What a great day!!

A little different than the last post....

But today was a great low key, chill, productive kind of day.

This morning I got up early showered, went to the grocery store, came home and started baking banana breads before the kids even got up. I had 2 out of the oven before hubby even left for work. I was working on the raspberry oatmeal bars as he was going out the door.

After that I began to prepare my potatoes dish for Thanksgiving dinner at my in laws only to find out, that they have too many potato kind of dishes coming. Ugh. My potato dish would just make too much :(
I had already bought the ingredients. Oh well guess what we had for dinner tonight? LOL. You guessed it, the potatoes bacon dish.

Hopefully hubby can go to store for me, so I don't have to go AGAIN...

I was also able to spend some very valuable hang out time with a friend. She job searched on my computer while I fluttered around the kitchen. It was not party time just hang out time. Ahh, so nice not to have an agenda (she did, I didn't).

....oops just found this post, that I called away in the middle of, and now it is a couple days old. Oh well, I will post it anyways.....I will post later about Thanksgiving, since that is Today!!

Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful even for the smallest of blessings!

Beat Up

Have you ever felt beat up when parenting?

Man on man, that is exactly how I feel right now.

We have set certain standards in our home. What kind of movies are allowed, what video games are acceptable, what kind of language is appropriate, etc. Usually the kids are agreeable to such standards and don't balk at them, but today was an onslaught.

We were getting hit from all angles. The boys wanting to push against those standards, mostly because friends or cousins were pushing them too. Ugh!!!

It's getting harder and harder to maintain those standards as they get older.

I feel beat up.
I feel bad.
Is it worth it?

The kids end up mad. Hubby and I end up frustrated. The friends and cousins don't understand.

 We were once the "cool parents", but have we now been down graded to "oh those parents"?

Ugh! Finding that balance of protection and letting go. Whew! That is a toughie.

Our goal is to move the kids from riding mom and dad's coat tails and what we believe to believing for themselves. We want their faith to be theirs, not because mom and dad said so. We want to teach them how to be decerning, and wise in their choices. We want them to be able to say no to disagreeable things because they believe it to be wrong.
Because my parents said so only goes so far, and doesn't exactly work when you are in college and beyond.

So today has been a rough day. The standards being pushed, holding to those standards, and letting them go to decide if they believe those standards are valuable.

God give me wisdom!

When you don't know what else to do.... just chuckle.

As you know I have 3 boys and a girl. So you would think that the 2nd and 3rd boys would be able to wear hand me downs from the oldest boy. They are not babies and toddlers so I don't have to worry with the season and size anymore.

I think God likes to show me His humor sometimes, cause yes I have 3 boys and a girl. I should only technically have to get 2 sets of clothes, boys (starting with my oldest, then passing them down to the younger brothers) and a girl. However, I have 3 different size boys, one wears regular, another wears slims, and the other one wears husky. I mean really? Not one boy the same? NOPE.

So there is no way I can get away with only one set of boys clothes. I will have size 14 regular, 14 slims, and 14 Husky. If I kept them (which I don't, I pass them on to someone else), I could open my own 2nd hand store for boys of ANY size. LOL.

For now we range in size from 18 regulars, to 10 slims (boy), to 8 husky, to a 6-7 slim (girl) Not a single size alike. I find that absolutely comical, cause if I didn't, I would find it really irritating. LOL.

Differences

I had a little chuckle tonight as the differnces in ages, and sons vs. daughters were revealed after saying a simple statement.

I just said "Babygirl?"
She replied "Yes, Mom?"
I said "I love you"
She promptly got up and came and sat next to me and started to snuggle with me.
My snuggle bug for sure.

I called to third son sitting on couch next to the chair babygirl and I were in, and he said
"huh?"
I said " I love you"
His reply " Uh -huh" with a little muttering
I said "Sweetie did you hear me? I said I love you."
He said "Yeah, I said I love you too didn't you hear me. Or maybe I just thought it? Hmm"
I explain to him "I didn't tell you so you would say it to me, I just wanted to make sure you heard me."
"Oh.... well...I did and I do love you, just in case I didnt tell you, and just thought it."
Such a sweetie.

I then call over to second son who is sitting at the table on the computer
He says "Yeah Mom"
I say "I love you"
He responded with a little chuckle and then said "I love you too"
I question the little chuckle "What was the chuckle for?"
He tells me "You already told me that today."
So I say "Well then I must really mean it huh?"
He replies with another chuckle "Yeah, I know."
Oh, he is growing up.

Oldest son was upstairs doing homework, so didn't get a chance at that time to tell him, though I know I have already told him that I love him. I never want to take for granted the chance to tell my kids I love them. You never know what tomorrow brings.

I just found it interesting how they each responded.

Ahhh!!! I am sooo behind on my holiday baking...
Usually by now I have many frozen dozens of cookies and breads, and right now... I have zilch, zippo, nada, nil, nothing, zero.
I did have several different kinds of muffins, breads, oatmeal cookies, choc. chip cookies, all ready to go for the holidays.
But as events have rolled by, and kids need homebaked items for parties at school, or soccer game snacks, or ladies events, or whatever has come along. So have the baked items come out of the freezer and onto someone elses plate.
Don't get me wrong....I was ever so grateful at the time to have a quick fix for an unplanned visit from friends or whatever, but now my holiday baking is so pathetic looking.

