Cop Mama

My Day

2012-01-18T20:59:00.000-06:00

Here I sit

at the dealership

wondering how the oil change

on my way home from work

has turned into a two hour, $450 break job

My root canal re-do from yesterday

aching up in to my brain

A license plate scribbled on my hand

from a wanted vehicle

we were looking for earlier today

JBL speakers pipe in elevator music

Cool air blasts down on me

from the vent in the ceiling

I’ve inadvertently sat under

Giant goldfish lazily swim about

in the vat in front of me

as I read in People about people half their size

I haven’t seen my boys since 6AM

Now it's 6PM

and wish I was home.

(This was my day today. And yes, now I'm home :-)

Calm Before the Storm

2012-01-10T22:08:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, we escaped the city for a little R and R before DH started up at school again. It was nice to just relax and enjoy being a family before all the busyness begins again.

Sometimes, it's good to get away. This week, we are back in full school, work, and chaos mode! I already had a little melt down on Monday, freaking out at DH saying, "I can't do this! There's no way we can juggle all this!" But he assured me that we managed to do it his first semester, we can do it again. And he's right. But for a control freak like me, this unknown, figuring out week by week how we are going to be in five places at once, working afternoons one day, then doubling back and working days the next, is hard. But then I say a little prayer and just take each day as it comes.

PS. I didn't renew my custom domain name, so if you have my blog saved under copmama.com, you'll have to resave it under the blogspot url.

So I Fell Down the Stairs...

2011-12-01T09:58:00.000-06:00

No punch line.

Seriously, I fell down the stairs. The back stairs at police headquarters, to be exact.

I was in a hurry, had my cell phone in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. The steps are the kind with the rubber coating. I saw that they had been freshly mopped and thought to myself, "I better be careful." Next thing I knew, I was airborne. Down a whole flight I went. I landed on my right side, causing my gun (in it's holster) to slam into my ribs. I immediately felt a shooting pain in my right side. Two officers who were coming down the steps a few flights up from me heard me. They came running down and said, "Are you okay!?!" I felt so stupid that I said, "Yeah, I'm fine," got up, and walked out to my squad car. I was so embarrassed, I could have had a broken leg and I swear I would have still got up and walked out.

I drove my squad car to my office, closed my office door, took my vest off and examined myself for any signs of a fracture. I didn't find any but I was in some serious pain. One of my officers convinced me to go to the hospital. I told the nurse that I've given birth naturally to two babies, so I can handle pain, but this seriously hurt. I thought for sure I had broken some ribs but instead it turned out no fracture, just bruised ribs. She prescribed Vicodin! Um, yeah, no thanks. I think I'll stick to ibuprofen.

Now, a week later, the shooting pain is gone but I'm still pretty sore. The worst part is everyone at work knows! In my line of work, battle scars and injuries come with the territory but when you get one from something as lame as falling down the stairs...well, let's just say I already have a few nicknames! ;-)

Kindness in an Asian Cucumber

2011-09-21T12:40:00.000-05:00

My t-shirt was damp with sweat under my ballistic vest.

My contacts were dried out, making the headache pounding in my head even worse.

And I still had two hours left in my shift.

It was one of those nights.

I was crabby, tired, and really didn’t feel like having to talk or deal with anyone.

I pulled up to one of the public housing hi-rises to do a walk-through.

As my headlights crossed the entryway, I saw an elderly Hmong woman, multicolored skirt flowing in the slight breeze, pushing a grocery cart full of produce. She probably had just come from her garden plot somewhere other than here. As I tapped on my squad laptop, putting myself out at that location, I saw the Hmong woman coming towards my passenger side. I rolled down my window and in her wrinkly little hands she held a large melon or gourd, green tinged. With a big smile, she nodded for me to take it from her outstretched arms that were now reaching into my squad car. I hefted the melon/gourd into my passenger seat and said, “Thank you,” smiling and nodding my head.

I got out of my squad and held the front door of the hi-rise open for her. She said something in Hmong and then made an eating gesture, bringing her hand up to her mouth. I had to laugh to myself. Does she think I don’t know it’s food? I smiled at her and again said, “Thank you” as she padded slowly past me pushing her grocery cart onto the awaiting elevator.

After I walked through the hi-rise, I headed back to my squad car. And there on my passenger seat sat my melon/gourd. I met up with one of my Hmong officers in my unit and told him I had no clue what it was. He said, “Oh very good, it’s an Asian cucumber.”

This simple gesture reminded me that there is good in this world, no matter how bad some people are that we deal with. I felt so special that she gave me her treasured cucumber that she grew with her own fragile hands. I’ve never met her before, never did anything for her, yet she saw my squad car and choose to give it to me. She doesn’t know I have two little boys that will devour it. Or that I was in a crabby mood and needed a little pick me up. She just simply was being kind.

This Is Just What We Do

2011-08-26T10:37:00.001-05:00

Today, I begin working a 3PM to 11PM shift three days a week and a day shift two days a week so DH can go to school. He’s in a two-year RN program.

I slept in, cuddled with my boys while watching Mickey Mouse Club, helped them do an art project and made fruit smoothies.

My world is balancing being a mom, a wife, and a police officer.

Once the boys were busy playing on their own, I got on my computer to check some work emails. I came across two things: a police shoot-out in Wisconsin and a police officer ~~killed~~ assassinated in San Diego, just sitting in his squad car. I watch these dramatic videos and read the tragic news stories as I hear Dinosaur Train coming from my living room.

I try not to think of the unthinkable. You can’t as a police officer or else you will never be able to do your job. I won’t be afraid. I won’t avoid dangerous calls or look the other way when I see a traffic violation. I will do my job, by the grace of God. I have to trust that He will protect me. I’m 5’0 and 113 lbs. I’m not going to kid myself, I can’t go toe to toe with some huge guy. But I have my instincts, my tools on my belt, my sixteen years of experience and my ability to talk people into my backseat. Not to mention my back-up. As a sergeant, my risk is lessened a bit, but not much. Our last police officer killed was a sergeant.

Now I must go play hide and seek with a three and five year old. And later, as I hug and kiss them good-bye, I will say a little prayer that I will make it home safely. Once I begin driving away from home, I will turn off my mom mode and turn on my cop mode, leaving it all behind. That is just what we do. Then, when I return home, I will sneak into their rooms and kiss their sleepy little heads, thankful to be home.

Author’s note: This was written from my heart. I almost didn’t post it for fear that other police officers might read it and think I’m a wimp or weak. But I’m just being real.

A Mystery

2011-07-06T06:18:00.001-05:00

I was out for a run the other day when suddenly

I smelled that smell

A pungent odor that any police officer knows all too well

A decaying, dead something
It was strong, worse than a dead animal, I thought

My stomach tightened as I stopped in my tracks
In a half second, a few images flashed through my mind

Images I have only seen at work

But now, I was off duty

And yet, there it was

I looked around, fearing what I might find

I was along a country road

Perfect place to dump a body

My nose led me closer to the overgrown ditch

As I stood on the very edge of the pavement

I saw it

A form of something

Under some brush, near the standing water

I slowly inched my Saucony’s down the grassy slope

Hoping not to slide right in

My mind was locked on this single purpose

All my senses now alert

Looking for clues, movement, foot prints

As I got within a few feet, the stench was turning my stomach

I pushed some branches aside with my foot

And then I saw it

A dead…
*
*
*

DEER!

Relieved and feeling a bit stupid,

I climbed back up the embankment and finished my run.

* * * * *

Author's note: Yes, I felt silly afterwards, but there's just something about that smell that perks a police officer's nose like nothing else. I simply can't explain it. Sorry if that's kinda gross.
Image Credit

4th of July Tribute

2011-07-03T21:44:00.000-05:00

New York Firefighters. Heroes, every one of them.

Love this image. Such a dramatic perspective.

And the best song ever to celebrate the 4th of July:

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Image 1 credit
Image 2 credit

Handgun Transition

2011-06-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

We are switching from .40 cal Glock handguns, going back to carrying 9mm. We had a choice of either a 9 mm Glock or switching to a 9mm Smith & Wesson. After trying both out, I decided the Smith was a much better fit for my hand.

We were also given the option of buying our duty weapon, our current Glock 40s. Mine is a a model 23. I've carried it for 16 years. It has my department emblem stamped on the slide. Now, I'm not a big gun nut, but I just knew, one day, my boys might want it handed down to them.

So today, I walked into my bank and asked for a money order. I felt kind of funny when I told the teller to make it out to "Smith & Wesson." The lady next to me laughed and said, "Like the gun company?" I said yes. Well, turns out she once worked for Beretta. I then explained that I'm a police officer and the money order was to buy my duty weapon. I think the teller then felt a little more at ease, because, let's face it, banks don't especially like anything having to do with guns!

Kindness Over a Kolache

2011-06-21T17:44:00.000-05:00

Bavarian cream, blueberry, or plain

I couldn’t make up my mind

As the cash register added up a lady’s order

“And I’ll pay for what she’s having too”

I looked up

She was pointing at me

Me, the cop, in uniform

Indecisive over my kolache

I felt slightly embarrassed

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.”

“But I want to as a way to say Thank You for all you do”

I was humbled

And greatful

And, well, if felt good

So rarely do we get thanks

“Oh, Ok, thank you so much.”

I went with the Bavarian cream

And a light roast to wash it down

Once in my squad car, coffee cup secured in the cup holder

I looked up to see

Her

Standing on the curb

Waiting for the bus

Oh dear...Thank you, thank you

* * * * *

Author's note: True story, happened last week. I love stopping by this little neighborhood coffeehouse once or twice a week during my shift. I've never seen this lady before and not since. I was truly humbled when I saw her waiting for the bus.

PS. Sorry I haven't post here in a while. I'm still trying to figure out how to combine both blogs.

Image Credit

Why Unions are Important

2011-03-06T18:24:00.001-06:00

I'm not trying to get political here. I don't even live in Wisconsin. But this video explains why Unions are important. Please take a minute to watch it.

