What a beautiful day!

Waking up this morning, the sun was awesome as it peeked through the mountaintop, the birds were cheerfully singing to the world, and of course it being Sunday I was looking forward to receiving inspiration and insight for my week.

After church, we had a nice picnic in the park, we were the only ones there, but the birds. After a while, others showed up...but it was still peaceful as ever. We took a trip to the Home Depot where we always end up opening a can of worms about our dreams and plans for our house. I fear though that while I love doing this, it is taking time away from conversation with Savannah. I don't know though what it is like to be an only child, so I try to break in and ask her what she thinks, and come to find out she is clueless about what we are talking about.

Charlie was able to get in contact with the guy we found online for the masonry we need done for our front flower beds and will probably be able to get a quote this week.

We got home and Charlie laid the last brick on our edging for our recent replacement of shrubs that died, I let the dog out of his run and just in the nick of time when it started pouring and hailing! It was like "movie" style rain too. It was awesome!

We made plans for our future deck dreams (including room for a hot tub), I made peanut butter brownies for my little big brother who so nicely puts it, "when I make them they don't turn out," and he offers to pay me to make them. It is super funny to hear someone say they will pay you to make them something to eat. I dunno, you just don't hear that every day.

We had a couple of friends stop by and visit that haven't been over in a while, and now we are going to take the brownies to my brothers...

So much for my plans of finishing the laundry after church. Life is much more important isn't it?

Summer time, summer time, sum, sum, summer time...

So we bought some bushes to plant out in the yard today. While I love doing it, I realize it is expensive and a lot of work, but afterward it is so worth it. We had a couple of our bushes die that we planted last year and we changed our mind about our border. So unfortunately we are "replacing" things rather than starting on our other planters that have been neglected. This whole gardening/yard stuff is all a learning experience for Charlie and I considering this is the first house we've ever had. In so many ways I will be glad when the landscaping is complete, yet I won't. It is fun to be creative and put it together, it gives us something good to focus on and our relationship grows because of it.

Savannah got a cute kid sized shovel and an "A-line" haircut today. I had to take the photos with her camera as mine were out of batteries.




I'm going to be watching my brother's girls on Saturdays. I hope they don't get too bored but I know Savannah will love having them and someone to play with. I need to go buy a swimming pool now that it is starting to get up there in temperature.

I just love summer for so many reasons! (Even if only at first - just like winter I welcome the change but of course lasting as long as it does it tends to fade. For now I will enjoy it though!)

Funny isn't it?

Just some thuoughts running in my mind. I guess I can never figure out who I am without admitting some of these thoughts outloud. Isn't it funny to think that:

The sound of the Beach Boys playing cheer me up.

I truly believed there was such a thing as "earthly" princesses and happily ever afters. I now know the truth.

I secretly wish I were pregnant.

I bought a treadmill and only used it for a month.

I fret about my relationship with my daughter when she turns into a teen.

I am still so much like a child.

I am not noticed.

Happy Graduate!

The kids sang some really cute songs at the program. (I am wondering why I don't have a video camera?) Now it's off to Kindergarten!

Savannah and her friend Carly, they were the only girls in her preschool class this year.

Look at the cheesy grin!

Savannah and Miss Karen. She has been a good teacher these past couple of years. We will miss her!

Savannah's Graduating...

From preschool that is. I can't beleive how fast she has grown. I can't even cuddle much with her cause she is all boney legs and arms. She is quite tall for her age the doctor said, and for having short parents. Maybe she will take after Grandma Sanders! Will be posting pictures of the graduation tonight, please stay tuned.

Afternoon thoughts...

I just love spring! The baby buds of green on the trees, birds singing and fluttering in the air, the smell of newly grown foliage all around. And yes the sunshine is great too, however it is going to be a short one. We had a lot of rain this year and now that the few days of sunny spring is gone, it is starting to become summer already. This happens every year so I don't know why I get so bummed. Maybe that is why spring is my favorite, cause it is so short lived and I don't have time to take it for granted.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed at the moment. My boss just told me to come by his office to talk about the telecommuting question I had. I want to be hopeful, but I am not so sure. There are just too many changes going on and to add one more thing for one person (me) would probably be too premature. But this department is always changing, so what's the big deal? When is a good time to ask?

As I was thinking this morning how lovely it would be to sit and work at home with the windows open in the early morning - the birds singing and the fresh air crossing my nose. Not to mention the time I would save not having to get up, get ready, make lunch, get Boo's ready, drive, etc. Cross your fingers and your toes for me would ya?

Am a bit nervous. Don't know why. We have financed and refinanced my mortgage many other times. Why am I so nervous now? We couldn't ask for a better rate or payment and we will be mortgage free within the next 10-15 years. Hopefully closer to 10 if we keep disciplined. I guess I just hate anything that has to do with messing up somewhere I call home.

My next question is do Dandelions ever really die? I sprayed quite a bit of killer on them over the weekend, and yes, $30 later they are keeling over. But I fear they will be back next season soon enough. What happened to my Dandelion-free lawn? Little kids. That's what. I remember how it was - in awe watching as the dozens of seeds would float in the air each time I blew the fluff off the top of the stem. Hey, it was easier than blowing bubbles. Little kids like "easy." It was cool. God has a reason why He created things the way He did doesn't He? :)

Anyone know how to cure a bit of cynicism?