Bliss

Ahhhh!!!

Yesterday was great, amazing, fantabulous.....

I had an amazing breakfast and morning with hubby after the kids were at school and before he needed to be at work....

What a great time to actually talk without being interrupted, or have to share our food, or whatever seems to always happen when hubby and I try to talk. Okay, it is not that bad but still it was nice to know it wouldn't happen no matter what.

After hubby went off to work,  I had the house to myself... Well mostly.
I did have to share it with the dog and HGTV. I am so addicted to that channel. My favorite is house hunters or house hunters international. What a fantastic show!! Anyways, I had HGTV on all day without it getting changed to a kid show or ESPN (which I do enjoy periodically).

I needed to conquer the laundry beast again. Somehow that beast always seems to have the upper hand. UGH!!
So with house hunters on, I become a laundry beast fighting machine. ( I pause it during the commercials, run around putting the folded clothes in their proper rooms, reboot the laundry if it is time then head back to the tv. I fast forward through the commericials and begin watching the show again and folding laundry till next commercial.) . What a delightful productive almost relaxing kind of day!!!

I have to say it was BLISS!!!

How things change

I noticed the last post I was confessing some Empty nest feelings.....

Whew!! I have off tomorrow, and all the kids will be in school.....

I am sooooo ready for tomorrow, and NO there will not be any feelings of empty nest.

It's been stressful, hubby traveling, kids school work, oldest son ankle injury, second son dentist issue and chiro issues, third son struggling with school work, and baby girl well.... lets just say she always has drama.

I am wiped out and ready for SILENCE tomorrow.

So goodbye feelings of loneliness and hello sanity....

Empty nest already?

I had just the smallest, iddy-biddy, tiniest little experience with empty nest syndrome.

What?????

Yes, empty nest....well, sort of.

You see, last week, hubby was in Chicago all week and my oldest was in DC all week and weekend, plus my second child spent the night at a friends' house (even though it was a school night, I let him. They really wanted to help with hubby & oldest gone. That way I didn't need to get the younger 2 up extra early to get second son to bus stop. How wonderful it is to have thoughtful friends- love you).

That meant it was only me and the 2 younger kids in the house. Woah!!! Freaky!!!

Thankfully all is well again. My hubby is home and so are all 4 of my kids. AHHHHH!!!!

I am so blessed to enjoy my family and love more than anything to have us all together.

God is so GOOD.

A realization

As the days are quiet, with the kids at school and hubby at work, and I am at home (when I am off from work)....

As I go about my days at home during these times (granted I have had only 3 of these days since the kids have been back to school.).....

I noticed something the last quiet day....

The queitness of the house.....freaked me out a bit.....it made me.....

LONELY.

I am actually stunned to find myself looking for errands to run while the kids are at school, instead of savoring the quietness of the house.

I am looking to get out, be out, and stay out of the house.

But I need to stay IN the house to get Mount Laundry under control, dinner made, dishes done, vaccuming, cleaning those gross bathrooms, etc.....

Now that I am avoiding the house when the kids are gone,  I am literally falling farther behind...And I have more time to get it done too...UGH!!

I am in a complete state of shock that this is a reality to me. I cannot tell you how I was looking forward to that quiet house, and now it freaks me out.

It's the reverse culture shock I experienced when I was working full time, then had my first baby and then went home full time. That did not go over very well in the beginning. It took me 3 months to start to enjoy my baby.

I guess I need to give it time, 3 months maybe???

Yikes, I don't think the house will survive 3 months of me avoiding it!!!

Home Alone

Yesterday, started something I thought I was looking forward to for the last 15 years.....
All the kids in full day school, and the house to myself. WOW!!! Not what I thought it would be like.

Funny thing was the closer the time came for it to be reality, the more reluctant I was about it.

I worked yesterday morning and had the afternoon off. I came home and did the normal things I would. Laundry, dishes, making dinner, etc. The entire time I was looking at the clock like every 10 minutes wondering if it was time to go get the kids. It was a strange feeling of times past, when I would have quiet afternoons when the kids were napping. I kept feeling like the kids were sleeping and I needed to hurry up and get as much done as I possibly could before they woke up. Yet I knew they were not sleeping and I had a designated time to be done in order to leave to get the kids at school. Again... strange feeling.

Today was another strange feeling. After dropping the kids off at school, I went grocery shopping and came home and immediately started dinner in the crock pot ( a new recipe...which I am sad to say I don't like). Now that was nothing unusual yet, that happened last year with Babygirl in 1/2 day Kindergarten. The strange feeling came when I decided to go to the gym... I did not need to make sure the daycare was open. I did not need to hurry, or tell anyone how long I would be.....I just....went.....Now that was strange!!

I looked forward to this time for so long. Especially during the times when I just wanted to go to the bathroom, or the store or the doctors office without a fuss. And as the cliche goes you won't miss it until its gone.

It's not that I miss it (it's only been the start of it though) but it is just so different. It just is a constant reminder to me that my kids are growing up and we can never go back. Unless God has other plans than mine (which could certainly be) we will never have babies, or toddlers at home that are too young to go to school, and occupy most of my time. (I am not talking about future grandchildren that maybe this would happen for). It is just a little sobering for me.

 I am not looking to change it either. This is just the next chapter in our family story. I am looking forward to hubby taking a day off, and we can have a date day without having to find sitters and it being an ordeal. Now that will be nice.

