
5. When do you put your decorations up?
We don't decorate except for the Menorah and I usually take that out the first night
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Sweet Potatoe Pie
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
Remember when my aunts and uncles would come over with gifts
8. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
We open gifts 8 nights of Hanukkah and then open gifts at my parents on Christmas
9. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
don't remember
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
We used to have a green tree with blue lights that I donated to the church
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Dread it
12. Can you ice skate?
Last time I tried I could but it's been years since then.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
no
14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
spend time with my family
15. What tops your tree?
n/a
16. What’s your favorite holiday tradition?
singing songs
17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
rather receive
18. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
my aunts recipe of those salteen crackers and chocolate
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
already answered this earlier this week
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
don't really care for them.
21. What is your favorite Christmas special/movie?
Grinch who stole Christmas

My Experience Today

Using your 5 senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste), what will/did you experience today? I stayed up really late last night putting together art desks for the children with my mother. My back, legs and hands were aching since the automatic screw driver died when we were putting together the first desk. Figures. There was 50 screws in each desk. So we put together 3 desks with a total of 150 screws by hand. My mom had a big blister on her hand. Mine is just sore. Anyway, I had only 4 hours of sleep because the children woke up and were screaming from seeing their new desk in the kitchen. To top it off my throat was a bit sore. I wound up taking Tylenol sore throat medication before we left for our big outing today. Because my nose is stuffed up I did not experience any smell today nor did I taste anything. After going out to lunch and taking the kids to the play area where they played all different types of things such as fishing with a magnetic fishing pole, tossing bean bags into a wooden board with holes in it, coloring, jumping in the moon bounce, playing puppets in the theatre, shopping and playing house. On the way back to the car I stopped in one of the gift shops to get something sweet to eat and when I returned my mother was all nervous because Justin was whining and when she looked down his ear didn't look very good. His ear was crusty and when she went to wipe it there was a pool of yellow liquid oozing out from his inner ear. We frantically walked back to the car and I called my husband for the pediatritians phone number. The doctor said that he may have had an ear infection (which his sister Naomi does have) and that it may have ruptured his ear drum. Since we were over an hour away from home the doctor called in our presciption and we have to go very early tomorrow morning to see him.

Peculiar Gift!

What's the most peculiar gift you've ever received? Describe what happened when you opened it and your reaction. At my bridal shower I received strange looking ball like bowls. It was really ugly looking blue glass with an iron like frame that they sat in. There were about 3 or 4 of these glass bowls. They were sort of like glass tube shaped. I had no idea what in the world it was. My husband didn't even know what it was. So, what did I do with it? Well, I tossed it in the trash can. I just didn't know what it was and thought it was so ugly and definately not my taste at all. Anyway, a couple of years later, I finally found out what it was. It was for candles. You would have thought that the person who gave us this gift would have included the candles in the original gift but since they didn't I had no idea what it was. Luckily they were from a distant relative so I didn't have to display them in our house nor did I hurt anyone's feelings that I got rid of them.

Favorite and Worst Holiday Song

Do you have a favorite holiday song? I say it every year. My favorite song is the one which is mostly instrumental and you can hear the bells chiming. I always have to search for the name of the song because I forget the title. The name of the song is (after searching again, of course) O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night by Trans-Siberian Orchestra found on the Christmas Eve and Other Stories album. It's a fantastic album if you don't already own it. I can listen to the entire album over and over again. It's my favorite. Okay, why do I like this song so much? I guess it reminds me of the time when I was a teenager when I played hand bells in the church choir. I really enjoyed playing the hand bells when I was younger. I only wish my parents would have taken some photos of me doing this back at that time. There is no photo to be found and now it's just a memory that keeps fading away. Another song that I love is the one by Adam Sandler called The Chanukah Song. Adam Sandler just cracks me up laughing every time. Of course, I really enjoy all his movies so maybe that's why I like his song so much.

Which holiday song drives you crazy? I think that song Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer by Dr. Elmo is the worst song I have ever heard. It drives me crazy when they play it on the radio over and over again. Enough already!

Time to Blog?

