Hello?

Hi.

I'm still alive and kickin, just not writing.

I miss this blog.  I like to write, always have, and this has been a great way for me to share my thoughts, my boring every day events, big events, funny stories, and tragic stories.  The thing is I've struggled over the last many months with what to share and where my line in the sand is.

It's easy to sit here at the computer and type out the things that are going on in my head and pretend nobody will really read it (all the while hoping with fingers crossed that SOMEONE actually does read it.... weird huh?), but the thing is that not everything that goes on in life, or in my head or heart, should be read by anyone else.  Internal struggles, family stuff, friend stuff... there's plenty of things not ok to share with the internet, and plenty of things I really can't talk about here.  (if you know me in real life, just leave it at that).

So when I have sat down to write up a post for this blog of mine, the real meaningful stuff comes to mind first, and when I decide that it's not something I care to share at the moment, then do I just tell you about the boring parts of my life?  About how I woke up this morning much too tired because my sleep schedules have been out of whack all week and how I could easily drink 2 pots of coffee a day if I let myself make that second pot at noon?  See? I can already hear you falling asleep! :)  It can feel weird sometimes when someone talks to me in real life about something I blogged about, as if that imaginary curtain has been pulled (imagine the Wizard of Oz).  I can completely see why a blogger could be more content with a completely anonymous blog - you can pour it all out there and not a soul would know it's you talking.  But I will not be going that route.  Then of course there's the "fluff" posts where I could care less who talks to me about it in real life... it's Fluff after all - no further explanation required! :o)

So maybe I'll get back into this soon.  Maybe I'll talk about the deeper stuff going on my head, maybe I'll just tell you about the chickens we've been raising for 2 months, or maybe I'll just write another poem about boogers!  Who knows, but I'll be dang shocked if anyone is still reading this drastically absent blog when/if I do start blogging regularly again!

Thanks for reading!

New Blog Name - The Reason

Like I mentioned recently I wanted to change the name of the blog, so I did!

What do you think?

It's common knowledge to any woman who's birthed children, and I imagine any mother who adopted as well, that babies and young children suck the brains right out of your head.  They aren't even nice enough to wait until they are born either, they suck it from you in utero.

When you have children there is just SO MUCH to think about at all times and so many distractions (just now Little Man is whacking me on the arm to get my attention because he wants more candy) that it's hard to remember little things like where did I put my keys?  Or When is that meeting again?  Or What's my name?


My brain is so jam packed with child-related information that it is literally bursting at the seams.  Well, not literally... that would be a pretty gross mess, a mess that I most likely would have to clean up myself.

Once upon a time I was a smart person, with a great memory, straight A's, you get the picture.  Then I became a Mom and had to fill my brain with things like which ointments/creams work on what kinds of rashes, safe fever temperatures and other illness related cures, discipline strategies, sleep and eating schedules, sports and girl scouts schedules, who needs what items of clothing, who wants what for birthdays and Christmas, and all the other stuff that piles up in a mom's brain throughout the years.  If you're a mom, you know that I haven't even covered the tip of the brain-crushing iceberg in this paragraph.

So there you have it, the reason for the new blog name...

I used to have a brain.  Now I have small children, and although I miss my brain and hope to hear from it again some day, I love it!

Asking for Your Creativity

I'm thinking about making a change.

I've been blogging for 22 months now, and although the past several months have been pretty irregular, I still enjoy it.  But I'm thinking about changing it up a bit, particular in the name of the blog.

A lot of this blog has been about daycare, and that was my intention, but the stuff I'd really like to put on here regarding my job would be inappropriate to share.  I don't feel comfortable even sharing cute stories about my daycare kids - even if I were to leave out their names and pictures.  While I could certainly keep the daycare kids/families anonymous, people know who I am and who my daycare kids are, so it wouldn't be totally anonymous.  It doesn't seem right to blab about someone else's child no matter how positive the story is, unless I got permission to share.  And would I want to ask my daycare parents every time their kid does something funny if I can put it on my blog, send it to them for approval, and then post it?... Probably not.  And the tangents I could go on about the less wonderful side of the job... would be wrong.  Sure I could go completely anonymous and safely spill it all, but my blog isn't anonymous and I like it that way.  Although I really like reading this anonymous blog which is by a Canadian daycare provider, helps me remember I'm not alone. :o)

So the result of all those personal restrictions on talking about my job, my blog is not super daycare-y.

