A Very Yee Haw Cowboy Party

My baby boy turned three years old. I can't tell you how much that makes me want to wrap him up and hold him like I did just three years ago. He is such a big boy now... talking in sentences and doing things all by himself. He is so independent... but totally takes advantage of me wanting to do things for him still. He pretends he can't put his shoes on and asks for help going potty.

I asked him what kind of party he wanted to have. He would bounce back and forth between a Cowboy party and a Dog party. I looked some decor ideas up online and thought a Cowboy party would be more fun!

I used a new site called Pinterest to help organize the whole event! It really was fun!

Elijah was so excited to wear "Cowboy" clothes. His Auntie MooMoo bought him Toy Story Cowboy boots, that Light up! These are the Louboutin of toddler character shoes! Eli comes from a long line of gun tote-ing boys. He has his Uncles and older cousins toy guns... perfect decor for his cowboy party.
Most everyone dressed in their finest goat roapin apparel.
My Aunt Mary (Auntie MooMoo) made the banner. I bought twine and different "old fashioned" looking fabric. She cut out triangles and sewed them so the edges wouldn't frey. She just threaded the triangles through the twine then.

The grub included baked beans, corn on the cob and some cowboy liquor... and some of Granny's Moonshine. Corn on the cob was made from boxed lemon cake, I added boxed lemon pudding mix to make it extra fluffy... with can lemon frosting. The topping is coconut Jelly Belly's and lemon flavored marshmallows. I had to buy three bags of the assorted fruit marshmallows and just pick out the yellow ones. The little pats of butter are actually half of a banana flavored Laffy Taffy. They sat on top of tin plates Eli's Great Gramie has saved from Marie Calender take home pies.

No Cowboy shindig is complete without some beans! These beans are made up of two German Chocolate cupcakes (made from a box recipe with added vanilla instant pudding mix). Topped with pecan frosting from a tub and some Boston Baked beans! I had bought some canned pineapple's, the kind with the easy open lids... took the pineapple out, took the wrapper off and washed out the cans so the beans could have that rustic look.

For some reason many of the photos came out a yellowish color... not sure why!
I was sure the adults wouldn't want to sip out of little juice boxes so we put some lemon-aid in this and just labeled it as Moon shine. The boot glasses come from Disneyland over 15 years ago!

"Pop the Pig" game. The piggies didn't pop so easy though.

Eli is an Outlaw... so a Sheriffs Office was totally necessary!

Some more decor Eli's Auntie Katie painted!

The Cowboy goody bags are made out of simple brown paper lunch bags, sharpie marker and left over twine. Inside was a 100,000 Grand chocolate bar, some chocolate gold coins and some Hershey Chocolate Nugget bars. The milk crate is totally authentic, it was borrowed from Eli's Papa.

This Cowboy Party was a total success!

My Rainbow Baby

Waiting for Ana was a long and painful process. Two years almost exactly of intense planning and earth shattering heartbreak... I truly believe that God had us wait for her specifically though. She is a different kind of baby. There is just something about the light that shines in her eyes... it's like nothing I have ever seen before... it is like you are looking at Heavens light. I have spent almost every waking moment with her for the last three months and that glimmer of light in her eyes STILL makes me stop and stare at her.

She makes people happy. Not just us, family and close friends... everyone that sees her stops and smiles... chuckles a little... then walks away happier. Running errands with her takes twice as long because of all of the "gushers". People are just drawn to her. I think it is because of the light she carries. It is like they are drawn to that little piece of Heaven.

Anamarie is our second Rainbow Baby... a rainbow after the storm. We have never been so happy! Two amazing children... two incredible miracles! Praise Jesus!

Walgreens 8/28

My Shopping Trip to Walgreens today. Thought I would share. I type out each transaction (T) so I stay on track at the register. I type out how many of each product I need and much each product is, and what coupons/register rewards I am using per transaction... and then the register rewards given for buying the product. Filler items are anything in the store that do not require a coupon to purchase. At Walgreens you can not have more paper (coupons and register rewards) than items to purchase. Also, the reason for multiple purchases is to obtain maximum register rewards (in store credit). Most items that give a register reward only give it once per item per transaction.

WAGS

T1) Purchase (1) Estroven $10.00

Purchase (1) Carmex Twist or Vanilla Stick $1.50

Purchase (1) Playtex Sport 18 Count $3.99

Purchase (2) Oral B Glide dental floss 2/$5

Purchase (2) Renuzit Adjustable Air fresheners $0.99 each (In store coupon)

Purchase (9) Hershey Chocolate bars $0.59 each (In store coupon)

USE (1) $3 off Estroven coupon

USE (1) $0.50 off Carmex coupon

USE (1) Free Playtex coupon

USE (1) $0.75 off Oral B coupon

USE (1) $1.00 off Oral B coupon

USE (1) IN STORE 99cent Renuzit coupon

USE (2) $1.00 off Renuzit coupon

USE (1) IN STORE 59 cent Hershey coupon

USE $5 off Hershey product RR from last week transaction

USE $10 RR from Renew Life from last week transaction

EST. Spend $2.50

GET $10RR for Estroven

GET $1.50RR for Carmex

GET $1.00RR for Playtex

GET $3.00 RR for Oral B

(**** TOTAL ACTUALLY SPENT $3.17**** on T1)

T2) Purchase (1) Carmex Lime Twist or Vanilla Stick $1.50

Purchase (1) Filler item

USE (1) $0.50 Carmex coupon

USE $1.00RR from previous Playtex purchase

EST. SPEND $0.00 before tax and filler item

Get $1.50 RR for Carmex

(**** TOTAL ACTUALLY SPENT $0.41*** on T2)

