Interview with OUR children

I was catching up on my fave photo blogger friend and loved how her kids answered ten simple questions. Since it was way late to wake any of them up to satisfy my desire to do the same, I decided I’d em them the questions right away and wait till am and ask them to check their ems. Yes, em, all our kids have gmail accounts. Even the 7 year old. I know, I know. That’s how they keep in touch with their dad when he is away. But after a few heart wrenching letters that went something like this:
Dearest daddy! Whin are you coming hom? I rilly mis you a hole lot! Mom is sad and she macks us klin ol the time and skool. Wel, she duz tak us playces a lot, but we klin a lot to. Plis, cum hom soon. Love, signed the 2 youngest.

we had to talk and redirect the em writing to more positive and more creative. It has been a huge blessing. Their writing has improved and they figured the spell check feature too!

SO, here are the answers of our 4 children ages 12, almost 13(b), 10, eleven in a few weeks(g), 9(g) and 7(g). They didn’t waste time in answering the questions. In fact, the oldest and youngest hit send just 5 min later after checking their mail and went on with their day! I wished they took a little longer to ponder the questions before they spewed the answers. But no nonsense here. No spiritual kind of thinking. Dry and to the point, unlike my friend’s kids. But oh well, time is short these days with dad home. We got to get packing to leave on a week long trip and they can feel my busyness. I marked 1 thru 4 according to the child number, not names.

What does mom always say to you
Clean your room
Clean up your room
Clean up your room (oh, boy, I can’t believe they don’t hear the I love you in between, LOL)
be a good kid and lisen to your mother (straight from my youngest em, why spell check? She is 7, you know?)

What makes mom happy
1. Clean rooms
2. Clean rooms
3. Clean rooms
4 being a great kid (you see a pattern here with the youngest?)


What makes mom sad
1. dirty rooms
2. when we don’t listen to her
3. When the rooms aren’t clean
4. being bad and mean and not greatful (I don’t mind being great though, OK?)

How does mom make you laugh

1 jokes different stuff
2 when she is really funny (like can we be more specific here?)
3 when she eats a sourhead her face turns red
4 something funny

How old is mom
1 35
2 34
3 35
4 not old only 35


6 How tall is mom

1 5.2
2 5.7 (thank you so much, honey, but I wish, it’s not in my genes, sigh)
3 5.2
4 as tall as Mihai (actually, the kid passed me by an inch and a half!!! He is only 12!)

7What does mom like to do

1 scrapbook
2 go to mom’s nite out

3 go out to eat with dad
4 eat chocklet and spend time with us ( I do the chocolate part at nite, kid and share the cheap stuff with you during the day, Oh, how did you know that anyway? I throw away the wrapper right off!)


8 What is mom's job?
1 take care of us
2 to take care of us
3 to homeschool us and to make sure we eat healthy so we have no zits
4 take care of us


9 What is mom's favorite food?
1 hot dogs (what a joker, that is on my least favorite food. Buddy! Oh, I didn’t see the smirk on your face when you typed that one! You got me!)
2 fish eggs (let me explain here, ok? It’s called caviar. It comes in red and black and it’s very expensive and last time I had some was last year and I took forever to eat it like once a week, OK? Favorite food!!! I tell ya, kids!)
3 borscht (beet soup, made it twice during our whole marriage. Yes, I love it but no one except dd1 and maybe hubby if it’s subzero temp outside will eat it)
4 grocamolle (that is quacamole)


10How do you know mom loves you
1 cuz she does
2 by Jesus ( sorry I can’t explain this one, beats me)
3 I know, cuz I am her favorite child (little stinker, acting like her aunt Market)
4 by doing good stuff to us

That was it, folks. While I was at it today I decided to work on a similar one for dad and when I get it all together, please, prepare yourself for some funny stuff. What a difference between the way they see mom and dad!!! Please, share your funnies! Kids are so much fun!

I am joining weight loss with Chasity-my 15lbs weight loss in 10 days.