Celebrate...How???

Yesterday, we came upon a curious problem.

Hubby was promoted to Executive Vice President and I wanted to celebrate this achievement, but how???

How do you celebrate an accomplishment or achievement that does not involve food??

Going out to dinner would have been an easy option. But hubby is doing really well on a diet, and the kids all had things they needed to be to, so that was ruled out right away.

Going away is not an option with school starting.

 A nice present??? Hmmm... the company gave him a new name plate.

Seems like there should be something out there that we could do to celebrate.

Something on our limited budget, something special, something meaningful, something memorable..

Hmmmm.....any ideas...?????

Well, no matter what, I am so proud of who he is and all he does for our family!!

Getting the itch

I'm in trouble!!!!

Why???

Well, I am definitely getting the itch to go away. I know we just went on vacation 2 months ago, but I feeling the need to escape..

Escape what, you may be thinking, It's summertime after all.

Here is why I may be in trouble.....

School is just about to start, we are in the last week of summer vacation, and I still have to work and we are not going anywhere before school starts.

Then we are thrust into the school year and soccer practices/games for all four kids. The opportunity to go away greatly diminishes.

But, I am one who needs to get away every so often. If I don't get away, I feel sufficated, closterphobic if you wish, or just plain and simple....cabin fever.

I feel the need to explore, spread my wings, and just go where the wind may take me.

I know some people (like my mom) cannot relate to me. They are perfectly fine to stay home, not travel, content to stay in their world where they are.

NOT ME...... I want to know what else is out there that I may be missing out on. Take me to the action. Even if that action is a beautiful waterfall, a mountain to hike, or rollercoaster to ride.

LETS GO!!!!!

The mom debate

Oh what a night

You see, Babygirl fell asleep at 5:30 last night. You moms are already seeing the problem.

We have been keeping her busy and staying up late. Most days she has been taking a nap (which she gave up last year) but yesterday she crashed before dinner. She went upstairs to play in her room and at some point curled up onto her bed and drifted off into la la land. I only noticed this when she had been very quiet for too long. How precious, and peaceful she looked.

That, starts the mom debate....to wake her up or leave her sleep (and for how long)

*Will she stay asleep through the night?
*Will she wake up hungry (she had no dinner)?
*If I wake her up will it be midnight before she goes back to sleep?
*Which is worse for me????
       -Possibly being woke up in the middle of the night with a starving girl or possibly having a little girl who wont go back to sleep??

I chose to leave her sleep.....

As I had predicted, Babygirl woke up as I was heading up the stairs to go to bed (at least it wasn't when I had just fallen asleep).....

"MOM???"
"Yes, sweetie."
"I'm starving. Why is everything so dark? and where is everyone?"
"Let's get you a snack. You fell asleep at dinner time and now it is the middle of the night and everyone is asleep"
With an absolutely priceless face of confusion she says "Huh??"

And so it went.. Trying to explain it was the middle of the night, getting her some food to fill her belly, trying to convince her she needed togo back to sleep when she was not tired at all. I did finally manage to get her back to sleep after what seemed like an eternity to me. However, she was restless the rest of the night. Coming into our room several times and eventually sleeping with us.

Hmmmm.....not sure I won the debate on that one. Maybe I should have woke her up....

Are you smarter than...... a smart phone

Just wondering, who out there is smarter than these new smartphones?

I know it sounds crazy, but I really do think my smart phone is smarter than I am.

It has been 2 months now that I have had my droid eris, and the thing still boggles my mind.

I am used to a simple phone where I can call, text, or take a picture. That is all I really need.

But society keeps pushing these smart phones and with a hubby in IT, I felt I had little choice, if I was to upgrade my phone. They almost all require a data package now :(

I thought I can deal with it, I can learn. It is embarressing when I can't figure out a simple little task, like, put a signature at the bottom every txt. Then my children say "Oh, that's easy mom. I will do it for you." And seconds later I have a new signature.

Sigh.... I never thought I was old, but smart phones really make me feel that way.

Are you smarter than your smart phone?

Remembering

Today I went to my friends' PopPop's funeral. I didn't know the man, but it was very evident to all who attended that he was a dearly loved man.

During the service, my thoughts went to my friend and her family, and to the time when my grandmother passed away. I remember feeling  that the whole world should have stopped. I was grieving and so should everyone else.

I remember struggling with people going on with their normal everyday lives. Hearing conversations of people going to the movies, or doing something fun, baffled me. Didn't they realize my grandmother had just died. Have some respect people. Everyone, the whole world should stop....because my whole world had just crumbled, didn't their world crumble too.

But in reality, they might have only known someone died because of the funeral procession, not because they were in any way affected by the loss of a great person.

I want to always remember those feelings as to relate to others who are going through such a loss as I did. I still may have the right words to say, or even know what to say, but I understand the loss.

Life eventually goes on, but not the same. It will never be the same. But it is ok, especially when there is assurance in knowing our loved ones are with our Lord, and we will one day see them again.

Little Man's Progress

Little man is progressing well with his healing. He is not able to eat with his front teeth yet, but can manage soft foods with his back teeth. Most of the stitches have come out. One by one that is. He feels the need to show me each one. " Mom, here is another one" as he is holding it up high with pride. GROSS! I try not to cringe in his sight, and politely say "OK, go put it in the trash".  I certainly don't want to diminish his prize possessions from all he has had to go through. Praise God he doesn't want to keep them. We already had what they removed in surgery in a specimen container (which we convinced him to put under his pillow to give to the tooth fairy.)