T3) Purchase (1) Playtex Gentle Clide 18 ct $3.99

USE (1) Free Playtex product coupon

EST. SPEND $0.00 before tax

Get $1.00 RR for Playtex

(****TOTAL ACTUALLY SPENT $0.29**** on T3)

T4) Purchase (1) Estrovan $10.00

Purchase (1) Carmex Lime Twist or Vanilla Stick $1.50

Purchase (1) and (1) Oral B dental floss- Crest or Oral B 2/$5

Purchase (2) filler item

USE (1) $3 off Estroven coupon

USE (1) $0.50 Carmex coupon

USE (1) $1.00 off Crest coupon

USE (1) $1.00 off Oral B coupon

USE $5RR from Kellogg last week transaction

USE $6RR from Dove last week transaction

EST. SPEND $0.40 before tax and filler item

GET $10RR for Estrovan

GET $1.50RR for Carmex

GET $3 RR for Crest/Oral B

(****TOTAL ACTUALLY SPENT $1.21***on T4)

T5) Purchase (1) Carmex $1.50

Purchase (1) Filler item

USE (1) $0.50 Carmex coupon

USE (1) $1RR from Playtex

EST SPEND $0.00 before tax and filler item

Get $1.50 for Carmex

(****TOTAL ACTUALLY SPENT $0.41***onT5)

NEED for all purchases to work

(2) Estroven

(4) Carmex vanilla or twist

(1) Playtex Sport 18ct

(1) Playtex Gentle Glide 18ct

(1) Crest toothpaste

(3) Oral B floss

(2) Renuzit solid air freshiner

(9) Hershey bars

(4) Filler items

**** TOTAL SPENT ALL TOGETHER $6.04! TOTAL SAVED ALL TOGETHER $99.44! TOTAL REGISTER REWARDS EARNED FOR FUTURE PURCHASE $32.00!****

Das Tatas Rant

Talking with a lady at the WIC office, I was complaining how being big busted takes a toll on a breastfeeding Mom... she responded "You sure are blessed in that department".

Blessed?

I see it more as a curse.

Being blessed with large boobs means that you can graciously fill out a Victoria Secret bra and look stunning. Not have to special order bras online because no store in town carries your size... not Wal-Mart, not the lingerie store that advertises "ALL SIZES IN STOCK", not even the plus size clothing stores.

Being blessed with large boobs means that you can still rock a bathing suit in the summer. Not having to for-go a trip to the lake because department stores simply do not carry swim suits with size 48G cups.

Being blessed with large boobs means that sometimes shirts fit snug. Not having to wear a shirt two sizes too big just to fit the ladies... and not being able to wear strapless dresses/shirts because of the law of gravity. There is no way on Earth that boobs that big stay up and in place without the two inch wide strap.

Being blessed with large boobs means that you can still have perky breasts. Not have breast that hang half way down your stomach... there is nothing "sexy" or "hot" about that. Saggy boobs before 30! Oooolala...

Being blessed with large boobs means that every department store carries cute bras in your size (up to DD). Not having only the option for black, white, or nude colors. Oh wait... sometimes you can choose between having five snaps in back or six snaps in the back.

Breastfeeding in public is impossible. I don't see that as a blessing. It is impossible to discreetly unsnap the giant bra, hold the breast so it doesn't crush the baby, juggle a wiggly baby and keep your giant boob covered. It is quite an art to master breastfeeding in public... but I would rather sulk to the back of the store and hide out in the dressing room till baby is full.

Paying $50 for a size 48G nursing bra online is no way near a blessing. I so wish I had the option of buying one at Target or Wal-Mart. They don't even sell them online at those stores! The worst of it was when my one good nursing bra busted from the weight of the boobers even before Ana was born... $50 down the drain! I haven't been able to afford another one. I went to Motherhood Maternity and found one I could shove my boobs in for now. There is nothing blessed about having a nursing bra two cup sizes too small.

I have gotten the comment "At least you have some" so many times... I always respond "you can have em'! They are killing my back".

I can honestly say I hate breastfeeding... hate it with a passion. My back and neck hurt so much from the weight of my boobs it makes me nauseous sometimes. What I love, though, is spending time with my baby. I love seeing her smile when I get myself positioned in the "football" hold. She knows its chow time and she gets the biggest grin. I love seeing her smile and give a little laugh when she gets full. What I love more than ever... and makes all the other crap worth it, is seeing her grow... pack on the pounds... and be deemed a "healthy baby" all because of my choice to breastfeed with these unconventionally large breasts.

Rant over...

Fatty Fat Fat Blog

What I don't understand is...

Why people feel the need to bully? When people are bullied effectively ( I say effectively because not all 'bullying' "works"...) they feel isolated... alone. I just never understood it. I like the take the Justin Beiber approach and go for "One less lonely girl in the world"... and stay away from being a bully.

And why do they point out the obvious? "You're fat"... what reaction were they hoping for? "OH MY GOD... I am?" That is like trying to make fun of me because I have toes. What really makes me chuckle is when the offender is "fat" as well. Of course the best response is none at all... in my head I am thinking... "I am fat... you are fat... the majority of the population is fat... but at least I am not a jerk. AND sugar... I know I am fat... that is why I shop in the 'Plus Size' department".

I am quite aware of what I look like... I live in my body and look at myself in the mirror. I don't see fat despite the numbers the scale reads. I see a body that has held seven babies in my womb... a body that has endured months equivalent to years of hormones to break through infertility... a body that has birthed two healthy children... and a body that my husband says is beautiful.

Bullying is pathetic