I will still be talking about the same stuff I have in the past, but I'm thinking a blog name that better reflects what goes into this website is in order... but I'm stumped.

Same blog, same content, same style, new name!

The actual web address would stay the same, but the name of the blog would be new.

So here is where I'm asking for a little help.  If you have any ideas for a new name, put them in the comments section!  Please be kind and respectful, but creative (or obvious, whichever).  THANKS!

Comments

Confession:

I get mildly annoyed when bloggers don't reply or comment back to my comments.  Few bloggers whom I read actually do a great job at replying, at least a good chunk of the time.  I still read their blogs because I enjoy them, but I'm more likely to comment on someone's post if I get a reply once in a while.  It's like if someone gives a speech, you walk up to them and comment on their speech, and then they turn and walk away.  Make sense?

Here's where the confession part comes in.  I have not been a very good comment replier.  But I'm making a conscious effort these days to hit that reply button and show some appreciation for those comments!

As a blogger, it's exciting when someone comments on a post you write - like, someone actually read it and gave a crap about what you wrote! I love comments so much I have a little blinky button in my right column that expresses that!  So to say thank you for your comment, I will make a conscious effort to not turn and walk away, and hit that reply button!  I can't promise that I won't miss some, as sometimes I can't reply right away and then forget about them, but I'll try really hard!

This post was brought to you by Ragweed Allergies, making me generally annoyed at everything today.

Babydoll, the Magician

Last spring Babydoll created a magic trick, all on her own.  It was so amazing I had to grab the camera and have her do it again. 

I recently found it while browsing through videos from earlier last year, laughed and remembered, and decided I just had to share it with you!



In case you didn't get the facebook status memo, if you look in the right column toward the top you'll see a box that allows you to sign up to receive posts via email.  That way you'll know if there is or isn't a new post each day.  I believe I have it set to send emails to subscribers between the hours of 3 and 5AM Central time.

You'll no longer miss new posts or winding up checking here only to see that there was nothing new!

Have a Happy Monday, and a Fantastic Week everyone!

Bloggie Award Plea

"I'm just girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

That Notting Hill moment was brought to you by Abby, in the hopes that you will show your love (or mild like for) my blog.

It's Bloggie Award season!

A Bloggie is a highly coveted award for bloggers.  There are several categories and anyone can nominate and vote for their favorite blogs.  As I understand it, the winner of each category doesn't actually receive anything except for the Weblog of theYear winner... they get 2011 cents, or if you're as remarkable at math as I am... $20.11.  The real prize is the blog traffic that comes with winning, and the opportunities for making a little moolah from ad revenue.  Last year the Weblog of the Year went to The Pioneer Woman... as it rightfully should have, she was one of the two blogs I voted for in that category. 

The way it works is like this.  Anyone can to go the Bloggie website and nominate their favorite blogs for as many or as few categories as they wish.  Then some select group takes all the nominations and narrows them down to 5 or 6 finalists.  After that, public voting reopens and you can vote for your favorite among the finalists.  The finalists are anounced February 27th. 

I'm sure I'll never reach the level of P-Dub (as I and many others so affectionately call her) and I'm ok with that.  But there's one category in which I can at least hope to get a nomination or two...

Best New Weblog!  This category is for blogs that were started in the previous year... it's really my only shot! :o)

The only tough part of the nomination is that you can't just nominate one blog, you have to nominate three.  And since I'm pulling for Best New Weblog, you would have to nominate 2 other blogs that were started last week.

If you don't read a lot of blogs, specifically new ones, I'll help you out with some links to active new blogs that I enjoy.

http://prairiemother-prairiemother.blogspot.com/

http://spikediet.blogspot.com/

http://brasslocketphoto.blogspot.com/

http://whitepeachphoto.com/category/blog/


There are several other fantastic blogs that I follow, but I don't think any of them were started in 2010.  Check them out and pick 2 to hopefully nominate along with this one!

So if you to the Bloggie Award website, click on the tiny link on the far left that says, "new" and enter your nominations for best new blog of 2010.  To nominate my blog you'll enter "They Lend Me Their Hearts" under blog name, then enter http://theylendmetheirhearts.blogspot.com/ for the URL.  Then scroll all the way to the bottom to finish submiting your nomination!  Then let me know you did so I can jump up and down with delight!