One more week of not eating crunchy foods, and three more weeks till he can use his front teeth.

I had asked him a few days after his surgery how he was doing. He seemed good, just a little out of it.

His response.....was not a verbal one.....

Rather, a non-verbal one.

What was his response.....

He carefully picked a flower out of the basket he had received from his grandparents as a get well gesture. He chose the flower with purpose and with poise.

He then proceeded to put the flower in his mouth (like he was getting ready to do the Tango) and grabbed me ever so gently to begin a delicate dance with his mama. Then he says...

"Does that tell you how I am doing? I am doing great!"

Oh man!! What a romantic at heart. His future wife will be so blessed. Until then, I get to receive such blessings!!!

Little Man's surgery

My brave little man had oral surgery today.
He went in knowing what was going to happen.
He asked all his questions, to which he had some very good ones for a 9 year old....i.e. "What are the side effects?" -referring this question to the anesethiologist about the anesethsia he would be getting. Impressive.
He was prepared, nervous, and ready to put the whole thing behind him. Ready to be done with it and on the otherside.

They give him some versed (to make him sleepy) before taking him back to the OR.
The doctor comes back to check if he took the medicine. The doctor asks "Did you drink that medicine?"
Little man's response "Yes, and it was nasty!" That's my boy. He gives it to you honestly.
The doctor chuckled and agreed with him that it is indeed "nasty".

They came and got him as he was starting to act a little drunk. We gave him our kisses and hugs and away he went. (He later told me he fell asleep on the gurney before they ever put the breathing mask on him in the OR. he was relieved about that.)

With tears in my eyes as I see my little man roll down the hall without me, we walked the opposite way to sit and wait in the waiting room. Even though he would only be 45 minutes, it still felt like an eternity.

The surgery went very well and exactly as planned. We were brought back to where they would bring him. He had already been to the recovery room and had begun to wake up. He was a true champion through it all.

His biggest issues have been the constant vomiting, and complaints of a sore throat. He has not complained too much about the stitches in the roof of his mouth, or the stitches around each tooth. The vomiting will stop once the anesethsia is out of his system, and the sore throat may hang on for a day or two. The sore throat is from the ET tube (breathing tube) they put down his throat for the surgery.

The next hurdle to get over, will be his eating. He will not be able to use his front teeth for a month. They were all loosened during surgery and need to reset themselves. If they don't reset, he could lose them like baby teeth, yet they are his permenant teeth. For the next 2 weeks it will be all soft foods.

Well need to go, he is starting to stir (he's been napping, giving me the opportunity to blog. I probably should have been tackling Mount Laundry, but wanted to be close when he woke up).

A few vacation pics

Here are a few pics from the vacation. The hot tub was great to soak in after hiking, or just to relax in.
Man oh Man, I came home wanting one (to put it mildly).



One of our first hikes to an abandon mine. Notice babygirls attire for hiking. LOL! She always puts her girlie ways to work. A SKIRT to hike in??? I didn't even notice until we were half way up the mountain. Oh well. It worked for her. LOL.

This was the first waterfall we saw. It was amazing and beautiful!!

Later on in the hike, we came across a smaller waterfall that cascaded into a little cove with a beach. Even though the water was FREEZING the kids went in swimming anyways. They may never have another chance to swim with waterfalls around them.

So many other experiences. Wanted to upload the mountain coaster, but need to figure out how to get it from my phone to here. Hmmm. Technology sometimes baffles me. That's when I say..."Oh honey....." LOL.

Vacation

Summer is just flying by. It is hard to believe it is already the end of July. It looks like the last post was when we had just arrived for our vacation.

I am pleased to say we had an absolutely amazing time. It was filled with adventure (hiking trails and seeing waterfalls) thrills (riding the mountain coaster 3 times. If curious go to www.wisp resort and check out the mountain coaster. It was way cooler than it even looks), fun (riding go carts, bumper boats, playing lazer tag, mini golf, and aracade games one day all day), relaxation (soaking in the hot tub at the cabin each night) bonding (bonfires, family board games, rooting for USA soccer team for the World Cup) plus lots of other great things.

It was truely a vacation that was memorable, and meaningful. Great conversations, great bonding, and time with each other.

Now I am ready to start planning next year's vacation. Hmmm. So where in the world (or east coast) are we going to end up next year? Well time will tell.

Attitude adjustment

Awwww!!!!

Here we sit in the beautiful mountains of Deep Creek Lake. The scenery is absolutely breath taking, and I need an attitude adjustment.

What????

Yes. I have planned this family vacation for a year now, and everything I thought we would do, we probably will NOT do. How frustrating!!!

It is difficult to plan activities that interest all ages from a teenage boy wanting adventure and thrill, to a little 6 year old girlie girl who just wants to color in a coloring book. WOW!! What a challenge!!

I am noticing how my disappointment with weather, inability to do the activities I WANT to do & planned is affecting the mood of my family.

So I need an attitude adjustment, and give this vacation to the Lord and all He wants it to be for us. To enjoy my family no matter what activities we do. Even if it is just playing on the computer together or watching a movie. We are together without all the distractions and responsibilities that we have at home (Thanks to Hubby for helping me realize this).

