Life Happens - good, bad and ugly

Wow - life has thrown us for a few loops the past couple of months.  Not horrible - nothing like that.  I'm just a bit overwhelmed.  Enough that I haven't even been able to read my blogs since before Valentines...no time.  Things are starting to ease up a little, but I know something else will be right around the corner.
First loop thrown - my daughter started feeling bad the week before Valentines - the Tuesday before my husband had to go pick her up from the nurses office.  No biggie.  She started getting hoarse, but made it through the rest of the week - Friday was a school dance, so she said she felt well enough to go (even though her voice was almost gone) - so we let her.  That night after it was over, we had planned to drive to my parents house a couple hours away.  They recently moved into a new home, and we had yet to visit, so we were excited about it.  Got there around 10:00 pm and my daughter went straight to bed.  Clue one that she wasn't feeling up to par - she's my night owl!  Next day we went to the mall and out to dinner - as soon as we got home from dinner around 7:30 pm she went to bed.  Clue 2 she really didn't feel well.  Sunday we had planned on staying until after lunch before heading home, but my girl felt so bad we went ahead and got on the road early.  In time for me to contact the Dr. and get her seen that afternoon.  Strep was a negative (I was really thinking that's what we may be dealing with).  After explaining to the Dr. all her symptoms - headache, sore throat, swollen glands, stomach pain and tirednesss the Dr. said...sounds like typical symptoms of Mono.  Want me to test her?  Ummm yes...of course.  Sure enough - my baby girl has Mono -  and it's been such a rough ride.  We are on her 5th week out of school...yep!  They have her marked out until April 13th. :(  She is missing her friends, has missed two field trips she was really looking forward to, a birthday party for a close friend, honor band rehearsals (which has her concerned) and Beta Club meetings/services.  She's ready to go back but still feels soooo tired.  I feel so bad for her - this is the girl who hardly ever gets sick, so this has been awful.  She's supposed to go on a school trip with band at the end of this month to Six Flags - but I don't see it happening.  I hate it for her (and me - I was signed up to be a chaperone) - but her health comes first.  She'll be so disappointed, and I hate that.
Second loop thrown - job related, but not bad...just crazy.  Our company was managed by a PEO - they handled our payroll, work comp, unemployment, etc.  So...we were told the second week of February that as of March 1 we were no longer going to be part of the PEO, and would be doing everything in-house.  So...basically there were 3 of us who had 3 weeks to 1.  Find a new payroll system, get all employees entered into the new payroll system/database, including direct deposit information, update federal and state withholding forms, all deductions - benefit premiums, 401k, etc. 2.  Find all new voluntary benefit providers - we had dental, vision, optional life and 401k through our PEO, and we had 3 weeks to get new quotes, and get all benefits changed over to new vendors...seriously, that's an impossible task.  3 freaking weeks.  We literally got the new quotes and the census updates sent over the week the transition took place.  3.  Payroll went live last week - after many calls with support for the new system, and ensuring we had everything in place, last Monday was the day...due to some technical issues, our time and attendance wasn't properly linking to the system so we had to manually enter payroll and commissions.  4.  Friday - direct deposit day.  Out of 130 people, we had 5 issues.  All resolved the same day, thank goodness.  I guess it could have been worse, but considering we had 3 weeks to get everything transitioned, I'll take it.  It's been exhausting, though.  I stayed at work late more than one night each week trying to ensure a smooth transition.  5.  We are getting ready to move to a new location - we have two current locations, and we are getting ready to combine both locations into one larger building.  Moving occurs at the end of this month, or the first week of next.  Lots going on at work - at least it's not boring!  Ha!  :)
Back to my daughter - just got a call that her stomach is hurting - I worry about the spleen, because it's susceptible to swelling during mono - waiting for a call back from the Dr.  Ugh!
My son  - still trying to get this gluten free diet down.  It's been a tough transition ya'll.  Luckily as time goes on, we are finding more and more items that are GF, and he's willing to try.  It's just trial and error and hoping something is good.  If he wasn't so darned picky...lol!  That's the challenge.
Anyway - took a brief break. Now back to work, and hoping to hear back from the Dr. soon.  Mono sucks!!

Happy New Year...or January 17th (I'm a little behind).

