Featured

Inspiring Motivating Hero

January 25, 2010 by Jennifer 11 Comments

Those three words are just some of the adjectives that I would use to describe my wonderful Grandma. She is a wonderful 96 years old and just loves life and all the people that are involved in her life.

She is going through a rough patch right now and it really breaks my heart. I worry about her all the time. My grandma and I are super close and always have been. I love that I can still pick up the phone any time and say hello to her and carry on a full conversation. Sometimes just hearing her speak is what motivates me to have a better day.

She is such a sweetheart and is always worrying about me. She doesn’t like me traveling on airplanes and she just told me yesterday that she worries herself so much until I get back home. She is such a gem. She is a believer in our almighty Christ and is always praying for everyone. That warms my heart so much to know she has me in her prayers.

Like I said she motivates me! She stayed on me and stayed on me to go back and finish my degree in college. I made that step last year and will soon be done with my degree this year. I wanted to do it for her as much as I wanted to do it for me. She loves to motivate us to do better all the time.

The above picture was taken at this past Christmas celebration. She was worrying herself so much over my gift. Jennifer she would say “I just wasn’t able to get to store and get anything, it is worrying me so much that I do not have you anything.” I told her… Grandma please do not worry. You just being here celebrating with us for Christmas is the best gift I could ever wish for. She got a smile on her face and turned to her freezer where she whipped out a loaf of banana bread. Growing up, she has always given me banana bread loaves and oh my goodness does it make me smile. Her loaves are so delicious and I always keep them all to myself to eat when she gives them to me.

Even at 96 years old she is still warming my heart with the things she says and the banana bread that she makes sure I have all throughout the year.

It has been on my heart and mind lately since she has had some health problems, that I am going to be faced one day that she is going to cross those pearly gates and be with our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ forever. It just brings me to tears. Yes, I am selfish and always want her hear with me, my girls, my family! I want to keep those thoughts in the back of my mind and just enjoy her each and everyday I can. She inspires me, She motivates me, She is my HERO!

I love you Grandma…always and forever, Your Youngest Grandchild – Jennifer

We had a real rarity too this Christmas…. we have 6 generations in our family now. I just love our Houck Family and just will always treasure this picture!

6 Generations in the Houck Family

Circus is Coming to Town Giveaway

January 19, 2010 by Jennifer 4 Comments

Come experience the all-new Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
playing Time Warner Cable Arena with your family!

A SPECIAL OFFER FOR YOU!
Purchase  a  4‐pack  of  tickets  for  only  $44  for  weekday  shows,
or  receive  $4  off  weekend  tickets  by  logging  on to  www.ticketmaster.com  and
entering  the  coupon  code:  MOM.
Charlotte, NC Show Dates:
Wednesday January 27: 7:00pm
Thursday January 28: 7:00pm
Friday January 29: 10:30am, 7:00pm
Saturday January 30: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm
Sunday, January 31: 11:00am, 3:00pm, 7:00pm

Be sure to get to the arena early to check out the All Access Preshow.

Step onto the arena floor and into The Greatest Show On Earth® at the All Access Pre-show! Come an hour before show time to join Clown College® and learn how to be a circus clown.

10 Reasons You Can’t Miss the All Access Pre-show!

1) An amazing elephant paints right before your eyes.

2) Learn juggling, makeup and fun with the world famous Clown Alley.

3) See a one-of-a-kind special Ringling Bros®motorcycle as built by Orange County Choppers.

4) Meet the performers up close and get autographs.

5) Witness Klose’s Performing Canines jump through obstacles and hoops.

6) Be amazed as Zingmaster Alex teaches magic to audience members.

7) See performers jump rope and do tricks on the low wire.

8) Watch the contortions and table juggling of the Chinese Qi Qi Har Troupe.

9) Try on actual clothes used in The Greatest Show On Earth.

10) It’s FREE with your ticket, so get in on the fun!

You can win a family four pack for your family opening night. Just leave me a comment below that you would like to win and I will pick a random winner on January 21st at 12:00pm EST. Good Luck!

Its Been 2 Years Baby

January 18, 2010 by Jennifer 11 Comments

January 2008

December 2009

Together 8 years… Married for 2 Years! Happy Anniversary to the love of my life Scott :).

It all started here on the blog and then a year later I blogged about how could we honestly make it through that first year? Now, here we are January 2010 and I have to say the 2nd year of marriage ROCKED. We had the best year.