So I am going to start out each day asking
"OK, Lord. What do you have for us today?"

And go with it and enjoy it!!

Home sick

Today is day 2 that I have been away from my family. I am away for work. Four full days of training that I had to travel out of state for.

It's not that I have not been away without my hubby and kids before, I have.

Ususally it is a fun ladies retreat, or girls getaway.
Usually, I only do an overnight.
Usually, I am on my way home by now, if not home already.

I think I am also ready to be home knowing that I still have 2 more nights away. It makes it seem so long away.

Normally its a fun trip or a business trip with my hubby. He is the one in training and I am running around having fun. Now it is me having the training and not having hubby or kids or having fun.

Not fun in the sense of a pleasure trip, but we are having our laughs and giggles. And I do enjoy my coworkers that I am with. So it is not horrible, just that I miss my family.

We have tests everyday and will have a final at the end of training. I better get back to studying.

Playing with my daugher

The other day, I'm playing hair salon with my daughter. I am the patron and she is the stylist.

As she is putting my hair into tiny little piggie tails all over my head(I ended up with 21 of them, I kid you not), she says.....

"I am really not trying to pull all your hair out, but somehow that is what keeps happening...."

as I am cringing, and twisting, and squealing as she slowly pulls out every single follicle of hair that I have.

All in the name of spending time with my daughter in the world that she is in.

As long as she dosen't want to play doctor, I might end up dead.... for real. LOL.

A time to reflect

This weekend I will be heading to my old stompin grounds.
The grounds that I started to become independent, to find out who I was.

The grounds to which I had giant hair with lots of hairspray.

The place where I played sports, went to dances, played in the marching band, and cut classes or even the day altogether.

The place that was my home away from home. When I wasn't at home or a friends house, I was definitely doing something there.

The place where I had some of the best memories of my life, and some of the worst memories of my life.

To the place I felt loved and hated all in the same day. Where one minute I was on cloud nine, the next minute I was in the dumps.

Yes, this can only mean....

I am going back to my high school.

This weekend we are having our 20 year reunion. WOW!

It seems like just yesterday I was there. Yet, when I look back and it seems like an eternity.

Such an oxymoron.....High School......

Just a song in my heart

"My God is so BIG, so STRONG, and so MIGHTY.

There's nothing my God cannot do.....

For YOU!"

Just a sweet reminder to me that,

NO MATTER WHAT,

God is in control.

Sometimes it's the kids songs that speak louder than anything. So simple and so true.

Stepping out of the comfort zone

I have decided to take on a challenge and step out of my comfort zone.

Hmmm. What did I do, you may be asking.

Well.....

I have taken some classes in which are very comical to someone who might be spying on me....

What classes did I take?

I have taken 2 different classes.....

For those of you who know me, are you ready for this.....

Are you sure?

Really sure?

Ok, Ok,......

I have taken.......

A ZUMBA class!

AND

A HIP HOP class!!

What is comical about it.... come and watch me and then you will know.

I am not kidding you, it was hysterical. I am clumsy and uncoordinated and I think I laughed at myself more than doing the actual steps. Even the instructor could not keep a straight face! Every time I looked at her, she was smiling big with a "I'm dying laughing at these girls. I am gonna bust a gut." look on her face.

But it was sooooo much fun! I took the class with my mom and a friend. We had such a great time and laughed all the way through it. We had so much fun with Zumba that we decided to take the hip hop class. That class was more technically difficult, but the zumba class was more intense.

I will definitely take both classes, but I think my favorite was zumba!

I'm a zumba girl!

Milestones

Milestones.....good? or bad?

Yesterday my Dad hit a milestone....He turned 70 years old. WOW!
Does that make me old too???
Not sure I can handle me thinking of making that milestone. But then again, at least I would have made it to then as well. Hmmm..

Milestones...they make me think....

I know when I had my little ones, I couldn't wait for them to hit that next thing. Ahhhh! They were growing up. Hitting those milestones at the right times, they are developing normally.

Now as I think of my kids hitting milestones, it almost makes me sad. Noooo!! They are growing up. I guess there is no pleasing me. LOL!

Isn't it funny how that works....
When you are young, you can't wait to be all grown up.
When you are all grown up, you wish you had your youth back.
When your kids are little and you are in the midst of the chaos, you can't wait for them to grow up.
Once they are getting beyond those difficult years, you wish they were back that age (believe it or not it was easier).

Just makes me remember to...
Enjoy each day for what it gives you.
Celebrate life today instead of waiting for tomorrow to bring what you think you want.
Only to realize you wanted what you had, but now it is gone.

Carpe Diem as they say!
So happy birthday Dad and we are going to enjoy the day to it's fullest!!!!

Where did spring go?

It went straight to summer!

Are you ready?

Are you armed and ready to launch your all out attack?

Do you have your stradegy down?

Do you have your targets in your sight?

Do you have your plan B, and C and D ready to spring into action?

If not, you have one more day...........

FOR YOUR APRIL FOOLS PRANKS AND GAGS!!!

Go for the GOTCHA!

A funny

When you just need to step back and have a really good laugh at yourself....

This weekend we decided we needed a break from all the craziness of life. So, we packed up the truck and headed to our condo at the beach. It has been way too long since we have spent any time there. With my old job working weekends and the kids sports schedule, there never was a free weekend. It would always be someone missing something or a big production. That did not make it fun to think about coming down here.

