Thank you for stopping by! As I rarely have time to update this blog anymore, please come visit me at my new photoblog, Cari Berry Photography where I'll blog the occassional Beauty and the little Beast story, as well as post sneak peeks and stories from all my photo sessions. I try to give return blog love to all visitors over there, and hope to start giveaways there in the very near future!

For visitors to this blog, please accept my apologies, but I've had to turn on captcha because of the insane amount of spam comments I've been getting. Dontcha hate it when one bad apple ruins it for everyone else??!! ;)

Monday, April 27, 2009

I'm {NOT} Back & Taking Care of Business

Hello again blogosphere!!! Oh, how I missed you. I'm back just in time for Not Me! Monday so let's get started...

I am NOT super neurotic and paranoid about being home alone at night. That is NOT the reason I've kept it quiet that I've been living alone with the kids for the past 5 months. My husband has NOT actually been away since December at a training academy for his new job as an air traffic controller.

My recent blog refriction was NOT a last-ditch attempt to catch up on household chores (wash the car, make room in the closet, bathe the dirty kids, etc) in order to convince my husband that I spent our five months apart responsibly caring for our children and home. I did NOT actually spend most of his time away parked on my fat butt in front of the computer blogging.

I am NOT secretly kind of sad that hubby is coming home in a few days because I am NOT disappointed that I'll have to spend my evenings with a flesh-and-blood person instead of with you, my pretend Internet friend.

I will NOT be having a huge giveaway in a few days to celebrate my husband's homecoming, and inside will NOT actually be celebrating mostly because I'll finally have some much-needed help with laundry, dishes, bathtime and bedtime! No, really honey, I missed your cover-hogging and snoring, and my excitement to have you home is all about you and NOT just about having someone to share the load with!__________________________________________________________________________________________
Taking care of business in my real life made me realize I need to do a little blog housekeeping too. First, I've been meaning to post the pictures of all the items I donated on your behalf to Operation Homefront. You left me 161 comments, and here are the 161 items sent in care packages to our hardworking soldiers.


Also, I have been collecting (hoarding) awards for the last couple of months and I think it's about time I bestowed some! First let me say how grateful I am that so many of you visit and comment on my blog regularly. I am thrilled that anyone reads it, let alone likes it! Thank you! Please let me take a minute to recognize my most loyal commenters and active followers.

I hereby bequeath this Super Follower award to these bloggers for following me, but also for their frequent comments and exceptional support of Two Under Two. Whew! Thank you! (You can right click the award and save to your computer if you'd like to post it on your own blog.)
Stefanie of Lexie Loo & Dylan Too
Alicia of More Than Words
Alicia of My Three Bs and Me
Kameron of A Wrinkle in Time
Alexia of The Mommy Rambles
Mighty M
Christina of Rant-Rave-Roll
Sally of Sally’s World
Heather at Sugar and Spice Mostly Nice
Susie of Susie’s Homemade
BlogBaby
Kelly of Two Kids, A Minivan and A Lot of Love
Brooke at Dinkypops No More
Shelli at I'm Too Busy To Blink And I Need A Pedicure
Courtney and the Boys
Keri at Life of Logan
Megan of Infertile Myrtle
Tim of Fort Thompson

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tim of Fort Thompson and Heather of But I Don't Want To Be A Cowboy awarded me with this I'm A Fan Of Your Site award, (what a coincidence, I'm a fan of their sites too!) so I'm paying it forward to a few of my favorite blogs. If you're listed anywhere in either of my sidebars, I'm a huge fan of your site! (Email me at cari_berry@hotmail.com for the award's HTML code so you can post it in your sidebar - or just right click and save it to your computer!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also received this Sisterhood Award from Brenda Lea of The Purple Lady's Art and Life. (Thanks Brenda Lea!) I'm passing it on to some "sisters" in the bloggy world that inspire me, impress me, and entertain me. These women also deserve my Loyal Followers award above, so go ahead girls, take it!(Right click the image to save it to your computer, then upload it to your own blog if you'd like!)
Lolli of Life is Sweet
Melinda of Bloggin it from the Burbs
Heather at But I Don't Want To Be A Cowboy
Maryanne at Thrifty Craft Mama
Heather at Adventures of Aidanpod
Rachel of Once Upon A Miracle
Elaine at Matters of the Heart
Rhiann at Through the Garden Gates
(my real-life BFF)
Heather at Lack Therof (my real-life sister who just joined the bloggy world a few days ago! Please stop by and welcome her.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most recently, sweet Maryanne of Thrifty Craft Mama gave me the “Premio Dardos” award for "bloggers who distinguish themselves for showing cultural values, ethics, great and fun writing skills, as well as individual values, through their creative writing." This is the second award Maryanne has given me, and she is both a loyal follower and frequent commenter on my blog, so I want to take a moment to give her a special shoutout! Thank you so much MaryAnne. You've been with me since the beginning, and I really appreciate you!

