The End of Summer

I can't believe summer is almost over.  It seems like it just started, yet school is starting in just a couple of weeks!  Not ready!!!!  We had a kink in our summer plans - my BIL passed away, so our vacation was cancelled - which was fine.  We were where we needed to be.  We had planned to be at the beach, but decided to cancel it a couple weeks prior, as his passing was expected.  It was great to see all the family, I just hate the circumstances we were there.  :( He was a good man, good father, and will be missed by many.  We did try to have a little fun on the trip home - we stopped at South of the Border, which has got to be the world's tackiest tourist trap - but it was for the kids, who thought it was amazing, and we got some kicks and giggles out of the experience.  We were home for the 4th, and just enjoyed grilling out and enjoying the beautiful weather - it's normally REALLY hot and humid, but for SC it was beautiful!
We bought some sparklers for the kids, but just ended up watching all the neighbors shoot off fireworks.  It was fun.
The kids have had a blast all summer because they have been in day camp, and have had field trips 3 out of 5 days a week.  They have been everywhere from water parks to Chuck-E-Cheeses, and putt putt and go carts to indoor lazer tags - and much more!  I've been working...sigh!  I'm hoping that before school starts back in a couple of weeks we can at least take the kids away for a couple days and hit Carowinds - one day at the theme park riding rides, the next at the water park.  Wish me luck!  :) 
The past two weekends we have had bunches of fun.  My best friend and her family came down not only last weekend, but this weekend as well.  We had a great time bringing the kids to the pool, playing monopoly, going to our old college campus and just having a blast hanging out!  Don't get to do that nearly often enough...it was refreshing!  :)
A couple weeks ago we did get to attend a Riverdogs Baseball Game, courtesy of my kids' orthodontist - they had an appreciate dinner and game, and we had a blast!  It was my first game in about 10 years - would love to go back again very soon!!!  Such fun!  :) Temperature was amazing - 82 with a breeze - right on the water, so it wasn't hot at all...again, that just doesn't happen here often!  It's usually a blanket of humid heat. 
Hope everyone has had a wonderful summer - hoping for a smooth transition for all of you who have children heading back to school soon.    

Livid

Any suggestions on proper punishment for my two kids (ages 9 and 10)?  They took my kindle outside yesterday without permission, then proceeded to drop it and crack the screen...I am so angry right now!!!  Seriously - my husband and I don't know what the proper punishment should be - right now we are at Absolutely No Electronics for 2 weeks, and grounded to the house with no friends.  What were they thinking???  They wanted to take pictures...they have a camera, and they have their own Kindles...why mine, and why didn't they at least ask???  I think that is what makes me the most angry - they know I don't allow them to play my Kindle inside...why would they think it's okay to take it outside???  Ugh!  Anyway - they got the wrath of mom last night, and cried most of the night away - my daughter said her stomach hurt with guilt (until she got sassy and tried really hard to dig her hole deeper...grrrrr!)  My son took the blame for the drop and said they deserve to be punished...well, yes, but how responsible of him.  He was coming up with ways to be punished...he's 9...who does that?  Anyway - onto happier topics!! 

School is out - it is unfortunate that the first week of summer turns out to be grounding for the kids, but they did it to themselves!  Weather has been beautiful - I walked 2 miles last night and the night before - and if it stays nice will walk 2 more tonight!  :)  Taking advantage before it gets ridiculous muggy hot! 

We got vacation planned and will be going to Edisto Beach - can't wait! My Mother-In-Law will be going with us, and possibly one of Abby's friends (depending on if she's in trouble or not...haha).    Her mom (my friend) may come join us for a couple of days as well - that would be so much fun!!  My parents usually go on vacation with us, but this year they went on a cruise, so they won't be going with us.  Maybe we can convince them to come down for a day or two...we'll see! 

Anyway - gotta get back to work...is it 5:00 p.m. yet???

Manic May

So a couple of weeks ago I was panicking at the though of how much stuff I had going on this month.  Work has been busy - 4 new hires, orientation, and paperwork out the yazoo...but it wasn't work I was stressing about - it was home life.  My daughter's performance at the Arts Festival, followed by a visit from my parents - dinner for my son's birthday.  End of the year celebrations at school, which required baking of some sort for 30 plus kids.  My mother-in-law coming down for son's birthday, and then the birthday party itself, followed by Mother's Day, a concert, pool party and a weekend trip to visit my friend for her and her baby's birthdays - not to mention Memorial Day and my 13th wedding anniversary...so I was sweating it pretty hard.  Much too hard.  We made it through the dance and my parents visit, and baked up a batch of cookies that I sent to school.  Then...my mother-in-law came to visit.  The day she arrived I got sick - really sick.  Upper respiratory infection that kept me in bed with a fever for 4 solid days!!!  Yep - 4 days - cancelled sons big Harry Potter Birthday Party - spent Mother's Day in a daze lying in bed wishing someone would put me out of my misery.  So...yay!  I worked sooooo darn hard for that paty too - had chocolate frogs all made up, bought the Bertie Botts, and even had licorice wands...just to name a few things.  We are going to try to have it this weekend, but I'm not sure how many people are going to be able to make it.  Son's end of year celebration is Saturday afternoon - they are having a pool party for his 3rd grade class.  So...that takes some time away from the delayed planning.  May is always crazy - add to it the fact it's end of year (really....how did that happen????)  Time has flown - I will soon have a 4th grader and 5th grader in the house...wow!  One more year for my daughter before she goes off to Middle School (shudder!!!)  Anyway - Mother-in-law came down for the birthday party, but had a family friend pass away due to a massive stroke, so she had to leave to go to the funeral.  I hate that her visit was cut short, and that while she was here I was down for so long - poor thing helped me out so much while she was here, though - she truly was (and is) a blessing!  My son has been a trooper through the whole week - cancelled party, and he never once complained.  Not once!  Hubby was going to take him out somewhere last weekend, but he wanted to stay at home.  So...I made it back to work on Tuesday, but I have been coughing my head off - pulled a muscle in my neck from coughing so hard.  Ouch!  I had a ticket to see Fitz and the Tantrums Thursday night...still felt bad enough still that I couldn't justify staying out til past 11:00 p.m. on a work night - I wanted to sleep!  :(  I am bummed though - would have been a fun one to see!  Hubby is doing well with his new real estate job - started in February, and he has already sold 2 homes and completed the closings.  Not too shabby!  We got our vacation plans for the summer - kids will be in camp most of the time, but my parents will have them one week, and we are going to the beach for another...yay!  Can't wait!  Will be lots of fun!  This year my parents won't be there, though- they decided to take a cruise for their vacation, and actually just got back this morning.  Had a great time!  I've never been on a cruise - one day...  