Then keep an eye on your email because you'll get an email asking you to confirm your nomination.

Be aware if you plan to nominate me (someone else for that matter) that nominations are closed on January 16th.

If you feel so inclined to shoot me a nomination or two it would probably be the highlight of my week!  Along with getting my hair done tonight... which for now looks super cute by the way!  It would also be a nice birthday gesture since my birthday is on the 11th!

The Final Design

Boy am I tired!  I invited the daycare kids over for an after-hours Christmas party as a gift to them and the parents.  The kids got a party, the parents got a free evening of childcare!  And me? I had fun, but after 12 1/2 hours of child care, I'm wiped!

Last month I blogged about the Shutterfly givaway and showed you the card I intended to order.  When I got my ordering info, I found out I had to get a different size card.  This worked fine for me since it would allow me to order cards that would otherwise not have been in my price range. 

Also I've talked about how much trouble I've had getting pictures of my kids together and how much of a pain it is to find a good one for a Christmas card.  So now that we've gotten out a majority of our Christmas cards, I feel ready to share my final choice with the online world. 

Movie Trivia Time!

edited: answers are now at the bottom.

I put this up on Facebook for fun, and because I didn't blog on thursday or friday last week, I'm putting it here too for fun. 

Now if this blog made any money, and I had spare cash to give away, there would be a prize for the winner.  But Babydoll's birthday is tomorrow and the little dear wants a present, and a cake.  She's so demanding that way. 

So the prize is praise, aknowledgement, and your name next to "And The Winner Is..."

Name the movie quotes, without looking them up online.


‎1. Well I may be an outlaw, darlin', but you're the one stealing my heart.


‎2. As your leader, I encourage you from time to time, and always in a respectful manner, to question my logic. If you're unconvinced that a particular plan of action I've decided is the wisest, tell me so, but allow me to convince you and I promise you right here and now, no subject will ever be taboo.

‎3. Now let's cut the stupid cake because I know the fat guy's gonna have a heart attack if we don't eat again soon...

‎4. George: This is Jack. Second in line to the throne. And that one's Michael. He's only five.
Michael: And I'm in prison for it.

5. Please excuse my father. It makes him feel young and powerful to treat us like idiot children.

6. You know how they say we only use 10 percent of our brains? I think we only use 10 percent of our hearts.

‎7. So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day.

8. What's his type? Wilting flower? Bright and bubbly? Or smoldering temptress?

‎9. --- Do you know if the hotel is pager friendly?
--- What do you mean?
--- I'm not getting a sig' on my beeper.

10. There's a lot of people out there, and they ain't just gonna go away. They got voices now and they're goin' to be listened to. Putting them in jail is not going to stop them. That's the power of the press, Joe. So thanks for teaching me about it.


****Nobody played on the blog post, but I got people guessing on Facebook, many of the quotes were figured out!  Here are the answers!****

1. Thelma and Louise


2. Kill Bill

3. The Wedding Singer

4. Finding Neverland

...5. Legends of the Fall

6. Wedding Crashers

7. The Notebook

8. Moulin Rouge

9. The hangover

10. Newsies

Blog Issues

I'm having blogger issues.  Ever since I created a gmail account the other day, I haven't been able to upload pictures.  I go to upload and I get a google menu thing and get hopelessly lost.  That's if I even get that far.  Most of the time when I click on the photo thing it just makes a bunch of clicking noises and doesn't load up.

If anyone knows what the heck I'm supposed to do, please let me know so I can continue blogging!

Epic Blogging Fail

Today I failed as a blogger. 

I took the kids to go do something fun and educational, and didn't bring my camera. 

Therefor I could take no pictures of the kids while they explored the garden center at Lowes, smelled nearly every plant, played in touched every water fountain, pounded on several bags of mulch, and learned about different plants.

And if that epic blogging fail doesn't convince you that I failed today, this will.

When the kids woke up from their naps we went outside to plant our tomato plant, spinich plant (we have green beans to plant yet), I didn't even think to bring my camera out and take pictures of them!! 

What's that?  You ask if I at least took pictures of the plants after being planted?

Heck No!  That would have been a mild blogging success!

My one saving grace is that even though I'm dead tired, still have actual work to do tonight because Spence and I watched Blind Side for the last 2 hours and 6 minutes (Great movie!) I am probably going to manage to get this post up before midnight! 

