I love you Christmas, I hate you Christmas

The holidays are quickly approaching and I just love this time of year. The atmosphere is just so great with the sounds of the holiday season. Everywhere you look you see lights, decorations and love. But with all of that comes the stress also. I can already feel the overwhelming stress of buying gifts for everyone on the list. When I think of Christmas the first thing that comes to mind for me lately is Gifts, gifts and more gifts! When did Christmas turn into that? When did we loose the true meaning of Christmas?
I want my daughter to grow in knowing what Christmas really is, and not what its commercialized to be. God gave us his son. Jesus was born on Christmas day. That is something to be celebrated about! Christmas shouldn't be a time of stress it should be a time of joy and reflection over what an amazing gift God gave us.
So this Christmas I'm going to be doing a bit different. I absolutely love all my friends and know how much I'm loved by each of them. So please don't feel the need to spend money on me for a gift. I will not be buying for friends this year. Instead I will be putting that money towards a gift for someone that truly needs it and I encourage you to do the same.

Love,
Tiffany

Sweet moments

I took Ryleigh to the fireworks the other day by myself. We found a nice quiet spot up on the hill and layed out a blanket. I watched her run and play with some kids behind us having a great time. When the fireworks started we layed down on the blanket and snuggled close to keep warm. A few min later she looked up at me and said "Guess what Mama? I LOVE you!" She just made my heart melt and made me realize how blessed I am to have her.
There are still days that I look at her and think 'WOW, shes MINE!? I had a hand in creating this beautiful girl.' It just amazes me.

Im Loved

If you would have asked me a month or so ago how I felt about my life you probally would have gotten an "Its ok" or "Things are fine". Truth is it wasnt. Everyday was a struggle, everyday was a fight about something stupid that didnt really matter.
Then a friend of mine asked me to go to a Marraige retreat that talked about the 5 Love Languages. It totally turned my marraige around. I found out Bobby likes words of affirmation. I try and tell him something everyday at least once thats positive. "You look nice today", "Thanks so much for doing the dishes", "Thanks for fixing the closet door". Simple thing that I usually take for granted that he does. I try and take time out in the evening to spend with him and listen to him talk about his day. I appreciate him more.
My Love launguage is Physical Touch. Hes been doing a great job of making sure he kisses me goodbye, giving me an extra hug, putting his arm around me at church. Little things like that lets me know he still loves me for me.
God heard my prayers and answered them for me. Im happier than ive been in a long time.

vacation day 1

So day 1 was absolutly not what we had planned. We left the house on time to get to the beach at 3pm. I started out driving and drove for about and hour and a half. I started to get tired so I pulled over at a rest stop and Rona took over. She drove for about 2 hrs then we stopped at another rest area to potty. Bobby decided he was ready to drive. We weren't in VA that long when Bobby hit the breaks and we slowed down. I looked over and there was a cop in the median. I said "how fast were you going". His reply was "80". We passed the cop and I looked back to see him pulling out and the lights came on. He pulled up behind us so we pulled over. I quickly got all the papers ready and Bobby had them as he came to the window saying "I clocked you at 82 in a 65. That's recklace endangerment" He took the papers and said he would be back. He came back ticket in hand and said he gave us a ticket for 80 in a 65 so we would just pay a fine. Whew! We were back on the road and before I knew it he's driving 80 again. I told him at the next rest stop he was done! I took over and we almost were hit 2 times. The first time I was in her blind spot and she tryed to come over. The second a guy swerved to miss a chunk of tire and Almost came into me. I had to slam on the breaks and swerve into the side of the road. Luckaly we were fine both times. I drove till we were an hour outside of myrtle. I'm a better navigator so Bobby drove and did the speed limit. Then the GPS said we were almost there. I was so happy after the days events. We get to where it said it was supposed to be and nothing. I looked at the address and Bobby had the S in the wrong spot. Instead of 1200 S ocean blvd. He had 1200 ocean blvd S. So we fixed it and drove 45 min to where it said. We again see the ocean and get so excited to finally get there and again nothing. I called them and they said we were 30 min away! So we get back on the Rd with the complete address and zip! Finally at 6 pm, 15 hrs later, we arrived and were safe. We get the room key and get all the luggage onto the messed up luggage carrier and went to the 4th floor where are room was supposed To be. Nope its on the 14th floor! So we finally got into the room and settled. Ry was dying to go to the beach. So we did. She had an awsome time and cryed when we left.

She did amazing on the trip. Didn't per her pants and for the most part was a very good girl. I love that kid so much!

Crap-Tastic Monday

Yesterday was the most horrible day I have had in a very long time! It started off like any monday and I started laundry. I went to the other side of the basement to pull some clothes out for someone on freecycle when I head splashing!? I went around to the other side of the basment and theres water everywhere! Ryleigh had pulled the hose out of the wash basin and layed it on the floor. So all the water that was supposed to be filling up the washer was all over the floor. I cleaned it up and went upstairs. Ryleigh was playing in the playroom downstairs. I went back down to switch out the laundry and theres water all over the floor AGAIN! This time she had added my laundry powder to the floor and all over everything else she could fling it on. While Im cleaning up that mess She goes upstairs and coats the TV in A&D, pees on the floor, helps herself to 2 brownies and takes the saline eye wash and sprays it in the toilet! I was SO MAD!!!!!!!!!!! I finally got her in her room to nap and then the dog throws up! After her nap wasnt too bad for the first hr or 2. Then we went to walmart where she procedes to throw a fit and throw herself on the floor sobbing all because I said we couldnt get sunglasses. We go to TRU to pick out a swingset and on the way home she says "Wheres Dubba mama?" (her blanky) of course she left it in TRU! So Bobby turned the car around and we went back to save dubba.
I hope I dont have any more of these days any time soon.

Beautiful Weekend

This weekend the weather was so nice! Friday I took Ryleigh to the good zoo with some friends and she had a great time! Here are some pictures:

After the zoo we came home for a nap, then I had an old friend come over for a play date. I havent seen her for years! It was so nice to catch up and let the kids hang out.

Saturday my mom and I took Ryleigh to Oglebay and got some pictures of her with the spring flowers, then went to the playground.

Sunday my mom and I took Ryleigh to Cabelas to see the stuffed animals. She didnt like it as much as we thought she would. She did love the fish though, and the pond they have in there. All in all it was a great weekend. Its supposed to rain all week now, but next weekend is supposed to be nice again!

Win a spotted box

One of my favorite sites is Momma in Flip Flops 2 and right now she is giving away one of my favorite things...A Spotted box!!!!!!!!!!! Go check it out and enter to win!