February - Just a little update

Favorite Things - shamelessly stolen

Well - the Holiday season is among us - along with family visits, birthday parties, and juggling schedules to fit everything in.  Sound familiar?  It happens to us every year too.  Last week my kids and I went to visit my parents for a lovely Thanksgiving - it was great, but we did have a few setbacks.  My husband could not attend, because he somehow got Shingles of all things...my kids have not had chicken pox, so he has been quarantined to the upstairs bonus room just in case.  He stayed home, so we made sure to bring him plenty of yummy leftovers.  Then my poor mom - two days before Thanksgiving she fell asleep in the recliner, woke up at 1:00 a.m., jumped up too fast and her foot had fallen asleep - she fell and sprained her ankle, and hit her back on the coffee table in the process.  So, we had a nice Thanksgiving, but dad and I did most of the preparation, and needless to say our traditional black friday shopping did not happen!  I did get to meet my bestie for lunch on Friday, which was wonderful - I don't get to see her nearly as often as I would like, even though we live less than 2 hours from each other!  So...Saturday, my plan was to drive home and have everything Christmas up by Sunday...why...because my daughter's 10th birthday is today, and her party is on Saturday, AFTER her last tennis lesson and celebration.  I was feeling a bit rushed.  Got home, and hubby had cleaned around the mantle area...that's it...dishes were dirty, floor unvacuumed, stuff all over the place...I was NOT happy!  But...when I got everything packed away, and started getting ready to decorate, he jumped in and helped...and by Sunday, everything was done!  Whew!  So now, my MIL is coming in town today - dinner for birthday girl tonight.  Tennis Saturday morning, and birthday party Saturday night.  I have her gifts, but have not bought the first thing for the party.  So far we have 8 confirms out of 14 invitees.  Sigh!  House needs to be vacuumed, dusted, decluttered...I'll be glad once Saturday is done.  Then the following weekend Friday my friend is bringing me to see The Hobbit - for my birthday (which is approaching soon - the big 4 0!!!)  The 14th my kids are in a performance at the school - on a Satruday afternoon...then the neighborhood Christmas party is that night.  Busy, busy times!  Then da da da...the 16th I turn 40...it will be no fanfare, but hopefully a nice dinner will take place!  I don't need a lot, but I do like a good birthday dinner.  :)  And then Christmas - my MIL will be here for most of the month, and my parents will come down on Christmas Eve so that everyone will be here on Christmas morning.  I already have the presents under the tree...yay!  This is a first - I'm usually wrapping at the last possible moment!  I'm DONE!!!  And it feels so good.  :)  So...now on to my favorites list - I have seen these on other blogs, so thought I would shamelessly steel the idea and put one of my own on here...I don't have pictures to go with it, but oh well...here goes:

1.  My Kindle Fire - it has books, movies, games all in one - love it!

2.  Soft fuzzy socks - I love when it gets colder so I can wear my collection of soft, cuddly socks - they are ugly, but oh so comfy!

3.  Air Wick Plug Ins - Applie Pie - makes the house smell good, even with 3 cats, 2 litter boxes and a turtle tank.  :)

4.  My collection of Frosty Follies - my mom started me on this collection of snowmen years ago, and the woman who created them died of cancer about 10 years ago - her family kept the collection going, but they are getting harder and harder to find - LOVE THEM!

5.  Clinique Happy - the only kind of perfume I can wear - I get migraines from strong scents, so this is perfect!!

6.  Bare Essentials Shadow Liner - Honestly, up until I received some from my mom recently, I had never heard of Shadow Liner.  The first time I tried it I wasn't even sure how to apply it - but it's sooooo easy, and goes on so much better than a liner pencil...and it stays on better too!  LOVE!

7.  My silver loop earrings from Premier Jewelry - I wear them practically every day and they never get old!

8.  Wen cleansing conditioner - I no longer use shampoo, but love Wen.  Yes, it's expensive, but soooo worth it! 

9.  Holiday Festival of Lights Ornament Collection - every year our local Recreational Park puts out an ornament based on the lights they display.  We have them all, starting from 1989 - 2012 (I need to get this year's soon!)  They are all delicate gold, and some have a splash of color - my absolute favorite is the ornament of the Old Cooper River Bridge from Charleston, SC - we have the new bridge too, but the old will always be my fave.

10.  Last, but not least, Aquafor!  I use it as chap stick, for my daughter's dry skin (she has some weird excema like thing, and it works wonders), for dry feet - and it lasts forever! 

 So - I hope everyone has a wonderful month full of festivity and fun - and have a very Merry Christmas!  :)

Oh My - October!