We Are Wisconsin from Finn Ryan on Vimeo.

And this one made me cry...

Wisconsin "Budget Repair Bill" Protest Pt 2 from Matt Wisniewski on Vimeo.

Thanks to Elizabeth from Boy Crazy for sharing this on her blog.

Just Another Day at the Office

2011-02-23T08:07:00.002-06:00

This is what I saw when I arrived at work yesterday.

Do you think they are hiring in Florida??? ;-)

I Forgot

2011-02-16T20:54:00.001-06:00

Last week, we were sent on a 911 hang-up.

We couldn’t find the address for nothing, cross streets didn’t make sense.

Finally, in the back of an industrial area where no one lives…

They lived.

Low income housing, crammed together units.

Over unshoveled sidewalks, past a discarded couch.

Knock, knock, stand to side, waiting.

An unknown tongue heard from inside.

No answer at the door.

Knock, knock, rap on window, stand to side, waiting impatiently.

Unknown tongue.

“Police, open the door!”

Click, door opens.

There stands a frail, almost emaciated dark skinned elderly male with no shirt, floral wrap around his waist.

And a curious four year old peaking from behind his leg.

“Anyone call 911?” My partner asks.

“No, no 911,” the man states in heavy accent.

I ask the boy, “Did you call 911?”

“No, no 911” the elderly male answers. “Come, come,” he motions us in.

We slowly make our way into the unit. Dingy walls, no furniture, and an elderly dark skinned woman sitting on a mat in the postage stamp living room. The four year old bounces around, happy to see visitors. I’m guessing they are the grandparents, watching the child.

The smell of a spice foreign to me hangs heavy in the air of the tiny kitchen. I peak in the bedroom to make sure no one is hiding on us and everything is okay. All I see is a small twin mattress for a bed. No dresser, no pictures, no nothing. And it occurs to me…

I forgot.

It’s been ten years since I last worked patrol, and I forgot…

This is how people live.

My partner gives a gentle warning to the little boy not to play with the phone, then we are off.

And that call stays on my mind for the rest of my shift.

* * * * *

Author’s note: I wish I could do something, anything for people living in poverty. I am currently assigned to public housing patrol and I myself lived in public housing for a time as a child. I guess I try to remember that at least they aren’t homeless, they have shelter.

Mommy Behind the Badge

2011-01-26T06:24:00.001-06:00

This morning before I left for work,

I kissed a sleeping Sprout on his cheek,

whispered, “Love you, baby,”

and wondered…

Will he ever see me again?

Then, I quickly erased the thought.

I can’t allow myself to go there,

or else I can’t do my job.

It only takes one call, one traffic stop.

Or it could be a totally random thing.

I have to be focused and have my head in the right place.

So I prayed a little prayer,

leaned over in Cubbie’s crib,

kissed his baby fine hair,

and trusted that God will go with me

each and every day.

* * * * *

Author’s note: I wrote this Monday night, before I realized that in a 24 hour period in this country, 11 officers would be shot in the line of duty, two fatally. Please remember to keep your police officers, deputies, and troopers covered in prayer. And thank you for doing so.

My First Day

2011-01-01T14:53:00.003-06:00

After graduating from the academy, I was ready to take on the world or at least every criminal in my city. I had my uniform squared away with pressed sleeves and shined brass. My reports were stacked neatly in my metal report box, right next to a fresh tag book. Next up was three months of Field Training.

I asked to be assigned to the Central District and got it. I was so excited to be working the same area I grew up in. On my first day, I arrived early, got my locker assigned, and found my seat at the end of the roll call table. Everything was fine until five minutes before roll call, my FTO walked in, looked down at my gun belt, and said,

“Take that damn club off your belt.”

She meant my Maglite flashlight that was almost as long as my arm. It was mandatory in the academy.
I quickly whipped my gun belt off and tried to slide all my leather gear around, but the Velcro on the inside and the tight leather made it nearly impossible. Everyone was watching me, salty dogs and rookies alike. I was trying not to let my shaking hands show as I jerked and pushed the tight leather gear around. Panic was rising inside me, but I just focused on getting that darn thing off my belt. I finally managed to slide the smaller Streamlight Stinger in its place. I sat back down at the roll call table, this time next to my FTO. I caught Officer Salk looking at me, but then he looked away.

Years later, while hanging out after work with our shift and having a few beers in the parking lot, Officer Salk told me that when he looked at me across that table that day, I was white as a ghost. He said he felt bad for me because he knew something I didn’t know at the time, I had been assigned the hardest female FTO on the department.

Author's note: I also posted this story on my other blog. I'm trying to integrate the two. If you want to follow me over there, email me at cop (dot) mama (at) yahoo (dot) com

Merry Christmas to YOU!

2010-12-24T17:44:00.001-06:00

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

* * * * * *

I’m fortunate enough to not have to work this Christmas, but please keep all those police officers in your prayers that do have to work and keep the streets safe over the holidays.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Guess What I Did?

2010-12-10T21:14:00.001-06:00

It was PT time again.

But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t get on the Tmill or the elliptical and grind out another 30 minute work-out. I refused.

So I dug around the gym office at HQ and I found this…

Now, you have to understand, in a male-dominated profession, to be willing to jump around, shake your booty, and make a complete fool of yourself in front of your fellow officers takes a lot of guts.

Or you just have to be so old you just don’t care anymore what the young rookies think. That would be me.

So I popped this baby in the DVD and before long, I was throwing uppercuts, kicking and moving all over the gym mat. I’m sure I looked ridiculous.

But you know what? I was sweating! And it sure beat spending another boring 1/2 hour on the Tmill. Plus, I’m actually sore today from it.

What’s next? How about a little Tae Bo! Bring it on, Billy Blanks.

Update

2010-11-08T18:32:00.001-06:00

Things are going good. I'm busy learning all the different aspects of my new position.

By the end of my day…

I’m exhausted! (Cubbie, 2 weeks old.)

But I get to drive a fast car…

similar to this one!

But seriously, I’m enjoying my new unit and duties. Thanks for all your support and prayers! Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go take my hair out of this darn ponytail and go love up my boys :-)

I’m Being Transferred

2010-10-28T06:15:00.001-05:00

After nine years as an investigator, I get to go back to patrol…this time as a supervisor.

I'm excited but I must admit, I'm rusty. From listening to the police radio again to brushing up on my geography, from learning the laptop to getting my street sense back, I have some work to do. I’ve been working Investigations and wearing dress clothes ever since I was promoted to Sergeant in 2001 (except for a 1 year stint in the Training Unit, but then I got pregnant and got transferred back to Investigations.)

I inventoried my uniforms. I have from super tiny from before I had kids, to super huge from post maternity. In the end, I realized that currently, I only have ONE pair of pants that fit me and TWO long sleeve shirts!

But even more humorous is my shiny, 70s style parka I dug out of storage:

Considering the bitter cold we have had lately, I'll probably be needing it my first day! I start on November 1st.

Walking the Halls

2010-10-05T20:20:00.001-05:00

I walked through the halls today

Of an inner-city high school

Stained orange carpet

Heavy wooden chairs

And lockers from when I was there

My heart ached

Where are our priorities?

When our children

Are forgotten

And walking in halls

Infested with mold and must

Teachers do their best

But it’s just not fair

I’m just a cop, what can I do?

But write about it

And hope someone, somewhere

Can make a difference

* * * * *

Author’s note: As I was leaving, I saw a teenage girl with the most colorful braids I have ever seen and I told her so. She lit up at the compliment and sprang up the rest of the beat-up stairs. I wish there was more I could do for these kids. Where is the funding for public schools? Anyone?

Linked to One Shot Wednesday. Stop over and check out all the great poetry.

The World I Want for My Children

2010-09-28T20:30:00.001-05:00

“The World I Want for My Children” is an effort to support The Joyful Heart Foundation, which was founded by Law & Order: SVU actress Mariska Hargitay.

Their mission statement, “To heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues.”

Today, the foundation is at the forefront of an effort to end a disheartening backlog of tens of thousands of rape kits in labs across the country. The backlog and its detrimental effects will be the topic of an SVU episode on September 29^th.

Having been a sex crimes investigator myself, I had to link up to this cause. Please help us raise awareness for this important work. What kind of world do you want for your children? Write your post and link up here.

If This Doesn't Touch Your Heart...

2010-09-23T19:53:00.005-05:00

Thanks to Matty for sharing this with me. It gave me shivers.

As an investigator who spends most of my time inside HQ, this just reminds me of how proud I am of all our police officers and firefighters who are out there on the front lines EVERY day. Please keep them in your prayers.

** For some odd reason, the comments only show when you click on the post title???

It’s Just What We Do…

2010-09-16T21:04:00.001-05:00

(Image credit)

Driving home from work, an Amber Alert came across the radio:

“Child abducted, suspect vehicle is a Gray Toyota Camry, license plate XXX123 * ”

Instantly, my eyes scanned the interstate. Up ahead, I saw a gray Camry. I gunned my minivan and switched lanes to catch up. (The kids were NOT with me.) Once I got close enough, I saw it was not the right plate and considering the suspect was a middle aged white male, the teenager behind the wheel, although speeding, definitely was not the guy.

Then, I saw another gray Camry merging from an on-ramp. I thought…seriously, could there possibly be any more of a common vehicle! Again, I accelerated cautiously around the rush hour traffic and after about a 1/2 mile, caught up with the car. Again, not the suspect.

I thought my part in this Amber Alert was done as my exit approached. Suddenly, another gray Camry appeared from behind a semi. Although my boys were waiting at daycare, this was more important. I continued on past my exit and gained on the vehicle. As the plate became visible, I saw it was not the right car. Just to be sure the plate wasn’t switched, I pulled up along side. Nope, just a mom talking on her cell phone with her kiddos secured in the back in their car seats.

I took the next exit and headed to get my boys. Later, the local news reported the car was found, the child was safe and the suspect arrested.

