Wow...how sad

Wow...how sad that it has been over 3 months since my last post.  And I want to call myself a writer some day. I mean how terrible is it that I can't even keep my blog up to date??? Well...I guess the life of a mom really does keep me busy even to a point that I can't blog when I want to!

Update time...since it has been 3 months, better get this done.....

Damon has been enjoying wrestling.  That isn't even the right word, he has loved it. Every weekend (well pretty much) we have went on a journey to a tournament for Damon.  I knew he was good, but I never knew how technical he really could get when he put his heart into it.  The strongest warrior can be great, but must have the heart behind the talent.  Even the best guy can be beat by someone who wants it more.  Damon is that kind of wrestler. He truly puts his heart and soul into what he does and in that way, he is exactly like his momma.  I can tell in his eyes when he is pumped, when he is tired, when he is ready to just give up, but won't because he knows that champions never forfeit.   This past weekend we took him to Super PeeWee State Wrestling in Waterloo, Iowa.  It was so much fun to run away for a weekend, crash at a nice hotel for a few nights and do some wrestling.  Damon lost his first match, technically the most important one.  He lost by points.  His second match he pinned the kid in 19 seconds. It was awesome!  Then the third match we ended up with a kid that has been wrestling 2 more years than Damon and travels around the Midwest in Nationals tournaments. He was good and beat Damon 11-1.  Our day of wrestling was done, but after a quick nap, we went swimming, had some good food and just had some fun at the hotel.  We are all bummed that wrestling season is over, but can't wait until next year.  If money is good, I want to put Damon in the team called the Predators. They are awesome and what Damon needs to excel in wrestling. The Mat Rats are a good local team, but the first 2 months are spent with 50 plus kids trying to learn moves and he didn't pick anything up until later in the season. I want Damon to focus and learn how to take that focus and transform it into good technical wrestling.  We are heading into soccer season now and Momma is excited to be cheering from the sidelines again!!!

Lili will begin her first year of soccer as well. She is excited and can't wait to play with her big brother.  She has been such a little cheerleader throughout wrestling season, I am surprised she wasn't down on the mat with the boys as much as she practiced with Damon.  Though in my heart I know she is too fragile, she hates pain and does not like to be held down. Instead of fighting back, she screams, a death scream that will make you want to cover your ears and hide under a pillow.  So I would rather not put her into wrestling only to hear that scream as she is being pinned. But who knows, maybe she will surprise us next year!  We had a scare a few weeks ago when Lili's cat, Purrsia, got out.  She was gone for almost a full 2 weeks. One night on a walk down the street, Damon overheard a cat meowing and Lili recognized it as Purrsia's voice.  They tracked it into a neighbor's garage and Ryan was able to get her out. She is now back home, healthy and safe. Lili is very afraid of letting her go and is constantly making sure that she doesn't get out again.  Her year of Kindergarten is going very well and really likes school. Though I am sure she would much rather be at home playing school so she can be in charge of everything that happens. Lili is very much like me in that way, likes things done her way. Its quite cute at times, but at other times...WATCH OUT!!

Ryan and I are doing great.  We just bought a new 2006 Chrysler Pacifica. Its beautiful and just awesome to drive.  The color is red. It has a 6-disc cd changer, which for those of you that know me, know that this was a huge improvement. I love music but I am constantly changing CD's while driving. This lets me put in my favorite 6 CD's and I can change them with just a touch of a button.  The kids love the new vehicle, though I am unsure of what to call it.  The brand is considered a crossover. It is not quite a minivan, but not an SUV either. So for now, its a stationwagon I guess LOL.  I don't know what else to call it!  

Ryan is getting excited about driving his bike again. He has already taken it out twice when the weather allowed it. He is getting ready to be out on the road again and I know he is anxious for the weather to finally be nice again. 

As for me and surrogacy....well, we are going for round three. I almost didn't think it would happen, but we decided to try with a new egg donor and I am so ready to get knocked up!!!  I have seen so many people get pregnant lately or give birth and it just makes me want it sooooo much more.  I can't wait to see the look on their face when I tell them we are pregnant. And for that moment when we are in delivery, as they watch their first child being born, it brings such a warmth to my heart knowing that because of me, they are able to be parents.  So right now we have chosen a new egg donor (well, we are in that process this week) and hopefully will be transfering in May!  I want to say April, but I just don't know if we can make it that quickly or not with the middle of March fast approaching.  
Also in the surrogacy world I have recently been named the host for the JustMommies message board for the surrogate mommies. I am super excited to have this position and while I know there aren't many who belong to this board, I hope to be able to spread the positive word regarding surrogacy and help those who need answers to their questions. I want to be able to be a positive image for surrogacy and hope that in the next few years, I can strengthen in that position.  I want to write a book about being a surrogate and maybe a fiction novel on surrogacy in general.  I want to write a positive story and a negative story, one that shows how things can go wrong.  That is my dream anyways!!