Now with my new job and not working weekends. It is going to be much easier to enjoy this place.

Last night we were trying to find someplace to eat. It is still the off season so many places are still shut down and have not opened yet. We found an awesome place to get the BEST burgers. WOW!!! It's called Five Guys. Go if you ever get the chance. It was incredible!!

Afterwards, we were driving around and looking for other places that were open for future eating out possibilites. I always tend to look for places that have lots of cars. If its busy, it must be good right? Well, I spotted a parking lot that was packed!! Packed at this time of year? It must be REALLY good. I mention this to Hubby and the others.

"Look at that place! It must be really good. The parking lot is packed."
Noone responded as they were trying to find the place I had seen.
So I pointed it out to them
"Right there"
That's when I saw it. The sign of the place....It was a car dealership!
And that is when we all lost it and laughed our way back to the condo.
So much for the really good resturant I thought I had found.

WOW! See I really did need a break!!

Hats off to full time working Moms

Wow!

I am only day 2 into my full time work week. Yes, that means I am working 5 days this week, just like any other regular full time working mom. I am helping to cover for a coworker who is out cruising the bahamas. Hmmmm. Why didn't I go??

Can I say those moms who work full time jobs are the farthest thing from regular. WOW!!

These women are mighty, invincible, she-rah's, I am woman hear me roar kind of women. Definitely NOT regular! My hats of to them. They have definitely earned my respect.

Here I am only day 2 out of 5 and wondering how I am going to make it the rest of the week with my sanity. It's just my mindset to start with. I have worked 5 days a week before. Granted it may not have been mon-fri 8-9 hour days, it was probably more like one day 13 hours, next day 4 hours, next day 6hours, etc. That was with the call hours and shift work.

Either way, I am getting a taste once again of what full time working moms go through everyday. Even more challenging are the single moms working full time. I am trying to do laundry, homework, picking up kids from after care, and after school sports. Forget trying to make a decent meal at a decent time. It has been the chicken nuggets, grilled cheeses, pizzas, tomorrow it will be soup I think.

God has blessed me with my husband who has a good income that allows me to work just part time. Thank you God for this blessing!!! I pray I never take that for granted.

Babygirl's birthday party

Today it is absolutely pouring rain outside!!!!!!

Thank goodness we decided to do babygirls birthday party at our church's gym. That way she could invite her entire class from school. Otherwise she would only be able to invite 6 friends.

I am grateful. Even if they get done with the all the party activities they can just run around and chase each other. There are lots of relay games or tag games that can be spontaneous forms of entertainment for twenty 5 & 6 year olds. I am really thankful I a have all those years of experince from doing kids church.

Did I say, I am grateful it is not in our home and in a huge gym? LOL.

Well we are off to set up. I wonder if the weather will encourage kids to come (get the kids out of the house and run some energy off, or too nasty outside parents don't want to go out in it) We shall see.

Happy 6th birthday Babygirl!

Keeping in line with the weekend

Well, like I said earlier, it is a spring weekend. So I decided to follow in line with the spring weekend and do some spring cleaning, and decluttering.

It is amazing when you start a project, just how much worse it really is.

I have been cleaning the air vents, decluttering the laundry/utility room which includes going through all the kids coats, moving some furniture around, etc. Plus I need to do all my normal chores like the laundry itself (not just the room).

I already have 2 bags to give away, 1 to my sister and 1 to goodwill. The trashman is going to love me this week.

Well off to finish vacuuming the utility room and to reboot the laundry!

Spring for the weekend!

It's supposed to get into the 50's this weekend.

Spring Fever here we come.

I am sure this is not going to last and we will have some more cold weather after this. But it will be nice to get the ground to dry out a litttle. Everything is still sooooo wet. There is still quite a bit of flooding around too. With such a wet year and then alll that snow, there is just no where for all that water to go. We actually still have a pile of snow at the end of our driveway that continues to slowly melt away.

We are having one of widgets friend's spend the night this weekend. but other than that, it should be a low key weekend. A weekend to catch up on some much needed sleep and a project here and there.

Happy Spring Weekend!

Am I crazy?

I just went to the gym and worked my not so little tushy off and then what do I do when I get home???

Eat several spoonfuls of cookie dough.

UGH!!

Am I crazy or what? I just worked off some of those calories and ate more than I worked off.

No wonder the scale isn't budging. But the cookie dough was oh so tasty!

A win/win for mom! Yay!

Yesterday I tried a new tactic. We were out late due to a meeting at church that went longer than anticipated. Nothing new, I know.

Well, it was still a late night, and I wanted the kids to feel the same urgency to get into bed that I did. So, we did a contest. It wasn't the first one to get jammies on, teeth brushed and into bed first got the prize. Because as soon as one person wins the rest just give up and noone has the urgency anymore.

So I decided to reward anyone who completed the above tasks by a certain time. It was a challenge, and one had to hussle in order to have those tasks completed....but it was winable.

I told them whoever got jammies on, brushed their teeth, and got in bed by 9:20pm would receive Mommy time for whatever they wanted to do. They could choose from playing doll house to cooking a new recipe on their own with Mommy to supervise, or snuggle time. Whatever they chose (of course it could not cost any money like going to the movies or something) I would do with them as long as it qualified.