Had I found the vehicle, I would have called 911 and followed it until the troopers or local cops arrived. Off-duty, driving my minivan, wearing my dress clothes and heels, I wasn’t really equipped to do much more. I had my duty weapon on me, but that was about it.

I didn’t do anything special. As police officers, it’s just what we do. We are on-duty 24 hours a day, even when not on the clock.

And yes, I drove safely and within my defensive driving capabilities.

*not the exact vehicle info, of course!

What I Remember About 9-11

2010-09-11T08:47:00.006-05:00

I was working out of City Hall as an investigator in our Domestic Abuse Unit. I watched the towers fall on TV while standing next to City Attorneys and law clerks. As a cop, all I wanted to do was get revenge.

Eventually, I headed over to Police Headquarters because that was where I belonged. We all felt so helpless as we watched the news reports. Several guys talked about just jumping in their squads and driving to NY, several states away. We were told to stand down, the time would come for us to help.

My dad worked at the downtown airport fueling airplanes. Although a bit estranged, I still feared for him. I headed down to his flight office and found him and the pilots glued to the TV screen.

That night, I remember the eerie quiet without a single plane flying over my city and thought…the world will never be the same.

Please don’t forget the heroic police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics who sacrificed their lives that day trying to help others.

I Have Toys to Pick Up…

2010-05-14T06:25:00.001-05:00

…Cubbie’s birthday party to plan

…Sprout’s preschool program

…a major project due at work next week

…my physical fitness test on Tuesday (wish me luck!)

And so many other things going on right now that I’ve decided to take a break from blogging. A week, maybe two…we’ll see. I just need some time to get caught up on life…if ya know what I mean!

PS. Thank you for all your kind, supportive comments on my last post.

We Honor Our Fallen Officers

2010-05-12T06:36:00.002-05:00

Today is Law Enforcement Memorial Day

We will read the names

of the officers we have lost

Some I have known

Most I have not

I will try not to flinch

on the first round of the salute

I will try not to cry

when I hear the bagpipes

Stand at attention I must

Remember how they lived

not how they died

I will

Note: My PD is honoring our fallen officers today in a ceremony held here locally. This week is National Police Week. The above image is from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. where the national ceremonies are being held.

Baby Birds Update

2010-05-10T06:30:00.003-05:00

Hi there!

I checked in on the baby Robins this past Friday. Their eyes were open and they had feathers!

(To see earlier photos, click here and here.)

Sprout and Cubbie love to hear the little chirps coming from the deck. If you look closely, you can see all four beaks.

I was lucky to get these pictures because a minute later, Mama Robin returned and nose dived at my head. I could hear the flutter of her wings right next to my ear as I ducked and ran inside!

And then, yesterday morning…

The baby Robins were gone! I didn’t want to post a picture of an empty nest full of bird poo, so instead, here’s my curious boys trying to see into the nest.

Link up at:

Move Over Lance Armstrong!

2010-05-07T06:31:00.001-05:00

I knew...

It wouldn't be long...

until Sprout got his first pedal bike!

Now he's a biker, just like his Daddy!

He had a Strider balance bike before. So now, he just has to get the hang of the pedals. I'm sure the training wheels will come off pretty quickly. He's already zooming all over the neighborhood!

Link up at:

and

My Boys

2010-05-05T06:27:00.001-05:00

Somebody help me...

I seem to have found myself...

wrapped around two little fingers!

Link up at

and

Note: This has been a busy week for me. I’ve missed visiting all of your wonderful blogs. Hopefully things will get back to normal for me soon.

A Little Lilac

2010-05-02T19:53:00.001-05:00

This weekend was a dark one in my city. I can’t give details, but please, remember to keep your police officers (deputies/troopers) covered in prayer.

One minute, I was at home watching Cubbie, dressed in his jammies, playing hide and seek behind a closet door. The next minute, I was alone in my minivan, driving faster than I’ll admit, flying in to the city. It’s just what you do when you hear the news.

Today, I’m back home, away from the chaos and tragedy. It’s weird, like it was all just a bad dream. So I took a walk and saw my neighbor’s lilacs had bloomed (unlike mine.) I love lilacs, more than roses. So I just felt like posting something pretty.

Oh My, I’m 37 Years Old!

2010-04-30T06:38:00.001-05:00

Link up at Mrs. 4444

1. Yes, I turned 37. Do I feel old? I don’t know. Honestly, I feel blessed and thankful. BTW, my DH has the same birth date as I. He turned 39. Now he IS old! (Just teasing, babe!)

2. Thank YOU for all the wonderful, supportive comments on my post yesterday regarding my Longevity pin. Wow, feelin’ the love ;-) Sometimes as cops, we forget there are people out there that actually LIKE us!

3. I have been sick with a nasty head/chest cold all week! Ick!

4. I want to thank Tree Lindsay from Mommies Faves for the $20 "Bath and Body Works" gift card that I won from 5 Minutes for Mom Ultimate Blog Party 2010.

And now, it’s time for:

After Mama M’s cccccrazy vlog (seriously, the funniest thing ever!) I just couldn’t skip 5QF!

1. If you could, would you go back to high school? No, I couldn’t wait to get out!

2. If a genie appeared and granted you two wishes, what would they be?

1. Long, healthy lives for my boys.

2. Long, healthy lives for DH and I.

3. What kids show do you secretly like? Does Madagascar II count? “I like to move it, move it!”

4. What is your beverage of choice? Coffee with creamer.

5. What is something that you would change about yourself (or are working to change in yourself)?

1. To not control everything and trust that God is in control.

2. Be more patient.

* * * * * *

Happy Friday!

Any fun plans for YOUR Weekend?

Not a Rookie Anymore

2010-04-29T06:25:00.001-05:00

I was officially awarded my Longevity Pin last week for fifteen years of service to the Police Department. As I reflect upon my career, I thought I would share some of the changes over the past 15 years:

1. We use to write police reports by hand.

2. Bullet proof vests were NOT gender specific – meaning no contouring, if you know what I mean!

3. The computers in our squads were called MDTs. They were only capable of sending us our calls, running warrant/license checks, and car to car communication. No internet, no high speed instant FBI alerts, no email, etc.

5. We actually had to learn the streets in our assigned district! No GPS. (Slight sarcasm there ;-)

6. Pac Sets (radios) were the size of bricks! Heavy, but man, they made the best weapon of opportunity if someone decided to fight you. That and the huge Mag Lights we use to carry.

7. The squad cars were more about function than safety. You were surrounded by metal…metal MDT, large shotgun mount welded right behind your head, and a metal cage that constantly rattled.

8. “Policeman” was still a widely used term. And honestly, I didn’t really care! I was just happy to have a job where I got to drive fast, go roaring red lights and sirens to a hot call, and just do good ol’ fashioned police work! Those were the days! (Man, I feel old!)

Spring!

2010-04-28T06:16:00.001-05:00

A boy…

and his…

bubbles!

Woo Hoo for Spring!!!

Link up at Seven Clown Circus

LOOK What Has Hatched!

2010-04-26T06:13:00.004-05:00

Last week, there were beautiful blue Robin's eggs in a nest under our deck. Click here to see.

Yesterday, little chirps could be heard. I waited until Mama Robin flew off to find a worm. I snuck out on the deck, peeked down between the slats, and this is what I found!

Amazing! Just look at these newborn baby Robins! Their eyes aren’t even open yet.

Don't worry baby, your Mama's gonna be right back!

After I snapped a few shots, I raced back inside before Mama Robin returned. What a beautiful example of God’s creation!

Link up at:

My First Car

2010-04-23T12:20:00.000-05:00

Used '81 Camaro, One Previous Owner, One Accident,

Slight Damage to Driver's Door

No kidding, that is what the add said. But my dad convinced me to buy it anyways!

What am I talking about? Well, it's time for:

1. What was the first car you owned?

'81 Chevy Camaro

(Similar to this one, but without the stripe down the middle.)

2. What song are you embarrassed to know the lyrics to?

Wonder Pets

"The phone, the phone is ringing"...just shoot me now! ;-)

3. Have you ever had stitches?

Look closely at the bridge of my nose. Dog bite from when I was five. (Story for another day.)

4. What was your first job?

First real job, besides babysitting and cleaning, would be cashier at a convenience store when I was 16. A little dangerous, given the neighborhood, but it was better than flipping burgers.

5. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

Tie between Cookie Monster and Elmo

(Sprout, 2006, 2 months old.)

T.G.I.F., my friends!

Any fun plans for YOU???

Mama Got Back!

2010-04-22T06:30:00.001-05:00

I can't believe I'm doing this! My friend Kim from Mom Tried It ~~forced~~ encouraged me to participate in her body image link up today called, “We Are Beautiful.”

So here ya go, my least favorite part of my body:

That big ol' booty!

But you know what? I’m okay with it. You know why? Because it’s a product of being pregnant twice with two little boys that have stolen my heart!

I dare YOU to join in! Either link up over at Mom Tried It, or leave a comment here:

What’s YOUR least favorite part of your body?

Remember: WE ARE BEAUTIFUL!

A Little Birdy

2010-04-21T06:28:00.001-05:00

Look what we found…

under our deck!

Don’t worry Mama Robin, we’re not going to hurt your babies…

Just let us finish grilling the turkey burgers and we’ll leave you alone!

Every year, she returns to hatch her babies under our deck. We try so hard not to disturb her. We don’t let the boys out on the deck at all during this time and try to keep off unless we are grilling.

After she flew off the nest, I hurried up and took the top picture. I used a standard zoom lens and focused between the slats of the deck floor. I was so excited to get such a clear shot of her beautiful blue eggs. Then I headed back in before she did a nose dive at me! Of course, I left DH out at the grill to fend for himself!

(BTW, try to ignore the half-done staining job. One of many things on DH’s “to do” list now that it’s finally nice out!)

Linked to Seven Clown Circus

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-04-19T06:22:00.001-05:00

Why talk about "Mama Guilt," you ask? Because I think it’s good to share our Mama Guilt so we know we are not alone. We all struggle in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood! See the Linky at the bottom of this post to link up.