So every month I think, I can't believe it's _____  but seriously, how can it already be October?  I mean Halloween is just a few weeks away, and I haven't even started to decorate for fall...my kids just told me what they want to be for Halloween, but we have no costumes yet!  My daughter wants to be Frankie Stein from Monster High...but she said any of them would do (she was Draculaura last year).  My son decides he wants to be a Clone from Star Wars...so I have to get on the ball!  My daughter is horrified that she doesn't have her costume yet...I told her she has plenty of time.  Sigh! In actuality we don't - time is flying like a witch on a broom.  Yikes (yeah - that was lame!) 
Besides all of the Halloweeny stuff I'm sure will start coming our way, my son and daughter both have big projects coming up, plus I have school conferences with both teachers, my daughter starts tennis in a couple of weeks (she came up with wanting to do that out of the blue) and my son just joined the running club - so things are staying busy. 
I have been super stressed out lately - no particular reason - I just want things to slow down, and I want more time to do fun stuff with the kids.  I feel like they are too busy, or I am always trying to get something else done that I'm concerned I'm neglecting them.  I don't get home most evenings until 6:00 p.m. so there really isn't a whole lot of time to do much between dinner, homework, baths, etc. before it's bedtime!  And I have to be at work tomorrow at 4:00 a.m. - yes...4:00a .m.!  I normally don't wake up until 6:30 a.m., but we have biometric screenings at work tomorrow, so I have to be there to open the doors and greet the company...I drew the short straw!  Ugh!  That means I have to go to bed tonight by 8:00 p.m. and get up by 2:30 a.m. to get ready to be there at 4:00 a.m. - that seriously sucks!!!  I am NOT a morning person. 
Well - kids are finally adjusting to school - it took my son a little longer than usual due to being in the gifted and talented program this year - he really did have a difficult adjustment period.  It was a little rough on all of us...but he's finally getting there.  I honestly think these programs are harder on the parents than the kids!!!  My daughter is still mad that she didn't get in the program last year, but she is right where she needs to be - she's not gifted material.  Don't get me wrong - she's smart, but she's a bit flighty, impatient and dramatic...and lazy - she will put off homework until the last minute, and even then it's like pulling teeth to get her to finish it.  Oye!  On a good note, she finally learned how to ride a bike - it only took her to almost the age of 10, but she's finally on two wheels!!!  I thought she would never learn!  :)  We went on our first bike ride together the other day and it was really nice!  Now...I have to find the will to practice running club with my son - Lord help me cuz I'm gonna need all the help I can get doing that!  A runner I am not...I envy those of you who are! 
My poor hubby has been sick since Sunday - he's been pretty miserable, and I've banned him to the FROG (for those of you who don't know - FROG stands for Finished Room Over Garage) - it's a real estate term used down here quite often!  Yeah - so he's been quarantined - it's now Wednesday, and I kinda miss him!  Wish he would get over being sick so he could join the rest of us downstairs - maybe then I could get the kids to bed on time - it's been a challenge this week. 
All I want is a mini vacation - really just one day with a good book and no one to interrupt me, or call mommy, or whine...you know - quiet!  :) 
So anyway - hope you all have a wonderful evening - my day is almost done, and I am dreading tomorrow...12 hours from now I will be back here again!  Sigh!
Later! 

So Much Fun!!!

So - Weekend was a BLAST!  Good friends, boat rides, kayaking, fishing, fruity drinks and finally this - riding the "couch"!!!  Good times!!!! 

Me and my bestie...can't get better than this!  :)  I hope everyone else had as wonderful a Labor Day as we did!!! 

Long Labor Day Weekend - Woot Woot!

It's been so long since I've posted, but summer can sometimes be a little crazy and the next thing you know it's over and school is back in session!  Zoom...just that quick.  So, our summer was great - kids were in camp all summer, with the exception of one week at my parents, and another week when we went on vacation with the family.  That was a fun week - a full week with my family - hubby, kids, parents and mother-in-law in a cabin at Table Rock State Park, in SC.  This made the second year we rented the same cabin, and it was terrific - right across from the playground and lake, and just around the corner from the hiking trails and waterfalls.  No tv, no internet, and no phone service - yes, heavenly!  The weather cooperated for us this year - last year it rained every single day...this year only one day of rain, and a few night showers.  We swam...a lot.  The water was cooooooollllllllddddddd!  My daughter went off the high dive for the first time - she didn't like it at all, but she went one more time to be sure.  Haha!  We rode paddle boats, played games, and took a trip into downtown Greenville.  Can't go into Greenville without checking out Mast General Store or O.P. Toys - very cool stuff!  I wish I could go back...another week would be nice!  The weather actually was so nice while we were there (in July...) that we actually got to eat outside one evening - no bugs, no humidity...and my kiddos got their first experience with roasting marshmallows and eating 'smores.  Fun, fun, fun times - messy, but fun!  Once we got back home the rest of the summer just seemed to fly by.  Kids have now been in school for 2 weeks...how is that even possible??? My babies are now in 3rd and 4th grade...hard to believe.  My son got in the gifted and talented program this year - proud mama!  My daughter is mad because he's younger and she never got in.  She was NOT happy...but she hates homework and the program he is in just has more.  So, that appeased her somewhat. They seem to be enjoying it, though - that's what is important.  Now Labor Day is here...already.  We have plans with friends all weekend long and I'm so excited - Lake Lure NC.  Hanging out with my bestie and her family, boating and just having fun - 7 kids, 4 adults...think we are outnumbered???  It will be fun!  Hope everyone has a very fun and safe labor day!   

June - Summer begins, and I get some me time!!!

Hi all - I love June!  First, my kids get out of school and summer begins, so lots of fun activities ranging from birthday parties, play dates and the pool - busy, but fun!  Also, my hubby has his birthday this month, followed closely by Father's Day - I am blessed to say I have a wonderful father and will be able to see him that weekend!  :)  I also am ecstatic that I get a week to myself!!!!  Yes folks, a whole week where I have the house to myself - I can do what I want, eat what I want, and heck prance around naked if I want (but trust me, I won't...haha)!  Just the thought of it makes me giddy!  My hubby is heading up to his mom's for a mud run, and then will stick around to help her with some household projects.  In the meantime, my parents are taking both kids for a week!  Don't get me wrong, I will miss them all terribly, and will be so glad to have them return home safely - but for that week while they are gone!!!  Oh...what to do!?  I already have a girls night out planned with one of my friends.  I plan on doing some deep cleaning in areas that are usually neglected - not fun, but necessary - and will be much easier to accomplish without little ones (and one big messy one) around!  Oh the possibilities are endless!!!  :)  So...yes, this month is looking good so far! 