It worked. I have 3 kids that I have reward time with. BONUS!!!!! They got to bed in record time and I get to spend some quality time with them, doing something they want. WIN/WIN!!!

Love it!

Getting back to normal

We have returned to a somewhat normal routine here this week. School is back in (even thogh the local public schools are still out), I went back to work, and it is time to restart the exercise regimine and healthy eating.

So that means I am now back to trying to figure out where to fit in workout routines and work. I did fine when I worked at the hospital. I worked longer days, but fewer of them. Plus I sometimes worked at night or on the weekends, which would free up more days during the week. It seemed my schedule was more "Me" friendly, whereas my new job is more "Family" friendly. It still is quite the adjustment.

I am working about 3-4 days a week, which leaves 1-2 days I can work out during the day. Then comes the weekend. I am having a hard time getting motivated to working out after working all day, but that is exactly what I need to do. I know it is a mindset that I just have to get into.

Well today since all the kids were back to school, it gave me the morning to workout. So back to the trainer I went. Oh Boy did he KILL me. He said he would go easy on me since I am basically starting all over again. But it was really a TOUGH workout. I guess that is what he is getting paid to do right? After getting my behind kicked, I went to the ellipitical to get some cardio in. My trainer did all strength training.

What a flicker can do

It's amazing this blizzard, or shall I say double blizzard, or snowmaggedon, or snowpocolypse as so many others are calling this.

We have been stuck inside, sooooo much. AHHHHHH!!!! Kids have had only 1 1/2 days of school in the last 2 weeks, due to all this snow. It is incredible. I feel like I went to sleep in Delaware, and woke up in Alaska. Hey! Someone moved me without asking. Hmph!

The snow yesterday was not a fun snow. Blizzard conditions so the wind was whipping around with about 50mh gusts. Because it started out as rain then snow, the stuff underneath is ice. Kids did not want to go out in it. They are tired of it. The first 3 days it was a constant in and out, but after that it was OLD.

So last night, Hubby decided to have a wii tourny to get the energy out of these kidos, and to get us ALL moving. During the final round to see who was the winner, the champion, the gold medalist in boxing.... the lights flickered.....YIKES!!!

Suddenly, hubby and I jump up(needless to say neither one of us were in the finals..and yes we did try) and start running around, plugging in cell phones, doing the dinner dishes, drawing water in the bath tub, putting the clothes in the washer into the dryer, getting kids to brush their teeth and get jammies on, lighting a candle, getting the flashlight, and on and on we went. It is amazing how after just a few days we totally relaxed in being prepared for a power outage. We just laughed at ourselves at the tizzy we went into thinking we had dropped the ball after all that time.

Now this morning when we woke up, power never went out (praise God) and we had a head start with a clean kitchen and coffee made and hot in the carafe. Now we have more time to dig out...ho hum. Let the marathon digging out begin!!

Round 2

Here we go for round #2. Another winter storm is coming today with predicted accumulations anywhere from4-6" to 10-18" depending on the tract the storm takes. It was originally 1-3".

All this snow, reminded me of what my daughter said the first time she saw snow falling
Her reaction was...

"Look, trash."

A friend of mine told me about the first time he saw snow (recalled by his mom)

Friend "What is that?"
Mom: "It's snow."
Friend: "Who put it there?"
Mom: "God"
Friend: "Well, God sure made a mess."

LOL

Out of the mouth of babes!!

Still snowbound

Ok we are on day 4 of being snowed in. Our road is still a single lane road. We have many people backing down the road and into our driveway, to let another car pass.

I want to get out and venture to see what the rest of the world looks like. Are they as bad as we are? Are we the only ones in this isolated igloo?

Hubby's response to my "Let's venture out and see what else is out there."

"Honey. It doesn't matter what else is out there. It matters what we have here. I'm not willing to go get stuck in the snow."

:(

So we are stuck here in our little isolated igloo, with possibly a world of activity just a short yet very long way off.

I really don't need anything, except my SANITY. I am getting stir crazy here. I guess I won't be going to work tomorrow either :(

Farmer Bill to the Resue

Our wonderful neighbor, farmer Bill, came to our rescue and plowed our driveway so we can get out once the state of emergency is lifted.


Here is the huge pile once he was done. Notice it is about as tall as the shed roof.


Farmer Bill scraping the driveway.


Farmer Bill on the tractor.


Lifting the snow out of the driveway.



Thank you so much Farmer Bill!!!!

Blizzard 2010

We have just gotten walloped! It has finally stopped snowing. The internet is still on and off. No phone, but we are one of the fortunate ones that has not lost power....yet.

So what does walloped equal to.... 27" of snow, with drifts up to 4, 5, or 6feet.

WOW!!! Of course everyone is talking about global warming and all. LOL.

We have been on our toes to stay constantly prepared for a power outage. I was up at 2am this morning to make coffee. I made a pot and put it in an insulated carafe, IN CASE, we lost power through the night. Had to have my coffee in the morning. We have had the bathtub filled with water, for the necessity of flushing toilets. Our batteries, flashlights, candles ready to go. We had all our cell phones, laptops, ipods, gameboys all charged up. A full tank of propane to cook on the grill. A pot of chili in the crock pot ready to be switched to cook on the woodstove if needed. A stack of wood in the garage for easy access and dryness for the woodstove, especially if we needed to use the woodstove as our only heat source. I had worked hard on catching up on the laundry, we would certainly need clean under garments. Made sure all the dishes in the sink were kept up with. Didnt need stinky dishes with no water to wash them with. Plus I bought a TON of paper products plates, utensils, plastic cups.

