My Struggle With Working and Being Mommy

As a single mom, I don't have the opportunity to stay home with my kids.  I love my kids so much and would absolutely love having the chance to be home with them. 

This morning as we were getting in the car, my son saw my bag of oatmeal that I was bringing to work for my breakfasts that I just heat up in the microwave.  The bag has oatmeal, brown sugar and cinnamon.  It is a simple and extremely inexpensive breakfast.  My son saw the bag and immediately started talking about how much he wanted some oatmeal. 

I wish I could have gone back in the house, made oatmeal and honored his wish of having oatmeal.  Unfortunately, I couldn't do that.  I had to get to work and rush out the door and drop the kids off to get to work on time.  How my heart ached.  I told him I would make him some on Saturday.  He was so happy and delighted in the thought of having oatmeal on Saturday. 

Some days I feel like a total failure.  I have always wanted to be a stay-at-home Mommy.  At work I struggle with that desire and yearning to be home with my kids.  When something goes wrong at work, whether it be a mistake I might make or a cranky, bipolar boss, I immediately think of how great life would be if I could just stay home with my kids.  When at home, I think of work and something I might have forgotten to complete.  It is such a struggle at times.  I know I shouldn't let this consume me, as I have to have a job in order to provide for our little family.  Oh the struggles!

Sometimes You Just Wanna BOUNCE

Okay huge, extremely fun giveaway gone on right now over at WTwo of a Kind Working on a Full House.  You HAVE to check this one out.  Do your kids love bounce houses?  There is an awesome giveaway from Bounce Houses Now for what better than a bounce house!!!! 

Bounce Houses Now is giving one reader $500 towards the Bounce House of their choice. 

They have some amazingly fun bounce houses.  Make sure you check out Bounce Houses Now online.  You must see these incredible bounce houses. 

My kids would FREAK out if we won.  Okay, who the heck am I kidding? 

I WOULD BE THE ONE FREAKING OUT. 

I have this secret obsession with bounce houses and fun.  What can I say?  I am just a big kid who doesn't want to grow up.  What fun is growing up?  ;) 

Stupid Blogger!!

Is Blogger down yet again????  It is so frustrating trying to enter giveaways when you can't leave comments.  Why, oh why does Blogger have to do this to me?

Running Total For Christmas

This is my running total for Christmas for my kids so far:

Jack:

• Hook the movie (won online)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Tutles DVD set(won online)
• Cars Toy Laptop (won online)
• Monsters Inc. DVD(won online)
• Arthur and the Invisibles DVD (mixed won online and overage out of pocket)
• Arthur and the Invisibles 2, 3 DVD (won online)
• Batman DVD 4 pack (won online)
• Stash of 14 Chevron Techron cars (yard sale) 
• Car Rug (yard sale)
• Veggie Tales Live DVD (won online)
• Crocodile Hop Game (won online)
• Cars Shirt and puzzle prize pack(won online)
• (2) Mater toys (received for free)

                               Jack's Total: $8.19

Bug:

• Taylor Swift's Fearless CD (won online)
• Taylor Swift's Self Titled Album  (won online and a little overage)
• Taylor Swift's Speak Now CD (won online)
• A Flip Camera (won online)
• Cheaper By the Dozen 2  (won online)
• Enchanted DVD (won online)
•  Build-A-Dream Playhouse (Castle) (won online)
• Judy Moody Book (won online)

                       Bug's Total: $1.38

TOTAL SPENT OUT OF POCKET: $9.57


I feel so accomplished and at peace.  Have you been preparing for Christmas?  If so, how well do you feel about your preparations?

A Christmas Wish...

While we were on our way to our family reunion this month, we stopped at Kmart in St. George, Utah.  I was on a quest to find a disposable camera since I hadn't brought my camera with us.  While in the electronics department, my daughter excitedly showed me a digital cameracorder thing that looked pretty neat.  She said how she wanted one and I told her she would have to save up for it.  She told me she was going to ask Santa for it.  I always tell my kids they can ask Santa for TWO items.  That is the rule in our house.  It works pretty well for us.  She informed me she would ask for that and one of the Taylor Swift CD's. 

Imagine my excitement when I entered a contest for the worst vacation story ever, and I WON!!! 

The prize- a Flip Camera!!  :) 

Don't you think Bug will be ever so excited when Santa honors her  Christmas wish?

$100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Head over to Eighty MPH Mom where you can win a $100 Visa Gift Card!  You read that right!  A $100 Visa Gift Card.  What could you use this for right now in your life?  Christmas shopping?  School shopping?  Something fun?  Day to day purchases?

M&M Giveaway

A really great giveaway is going on over at Daddy Forever.  What is the prize you ask?  Well, how would you like to be the lucky winner of a $150 gift card AND some personalized M&M's?  I know I surely would love to win this.  I just love M&M's and always have since I was little.  Check out the giveaway and make sure you enter.