Maybe, in my particular sleepy state...why I'm not in bed I have NO idea, I have become a little too emotional.

But, as I sit here and do nothing substantial (is that even the word I am looking for?!) I think of how particular blessed I feel. Maybe it's because I have visited many blogs tonight of people going through struggles and life challenges far superior to what I have ever experienced.

I am lucky to (in no particular order)

• Have healthy children. No life threatening illnesses, incurable diseases or such. My heart aches at even the slightest pain they feel and I can't imagine what parents go through when their child is so sick.
• Have family and friends that are willing to travel 2 hours to celebrate Cameron's birthday even though everyone expect two people were from up north. I LOVE YOU GUYS!! It meant alot to have you here with us.
• A husband who digs thru the clearance racks with me for 10 minutes looking for the lost mittens that I think Nolan MUST have even though he wore it for 3 seconds and may never wear it again..but hey it was only 99 cents! He really does love me, doesn't he?
• Have Friends. I can't imagine life without my mommy friends or my non-mommy friends. They both keep me humble, sane and encourage me in their own "ways" A girl really couldn't have better ones.
• Have God...why me? Really? I've been chosen to serve an awesome God who is more awesome that I know! Yet, I fail miserably. I guess I am most thankful for His forgiveness time and time again. (on a side note: I often find myself comparing how I relate to my children and how it might be similar to how God sees me. You know, I always say, "I told you not to do that...I asked you to obey....God probably looks down, shake His head, and says the same things to me.)

Glad I got that off my chest. Now I can go to bed.

-Jaime

Are you a good wife?

The good wife's guide (Housekeeping monthly May 1955)

• Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favorite dish) is part of the warm welome needed.
  Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
• Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
• Clear away the clutter. make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
• Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dustcloth over the tables.
  Over the colder months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
• Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and, if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. minimise all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacumn. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.
• Be happy to see him.
• Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
• Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of comversation are more important than yours.
• Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out the dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax
• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.
• Don't greet him with complaints and problems.
• Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.
• Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, sooothing and pleasant voice.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity.
• Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always excersise his will with fainess and truthfulness. you have no right to question him.
• A good wife always knows her place.

WOW WOW WOW! Looks like I would fail at lots of these...I am sure all of them actually. I love the one about the clean children and arranging his pillows. There are some good points here. Like being happy to see him or greeting him with complaint. I am just be glad I am a wife of today (with seperate) but equal roles :)

How would you measure up?

Edited vs. Non

No one was brave enough to guess. OR maybe it was all too obvious. Anyways, here they are. Edited Version:

Unedited:

Some more cute pics that I got: used Cameron's for his b-day card

(see http://jaimecreates.blogspot.com/)

This one is priceless to me. I can never get a "real" smile. I LOVE THIS!

(the truth is... his neck was sore and he really was almost stuck in that position :)

Nothing else new to report on. The weather here is yucky and cold so we have spent 0 time outdoors :( Hopefully with spring around the corner we will be able to get out to play.

I know. I am extremely boring this week. OR maybeI am this borning always:) Hope you all have a great rest of the week.

Jaime

Major moves

Wow! Can you believe my little chunky monkey 5 month old can FINALLY roll over!

***EDIT: WOW, The pic I originally posted seems to have contained some um....inappropriate material (um...sorry about that!) I didn't catch it when I first posted. Here is the G rated version :)***

I probably should have taken it down all together but now it's just funny, or at least to me :) That's what happens when your almost 2 yr old knows how to take off his diaper...

I took this pic of the boys the other day. I did some editing..not the best but I wanted to get them printed ASAP...(I had a coupon that was about to expire that night :) Can you guess what I did????
We have been doing some major renovations this weekend. Ok, they were pretty easy but they have made a huge impact! Hung some frames. New light fixtures in the playroom, hallway and kitchen. New paint in the playroom too! This was the color of the playroom before...not was I was hoping it would look like...too orange for it to flow with the rest of the house. I ended up choosing the top one for the walls. It is a warm brown and it looks very yummy :) I like it SOOO much better. I am still shopping for a few of the accesories, but will post pics of finished product when we are finished.

My boys

I got photoshop after Christmas and have been slowly playing around with it. I took these pics yesterday and plan to use them in the house somewhere but thought I would share what I did with them...

Hope all is well with all of you.

Jaime

Just wanted to share a few random things:

My Papa who just passed

A picture of me and my best friend on her wedding day.

{{ Shout out to Laina;) }}

Cameron "helping"

Me and the boys....not the best of pictures but I'll take what I can get when there is someone on the otherside to take one.

Snow Day! We got about 6 inches. Here that equals NO school :) Notice the look on Cameron's face...It's hard work having 3 at home ALL day. Ok, so I never "officially" got dressed, and neither did the kids...We watched "mobies" and played with playdoh and computer games...oh and momma took a nap when the 2 younger ones did. What a great day.

I managed to put off their "outing" till about 4 or so. By that time I could no longer convince Gavin that it was too cold, too much snow, not great snow for making snowmen...ok, ok. So I didn't want to deal with the mess and I worry about Cameron out there when its so cold. From the pics you can tell that he cared SO much. I am sure they are in their beds dreaming about daddy's promise to take them out tomorrow. You can find me and Nolan inside thanks!!!