At what time do you normally write your blog entries? Does it make a difference in what you write? My days are really chaotic, well, I shouldn't say that because I try to go by a schedule every day with the children you have to when you are raising multiples. What I should have said was my free time is really unpredicable. If I go to bed early then I wake up early and have free time in the morning but if I go to bed late then there is no free time in the morning. Normally, I stay up late and then drag during the day. I try to check the blog prompts in the morning and then think about what to write and then later in the day when I have a free moment (like now, nap time) I write. I do like to think about the prompt for a little bit before writing. If I write right away then later in the day I start thinking well, maybe I should have written this or that. It drives me crazy!

What Do I Crave?

There are days when I crave junk food. I normally go for something salty but then I also have to have something sweet. Let's see what is my favorite salty snack food. I think the top of that list would be popcorn. No not the regular butter kind. I love the kettle corn kind. It is both salty and sweet at the same time. When I went to California for a scrapbook retreat over 5 years ago a friend of mine gave me some and I loved it. When I returned home to the East coast I frantically searched for it with no luck. My friend from Arizona mailed me a case of the microwave popcorn. Now, I can find it normally in the supermarket. Walmart still does not carry it but the supermarkets do.

I also love potato chips not really the plain kind. I like the salty vinegar kind. My husband tried it once and couldn't believe I liked it. But I tell you it's the only thing that if I buy it the bag will remain in the closet for when I have that craving because he won't touch it.

As for sweets. I love twizzlers. No not the regular kind you find in the store. It has to be the pull-n-peel kind. I think I purchase a bag almost every week when I go food shopping. I hate when they get stale though. I like when they are first opened and they are soft and chewy. The bag will last me a week usually if my husband doesn't get to it.

Besides that I think at least once a month during PMS time I crave brownies. I do not like cake like brownies. It has to be fudgy. The more sweet and fudgy the better. I so love it with nuts and frosting. I found the most fabulous recipe last month that I already made 2 batches of them and snacked on them often. The recipe is called Mississippi Mud Brownies.
I found the recipe at allrecipes.com.

Thankful

After posting such a downer I thought and thought. I want to turn my thoughts to positive things so here is what I am thankful for

1. Thankful that no one was hurt in the car door accident. Luckily I or the kids were not in the car and it wasn't a driving accident. The car can be fixed.

2. Thankful that my husband has started a new job. He is very hard working and I trust that he will get us back on our feet.

3. Thankful for a loving husband. Wish we had more time to spend together though.

4. Thankful that my children are all healthy two year olds.

5. Thankful that my mom still comes by once a week to not only see the kids but to help me with my chores.

6. Thankful that we have doctors that we can trust with any medical issues we have.

7. Thankful for the internet and blogging where I can write all my worries and thoughts down so I don't keep it bottled up inside.

8. Thankful for my skills in scrapbooking as that too has been a major therapy to releave some stress.

9. Thankful for digitalscrapbookplace (DSP) where I have become very active in all the challenges and activites while my husband works and I have a moment to myself.

10. Thankful for the Triplet mom's clubs, MOPs Club and MOMs club where I have met other mothers who are stay at home moms dealing with the same issues I face every day.

11. Thankful for my Stampin up upline Meredith who teaches me new things every month. I so look forward to her nights out.

So, you see, there are many things I am thankful for.

Lucky - What's that?

To misquote Clint Eastwood: Do you feel lucky? So much has been happening here and it's not the lucky feeling I have been having. Maybe it's the when it rains it pours feeling I have been having. Lets see, in the past couple of months well since August I would say. First, one of our cars gets damaged. No, it wasn't an accident mind you. I ran out to put money on a deposit for the kids birthday party at Shoprite and when I came back out my husband's car had this big dent on the door. So much dented that we had to get insurance involved. The entire door needs to be replaced which, of course, my husband still hasn't brought in for servicing.

My husband gets laid off again. This is the 2nd time this year. Our finaces have dewindled down to almost nothing. We are struggling to make ends meet. Luckily he has started a new job and I'm hoping things will get better.

The kids are in their terrible two stage. Lots of whining, crying and fighting. There are days I feel like I'm going to really lose it as the noise level in this house is unbelievable. I look forward to the time they go down for naps and the time they go to bed. Am I bad mom? I just struggle to make it through the day. I lost my helper so I'm a bit stressed. She used to come by 6 hours a week. I'm behind on all the chores and just so tired.

