still busy............

Hello! Hello! Is there anyone out there? Smile if you can hear me......... okay, okay I'm crazy I know. I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I'd jump on here and do a quick update for any of you who may still be following me. And well, I really like having some type of "journal" to look back on about our life..
Since my last update we have been quite busy! Hayley started school last week..she is now in the fifth grade, her last year of elementary school. CRAZY! I can't believe she is going to be eleven next month. She and I have been getting along a little better. I'm so hopeful things can continue to improve. I really think being back in school is going to help ALOT. She gets so bored, and it was pretty hard to keep her entertained and happy over the summer. She really thought we had to be doing something fun everyday....when I say fun, I mean something that cost money:) I was also thinking that this summer was a huge adjustment for her...it was the first summer she didn't have Chloe and the first summer where I worked since Chloe passed away. I didn't work at all last summer, so it was different for Hayley. I know she missed Chloe, but she had me every single day, all day. Aaron went back to work a week or so after Chloe passed away, but Hayley and I were able to have the whole summer off. This summer we did have some fun times, but I also worked which meant Hayley didn't have me at her beck and call. Granted she was with my mom or mamaw Janet, but it wasn't a fun filled, lets go somewhere every day summer like she had last year. So, I guess overall we survived the summer okay, and we did have a great vacation as well! It was just different than we're used to and I think going from having a sister to being an only child is more on an adjustment for Hayley than I sometimes realize. So, like I said I'm hopeful things will continue to get better for us as we learn to live our lifes without Chloe.
Aaron and I have both been working quite a bit (he works more than I do, but I'm averaging about 35 hrs a week)...which I think is a good thing...for all of us (more normal). We've also been trying to spend more time at home which is another good thing for all of us. I think the more we are at home and the better routine we get into will make our overall quality of life better. I've been cooking alot more and we are all trying to eat better. I've always made Aaron veggies when I do cook, but now Hayley and I are both starting to eat some of those veggies. She whines about it, but is getting better with trying new foods since I've been trying them too. We have also been working on Chloe's area in the backyard...it still has a long way to go before it's where I want it to be, but we're making progress. Izzy is doing pretty good...keeping us busy with potty training. She does well for me, but seems to not do as well for Aaron and Hayley. I think its because I take her outside more than they do. They're both so hot natured, they can't hardly stand taking her out in this heat. I, on the other hand, could stay outside all day. Aaron is not really satisfied with her potty training progress... I'm really hoping she quits having accidents so he doesn't make us get rid of her. We are crate training her so that does help.
Well, I think I've rambled enough for one night......I'd love to hear from you all...don't forget to leave a comment. Also...I can't believe no one left a recipe or a suggestion of new foods to try. Any takers? Oh yea, I tried to make chicken and dumplins today.....let me just say...total flop...had to throw it all out, guess I over cooked the dumplins? ugh!!!!!
night night!!!!

no time to blog..........

between work and all of my arguing with Hayley I have little time to blog. Please say prayers for us...we are having such problems with Hayley and her attitude towards me. I'm really at a point I don't know what to do. We (Aaron, Hayley and I) were planning on going to Holiday World Friday with my friend Suzanna, her husband and her son. I have cancelled those plans...which is really a bummer for all of us. At this point, Hayley doesn't deserve a fun filled day at Holiday World. So, I'm really hoping to make some progress on her attitude and our relationship soon.....