Well...for now...that is all. I have this setup at work now so hopefully I can blog on my break and start getting this show on the road!!!

2011 is finally here

Sadly, my last post was in October. I can't believe how I have let this thing go!!!! I am such a writer that when I don't write, it makes me feel really lazy!  So my new year's resolution is to take care of this blog and get to 30 followers by December. I know you are thinking, that isn't very many. But I am setting my goal low so I don't put it out of reach. I am currently at 14, so that is almost double what I would have now.

I guess the biggest thing is to make sure I pick a theme and write about it. My blog has kinda gotten out there and really just pushed everything together. I have surrogacy, my family, work, free stuff, work at home stuff. I don't have things organized and the reason I don't and can't get any followers is because I don't offer anything really of importance.

So to start off the new year right, I think I am going to sit down tonight and really think about what I want to write about. I am passionate about many things. This blog will be for my life, my family, my friends, work and everything else that goes with being a mom, wife, sister, daughter and friend. I am going to setup a new blog linked with this one for the one thing I am going to write passionately about. So hang on for the ride, 2011 is finally here!!!!!!!!!

Back again

I know it has been awhile since I have blogged. Things kind of took over in my life that were more important, school, work, kids, family and me time. I have missed blogging like crazy. I tried to journal for a while, but I hate writing. I can type much faster, and I can type pretty much anywhere I go. For example, this post I am doing from work! I get bored, have a few minutes and quick punch out a few paragraphs and by the end of the day, I have a full post that I can just put on when I get home. I think this is going to be my daily routine now.

So to catch up on family......

Ryan is doing very well. He has enjoyed a summer and so far, a fall full of amazing days to ride his motorcycle. We have gone on a few rides that have really been fun for the two of us to enjoy together. He has kept himself busy with the kids and with extra work on the side. He loves to be outside and I know this winter is going to drive him nuts if it is as bad as last year. But he has his Netflix movies he can watch this year, so I am sure that will keep him occupied during the long cold months that winter is going to be bringing us.

Damon is now in 1st grade.  He is growing up so fast, it takes me by surprise to really see how much he has grown in the last few months.  We finall got school pictures back and to look back at the growth with his three year preschool and now the 1st grade, he has matured from such a little boy, to such a little man. He reads so well now and can really pick up on things like signs and words on boxes at the grocery store. He is constantly reading and trying to learn as much as he can about everything. He loves to play the Wii and the DS. But he would much rather be outside riding his bike! He will be turning seven in a few months, and it is just amazing how my first born is turning into such a good person.  Damon also has a new journey this year, he is starting Boy Scouts! Well, Cub Scouts really, but it still is boy scouts.  I don't approve of the Boy Scout leaders that say certain people aren't allowed to participate, but I want my son to really understand the joys of a troop, the fun they can have using nature, instead of just sitting around playing games all the time. I want him to use his imagination and really have fun with this. He also is starting wrestling this fall and I can't wait to see how well he does with that. I know he has a lot of energy and I think this is something he could easily do to really harness the energy and use it towards a goal.

Lili is now in kindergarten. She is my diva, my princess and my baby. She has grown so much as well, transforming into such a little girl.  She does so well at school and I am so proud of the person she is becoming. Sure, she can be difficult, but boy is she just like her mother. She is very independent and I am proud of that. I don't want her to be dependent on other people. I want her to stand on her own two feet and know the world is hers for the taking. I want her to be proud to be herself and for the most part, I think she is. She is very attached to her cat, Purrsia. She starts Girl Scouts this year and proudly, I am the leader of her troop!!! I am excited for this journey together with her, even if it only lasts for a few years. She played tball for the first time this past summer, and I can already tell she isn't going to be much of a sports person, like Damon. She likes it, but not near as much as her music and dance. Even though I didn't put her in dance class this year, she still does really well at dancing around the house. Maybe this spring I will enroll her.

And now for me.....

Well, I guess for me nothing really has changed much. I am going to keep a surrogacy blog, and will attach it to this one, but I am not sure how I want to do that yet. The journey is so amazing. I really am helping two people who couldn't be more amazing and perfect for me. As much as it sucked, the first try ended in a negative beta. It has been very difficult to deal with that, but things are getting better. I just want this to work so badly for them....that when things don't go as planned, it has been making it harder and harder to push through, but I keep pushing because I didn't have to struggle to have my children. My children were born naturally, with no medications, and it was all really easy.  I push myself because this is not my dream, I want my guys to be dads. I want to see the look on their faces when they are handed their children for the first time. 