That's all, goodnight, see you next week!... I hope!

My First Giveaway!

Last fall I became slightly obsessed with reading blogs, I had found entertainment that I could read for a couple minutes, and then move on with my evening.  The more I read, the more I began dreaming of a blog of my own.  What it would look like, what I would write, a creative outlet that was all mine.

Shortly after begining my blog I wanted to know if anyone other than my mom was reading it, so in early January I put up a hit counter.  I would get excited when my hits for the day would get above ten!  Now I get excited when they get up in the 50's and 60's!  I know that's nothing compared to the big blogs that I read, but it makes me smile :o)

On wednesday my hit counter hit the 3000 mark, and to celebrate I'm going to do something I've been wanting to do for a while now... A GIVEAWAY!!!  

So because free stuff is so fun, and I love comments, I'm giving away one $10 Amazon giftcard!  If you win, I'll ask for your email address and an electronic giftcard will be emailed to you.

To enter:  leave me a comment... any old comment you want... under this post anytime between now and the end of the day on Friday May 21st and you're entered to win!  Only one entry per person please.  After May 21st I will use random.org to pick a winner who will then be awarded their $10 Amazon giftcard!

Back from Blogging Vacation?

After taking a week off from blogging, I can see how easily a break can turn into an end.  While I missed it, I enjoyed not having to think of something to blog about each night.  I am currently debating if it would be better to keep going with daily posts, quit entirely, or post weekly or something like that.  I'm leaning more toward weekly because I don't really want to quit... but I'm having trouble keeping up with a daily entry.  I do all my blog writing in the evening and after I've had my TV watching, reading, clean-up time, and all of the other responsibilities life requires, it's midnight and I need to go to bed. 

A lot of my posts in the last few weeks have not been well-thought-out, thought provoking, inspiring, or educational, but have mainly been pictures and describing what I'm up to.  While I'm sure my immediate family is interested... I doubt many others are.  I want more meat in my posts, which may require that I post less frequently and allow myself the time to put some thought into it, and time to sleep!

I've got things to say about last week, but of course it's midnight and since the dishwasher is running I'll have to wake up early so I can shower in the morning (I'm typicaly an evening showerer... not that you need to know).  So I'll set my trusty laptop down for the night, perhaps knock off a couple more pages of Breaking Dawn, and go to sleep.

Just A Few Things

I took this photo last when Babydoll, Little Man, and I went for a walk/ride down to Nana's house.  It was actually warm enough for some summer clothes for a little while!  I'm pretty sure this was the time Sweet Pea was at swimming lessons, which is why she wasn't here.

Babydoll isn't sitting on that trike anymore... I'll post about that later this week!

I had a European reader!  Yep, I'm a dork, I took a picture of my stat counter map!  These maps give very generalized locations, so no worries about me showing up with a batch of thanks-for-reading-my-blog-cookies.

And lastly, Babydoll drew a duck!

My poor photo-neglected Sweet Pea, I must make a point to follow her around with the camera more often!

My First Blog Post

I'm surrounded by children and I love it! My husband Spence and I have 3 kids, Mikayla (blog nickname Sweet Pea)-seven, Isabelle (Babydoll)-three, and Connor (Little Man)- my baby boy. On top of that I run a daycare in my home called Caring Heart Child Care. I currently take care of four children other than my "bio kids" and love them all!

 I thank God daily for the gifts he has given me, those three kids are my life!  When I look at my children, it's like seeing my heart walking around outside of my body doing some adorable, funny, crazy, loving stuff. So I feel so thankfull for the parents of my daycare kids who lend me their walking, talking, loving little hearts for the day while they go to work, and the children for trusting me as well to take care of and love them, and make their days good. 
 
This is not to say, of course, that every moment of every day with all these kids is sunshine and gumdrops... that would mean I would have to be living in my own little world right?  No, they can spice things up from time to time for sure, but they never hold grudges, they always forgive, and I never stop loving them.
 
Who knows what all I'll end up blogging about here, but you can bet it'll have a lot to do with the little rugrats that inhabit my life/house/time/heart.  Probably some to do with my hubby Spence, and maybe my cat, or dog that likes to chew inappropriate things and refuses to walk on wet grass (but has no problem with ice cold snow... go figure).  Hopefully I'll figure out the ins and outs of this blog thing and get some pictures up.... hopefully.  Bare with me if anyone ever reads this!