On a sad note, there are two anniversaries I don't like - today is one of them.  My wonderful Father-in-law passed away two years ago today and is dearly missed.  He was a terrific man and wish he was still here with us.  Also, we are getting ready to hit the 25th anniversary of my brother's death - he was killed in a car accident at the age of 18 - he has been dead longer than he has been alive, but he is still sooooo missed!  Not a day goes by where I wish I couldn't call up my older brother for advice, just to laugh, and I wish my children could have met their awesome uncle!  So...love June, but there are a few shadows - they are from the angels looking at us from above! 

May - Birthdays, Mother's Day

I can't believe how fast this month has been...the whole year has flown by so fast.  I say the same thing every year, but it really does seem to just zoom by.  Is it that we are just so much busier as a society or has time just sped up?  Everything is so fast paced.  May has been a pretty good month so far - my baby turned 8! We had his birthday party on Friday - 4 boys came over to the house, and 1 spent the night.  My daughter, not wanting to be the only girl at the party was allowed to invite one friend as well.  It turned out great - the boys were a little wild.  We didn't have any planned games, so we pulled out twister and just let them be boys - they played with boy toys (swords, lightsabers and plastic guns...I know guns seem to be taboo, but hey...they are boys!)  After pizza, cupcakes and ice cream most of them went home - the remaining kids were manageable, but they still didn't go to sleep until after 1:00 a.m. - meaning my hubby left them to me, and grandma retired early...so I was left to monitor them!  They stayed amused, though - my son had 2 Lego sets, and he dove right into one of them. My MIL had given my daughter a decorate your own hairband set, so she and her friend were occupied with that - completed them all!  They did a great job!  Saturday after donuts the kids went home, we brought the kids to have haircuts - both of my children have curly hair (especially my son) and they were both starting to look a bit unkempt.  My son got upset at school the other day when another kid toldhim that his hair was so thick you could hide a house in there...he didn't like that!  LOL!  You can now see his face again, and no houses were found in the process.  :)  My daughter wanted to grow her hair out, but it's soooooo tangly when she tries - so we cut it up to her chin, and it is so absolutely precious...it truly is adorable and suits her so well!  After haircuts we went back to the house and my parents came down for the day - it's a nice combination of being able to celebrate my son's birthday, and have both mom's there to celebrate Mother's Day as well!  We all went to a local Chinese Buffet and stuffed ourselves silly, only to go home and eat cake!  Buddy got to open more presents, and his sister even got a couple things from the grandparents as well!  It was a pretty good day!  Mother's Day was quiet, but it was nice - I got a sweet ceramic flower bowl that my daughter made for me in art class - it's rather pretty, if I say so myself!  My son made a paperclip butterfly, and his picture is where the butterfly body should be - it's so cute!  :)  I also got some sweet homemade and store bought cards from the hubby and kids.  I love my kiddos and am so proud to be their mama!  I have nothing else exciting going on in my life - my work travel has stopped (thank goodness) and I'm trying to lose a few pounds before we go on vacation in July - back to the mountains again for hiking, swimming and just enjoying some downtime with the family (no cell phones or tvs!!!  Woohoo!)  :)  I can't wait.....I need some good R&R that only the mountains can provide! 2 months to go...that's not very long...can I lose 15 lbs. in that amount of time?  Sigh! Probably not, but I can hope! 
Been trying to up my reading a bit lately now that I have my kindle, so if anyone has any good suggestions, please let me know.  I'm currently reading The Hangman's Daughter, which is the first in a set of 3.  So far it's good, but I'm only on chapter 2...not too far into it yet.  I recently finished Divergent (book 1) and Insurgent (Book 2) of the Divergent Series - Book 3 doesn't come out until October, and it's driving me up a wall to finish it!  Winter Garden is another book that I thoroughly enjoyed.  After I finish the current series, I plan on reading The Dinner - I've heard lots about it, and it's got me intrigued. 
Anyway - until later!

Finally Friday

What a week it has been!  The week began on Sunday with boss and I travelling out of town for business.  It was a good day - we got in a little shopping and a nice dinner (with free dessert because whoever sat us down forgot to tell the waitress...so we waited, and waited and waited some more).  Lately wherever I go somewhere with others for dinner, I seem to bring bad luck to the service, the food or something...it's become a joke with my co-workers.  Although the past few times they have been calling me a free dessert good luck charm.  Haha!  Anyway - things were going very smoothly, then on Monday tragedy happened in Boston.  My heart was heavy as I thought of my friends and family who live in that area, so many states away from my own.  Luckily everyone was okay, and my marathoner friend just happened to not run this year.  I, along with so many others, was glued to the tv.  When I got back to the motel I immediately flipped on the news.  Devestating!  Then I get home and Wednesday the explosion in West Texas occurs.  Just a bad week - my heart fell again.  Then...my own home had sadness.  My 12 year old cat, Burt, had not been doing well for the past 2 weeks...out of the blue just got worse day by day.  3 days ago he wouldn't leave the bathroom, and if he tried to walk he fell after 2 feet.  It was heartbreaking to watch!  My first thought was stroke.  Brought him to the vet first thing yesterday morning.  Normally he weight 15-17 lbs. but the vet weighed him and he was 11 lbs!!!  He said Burt was dehydrated and he wanted to run tests to see if there was something major or something easily fixable going on.  A few hours later he called with bad news - Burt had diabetes - numbers literally off the chart!  I never in a million years would have figured he could have diabetes - we fed him right, no table scraps...how??  Anyway, the vet said we could go the treatment route, consisting of 2 insulin shots per day, plus a weekly visit to the vet for fluids - and very costly.  Or...you know the alternative.  It was a hard decision to make, but after asking the vet what he would do if it was his cat, we decided to put him down.  He was old, and the vet said there was already so much liver and kidney damage, there was no guarantee of him ever having a normal live.  I didn't make it to work yesterday - I cried and cried and dreaded telling the kids.  They took it well, but everyone is heartbroken!  Our other kitty keeps looking for Burt - they were buddies, and it breaks my heart to see him so confused.  :(  So sad!  So, it's just been a crappy week all the way around.  My heart is breaking for all of the families in Boston and West who have been effected by the tragedies of the past week.  Tomorrow my son has a performance at school - hopefully the day will lift everyone's spirits, and spring will continue on with no more incidents.  Happy Friday to everyone - and be kind to those around you - you never know what they may be going through!!

