My Crazy Kind of Wonderful

Friday Fragments: Episode #182

2012-01-27T06:30:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to write a full, real post this week. One that didn't require a prompt or meme link up. I failed. I just had no energy left this week. Playing catch up after being gone last weekend is exhausting.

My husband celebrated his 35th Birthday on Thursday. The kids and I bought him a cake and the kids insisted I buy candles for it. We got those "magic" ones. I thought I only bought one package with 8 and when it came time to put them on, I realized both packages had them. We had 20 relight candles on the cake. Do you have any idea how hard it is to light 35 candles??

I am hoping to plan a Super Bowl party this year! My husband's team is playing. Go Patriots!! The last time they were there, Little E was just an infant and it wasn't possible. I'm on the hunt for recipes and ideas.

I discovered while on the social security website today, that when applying for a US Passport, if your birth certificate was applied for a year after your birth, you need extra required documentation.* my husband is going on a Mission Trip to Haiti this year and needs a passport*

I realized recently that Little E is OCD like me. I'm not sure if it's because I have spent more time with him being a part time SAHM with him and not Miss K. Or it's genetic.It's a little annoying, because things have to be a certain way with him, but he's not always capable of making those things that way. Leaving me to take care of what he wants.

Have you ever tried Greenwise (non hormone, free range) meat? Like beef? I bought a steak that was like that for dinner for my husband and wow! There is a significant difference in texture and taste. I recently started buying cage free, hormone free brown eggs and they are by far much better. The prepared egg has much more flavor, better color when scrambled and the shell peels much easier than the traditional store brand large white eggs. They even beat out Eggland's best brand.

What is it with tv shows this week? After no new episodes during the holidays and the we finally got like three weeks of new ones to get re runs this week! I want to file a complaint! lol.

WW: It's My Life!

2012-01-26T11:14:00.001-05:00

1. I used to dress up my cat Patches when I was a kid. There were many times when some one would open the door to my room and my cat would come hauling butt out with this wild look on her face. If she could have talked she would have said please some one help me!!! I'm being tortured. It's what happens when all you have is a little brother and you've been forbidden to dress him up in girly clothes, so you choose the next best thing.

2. There were times that my little brother did not escape my attempts at getting some one to join in my dress up time. He actually was a willing participant and let me paint his fingernails and toenails a few times. It was Barbie pink peel off nail polish. That was the last time it happened, because my father threatened my little brother that if he let me do it again he would make him wear a dress.

3. I will never forget the time my older brother ran the riding lawn mower up the side of the satellite dish( you remember those things- they were before the compact ones that you see on the roof) in our yard and blamed my little brother and I. He said we changed satellite direction and it moved causing him to get caught in the arm and run it down with the mower. My little brother and I were punished, spanked and sent to our rooms in tears knowing full well that we did not do that. The next day my brother confessed that he was riding the mower at full speed and lost control and blamed us. It still didn't take away that horrible memory.

4. It was the year that my parents finally got a "real" compact video camera, replacing the one that required you to carry a portable VCR in a bag, for Christmas. We had finished opening all our gifts and my brothers had both received RC cars that year. Mind you, I was 13 or 14 and was in full attitude for those years. My parents told me to take the camera and go video tape my brothers driving their cars. I was none too thrilled about this and proceeded to complain the entire walk through the house, down our driveway and down to our cul de sac, all while it was being recorded unbeknown to me. My parents still have that on tape. I'll never live it down.

5. My dachshund Schnitzl was the kind of dog who let you know if he didn't like some one. He usually barked at the person, growled at the person or in a few cases, peed on the person to let you know. My younger brother was dating this girl at the time and I never knew my dog had decided she was no good. Until one evening at my parents house. This girl was sitting on the couch in the family room and my dog jumped in her lap.She was loving on him when he decided he would let us all know that she wasn't acceptable. It was pretty funny. Until he did the same thing to my husband several years later. (yea, and we're still married)

6. My boyfriend (who is my husband now) thought he would be really cute and show me how fast his motorcycle could go up my parents driveway (they live on a large hill with a long driveway). It was cold that night and he had his riding gloves on. I was standing in the lawn watching him race it up the hill, smiling at him and then my face went to horror as he never stopped until he hit my car!! He smashed his bike right into the rear of my car with his bike. Apparently, his heavy gloves caught in the throttle and he couldn't stop it in time.It was pretty horrifying to watch. I'll never let him live that down.

7. My sister in law (my older brother's wife) used to hang out all the time when my brother was enlisted in the Navy. He was gone for boot camp and we went to the movies one night together. We bought the largest popcorn and ate the whole thing before the movie started. When we left after the movie I joked to her and said next time we just need to buy a vat of popcorn.!! We actually just joked about it when we saw each other this last weekend.

8. Egg nog with nog. I'm not sure what your families call it, but when you add Wild Turkey or Bacardi Rum to your egg nog, it's nog with nog in my family. We used to drive around at Christmas to look at the lights and bring our "egg nog". It was so cold this one year and since we were piled into the bed of my dad's pickup truck we decided to wrap up in a large blanket, while he was driving down the road. We lost track of the egg nog jug until we heard this loud pop!!! We uncovered our heads just in time to see the egg nog all over the road. Needless to say, that was the last year of egg nog and pick up trucks.