Hope Everyone has had a great start to 2017.  So far it's been okay for our family. Thanksgiving and Christmas were great - we survived all the birthdays and events thrown at us.  I question it every year, but we always make it through somehow!  :)  Christmas was spent at home with my parents and inlaws in town.  My parents just moved in December, so during all of the craziness that the month brings, they were bringing us all sorts of things they no longer wanted...but I did...oh so much!  We got a new kitchen table, hutch and dry sink, entertainment center and bookshelf.  I can't believe they didn't want it, but since they were downsizing they decided they wouldn't have room for everything.  I'm beyond thrilled!  Not only is the furniture new to us, it is the furniture of my childhood - something I knew I would get one day, but I got it a lot sooner than I had expected or hoped!  It's all soooo pretty. :)  Oh...I forgot to mention the sofa and end tables, chairs and the homemade game boards that my mom and dad made years ago - they were going to get rid of them...I said NO!!!  See the pretty furniture below.  :)

 Hutch - all decorated for Christmas

 Entertainment Center - our tv was too big for the tv spot, so that now hides all of our board games!!  :)

 Dry sink - the match to the hutch

The table - before table cloth and after below...it's beautiful without but keep going to find out WHY we have to keep a tablecloth on it. 

 Our family and best friends celebrating New Years together - love the selfie stick!  LOL!

Finally...the reason a tablecloth is necessary...we have 4 (yes 4) cats - and no matter how hard we try to keep them from getting on the table, we gave up on that battle a long time ago.  It's like one gets down, another gets up...and so on...sigh!  It's a losing battle!  Haha!

Anyway - January has been good so far - no real resolutions, as I don't stick with them very well.  However, I do want to get back into some sort of workout routine...we'll see what happens.  Work is going well, and the kids are doing great at school.  My daughter just got back from Junior Beta Club state convention in Myrtle Beach and had a blast.  The school year is just rearing up again, and along with it the activities.  I'm hoping to make it til Spring Break...maybe a mini vacay at that time.  Who knows!  Anyway - Happy Late New Year, and have a wonderful rest of January.  I'll try to pop in more often this year.  

I'm Still Alive!

Well, I know it's been a while since I've posted.  I had a nice, long, post a while back and it somehow got eaten up.  So...a recap of the past several months.
December 2015 - lost my job of 14 years due to restructuring within the company.  That sucked - it was hard, but I did have several weeks of severance to get me through until I found something else.
January - March - I searched jobs, enjoyed some much needed downtime with the family, and got a few (not as many as I had hoped) projects done.
March - started a new, better job with a smaller, more family friendly company.  Became an HR Generalist for them, and loved it - 2 weeks later, their sister company asked me to transfer over.  I did, where I worked until August (it was crazy, hectic, long hours - but I loved it) and then the original company asked me to come back...it was a hard decision, but I decided that, for the sake of my family and my sanity, that yes...I would go back.  The same pay, but better hours and more laid back atmosphere did it for me.  Started back with them on August 22nd, and I'm loving it!  HR always has it's challenges and craziness...but it's never boring.
Family - kids have been doing amazing!  Both are now in middle school - daughter in 7th grade, and son in 6th.  My daughter has taken middle school by the reigns, man - last year she made A/B honor roll all year, and just pounded out the work.  This year she was inducted into the Jr. Beta Club, is joining Honor Band, and has already received her first Administrative Acknowledgement, in which a letter was sent home by the Principal that a Teacher submitted a recommendation of recognition - she got a Chick-Fil-A gift card too...I couldn't be more proud of her, though!  She's truly matured over the past year - 6th grade started a little rocky, but she's a joy to be around this year.  Report cards come out Wednesday, but I already know she's got straight A's...this is a first ever...can I say proud mama!?!  :)
