15 Things

Hi!  So we are about 9 months through the year long deployment.  Only 3ish months to go!!!  The past 9 months have been amazing, devastating, hard, fun, trying and a million other emotions!  I have learned so much about myself this year, some good and some bad.  So here are 15 I was originally going to do 30 things but after I got to 15 and it was kind of a long list I thought you might get bored reading, so I cut it down things that I have figured out or done this year!

1.  I am almost an official Young Life Leader!  I am so excited!!!!  I love Jesus!!

 

2.  I am strong!!  Never thought I was until this past year.  :)

3.  I create my own happiness, no one else.  If I'm not happy in my heart no one or nothing can make me happy!

"It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves and it is impossible to find it elsewhere." -Agnes Repplier

***so true, it's not a lie!!!***

4.  I control my own emotions.  They are my responsibility.  No more blaming others for feeling sad/mad/bad.  I choose how I react to someone's behavior and will no longer blame them/their emotions for my bad mood.  I can choose to not let it bother me!

5.  It's ok to say NO!!!  I don't have to say yes to everything, I can pick and choose.  And if I can't do something with a happy heart I shouldn't be doing it!

***Thanks Mom!  I finally listened!!!**

6.  I love girls nights to go dancing!  And it's ok if I go!!!!

7.  I am just as important as everyone around me.  My wants and needs are important.  It took me 30 years to figure this out but I finally did!

8.  I'm not scared to be on my own/alone anymore!  If I can work 40+ hours a week, take care of 2 kids and 1 dog, get all of the house work and laundry done, keep up with the yard I can do anything!

**Special thank you to Gram for feeding us not that she feeds us every night, but A Lot!  And I don't ask her to, she invites us!**

9.  I love God!!!  Not that I haven't always loved him, but I finally let him get in the drivers seat and I can tell you that it makes my life so much easier!

10.  It's ok to have "me" time.  Until this year I always felt guilty leaving my girls to have "me" time.  After working all week, I wanted to spend every extra minute with them.  After doing it on my own, I realized that I need some time to myself, it's healthy for everyone otherwise someone might seriously get hurt!

11.  Laughing is more fun than crying.  I have laughed a lot this year and about 40% of the time it's to keep from crying!

12.  If nothing changes, nothing changes.  I can't change people, they have to change on their own.  And if they do, great!  And if not, ok.

13.  I'm codependent, but I'm working on it.....it's a really hard thing to change, but I realize when I am doing it, so yay for me!!!  And soon I will be "Codependent No More"

14.  Faith is amazing!  One of the hardest beliefs to have but so worth it!

15.  I finally feel like a grown up!  I always remember my Mom telling me that you aren't a grown up until you turn 30 and I really think she was right!  Damn it!  Just kidding, kind of.....hate when she is always right!

Sorry I'm Not Sorry

Months ago my Sister blogged a post titled "Sorry I'm Not Sorry."  I have been meaning to copy her for a long time and I have finally gotten around to it.

I know I have been MIA for the past couple of months.  My life has been a roller coaster and I have been kind of a disaster.  I have been angry, sad, happy, distant, loving and cold.  There have been many comments made most of which hurt my feelings, but today I'm Sorry I'm Not Sorry.

• I want to be by myself, I don't want company.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• My kids are the most important things in my life, no one else.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I enjoy time to myself, like all by myself, no phone, no email, no texting, no talking to anyone.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I can't relax if my kitchen counters are dirty.  Learn to deal with it.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I cry.  A lot.  And sometimes it is for no reason.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I finally like love makeup, cute clothes and jewelry.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I put on makeup, fix my hair, and dress cute for myself, no one else.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I love my family and I love spending time with them.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I would rather have tea parties than go to the movies.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• I curse like a sailor, I can drink with the boys and on occasion I will take some of your Copenhagen.  Sorry I'm not sorry.
• Love me or hate me, I don't care.  Sorry I'm not sorry.

This next year is going to be a huge challenge.  I know this, there is no denying it.  But I plan to "own" who I am this year.  Love it or hate it, I am me, I won't let anyone make me feel guilty for feeling the way I do.  So you know what?  I'm sorry I'm not sorry.

Does Someone Want to Nominate Me?

It's no secret.  I am not the best dressed person in my family.  Both of my sisters are extremely stylish....not me.  After I got home from Ben's softball game last night I looked in the mirror and had to laugh.  Someone seriously needs to nominate me for TLC's What Not to Wear.  I need help!!!