Random Thoughts of 2 Years of Marriage

We are much cuter since we are carrying around less pounds now 😉

We still had our tiffs, but we didn’t let it stop us from still showing our love for each other 😉

He is really my best friend!

We can so tell when we are pushing each other’s buttons, and will give each other that smirk 😉

He has made me into a huge coffee drinker 😉

He will have coffee waiting for me in the mornings!

He is such a great hands on daddy that loves taking the girls to Chick-Fil-A 😉

He is so humorous and sometimes he can be over the top but I still love him 😉

He hates talking on the phone!

He loves Fox News 😉

He hates when I let the gas get to right on empty 😉

He loves to do laundry (haha or maybe he just wants clean clothes to wear!)

He is my biggest fan with my work 😉

He builds my self-esteem up so much since I don’t think I’m all that 😉

He loves God and shares his faith openly!

He loves to sneak up behind me and give me the biggest hug (heart melts)

He loves to drive (thank goodness since I love to travel)

He loves to surprise me with my special foods!

He LOVES my cooking 😉

But Most Important: He LOVES me and our girls!

Happy Anniversary Scott. What, Where and How will our 3rd year of marriage will bring us? I for one, cannot wait to find out.

I love you Honey Bunny (he so hates me calling him that). Here’s to an awesome year :::cheers:::

Oh No Another Snow Day What To Do

January 11, 2010 by Jennifer 7 Comments

Snow Day, Snow Day, Snow Day and yet another Snow Day! Some parents may cringe at the thought of a snow day, but I actually look forward to snow days. Yes, snow days can involve getting out and throwing snow balls at each other’s head or finding the biggest hill to sled down or if the wind chills are sub below zero, they can involve creative ideas inside.

Make sure to shop seasonal sales at your local stores such as Wal-Mart or Target. I found gingerbread man kits 75% off and it is never a wrong time to make Gingerbread Men ;).

Also, Valentine’s Day is coming up so a perfect time to get out the art supplies kit and make homemade Valentine’s Day cards that will mean so much more to your kid’s friends!

Let the kids be creative and have indoor parties. My girls brought out the strobe light AKA flash light, turned out all the lights in the hall and we had a dance party. Each girl got a parent and we danced our little hearts out to Party in the USA! We acted goofy, we laughed hard, and we danced to our heart’s content. The girls were enjoying it so much.

A couple hours later, we got an invite to a Halloween Party. Please check yes or no. Of course, we checked yes and showed up with our best costume on.

Decorations filled the halls and scary oops I mean silly ghost stories were told by the girls. Can you believe that the pickle ran across the road? WOOOO… I know I was scared too ;).

Take time out of the day and have chill time. My girls love to read books so take a time-out session on the couch and cuddle up to a good book. If your child is too young, they can draw during this time and make their own picture book.

Chore time. Make it a game. Who can get their chores done the fastest? Who can sing the loudest while doing their chores? Who can make the bed up the neatest? Who can fold the most wash clothes? Girls love it!

Have an indoor picnic in your living room complete with a homemade tent that involves draping blankets from couch to couch. Bring out the peanut butter and jelly to see who can make the sloppiest sandwich or who can make the neatest sandwich.

ABC and 123 time. Create activities throughout the house such as count the door knobs, windows, or closests. Find letters in a magazine that spells each family members name and create a collage on construction paper.

These are just some of the few activities we had fun with over the last couple of weeks of snow days. It really can be fun and not stressful. Keep it changing and entertaining and don’t forget to give the kids some downtime to recoup from each activity so they will not have melt downs.

Happy Snow Day!

Mommy Jesus Brought Him Back

January 3, 2010 by Jennifer 3 Comments

Last night in the super cold weather, our little Kingston decided to dart out the door when I was bringing in groceries. My girls immediately started crying. L said, mom we have to think about this. She went and got me the flash light since it was pitch dark outside.

So we go trekking through the snow and ice down our road to see if we can grab him. He is super fast but
1) It was too cold for him to stay outside (below zero wind chills)
2) I was afraid he would get hit by a car

We all three are walking up and down the road calling his name. I hear M behind me whispering something but couldn’t make out what she was saying. All of a sudden we see car lights… thank you Lord. Those car lights were shining into a yard and there was our precious Kingston. He came running straight to us.

We hurried and got inside and M said “Mommy, do you know who brought Kingston back to us? It was Jesus. I was saying a prayer while we were walking.” Melt my heart. That was the whispering that I was hearing behind us. She said see mommy prayers really do work. Yes, they do indeed my beautiful girl!

Featured

Footer