Making a Rewards Jar :)

I haven't written about T.V. Turn OFF Time or Early Childhood Education in a while but Jacob and I are still doing these things, I just haven't blogged them lately because we do the same things mainly or I forget to take pictures of the new things we do.

The other day, we combined the two and we decorated a jar with stickers for T.V. Turn Off Time and Jacob really enjoyed doing the craft because the jar was his rewards jar! This is where the lesson came in, every time I notice Jacob being good or Jacob helping out around the house or helping others, he will get a chip (a poker chip) in the jar, when the jar is full, he will get a reward. The reward can range from a new toy to going to the movies. Jacob has already earned a few chips and he is loving the system!

Yeah, I was a hospital girl

So, as I mentioned on my Thanksgiving post, I was recently in the hospital. I dont want to go into too much details, the hospital itself was traumatic for me and I believe that it being there could have been easily avoided. If you know me in my personal life, you probably already know why I was there. If you haven't spoken to me in a while, send me a line, I dont mind going into it :)

Anyway, the reason for my post is to express my love and gratitude for people.

• My mom and dad: Thank you both for sharing the cost of my medicine. I know it was super expensive.
  
• Mom: Thanking you for bringing Jacob to the hospital when you know how much I missed him :) Also thank you for watching him for me.
• Steve: The love of my life. Thank you. I cannot thank you enough. You never once wanted to leave my side. The way you would come to the hospital at 6am and leave at the end of visiting hours melted my heart. I was so happy when they let you stay in my room with me when I had a private room and I was so speechless with your selflessness when you slept sitting down because you were afraid to assemble the bed in case something bad to me. You would help me to the bathroom, put chap stick on my chapped lips and caress my hair. The only person who has ever taken care of me that way has been my mom.
  

Steve took this pic of me when I was sleeping

I also have to thank you Steve for the way that you took care of me when I came home from the hospital and I felt awful.

• Ella: Thank you for visiting me and cheering me up with your jokes! You always make me smile and laugh.
• Kelly & Kathleen: Thank you for bringing me a card ! Kathleen, thank you for sharing pictures of our days back in Jr. High! I adore friendships :)
  
• Christene: Thank you for calling me and checking on me!
• Stephanie:Thank you for hanging out with me last week and taking my mind off things :)
  

From Grinch To Enthusiast!

In the past I was the guilty of being Grinch-like. I was never stingy with gifts but I was not one to get in the Christmas spirit. I loved looking at lights and all but that was the extent. I would complain if I saw store displays for Christmas right after Halloween, I still do...that will never change, THANKSGIVING COMES FIRST, THEN WE CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS! But, as a Jew, I have to say, I was always bored on Christmas, Easter and every other holiday that closed down all the stores that I didn't participate in...selfish....YES!
However, this year is very different, I am feeling the Christmas holiday spirit! Let me share how:

• My Hanukkah bush has replaced its traditional Hanukkah like ornaments with cute Hello Kitty Ornaments (Yes, this is not Christmas, but it is not Hanukkah.)

• .My adorable Hello Kitty alarm clock wakes me up to Christmas music now! I must say though that I know several Jews with an affinity for Christmas music.
• I am super excited to celebrate Christmas this year and I don't care that all the stores are closed!
• Christmas lights!
• Gingerbread houses...yes, I mentioned this in a previous post but I am so excited to get to do it!
• Baking!
• I am going to decorate candles! Did anyone know that is is a Christmas tradition? I didn't know about this!

BUT.... this doesn't mean that I forgot all about Hanukkah! I am super duper excited about that too! Jacob and I have started doing crafts in preparation! This is the first year that I feel like he may start to get it! Here is a picture of the cool Hanukkah chain we made to hang over the Hanukkah bush!

Storm!

Steve and I went on a walk. We went into a store and after we came out it was windy and crazy outside! The weather turned from the beautiful Arizona weather that we are accustomed to to a storm! We resumed our walk and it became a romantic adventure! We always make the best out of our situations :)

CRAFT Night!

Britani and I had craft night! It was a lot of fun! Who knew that we would take a craft kit for 5 year olds so seriously?

The kit that caused joy and meltdowns...




Britani concentrating...


Britani frustrated....


My final products.....


Britani's works of art...


Craft night was a success! More are needed!

Jew like Christmas?

OK, so I don't usually mention my religion but I have a feeling that this holiday season it is going to get pretty heavy...I am going to celebrate my first real Christmas this year. No, I didn't convert to Christianity... but being with Steve and being with his family....a family that welcomes me into their traditions so openly, that means that I get to do CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR! I have had a Hanukkah Bush (OK, lets face it, it is really a glorified Christmas tree for the Jews, but it is still fun) for the last few years but now I get presents on Christmas too and I get to do cool things like gingerbread houses too! Whoo hoo to Christmas!

Steve and I with our ornaments:




Putting up ornaments:




The ornaments with our names on it:



Turning ornaments into earnings!