This is all I had for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the last 2 days! Nothing else, well and some soup today (it shouldn't have been meat based, but I didn't have time to make mine veg based, so I just picked out the turkey from the carcasas and hoped I wouldn't die) finally and even a salad! No, I am not trying to make you feel sorry for me. In fact, I enjoyed every sip of the juice from the freshly squeezed oranges I brought from our trip Lousiana. My girls so thoughtfully brought in a huge glass and decorated with fresh wedges. Yes, I am on a diet, sort of! Actually, I am coming off a cleanse. Not as slowly as recommended but trying. Just read on if weight loss has a checkmark on your NY's resolution list.
Let me explain why I am blogging about it now, when it's all over. I didn't want to use my blog as a diary (besides being so busy with kids school before hubby arrived home and all school ceased for the holidays) and I really wanted to surprise my husband, who I thought was clueless about the cleanse. Oh well, he knew all along but never said a word of encouragement which I really needed!!!

My good friend Chasity has started WLW Weight loss Wednesday and I decided to let the cat out of the bag and add my experience for the last 2 weeks! Weight has always been a huge issue in my life as well. I have always been overweight, even if it was just 20lbs and to some of my friends that won't seem like a lot if they have 60 or more to lose, but it is for me, and for my 5.3 frame. The country I grew up is notoriosly infamous for numerous disease such as diabetes, HBP (stress mostly), arthritis, etc. I ate a lot of potatoes, cooked all sorts of way. Fried, boiled, baked, mashed, in soups and all over again. Tons of soup with tons of white bread. Black if it was available. Pasta, sausage. Whatever my parents could buy after standing in long lines in hope of getting some food they put on the table. I had also inherited my mother's body type and build and was storing it in places it wasn't flattering for a lady.

I have lost a ton of weight (by swimming 3 days a week and watching everything I ate) before I married but gained steadily with each pregnancy and kept 10lbs after each kid. I never got back to my pre-pregnacies weight. So, four kids later and 40 lbs heavier is keeping me ever more motivated to knock those ugly numbers down. With the holidays quickly approaching and 5lbs extra from a trip to see my husband in Panama (food galore all day, and not just any food-good fresh tropical fruit and all sorts of yummy food!). Anyway, upon my return and a step on the scale- I was desperate! I decided to help my weight loss goal for the NY with a drastic jumpstart-a cleanse. I have brought over 5lbs of fresh lemons from LA along the oranges and grapefruits that, if any left after 10 days, were supposed to help me ease me out of the lemonade cleanse. So, a few days later and mom's nite out beign my last day of yummy food I went cold turkey to the hot pepper lemonade! Actually, it involves a SWF (salt water flush, which I cannot stomach, so I drink laxative tea instead am and pm) first thing in the morning to top it all. I have done a Master Cleanse, aka The Lemonade Diet, this past spring. I loved it! I only lost 7lbs on my first cleanse but I was not disapointed because my main goal was to cleanse my body and I felt like for the first time it wasn't bad at all, not like some other people were suffering. No headaches, lots of energy, not much hunger. Didn't need to soak in the bathtub or call a friend or get on a forum for support. It was fine. Food taste different still but I haven't eaten much yet. Just the juice tasted different. I finally ate an orange today and after half I wasn't able to eat the other one. I was so full! I sure hope it shrunk my stomach!!! I needed it! I am a huge fan of FOOD! YOU?

This time I lost 15 lbs in the 10 days of drinking freshly squeezed lemonade sweetened with grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper for a full 10 days. Now, I am sure half of it will creep back up as soon as solids start filling my bowels but I am amazed at how much stuff I was still getting rid on day 10!!! No food for 10 days and still BM? See, I told you I didn't want to gross you out! I didn't want to blog about BMs. But, hey, what's a cleanse without BM's? I really feel that a weight loss is paramount with a thorough cleanse of the GI tract. My probiotics should be making it in before we leave for a vacation with my dh. If not I'll buy whatever I can get at the HF store. I didn't read that till day 8 and ordered then asap. I haven't taken any probiotics in a long time. I really haven't taken any vitamins either, felt like I was wasting my money even on expensive stuff for I knew my GI tract is pretty clogged to absorb even the most expensive supplements. I am excited to get back on track and cocntinue with the weight loss.

So, for now, I am working out almost 5 days a week doing cardio and weights. I worked out less during this cleanse mainly because I was busy with the kids, not because I was tired and hungry. I love Body Pump (only one instructor though who changes her music and the boring routine and makes it so much more fun), Everything goes on the track (combo of 30 sec cardio segments with weight stations on the track) and Turbo Jam. I love my gym and hope to enter this year's Scale Back Alabama. 3 of my teammates lost 10lbs last year. One gained two. So, we didn't qualify for the $1000 drawing for each teammember. But, we will try again this year. I need 2 more members since hubby won't be in the US to weigh in or weigh out!!!

