02.19.2011 Sis Celebrates

Well i was a bit busy on the big day........Sis' big party at the Ice Skating Rink. She was thrilled! She did, however, keep going back and forth on whether or not she wanted to ride the Zamboni - in the end - sad for photog mommies...it was a NO GO. Since it was like $50.00 extra however, there is no love lost on the Zamboni.


Can you say "EXCITED" We had Cheese Pizza so it was easy to get the girls to say "CHEEEEESE!"


Her newest friend "K" - aka Kit or Kitty Kat


Her longtime friend Reigan - they've known each other since they were 2!!

We had 6 girls come, and brought her "pesky brother" amid much protest. So a perfect 8 kids total. It was a blast. They got a 30 min instruction from Ryan (aka eye candy) and then were set lose. There was alot of laughing and falling and overall fun. We had a "party room" for pizza, soda, cake, and presents. My Bestest Friend Wendy (Aunt Wendy to the kids) gave her a special present...a handmade special Birthday Cake and Cupcakes. She adored them. Especially the Horshoe cake and the cute cowgirl boot candles. It was great and so much less stress on the mommy. I loved it as much as she did. With a February Birthday and COLD, it's always fun to see what she will come up with. This was a HIT!


Thank You Aunt Wendy...your cleverness keeping up with the Horsie theme is awesome!


Gotta respect a man that can deal with 7 girls!


Taking them out for the Trial Run


Ryan says "Hands like this"...i don't think our lil neighbor Alexa was paying attention!


That girl will never outgrow Littlest Pet Shops now matter how many hundred she has.

We also did the Bday present unvailing on her actual birthday (2 days prior). She opened all the mommy/daddy/aunties presents. She even got a wardrobe closet for her American Girl doll clothes, and the dolls new ice skates went right inside! She also got the Sonic Colors DS game she is in LOVE with, some cold hard cash, and more Gymbo clothes. What's not to love about birthdays?


Yay! Bella (her American Girl Doll) now has Ice Skates!

02.18.2011 Wrestling Begins!

Tonite is Bubba's 1st night of wrestling. The season just started and he has completed 2 practices so far (...AS IF that is enough) and tonite is their first of many matches. They go to all the local schools and wrestle each week. Most of them are Saturday mornings but I am kind of liking this Friday night thing. (Especially since tomorrow is Sis' bday party at the Ice Skating rink!) I'll let you know how it goes. I am hoping his big ol noggin will somehow give him an advantage - though i am not sure since the added weight is not proportionate to his scrawny body. With that leotard thing (techincal term LOL) - oh i just googled and it is called a "Singlet" - he looks like Skeletor with a pumpkin for a head. You'd think i never feed him though he eats like a horse! I can't wait to show ya'll pictures!

For now you will have to settle for pictures of his practice cuz that is all i have. Enjoy.

02.17.2011 Random Discovery

Monday last week, as i was cleaning and putting away laundry i came upon quite a funny sight!

It seems every single bed in our house was occupied by a sleeping cat. Even funnier is that Mondays is my "sheet washing" day so most beds didn't even have sheets on them but they didn't care. They were just basking in the silence i think.

I might add they WERE all sleeping, as soon as i stood there to take a picture most of them looked up like "Huh? Wha...?!"


"Manny" on Sis' bed (apparently the sound of the camera had no affect on him)


"Jack" in the Guest Room


"Cowboy" and "Boots" on my Bed

The final cat (Katie) was actually sleeping on Bubba's bed...but by the time i got to his room to take a picture she got up! Stinker!

It was like they each had their own little suite at "Chez Coates"!

02.16.2011 Happy Birthday Danielle

My little girl is 9 today. Instead of a photo montage (bcuz truthfully i am just not good enough at the extra technical stuff combined with combing thru thousands of photos) i thought i would just pen down (or type - as it were) some things about sis as she turns 9 so i can remember.

