5 Question Friday

1. Who mows your grass? I currently do. I enjoy mowing the grass. I turn on my praise music and get moving. I do not love it so much in the hot part of summer but I love it this time of year.

2. Do you have a picture wall or picture gallery in your house (show us! <--- my addition to the question)? I have pictures all over my house. This is a picture of my favorite clock. I need to do a current picture now that it is full of pictures.

3. What book has influenced your thinking the most? Or, what blog? (I want to read what gets people thinking!) Marriage in the making, Financial Peace.

4. Do you have allergies? If so, how do you handle it this time of year? Mine are not terrible but my poor son has a horrible time with them.

5. What's your go to meal to cook in a hurry? Chicken alfredo or grilled cheese. I have a new love of grilled cheese.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Would you prefer having people over for dinner or going to their house? I LOVE having people over. I love entertaining. I relax and enjoy it. I have a hard time relaxing at other peoples home. It is hard to find another family with a gaggle of kids that are all around the same age.

2. Favorite Bible verse and why? Jeremiah 29:11 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'

3. What was the first concert you ever attended, and the most recent one? I think it was Garth Brookes and honestly I have not been to one since. WAIT, I have been to a Chonda Pierce concert and loved it. I could see her a million times over.

4. The year is 2025. What are you doing, and what have you done? Okay so 13 years from now. My hero is probably out of the Army (weird thought). I still have a 15 year old at home. The age of my oldest now. I could even be a grandmother. WOW a grandmother. Unless we are blessed with more babies I would only be homeschooling one child.
5. What's your favorite Easter treat? Cadbury Chocolate eggs, not the big eggs. The ones that come in the little purple bags. My other favorite thing is a peanut butter egg. YUMMY!

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What giveaway would you like to do on your blog? A second honeymoon for a couple, but I would want to review it first. Or a kitchen aid mixer. Because mine is way too small and I need to review it for someone. I would also love to have/giveaway a new blog layout. When I had my made over it was amazing and made me feel so good. I would love to be able to do that for someone else.

2. If you had to choose between natural artistic ability and natural athletic ability, which would it be? Artistic of course, I could do fun things for friends and for my house. Not the outdoorsy type so unless they have indoor sports I am not interested. I did buy zumba for my house. I just cannot get the dancing down. So am not coordinated.

3. Do you ditch the coat the minute it becomes "spring" or are you a holdout for more cool temps? We have a rule in my house, I only have to wear a coat when it is I am pregnant or there is snow on the ground. I cannot stand being bundled up. Okay, really that all changed a couple of years ago when my body temperature dropped to 96 on a normal day. I could be covered up in blankets when it is 100 degrees now.

4. What would you do if you won the mega millions lotto of 1/2 billion dollars? By a large farm and build three beautiful homes. One for us, one for my mom and one for my MIL, then I would hire a maid, six tutors and a part time nanny. I would travel the world with my children. And most importantly my hero would NEVER deploy again. That is something I could not imagine.

5. You are at a hotel by yourself...what do you do? Walk around naked without anyone saying “mommy, you are not wearing pants”. I would take a long shower, I would order food and read a good book, light some candles and not be worried. I would blog my life away. Ooh how I dream of a day to lay in a fancy bed. Ooh what if that room had a hot tub in the room. I do not know whose question this was but now I will be dreaming about this for days.
***Side note: did you know I am giving away Chick-fil-A? You can enter right here.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. If you were free to just hop in the car and drive, where would you go? Or, if you could hop a plane and go anywhere, where? I would jump in plane and visit my hero. I would bring him fresh sheets and a clean pillow. I would love to see what he is doing, what he is eating. I actually dream about visiting and how I would be treated.

2. What's your most recently read favorite book? He heard Hannah, I wrote about it. It was an amazing book.

3. What's your favorite Spring Break memory? My favorite memory was planting our garden last year, digging in the dirt in the cool weather. I was expecting a HUGE garden. We bought so much stuff that I just knew it would take up half of yard. It was honestly half the size of our smallest garden.

4. What do you put in your child's Easter basket? Or, for those w/o kids, what was put in your childhood basket? We stopped doing Easter baskets several years ago. We do give the kids a gift. We were given a gift and so we do give them a gift.