Okay so I just erased all that I wrote. Yep. I had a list of things that are irking me off this afternoon. I wasn't irked off this morning, not last night, not even two hours ago. But all that changed. Gotta love it. I have to apologize even though you didn't read any of it - for having a pity party for myself and for thinking it has to do with being a working mom. It doesn't. We all have the same kind of stuff going on. The thing I seem to forget is how to react to it and stay in charge of my own happiness! It's not the stuff that happens, it's what I do with the stuff that really matters. Either way the attempt of posting a pity party helped me to vent my frustration and now I think I can conquer the afternoon with a better attitude. And I think I'll start off with requesting some vacation time off from work. There you have it! Any other suggestions that might help?

BTW - I made a new blog, I think it will be fun. I've needed a place to post all my collections for recipes anyway. If you'd like to add recipes as well, please let me know and I'll add you to the author list! :)

What's in a name?

So as I was playin' around with my blog this afternoon, I thought to myself, "Will Ialways be Tulabell?" The name originally came from a good friend that I worked with. Don't know how she thought of it but when she did, it just kind of stuck with me.

I have lots of nick names, they were very rarely used and by people I no longer see today, so none of them really can be considered my nick name.

Tammy Sue the Kangaroo or was it Tamaroo the Kangaroo?
Tamalita
Tomasa
Tulabell
Top Far
Tams

My mom said that my dad chose the name Tammy over the one she chose (I think it was Veronica or something like that) cause he was into Tammy Wynette who was a popular country singer at the time.

What are your nick names? Any rhyme or reason why you were named what you were? I don't have a middle name. Still to this day don't know why. Middle names are usually plays on first names, so maybe nothing "goes" with the name Tammy? I dunno. While I think the name Tulabell is cute and unique, it doesn't seem to fit anymore. What are you thoughts?

Hello all!

Glad to see that I am not the only one that has been ignoring her blog for a while. It seems now that my laptop at home is no longer a "new playtoy" I don't make the effort to be creative and write.

Mother's Day was good. Charlie made waffles and forced me to get out of the kitchen. I didn't know what to do with myself so I just sat there and stared at the our yellow tang, Mr. Yellow, swim back and forth and pick little nibblets out of the crevices in the rock. After a second I slipped back into the kitchen and blended right in with helping again. Of course it was "helping" Savannah with setting the table so that is different, right? When we got to church I realized, "D'oh! I had forgotten to get my coffee!" Hate it when that happens.

The rest of the day was good. Just the way I like it. Busy but good. Too many things to try and grab though to plan for the day. Living where we do there is only one trip out and no turning back if you forget something. I did manage to get the potato salad done the night before, the meat marinated, and the angel food cake turned out okay considering I didn't have the right baking pan. Can I just tell you I swear I boiled tons of potatoes and yet I still had leftover dressing mix? I will remember to cook a whole back next time cause you can't make mom's recipe using less than a bottle of mayo or it won't turn out right.

So we finished up our last Financial Peace class after church. It feels good to know there will be an end to our debt and it is really helpful to have Charlie in on it with me. We knew all the steps we needed to take before, but it was really only said and assumed we'd do it but never did. Now having him sit down with me and give input each month is really where the "Gazelle Intensity" will make things start happening. It already has. Sure we've bought a few things on credit since the class started but there is a lot that we also paid cash for and was better prepared for such as the transmission for the car and the windshield. As a bookkeeper by nature, I take all things into account so it will only get better from here.

Work has been going well. Time really flies now which makes for a short day. When you're working 10 hours, this is a real asset! Before I would constantly look at the clock to plan for each appointment and it just seemed to drag the day out. There is word they will have a reduction in force but I am not particularily worried as our office is the only one that has a real knowledge of the new benefit system. I have had some management change and what better time to ask to change to a telecommuting position? All the more money we can save to payoff our debt not to mention the time I will save can never get replaced.

We are not planning to go to Wisconsin with Charlie's job. I hope this is the permanent plan cause we are planning this weekend to refinance our house while the rates are so good. It's so hard to decide what to do today let alone 2 1/2 years from now. I guess if we stay at least the 2 1/2 years, the cost to close will still be worth it. While I've always wanted to move and venture out, the more and more we make plans to work on our landscaping or other areas in the house I want to stay. So that is the plan for now.

Jacob is probably going to live with his uncle for the summer and work on the farm. They said they could help him get a job, so I hope he holds them to it. He's found a girlfriend on My Space and has yet to meet her in person. I hope he doesn't get too distracted. He did mention he was bored with school and wanted to get his GED, but didn't want to be labeled as a failure. I told him to be honest with himself and not worry about a "label" and do what he needs to make himself happy. He is capable of taking care of himself, but yet he's not. I hated this in between stage when I went through it too.

Michael will not be getting out of jail until February. He thought he could get good time however the judge didn't allow for it. He seems to have grown up a bit since he first went in last August. He was working in the Meals on Wheels program preparing the milk for deliveries, but now he is baking for the food for the jail. He gets to bake whatever he likes in addition to the meals, and has gained a bit of weight. He seems content though.

Well I hope you all have a good day and enjoy the upcoming Memorial Day holiday. I don't suspect I'll be writing too soon, it usually doesn't happen that way anyway. Ciao!

Happy Mother's Day to all, you are so very special.

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt!
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life.
--Author Unknown

Bicycle, bicycle...

I like to ride my bicycle, I like to ride my bike...

Savannah's birthday present...January is no fun riding a bike, so she used her coupon and chose her first bike! She is getting better and better at it everyday!

We were planning to get our own too so we could all go together, so I hope that won't be too much longer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOO'S!