My son is in 6th grade, and is also doing amazing.  He's been in GATE (gifted program) and really struggled with it the past couple of years.  We were going to pull him, but his teacher recommended he only be pulled from two...after talking to the principal, he tried to push us to keep him in, but I was insistent on pulling him from ELA - he really struggled hard with it last year...all that darn Ceasar's English and the Stems...he still has them this year, but the teacher he would have had for GATE was the hardest English teacher at the school...my daughter had him last year for non-GATE, and he was HARD.  Good...but hard.  I just couldn't put my son through that - he's good, but not as much of a go-getter as his sister when it comes to school work.  I'm so proud of him, though - he's also getting great grades - all A's and one B.  I'll take it!  Earlier this year we had some health issues with my son - at his pediatrician's office during his well-visit, I pointed out a patch of skin around my son's neck - it looks dirty, but it doesn't come clean...even after I scrub it.  Turns out it's a sign of pre-diabetes, and I was told that it's not dirt...it just looks like it.  So, the Dr. sent a referral to an Endocrinologist for him to be tested.  We started watching everything we ate, and tried to make all meals healthier for the family.  We went in early September for the testing - took a couple weeks for the results to come back.  I happened to mention to the Dr. that my son had a very weak stomach, and had a tendency to vomit often...this was literally an afterthought, as I didn't think it had anything to do with the diabetes...but my husband wanted me to mention it.  Turns out they ended up running some other tests, and lo and behold my son does not have Diabetes, at all...however, he was diagnosed with Celiac Disease!!!  Never, from all the times I've carried him to the Dr. over his vomiting fits, has anyone ever even brought this up as a suggestion.  So...now my son has to go completely gluten free.  Ya'll - that's hard.   I know they have lots of items out there, but some of them really suck.  We have yet to find a bread that tastes good.  I bought GF hotdog buns the other day, and when I opened the pack they were so hard I could have knocked someone out if I had hit them over the head.  :(  I was so disappointed.  But...we're learning as we go.  It really makes sense now, though.  I didn't realize just how sensitive he was until a couple weeks ago, after going almost a solid month of gluten free, we decided to make pot roast.  My old recipe called for Au Jus, which turns out to have gluten.  So, my husband decided lets just take some beef bullion and use that instead.  Seriously like 2 hours after eating, he got sick.  I searched beef bullion, and I'll be damned if it didn't contain gluten!!!!  So...now we have to try to find GF beef bullion.  It's a struggle, but at least now we have answers that we can address.
Hubby - recovering well after his double neck fusion in January.  Took a few months, but he's getting better.  Unfortunately, the Dr. said this is his new normal, so whatever state he is in now is how he's going to be...no more surgeries.  He still gets headaches after too much activity, and still has neck/shoulder pain often, but he's still able to do most things within reason.  No more roller coasters or shaky rides for him, though.  He can still ride his bike and tentatively lift some weights (again, within reason), but all in all can't complain.  He's still working in real estate - it's been a bit slow, but he's got a couple leads.  Would be nice if he could make a sale before Christmas - that always makes it easier with all the birthdays that fall in December, and Christmas. :)
With the job change this year, we did not get a real vacation.  We got to make it up to Lake Lure for a long weekend with our best friends, but that's about it.  A short trip home to visit my parents, and best friend - and to go to the Okra Strut (local festival).  My parents are selling their home - they just bought a new patio home, about 5 miles from their current home - the home I lived in the longest before moving out on my own.  They bought that house when I was 10...I'm now 42.  :(  Going to be sad, but the house they are buying is truly beautiful, and I'm excited for them.  So many memories made in the old house, but looking forward to making many more in the new.  They close on it in November...just around the corner.
The last few weeks have been a bit rough - my best friend lost her sister, and she was buried in my town.  She and her family came up last weekend and stayed with us, and we all went to the funeral.  It was sad - her sister was only 49, but lived a rough life...she and my friend weren't close, due to the lifestyles, but that doesn't make it any easier.  Its been a tough time, in many ways, and although I'm glad I was able to be there for her, I'm emotionally drained.  She's been through so much in the past few years - honestly I could write a book...but it's not my story to tell.  Just send good thoughts out to her, because if anyone could use them she could!!!
Well - taking a quick break from work.  Need to get back.  I'll try to write more often, if I can find the time.  Between work, kids, band booster, PTA, tennis and other activities I'm stretched a bit thin. :)
Til next time!  Later. 