5. Do you get a summer haircut? I do not; I have had the same hair forever. I do keep the boys hair cut really short. I love fresh haircuts. I love seeing everyone fresh out of the salon with no dead ends.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Will you run to the store or to pick up a kid looking a mess? I just texted a friend yesterday saying that I wanted Grace to change shirts so we could go to the playground and get dirty (her shirt had a dirty spot). Yet it seems like every Wednesday night we get to church and someone is missing a sock or has on a dirty shirt.

2. Do you finish a book if it's boring or you don't like it? Hmm, if I am told it is good then I will. It is like I am looking for the good part. But, saying that I do have several books that I have only read a couple of pages on.

3. Beach or mountain vacations? I would say Mountains with a pool. Some place the kids can run and play. Someplace we can shoot guns and make smores. But a pool to keep the kids busy when they get bored. So how about a mountain get away with a lake and a pool. Oh and fast food restaurants close so I do not have to cook.

4. What thing/event says "winter will end and spring is right around the corner" to you? Turning on my AC, no wait I would turn my AC on in the winter if I got to warm. Mowing the grass tells me winter is over. Don’t laugh, but shaving my legs means winter is over because really who is going to see them in the winter when my hero is away.

5. Would you prefer couples or family vacation? So hard, to answer and this was my question. I love time alone with my hero. But I love going away with my hero. Time away from the house with no dishes to do. Just relaxing and being together.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Are you looking forward to the time change this weekend? Yes, because I am normally up early. So this will mean I do not have to wait as long to get to church.

2. Are you getting the new iPad/would you want an iPad? In my dreams, maybe if I win the lottery. I would love it! For that matter I need it. I have 6 children to homeschool and they need it. I think someone should donate 7 of them to my family. If you are that person please feel free to let me know.

3. If money was not a problem, what is the one thing you would splurge on? Maybe number 2. HMM, really it would be a nanny, a maid and a two month long vacation with my children across country. I would love it. No real cleaning just adventure and then a nanny for when I need a nap or a child is cranky. I am sure I will be dreaming of this tonight.

4. How did you and the Mr. (or Mrs.) meet? He was dating my cousin who was visiting for the summer. I was dating his best friend and my mom said we could not go out unless she had a date. They did not last, we did not last and well we got together.

5. Summer is right around the corner. Bikini or one-piece? One piece that goes from ankles to the top of my head, hide under a blanket size towel.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Where is your favorite vacation spot and why? Some place quiet. A couple of years ago we went to Williamsburg as a family. It was wonderful because we everything we did, we did together. We could walk slowly and enjoy each site. I love amusement parks but I love the way we were able to stay together.

2. What is your biggest guilty pleasure? Little Debbie cakes. I love them, I love to stop at a gas station and pick up a little Debbie cake and a mountain dew.

3. What is your favorite fashion trend right now? Or, in the past? I love that leggings are back in. I could not wear them. But, I love putting them on my little girls. They are amazing and make dresses look so much more modest.

4. What are your spring break plans? We are not taking one. We took some time off before my hero left so we need to make it up. Do not tell my kids but they are not really getting a summer break because I want to take time off in the fall when my hero returns home.

5. What baby names do you hate? Hmm, that is hard. I did know a little boy whose real name was chicken. Who names their child chicken?

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What's your favorite way to spend down time (alone or with a significant other)? Alone would be reading a book while eating something yummy in a quiet place or laying in my bed. With my spouse, I love doing things with him like going to a amusement parks or museums. We act like teenagers again. It is a wonderful feeling.

2. Are you the kind of person that wants things more as soon as you know you can't have it? Oh yeah, although I have self control to not go over board and talk about it constantly.

3. If you were given $1000 to spend on yourself, what would you buy? That is so hard. I want a new camera, maybe fabric for sewing. No really, I know now. I would pay for someone to come in and clean my house and my carpets.

4. Do you ever go out to eat by yourself? All the time! If my kids are not with me then I always stop to eat. I love it. I order what I want and enjoy it. I do not go into the restaurant and eat alone.

5. What company would you want to do a blog review for? This is really hard. But right now I would say a good camera would be amazing, as long as they taught me how to use it. Or what about a Kelly Moore bag to go with my camera. Oh man those bags are awesome. Let me think any kitchen appliance would be amazing too. So many things, so many ideas. It would take a book to list everything I would love to try out.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What do you do when you are really upset to calm yourself down? Walk outside and set on my porch and relax, the kids know they are NOT allowed to come out until I think so. I also love to turn up the praise and worship music and sing like no one is listening.