* * * * * *

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Balancing Blogging & Being a Mom

* * * * * *

Well, how do I start this one? I guess just by telling you…

I’ve decided to stop doing Mama Guilt Mondays. At least for the Spring/Summer months. For two very good reasons:

1. I never realized how demanding a weekly meme can be. I found myself being distracted on the weekends wondering what topic to post instead of focusing on my family. Yes, I know, major Mama Guilt!

2. Camping season is fast approaching! I just didn’t want to come home late on Sunday from a camping trip beat tired and still have to worry about getting a post together AND a prompt!

So, that’s the honest truth, my friends! Maybe in the Fall I’ll pick Mama Guilt Mondays back up. We’ll see.

With that being said, I am so proud of all you moms (and a few dads) who have shared your Mama Guilt along with me! I’ve felt encouraged reading the posts and comments every week. It’s been so refreshing to know that I’m not alone in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood!

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the Linky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the Linky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Prompt: Balancing Blogging & Being a Mom

2010-04-18T19:37:00.001-05:00

Here is tomorrow’s optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share:

Balancing Blogging & Being a Mom

See ya back here tomorrow! The MckLinky will be up early!

A little history: Mama Guilt Mondays was one of the first blog posts I ever did. It stemmed out of the guilty feelings I get every Monday morning as I drive in to work. I miss my kiddos and the weekend we just spent together. I also wanted a place to share my struggles and challenges of being a mother. It’s so valuable for me to hear what other moms are dealing with too. So, I guess, in the end, Mama Guilt Mondays hopefully is a supportive place for moms to be real about motherhood!

Time

2010-04-17T16:44:00.006-05:00

**Warning, may be a little graphic for some**

Time stood still as I watched his body fly

ragdoll like

over my Sunbird

I pulled over, ran back

Belly down, his head was…well, I’ll spare you

Deep breath, off duty, you can do this

I ran to the other vehicle, on fire now

Both occupants out and okay

Back to the motorcyclist

I supported his head while the medics,

who thank heavens, arrived instantly,

rolled him over

“Breathe buddy, breathe!”

I demanded of his lifeless body

ME’s report weeks later, .25 BAC

Author’s note: I was 22, brand new rookie, driving to Target. The motorcyclist slammed head-on into the small pick-up that was just ahead of me.

This is linked to the above photo prompt at Magpie Tales.

“History in Blue” Book Review and GIVEAWAY!

2010-04-16T06:46:00.004-05:00

History in Blue

160 Years of Women Police, Sheriffs, Detectives, and State Troopers

by Allan T. Duffin

Kaplan Publishing; 1st edition (February 2, 2010)

Description: Spanning 160 years, History in Blue is the first book to tell the riveting story of the uphill struggle for respect and recognition sustained by women in the modern police force. In this vivid and remarkable history, Allan T. Duffin tells of the extraordinary women who broke down the barriers of gender so that they—and many generations of successors—could do the work they loved most.
My Review: After reading History in Blue, I have a new respect for the early women in law enforcement. I take for granted what these women had to fight for: the privilege of wearing a badge and calling myself a police officer. I found this book to be very intriguing and informative, full of rare photographs and interviews. I think anyone interested in how the modern role of the female police officer came to be would enjoy it.
To Purchase: History in Blue (Amazon; $18.45)

A Giveaway! (UPDATE: GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED)

Congrats to Commenters # 10 (Amanda)

and # 29 (Amy)

I've emailed you both. Please contact me to claim your book!

I have TWO Copies of History in Blue to give away!
Three chances to win!
To Enter:
1. Leave a comment.
2. Follow this blog (or if you are a follower already), then leave a comment telling me so.
3. Follow me on Twitter (or if you are a follower already), then leave a comment telling me so.
(US and Canada residents only please. This giveaway will be open until 9 PM on Sunday, April 18, 2010.)
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book and two free copies to give away. I was not paid for this review or in any way influenced. This is just my honest opinion after reading History in Blue.

Good Morning, Sweetheart

2010-04-14T06:32:00.005-05:00

Cuddles, snuggles

I hold you tight

You are my baby

my baby boy

and this morning

unlike most

Mama’s home

because

my sweetheart

it’s Saturday

Author's note: This picture was taken on a Saturday morning by my DH.

Link up at:

and

It's Time to Party!

2010-04-13T00:36:00.002-05:00

I'm joining in on the fun at Five Minutes for Mom.

And now, a little about me...

Yes, I'm a cop. I'm actually a Sergeant assigned to investigations currently.

I have been married to my DH for six years.

I blog about work, family, and just about anything in between.

But my favorite topic is these two crazy little guys:

Welcome to my blog!

Leave a comment and I'll be happy to visit your blog too!

* * * * * *

There are so many cool prizes to be won at this year’s Ultimate Blog Party, but my top three picks would be:

1. US3 – Win a $150 shopping spree at A Rocking Horse To Love or Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles Provided by: 5 Minutes for Mom

2. INTL 11 – Custom Blogger Design- valued at $100
Provided by: Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates

3. US40- One winner will receive a 3 day 2 night stay from Holiday Inn Main Gate East in Kissimmee, FL (less than 2 miles from Disney World) a value of $250.
Provided by: Holiday Inn Main Gate
Follow here: bloggin2noggin

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-04-12T06:18:00.002-05:00

* * * * * *

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Hand-me Downs, Thrift Stores, & Garage Sales for YOUR Kid's Clothes? What's YOUR Secret?

* * * * * *

I was attempting to get caught up on my scrapbooking (I’m like 3 years behind), and look what I found:

This is Sprout when he was about 16 months old (Nov. 2007.)

Then, as I was looking at more recent photos, I found this one:

Here is Cubbie from this past winter.

Notice anything??? Yes, the same EXACT clothing! Talk about Mama Guilt!

But when you have two boys, and the hand me downs from one child matches the same seasons for the second one, why not use them? Do I go buy all new clothes, especially outerwear, when it’s still in perfectly good condition? What would YOU do?

I don’t have a “secret” so much but I buy pants from Children’s Place (on sale, coupons, points card) then I buy less expensive tops from Target or Kohl's. With my little guys, the pants are what take a beating! Plus, I’m always happy when I find a good clearance rack item or happen upon a garage sale.

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the Linky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the Linky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Prompt: Affordable Kid's Clothes

2010-04-11T08:00:00.006-05:00

Here is tomorrow’s optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share:

Hand-me Downs, Thrift Stores, & Garage Sales for YOUR Kid's Clothes? What's YOUR Secret?

See ya back here tomorrow! The Linky will be up early!

Thanks, Mr. Wilson

2010-04-09T06:18:00.002-05:00

It’s time for:

1. Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

Evangeline Lilly (Kate) from LOST. She’s tough, pretty, and I can only dream to be in that kind of shape some day!

2. Did you ever go to summer camp?

Yes, thanks to *Mr. Wilson, my 5th grade teacher. He knew about my mom’s drinking problem. He also knew (like the rest of the town did) how poor we were. So imagine my surprise when I found out I won a free week at summer camp for being the top school safety patrol guard! And guess who was in charge of selecting the winner? Yep, Mr. Wilson.

*not his real name

3. What sends you running and screaming in the other direction?

I already answered this one here.

4. What is something you do that drives your spouse nuts?

I just asked my DH and he said, “When you tell me what to do.”

Um, isn’t that what wives are for!

5. What is currently your favorite song?

“Lay ‘Em Down” by Needtobreathe (Awesome contemporary Christian group!)

Want to join in? Hop on over to Mama M’s!

(BTW, I’m so excited, my DH and I are having our first date night in months on Saturday! :-)

So What are YOUR Weekend Plans???

I Want to Retire!

2010-04-07T06:24:00.002-05:00

I took a vacation day on Monday…

and refereed these crazy, silly boys!

We had so much fun!

So, I’ve decided…I’m retiring!!!

(No, not really.)

It’s just…we really had a great day together! Now that they are almost 2 and almost 4, it seems like less work and more fun. Look at that smiley face! I wish I could spend every day watching them wrestle.

After naps (me included), I loaded them up in our used double stroller I got for $25 and off to the park we went. Then, once I wore them down, I was able to get in a half-hour jog while they watched the scenery from their mama-driven chariot!

At what AGE did it get easier for YOU?

Link up at:

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-04-05T06:07:00.001-05:00

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Tell Us About YOUR Kiddo’s First Big Owie: Black Eye, Broken, Bone, ect.

* * * * * *

Cubbie’s first black eye. How did it happen? Day care, five minutes before I arrived! He walked in front of a swinging horse on the swing set.

The worst part? I ran home BEFORE going to the day care so I could change out of my dress clothes. Oh the Mama Guilt! I felt terrible because if I would have just gone straight there, it wouldn’t have happened. What’s a mama to do?!?

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the MckLinky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the MckLinky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Prompt: Owies

2010-04-04T19:59:00.002-05:00

Here is tomorrow’s optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share:

Tell Us About YOUR Kiddo’s First Big Owie: Black Eye, Broken, Bone, ect.

See ya back here tomorrow! The MckLinky will be up early!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-03T08:21:00.002-05:00

1 Peter 1:3

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Meet Jack Truck!

2010-04-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

(Amazon.com)

Crash! Bang! Boom!

What little boy doesn't love a book about trucks! Sprout's favorite is "Meet Jack Truck" from Jon Scieszka's Trucktown series.

With colorful illustrations, we see what adventures Jack Truck and his friends, Monster Truck Max, Tow Truck Ted, and Garbage Truck Gabriella are up to. And at the very end of the book, we tuck Jack Truck in bed, blankie and all!

What's YOUR child's favorite book?

For the Joy of It!

2010-04-01T06:23:00.004-05:00

Can you believe this? Our veggies have sprouted up practically over night! I can’t take any credit, though. My DH is the one with the green thumb.

Tomatoes!

Carrots!

Green Beans!

Lettuce and Broccoli!

What’s YOUR Joy today?