Some things she LOVES right now:
Jesus
Littlest Pet Shop Toys
Horses (real and Breyer)
Driving down the driveway on moms lap
American Girl Dolls
Trampoline Jumping
Books/Reading
Tinker Bell
Webkinz animals and computer games
Nintendo DS
Playing Wii Fit or Mario Kart for the Wii
Riding 4 wheeler
Skiing
Gymboree Clothes
Riding her Bike

TV SHOWS : Big Time Rush, iCarly, Greys Anatomy, Biggest Loser, American Idol

FOOD: Steak Quesadilla's, Pork Spare Ribs w/ BBQ, French Toast, Tortilla's w/ cinnamon & sugar, Spinach Salads, Grandpa's Homemade Jelly, Choc covered almonds, Cauliflower, Oreo's, Apples, Nutella, Strawberries, Blueberries, Blackberries, Honey Nut Cheerios with Banana's, Vanilla Yogurt, Pillsbury Orange Rolls, Mocha Frappe's, Fun Dip Candy and Milky Way candy bars.

MUSIC: Christian Contemporary -anything on SOS Radio-, Taylor Swift (over and over and over and over and over.....ughhhh)

She is ever so smart
She is a clothes and shoes DIVA
She likes showers not baths
She collects "things"/knick-knacks
She can't keep her room clean
She fights with her baby brother constantly
She adores her big brother
She has an attitude and knows how to use it
She loves music and plays(piano and violin)
She wears glasses for reading and TV
She is growing out her bangs
She sleeps with the Rottweiler Harry on her bed EVERY.NIGHT
Her favorite color is purple
She is an absolute mess after EVERY meal

I love her to pieces. She is the best Valentine ever. Even if she was 2 days late to the party...and then couldn't wait that extra day more to share her birthday with her Aunt Cathy!! SHeesh.

Love,
Your Momma

Oh and p.s she got up and SPRANG out of bed (literally) all in the hopes of opening at least ONE present before school today. So i obliged. Thanks Auntie Kelly, she LOVED the Gymbo. It makes my heart happy to see her so happy! I'll post pics with the B-day recap later.

02.15.2011 Lesson Day

Well today is Sis' violin lesson day again. We are on week three. She is having a ball and the teacher is kinda funny so it makes it humorous for me to watch as well.






I also love that they use a classroom right a school for the lessons. Sitting in those pre-school sized chairs makes me really want to put down the brownie in my hand. Especially when only 1 butt cheek can fit. LOL.

And starting today Bubba will have Wrestling practice every Tues. and Thurs. at school so my days are about to get even fuller. Not to mention the rest of Feb and all of March weekends will involve tourneys. I will be a slave to the open road and wrestling tournaments all over Western Montana. He's not even 7 yet.


*just random pic i found on internet...obviously not Bubba*

Can you say Big Fun?!

Bring it on!!! My life as i knew it is officially over i dare say...sports have entered their lives. It was inevetible.

Don't forget 2moro is Sis Birthday....where does the time go? She will be 9. Yikes.
I have Taylor Swift's song running over and over thru my mind..
"Oh darlin' don't you ever grow up, don't ya ever grow up, just stay this little...."

02.14.2011 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

For our family Valentine's Day is pretty much about those cute little cards and candy for the kids classes.

DeRell is not a "holiday" kind of guy. I've adjusted to that.

This Valentines, while sorting out all the crap the other man in my life decided he would get in on the action.

Jack my "don't pet me", "don't talk to me", "don't hold me", "don't look at me" dear Cat decided he would jump right up on the table and plop down in the middle of the chaos and show his disdain for the Holiday as well!!!



Gotta love a man that tells it like it is without saying a word!




I love that cat.

02.12.2011 A Much Needed Staycation

For late Anniversary, Early Valentines i planned a date.

It's been approximately 2 1/2 years since we have had a date. SERIOUSLY. Now don't get me wrong, we've eaten dinner or gone to the movies...but an hour or two here or there a few times a year has done nothing for refreshing our commitment to one another. We also generally spend that kind of time talking about work or finances. Not exactly romantic or replenishing.

To be honest, we struggle in this area.