2. Do you go all out for V-day or is it just another day? I want to go all out. Well really I want someone to go all out for me. I did score bonus points this year because I got my husband a coin holder. He has wanted one for years.

3. Are you more or less productive when Hubs is away? More productive, my hero is deployed right now so it is time to step up and get things done.

4. What is your favorite time of day and why? Lunch time is our definitely our favorite, I did not even have to think about it. I love it because most days I use this time to get things done. The kids hang out at the table eating and talking and giggling. No matter how bad our day has gone they take lunch time to have fun.

5. What is your go to karaoke song? Put a lime in the coconut and drink it all up or Lord, I lift your name on high. I know 2 totally different songs.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. How often do you shave your legs in the winter? Let’s just say in 9 hours I will pull out of my driveway with my hero for a romantic getaway. My main concern is how do I get the forest off my legs. Having blonde hair makes it easier to forget about.

2. Valentine's Day cards for your spouse: funny or romantic? Romantic and maybe a funny one just for the fun of it.

3. What are you most looking forward to about spring? I love that I can open windows and air out the house. I can put the kids in the back yard for hours with no fear of needing sunblock. That I can make plans for the summer. That we are one season closer to my hero coming home.

4. What's your favorite way to pamper yourself? Getting a pedi and manicure. It is weird because I cannot stand them cutting my nails or filing and I look like they are torturing me. But then they massage my legs and AWWWWWWWWWWW! Then I walk out with what looks like pretty fingernails and AWWWWWWWWWWW!

5. Does your tax return go into savings or do you spend it instantly? Normally, we have it spent before we file it. This year we are just putting it in savings. I know I need to save $4,000 for school but other than that we do not have plans. Well my hero does not have plans. I am begging for 6 new dressers for the kids. We have said the last 2 years next year. We have those dressers that do not close easily, that fall out. That drive me batty. The problem is since we move often I want 6 real wood, no particle board dressers.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What have you done recently that you are proud of? I went to the doctor and was honest about how I feel. That is hard.

2. What is your favorite way to work out? Or if you don't work out, what do you want to try? I enjoy walking, I really want to try zumba, and it sounds so like fun, it looks like fun.

3. If you knew you best friend was cheating on spouse would you tell? I would go to her and demand that she tells. He does not need to hear it from me.

4. If you could afford a live-in maid or nanny, would you have one? Live in maid in a second. Oh to have someone to clean and cook so I could school all day, so I could read stories more to my kids, so I could ………….. Really I would want half of each because it would be amazing to have someone to play with the little ones while I worked with the older ones.

5. Do you stress out about birthdays (specifically the age) or do you enjoy them? Neither, my family sometimes is too busy to think about them. I never worry about the age but we do not make a big deal about it either.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Do you swim in the winter? If we had a good indoor pool I would. I think the kids would love it. Actually next month my husband and I are going away and I cannot wait to swim. I guess swim is not the word for what I do. I cannot wait to float in the pool

2. Do you love or hate winter? If I do not have to leave my house then I love ten feet of snow (not that I have ever seen that). But I dislike when it is cold for no reason. Right now it is 65 degrees in January. I cannot believe it.

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family? I do put on clothes but not leaving the house clothes. If I did not babysit you would probably never see me out of my pajamas.

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage? Umm, had a sip (or less) in high school and have never had any since. Oh wait, I had a drink about 14 years ago.

5. How many ill calls in a 12 month period do you think are acceptable? As in prank calls, ZERO. As in calling in sick, I guess that it depends upon how many sick days you have. I know I am messing up this question.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks? I grew up babysitting for a couple that had a mini fridge in there room. I thought that was crazy, now we debate getting one all the time. I keep them in my spice cabinet hidden behind the packages or in a cookie jar on top of my fridge or I make it look like the package has not been opened and leave them in the cabinet.

2.Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van? This was my question and let me tell you I have the dirtiest vehicle you can imagine. It is embarrassing how dirty it is and it seems like we are constantly cleaning it out.

3. Have you ever been to Vegas? No, but I would not mind going, not for the gambling but for the shows. I would love to go with my hero.