Stay fit and healthy and enjoy your holidays! Enjoy every bite of every unhealthy food you put in your mouth! You won't get it later! Work out if you can and don't feel guilty! Just get back on track! Be blessed, Natalie

The meaning of electircity in our lives

Very profound title for my post, huh? It's late again and my promises of going to sleep earlier just don't seem to ... well, whatever. I only have 4 more nites before my reformer and curfew cop(my dh) comes home for 2 weeks. Then, bed time will be stricly enforced, no exceptions, means MEEEEEEEEEE. At least, I was able to get my forever-up-late 12 yo up to his room at 10 am. He is another major culprit in my stay up late addictions (excuses, excuses). He is a worse nite owl than I am! No matter what time I drag him out of bed, he swears he doesn't fall asleep before midnite, even if I confiscated all his reading material (please, don't get me started here! I haven't checked under his bed and the bathroom. He hides library books in all sort of places. I already supported the library twice in the last month by paying (a small, thanfully) fee for 2 books that are in the house but can't be located! So, anyway, cut off the lights, son! Mom! Please, I am not tired! Bad ogre mother, I tell ya!
Last nite we had a power outage for a long 15 minutes, no longer! Now, we are city folks, who aren't scared!!! We just grab the cell (if it's charged) and dial the power company! In this case, we dialed 411 and next step would have been 1-800-goog411 if no luck. We don't have candles in our house, ok? My dh hates candles. He is not romantic in this respect at all! Beats me! Is that a guy thing? But the guy thing -the modern inventions flashlights! Theo nly on we located didn't work no matter what batteries we stuck in it. So, we used our cell phones LCDs to fumble around the house!!! Of course, the kids huffed at having to go to sleep so early on a weekend and in a quickly cooling house (central air vs benefits of wood stove in the winter, aha!) and upset that the cute little Shirley Temple movie they were watching was so suddenly and rudely interrupted. I tell ya! I haven't seen a bunch of kids so upset about electricity! One realized we did just purchase a candle at Michael's just a few hours earlier. One single, lonely candle that I bought because it was so dirt cheap!!! Came in handy, just a bit later! A friend of mine just emed letting me know that they had a snowstor in LA!!! Out of all places! We just got back from there a week ago and indeed, it was colder than AL! But a snowstorm in HAmmond, LA! NO electricty for a couple of days! That's serious! It doesn't stop amazing me how dependent we become on electricty. But I ain't going Amish now, hear me, dh? LOL! Not after reading 5 books by Beverly Lewis! Enjoy your lights and the warmth electricity provides!

Pretty neat video-a must see for the whole family!

PLEASE, PAUSE OR STOP THE PLAYER ALL THE WAY ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE BEFORE PLAYING THIS VIDEO. ENJOY!

I just had to share with y'all. This is just too cute to watch! People who have never eaten a BK whopper or a Big Mac and their first bites and reactions are just too precious! Well done movie! I told my son as we were watchig the video that I still remeber the first Big Mac I ate a few short months after we got married (it was in Moscow, Russia)! Actually, I ate 2 of them, same meal. I don't remember if I had a milkshake. I hope not! I stopped counting the calories at the second mac, I guess. I can't believe it! I loved them! I was 40lbs lighter and haven't had a kid yet! So, I could afford the calories (wish I could now) and I was hungry! I think hubby was very surprised! I wonder if he was worried about his choiceof wife that day! I havent' had a big mac since!I seem to always worry about the calories in them (and I assure you it's a lot!!!). Hmm, maybe I should try one every once in while? Enjoy!

$500 Walmart give away

Hey, I just entered a $500 Walmart give away. You can too. There is still time, but hurry up! Check it out at Centsiblesawyer.

Blessing our men and women in the military day!