Look what I wore to the ball field last night!

Ben's Camo Hat

If this doesn't scare you how about a partial body shot.

Yikes!  Can I get anymore redneck?  Seriously Camo and Harley.  Have I convinced you to nominate me yet?  My sisters are probably going to keel over and be horribly embarrassed that I went into public looking like this!


Note to self:  Make more of an effort in the appearance department!

4 Years Ago Today....

4 years ago today, I was.....

 

The BEST sisters and cousin I could ever ask for!

    

We have had our ups and downs. We have had some wild rides, we have had miserable moments. We have 2 beautiful daughters but most importantly we have each other!

And so to my husband....

Happy Anniversary!
Love you babe!

Mommy by Day....Biker by Nap

Say hello to the newest member of our family!

The Fatboy!

My husband was standing behind me as I was writing this and made sure I got all the proper pictures in for displaying a bike.

The best thing about HIS new bike is that I can ride it!  Yes, Yes, Yes!  I forgot how amazing riding was!  I feel so free!

"Hey honey, can you take a picture of me on the bike?"

"Be back before the girls get up!  Thanks, love ya!"

 

 "What?  You were going to go for a ride?"

"Huh?  I can't hear you the exhaust is too loud!"

Going.....

 Going.....

 Gone!

OK, he knew I was going for a ride but it was kind of funny!  Here is to a summer filled with rides at nap time!

Button!

My button is being featured at Twelve Crafts Till Christmas today!

I am so excited!  Elizabeth is an amazing crafter and a great blog friend!  Her blog is so cute, it is dedicated to creating 1 craft a month over a 12 month period for Christmas gifts.  She has made some of the cutest things!

So go check me out here!

Had a Bad Day Again....

She said I would not understand

She left a note that said "I'm sorry, I had a bad day again."

She spilled her coffee, broke her shoelace.
Smeared the lipstick on her face.
Slammed the door and said "I'm sorry, I had a bad day again."

The lyrics to one of my favorite songs, Bad Day by Fuel.  I can so relate to this song and today it fits my day perfectly.  So I suppose you are officially invited to my pity party but I kind of need to vent and writing seems to help lately.

So I got up this morning and was getting ready for work when my pager went off, needless to say I headed to work at 6:30.  Between people being on vacation and out of the office I was the only one at work today, again.  I don't mind working, I like my job but when I am by myself I am talking on the phone, responding to emails, and instant messaging at the same time for 8 hours straight.  Even when I come home for lunch I am on my cell for the majority of it.  I am burnt out.

I left work this afternoon to go get the girls, get to daycare, turn off the car, walk in and I am greeted by Kielyn who has a huge wad of gum stuck in her hair.  OK, nothing a little WD-40 can't fix.  Pack the diaper bag, put shoes and jackets on and herd my kids to the door.  Walk to the car, buckle them in, pick up the dropped sippy cup, find the blanket hiding in the bottom of the diaper bag and start the car.  Hmmm that's funny it didn't start.  Try again.  Nothing.  One more time?  Nada.

Call my husband, no answer.  Call my Dad, no answer.  My daycare lady's husband came out to check the fuses and everything is fine.  Try to start Talullah (yes, I name my cars) and she won't start :(  Next I call my Gramma to come pick us up.  While we are sitting there waiting for her I decided to try 1 more time....she starts!  Yes!!!

Get home, back into the driveway (just in case she won't start again and we have to call a tow truck), break out the WD-40 and spend the next 15 minutes picking gum out of Kie's hair.  Fold a load of laundry, put the wet laundry in the dryer, start another load of laundry.  Start dinner, eat dinner, put the girls in the bath, clean up the dinner mess, try to watch Grey's Anatomy but am busy getting milk, putting pj's on, find the missing blanket, brush teeth, go to bed and say prayers.

And my husband is leaving tomorrow for 2 weeks.  I wasn't a very patient mommy tonight and I hate that.  So I pray tonight for patience, and I hope everyone has an amazing night!  I am looking forward to craft time for the next 2 weeks, I can stay up as late as I want and don't have to feel guilty for ignoring my husband!  Now I just need some ideas!

Special Touches

Richella at Imparting Grace is hosting her very first party!  It's all about the special touches you have added to your house to make it a home.  Stop by and check it out!

I love to dress up my front door!  Normally there is a wreath hanging on the front door to welcome you into my house!  Currently it is my newest spring wreath.