Whiny Wednesday

Okay - I'm tired ya'll - really tired!  This past month has just worn me out!  Started off fun with all my college buddies getting together for a long overdue reunion - we had a blast!  It was great to see everyone and share stories, memories and laughs.  The weekend was beautiful, so we got to hang out in downtown Charleston for the day - and it couldn't have been more perfect!  :)  The following Wednesday I had to travel for work which kept me away from home and family for 2 nights - not bad.  I had a king sized bed to myself, which was nice.  But...we had to get up extra early for the days we were there and got back to the motel after 8:00 p.m. so it made for super long days. Then the following week I got strep - yep...the sickies hit yet again!!!  So, I was out for 3 days, and then had a planned vacation day for friday - so I missed all but 1 day of work that week.  Friday we had plans to go to my parents, as we had tickets to see Les Miserables that evening live.  As of Thursday night I still wasn't sure if I would feel up to it, but decided that I shouldn't be contagaious at that point due to the antibiotics, so what the heck...we went.  My parents, hubby, MIL and I all went.  Kids had a sitter, so we left for dinner and the theater and had a great time.  But, I was worn out from being sick and we didn't get in til after 11:00.  We stayed the weekend, and it was fun - but again...travelling just wears you out, even just a couple of hours.  The next week was pretty normal, but due to all of the above events, my house had been pretty neglected - so on Good Friday (a holiday for me) I got up early, attended my son's Terrific Kids Award Ceremony then went home to CLEAN!!! Then came Easter - my daughter, who never wakes up early, comes in at 7:30 to inform me that the Easter Bunny had arrived, and that her brother had vomited in his room!!!  Yay - so off to clean sheets I go! Then later that day I had to meet my boss so we could travel out of town again for business.  Had to be here bright and early Monday morning.  We were supposed to leave to go home yesterday, but we got delayed and are still here!  Hubby told me my daughter was not feeling well Monday, and still wasn't herself yesterday - not eating.  :(  Poor girl!  So, I'm ready to go home and see my kiddos, hubby and sleep in my own bed!  It's been a productive trip, but Monday we had to be here at 7:00 and didn't leave til 6:00 at night - by the time we grabbed dinner and got back it was almost 9:00.  Yesterday we had to be here at 6:30 - but same scenario at night.  Today was a 7:30 day - and we leave to go home around 4:00.  So...that puts me home around 7:00ish.  Sigh!  Tired, tired, tired!  But...one good thing is we've had awesome dinners every night this week - I think I've gained 10 lbs.  That's one of the perks about travelling.  If anyone is ever in the Charlotte, NC area go to Belmont and try the Old Stone Steakhouse - it's FABULOUS!  Anyway - I'm hoping that April is a little slower than March with less sickness and more rest.  :)  Although - I have one more trip for work planned mid-month...and that SHOULD be the end of my travelling for the time being!  Hope everyone out there had a wonderful Easter, and the sickies stay away from your home! 

Sickies...I said go away - I meant it!!!

Wow!  Seriously, just as I thought all of the sickness was finally starting to subside, my son gets hit with a nasty vomiting bug Saturday night - he literally was sick for over 10 hours, and neither of us slept a wink all night long.  Poor guy - he was pitiful, and I felt so bad for him!  Yesterday was a day of just TRYING to catch up on some sleep...trying being the key word.  It didn't work!  I'm soooo tired today, but at least this time hubby was able to stay home with the sick one...I just don't have the days to do it!  Ack! 

Last week, to add to the family fun, I got an email from my daughter's teacher - she said that my daughter didn't seem to be listening to instructions, and had heard the same complaint from the gym teacher.  So, she asked if I could send her to the school nurse to have her hearing tested - of course I said yes!  Turns  out my poor girl has virtually no hearing in her right ear...she's 9!  How in the world could we have missed this?  Talk about feeling like an awful parent...wow!  So, after I heard the results from the testing, I contacted our ENT - we have an appointment scheduled for tomorrow.  I'm hoping and praying that it is something that is easily fixed, and not permanent damage.  It does make me wonder, thought...she has had so many ear infections (two ruptured eardrums), her adenoids and tonsils removed due to pressur on the eardrum when she was 4, along with tubes - does this go back to all of that?  Again...she listens (for the most part...much of the time it's selected) at home, so I never seemed to give it a thought that there might be an issue.  Anyway - there are times you feel okay as a mother, and other times you just feel crappy - this is one of those moments.  :(  Anyway - she seems completely unphased by it - hubby and I (and even the grandparents) seem much more concerned.  The other day when I picked her up from school the only thing she seemed upset about was the fact that they found a bad work etched into a desk at the Y -when I asked about her testing she was ho-hum.   But she kept bringing up that really bad word...and yes, it was bad - she was so insistent on me knowing what it was, her brother was begging to hear it too...I told her she had BETTER NOT tell him, and that she had better not repeat it again!!! 

Anyway - gotta get back to work.  I'm going to make an honest effort to at least try to get on here and update once a week...we'll see how it goes!  Hope you all have a wonderful Monday, and hope the sickies stay away for all! 

The sickies can go away now...please!

