Busy busy and 5QF

We've been busy- new jobs and learning to ride a bike.

Picture of one of those- guess which??

This is the Strider Balance Bike- google them, they have a great website with video on the philosophy behind the bike (no pedals, etc.).  G has quickly progressed in his ability to smoothly speed around on this thing.  He has yet to trust himself and put his feet up on the little ledges to go down a hill but I can see it coming soon!

My new job is going well; pretty slow right now while I am awaiting orientation next week.  I am now a part of a home care team for my local Hospice organization.  It's a pretty neat concept to have a Chaplain as part of the team, whereas in most of my past employment positions- you'd better keep spirituality and "religion" out of the work place.  Complete opposite with Hospice.

Half-marathon training (eww my favorite): finally broke the 7 mile mental block I had going on- hooray.   I have a month left until race day 2/19.  I am still not stoked about the decision to do this but- I am committed.  I am AGAIN dealing with what I think might be a Morton's neuroma in both feet but predominately in the right foot.  Just purchased some great new running shoes (on sale- score!) but feet still burning on ball of my foot, toes going numb and shooting pain like my bone is hitting the pavement with no padding----ouch, right?!

We'll see what happens- might have to make an appointment with a podiatrist before its' all said and done.  Have YOU ever dealt with this issue?  What did you do? It doesn't occur for me when I am NOT training for long-distance running.

Food:  made this just Wednesday night so we could heat it up in a jiffy Thursday (oh how good it feels to prepare a meal ahead of time!)- and it was YUM! The toddler didn't eat it- no new news there.  He had some pastina and steamed broccoli on the side that he ate.

Click HERE to go to Meet the Dubiens website where I got the recipe; what a great blog!

We didn't have the swiss cheese; we had white american cheese which I substituted and it was YUM!

Lastly, 5QF (Five Question Friday) from THIS BLOG.


  1.Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks?

Behind stuff in the pantry.

2. Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van?

Somewhere in between the two.  Definitely have to keep up with regular "purgings" or I will have stuff falling out.

3. Have you ever been to Vegas?

Nope.  But I have been to Hawaii which to me is the real jackpot- I don't need to waste my money on slots in the desert.

4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket?

By default my room is one of the coldest in our house (wood floors/old windows) so it is "cold room and warm blanket and clothing.

5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you've ever had?

Pretty much all of them- I just can't get comfortable on planes.  Take off and landing- I am fine with; the turbulance in mid-air when the bottom drops out feeling occurs---nooo way man.  I've taken a flight as short as 1 hour and a flight as long as 10 hours- both suck.  Oh- and even with sleep medication and libations--there is no SLEEPING on a plane for me.

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

My heart:

Happy Humpday! Breaking the rules for no words- but: today is the LAST DAY at my current job- whoohoo!  New position that is full of awesome opportunity starts Monday.  If you didn't see that--this means Mommy has two days off :)

Link up to Wordless Wednesdays:
HERE
and
HERE

2012 has begun

Apparently I got lost back before Christmas.  I said I wouldn't be blogging during my time off- but dang!

Well, 2012 is here- 10 days in to it.  Here's some wonderful news in our household that I eluded to previously:

1. The husband got a J.O.B. hooray! What a blessing and prayer answered.  It was quite a stressful time with him being laid off.  Stressful on many levels and I am so thrilled to see him so excited about this new opportunity.

2. The Mommy- me- got a new job- hooray! My last day at my current job is tomorrow and I begin the new one the following Monday.  Prayers answered here- specifically for patience and for the position that He wanted me to have.  It came with much higher pay and flexible work schedule and free supervision towards licensure--wow, does God deliver!

3. Gavin: my little guy is growing further and further away from being a baby; he turns 2 in just a few short weeks.  Party planning has begun.  We will see if Florida February weather is nice to us or cold and wet like last year--ick.  Planning an indoor back-up for the party this year...just need to figure out where that will be.  ??