And coming soon I will be able to plant my flower pots to sit on the front step, it's still too cold, it's only 45 today :(  

 

But after  you enter the front door I make no promises!  Normally it looks like my house threw up!  I would love to have a house where everything was put away and only out when necessary yeah I'm one of those, clutter drives me insance! but I have a 3 year old and a 20 month old!  So please step over the pile of shoes as you walk in to see what makes my house a home!

 

You might see pillows left on the floor, but I see our baby doll beds from last night!  I see the fort that was built after we were done playing babies and I see an attempted trampoline that mom caught out of the corner of her eye at the last minute!

A very messy kitchen?  I hear countless hours of the girls giggling as they "cooked me lunch or made me coffee."

A pile of stuffed animals?  I see 2 little girls snuggled up beside each other telling secrets (or at least that's what Kie said!).

The clutter and chaos is what makes my house a home right now!  The giggles from the bedroom, the shrieks from the back yard and the pillows on the floor!  I wasn't going to post today until I read Amanda's post and realized that it doesn't matter what I have hanging on my walls or what pretty things I have sitting on my shelves, this is first and foremost what made my house a home!  I know that someday when my house house is perfect and everything is put away where it belongs that there will be no more giggles to listen to or countless hours spent playing in the kitchen or playing with babies.  I will cherish these moments and not worry so much about the mess!

Dishing It Party @ Serenity Now

I made a new friend today!  Her name is Amanda at Serenity Now.  She is having a party about getting to know our fellow bloggers!  She also has a post on blog etiquette that I am in love with!  So my name is Kenzie and I'm here to introduce my blog and make new friends!

~How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging since December of 2008 and what I mean by that is I posted an amazing 5 posts in 2008, 4 posts in 2009 and 29 posts in 2010.  I am now addicted and am an avid blogger.

~Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging to tell stories about my family, my life and it was an easy way to share information with my family.  I fell off the wagon!  I then came across some crafting blogs and was reinspired.  I always have some sort of craft or project going and I thought it would be really neat to be able to share my crafts, projects, and thrift finds with everyone.

~Tell me about your blog's title. Why did you choose it?

9 o'clock Dance of Joy....The 9 o'clock Dance of Joy is what happens when the kids and husband go to bed and I have a little "me" time.  Time to play on the computer, time to craft, time to watch "real" tv (no cartoons), time to myself to reflect on the day without the sticky fingers helping hands of my little girls!  I chose the title because I remember mom telling me about her 9 o'clock Dance of Joy when we were little and never truly understanding the meaning behind it until I had my girls.

~What do you blog about?

Mainly I blog about the craft projects I have going on and my bargain finds that I makeover.  But I do blog about my life and my family as well.

~What is your favorite thing about blogging?

Making new friends!  It is nice to be able to connect with people who share the same interests as me.  I love finding inspiration from other people's creations, reading their stories about their kids and crazy lives and sharing hints, tips and tricks for crafting and being a Mom.

~If you had to choose one famous person to become your blog's next devoted reader, who would you pick?

I have no idea....is that sad?

~What's the funniest comment you've ever received on a blog post?

No hilarious comments that I can recall.  Only nice comments!  :)

Do you want to make some new friends?  Link up to Amanda's party!

Ultimate Blog Party 2010 @ 5 Minutes For Mom

Hi!  I'm Kenzie and I am a working mom and wife.  I love my family and I love to craft!  I started my blog as a way to share my ideas with others and make new friends!

Some of my loves are crafting, decorating, building, finding bargains and making them gorgeous!  I love trying to find things in the house that are either trash or scraps and turning them into decorative pieces.

Picnic Table I made for my little girls!

Scrap Trim Makeover!

 3rd Birthday Party!

Phone Books Turned Decorative Books! 

 Welcome Wreath!

I am very excited to share my blog and find new blogs to stalk follow!  Thank you for stopping by!!

About Me

I am a working mom of 2 who is obsessed with crafting! I love to find new things to make for our house and my friends! I love my girls and my husband with all my heart and have the greatest family in the whole wide world! 

What is the 9 o'clock Dance of Joy? This is when everyone goes to bed and you can do the crafting, relaxing, TV watching with no interruptions and no sticky fingers! Not that I don't love my family but it's hard to do anything with a 3 year old and an 20 month old who want to help! I stole this saying from my mom and didn't really know the value of the bed time dance of joy until I had my girls!

I am so excited to be in blog land!  I have met some amazing women and stole borrowed some amazing ideas!  Don't worry I give credit it where it is do!  Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by!  I truly appreciate the visits!