I am really loving this holiday season so far and it just started!

Surprise! He surprised me again with gluten free food :)

When Steve and I first started dating he called me his GFGF (Gluten Free Girl Friend) and I thought it was so cute! He is always on the lookout for gluten free finds and learning how to be more gluten free friendly. So this weekend he surprised me by making me gluten free pancakes...something that I have never had!

YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving :)

I didn't get any real pictures of my at the first Thanksgiving meal I attended of the day but I did take a picture of the food...

My mom, sister and I were invited to our friend's house to celebrate the holiday, they were the most amazing hosts. The food was wonderful. Steve was also invited but we decided that I would just go to his family's house after and just eat there too later.

These are the gluten-free cupcakes I made to take to Steve's house for Thanksgiving. I have to say, they were really good. They were chocolate devils food with strawberry glaze, whipped cream and blackberries.

This is GLUTEN FREE CHERRY PIE is the most sweetest thing a guy has ever done for me. Steve surprised me with it on Thanksgiving. He baked it himself from scratch until 4am and he was careful not to cross contaminate it and get me sick. The pie is delicious! I love it! I love sweets and this pie is no exception! It was baked with love and that is the best ingredient :)

Hospitalizations,Thoughts and Thanksgiving Things

• I have not blogged much...I do have things to blog...and I will.
• I have not been online much...PERIOD. Not on my blogs, not on myspace, facebook, not on twitter, not on anything. The computer has been making me feel sick...I will get to that in a moment. So if you are feeling ignored, it is not you, it is me, honestly.
• Yeah, I have been in the hospital. ER visits and a hospital stay in the lovely (and I mean this with every ounce of sarcasm I can muster) local Banner Hospital. I don't feel like writing my much now about the visit...maybe I will in another post, after all, it is Thanksgiving and the hospital does not leave me much to be thankful about...except for that I am out.
• The computer has been making me dizzy and nauseous lately so I have been staying off of it lately.
  
• My sister's dog, Dolce, was ran over last Sunday morning. It is very devastating for the entire family. He meant so much to her. I am so thankful that my sister wasn't ran over too when she was helping him off the side of the road. Aren't I so cheerful this Thanksgiving.
• Jacob is far far far away this Thanksgiving. He is in Florida with his dad visiting some of his family there. I miss him so much...more than words can express. He has never been out of the state and I wish I could be with him now.
  

I know I just spent a ton of time bitching on a day that I should be counting my blessings and actually, I have a ton. Yes, I am very melancholy today because my son is far away and because so much is going on...much more than I can write about. My sister is devastated and that devastates me. But here are the reasons why I know I am blessed.

• My son: He brings more light into my life than I could even imagine. Even if I amount to nothing, I know that bringing him into this world was a big accomplishment. He is so amazing.
• My mom: She charged my medicine that was well over $400 so I would be OK. She gave Jacob and I a place to stay so we wouldn't be homeless when I decided I wanted a divorce. She is always there for me. She is great to watch movies with and she has a love of chocolate that rivals mine.
• My sister. I LOVE LAUGHING WITH HER! I can always count on her. I love that we can do spontaneous things or that if I am in trouble I can call her.
  
• Steve. He makes me feel like the most loved person in this world. Before I was in a private room, He was at the hospital every day at 6am until they kicked him out at night. When he did have a bed in the private room, he slept in the chair because he was afraid that turning it into a bed would make it too hard to get to me if something bad happened. He took care of me at my house for five days after the hospital too. He makes me feel like no one has ever existed in his heart before me. Who would have guessed that a simple high school crush ended like this?
  
• Steve's Family- I am lucky you guys are in my life. You always make me feel welcomed and loved. You include me in traditions and I really enjoy that. Thanks so much for that. I feel so loved every time I walk into your home.
  
• My friends. I am lucky to have many. Every time I spend time with each and everyone of you I cherish it!
  

Steve's Birthday Weekend!

I celebrated Steve's birthday all weekend! It was so much fun...I will let the pictures do most of the talking :)

Steve wanted to spend time with Jacob on his birthday! We came over and celebrated with Steve until Jacob had to go to his dad's house.



We went out to dinner with his family! It was a great time and the employees sang to Steve!


After Steve opened gifts, Britani and I made faces at each other....this was the best one :)


We went out with Steve's friends and had a great time. We didn't go to bed till 5am! After we woke up, we went to the mall to see Hello Kitty!


On Saturday night, we enjoyed dinner with Steve's dad and his wife. It was so great to see them again. I ordered nachos and I had no idea that the plate would be this massive!


Steve and I at dinner <3


After we went and looked at books at Bookman's and we looked at their music section. Steve found some hard to find vinyl! It was a great evening.

Today we went to the movies! We had a awesome time watching:


We both really liked it and we both thoroughly enjoyed the weekend! I cant wait till next years birthday celebration!