Anywho- here's a picture of my big little guy recently before bed playing with a new police car.

"wheeeoohh wheeeeoohhh" police car fun

love the chubbycuteness

No surprise you will soon see Pins on birthday party ideas.  Totally inviting our best friends Lightning McQueen, Mater and pals.

Excited

I am loving that I am so much more excited and "in to" the Christmas spirit this year.  That sounds weird--I am always thankful for what Christmas means for us and the most perfect gift ever given- but I am thankful for the child-like excitement that I have gotten glimpses of in myself this year.

I am a bit more tired today.  Stayed up until 10:30 (yeah- not a night owl; I enjoy my sleep) last night making and packaging cookies for our first ever- neighbor gift-giving.  This is part of trying to instill in Gavin the true meaning of Christmas is about giving.  I plan (let's see how it goes) on him helping me deliver the cookies after I get off of work (ick- at work) today.

Speaking of work---hasta luego until Wednesday of next week and then off again Thurs, Fri, and the following Monday.  Whooohoooo!

Reluctantly speaking of half-marathon training--wha?? Yeah, I know- that's how I feel about it.  7 @ 7 (am) tomorrow morning.  That is 7 (s.e.v.e.n.) miles at 7am (before normal people get up on Saturdays) tomorrow morning (Christmas Eve!).  As much as I want to procrastinate myself out of doing it--it really is the only good chance to get in that mileage this weekend.  I have also strategically planned it so I can take a nap when G does tomorrow afternoon.

Christmas EVE- yay! We will be over at the In-Laws for cookie decorating and early dinner (like we have done for about 4 years now). Once again--excited; more than normal- for this tradition this year.

Lots of pictures will be taken.
Lots of noise and laughter will be heard.
Lots of food/cookies will be consumed.
Wine will be drunk  (hahahah)--drank/consumed??  My mother in law got some new local wine- yippee. (another reason to get running out of the way BEFORE wine, food and cookies.)
Kiddies will get presents.
Me and the husband will put together G's "big" present before going to bed (so not too much wine can be drunk/drank/consumed).

I'd like to say I will blog over the weekend or that I will prepare ahead and schedule blog posts--eh eh--not happening.  The importance of spending time with my family over the next couple of days astronomically outweighs blogging in the midst of it all.

I am thankful for these blessings that God has abundantly placed in to my life and am thankful for the child-like giddiness that has resulted from His blessings. :)

p.s. I got to hold a newborn baby girl last night---awwww!!

So- Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Merry Christmas Eve, and MERRY CHRISTMAS blogosphere!

soap box

Today- I'm on a soap box...not the cleansing, good smelling kind.  This issue makes me a bit sick to my stomach.  Social Security benefits being paid to non-U.S. citizens and EVEN illegal workers in the U.S. (AKA- no green card, not registered, etc.).

Scared??? Leave now and come back tomorrow---back to the warm and fuzzies then :)  Substantive, thoughtful blogging will occasionally occur here in My Path in Mommyhood.

{Disclaimer:
These are the opinions of ME, MYSELF AND I- and just like the saying goes- opinions are like ....., everyone has one.  So- take my opinion as you will but respect that I am entitled to having one.  No need to agree- I respect that you have the right and ability to disagree.  Do I dislike non- U.S. citizens--not true, so don't get all harried. }

I have heard about or really- paid attention to- this issue only infrequently as it is sometimes highlighted in the mainstream media--usually during presidential elections.  I haven't heard too much about it during the current GOP debates, though- yet.

I recently came in to contact with a person from a foreign country who plainly stated that they are here in the U.S. to work (since the late 1990s- early 2000s), they have a green card, they have NO intention of becoming a U.S. citizen, and they have full intention of returning to their home country after they reach the required number of years to draw Social Security benefits based on their work history (10 years).  Ok- positive aspect is that this person obtained a green card and is working legally--hooray.