Not only that, my husband has developed some medical issues which I am so praying that they are not serious. I worry all the time and pray that G_d doesn't take my husband away from me. No, he doesn't help out with the kids that much but he works very very hard to provide for us. We could not have all the things we need without him. There is no way I could work as day care would cost way too much for the triplets.

So will I buy a lottery ticket. Heck, no! So much has been negative around here that I doubt very much that we would win anything.

How Old?

How old would you say you are, if you didn't actually know your age? I feel like I'm 50 yet I'm in my late 30's. Why would I say that I feel like 50? Well, I am very tired. Some people can't raise one toddler and can't imagine raising 3. I have 3 to raise. I am so wiped out by lunch time that when the triplets go down for their nap I too take a nap. I guess that's my secret for making it through the days and staying up late to get other things done. My eyes are starting to get black circles under them. Oh, I don't think that I could have raised triplets at age 50 though. I sure wish I was in my 20's with the triplets so I could enjoy them more. I just don't have the energy like a 20 year old has. The triplets are all over 23 pounds and since I lift them day in and day out and am constantly bending down to pick up things around the house that my body aches. My shoulders and back hurt. There are days I just can't sleep because the pain is really bad. You would think my middle name is Ben Gay because I wind up putting that on my back almost every night. I'm starting to get gray hair too. I so need a haircut and coloring. Oh and did I mention yet that I'm starting to lose my memory? This week I actually missed a triplet mom's night out which I was looking forward to and even RSVP'd saying I was going. I even had it circled on the calendar yet for some reason I completed spaced out and missed it. This is not the first time this has happened. This summer I even forgot about a speech therapist appointment for the kids. I sometimes don't know what day it is. I really need to start crossing the days off on the calendar.

Christmas Gifts

What if Christmas didn't require giving gifts? Would it still be the same? Oh, I so wish there was no such thing as gift giving during the holidays. It is so stressful trying to pick out gifts for everyone every year especially if you are lacking funds to do so. Okay, December for me was a very stressful time when I married my husband back 11 years ago. You see, we celebrated two different holidays at that time. I would put up the tree and get no help. We would wind up fighting and I would be in tears over decorating. So I began to dread the holidays because it was like this year after year. Four years ago I decided to convert. I did a year of studying and finally converted in December 2003. I donated my tree and all the decorations to the church as I already posted earlier this week. Anyway, once all that was removed from my house it was like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. No more fights and no more tears over decorating. We still, however, have to get gifts for everyone but this year we are only getting the children so it's a bit easier.

Favorite Games

Favorite board game - Boy it's been a while since I played a board game. I'm so tempted to get candy land and shoots and ladders for the kids but I still think they are too young to play them. Okay, back to my favorite board game. I would have to say "Life" was my favorite board game when I was younger. I used to play it with my sister.

Favorite video game - I don't play video games that often but my all time favorite video game would have to be pac man. But hey, did anyone get to play with the new game system that is out now called the wii? My husband just had to get it and it is a lot of fun. My mom even likes playing it. One night when she slept over we played tennis and bowling together. I think her favorite game there would be the tennis as she played for hours and then the next game she likes is the bowling. You certainly can get a workout playing this game as my arms and shoulders were killing me the next day. I also played the boxing. It was a great stress releaver as I played with my husband and I felt like I was beating him up but really wasn't. He! He! It was one of those bad days when he didn't help with the children so we faught it out with the game system. It was a lot of fun.

Favorite card came - I would say my favorite card game would be UNO. It's a lot of fun playing this game with a group of friends. But, of course, haven't played this in a while as well.

I did recently purchase a BUNCO game set from BJ's. I bought the one which has the case and I did actually get to play it the one time my grandmother slept over recently. It's a lot of fun but I really think we played wrong though as we were mainly trying to follow directions from the instructions that came with the kit. I know BUNCO is very popular in the west coast but here in the east coast it's really foreign. Wish I could find someone who really knows how to play here.

Cooking Skills 11 Years Ago

When I got married over 11 years ago I hardly knew how to cook. Of what I remember growing up my dad did most of the cooking and when he didn't I remember ordering out a lot. I remember pizza deliveries, chinese food, chicken or whatever being delivered to the house. Of course, my mom said she cooked yet why is it I don't remember her cooking? Oh, it could be I'm losing my memory as I have been forgetting about things lately. Luckily I'm not alone here as I have spoken with other triplet moms and they too are having memory problems. It could be caused by mommy brain they call it from having way too many children. Okay, now stop laughing.

