i've been upgraded...

so i think since this year started i have slowly been upgraded. and i have to say i am completely loving it. i have recently started taking more time during most days for myself, whether it be blogging or scrapping or just taking a nap, i am doing more for me. through that i have started to find myself as shannon again and not just mom, and as a result i am becoming much better at all the rolls i play and much happier while doing it too!

my attitude at work feels better and i am so much more motivated to get things done and just keep working! i hate the down time because it makes time move to slowly...

at home i am getting more organized, mentally and around the house. i've been making lists of things to do so that my days are more fulfilling and i can keep my accomplishments and things to do out in the open so that they dont get forgotten.

as a mom i have finally found it to be rewarding to cook meals for the kids more nights during the week, now that the twins are eating all table food all the time it makes it so much more worth my while to cook a full meal, i actually have people to eat it with!

i am financially motivated. seeing our debts get lower and lower is making it that much easier to stop spending which has also been a huge stress reliever. we have even recently started discussing the idea of buying the house from our parents this year. there are a lot of first time home buyer incentives out there right now and because i was never on the mortgage in CO, we can probably qualify in that category. and what a huge bonus that would be come tax time next year!! and just the knowing that we dont owe someone else money to live our life. renting isnt always an easy thing to do, but its much harder to do when your landlord is someone you know, especially a family member! so we'll see what happens with that, please say a little prayer that it may all work out!

but i have to say, as a wife might be where i have seen the most improvement in myself. having found so much more happiness in all the other areas of my life has taken so much of the pressure off me as a wife. i see frank through different eyes and i love what i see. he is such an amazing father, his kids adore him. he is an amazing provider, always working hard and trying his best to make my days easier. i love him so much for all that he does and i am so proud of the man he has turned into. the life we were living just a few years ago, i never would have imagined that we would be where we are today....and i also wouldnt change it for the world.

tuscan - since mastering the use of the potty during the day, he has recently decided that using a stool to stand and pee is what big boys do nowadays...so that is what we do! and hes been awesome about it! i am so proud of him and his accomplishments recently....now if we could only master not peeing while we're sleeping! any suggestions anyone??

the twins - they are walking all over the place, with big smiles on their faces!! we video taped them last night, if i can figure out how to post it i certainly will...it was too cute though. cenzo is a little more advanced at it than matteo is, but that doesnt stop teo...the more he sees cenzo walking the more he tries to do it himself...and they are on a roll! i am so proud of them. they also have both figured out and gained the strength to pull themselves up on the couch. you want to see a face of pure pride, look at my little boys after they have plopped their butts down on the couch to drink their juice!

i got a new hair-do tonight...would love to show you all, but you have to wait for a day when i actually have make up on and my hair is "done" a posting of a picture of me right now could possible break your computer screen!! i also made a very delicious dinner and it looked just as good in real life as the picture in the cookbook...so i took a picture to share with you. it was a super easy, very quick kraft recipe and it was sooo good!

does it make you hungry??

tuscan and i also made some chocolate chip cookies today and i think they may be the best ones i have ever made!! cenzo was my taste tester...he approved!

and when all was said and done tuscan decided he wanted to help me do the dishes. so he pushed up a chair and played the part of my rinse boy...if only he would be so helpful with cleaning up his toys everyday!