Bittersweet - Endings and New Beginnings

Darn...I had a whole post written on Friday, and it didn't save.  :( So...I will write again when I can! 

Time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping...into the future!

Time for my quarterly update - or so it seems.  Ha!  So much has happened in the last few months I don't even know if I can remember it all.  We'll start with July vacation!  Spent an absolutely wonderful week with great friends in Florida.  My friend's in-laws own two time-shares based in Las Vegas, and they were able to get them transferred to Orlando - so we spent $180 for a 2 bedroom suite for the whole week...not too shabby!  We thought about Disney, but ended up spending two days at LEGOLAND - the first day at the water park, and the second riding the rides and watching shows.  So much fun!  Aside from the park, we spent most of the time at the resort - there was tons to do - arts and crafts (we did tie dye shirts with the kids), paddle boats, 14 swimming pools, a water park on site (we didn't spend the extra it cost to do that since we already went to one), a movie theater, game room, gym, tennis courts and they even had Krispy Kreme, Starbucks, and Hershey's Ice Cream Shoppe right across the street - plus a restaurant and pizza shop!  So...we stayed busy and had a blast!  We found this amazing Italian Restaurant that was a few miles away, and thanks to Restaurant.com, we had a fabulous meal for all 11 of us at a very reasonable price.  Fun times - many laughs, busy days, and tons of pictures to capture the memories.  After we got home it was go, go, go time!  One week before school started back, so it was shopping for supplies, clothes and getting haircuts.  Since we were gone for registration, I had to go to the schools (plural because my daughter started middle school this year) to get them registered, and in the process they messed up her schedule...so we had to get that fixed.  She's playing in the band this year, so had to get my old clarinet to the shop to get re-padded (BTW - if you have a wooden clarinet, that starts out at almost $300!!!!!  OMG - who knew???)  I'm still waiting for it - we have a loaner in the meantime. 
August - So...school started out smoothly.  The weekend after school started my hubby's aunt turned 90 - they had a big ice cream social to celebrate her big day.  Since she lives about 5 hours from us, the thought of driving up there for a 2 hour gathering seemed a little crazy...but at the same time, we did not want to miss out on it, because...she's 90!  So - we went, and on the way home decided to take an overnight trip near Charlotte and brought the kids to Carowinds - we had such an amazing time, and enjoyed ourselves immensely.  All the fun, crazy rides, and then there were a couple torrential downpours, so we got soaked, then waited out the rain while watching a show...it was truly a great day.  Then...all hell broke loose.  The third week of school, my daughter (who is usually fairly easy to get along with - although she is at that horrible hormonal stage that makes her seem like the many faces of Eve at times)...Anyway - she got mad at me one night over what I thought was a minor argument - my son and I went out for yogurt (and even asked if she wanted to go), and when we got back she was gone.  Like GONE!  My husband was in the bedroom and thought she was with me - after 30 minutes of driving around (at night, in the dark) and trying not to have a panic attack, I see her walking on the side of the road...2 MILES from our house!!!  I swear, I have never been so scared, and so relieved, in my life! I just don't know what she was thinking, and I'm not sure she does either - she is now really upset and embarrassed by the whole situation and has sworn all of us to never, ever speak of it again.  Before we stopped talking about it, we had a nice, long chat - honestly we didn't ground her or do anything rash - she was upset, and scared and I think she honestly didn't know what she was doing, and had gone so far from home, I think she truly frightened herself (and all of us in the process).  It was a rough few days for everyone, because as parents we were questioning everything! Where did we go wrong, what did we do, will this happen again, why??? - we aren't overly strict, but we do have expectations...anyway.  Hard time, rough patch, but we're doing better now. I had to go to work the next day, and I walked into my bosses office, closed the door and burst into tears.  It was such an emotional day - I could get NOTHING done at work stewing over everything that had happened.  This happened on Monday night right before Labor Day. We had contemplated not allowing her out with friends, but then she got invited to go back to Florida with one of her best friends - LEGOLAND and Sea World...we didn't have the heart to tell her no, and honestly ...we figured it would be good for her to be with a good friend, and have a bit of distance from the situation -for everyone!  She's been a completely different person since then. 
I wondered if all the stress of middle school was causing some of this, but I'm not sure. Her grades are the best she has ever had!  Her lowest grade is a 92 - I am so proud of her!  She has really stepped up to the plate. 
We got her a phone - I did not look at it as a reward (and told her as much) but we had promised her months ago that she would have one before school started...well, it was a little later than originally promised, but she has one now.  I feel better knowing I can reach her at anytime. 