Link up at "Just for the Joy of It" at Good, True, and Beautiful

Me and My Little Guy

2010-03-31T06:40:00.001-05:00

This is Cubbie and I last fall, out for a little hike.

Yes, I know, I don’t post pictures of myself very often. But friends, you have to understand, due to my profession, I have to be careful. This week, not only was there a story in the news about a mi1itia group targeting police officers, but then there was the website I mentioned yesterday. I have to, at all times, keep not only my safety, but the safety of my family in mind.

I love being a mom blogger. I love meeting all of you. I love reading your blogs. But there are times that I second guess being so open about being a cop. Every once in awhile, I even consider taking this thing down for fear of the unknown. I post pictures of my kids. I write about my life. Yes, I don’t use my real name and I don’t say exactly where I live, but any internet savvy person could figure it out if they wanted to. Plus, I have to keep my department in mind too.

That being said, I am a Christian and God did not create me with a spirit of fear. Everything I do on this blog is from my heart and hopefully, with God’s blessing. I have found a wonderful community of online moms (and a few dads!) that I enjoy having read my blog and I enjoy reading theirs.

In the end, I guess I will just continue to walk a fine line of being careful what I post without being too paranoid. I love sharing my photos and stories and just plain goofy stuff sometimes! That’s just me :-)

Link up at:

and

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-03-29T06:12:00.001-05:00

* * * * * *

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Picky Eaters: What Do YOU Do?

* * * * * *

Here’s mine:

Spaghetti O’s and condensed Chicken Noodle Soup.

I never thought I would give my kids such processed, canned foods. But over the past year, I have found myself buying them more and more. Talk about Mama Guilt. I know better! But come dinner time, if I’ve already tried giving Sprout five other good foods with no luck, and I don’t want him to go to bed without eating, what am I supposed to do?

That’s why, this past week, when Sprout asked to have a “tree” (broccoli) from DH’s plate, we were more than happy to oblige. Check this out:

Broccoli!

Sprout now asks for it on a regular basis! I am hoping this is finally a step in the right direction.

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the MckLinky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the MckLinky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

"Mama Guilt Mondays” Prompt: Picky Eaters

2010-03-28T07:55:00.001-05:00

Here is tomorrow’s optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share:

Picky Eaters: What Do YOU Do?

See ya back here tomorrow! The MckLinky will be up early!

My Boy Got His License!

2010-03-26T06:14:00.001-05:00

A little recap of my week:

1. *Warning* Quite possibly the worst picture ever taken of Sprout! (He was a tad bit cranky on picture day.)

Yes, my darling little 3 1/2 year old proudly came home with his preschool driver's license yesterday. I bet you didn’t even know there was such a thing! (Neither did I.) Sprout wouldn’t let it leave his hand and I actually just put him to bed with it firmly in his grasp.

2. DH convinced me he needed better tires on his truck. So he sold these perfectly good ones on Craigslist:

to get these ones:

Me: “Um, Honey, they look the same.”

DH: “No, look at the tread!”

Me: “Well, I guess they look…manly?”

DH: “They’re C rated all-terrains!”

Yeah, ok, whatever babe. You’re paying for them out of YOUR envelope (and I don’t think Dave Ramsey would approve!)

(Can you believe I just showed tire treads on my blog? You never know what crazy stuff you’re in for when you come here, huh? :-)

3. Now it’s time for something pretty, flowery, and girly! I won this adorable bag from Borsa Bella Bags thanks to Working Mommy’s giveaway!

I’m so thankful!

Happy Friday! What was the highlight of YOUR week?

Link up at:

and

Before and After

2010-03-25T06:25:00.001-05:00

This is a straight out of the camera shot of my DH and the boys from last fall. Not bad, right? Take a second look at the horizon. Do you see something…um, crooked?

Here’s my first edited version. I rotated the picture slightly, cropped it, and upped the color a bit. But, I lost the clouds!

So here I barely tweaked the color so I could keep the clouds.

Then, I tried black and white. I used Creative Memories Memory Manager 3.0 for editing.

Which photo do YOU like best?

To check out more Before and After pics, head over to:

My Baby Boy

2010-03-24T06:21:00.001-05:00

Linked to: 5 Minutes for Mom

and

Counting Calories Made Easy: MyNetDiary

2010-03-23T06:51:00.001-05:00

I have been struggling to lose my last ten pounds of baby weight. Considering Cubbie is now 21 months old, I knew I needed to get serious about what I eat.

The hard part – tracking those calories! Let’s be honest, pulling out a pen and paper every time you put a morsel of food in your mouth is not exactly realistic. That’s why I am so excited to tell you about MyNetDiary:

It’s an online food diary where you can track your calories and activity.

The best part for me, it has a Blackberry App! (iPhone App too.)That means I can log what I eat on my phone right after a meal.

Here are the highlights:

1. Food entries: MyNetDiary instantly and intelligently searches while you type. You can enter foods 2-3 times faster than with any other app. MyNetDiary remembers your food choices, so the next time you only need to type in the first few letters to find it.

2. Food Database: With over 86,000 food listings, I have yet to manually enter in a food label. I even found organic brand names.

3. Log Your Calories Anywhere - Online or Mobile: When you’re out and about, use your smartphone. Once home, you can go online and analyze your diet, view reports, or download Excel files from the comfort of a large screen and keyboard.

Interested? Head over to MyNetDiary, browse their website, and see if their tools are right for you.

Disclosure: I received a free six month membership to MyNetDiary. I was not paid for this post. This is just my honest opinion after trying out their product.

This post is linked with permission from Kim at Mom Tried It to “Try and Tell Tuesday”

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-03-22T05:48:00.001-05:00

* * * * * *

Here’s today’s optional prompt:

Tell us about a time you did something absent minded as a Mom!

* * * * * *

Here’s mine:

Friday afternoon, just as I was about to leave work, a Commander came in my office. He needed to discuss details of a case…for the next HOUR! I finally logged off my computer and started gathering my things, hinting that I needed to leave. He finally got it when I put my jacket on. I bolted out the door and into the parking lot because I had to get to our day care before it closed.

As I drove away from work, I kept replaying the Commander’s words and what I’m going to do next in my investigation. Suddenly, I realized I had missed the turn for the day care! And not just by a little bit, but by a quarter of a mile! I had to get off the busy highway, turn around, and head back.

Luckily, I made it before my provider closed, but still! Talk about Mama Guilt! I have to admit, sometimes I have trouble turning work off even after I leave HQ.

* * * * * *

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Here’s what you do:

1. Blog about YOUR Mama Guilt, funny or serious. Using the prompt is optional.

2. Mention “Mama Guilt Mondays” in your post by putting a link back here or copy/paste the new button into the HTML.

3. If you want, you can grab the MckLinky BlogHop code and paste it into your blog HTML, so others can join.

4. Enter the link for your post into the MckLinky.

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below!

*Dads are welcome here too!

Mama Guilt Mondays: New Button and Prompt!

2010-03-21T07:48:00.001-05:00

How fun! Mama Guilt Mondays now has a button! Just copy and paste the code from my upper right sidebar into the HTML of your post.

Also, there’s now going to be an optional prompt, in case you’re not sure what Mama Guilt to share. Here’s tomorrow’s prompt:

Tell us about a time you did something absent minded as a Mom!

See ya back here tomorrow! The MckLinky will be up early!

I Once Guarded Arnold Schwarzenegger!

2010-03-19T06:17:00.002-05:00

Yes, it’s true! And why am I telling you this?

Because it's time for:

Here we go...

1. Have you ever had a celeb sighting?

Yes, in 1995, Mr. Schwarzenegger visited a large mall in another town where, before I was a cop, I was a security guard there. And guess who they picked to be his body guard for his visit? Yep, lil’ ole 5’0 me!!! (Well, along with 3 other security guards, his own personal guard, and his entire entourage.)

He was very polite and respectful and greeted people as they stopped him along the way. At one point, a lady approached him in a department store, child sized shoe box in hand, little boy in tow. Mr. Schwarzenegger immediately offered to buy the shoes for her son. The lady said, “Oh, no thanks, I’ve already paid for them, I just want you to sign the box.” And he did!

2. What temperature do you keep your house? Ha ha ha, this is always a point of contention in my house. I’m a freeze baby, but DH actually sees the heating/AC bill, so he gets his way.

3. Do you notice dust at other peoples homes? No because mine is probably worse!

4. What's the worst job you ever had? You mean, other than my current assignment??? Just kidding, but seriously my case load is insane right now!

5. What is your most sentimental possession? Baby pictures of my boys and our wedding photos.

So hop on over to Mama M’s and link up too!

Happy Friday, everyone! Any big weekend plans for YOU???

Friday Follow!

2010-03-18T22:32:00.003-05:00

Isn’t it fun meeting new bloggers! Thanks for stopping by.

Leave me a comment so I can link back and follow you too!

Join in over at One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades!

Just click on the button below:

Breakfast

2010-03-18T06:21:00.003-05:00

I kneel in the booth

Devouring pancakes with too much syrup

As my drunken mom and slurred step-dad

Laugh too loud

At their friend’s stupid jokes

That aren’t even funny

Or maybe I just don’t get it

The night started out at the dive bar near our trailer house

In the country

Then on to the more lively, loud juke box playing bar

In town

And now here, the local truck stop

Open 24 hours

* * * * * *

Author’s note: I was about 8 or 9 at the time. I always debate writing about heavier stuff, but in the end, what I learned from my mom's drinking has made me a better mom today.

This is linked to the prompt, “Breakfast” at Theme Thursday.

Plant Those Seeds!

2010-03-17T06:30:00.001-05:00

It’s seed starting time!

Last year was our first time attempting a vegetable garden. It was a bit of trial and error, but the fresh lettuce and crisp green beans were worth it!

Sprout was so excited to help Daddy drop the teeny tiny seeds into the little compartments.

He did a great job! And DH did a good job being patient with him!

This one I couldn’t resist but have in color! Now I just hope they actually LOOK like this! :-)

Do YOU plant a vegetable garden? If so, what are YOUR favorites???