Our lives are wrapped up in this house, our businesses, our kids activities and we spend very little time wrapped up in each other. It's an investment just like any other. I don't think we can be successful in any of the other areas if we aren't on the same team TOGETHER.

So my goal was a "date". A mini stay-cation if you will.......not far but not at home either. Our nearest "big city" is an hour away. So i made reservations for a hotel (to ensure it would be out of the rut/habit) and packed the kids off to a sleepover with my dear neighbor and her 2 kids.

I got dressed up. I drove and met him in the city (he was working there that day). We went to dinner, we talked and laughed. (that has DEFINATELY been a while). We held hands at dinner. I packed him some special Valentines sweet treats. I got him (his favorite) a jacuzzi room that was way outside my budget because i know how much he loves them. {Our house has no adult size bathtub or a jacuzzi or jacuzzi tub for that matter and i know he misses that} But most importantly we had time for JUST US.

It was so very important.


*it was big enough for 2 even though i HATE baths! LOL*



*Also not a fan of King size beds, but crisp sheets and lots of pillows are NICE!*

We got to SLEEP IN on a Saturday without kids wanting to know what was for breakfast at 7:30am. We had a wonderful breakfast in a pancake restaraunt the next morning - and more time to just walk around and talk and "BE" with no set agenda and no hurry. It was just what the Doctor ordered as they say.

I think i might have to do that every few months! LOL

02.08.2011 Love Language

I don't know if i have mentioned this before, or maybe a gazillion times but my "Love Language" is Service. If you have not read this book - you MUST! They have a book for learning your child's Love Language (which is the 1st one i read), One for Singles, Married Couples, etc. It really helps to know what you need to keep your "love tank" FULL. If you haven't read the book you are going..."Huh?!" Well basically it is this in a nut shell. We all feel love in different ways. Some ways people feel Love are:

1.) Words of Affirmation
2.) Acts of Service (having things done for you thoughtfully)
3.) Physical Touch(you want to be hugged, hold hands, etc.)
4.) Quality Time
5.) Receiving Gifts

None of these are wrong...it just is what makes us different. I could easily be a Quality Time girl or even Words of Affirmation takes a strong 3rd. If you know which one you are...it helps others to communicate love best in the way you need it.

For example, in our remodel/build of our house many things are still left undone. It is both a depression trigger for me and makes me feel unloved. Why? Because i want my husband to DO something to show me he actually cares about me.

So guess what?

This weekend after we cleaned up the garage a bit he was able to get to his saw and put down some long awaited moulding and get my basement cabinets in place. It was maybe a half hour to hour job max and was all i needed to get my "love tank" from Empty to FULL! I was gleaming and practically skipping. What might be "no big deal" to someone else is huge to me. I have a faucet my son bought me for Christmas to replace the broken & leaking one i deal with daily in my kitchen.

You know what?

I would rather have that installed than a diamond necklace for Valentines Day!! That is just who i am.

So click below, find out who you are...it might surprise you! It will also make a fun experience if your husband does it as well. It opens up dialogue and communication about our wants and needs. If you aren't married it can make you a better friend (or sister)just to know who you are! So take the fun mini quiz i found so you will know. Then leave me a comment with your type.

I promise you wont be disappointed! Or by all means READ THE BOOK! It's really awesome!

02.02.2011 Wednesday

The last 2 days are kinda a blur so i will do my best here. I had a productive weekend which was good. Monday i went to see my doc (who i love) because the depression is oh so much worse most days i dont want to get out of bed and i've been physically ill both with nausea and body aches that i know are not some kind of flu. Long story short we doubled my current meds (which i was already doing about the time i left for CA when mom was in the hospital) and we added yet another medication. So i take 2 in the morning (since i had just gotten my new 90 day supply) and 1 of the new meds at night (praise the lord the new med doesnt have weight gain as a side affect!). I have also been using my therapy light each morning. After a week i haven't noticed a huge difference with the light bu i do have a slight better energy level immediately afterwards. I generally read my email, check all the blogs i follow while it sits and does its magic facing me on my desk for 30 min. Sometimes i go 45 if there is alot to do at my desk. It could take a few more days but it is supposed to be really good for me and my doctor was like...finally!