My son - oh...that whole situation broke his heart!  He idolizes his sister, and being my sensitive child, it has made a mark on him.  When we came in the house and she was gone, he started keening - I don't know another way to put it, but it was a moaning, sobbing wail. :(  Breaks my heart.  He has adjusted to school okay - not as well as his sister, and I'm supposed to meet with the teacher next week.  He's not doing "bad" but he's lazy when it comes to homework, and we are struggling to get him to understand the importance of why it has to be done.  He tells us his teacher doesn't always check it...ack!  That's not the point!  Grrrrr - it's been an ongoing argument, and have I mentioned that my son is a Taurus?  Oh he can be so bull-headed when he wants to be!  True to his sign!  Haha! He's been busy with lots of sleepovers and birthday parties lately, which has been good. 
This past week - well...it's been rough for our state.  I'm sure anyone who has watched the news has seen the horrific pictures of the flooding in SC - well, our house is okay, as is my parents and most of my friends.  But...I know several people who have significant flood damage, and my kids are still out of school - today makes day 6 because so many roads are washed out and or still covered with water. I've been in SC since I was 2 (now 41) and I have NEVER seen anything like this.  It's incredible, and so sad to see the devastation.  My dad is over at a friend's house today tearing out drywall, carpet and scraping mud out of the house.  I know of so many more having to do the same thing.  There were so many dams in the Columbia area that are now spilling down the rivers towards our area.  Guess we'll have to see what the weekend holds, and hope the rivers don't rise and cause more flooding.  We don't need it!! 
So - it's been a crazy 3 months. Love it now that it's fall, and football is here!  Tennis starts soon for my son - my daughter decided she did not want to play this year. Maybe next year!  My son also tried out for, and made, the Lego Robotics Team at his school - I'm so proud of him.  Hopefully that will help him with discipline in other areas he's lacking - lol!  I can only hope!!
Upcoming - Well...Halloween is almost here.  My son has decided he wants to be the Creeper from MineCraft, and my daughter wants to be a security guard??  Not sure why, but we found an awesome security guard shirt  - they are both easy outfits, so I'm not complaining.  My daughter is also into Anime at the moment -I'm not sure where she picked that up, but hey...if she enjoys it, good for her!  She has decided for her birthday and some of Christmas that she wants her room redecorated - paint, bed and bedspread, and décor - so that's what we are going to do for her.  I'm kind of excited, and think she is too - something to look forward to doing together.  Seems with this strange, awkward age it's really hard to find things we both enjoy doing together.  That makes me sad, and trust me...I try - so I'm really, really looking forward to this.  Hoping for some quality mother daughter bonding. 
I'm a bit worn out lately - so many things running through my head, and I really need some time for myself - I seriously want a day to do nothing, and for everyone to go out for the day.  My house needs major cleaning, and I don't do well with that while others are home.  I do soooo much more when it's just me.  But...my husband (whom I love dearly) is a home body...and won't go away! LOL!  My kids do, but when they are gone hubby is 2 feet away at all times.  No joke!!  I am reading a book, that I've been trying to finish for about 4 weeks now...I just want to sit and have a glass of wine (or actually, a Moscow Mule) and just read and relax.  Not enough hours in the day, or days in the week. 
Last weekend (before all the flooding mess began) my best friend threw her daughter a birthday party.  We drove up to Columbia, and after dropping off my stuff at my parent's house I headed to the b-day party.  My poor friend is dealing with a mess - she is in a custody battle with her ex and it has gotten so, so, so ugly.  He has never been nice (left her when their youngest was 3 months old, and literally took everything out of the account - left her with nothing).  Anyway - it's gotten nasty, and she was sooooo down over some things that had  just happened.  I had to bake cupcakes, and help set up the food - she was so lost that I'm really glad I was there to help...but, at one point I had to tell her to snap out of it for her daughters sake - that kids were on the way and she needed to step up!  (Hey - that's what best friends are for, right?)  So...she pulled herself together, and it ended up being great.  My son and I went back to my parents' while my daughter stayed for the sleepover.  We went to church with my parents and then picked her up on the way back - had a nice lunch with my parents, before heading back home.  The weather was JUST starting - the prelude to what happened last week.  Yuck! 
Okay - it's now Friday, and I can't tell you how happy I am that the weekend is here.  Maybe I can sit and enjoy a book - I'm currently reading All The Light We Cannot See -and I'm dying to finish it.  Seriously, I started it like a month ago, and I'm not even halfway through...and it's not because it isn't good...it's really good, and I want to devour it!!!!  Just that darn time thing - hence the title!
Well - have a great weekend, and for anyone who is in SC - stay strong, and stay safe. Hopefully everyone will continue to stay dry! 

