New Life New Blog

To all my avid readers,

I'm starting over; I'm changing everything. So why not a new blog too? Come find me and the boys at www.overtlybiased.blogspot.com it'll be exactly the same, just with a new name. The name of the blog is because, as you know, I am shamelessly biased about how cute my kids are. Why hide it?

See you there!

Jessica and the boys

Cousin Camp

We have a very full house right now! It's me and my parents along with my two boys, and my nephew Jonah!! We're calling it cousin camp, and it's some awesome chaos around here. The boys play like boys and we've had to kiss our fair share of bonked noggins. It's totally worth it. Soon Ang will be here with the newest cousin, and she can begin her life as the only girl in a world of boys. I am beyond excited.

I am doing my best to get good pictures of the three of them... but they don't hold still for long. I'll keep trying. Here's some evidence that we've got the cutest kids on the block.

The first attempt at making them hold still.

 To their credit, they were still here, but it was too dark. They are watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (the anthem to my nightmares f.y.i.) before bed.

 Breakfast in the backyard!

I'll have more pictures soon. I'm snapping a ton, we're just not ending up with many winners. YET!

As a side note, I'M EMPLOYED!!! whooooooo hooooooo! Thanks for any and all prayers.

Paralyzed

Too many changes at once, my friends. I'm scared still. But God is taking my by the hand and guiding me slowly, one step at a time through my life that seems to have had all the lights shut off. Blind faith... what does that mean? "Just put your foot out and He'll bring the rock to you" (advice from a dear friend and mentor). My heart is hungry and I'm finding peace in the Word of God and in music that glorifies my creator. I'm blessed. Listen to this song.

This time I finally see the reason why

I can't do this alone

It took some time and concentration

To believe it, this I know

I need to build my faith sometimes

But I am so comfortable in line

I'm up, there's no more time

To try to mess with this design

Tonight's complete

Everyone's asleep

And I wanna say these words to You

I'll be Your hands

Take me as I am

I just wanna be with You

Take me as I am

'Cause I'm going

I was too scared to start

Now I'm too scared to let go

Take me as I am

'Cause I'm growing

But it's so hard to tell

When I'm not used to this, so

I lift my voice to sing now

Let the sound of my heart ring out

These hands aren't holding me down

Never again will I be without

I need to build my faith sometimes

But I am so comfortable in line

I'm up, there's no more time

To try to mess with this design

Tonight's complete

Everyone's asleep

And I wanna say these words to You

I'll be Your hand

Take me as I am

I just wanna be with You

Take me as I am

'Cause I'm going

I was too scared to start

Now I'm too scared to let go

Take me as I am

'Cause I'm growing

But it's so hard to tell

When I'm not used to this

Picture Day

Before I delight you with the pictures we've taken today (you're welcome), I have got to tell you about this funny little habit Judah has picked up. He, for a while now, has ended conversations by cutting you off mid-sentence and shouting, Judah style, "okay!! bye!! Good Luck!!" You may not think that's funny, but I love it. I have no idea who he heard end a convo with "good luck" but it is now how I want to end every single conversation I have. It's just so friendly... but out of context... yet so final. I'm in love. The point is, Judah's hilarious. Moving on:

Advice from a super parent: chase your whiney child around snapping pictures... they love it! What? It says, FATHERS don't exasperate your children... mothers get to. ;)

Judah's the man.

This is his "keepers box". He finds a toy and says, "that's a keeper!" then he crams it in this box. He wanted you to see it.

He recovered from his fit. See? Brilliant parenting move.

The party moved into my room, where they remained the cutest kids in the world.

Now begins the series of pictures where Andrew tells me what facial expression to make. He's quite the director, as you will see.

Andrew: "squish face!"

"harder!"

 "normal smile!"

"This face!" *followed by a demonstration... I think I got it wrong*

"hiiiiiii!"

"Puffy cheeks!"

This is his response after I show him each one on the camera screen. See why we do this?

Andrew wanted to take some... Judah didn't want to play.

My photographer/director. Genius in the making.

The pillow nest for kids. They've got a grand life, no?

Thanks for playing! See you soon! Good Luck!

Oh, Judah.

Judah: *right after he tooted on the potty* "My poop coughed!"

Laugh, it's funny.

Skin Art

I know that I should be in penny pinching mode, and I am. But, the people I'm spending the most time with these days have all these beautiful tattoos and it is taking all of my self-control to not go charge a new one to my credit card right now! It's on the list of things to do once I get a job and get some bills paid. This little lovely, or something else, will find it's way onto me soon enough. On the wrist or on the inside of my right upper arm? Help!

Jessica, Job Hunter

Seeking employment is terrible. Terrible. You have to pimp yourself out to all kinds of places you only kind of want to work, just so that you have a shot at getting one of their coveted positions. Grr. I'm bad at this. If I don't just LOVE something, it's hard for me to say I do. I know that maybe you people can job hunt without "stretching the truth", but I can't. The problem is that I'm not a good liar. I am pretty transparent. When I interviewed at The Buckle, I was looking around thinking, "I wouldn't wear 99% of what you sell in this store!! What made me apply here??" So when she asked me why I think I'd be a valuable addition to their team, it was rough. I wasn't terribly surprised to hear they'd "gone another direction". Today I had some good success though, I think! I had an interview with a manager who seemed to like me a lot! Unfortunately I'm pretty sure he was at least slightly inebriated, but hey! A job's a job, right?  Would you hire me?

I'm about 99% sure he'll offer me the job. I'm just having to nurse my ego, because one of the things that he said was, "I really need some girls behind the bar, and you're just what I'm looking for... older, and you seem like you could handle yourself." GAH! Did he just say that I'm old and tough? That's what I heard. 

Thank goodness for free room and board for the time being so I can afford to be a little choosy. I'm just still trying to figure out if I have to get a job this august so I will qualify for in-state tuition next august. There seems to be some debate about that, so I'm just trying to cover all my bases. I have a date with the Drivers Licence office next week, so I'll be fully Texan in no time.