So now that I am back to blogging, I can't wait to really tell my story, really get out how I feel instead of just holding it inside. I miss blogging and hoping that I can do a post every day. This is the first, not the last......

Working from Home Series, part 2 Surveys C-E

Two weeks has passed since my last blog post. For that I apologize. Life has been hectic, I work 12 hours a day, come home to TBall or swimming for the kids, then supper, baths and bed for them. Then I log into my online college courses, do homework and crash around 1am. Only to get up at 7 and do the same thing again the next day.

Finally things are starting to slow down and I am able to catch up where I last left off.  So in the second part of the series, I am going more into the world of surveys.

My mother introduced me to surveys before I had kids. I was bored at home with just a part time job and needing something to keep me busy while I was at home. So I started doing the surveys that she did. I created accounts of my own and doing surveys every day for weeks. I had points racked up, got some great prizes and even won a GPS unit from one of them.

So here is the next set of survey sites that I think you should check out if you are looking for some extra income or some great ways to earn things like gift cards or gear for your house.  I do not belong to all of these, but most I do. Some pay with cash, some pay with points in which you trade in for things like gift cards or gifts. This list will go from the letter C to the letter E.

om ©
Clear Voice Surveys
http://www.clearvoicesurveys.com/
Clarion Web Panel
http://www.clarionresearch.com/webpanel.htm
Clorox Advisors
https://www.cloroxadvisors.com/login.aspx
Caregivers Advisory Panel(TCAP®)
http://www.caregiversadvisorypanel.com/panel_portal.htm
Consumerviews
http://www.consumerviews.com/
Digital Research Panel
https://digitalresearch.com/digitalr...anel/join.html
Doggie Fun Product Testing Site
http://www.doggiefun.com/critiques/criticsignup.html
Drug Voice
http://www.drugvoice.com/
Datatelligence Online
http://www.datatelligence.net/
Elite Opinion
http://www.eliteopinion.com/index.html
e-focus
e-Rewards Survey Site
http://www.e-rewards.com/home.do
E-Poll
http://www.epollsurveys.com/epoll/cl...q.htm?cid=3465
Esearch
http://www.esearch.com/
Epinions
http://www.epinions.com/ T

Working From Home Series, part 1 SURVEYS

 Many people have asked me how to find the work at home things that I participate in. So I thought I would put something up for all you mommies out there in cyber-land to get you in on the goods!!!

First things first, never EVER pay to work. If it is legitimate, you shouldn't be paying to work. In some cases like Avon or Beachbody you have to pay monthly dues to have access to their marketing tools and websites. But in cases of mom's wanting to stay at home, you shouldn't be paying a website to work.  Also, never give out any information unless you can verify that the information is going to a source that is important and trustworthy.

So this post will be the first in a series of work at home ideas.  I will start simple, only because I don't have a huge amount of time tonight. So this series is going to be based on surveys and the ones that are worth taking, the crap ones and the really super amazing ones to get in on.  I of course, will be benefiting from this post because all links that I will be providing are my personal links. So when you click and sign up, I will get something in return. This is a huge impact in the survey community and this his how many people get so much out of these survey companies. By signing up everyone on their Facebook account gives them tons of points and all of that. Many survey companies will only give you so many referrals now so I will post my links and no matter what they will give you access to the information, and I will get my maximum amount of referrals to the company.

Okay so here is the list of current survey companies who allow you to sign up and take surveys. These surveys are sent to you via email, postal mail and some are even over the phone. This list is from A-B. I am trying to break it into groups so my posts aren't lost in links!