Random thoughts as I listen to the rain

So I don't have anything wonderful to write about - just random thoughts as I sit at work and wish the day away wishing it was Friday. It's been one of those weeks - not that it's been bad, just trying.  I had two "focus group" meetings at work - they were more of what I would call bitch sessions than anything else, but we did get a few ideas out of them...but one Tuesday and one today - they wore me out!  Mostly gripes about things I have absolutely no control over what-so-ever.  But, employees don't like to hear that from HR - they want answers, solutions, and immediately.  Sigh!  Sometimes it just doesn't work that way - trust me...I want answers and solutions to many things immediately as well.  Seriously - is it Friday yet? 
I'm sitting here listening to the rain outside - it's actually rather soothing.  It's been so dang hot this summer, that the rain may cool it off a little...either that or turn the outside into one big sauna...living in the south you just never know what you're going to get!  But I'll take it over the cold any day.
My son finally got his braces off - yay!  His teeth look pretty amazing.  Not even a week later my daughter got them. Ack! So - braces back to back.  Yay! My baby girl starts middle school in just a month - I'm still struggling with that.  My first born heading to middle school...how is it possible?  Wasn't she just in diapers, like, yesterday???  Hold them close while you can - before you know it they are grown!  I know I still have a few years left with her at home, but if it goes as fast as the first 11 years....well yikes!!!  She's already at the age of pulling away, and oh it hurts.  She is still mama's girl, and will still come sit in my lap (even though she's only 1 inch shorter than me - haha).  But...day in and day out she wants to hang out with her friends, have privacy in her room - makes me knock on the door (which I do...it's the polite thing to do). I'll go in her room to put away clothes and she's like "Why are you always in my room?" with that sassy tone...seriously?  You go do your laundry and put it away, then...you are well past old enough!  So...it can be crazy.  However, there are those wonderful moments, like on the 4th of July, where we just rented an old 80's movie (it was raining so we didn't do fireworks) and had a girls night in - it was fun. 
My son - oh my son.  Still my heart!  He is my sweet child and has such an old soul.  This is the one who, as the judge during apples to apples, chooses waterfall as being closest card to "sad" - because the waterfall is the earth's way of crying!!! What??  He's 10 -  how does he come up with that???  Naturally no one else questioned him.  He's getting ready to go into the top of elementary - only one year away before he goes to middle school...not sure which will be tougher.  My first going, or my last???!!!  Yikes!
I'm ready for vacation - summer so far has not been fun. I mean, don't get me wrong - weekends are nice.  My mother-in-law has been down, so it's been a good visit.  My kids have been so busy with friends that on days I can go to the pool, they aren't here or don't want to go.  My parents did have the kids for a week, and hubby and I had a nice break - we did enjoy some alone time - cuddled watching movies, had a few mixed drinks and danced to our music...silly things, but it was good. But...vacation is almost upon us, and I am sooooo excited.  Only one thing may put a kink in our plans, but I'm trying to stay positive -either way it will be fun.  My friends family has a time share, and we get to go to Orlando for a week - we were going to do Disney, but with so many people and kids it was just waaaaaaay too much mooolah!  Wow - those tickets aren't cheap!  Yow! So...we are going to LEGOLAND for two days - one the park, the other day the water park.  The kids are thrilled.  Heck - I'd be thrilled just to go to Orlando without the park passes, but it will be great. The possible kink...my husband is a realtor, and they just wrote a contract up on a home yesterday for his buyer - the date of the closing just might happen to fall during the week we are supposed to be on vacation...which means 1.  We drive two cars and he leave early.  2.  He miss the entire week due to having to assist the buyer with the home inspections.  or 3. praying that the closing miss vacation by a week and we can all enjoy ourselves.  Otherwise it will be my family (minus hubby) plus my friends family - and her husband being the only guy all week long.  :(  I REALLY don't want that to happen, especially considering they invited us.  However, this is a significant sale, and it is my husband's job...so what can he do? Adulting at times can be really hard, ya know!? 
One truly, truly awesome thing that has happened this summer - about 8 weeks ago I gave up sodas - completely, and cold turkey.  I have never been a diet soda fan, but decided I was tired of the extra empty calories.  So....that was step one.  Second, I got a zumba set for Christmas last year - I set my mind to doing it at LEAST every other day (no less) and signed up on My Fitness Pal - tracking my food and exercise has been the best thing ever - In 8 weeks I've lost 13 pounds.  I have 2 new bathing suits I'm not afraid to go out in, and I feel better than I ever have!  Monday I twisted my ankle, and had to take 2 days off....today was my first day back, and even one extra day had me feeling icky!  I'm addicted to Zumba!  I love it - so much fun!  And seeing results...so exciting!  So - not getting to the pool more often has kind of bummed me out. Darn it,  I finally lose weight, get 2 bathing suits I like, and no one wants me to show them off...hahaha (not that I'm all that...truly, I have a ways to go). 
Books - been trying to keep up my reading over the summer.  I just finished The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks - good book, but it took me a while to get through it. His books read so similar, but they are pretty easy reads.  I just finished another one last night that really turned the wheels in my head!  It was so different from anything I'd read before, and just based on the cover I figured it was some type of crazy erotic romance - however, it's not - I don't normally read those type books, and if it hadn't been recommended by a friend I would have passed right over it without a second glance.  The book is Mud Vein by Terryn Fisher - amazing book!!!  If you like psychological strangeness (I really don't know if I would say "thriller", per se), read this book - it's bizarre, but truly amazing!  I've never read any of her books before, but will be checking more of them out. 
I'm also reading Wonder - I've been wanting to for a long time, as I've heard wonderful reviews on it. Turns out that my son has to read over the summer for his upcoming class, and Wonder happens to be one of the choices on his list.  We are reading it together - I'm trying to get him to love reading like me - he just doesn't.  But...reading it together has been fun, and he's enjoying the storyline. We take turns reading chapters. :)
Anyway - it's almost time to go home - seriously...all of these words were typed in about 15 minutes...just random stuff on my mind and a quick set of typing fingers.  LOL! I should get on here more often, but sometimes the thoughts flow more freely when I don't.  Til next time - hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!!!

Spring is Here!!!