4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket? Cold freezing room with a ton of warm quilts on top of me.

5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you've ever had? Maybe flying back to Germany after my brother passed away knowing I would not see my family for a couple of years with a newly crawling baby. Seemed to last forever.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What's the last thing you bought for yourself? Oh wow, I can answer this question. Normally I would say a toothbrush or something stupid. On Tuesday I went to hobby lobby and bought a wire stand I have wanted for several months. It was $160 when I first saw it and thought no way and then it was marked down to $80 and I had $75 in gift cards so I snagged it and only slightly felt bad. My amazing husband was actually annoyed I spent my Christmas gift cards on it. Because in his eyes he thinks I should have used cash and bought something for me. The stand is for the kitchen.
2. What is your favorite meal on a cold winter day? My favorite meal always is fried chicken from KFC and mash potatoes and gravy with green beans.
3. Have you started looking at swimsuits for this year, and do you buy a new one every year? This was my question. I have not bought a new one. I will probably not buy a new one. I found one a couple of years ago and love it.
4. If you could be any candy what would you be and why? It is a candy I cannot buy anymore. It is a whistle lollipop. Because you could blow on me and suck on me and then put me in the fridge and save me until you are ready for me again. Yep, that is me multi tasking and available for many needs.
5. What are you most passionate about? Caring for children and loving them and making sure they are loved and cared for properly and with love. It breaks my heart to see a child not being cared for the way God intended. Now this does not mean I am perfect at it because I am not but daily my goal is to be better than the day before.
Oh and my pinterest answer is? I do not know, I need to take more time. I would say right now it is recipes.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What is the weather like where you are and do you like it? This morning when I looked it said 32 but going to be in the 60’s. This is the weather I like, snuggle under blankets at night but the kids can play outside during the day.

2. When you're sick what do you seek comfort from? My bed or at least that is my dream. It seems like if I am sick my husband is deployed and my kids have ten appointments. So really no time to be sick. My dream is to be cuddled up under blankets in my bed with a good book.

3. What do you need to do before the end of the month? Several doctor appointments for checkups, organize our coats. We have triple the amount of coats we need and it is wrong that I have not gone through them and given away what we do not need. My excuse is they are in the unheated garage and well I am being lazy. Boy, did I sidetrack.


4. Have you ever served on a jury? No, sadly. I always wanted to be called up for jury duty. I have only been called once and I went 2 days and the rest they did not even want me to come in. Then when I did get called in they did not need me. I did get to set in on a custody case for about 20 minutes. I would LOVE to have jury duty.

5. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why? A big dog, big enough no one would mess with me but a dog because they sleep so much and have constant food and water. Especially our puppy, everyone wants to rub her and love on her and she can go to her room (kennel) whenever she wants and be left alone to sleep and there is a constant supply of snacks. Okay, now I am totally jealous of our puppy now. Please feel sorry for me. Honestly, I would love to be a fly and be able to fly to Afghanistan when my husband deploys, you know a fly on the wall and see what he is doing and how he is doing.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What is your favorite Christmas cookie? This is hard, probably peanut butter with a Hershey kiss on top.

2. What's your favorite holiday movie & why? The Grinch is what my husband said I should say because I am a Grinch. But really it is shows like the Christmas Shoe.

3. Is there a gift that you bought for your kids that you wish you hadn’t after they opened it? Anything with noise or a million pieces. Oh wait NAIL POLISH, why did I ever think that would be a good idea.

4. What is the messiest room in your house right at this moment? Hmm about even but I would say dinning room because last night we celebrated my birthday (or not really) and just left it on the table.

5. What is the furthest you have driven for the holidays? 9 hours to visit family. Not very far. I cannot stand to drive, really do not like driving, really would fly to the next town if I could.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What is your favorite Christmas decoration in your house? I just bought a new willow tree nativity set and am so excited. My birthday is next week and I am dying to open it up before then.

2. Do you finish your Christmas shopping early or are you a last minute type? Done, Done and double done. So excited to say I am done this year. I try to get done early so I do not over spend and am not over stressed about it.

3. When do you turn on your heat? As late as I can, I have had it on a couple of days this year. I enjoy the house colder and I am cheap. I love to layer under blankets.

4. Do you ever wish your blog was private? Yes every day. I actually have a private blog. I have so much I would love to talk about but fear family would not understand. I would love to write about PTSD and not worry about it anyone in the Army getting back.