Needless to say, we were prepared. So far no power outages. Hopefully it will stay that way. Just because we were prepared does not mean I want it to happen.

Let me tell you....27" is a TON of snow. If you never have experienced that amount of snow, wow, let me tell you....it is too much. I love snow and all, but wow.

We needed to shovel the deck after 18" fell. We didn't know how much more was coming and we didn't want the deck to collapse. This snow was not the light fluffy snow. It is a very heavy wet snow. Great for snowmen, snowforts, and snowball fights. You can't even tell we shoveled the deck now. It has almost another 10" on it. We also needed to shovel a constant patch for the dog to go.

I can honestly say, after more than 30 hours of constant snow and wind, I was getting a little unnerved. Thinking...

"Is this ever going to stop?"
"How are we ever going to get out of here?"
"Praise God I am not on call for the hospital anymore! I don't have to be either stuck at the hospital or worry about how I was going to get there. Praise God!"
"With another storm coming in 4 days, are my kids ever going to go back to school?" (My kids have already missed 4 days of school due to past snow storms, how many are they going to miss with this storm?)
Back to
"Is this snow ever going to stop?"

It has been an adventure! I am starting to go back to really enjoying the excitment of it (now that I know, yes the snow will stop. LOL)

Time to PARTAY!!!!!

It's my........

BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

And I am still in my 30's....

for real.....

no joke.....

WOOHOO!!!!

I LOVE MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Yes, I am a tad fanatical about my birthday, but guess what??????

I can be fanatical. WHY?????

Cause it's MY BIRTHDAY and I can be!!!!

WOOHOOO!!!!!!

Do Hard Things

This morning I am going to a parent- teen/tween conference called "Do Hard Things". It is based on a book written by 2 teenage guys (I believe they are in college now) and the low expectations our society puts on teens. It is about raising the bar for our kids. Coming from 2 teenage boys, will be quite a new perspective for most. If you have tween or teen or going to be a parent of one soon, get the book. Read it. Have your kids read it. I am excited to see how the conference goes.

God is Like....

Here is a poem I remember form high school. A little dated but still good.

GOD IS LIKE...

GOD is like Coke...He's the real thing.

GOD is like Pan Am...He makes the going great.

GOD is like General Electric...He lights your path.

GOD is like Bayer Aspirin...He works wonders.

GOD is like Hallmark Cards...He cares enough to send the very best.

GOD is like Tide...He gets the stains out that others leave behind.

GOD is like VO5 Hair Spray...He holds through all kinds of weather.

GOD is like Dial Soap...Aren't you glad you know him? Don't you wish everyone did?

GOD is like Sears...He has everything.

GOD is like Alka Seltzer...Try Him. You'll like Him.

GOD is like Scotch Tape... You can't see him, but you know he's there.

-author unknown

Thou Shalt Laugh

Tonight we had small group at our house. Our twice a month time to get together. One of our friends left a christian comedian video with several different comedians on it for us to watch. It was from a show called "Thou shalt laugh". So after everyone left we popped it in. After all it wasn't a school night.

We laughed so hard it was so fun! Isn't it fun to just laugh your behind off, and it all be clean hilarious jokes?

So if you haven't laughed in a while, grab a christian comedy video, and a couple of girlfriends, or your hubby and kids, and LAUGH!!!!

Highly recommended!!

WOW!!!!

Wow!

I can't believe it has been over a month since my last post. Life has been traveling at moc speed around here.

Mostly the new job has been taking my time. I am not really spending more time at work, it is just different hours. Instead of working at night or on the weekends, I am now working while the kids are in school. It has messed up my enitre routine. I am used to being able to get my errands, shopping and cleaning done while they are at school. But that is not the case anymore. Now I need to do those "house jobs" at night or on the weekends. Sounds like it should be a little adjustment to make, trade RN job on weekends and nights for house job on weekend and nights.

But not for me. WOW. It has been a huge obstacle in our family life. One that we will overcome with time and a plan. So when do I make this plan????

I also have started working out again. They say it is supposed to give you energy, but man oh man. I am exhausted. I didn't think I lost that much fitness with my time off. Whew!

Today, I have felt like total lazy bones. I was up at 5 am to let the dog out and get a load of laundry started so my kids would have uniforms for school, and just to get the day started. Then after getting the lunches made and coffee in me, and kids off to school, I went to the gym. I worked out with my trainer, who honestly kicked my behind. I am still sore from working out with him 2 days ago. My sore, achin body. All in the name of getting back into shape. OUCH!

So after my workout, it is time to pick up babygirl from school (she is half day kindergarten. By the time I drop her off, it is time to turn around and pick her up again...) When we arrive home, I plop my weary body on the couch and have been there ever since.... Well, not entirely, but most of the day. I did have the other 3 kids to go get sometime in there.

And now it is time for dinner. Oh the dinner dilema. I don't feel like making dinner, nor do I know what to make. Ugh. Me and my lazy bones. Ok, not lazy..... weary. Kids are starvin, time to go.

At least it is a long 3 day weekend. Praise the Lord!!!