I don't know what it is about this time of the year, but it always hits our family hard in the area of sickness.  I was soooooo excited in the fall because my children barely missed a day of school - wishful thinking for me to expect it to continue...hahahaha!  Right!?  So,  January hits - my daughter gets strep - I take off 2 days.  My son gets some unknown virus (I still think he had bronchitis or walking pneumonia, but what do I know?) - they give him a prescription of cough medicine.  I take off a day with him.  Our washing machine broke - I had to take off a day for that (of course they were supposed to be there in the early a.m. but came closer to 5:00 p.m.).  Then I got something...I seriously think it was a very mild flu case (fevers, chills, sore all over, headache) but the test said no...but hubby agreed with me - we still think the doc. was wrong.  I was out yet another day.  Then son got sick AGAIN with ear pain.  I was afraid it was a repeat of the night before Thanksgiving when his eardrum ruptured.  Thank goodness it was only swimmers ear (bathtub is the only place he could have got that - there hasn't been any swimming here in a while).  He also had that horrendous cough, STILL, and they treated him for bronchitis - he still had crackling in his right chest.  So...out another day with him.  Sigh!  I have vacation scheduled for July already, and one day in March - we are going for my mom's birthday to see the travelling Broadway Show Les Miserables.  So...out of 3 weeks of vacation, I'm down to 4 remaining for the year!!!  Out of 1 week of PTO I have 19 hours left...seriously!!!  Sigh!  Maybe we'll be lucky and no one will get sick again this year.  Hey - I can hope! 

Besides everyone being sick, it's been pretty uneventful our way.  A couple birthday parties and weekend events for the kids, but that's about it.  My daughter and hubby did recently go to a Father/Daughter dance at the local Y - I thought that was so precious!  They had a ball!  :)  (This was the weekend I was sick, so I didn't get any pictures).  I am looking forward to March in a big way!  Next weekend I am meeting up with all of my old college friends - it's been (ahem) 20 years since we met, and we haven't seen each other in over 7 years!  I'm sooooo exited!  There are going to be 8 of us getting together, and I expect it will be a weekend full of memories, laughter and I'm sure a few drinks.  :)  As I stated above, the Les Miserables trip is in March also!  My mom and MIL both have March b-days, so the whole family (minus the kids) are going to the show - so excited!  I've seen it before, but it's one of those shows I could see over and over again without getting tired of it.  If you haven't seen it, I HIGHLY recommend it!  Yet...I still haven't seen the movie...sigh! 

It's so funny - I seem to think of a million things to write about when I'm away from the computer, but as soon as I start typing my mind goes blank.  Why is that?  I guess that's why I'm not a writer - I'd have one very dull book. 

Just curious, for anyone out there with kids.  My son will be turning 8 in May, and I still don't have any ideas (reasonably priced) for his birthday.  Anyone with sons please send me some fun ideas - everything here is a bit on the high side, and he has never had a "real" friends birthday party.  His sister has, and he is way overdue one!  So...help!  :) 

Gotta run for now - hope everyone out there has a wonderful Wednesday with no worries and lots of sunshine.  :) 

Just a little line - I'm bored

Hi all - Just dropping by my poor neglected blog to say hi!  Nothing really going on in my world, but thought I'd come by anyway.  Work, home, work, home, gym on occasion, work, home - that's my life lastely.  Fun!  Truly - it's not that bad.  My kiddos definitely keep things lively - it's never boring with a 7 and 9 year old!  Haha!  My husband (if you remember he's a personal trainer) has somehow convinced me to come to the gym twice a week - I guess since he's a personal trainer, he expects me to look like a PT wife????  Sigh - I have a loooooooong way to go!  But - I'm working out with one of his co-workers, and I'm getting PT for free...so I can't complain.  We end up laughing through the sessions more than work out - so I don't know how much good it's truly doing.  Maybe by 2014 I can wear a bikini...hahahahaha!  Or not!  I'll be 40 at the end of this year, so I don't see any bikinis in my future - especially at the rate we're working out.  It is fun, though! On a whiny note, my washing machine broke - I was doing laundry over the weekend, and when I went to unload the machine there was this horrible electrical burning smell - I quickly unloaded the machine and unplugged it from the wall - I called to see if a repairman can come by, and the earliest they can get here is next Tuesday!!!!  I am going to be up to my ears (literally) in laundry by then!  Ugh!  I guess I better start gathering the change.  Of course the machine had to break right before I washed all of my work clothes for the week - I spent over an hour washing them by hand in the bathtub...it made me truly appreciate the fact that we are in an age that no longer requires washboards!  Thank goodness our dryer still worked!  Wow...I am boring!  LOL!  I will try to have a more interesting post next time - til then!  :)

The End of The World - And I feel fine (mostly)

Hi all - Well, according to the Mayan's we shouldn't be here today...and here we are.  Although, it's only 10:01 a.m. and the day isn't over yet - I'm pretty sure the Oreo won!  Haha!  Anywho - this has been an insane month, and I'm tired y'all!  But overall it's been good.  Of course, my heart has been heavy for the Sandy Hook tragedy - having kids of my own in 2nd and 3rd grade - it's just too close to home.  One thing that has helped me has been keeping busy.  At work I haven't had the media overload that a lot of others have had - oh sure, I went online and looked up stories and cried...but I haven't seen a news report on tv yet.  Not that I haven't wanted to, but we've been keeping the tv from the kids seeing it all - they are at an age they don't need to see so much tragedy, and I don't want to have to answer all the questions that come in the wake of that - call me selfish, but I don't know how I would answer those questions coming from a 7 year old!  What can you say?  You can't explain such a horrific event to a child because how would they understand when you can't even understand why?  Last Friday when I first saw it at work on Yahoo, it made me cry - I went in the bathroom and bawled for those children, their familes and the teachers - and this was before any names or count had come out - it just saddened me to no ends.  That evening my friend and I had plans to go see the Hobbit - I'll be honest, it was a blessed relief to be able to get my mind off of the tragedy, if only for a little while.  Saturday we were just as busy - Breakfast with Santa, haircut, Holiday Festival at the school, and our neighborhood Christmas Party - it was such a full day that, again, I was able to focus on good things and not the tragedy - except at the school when the prinipal got up to speak and we had a moment of silence for the lives lost at Sandy Hook.  It hit us all hard - there wasn't a dry eye in the cafeteria that day.  The principal never mentioned WHAT happened (there were hundreds of kids there, and she was very couth about how she addressed it).  We also received a memo from the school addressing the emergency safety plans following the recent events.  It's a sobering thought - this happened in a little small CT school, but it could happen anywhere.  Sunday was my birthday - it was hard to be a celebratory mood, but we tried and still managed to have fun - hubby and I went to see Skyfall, which was great!  Tragedy happens, but the world still turns.  We move on - a little more jaded and world weary, but we still find joy in the everyday things.  Hug your children, say I love you and make the most of every day.  Happiness is a choice - we can either drown in sorrow, or we can look at life and realize how blessed we are to have what we have, not get caught up in what we don't.  No one is immune to grief - death, heartache, loss - it affects us all at some point in our life.  I lost a brother when I was a teenager - it was hard.  My word of advice for those who have lost a loved one, whether in this tragedy or in another way - grieve, but don't let grief change who you are.  Live, laugh, love, cry...Feel!  Cherish the memories and hold on to the thought that the loved one you had was a blessing, and be assured that one day you will see them again!  One day...