Oh Spring Break - How I miss you already!!!  I worked two days last, and took the rest of the week off to have some fun time with the family, and out of town company.  It is always so hard returning to work after a nice long break...extra work to catch up on, trying to adjust to having to get up early again (oh how I miss sleeping in...even if for only an hour or two longer), and having to get the day started with the hustle and bustle of getting the kids ready and to the bus stop on time...luckily it's right across the street, but it has passed right by a couple of times with the kids halfway down the driveway. 
Spring Break was nice, though.  Wednesday my son and I got haircuts - my daughter needs one desperately, but she was out at the time and I figured we could get her later.  Thursday, my best friend and her 4 kids came for a visit.  Hubby made a delicious pasta and smoked sausage meal, and then we caught up and vegged and had a movie marathon until 3:00 a.m. - I'm still trying to recoup from the lack of sleep!  Friday we went to Charlestown Landing - always a fun place to go.  The kids love the natural zoo area - we actually saw the Bobcat -I think for the first time ever. It's usually hiding in the tress.  This time the park had placed a huge cardboard box sideways in the natural enclosure, and it was sitting in the box (typical cat) and meowing at us from the shade.  My kids now want a bobcat!  Hahahaha!  Right...although it was really cute.  :)  We saw Puma's, a black bear, deer, a skunk, all sorts of wild birds, red wolves, bison and sheep.  They have a really cool otter habitat, and they are usually a riot to watch - very fun and interactive with the people...but they were curled up in a log fast asleep.  :(  Kids really enjoyed this part.  If you have every been to Charleston, Charlestown Landing is a great family place. We went on the replica of the original boat, and they have the stockades for where they punished naughty people...the kids love to stick their head and feet in the stockades, and it's a great photo op.  The kids enjoyed going in a replica of the settler's house - when asked if they would like to live in something like that they looked horrified - my daughter said "There are gaps in the walls - think of all the bugs that would get in!!!"  After about 3 hours of wandering around the park and being a bit hot and sweaty (it was 85 degrees) we headed home for hotdogs, burgers and fries!  Who wanted to eat good on a day like that???  Not me - give me some chili for my dog!!!  My friend's hubby, who had to work all week, was able to join us Friday night - then he picked up his daughter (from prior marriage) and brought her back on Saturday...so we had 4 adults and 7 kids, ranging in age from 11 to almost 2...it was crazy, but fun.  Although my friends oldest son got sick Friday night, and stayed sick the rest of the weekend.  :(  Poor guy - he was such a trooper the entire time!!  Saturday we left the kids with the guys and got out for Easter Basket shopping and a stop at Sally's Beauty to get some items to highlight my hair - my friend took care of my rather blah hair and gave it a little flair.  :)  It was way overdue, and it looks so much better!!  We stopped on the way home and got pizzas (no one wanted to cook again).  We joked around and said we probably both gained 5 lbs. over 3 days - she could afford to, as she is a little size 6...me - not so little.  Haha!  I don't need to be gaining anything anywhere, but Spring Break is a time to splurge.  First thing yesterday morning I got up and did my Zumba!!!  I didn't have the energy this morning, but we'll see about tomorrow. 
Last week (before Spring Break) we had something in our household that I've lived 41 years without having to deal with...my kids got lice!  OMG - what????  Ewwww!  A note went out from our school that someone in my son's class had it, and sure enough he must have picked it up.  Last weekend I spent hours treating both kids.  Both of them have super duper curly hair - my son's was manageable...my daughter - well, I wanted to cry because her's is in a constant state of thick, curly knottiness.  Ugh!  Brushing out her long locks with that tiny little metal comb was not at all fun.  But...we managed.  But oh the cleaning - and cleaning - and cleaning more was such a chore!!!  I have never done so much laundry in my life in one weekend!!!!  From sheets, blankets and pillows to stuffed animals, towels and clothes - soooooo much laundry!!!!  But - I did a second treatment Sunday night (just to be sure those suckers are gone) and I am satisfied that our house is now louse free (shudder) - thank goodness!!  I felt so dirty...but then when I found out most of my friends have already had to deal with it (my really, really clean freak friends) I didn't feel quite as bad.  Just hopefully that was a one time thing...do NOT want to deal with that ever, ever again!!!
So now that Spring Break is over, and it's back to real life...I'm playing catchup at work and I'm already looking forward to the next holiday...which isn't until Memorial Day.  Sigh!  My son's birthday is in May - so something fun to look forward to.  He wants to have a movie theater party the weekend the Avengers comes out.  My daughter wants me to put it off until the following weekend so that the girls can go see Pitch Perfect 2. LOL!  We'll see...it is HIS birthday. 
Anyway- lots going on, as always - hardly ever have time to write.  I've left so much out, but oh well - I write when I can.  :)
Spring is here and I'm so glad...but these allergies can go away now!!! 