I also talked to her about something DeRell found out about from a close friend whos wife and daughter were treated. They were treated with Neurofeedback but here is also a less invasive procedure called CBT that they try first. If you are interested, CBT is this. Or Neurofeedback is the more clinical approach. They are 2 different techniques, CBT is just therapy sessions teaching you to take your negative emotions and turn them into happy thoughts. Neurofeedback is actually getting an EEG to see where the chemical imbalance is and training those areas in your brain to respond positively. Initially it was very scary to even think about, and i said NO WAY based on the cost (which btw is in the thousands - plural) Our family has no health insurance (due to cost - and now pre-existing conditions) but health insurance doesn't cover any of this type of treatment anyway besides the initial visit. My doctor had referred many patients to this Dr. in Missoula that does the Neurofeedback - but typically for different afflictions, not for Depression - as she said the cost was typically not an option for most patients (us included). Mainstream medicine is all about MEDICATION, MEDICATION, MEDICATION. Which i am all for, except everything i try works for a little while then stops. Its a Merry-Go-Round i am not particularly fond of. I also started reading this book that i shared with my Doctor that talked about different natural options to be used in addition to medication and actually allowed patients to get off (or significantly reduce) their medication. She was all for everything in the book. So i have ordered some supplements and will be trying some of those methods.

The scary thing is it happened again today. I woke up at 6am, got the kids all ready for school and out the door by 7:40...then guess what? I went back to bed. I just can't face the day (..yet!) and slept until 1pm. Its awful! I would have slept longer..so i am thankful Jim was home and watching an action movie in the Theater Room below me (remember how the ceiling is not well insulated?) so i awoke to what i thought was banging on the front door. After about a half hour of telling myself "who cares who is at the door" and lulling myself back to sleep. So it is now 2:30pm and i am still in my pajamas, unshowered, and my house is a mess. I am a little desperate for something, make that anything, to make me "all better".

On a different note Bubba was home from school yesterday as he had a fever Monday night. That made for an unproductive day yesterday as well.

Sis had her 2nd violin lesson and she is rockin it!!! She had all the previous "homework" down and learned 3 new songs which she is doing well at already. I tell you, that girl is a musical prodigy. First the piano, now the violin. It's not like she is playing Mozart yet, but she hears the notes, can recognize them and play them back. We listed to the CD that came with her new book last night and i was nearly in tears at the thought of her being able to play such a beautiful instrument. Of course she wants to play the Cello - but we said violin first..a Cello is as big (or bigger) than she is right now!! She loves her violin so she is going to work and master that, then next year maybe we'll look at trying the Cello. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that she can play by ear. She can close her eyes, hear the music, and know what key is being played. It was the same with the piano, which has ALOT more keys. I am so very proud of her and hope she sticks with it!

After lessons we got the call that the guy who's horses we are keeping is too sick to come feed them this week. (Not to mention they were out of hay...hmmmm?!) So i had to go to the feed store and get a bale of hay and then come home and feed them. Which wouldn't have been a big deal except it was literally -10 degrees at 6pm last night and i was a bit miffed to be out in that kind of cold. I can't wait until we have a barn. No feeding in those temperatures again!

So we fed them, watered em and i watched some tv then went to bed. By 9 o'clock. And slept till 1pm today. UGGGGH. Oh well, i'm awake now. If i can just pull out the motivation to actually DO something it will be a win. My little car only can hold one bale though, so i am not looking forward to heading to town again tonite just for 1 stinking bale of hay. Time to get another ton delivered - at our expense. Yay.

So i am off to shower and face the day. I've got the Lord on my side so i know it will be fine. Your prayers are appreciated. Oh speaking of prayers, there is another family that could really use your prayers right now. I learned of them today thru Jed's mom (right to the left thereon the sidebar - remember Jedidiah that had Rhabdo cancer?) Well they know someone else who has the same aggresive cancer and they could really use your prayers. You can click on the button for Jed's site to see her beautiful face or go right to her family's blog here. Come on prayer warriors!