Hello friends!! Just a quick post tonight, since I really should be in the bed! We had a pretty good week. Still need LOTS of improvement on Hayley's attitude towards me (and in general). Aaron and I are going to really try to come up with a game plan or I guess I should say a "Life plan" to improve Hayley's attitude and our qualities of life. All three of us really do have so much to be thankful for, we really do have a great life...we just have to make the best of our lives each and every day. Happiness is a choice, so I am choosing for us to have a Happy Life..sure, everyday isn't going to be a happy, go lucky, peachy kind of day and yes, our lives will never ever be the same without Chloe, but it is what it is...and we have to make it the best we can! This week coming up is the last full week of summer for Hayley. It's so hard for me to believe summer is almost over! I will share some thoughts on our summer soon........it's definitely been a fun summer, but one with some tough emotional days! I hope all of you had a great weekend...here's wishing you a great week, full of love and laughter!!!!
love, Christy
p.s. I tried a sweet potato yesterday..with butter and brown sugar...didn't care for it, reminded me of mushy babyfood!

continuation of foods I've never tried........

potato salad, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, spinach, cole slaw, most seafood, brown rice, apple pie, cherries, tuna fish, guacamole, avocado, mixed fruit cups, grits, oatmeal, sweet potato, pumpkin pie, bread pudding, dressing (or stuffing to some), peaches, etc, etc........
what do I like to eat you ask? I am a meat and potato kind of girl....I love steak (filet mignon is my favorite...don't like anything to fatty), I also love pasta and breads. Check back tomorrow......who knows what new food I may try next!


ALSO...I was playing around with the settings here on blogspot, there is a way for me to send email alerts when I post an entry..not sure how it works. I did put in a few email addresses to play around with it...if you got an email and don't want to be alerted PLEASE let me know...actually I may turn that feature off it I don't like how it works. (I put my email address in to see what the alert is like......)

Trying new foods.........

So, for those of you who don't know me in real life probably don't know how picky of an eater I am. There are so many foods I've never tried. Over the past few months I've been trying to eat different foods. I guess I'm trying to grow up a bit. :) When we were on vacation last month I tried Chinese food for the first time. We went to PF Changs...the food was good and I was surprised by how much I did like it. This week I've decided I'm going to try to start eating a new food each day. On Tues. I ate a whole order of broccoli from my work. (Longhorn for those of you who don't know where I work) I've never eaten broccoli, other than one time I ate some that was in my Chicken Alfredo at Cheddars. Yesterday I ate a side order of veggies from work (broccoli, carrots, squash, zucchini and sugar snap peas). I had never tasted squash or zucchini! Again, I was surprised by the fact the veggies actually tasted okay. Today I ate a whole entire salad at work, it even had cucumbers (which I've never tasted) and tomatoes! I ate it with a little Italian dressing (something else I've never had). I'm hoping I will start feeling better if I eat better. So, just to amuse you (and to maybe get some comments on my blog :)) I thought I'd list a few foods I've NEVER tried.....ketchup, mustard, mayo, watermelon, cantaloupe, raspberries, blueberries, mushrooms, onions, mango, greenbeans, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, most salad dressings, bleu cheese, brown rice, green peppers (any kind of peppers for that matter), cole slaw, cabbage, yogourt, sour cream, guacamole, and I'm sure there are other things I can't think of right now. I really do want to eat more things, but for some reason I can't bring myself to try certain foods. I'm working on it though! Even though, I've really never eaten veggies I do cook them for Aaron. Hayley doesn't eat veggies much either, but we're going to start working on that. It really is kind of exciting to eat different foods...I think if I start eating better I will feel better! So, does anyone have any suggestions of foods I must try? Any good family recipes? I'm sure there are many things out there I'd like if I'd just try them!
So, other than my new food experiences this week not a whole lot going on. Aaron and I have both been working alot...of course he works many more hours than I do. Yesterday he worked from 7:30 am until 2:30 am. They're replacing the phone lines at his work and can't do that until after normal business hours...so it's been a long week for him. My poor honey! Hopefully he can get some rest this weeekend. Speaking of getting rest, I should be getting to bed myself. Good night!

Learning how to change my background and personalize blog

Wow, I just spend over an hour messing around with the background on my blog....not having much luck with backgrounds and banners. Guess, I'll just have to keep playing around with it until I get it all figured out. I'm way past ready for bed, so I will do a real blog post tomorrow.

love to all!

Learning how to change my background and personalize blog