Hello...it's me...I'm aliiiiivvvveeeee

So...I don't even remember the last time I wrote on my blog.  So much to do, so little time -and everyone writes so much better than me - so I read.  :)  So - I'm going to ramble because I don't even know where I left off.  Let's just say Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Years late - because I know I haven't written since then.  What has happened since then?  Hmmmm - so much!  Synopsis - my daughter turned 11, the day after her birthday party I had to fly to Chicago (technically Bolingbrook) for work - it was cold!  My birthday (I won't say how old...only 29 and holding...hahahahaha!  I wish!) My parents and MIL came down for Christmas - it was a great time, and my kids got an X-Box...so they were happy!  New Years - my best friend and her family came down so we got to ring in the new year with them in town, and champagne toasts for the adults! Fun stuff!  In January we got to go to Lake Lure, with the same wonderful people, for a long weekend.  It was cool to go during the winter when you can't access the lake for swimming or boating, which is normally the routine of the days when we go.  It was a little more relaxed, with visits to Chimney Rock and the little touristy shops, kayaking on the water (the only boat available - everything else was being winterized, and the water was 10 feet down), renting movies, and just relaxing - it was nice!  Very nice!  Now Valentine's Day is tomorrow - I got the kids their class valentines, but I have yet to get the first thing...well, I ordered a movie for hubby, because that's what he wanted - but nothing else!  My daughter has a birthday party tonight - skating and slumber party, so we allowed my son to have a friend over - hope it's not too crazy! 
My son gets his braces off soon - only to have my daughter go in them.  Yuck!  My daughter is now wearing a bra...really!?!  Really!?!  Why can't they just stay young.  :(  My son got his first text from a girl...and an invite to a movie!  They are in 4th grade...the girls really are brave these days, aren't they!  I would never have called a boy and invited him to a movie...he would have had to call me!  Times have changed.  Sigh!  Since my son doesn't have a phone of his own, he's always having to use mine - I'm seriously contemplating breaking my rule of no phone until Middle School over this because it's becoming inconvenient! LOL!  My daughter starts middle school next year, and I have already told her she can get her phone over the summer...I know that most of her friends already have phones, but I refuse to cave on this one!!!  She's been saving up for her own phone and has saved almost $100 so far - proud of her!  I won't actually make her pay for it herself, but I'm not telling her any differently at this point. 
Why is it I can think of so many things to write about when I'm not at the computer, but I always have a brain freeze when I start typing - I mean, I think the stuff above is interesting...but who else does? What is it I like about other blogs - honestly I don't know - I like reading about other people - kind of like pictures. Some people could care less about other people's picture...I love them!  I find looking into the lives of  others fascinating...I know that sounds stalkerish, but I don't mean it in that way at all.  Haha! 
So - let's see - I love to read and am always looking for book ideas.  I have two blogs that I follow and get ideas on, plus I follow (stalk) all my Facebook Friends on Goodreads.  I have set a goal for myself to read 25 books this year - my husband thinks I'm nuts (he hates to read) but I read 24 last year...so it's very doable.  I've finished 2 so far, and reading a third. Here are some of my favorites from last year/this year:
1.  The All Souls Trilogy (Deborah Harkness) - just finished The Tree of Life, Book #3 - don't expect to breeze through them - they are long books, and full of interesting characters (from witches, vampires, daemons and humans- but none like has ever been depicted before) and full of fascinating information,  and characters, including many historical figures well known in history- but the books aren't light and breezy by any means!!  Fun and interesting - love the character development!!  Highly recommend for anyone who loves a great story - but again, not a beach book!
2. Anything by Liane Moriarty makes me laugh - loved Three Wishes,  liked The Husband's Secret, and currently reading Big Little Lies
3.  Loved The Fault in our Stars - have not seen the movie, but loved the book despite very mixed reviews.
4.  Michele G. Miller's From The Wreckage Series...oh man - I read all 3 of the series in 4 days (over two weekends) - loved the story and the characters! Also check out Last Call - you will fall in love with Gage -and a second book is supposed to be coming out soon!!
5.  Mindy Hayes - Mindy is the niece (by marriage) of one of my work friends.  She has two series out.  The first is the Faylinn Series starting with Kaleidoscope, which is fantasy, and fun to read.
The other is completely different - The first is Me After You and is a contemporary fiction (clean) romance.  Waiting for the second book to come out!!
6.  The Sisterhood
7.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - different type of writing style - didn't like it at first, but kept reading and turned out to be one of my favorites from last year.  Endearing book!
8.  Rare Bird - I didn't want to read this one - only because I follow the author's blog and it is a book about dealing with grief and coming to terms/learning to live life again after her young son's untimely accidental death.  I've read her blog "An Inch of Gray" and she truly has a way with words - raw, funny, honest...she will have you running through a whole gamut of emotions...but if you know of anyone going through grief, let them know about Rare Bird by Anna Whiston-Donaldson.
9.  The Book Thief - I also loved this book, and the narrator was different from any book I've ever read.  It's beautifully written, and one of my all time favorites Not a "light" read - it's moving, and touches WW2 in a different light.  But well worth the read - soooo good!  I haven't seen the movie, but I've heard you MUST read the book first. 
10.  Schism - This was a very interesting debut book, and even better - I went to high school with the author, Brett Dent.  He describes it as Sci-Fi...and I guess it is, but I'm not really a Sci-Fi fan all in all -  however, I think it's more about normal people with unnatural powers (telekinesis, teleportation, mind reading, mind manipulation, etc.) - check it out!  You can get it on kindle or nook, and it just came out in paperback too! 
I could write more, but I'll leave it there for now.  Just found out we are going to the beach (with afore-mentioned friends) for a week this summer, and I'm soooooo excited!  Most of the time we have family vacations, but there is nothing like enjoying time with friends.  Yay! 

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!