Tis the Season to be Crazy....er Jolly

I have a love hate relationship with the holiday season!  From Thanksgiving to Christmas it's hectic and rushed.  Don't get me wrong - I truly do love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but when you throw in two birthdays in the mix, it gets a little hectic.  Thanksgiving was nice, but a little rushed.  We went to my folks, a couple hours away, and had to drive two cars because hubby had to work the next day, while I and the kiddos planned on staying the night.  We got some shopping done on Black Friday, which was fun, but then had to head home.  Due to the upcoming crazy weekends Thanksgiving weekend is the ONLY time I had free to decorate the house - so Saturday was spent cleaning and getting out my snowman collection, hanging the stockings and getting the Christmas plates and knick-knacks out in the house.  Sunday was saved for completing the tree - it all got done, but by Monday come time for work...I was bushed!  Plus...I decided that Monday was a good time to start going to the gym...I am so darn sore it's not even funny!!!  I had to have a co-worker help me get my jacket off today, and I couldn't lift my arms to brush my hair...I fluffed as best as I could, sprayed in place and headed to work... I look a little off, but hey...it's all good!  :) 

Friday my mother-in-law is coming Friday and spending the month with us - which I am really looking forward to!  She is a sweet woman, and it is nice to have her around during the Christmas holidays.  But...in preparation I have to strip down the guest bed, declutter and vacuum/dust the room (it becomes the boys man cave most weekends, so in other words saying it's messy is an understatement).  My daughter turns 9 next week...my parents can only come down this weekend for her birthday - her party is the following weekend.  So, two weekends are tied up for her birthday, and I'm still not sure what we are doing for her kids party...sigh!  At least her gifts are bought.  :)  Yay!  Then the weekend after her kids party is my birthday.  I already have plans on Friday night with a friend who is bringing me to see the Hobbit!  Yay!  Can't wait!  So far I have nothing planned other than that, but I'm sure my hubby and MIL will come up with something - I'd be happy with just a dinner out!  Then the following weekend will be last minute shopping, getting prepared for Christmas Day, in which my parents will be coming to stay overnight, along with MIL.  It's crazy, but fun!  In the oh so much spare time I have, I still need to write Christmas cards and mail them (I always forget step two...lol), wrap the presents we currently have, buy all the stocking stuffers, figure out what we are going to eat on Christmas Day...ham probably, but I have no other ideas on what else. 

Oh...of course I forgot the best part!  The night before Thanksgiving, as I'm running around trying to get packed for our trip to my folks my son falls asleep around 6:30 - kind of odd, but didn't think much about it.  Figured he was tired from being at the Y all day (school's were closed).  As I walked into his room around 7:15 to get some clothes, he starts crying in his sleep, then bolts upright holding his right ear.  Uh-oh...that's never a good sign. So...off we go to the Urgent Care Center...ruptured ear drum!!!  Sigh!  The same thing happened to my daughter over the summer THE DAY we were leaving to go on vacation.  What is it about my kids and getting sick at vacation and holidays???  So, anyway - he was treated and given lortab - night night???  Nope!  Wide open for the rest of the night!  Sigh!  So, nothing can be easy around our house - but one thing for sure is it is never boring!  :) 

Hope everyone has a wonderul holiday season - be safe, have fun, and hug all those loved ones around you!  :)  Most of all remember we are blessed!  :)

Football Weather is Here - Yay!!!

I get a little giddy when it starts to cool off - I don't know why, but I do!  I absolutely HATE the cold, but I love, love, love snuggling in a sweatshirt on a crisp fall day.  LOVE it!  We finally have started dropping down to the low 70's during the day and down into the 50's at night.  Just in time for Halloween...happy dance!  :) 

This weekend was perfect as far as weather goes.  The Susan G Koman had the race for the cure in our area, so my coworkers and I got a team together to walk in memory of our friend, Kelly, and honestly the weather couldn't have been more beautiful.  Sunny, bright yet just a slight crisp in the morning air - made it a wonderful morning for a walk.  It started at 7:00 a.m. to catch the shuttles to the walk location...they also had a concert in town at the same location, so driving was not an option I was willing to partake in.  The shuttles would suit me just fine, thank you!  Actually, most of us met up at the shuttle location and had a blast riding together.  The shuttles ended up being regular yellow school busses.  We rode in the back like the bad kids...it was fun!  Haha!  For those of you who have not participated in the Race for the Cure before, I highly encourage it - not only is it for a wonderful cause, but it's also a lot of fun.  Lots of vendors handing out freebies, which is nice, but the atmosphere...oh the atmosphere is what is so great!  So many people, both survivors, friends and family, joining together to fight breast cancer - it's just amazing to see!  We plan on getting a team together every year - and I will be there! 