Anyway, I have learned a lot by taking cooking classes at the local supermarket and I have also watched tons of food network shows. While on maternity leave I think that's all I ever watched was the food network. My favorite cooks would be Paula Deen and Giada De Laurentiis. I have also watched Rachael Ray but I find that yes her meals are quick 30 minutes but I can't find the ingredients to make it or that it's not to my family's liking. Our family are very picky eaters. No fish of any kind. We no longer eat pork. So we are left with chicken and beef. My husband won't eat any veggies but yet has to have a meat for every meal. So the meal planning thing is a major struggle that I face almost every day. "What's for Dinner?" is a question I get asked often and I tell you there are days I just don't know what to feed us and luckily those are the days we have take out - pizza or chinese as that's the only thing that delivers here in our area.

Favorite Decoration

Do you have a favorite ornament or decoration that you display at this time of year? Tell us its story. All my ornaments and decorations were donated to the church when I converted 3 years ago except for a tree skirt which I quilted. I think I gave the skirt to my sister as I have no idea where I put it. It was blue and green and silver because my Christmas tree was decorated in blue and silver every year to coordinate with both Hanukkah and Christmas.

We have always had a Menorah that you plug in and use orange light bulbs in but when I converted we learned that the true Hanukkah lighting of the lights was not a light bulb but real candles. So 3 years ago I purchased a silver Menorah which you put really skinny candles in. The first year we did the blessing over the lighting of the real candles but it caused a big mess from all the wax burning and each night I had to clean it up to light more candles so last year we just used it for decoration on the kitchen table. Unfortunately, this year we will have to place it higher somewhere out of the reach of little hands since we no longer have anything on the table for them to reach. We continue to use the fake Menorah in our living room window using the orange light bulbs. Last year my husband took turns each night doing the blessing with each of our children. I'm sure we will do that again this year.

Favorite Childhood Cartoon and TV Show

I don't remember any cartoons that I watched while I was growing up except for the Flintstones and Tom and Jerry but I didn't watch them on a regular basis.


I think my favorite tv show would have to be the Brady Bunch. I must have seen every episode. I liked the show so much that when my parents asked me what I would like my little sister's name to be I gladly said, "Cindy". My sisters name is actually Cynthia but for short we call her Cindy. Hey, sis, if you are reading this, yeah your name probably came from the show I used to watch at age 6.

What kind of Tree Would I Be?

If I had to choose what tree I'd be it would be the Lime Tree. I accept what life dished out to me sometimes not liking it but again that's my complaining side kicking in. I hate fighting and try to avoid it at any cost. I am not good with dealing with stress. When I am stressed I feel very ill and get very bad headaches. I'm a bit on the lazy side where I hate to clean and only do so if I have to do it. I have many talents but am not tenacious enough to make them blossom. I am very crafty. I know how to scrapbook, rubber stamp, crochet, knit and quilt. I really enjoy digital scrapbooking now and photography. I do not wail but my husband does say that I complain a lot. I am very loyal but have a bad jealous streak. I make sacrifices for family and friends especially if it is craft related.

According to Tree Astrology , I am:
Cedar (the Confidence)
Of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury, of good health, not in the least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined, impatient, wants to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthy, optimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.

Favorite Winter Memory

My favorite winter memory would have to be back in the 80's when I was in middle school when we had a very big snow storm. So much snow that the schools were even closed. You see, I lived in the state of NY when I was growing up and they do not close schools for snow but this was the one time that they did close the schools. I hated shoveling the snow as we had a big driveway but I do remember building big walls and tunnels with the snow that my sister, friends and I would climb around in. We never had that much snow again.

Behind Every Successful Mother is a Basket of Dirty Laundry

Journaling reads:
One struggle I face on a daily basis is the never ending piles of laundry. My children now help by putting in and taking out clothes from the washer/ dryer. They cannot fold
and if left alone you will come back to piles of clothes on the floor after you just spent all your time folding.

Credits:
Mary's Garden by Rene Bross

My Sister, My Friend

Credits:
Barber Shop Page Kit by Amber Gray
Sister Wordart by Tina Chambers
Maisies Garden by Lauren Bavin