1. I just wrote about five of the 13 items and somehow it got erased. UGH.
2. Izzy started school yesterday! She went to kindergarten but only for about 45 minutes because the other Isabelle in her class was being busy and the teacher was loud on her headset. She spent the remainder of the day doing vision stuff with a lightboard. She did well I was told.
3. I got my closet clean. In one hour! I thought it would take all day.
4. Emelia’s room is still perfectly clean since her room redo. It’s amazing! I think the no food in your room policy has greatly helped.
5. Bailey’s room is not still clean. I may tackle that today.
6. Along with the freezer.
7. And the medicine cabinet.
8. I’m taking Amanda to get her books for college this afternoon while Izzy is in school.
9. Amanda is doing SAS (students assisting students) at Izzy’s school but in the mornings. She loves it and they love her!
10. Jen got her first award. And passed it on. And I was one of the ones she passed it to. Cool huh?
11. Tina also got the award and also passed it on. To me! Yay. They say pass to 7 bloggers… I’m passing this one to Nancy, Yvonne, Dawn, Julie, Natalie, Kim, Kari, and Sandra.
12. Nancy gave me an award today too! Thanks Nancy. This one goes to five bloggers… I pass this to Susan, Susanne, Julie, Amanda, Hope and Jessica. Okay so I gave it to six… truth be told I could give it to about 26!
13. Since it’s Thursday… and I’m thankful for so many things I want to add a few of those things. I’m thankful for Izzy’s teachers, and therapists. I’m thankful for my kids, they are truly the best. I’m thankful for blogging, and my friends here on the www. I heart you.

Whew, that’s a lot of stuff for one post huh? We’ve had a busy day ending with a birthday party. I’m posting this all late Sunday night… but tomorrow is Amanda’s 18th birthday! I can hardly believe that I am the mother of an eighteen year old! It really seriously seems like yesterday that she was a little baby, then a little girl… then a pre-teen… you get the picture. It really goes fast. If you have a little one and you think it doesn’t go fast, let me tell you here and now it does! You will blink and be singing happy birthday to your eighteen year old child.

Amanda has been a relatively easy child to raise. She has a very sweet spirit and is quiet in nature. She is an incredibly hard worker in school and has made us so proud so many times… getting the golden falcon for having all “A’s” throughout junior high… being in the State and National Honor Societies… Having the highest gpa… making over 30 points in a single basketball game and winning MVP of the tournament… so many things she has done in her life to make us proud. She has a silly sense of humor that you only see if you know her well enough for her to show it to you.

Happy Birthday to Amanda. I love you!

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Crystal tagged me for my five favorite things!

1. family! Immediate to extended… they are my favorite peeps.
2. friends! I have the best friends. I’m a blessed girl!
3. church! We have an awesome church.
4. blogging! I love to blog and love my bloggy friends (I’m meeting another IRL Monday!)
5. sleep! My nap was cut short today to get ready for the party tonight… but it sure was nice!

I won’t mention purses or sonic ice… long lunches talking or praying at bedtime with Matt… shopping trips with my mom or snuggling with Izzy. Well, I guess I mentioned it all… but I just have so many favorite things. Thanks for the tag Crystal. I’ll tag anyone who wants to list their five favorite things!

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One of my oldest bloggy friends (Sheryl) gave me the sharing the love blogging award. Thanks Sheryl!

I’ll pass it on to Amanda since it’s her birthday and all… and to my other birthday friends… Jenny (July 30), Marcia (Aug. 6)! I pass it to you too if your birthday is this month or in August! Happy Birthday!

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Last but not least… menu time!

Monday is Amanda’s actual birthday, but she’s going out to eat dinner with Lorenzo and seeing Mama Mia… so we’ll just have a normal meal here. Most likely quesadillas. With grilled chicken and guacamole.

Tuesday grilled burgers and broccoli cauliflower salad

Wednesday we’ll have spaghetti & garlic bread.

Thursday grilled chicken and baked potatoes…

Friday Matt has requested gyros. yuck. but okay.

OH. One more thing. Guess what I got today?

Happy Monday!

Today was Emelia’s awards assembly at school.

She got several awards.

A medal for following life principles, honor roll, honor choir…

You can tell from her smile she was proud of herself.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!! I HEART V-day so much! Tonight we went to a spaghetti dinner at church.  It was all decorated and candlelit.  So cute!  Matt ended up keeping Izzy home because mom wasn’t feeling very well… so me and the kids went.  I ended up helping out the whole time but I always enjoy helping!  I came home to a big sweet valentine from Matt.  It was a surprise.  Matt got me a new digital camera for Valentine’s Day.  I didn’t think he would think of a card too!  I’ll be back later with a picture of the things I’ve been working on for church, pictures of the valentine’s I made for Izzy’s friends and other Valentine stuff

I stopped off at Amanda of OhAmanda who just happens to be a bbb and she was/is celebrating her bloggy anniversary… one year! I can’t remember how I ran onto Amanda, I think through Jenny (another bbb). Anyway, we hit it off and I just love her. She calculated the most comments given to her in the past year and some how I was #2. I demanded a recount to no avail :). As a bloggy award I get 213 comments from her! I just noticed 15 she left today! You go girl! I’m excited for the next year with Amanda, watching her life change with baby #2 on the way.

So then tonight I was looking around bloglines and found a few interesting things:

Monkeying Around the Jungle gave me this award! Thank you so much! You are such a sweetheart!

Then I saw that Whitney gave me this award! Thank you Whitney! I’m glad to be getting to know you!

Then I saw that Sheryl gave me the award too! What a double blessing. Thank you Sheryl! (I just love Sheryl!)

I gave Nancy the cool mom award recently and she handed it back to me! Nancy is one cool mom!

For the cherry on top (metaphorically speaking being how I hate fruit and all)… I saw this post over at Workin’ that Preppy… She made Izzy a bag and it is the cutest thing EVER. She does the neatest things and I am so excited to see it IRL! Thank you so much! You are awesome.

That about wraps up my night of bloggy treasures. I am blessed to have the bbb ever!

Karen gave me this adorably sweet bloggy award. Thanks Karen!!!

This award was originally created by Mica at Garb-oodles Soup.

Mica says: “I have met so many lovely and very talented ladies here in Blogdom, what more can I do or say to express my humbled heart to each, than to give all my Dearest Readers and Friends a special award filled with Love. So, Spread The Love dear ones, Spread The Love to those you love. Accept my award in which I have specially designed and share it with others. Enjoy the day.” See here for the full details of this Award.

I am Spreading the Love to:

Amanda, Jodi, Hope, Mel, Angie, Kat, Judi, Julie, Nancy, Lauren, Tori, Dena, Irene, Yvonne, and Jessica.