Thrifty Craft Mama is a blog focused on affordable craft and activity ideas for children. Maryanne is a creative and fantastic mommy of two (soon to be three!!!) with awesomely inspiring ideas that you absolutely MUST try with your own kids. If you haven't already, stop by and say hi, and pick up some tips for new and fun ways to connect with your kids.

That about covers it for housekeeping. Thanks for putting up with it, and with my recent blog refriction. Please be aware that Heather at Adventures of Aidanpod is doing some behind the scenes housekeeping - actually a full remodel! - of my blog. There is going to be a new look - and new title here at Two Under Two. Whew! very soon! So stay tuned for that!

21 comments:

Alicia W. said...

YAY! Congrats to you and everyone on the awards. Heather is so creative and I love her work. I couldn't be any happier than what she did to my blog. Can't wait to see how yours turns out. Have a great day!!

The Rambler said...

Congrats on all the awards :)

I know how you NOT feel about hubby coming home. Me and the Lil Rambler had our own routine that we really enjoyed. And the house was CLEANER while daddy was on work trip. (mmmmmm).

Elaine at Matters of the Heart) said...

Congrats on all the awards, thanks for passing them on. Glad you are back. Can't wait to see the new look. Also, congrats on winning one of the editing software programs at I Heart Faces, I was excited to see your name too.... I can not wait to see how it works.

Have a great night...

Heather said...

5 months and you didn't lose your sanity?! You are one brave woman!! I'm sure your hubby isn't going to care about the dust bunnies. I think there are 2 little people who will be capturing his attention instead.

Thanks for the award.

Sally's World said...

Hi, good to see you back...it's gonna be a readjustment, but it wont take long to get back to normal, and he is gonna be so pleased to see you...

thanks for the award, I am totally honoured...

April said...

Congrats on winning the prize at I 'heart' faces...they must 'heart' YOU!

Thanks for introducing me to that site, I am challenging myself with their challenges weekly, it has been fun

Mrs. M said...

Thanks! How exciting that your husband is coming home!! Glad you got the house in order - just in time, like I like to do it! ;-)

Kameron said...

Tee hee! Since Heather redid my blog I know the test site and I peeked at your blog. I always peek on her work in progress. Thanks for the award and shout out!!! I will have to get together a post as soon as I'm done sewing my heiny off!

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

Congrats on the award...
and thank you for mine.
I'm glad your back and thanks for the catch up.

Susie said...

Cool!! Welcome back!! And thanks for the great award!! I appreciate the recognition:-)

MaryAnne said...

Thank you so much - wow, you made my day!

I'm pretty neurotic and paranoid about being home alone at night too. And for five months...

Looking forward to the blog remodel :)

Alexia said...

Welcome back!

I'm just a little paranoid about being home alone as well (which is why I refuse to get my own place as a single mama LOL) I even had to ban myself from all scary movies so I can handle a couple hours on my own!

Jessica G. said...

Yeah, I am also NOT paranoid to be alone at night...and I do NOT sleep with both the home phone and my cell phone under my pillow (in case the criminals who break in also cut the phone line).

Anonymous said...

We missed you!

Congrats to all the great bloggers on there awards!

Brooke said...

What a great opportunity for your husband! My cousin is an air traffic controller in Europe, and she absoulutely loves it and it is a very, very rewarding career.

Kudos to you for being a "single" parent for so long - I can only imagine how challenging it must have been, and due to work arrangements, my hubby and I might be experiencing something like this over the summer.

Thanks for the award, it's much appreciated :)

Congrats on winning the software on I Heart Faces. I loved seeing your name first on the list! Make sure you let us all know how you like it.

just the five of us said...

I totally know what you mean about missing the man of the house, and not! My house is always cleaner, and we seem to be a little bit more laid back. But I do miss the companship, and the discipling.

Unknown said...

This post just made my day :-) I love the not me monday part - I feel the same way about housework . . . i would not be able to do it all on my own for 5 months. I cant even do it with my hubby helping me . . .
:-) hope you have a great week!!!!

debi9kids said...

WOW! That was a LOT of awards! LOL

Good for you collecting for the troops! AWESOME!

ps I know what you mean about having hubby home... I love when mine is home, but at the same time i miss my bloggy buddies :)

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

Congrats on all the awards. Thanks for passing one on. :) By the way, I am absolutely terrified to stay home by himself...even with a 160 lb great dane to protect me!

Tim said...

Thank you so much for thinking of me for this award. I am a HUGE fan of yours as you already know, and you are way more deserving of jut these awards.

I will post it very soon as I have a few that have gotten backed up.

Now if we can just get you entered to win the video camera on my site by posting a vlog at Vlogemotions! I know you can do it!

Love and Prayers,

Tim

Megan said...

Wow, five months is a long time to be away, although I know a lot of people have to deal with longer times apart. I just couldn't do it. Eek! But yay for getting things done. That's awesome that you donated so many things for the soldiers!

Congrats on all of your awards! You deserve them for sure! And thanks for sharing one with me. =D

Looking forward to seeing your new look!