4myopinion
http://www.4myopinion.net/
20/20 Research
http://www.2020research.com/
Advanced Focus
http://www.advancedfocus.com/index.htm
AC Nielsen's Homescan Consumer Panel
http://www.homescansignup.com/homescan/index.html
Avery Advisors
http://www.averyadvisors.net/avery/index.html
Alpha Buzz
http://www.alphabuzzgroup.com
Advantage Research
http://www.advantageresearch.net/home.htmcom ©
Altests
http://alatest.com/pages/about/en_GB/
American Consumer Opinion
http://www.acop.com/information.aspx©
Acronis Beta Testing
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/su...ing/index.html
AnswerNet MRC
http://mrc.answernet.com/
Adept
http://www.giveusyouropinions.com/
Atkins Research Group Inc.
http://www.atkinsresearchinc.com/
Adler-Weiner Research • Focus Groups in Chicago, IL and Los Angeles, CA.
http://www.awres.com/
Amplitude Research
http://www.ampupnow.com/
AOL Opinion Place
http://www.opinionplace.com/main.adp?
Advocate Advisory Panel
http://www.advocateadvisorypanel.com...6&hf=17331.txt
African American Voice
http://www.theafricanamericanvoice.c...mmtx&cid=CD713
Boulder Focus Center • Focus Groups in Boulder, CO.
http://www.boulderfocuscenter.com/Baker Street Solutions
http://www.bakerstsolutions.com/
Big Fish Games ~ Computer Gaming Surveys & Research
http://bigfishgames.signup.sgizmo.com
Brand Institute
http://www.brandinstitute.com/
Beta Research Corporation
http://betapanel.com/Panel/BRC/ix.asp?Force=True
BeginSurvey Inc.
http://www.beginsurvey.com/beginsurvey/
Blarry House Research
http://www.blarry.com/home_f.html
Bellwether Surveys
http://www.bellwethersurveys.com/
BuzzBack
http://www.buzzback.com/
BRX Research
http://www.brxresearch.com/
Buzzsponge
http://home.buzzsponge.com/

Start Rite Shoes!!!

Since my children could walk the biggest problem we have had is finding shoes that not only fit, but look good and last a long time.  I am never worried about brand names with my kids, but more worried about quality. My kids are constantly on the go, outside riding bikes, playing at recess and taking walks with me and Ryan.  And trying to find shoes that are not only comfortable but last a while is such a hard thing to do especially in Ida Grove.

We have one shoe store and the prices are unreal. I can't afford $70 shoes for my kids, especially when they out grow them in less than 6 months and the shoes just don't stay nice enough to spend that much money on.  The only other place in town that sells shoes is a place called Pamida. This is like a pre-Walmart type of store. They have nice shoes, but the quality is not great and the prices are not really that great either. Sometimes you can get them on sale, but they last like four months and start to fall apart.  I cannot have my children's shoes falling apart when they are constantly on their feet! I need strong support for their growing little toes!!!

So I was told to check out this website: http://startriteshoes.com/
These shoes are AMAZING!!!! Just check out some of the cute styles they have for not only girls but boys as well! And the selection is just awesome. You can find shoes for every event, from school shoes to rain boots! The prices are great, the selection is even better and they have these awesome sales that really get you some good deals. Right now there is even a contest to win free shoes for a YEAR. I am not joking, free shoes for a YEAR!

As a mom, you can't get better than good shoes at great prices with the best selection around! You can order shoes and have them shipped to just about any part of the world you want! So if you are looking for some great shoes, great prices with great quality, check out the website.  I am glad that I did and I can't wait for the shoes to get here! Lili even picked out her own pair to wear. Oh yea...and if you worry about sizing, they even have a tool that you can get to size your child's feet at home!!! No more sitting in those uncomfortable end booths trying on pair after pair of shoes with running, screaming children all around.

HERE IS THE LINK TO THE SECTION JUST FOR LITTLE BOYS!!!
boy's shoes

Father's Day

Growing up, Father's Day always meant Dad getting to get up early, and go fishing all day long with nobody bothering him. And when he arrived home, a huge meal was ready with his favorite foods and we all had to leave Dad alone the rest of the night. The day was his.  But his alone.  We didn't celebrate except for the early morning gifts made at home or bought by Mom on our weekly grocery shopping trip without Dad.

Now that we have kids of our own Father's Day has such a different meaning. My husband doesn't get to run off all alone on that day.  We celebrate with a huge breakfast while he is getting to sleep in.  Then we spend the day together as a family celebrating the joy of him being a father.

I have noticed that Father's Day like many other holidays has gotten to be so commercialized. Huge electronic gifts, grills or cars for dad. What happened to fishing lures or a box of his favorite candy?  And people wonder why they are broke all the time. 

If more families took out the gifts, they could save THOUSANDS of dollars a year.  Birthdays, anniversaries, or special holidays like Mothers/Fathers Day are not meant for giving extravegent gifts. They are meant to be celebrated with family and friends. They are meant as a celebration of life. Not about gift giving.

This year my husband is getting a package of his favorite licorice and homemade cards from the kids as well as a nice big breakfast.  And then we will spend the day enjoying our family. Sure he might get to lay in bed and watch a movie, but he deserves that. He works 50 plus hours a week and still comes home and finds time to play with the kids or do a load of laundry.

I love him for being such a wonderful father. I couldn't ask for more!