Link up at:

and

Find Memes, Giveaways, and Fundraisers all in One Place!

2010-03-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

I have the coolest new blog to share with you!

Welcome to:

I'll let one of the creators, Elizabeth at "Confessions From a Working Mom" tell you about it...

"Our Mommyhood: Where Motherhood Meets Bloghood”

"Our Mommyhood" is a joint venture by a dozen bloggers, including myself. It's a one-stop-shop for everything from giveaways, blog carnivals, memes, parties and fundraisers. Let me know if you're having one, and we'll add it! There's no excuse for writer's block ever again; or for being bored. We have a great panel of bloggers who are contributing amazing content every day.”

“There are a ton of ways for you to get involved beyond just reading the articles from our Resident Experts. If you haven't figured it out yet, our blog revolves around the "Social Calendar"-- your listing of all events in blogland. There are also opportunities to guest post and giveaways to WIN as well."

What a great idea! I’ve found some interesting memes I never even knew existed! Go see what YOU can find at OurMommyhood.com!

*Comments are turned off today just so you’ll hop on over there and check it out!

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-03-15T06:15:00.001-05:00

* * * * * *

Sprout's blankie. It’s his old crib sheet, tied twice.

I am NOT a fan!

I know, it’s his comfort, his lovey, or whatever they call it…

My Mama Guilt...I wanna throw it out!

Ok, not really, but what do I do?

He's turning 4 this summer!

The minute he gets home, it's attached to his side.

Will we send him off to college with it? Will his future wife have to wash it for him?

Any advice would be great!

* * * * * *

Or share YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below.

What WE Do On Vacation!

2010-03-13T08:02:00.002-06:00

We play checkers...

little boy style!

We sleep in a hide-a-bed for the 1st time!

We stop at the local Ben Franklin…

and find the same EXACT pair of Carhartt pants…

Daddy has hidden in the stacks for the past three years!

And when we can’t find anything better to do, we stand on our heads!

(Ok, I promise, NOW I’m done showing pics of our trip! :-)

So what’s something out of the ordinary

YOU do on vacation???

Fire! Fire!

2010-03-12T06:17:00.003-06:00

We were on vacation at a resort on a lake this past week. Monday afternoon, Sprout came running into the room,

“Fire, Fire! Daddy has fire!”

I looked out on the deck of our rented lodge room and saw flames shooting up out of the grill as DH desperately tried to save our burgers he had just thrown on. He managed to pry the seared raw meat from the burnt tin foil, then unplugged the electric grill, and pulled it away from the building.

He came inside and said the grill was instant flames as soon as he turned it on. Before I even had a chance to suggest just frying the burgers, Sprout came running from the window and yelled,

“Fire, there’s fire!”

I looked out and saw an entirely engulfed grill with flames shooting ten feet in the air. Without words, DH ran for the extinguisher while I ran to the phone. I knew I had to plug it in since the boys had been playing with it. All my tunnel vision focused on getting the phone jack in the correct way and then pushing the front desk button. When the woman answered, I said, “The grill on our deck is on fire and fully engulfed.” She didn’t panic but very quickly said she was sending the manager. I hung up and ran out to the deck. DH was in the process of dousing the grill and the flames were mere smoke at that point.

Moments later, I heard loud steps in the hallway rumbling towards our door. I opened it to see two bulky men who were red faced and panic stricken, rushing towards me carrying fire extinguishers. I told them my husband had put it out and led them to the deck. Upon inspection, they agreed it wasn’t DH’s fault. The grill was just in desperate need of a cleaning and promised to bring us another one.

After some discussion of incident reports and the manager recounting how he saw the black smoke all the way from the lake, he apologized profusely and offered to buy us new burgers. We declined.

Here’s the boys watching as DH, the manager, and the maintenance man looked over the damage. The picture at the top is the grill after the fact, pushed back towards the building, and covered in extinguisher residue.

So the next day when we stopped at a store, guess which matchbox car Sprout picked out…

The End

* * * * * *

Tell YOUR family stories at:

Friday Follow

2010-03-11T22:18:00.001-06:00

Isn’t it fun meeting new bloggers! Thanks for stopping by.

Leave me a comment so I can link back and follow you too!

Join in over at One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! Just click on the button below:

Swim Babies

2010-03-10T06:23:00.001-06:00

We just returned from a long weekend away. Here’s a few pics from the indoor pool. I love the top one. Sprout is being a great big brother, making sure his baby brother doesn’t slip on the wet tile. The second one, Cubbie is tuckered out and ready for Daddy to bring him back to the room.

Link up at:

and

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-03-08T06:30:00.001-06:00

Why talk about "Mama Guilt," you ask? Because I think it is good to share our Mama Guilt so we know we are not alone. We all struggle in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood! See the MckLinky at the bottom of this post to link up.

Here’s my Mama Guilt from the past week:

1. Sprout had pajama day at Preschool and once again, he was the only one NOT in pajamas! I don’t know how we keep forgetting!

2. It’s been warm and sunny this past week. However, when I get home from work, it’s so hard to get outside with my kiddos since I still have to make dinner!

3. Cubbie is still teething and has an especially swollen left gum. My poor baby, I just feel so guilty that I can’t do anything to help him but give him teething medicine.

Or feel free to write about your Mama Guilt in the comments below.

Who Am I?

2010-03-06T08:10:00.004-06:00

Thanks for reading my blog. Here’s a little bit about me...

I'm 36 years old. I've been married to my DH for six years. We have two boys we love dearly; "Sprout" who is three and a half, and "Cubbie" who is 21 months. Both boys are highly energetic, active, crazy, funny little guys. We live in the Midwest in a fairly decent sized metropolitan area.

Both my DH and I love the outdoors. Before boys (BB), we kayaked the Apostle Islands, hiked the mountains of Colorado, laid on the beaches of Mexico (honeymoon), mountain biked, skied, and camped. Now, AB (after boys), well, we pretty much stay home. It's just too much work right now to go anywhere, other than short trips in our camper that I blogged about here. I get in a run or an elliptical workout 3 to 4 times a week. My DH is a road and mountain biker (pedal bike).

I am a police officer in a fairly large city. I'm currently a Sergeant assigned to investigations. I've been with the same police department for fifteen years. I started when I was 21 years old. At the time, I was the youngest officer on the department and one of the small percentage of female officers. I am intentionally vague about my job because, well, it is the Internet :-)

My DH is a Dr. in the natural health field. He has graciously condensed his hours at his clinic so he can be a part-time stay at home dad. We both attempt to eat healthy, organic meals when we can. We believe in the body's natural ability to heal itself (to a point). We don't vaccinate or immunize our boys. We also do not believe in circumcision. I nursed both boys until they each voluntarily weaned themselves. That being said, I would never force my views on anyone else. Each to his own.

I'm a Christian, I believe in Jesus and the Bible. I try to be the best example of God's love that I can be, but oh do I fall short! I'm a positive person for the most part. I care about others and try to be uplifting, encouraging, and a good listener. I have a heart for the hurting. If I could do it all over again, I would probably be a counselor to troubled adolescents. I just have a heart for teenagers. But for now, any extra time I have is spent loving up my boys and being a wife to my DH.

So, that's me! Thanks for listening to the mini version of my life!

If You Can’t Say Something Nice…

2010-03-05T06:15:00.000-06:00

It’s time for Friday Fragments, Blogging edition:

1. My laptop died one week after the one year warranty was up! But I’ve complained, whined, and tweeted enough about it. So, I’m going to turn the other cheek and forget about the $265 said computer company (cough, cough, HP) cost me and just be happy I finally have it back.

2. Therefore, I’ve been missing out on all your wonderful blogs, my friends. After a long weekend of family fun with our munchkins, I’ll be back around next week!

3. I’m in the process of getting a new blog design. I’m going for more of a clean, contemporary look. Hopefully, it will be up next week, so check back!

And yes, I’m double dippin’ today! Because now it’s time for…

1. What's your guilty pleasure?

2. What is your favorite TV series?

3. Can you speak any foreign languages?

Espanol, un poco and a little bit of Hmong

4. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

I’m not a big shoe person. I have three or four pairs of dress shoes/boots for work, and a few for casual. And, of course, my running shoes (Saucony all the way, baby!)

5. What's your favorite kind of M&M's...peanut, almond, straight up regular, etc.?

Happy Friday Everyone!

So what are YOUR plans for the weekend???

Six Word Memoir

2010-03-04T12:18:00.003-06:00

Terresa at The Chocolate Chip Waffle is hosting a contest. The prize:

Chocolate!!!

The rules: If you had to condense your life into six words, what would you write?

Poet I am not, but for chocolate, why not! Here's mine:

"Arrived home through marriage and motherhood."

So, what's YOUR six word memoir???

I Remember When…

2010-03-03T06:15:00.000-06:00

Oh, I couldn't resist!

This is Sprout when he was only three months old.

And now he's three and a half years old!

Here’s the color version:

My first baby boy!

Where did the time go???

Link up at:

and at

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-03-01T06:15:00.000-06:00

(Link up at the bottom of this post)

The meltdown was inevitable.

Thursday morning. Sprout was up before I left for work, which is fairly usual. But, instead of just giving me a kiss on my cheek and saying, “Luv you, Mama”, he had an all-out fit. He attached himself to my leg and pleaded, “No Mama, no Mama, don’t go!” I knelt down, wrapped him in my arms, kissed his little blond head, and told him I would be home later. Then, DH had to pry Sprout away. I turned to leave down the steps, fighting back my tears as I heard his cries.

Mama Guilt BIG time. I went to work and told the Chief I was retiring.

No, not really, but that’s how I felt. And this is my struggle, my ultimate Mama Guilt. The pull between career and family. I love my career, I’ve been doing it way before kids or even my DH were in the picture. But now, it’s a different story. I have two tiny little beings that need their Mama. So I do my best. My family now comes first. But I’ve made a choice to continue with my career, and it comes at a price.