5. Do you put your deodorant on before or after you put on your shirt? If I shower right after I shower. Most of the time I forget and have to go back after I get my shirt on.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Is there a special dish you prepare that you are famous for?
No, not really. It use to be cinnamon rolls but I do not even do that much now.
2. Are you (did you) go Black Friday shopping? I use to be but maybe I am getting too old. This year we are done shopping, as in D-O-N-E. Done and now can relax! My mom is one of those people who had to be at work at 6pm and work until 6am this morning. She was guarding something in a store until midnight. I hope everyone was nice to her.

3. What are your strangest holiday traditions? This is something we are working on, we do not have traditions and that kind of makes me sad.

4. Pecan or pumpkin pie? (She actually asked "Apple or pumpkin?" I just T-giving'ed it!) Pumpkin or peanut butter is my favorite. Would you believe I did NOT have pumpkin pie yesterday? I will correct that today.

5. When will you put up your Christmas tree? Probably Sunday, I know it is killing my husband to not have it up now. But with a new baby in the house and a new puppy, I think we should wait until 11:50 on Christmas Eve and take it down at 12:01 am on Christmas day. I am such a scrooge. Feel very bad for my children, very bad.
Ladies and gentlemen (are there any gentlemen), thank you so much for sticking with my little old blog all year. You comments make me smile and encourage me.
Oh and Mama M, what would I do without my 5 Question Friday, please oh please never let it stop.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

Firsts a reminder of this cool give away I am doing. I am so excited to offer this book.


1. Do you have a go to song that always puts you in a good mood? Lord I lift your name on high, any praise music. Right now it is ABC’s and twinkle because there is a special 18 month old who sings along with me. Every day he adds more and more to his song.

2. Are you a real Christmas tree kinda person or do you go with a real fake one? Every now and then I think a real one is pretty but would never want the work so I always go back to our faithful fake one.

3. What are you thankful for? The list could go on for pages:
1. for my God who gave me life and eternity
2. for my family who puts up with me no matter what
3. for my children who make me smile and laugh and cry every day
4. for my husband who is the love of my life.

4. Which fashion fad from the past do you wish you could wear today? Banana clips, I saw someone wearing one the other day and thought oh PLEASE come back, you know because I love how it pulls all your hair out and how lazier I become about doing my hair.

5. Do you wait until the "low fuel" light comes on before you fill up the gas tank? I have run out of gas before. I accidently wait until the light comes on lots of time. But now that we pay for EVERYTHING with cash I get gas more often because I take advantage of having my teenager or husband with me. I love that we are only using cash but I really do not want to lug 5 little kids into the store to pay for gas.
Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What's the last thing you spent too much money on? Hmm, I am not a spender. I know what I did not spend enough money on. Last week I went to hobby lobby and they had all there metal stuff on sale. So I bought about 10 things for the girl’s room. I am wishing I would have bought more. It is a big room and it needs some color.

2. What celeb chef would you want to make you dinner? Paula dean in a minute, can you say fried chicken. Now if I was visiting one it would be Pioneer Women. Oh the cinnamon rolls and letting my daughter ride a horse and the beautiful views and I cannot image the laughs we would have.

3. Where do you hide things when visitors pop over or do you let them see the real deal? It use to be in my coat closet right as you walk in but now that we turned that into a Childs closet it does not work. I am known for throwing laundry back into the dryer and on a rare horrible time I will throw dirty laundry into the shower. Rarely do people see the real me because we live so far out. Well, we straighten a hundred times a day so that is decent if you give me a 20 minute warning. But more than likely you are always going to notice I rarely mop floors or dust.

4. Who is your oldest living family member? This is so sad but I do not know. If my mom is 56 and I know she has a couple of older siblings then maybe 63. I pray my children grow up and love one another and have 100 children and live close to one another so there kids can have cousins and uncles and aunts to play with. I love the Army but this is a hard lonely life sometimes.

5. What is your favorite DQ treat and/or Sonic drink combo (ie: cherry vanilla dr. pepper)? No thought about it, go to sonic and give me a reece cup blast in a minute, visit me at my house and bring me a bag of sonic ice. Oh man, I love it. Now if I am going to DQ I want an oreo blizzard and some chicken tenders.
Pamela