Last nite I was blessed to make two cards at my friend and instructor with Stampin'up to use in the Mail for Heroes program. I was disapointed when I realized I didn't blog about it. I thought I did. I must have dreamt blogging about it. Isn't it aweful. But you know, I do my blogging late into the nite when the kids are all fast asleep. In fact, it's almost 1am and I can't get to bed cuz my 12 yo is still up flying (Flight simulator) and he is giving me a huge excuse to stay up (after we all woke up way late, the latest ever in our entire hs journey. Boy, will that change with dad coming home for 2 week, I miss you honey!)
Anyway, it was a totally free class and I even got to use a die-cut machine for the first time. My girls would have loved it! I made a silver looking dove and pinned it to one of the cards. I couldn't stay much longer for I was already gone the nite before. So, I had to limit myself to two cards. I was so inspired by the idea of sending cards to our military service men and women that I decided that we are going to make hand made (hand stamped) cards for an art day today-no book work!. They also had to me postmarked today! I just had to pull AAAAAAALLLLLLL my crafting supplies. They were dusting for too long. The girls had a ball. Ds whined a bit about not being a girl and having to do school instead. He was invited to make a card though. He declined. I am glad for there was no room on our kitchen table to fit another kid! The whole card making thing was a huge double blessing! I was able to get my supplies cleaned up and organized in between supervising the two youngest girls. SO, now if we have to move, that's one less thing I have to worry about. If you know me, when I move, I organize, get rid, sort and pack neatly. Well, all that takes time, if you know what I mean. Which you know. Sorting socks and clothes takes time. But to do so with everything one has in the house is like 100 times more time consuming. It was a perfect, rainy day for card making. I think the girls made a total of 8. I was able to get them all delivered to my friend who put them all together with a ton of other cards. When I got home I found the gorgeous card my dd1 made on the floor! I wish I never told her. She was in tears! But I think we can send it using a different process anyway! I have to dig out that link I remember seeing one day about sending a card to a soldier. We'll bless one brave man or woman! Be blessed, Natalie

I enter every giveaway I can find a minute to enter

I am cheap! Really cheap! So cheap that I enter every giveaway I have time to enter. I saw this on my friend Kentucky Mommy's blog and wanted to share. I love finding new blogs, new people! But how in the world do I keep up with their blog? I haven't gotten that part figred out. But I figure I can one day. If those busy moms can blog having 6 children under ages of 7 or so and still find time to blog and host giveaways I still have hope! Hope you win. Be blessed!

Holiday mail for the service men and women

I am so exicted about a free stamping class my friend is offering in a few days. We will be stamping cards for American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. You can do this great project with your kids. Please, read the guidelines for sending the cards here.
I was a bit bummed about some rules in the guidelines. But, I am very excited to make a few cards-such a small contribution!
On the home front we all got home safe a few hours ago after a long trip from LA. It was a very windy and chilly day. But we made it all safe, uneventfully with numerous bathroom breaks. Upon unloading the van, feeding the kids and checking the mail we ran to our friends to pick up our dog who was so excited I couldn't drive for she was licking me so crazily. Slobbered me all over but it was so good to see someone be so excited about us being back!!! Busy weekend ahead but being home feels so good!

Back to the US safely

It's way past midnite and it's my only quite time on line in a while! But, now that my suitcases caught up with me a day after my arrival and I got my sleeping pills (that's a story for another post for sure how I slept the first nite after a long day of travel) I took liberty to stay up a bit later! I know it's a lame excuse for someone who really loves catching up on friends' blogs then decides it's time to add something to her own! So, just 2 pics today of my sweet in-laws who watched the kids for a whole week!!!! THey are such a blessing! And of course a quick one of us the morning we said good bye to each other! But the amount of pics to go thru it not funny especially since I know we have to push school hard when we get back before dad comes back and another 2 week long vacation starts. WHo is going to do school when dad gets home. Math will get done, drilling by dad, etc. But I doubt anything else! So the pics will have to wait till after I get back home or till we are on vacation!
We had a great day today visiting the mother of a very good friend of hubby and I know we made her day. It is so hard to be living alone and not feel good! We also took pics that I hope to not delay in em her.
We are staying in LA another day vising friends before taking off HOME! The day after we get home we got to wrap some gifts and head on to my very good friend's Christmas Party! WOW! DO I have a busy weekend ahead of me! Then church Sunday and bonfire later in the nite!!! I got to get school and chore lists ready! I also haven't worked out in 2 days now! So, time for gym this busy weekend? I sure hope so!!! Have a great weekend!