And this is why I hold this little grass roots “Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme. So us moms have a place to come and share our challenges so we know we are not alone!

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Blog about it, funny or serious, post a link back here on your blog, then come back here and enter your post link into the MckLinky.

Or feel free to tell us about YOUR Mama Guilt in the comments below.

What is YOUR Legacy?

2010-02-27T08:53:00.001-06:00

Mindlessly driving to work yesterday, the song “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman came on. Suddenly, the weight of these lyrics were on my heart:

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

It made me think, What is MY legacy?

Do I chose to love? Am I leaving a mark? Do I point to God enough?

I don’t know that I always do, but I try. I’m not perfect and still a sinner saved by grace. Everyday, in small and big ways, I try to touch others and let Jesus’ love shine through me.

So how about YOU? What is YOUR legacy? Take a moment RIGHT NOW, just ten seconds, close your eyes, and what is on your heart? What is YOUR legacy?

I’ve included the video in case you haven’t heard/seen this song. It’s absolutely beautiful!

My Uncle (Part Two)

2010-02-26T06:38:00.003-06:00

(I received so many good comments/questions on part one, I felt I needed to do a part two. To read part one, go here.)

He was Santa Claus. That is my fondest and clearest memory of my uncle. Remember, I was six at the time.

After his death, his wife Joan continued to bring their two boys, Matt and Scotty, around on the holidays. When I was seven, my mom married my step dad and moved to the country. Joan brought the boys up several times to hang out with my brothers.

One winter, my crazy, country brothers gave those city boys a ride on our snowmobiles. First to take off was my half brother Conrad. He gunned it so hard that Matt went flying off the back. Then, my step brother Todd took off with Scotty holding on for dear life. By the time they got back to our trailer house, both cousins looked like they were in shock. Knowing my brothers, they gave those city boys a ride they wouldn’t soon forget.

As my cousins got older, they started to question what happened to their dad. One time in particular, Matt, the older one, asked my grandma about his dad. My grandma, being the wise matriarch she is, told him he needed to talk to his mom. Soon after that, we stopped seeing the boys altogether.

I heard rumors both boys eventually dropped out of school, were in and out of jail, and in general were struggling through life. I knew they lived in the Big City. I got word that Scotty actually lived not only in my district, but in my assigned area back when I worked patrol. One evening, we had a shots fired call in the area. We knocked on a few doors, his included. He never answered, although I hoped he had. I kept seeing the same truck parked outside, but never anyone around. To this day, no one in my mom’s family has heard from either boy, now men. And we are pretty certain they were never told the truth about their dad’s death.

*Author's note: This is a true story. Only the names have been changed.

Share YOUR family stories at:

Friday Follow

2010-02-25T22:28:00.001-06:00

Isn’t it fun meeting new bloggers! Thanks for stopping by.

Leave me a comment so I can link back and follow you too!

Join in over at One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! Just click on the button below:

I Risked My Life Yesterday

2010-02-25T11:22:00.003-06:00

This is what I did yesterday

With a crazy bunch of fun middle schoolers

In uniform

With my gun on

'Nuff said...

And NO, you can't see pictures of it!!!

A Moment

2010-02-24T06:29:00.002-06:00

"Contemplating Life"

Or not...

Link up at Seven Clown Circus or

“Mama Guilt Mondays” Meme

2010-02-22T06:25:00.001-06:00

Why talk about Mama Guilt, you ask? Because I think it’s good to share so we know we’re not alone. We all struggle in this wonderful, chaotic, ever challenging thing called motherhood! See the MckLinky at the bottom of this post to link up.

* * * * * * *

I NEVER go out. EVER! I guess after spending 40 hours a week away from my little guys, it's hard to spend even a second away from them outside of work. But this past Saturday, I met up with some friends for dinner.

Problem was, Sprout wasn't having any of it. "Mama, I wanna come," or "I'll be good," and the hardest, "But Daddy doesn't sing the Goodnight Song like you do!" UGH, talk about Mama Guilt!

So, I asked him if he wanted to pretend to get ready with me…

Every boy needs at least five hair clips, right?

And no, honey, that’s not a scissors.

Oh, you already have a natural glow, my sweetheart!

Good job, I think you’re getting the hang of this!

Wait, NO! Not in your nose!

So the question is, should my Mama Guilt be:

1. I went out Saturday night.

2. I allowed my SON to wear hairclips and pretend to apply makeup.

3. I actually posted pictures of it!

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Blog about it, funny or serious, post a link back here on your blog, then come back here and enter your post link into the MckLinky.

Or feel free to write about YOUR Mama Guilt in the Comments below.

What’s In YOUR Cabinet???

2010-02-20T08:56:00.001-06:00

Cubbie, what exactly…

are you…

looking for???

(Don’t forget to stop back for Mama Guilt Mondays meme. Share your stories of motherhood by linking up.)

Friday Follow

2010-02-19T10:46:00.002-06:00

** Regular visitors, please scroll down to the next post. It's a piece of memoir that I didn't want getting confused with the Friday Follow because of the nature of it. **

I love meeting new bloggers! Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a comment so I can link back and follow you too!

Join in over at One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! Just click on the button below:

My Uncle

2010-02-19T06:32:00.005-06:00

He was murdered when I was six.

I remember the news coverage. I was sitting on my Grandma and Grandpa's shaggy living room carpet. The TV screen showed the gurney with my uncle's body being brought down the steps of the duplex.

The family rumor was that his wife was cheating on him. When he returned home one day, he caught her in bed with another man. My uncle threatened her lover with a knife. Her lover pulled out a gun and shot him.

That's about all I ever knew of the story until last year. On a whim, I happened to ask the Homicide Commander if I could see the file, since it's a closed case and public record. See, it happened in the Big City, the city I work for.

He said sure, he would let Sgt. Davis, the cold case investigator, know since she's the one with access to all the archives. Sgt. Davis, or Liz, also happens to be my friend. She had no idea I had an uncle murdered in the city. No one on the department did. It's not something I really like to advertise.

I asked Liz to remove the crime scene photos, I just didn't need to see that. I sat down in one of the interrogation rooms with the overstuffed, disintegrating file folder. As I dug through the mounds of sketches, handwritten incident reports, and property sheets, I was able to piece together what really happened that night.

Contrary to my family's version of the story, my uncle actually went over to the lover's house. They apparently were friends. They had a few beers. Then, my uncle confronted the lover about the affair. There was a scuffle. The neighbor said he heard my uncle pleading, "Don't shoot me, don't shoot me", then shots rang out. By the time the police arrived, my uncle was dead.

The lover claimed, when interviewed, my uncle came at him with a knife, so he shot him in self defense. The jury didn't buy it. The lover went to prison, guilty of manslaughter.

And it turns out, my aunt was never even there.

Author's Note: This is a true story, only the names have been changed. My uncle was my mom's brother and his wife eventually distanced herself from the family, taking their two children with her.

Link up at "Family Fridays" over at The Peterson Family or Keeping Up With the Schultz Family.

Back to Reality

2010-02-17T06:12:00.005-06:00

Sorry my friends, just a little bit longer…

and soon enough…

we'll be sitting in those plastic Adirondack chairs again!

Link up at The Long Road to China and Seven Clown Circus

Mama Guilt Mondays

2010-02-15T06:28:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, we skipped church (I know, I know, yes, I feel guilty)

but LOOK at what we did instead!

We visited our local indoor flower gardens and
it was WARM inside.

Wonderfully, tropically warm!

Enjoy, my friend!

Soak up these beautiful reds, blues, pinks and greens.

I hope you liked this little break from winter reality.
I know we did!

Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today?
Feel free to link up or share in the comments!

What a Man!

2010-02-13T08:10:00.005-06:00

My DH is...

an avid telemark skier

an intense road biker

a loving husband

(this is my favorite picture because

I was 3 months pregnant with Sprout at the time)

a caring father

and a great daddy!

Thank you, sweetheart, for all you do!

Happy Valentines Day!

(Go check out other great pics at Mama M's!)

I Just Knew It!

2010-02-12T12:49:00.007-06:00

When I saw this gazebo, I just knew it! What, you ask?

Well first, it's time for...

Mama M's Five Question Friday!

1. What is the one thing your love does for you that you can't live without?

Wipes the boogers from my kiddos noses!!! Seriously, give me blood, vomit, whatever, but I HATE boogers! ;-)

2. When did you know your love was "the one"?

The moment I met him! As soon as he walked in the door at our first day of singles small group at church, I just felt it! (Ask him, so did he!)

3. Does your love have a special ringtone on your cell?

Ok, don't laugh...promise??? "I Love Rock and Roll" by Joan Jett.

4. What are you attracted to most in your special someone?

His morals and values. He's a good guy, a Christian, and a great daddy!

5. Did you know when/where he/she was going to pop the big question?

Someday, I'll tell the whole story! Nutshell: he rented a cabin on a BIG lake. When we pulled up, I saw the above mentioned Gazebo off the back of the cabin, and I just knew! Sure enough, later that day, with the sun setting and the waves crashing, he asked me to be his wife!

T.G.I.F. my friends! What are YOU doing this weekend??? Valentine's plans? Us, we are staying in and having a nice, late dinner after kiddos go to bed!

Tell Us About That Scar

2010-02-11T07:10:00.006-06:00

Photo Credit

There's not a cop on the job that, after five years on, doesn't have a scar or two. It's just part of what we do.

I had about two years on when I was sent to a burglary in progress call. O'Neal* answered up as back-up. While enroute, we were updated that the neighbors were now chasing the burglar through the alley. O'Neal beat me to the alley and I was on his heels. We both slammed our squads into park and bolted towards the screaming in the back of one of the yards. O'Neal flew over the fence like a wild gazelle. As I attempted to do the same, he yelled back,

"Be careful, it's double fenced!"