Here's my soap box (aka opinion): The U.S. is the greatest country in the world.  We freely enjoy many, many rights and benefits that other countries only wish they were cool enough to offer (that is not a very professional way of putting it- oh well).  While I am fine with foreign persons entering the U.S. to work LEGALLY- I draw the line at foreign persons who never become a U.S. Citizen from drawing Social Security benefits. You like the benefits our country offers and you received while being here?? Then become a citizen.  It's pretty plain and simple for me.

Social Security is an ENTITLEMENT benefit; however, why is there no law stating that those entitled must be U.S. Citizens?

Take a look at this LINK for more information on existing Social Security law specific to this issue.

Lastly- this quote comes from this LINK of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services web page:

"The Value of Citizenship

The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world.  America values the contributions of immigrants who continue to enrich this country and preserve its legacy as a land of freedom and opportunity.
Deciding to become a U.S. citizen is one of the most important decisions in an individual’s life.  If you decide to apply to become a U.S. citizen, you will be showing your commitment to the United States and your loyalty to its Constitution.  In return, you are rewarded with all the rights and privileges that are part of U.S. citizenship. "


What is in red is complete bologna--non-citizens are already rewarded with almost every right and privilege that I am currently aware of that U.S. citizens "enjoy."  That is the whole purpose of this soap box.  Let's make some incentive for those non-citizens to become citizens in this awesome country that they at least temporarily wanted to be a part of to enjoy those "rights and privileges."  No Social Security benefits until and if you are a) legally here and legally working here and paying Social Security taxes and b) become a citizen to draw SS retirement and SSI (disability) benefits.

Are U.S. citizens going to other countries and working, paying taxes, etc. only to gain benefits of the foreign country and coming back to the U.S. once those have been secured (in the same numbers as those non-citizens doing this in the U.S.)?? My uneducated but best guess is NO.

An even more important issue is that U.S. citizens should not (solely) rely on our own Social Security system for the benefits it was designed to extend- namely- retirement benefits.  When I look to my future financial security- S.S. retirement benefits are no where on my radar or my list of resources; one cannot and should not rely on that system.  Plan ahead as best as possible- rid the debts you owe and be accountable for your own future.  I don't want to pay higher and higher federal taxes to then have to rely more heavily on my government- I'd rather keep taxes low and take some financial responsibility for myself and my family.

Whatcha think??

WordLESS Wednesday

Mad skillz

This boy loves trains

Happy Humpday! Link up.

Christmas spirit and Tasty Tuesday

It's Tuesday- that means 5 days until Christmas!  I am happy to report I am DONE shopping and have only a couple things to wrap.

This past weekend was a lot of fun with Mom's night out on Friday, a birthday party on Saturday and time with family on Sunday.

Here is what I'm currently craving- SUSHI! Have you ever made any sushi rolls?  It is surprisingly pretty easy, not a cheap meal when you buy good/fresh fish and um, also kind of messy with the rice but YUM and a fun experience.

Lookie here:

a favorite- salmon bowl- just add some wakame salad

P.S. I'm having sushi for lunch- duh :)

So, I'm trying to stifle the idea that I should start planning G's 2nd birthday- it's in early February.  Last year for his 1st we had it at a covered but outdoor location and-surprise, surprise- it was wet and cold.  My kid and a think a couple others ended up getting a cold.  Nice party favor, huh?

Pinterest is, of course, an addicting website to get all kinds of great ideas so I will resign to just pinning some ideas for now over there.  Other than where to have the party, the next dilemma is what theme?  G loves the following: Thomas the Train, Cars movie, airplanes.  We should just do planes, trains and automobiles....no way-that's too much!  Now- if I could only sell my current small house for the amount I want for it and purchase a larger house for the price I want before early February??? Hahah--no I am not an insane person...just my inner thoughts and grandiose wishes shared here with the blog world.

If you celebrate Christmas as Jesus' birthday- what do you "give" or do in honor of Jesus?