After the Race for the Cure went home to get ready for a visit from my parents.  It was a low key day, with the hilight going to Carrabas for lunch - yum!  And my Georgia Bulldogs won!!!  Yay!  :) 

The weekend was great...until last night.  My husband had just finished grilling our dinner and he asked to call in the kids.  They had been indoors most of the day (why I don't know - it was gorgeous out) so I told him that we could go ahead and eat - let them play about 15 more minutes.  So...I'm just about done eating when my daughter runs in the door informing me that her brother is hurt and crying.  I ask her to go bring him home (I was already in my pj's and not really wanting to go outside if I could help it).  Well...I was waiting at the door when I saw my daughter with her arm around her brother, and he was loudly sobbing holding his wrist...uhoh...not good!  We have managed to make it to ages 7 and 8 with nothing more than a nosebleed!  Well - he gets home and his wrist is swollen.  So, after a quick look and assessment my husband and I look at each other, nod in agreement - Medcare Express!  Since my husband had indulged in a few libations while grilling, I got the honors of bringing my son to the Dr.  Poor fella cried all the way there, but was so brave when he went to get the x-rays.  Turns out to be a buckle fracture - not a total break, but bad enough.  So, they put him in a temporary cast/splint and referred him to an ortho - we go tomorrow to find out if the splint will suffice, or if he needs a different cast.  Hopefully this will suffice.  Anyway - he was rewarded with not one, not two, but three lollipops and a certificate of bravery with a free ice cream coupon.  He even gave his sister one of his lollipops!  My sweet boy!  Anyway - the whole thing happened because my son was wanting to see what his sister and friend were doing and proceeded to climb up a fence to peek over - his friend pulled his legs to yank him down, causing him to fall and land on his arm.  Anyway - wish us luck at the ortho tomorrow! 

Next weekend should be more fun (hopefully) - there is a fall fest at the local YMCA, and it sounds like it will be a blast!  $5.00 per family - I think it's worth it to check it out at that price, anyway!  If it doesn't work out, they have a really cool sounding haunted walk which sounds fun!  We may do that anyway!  :)  I'm getting excited about Halloween - we have a very active neighborhood with lots and lots of kids, so it's always a fun night for everyone!  My daughter is dressing up as Draculara - for those of you who don't know, it's a Monster High Character - again if you don't know...no worries!  Haha!  My son is dressing as Darth Vader - I told him if he gets a cast, he can just hold it out and pretend it's a light saber - haha!  He thinks I'm nuts. 

Happy Fall to all!  :)

Goodbye my friend

I just found out, minutes ago, that a dear friend and coworker just passed away.  I'm still in shock, and so angry that such a sweet, young life has been taken from us!  Only 43 years old - beautful, sweet, funny - everyone loved her!  Liver failure...due to breast cancer, chemo, injections and a genetic gene that affects the liver.  My boss and I went to see her in the hospital just last week...I'm so glad we did.  She was up and walking, and in good spirits, and we just knew she was going to beat this thing.  She was released to go home on Friday...then today...I just don't know what to say.  Kelly, my friend...I love you, miss you and will always remember you! 

Why post when I can read great blogs!

So...what have I been doing lately?  Obviously not posting here.  Between work, and kids, and hubby, and cats, and life...well I read other people's blogs!  Seriously - I am in awe of some of the daily haunts I visit...not a single one of them have I ever met in person...but I feel like I know them.  I read their posts with their witty stories and anticdotes and laugh with them.  I read their tragedies and sob at my desk...trying to keep it stifled so as not to alert my co-workers to my frowned upon extracurricular activities while at work.  Why then do I not write more?  Because I'm intimidated and completely suck at writing compared to these women who I feel I can call friends (although they probably don't even know who I am).  Even so...the blogging world is funny - it takes you to places you would love to be, to places you hope to NEVER be, and all the while you are soooo glad you are living your own journey.  I just don't have a clue how to make my life, which I love dearly and wouldn't trade for anyone else in the world...how can I get that on the screen the way others can?  It's a daunting task.  So...that's why I'm gone for long bits of time.  But...I am alive, and happy, and soooooo glad football season is here!!!!  :)

Has everyone else's kids gone back to school yet?  Mine have been back for 2 weeks and are absolutely loving it.  Me too - but it's not the school so much as just a regular routine.  Our summer was chaotic - our house became the hangout house for the neighborhood - which at the start of summer was GREAT - I knew where my kids were at all time.  By the end of summer I didn't even want to open the door to another kid and threatened to lock mine out...whew - it was exhausting.  So, woohoo for school!  :)  Although - the first week wasn't even complete when we got the first fundraiser packet sent home...seriously???  And school pictures...they usually aren't until October - just in time to send the family at Christmas time! 

Anywho - hope everyone had a great summer - we went to the mountains for a week - rented a cabin and it was heaven.  Although, we could have done with less rain - it literally stormed every day we were there.  So, it cut out on some of the swimming and hiking time...but it was fun none-the-less.  Hoping to go back next year, and I can't wait!!!  Had one week sans kids, and it was great too - although all of my best laid plans for getting things done while they are gone never get completed!  Sigh...but the quiet is nice. 

Gotta tell a "fun" story about today - we had the blood mobile at work today.  I was the first one in - the lady gets me in the seat, preps my arm, sticks in the needle... as she's pulling her hand back to grab the tape, she accidentally jerks the needle out of my arm...I kid you not it looked like someone had slashed my arm.  I have blood running down my fingertips and pooling on the floor!!!  It was awful, but we all laughed...what else can you do?  So they tell me...we're going to have to use your other arm.  Which went smoothly - but it's a little freaky to have all of your co-workers come in to donate while there is a man with a biohazard bag cleaning up you spilt blood - if I were them I don't know that I would continue on...lol!  So...now instead of one arm bandaged up, I have both.  Anyone who donated gets their name in a pot for a day off with pay...I think it needs to be me!  Haha!  :)  Hey...at least they gave me a drink AND not one, but two snacks, when I left.  I can deal with that! 
Hope everyone has a wonderful day!