Thanks a lot, I was in midair at the time. I cleared the first fence but came down not onto ground, but a lower lying fence made of chicken wire or barbwire. I felt my leg stick. Subconsciously, I knew it wasn't a good thing, but adrenaline and chaos were reining in my mind at that moment. I unstuck my leg from the fence and continued over it. I ran up to where the neighbors had the burglar pinned down. O'Neal and I cuffed and searched him all while holding off the angry mob of bystanders. We walked the burglar around to O'Neal's squad and got him secured in the back seat. I told O'Neal I would meet him down at HQ after I got my info for the burglary.

Back at HQ, the adrenaline started to wear off and the pain in my leg started to seep in. Once in the report writing room, I found an open computer and grabbed one of the thread bare chairs. I knew it wasn't a good sign when I noticed the bottom of my polyester uniform pants were sticking to my leg. The next sight I saw was a totally red sock that used to be white sticking out of the top of my Rocky boot. And further up my leg, two jagged,bloody puncture wounds.

O'Neal's response, "I told you it was double fenced!"

Thanks alot, buddy! Considering I just had a tetanus shot a month earlier, I just dug out a first aid kit from the squad trunk, wrapped my leg up tight, and hoped I wouldn't be chasing anyone else for the rest of my shift.

Thirteen years later, the scars are barely visible. Do I miss those days? You bet! I enjoy being an investigator now, but I tell ya, those early years in my career were the best!

*Not his real name.

* * * * * * *

Thanks to Mama Kat over at Mama's Losin' It for her Writer's Workshop. This true story is based on her #3 prompt: "Tell us about that scar."

Black and White Wednesday

2010-02-10T06:15:00.004-06:00

Those eyes

My sweet baby boy

Are what everyone sees

So big, so bright, so beautiful

May they ever have wonder

May they always shine

Those eyes

Link up at The Long Road to China

Read Books Online for Free!

2010-02-09T08:43:00.002-06:00

Check this out! It's called "DailyLit." It's a website where you can subscribe to have books sent to your email for FREE!

You can search by "Category"

Or choose that great classic you've always wanted to read:

The best part is you get to choose the frequency of the emails. Here's an excerpt from their website FAQ section:

"Why read books by email?
Because if you are like us, you spend hours each day reading emails but don't find the time to read books. DailyLit brings books right into your inbox in convenient small messages that take less than 5 minutes to read."

I've enjoyed having books delivered for FREE to my email, so I thought you might too!

Head over to Mom Tried It for more "Try and Tell" ideas!

Now it's YOUR turn! What's YOUR favorite book OR the last book you read???

"Mama Guilt Mondays" Meme

2010-02-08T06:28:00.002-06:00

* * * * * * *

Today, I'm doing a reverse Mama Guilt post.

Instead of feeling guilty about something I did as a mom, I feel guilty about BEING a mom! Why? Because...

I said "No."

To my Boss.

My COMMANDER!

Last week, he asked if I (along with my entire unit) could attend a conference in April, away from home.

Overnight.

On my birthday (which is also my DH's birthday.)

And I said, "No."

Well, actually, I said, "Sorry boss, I just can't this time."

Normally, I would have said, "Yes." I've been away from home before for training and conferences. I even had to bring my breast pump with one time. Try explaining why you have to leave the shooting range to go pump!

But this time, I just had to decline. I couldn't do that to my DH on HIS birthday!

I'm not asking for special privileges or missing out on any earth shattering information. This topic is going to be taught again locally in the fall.

But anyone who has ever worked in a similar situation can relate to how hard it was for me to...

Say "No" to my boss!

* * * * * * *

Security

2010-02-06T08:44:00.006-06:00

This morning

In the dark early hours

I was half awakened by a small, precious voice,

"Mama, can I come in your bed?"

Up and over, I set Sprout in between us.

I curled around him protectively like only a mother can.

As I felt his chest rise and fall,

I thought of a time when I longed for the same...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Softly, under the covers

I was careful not to cause a stir.

I pressed against my mom's unconscious body.

The stale, sweet familiar odor came in waves with her every breath.

I took her limp arm and put it around my middle.

And for the moment, she was home.

(Author's note: I debated posting this for fear of being too...what? Personal? Emotional? But my mom's drinking is what has made me a better mom today.)

Bees!!!

2010-02-05T09:16:00.007-06:00

I was sitting in my squad car eating my Subway sandwich as fast as possible before I got another call, when I heard that unmistakable BUZZZZZZZZ...

I didn't even need to see it. I FLEW out of my squad, swung my arms in the air, and flung open both front doors, all while still holding my 6 inch sub. Once the little bugger flew out and my blood pressure calmed down, I looked around and noticed the friendly bystanders walking in the park had stopped and were staring at me. Nothing to see here folks, keep moving along! Just a crazy female cop freaking out about a BEE!

So why do I tell you this, other than to embarrass myself? Because, it's time for....

Mama M's Five Question Friday!

1. What are you most afraid of? I think you already know the answer to this one! BEES!

2. Do you use a flat iron or curling iron? Flat iron EVERY single morning! Kinky, wavy hair otherwise.

3. Hands-free or phone to the ear? Who talks on the phone anymore? Aren't we all tweeting and texting ;-)

4. Do you have a matching bedroom set? Yes, it was one of our first BIG purchases after getting married. My DH totally freaked about that bill!

5. Do you believe in the paranormal? As a Christian, I believe in angels, good and bad. I also believe Jesus is omnipresent. I also believe Satan is at work in this fallen world and that is why prayer is so important.

T.G.I.F. my friends! What are YOU doing this weekend??? Super Bowl plans?

(Don't forget, "Mama Guilt Mondays" meme every Monday. Stop back here and link up!)

Shout Out for My Blogging Friends!

2010-02-05T06:14:00.002-06:00

Link up at Mrs. 4444

Happy Friday, Everyone!

1. Thanks for all the great questions and comments yesterday here and over at the Blog Frog Forum about photo editing. I use Creative Memories (the scrapbook company) software called Memory Manager 3.0 to edit my photos.

2. My friend, The Crayon Wrangler, over at "Coloring Outside the Lines" is hosting a GIVEAWAY! It's for TWO $25 restaurant giftcards. GO check it out!

3. Want to write about your FAMILY? My friend Lori at The Peterson Family is hosting a new blog hop called "Family Fridays." GO check it out!

4. I'm so excited! I've managed to get in a run (unfortunately on the treadmill) everyday for the past 5 days! Sorry about all the twitpics, it helps pass the time away :-) I'm getting ready for my dreaded PT Test in April!

T.G.I.F. my friends! What are YOU doing this weekend???

(Don't forget, "Mama Guilt Mondays" meme every Monday. Stop back here and link up!)

My Attempt at Photo Editing

2010-02-04T09:29:00.008-06:00

Ok, Let me just say, I'm an AMATEUR photographer here. I just kind of hit buttons on my DSLR and hope things come out right!

And editing, well, considering I have all of two spare minutes per day to myself, I do as little tweeking, if any, as possible to my photos.

Today, I'm participating in the photo editing Blog Hop over at Pixel Perfect.

Here's my straight out of the camera shot:

Yes, I know, it looks terrible. I even debated putting it on here. Plastic bottles, hairspray cap, and plenty of random little muchkins in the background.

My editing software? I use Creative Memories. Why? Well, because it's what I have! I bought it way before I even thought about blogging.

Here's my after editing shot:

I obviously made the photo into portrait instead of landscape, used the cloning paintbrush to make everything else disappear, and turned it black and white. And voila, my little Sprout is all you focus on.

Do YOU edit your photos? If so, what do YOU use?

(Don't forget, "Mama Guilt Mondays" meme every Monday. Stop back here and link up!)

Black and White Wednesday

2010-02-03T06:24:00.005-06:00

"Mama's Home Now"

Link up at "The Long Road to China."

(Don't forget, "Mama Guilt Mondays" meme every Monday. Stop back here and link up!)

It's Time for "Try and Tell"

2010-02-02T07:55:00.001-06:00

My friend Kim over at Mom Tried It has a fun new blog hop called, "Try and Tell." It's like a virtual play date for moms. Think of it as Show and Tell from our school days, but for grown women. Here's my Try and Tell:

This busy boy...

Needs dependable diapers! That is why I am so glad a random mom at Target told me once, while I was buying the way more expensive brand, that Target diapers are just as good. Skeptical? You bet. So I bought a small package, figuring I would give 'em one chance. Well, that was many months ago.

The Target "Up and Up" brand diapers are leak proof, crawl proof, and don't irate Cubbie's skin at all. My one regret is that I didn't try them sooner. I could have saved a lot of money with all the diapers we went through with Sprout!

I was not compensated whatsoever for this review. I just thought, from one mom to another, you might like to know!

What do YOU think of store brands vs. name brands???

"Mama Guilt Mondays" Meme

2010-02-01T06:28:00.004-06:00

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Pancakes.

All I wanted was pancakes. But instead, as we juggled two kids within the confines of the Perkins booth, I got Sprout's spilled apple juice on my lap and Cubbie's multiple attempts at standing in his high chair.

I looked at the ceiling and prayed for God's patience. I then spotted a nice family of four with two well behaved grade schoolers and thought...

"I can't wait until my boys are older!"

I know, I know. Bad mommy! I feel guilty even admitting it.

But that thought has crossed my mind a lot lately. People tell us that this is just a "Season of Life" or "Little kids, little problems. Big kids, big problems." But in the heat of the moment, I just can't imagine how it could get anymore challenging than this, as Sprout kicks the booth repeatedly, eliciting stares from the couple behind us. Or as Cubbie throws his spoon on the floor for the twentieth time.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am thankful for all we have and I love my children dearly. But...

All I wanted was pancakes!

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Do YOU have any Mama Guilt on your mind today? Blog about it, funny or serious, post a link back to me, then come back here and enter your post link into the MckLinky. Don't forget to leave me a comment too!

Or feel free to write about your Mama Guilt in the comments below.

UPDATE: I linked this post up with my friend, the Crayon Wrangler at Coloring Outside the Lines. She is hosting a Giveaway right now. Go check it out! And VOTE FOR ME, K! :-)