9.What is it about holidays?!? Family gatherings seem to bring more stories. There was the Christmas, back in the 80's that we spent sitting on our lawn while the turkey sat in the fridge because we were without power- ALL DAY. Apparently a little squirrel decided he wanted some warmth and somehow managed to get himself zapped, thus popping the transformer connected to our house. We found the only place, two towns over, that was open on Christmas Day for our Christmas dinner.

10. August 13th 1999. My birthday was on a Friday that year and my mother bought me a Ouija Board. I was born on Friday the 13th and was always fascinated with the spiritual side of being a Friday the 13th baby. We used the board that night. My boyfriend, my older brother, his wife, my younger brother and his then girlfriend. It creeped out most of the group, but we did use it. I won't go into detail, but I honestly believe it works.

I'm linking up with Mama Kat today and chose prompt #3.

You know the stories that are retold a million times at family gatherings? I call them Life Stories that you just never live down. List your Top 10 Life Stories.

My title made me think of this song. Enjoy!!

Friday Fragments #181 and Five Question Friday:

2012-01-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

After last weeks fragment post about my laundry, I used the tip from Ann in the Up about throwing in two loads of laundry a day every morning. Now I didn't get the loads in every morning, but I did three on Monday, one on Tuesday, two on Wednesday (thanks to a doggie having a potty accident) and one on Thursday. The laundry mountain never appeared. It was much easier doing one at a time.

I don't know if I ever mentioned getting a dog back in October that started out as a foster. We fell in love the first day and adopted her. I felt bad for closing the door on fostering dogs for the rescue group so I told them I would open my door to another dog. Well we got another foster last Saturday and boy, having three dogs is a lot of work. Especially this one that came to us. The poor thing has been in several foster homes and needs to relearn basic doggy manners. In a weeks time he has done quite well. I'm impressed. The person that ends up adopting him will get a well mannered, sweet tempered dog.

The one day that I didn't walk Miss K to class (I have walked her every day this year), I miss out on finding out that there is an awards ceremony for 3rd grade. Sitting at work, I get a text. K received the citizenship award. I couldn't believe it! I missed seeing her get this award!! I was SO bummed. My husband and I were so proud of her that we took her out for dinner, her choice.
This was the first time she received this award since starting Kindergarten.

I have another busy weekend ahead of me. My grandmother was in the hospital for four weeks and last weekend went to a rehab center. She should be there two weeks and then re evaluation to see if she is capable to go home. ( she has been bed ridden for two years) I am going into visit her on Saturday and Sunday. I haven't seen her in three weeks. Again, another reason the laundry work has been a blessing in disguise.

I really dislike Florida weather. It's really stinks when it can't decide whether it wants to be cold or warm. We went from low 40's at night, last weekend to high 70's Tuesday through Thursday. Then a front pushed through, brought sprinkly rain and now today dropped back to the 50's in the afternoon. It has created a head cold for me. Hot throat, runny nose, sinus pressure..... ugh.

I usually don't combine memes, but this Friday I'm going for it. It's easier this way since I have a full plate this weekend. Heaven help me.

1. Where do you hide the reeeally good snacks? Well if I told you, then you might come over and eat them. Then when I go looking for them, they'll be gone. Just kidding. Really good snacks would be home made cookies or chocolate covered ice creams bars. All of which are in the deep freezer in the garage, where the kids never venture to unless given permission. Because once, the freezer was left open and you can figure out the rest.

2. Do u keep your vehicle clean or am I the only one who has things falling out of their van? I try VERY, VERY hard to keep my van clean. I regularly have it washed and I don't like clutter left in it. No toys, books, food wrappers, left over food (that will never and has never happened) or what such will be allowed to take up residency in my vehicle. I carry a small dust pan and broom and a micro fiber towel to wipe things down. Yes, I am THAT anal.

3. Have you ever been to Vegas? Nope. Can't say that I have.

4. Warm room light blankets or cold room warm snuggly blanket? Cold room with snuggly blanket. I would get a nose bleed in a warm room. I prefer to not run the heat (this is Florida, mind you) unless it drops to the 30's or below outside. So prepare to wear socks, long sleeves and snuggle into a warm, fuzzy blanket at my place.

5. What is the worst airplane/flying experience you've ever had?When Miss K was 14 months old (2004) and I flew home from Colorado after visiting my cousin who had just had her second child. I bought one ticket and had her ride in my lap. Going there was not bad because the plane was half full and she rode in an empty seat next to me. Coming back, it was a full plane, the afternoon (she missed her nap) and she was bouncing off the walls. It didn't help that we almost missed the plane, they had to hook up the gangplank (or whatever that is) so we could board. I'm sure the people on the plane were thinking oh great, a woman with a child held us up. Just great. K was not content to sit in my lap and watch tv, she was wiggling and crying. The guy next to me went to the bathroom a gazillion times and then he stopped coming back until we were descending. I felt horrible and apologized several times. I never have done that again. I will never try and be frugal and pay the consequences.

Writer's Workshop: Man's Best Friend

2012-01-19T13:17:00.003-05:00

Ginger

Bandit

Jasper

Ryelee

Baron

It seems only like yesterday that some of these dogs were in my life. I'm an animal lover and besides horses, dogs are my favorite furry animal. I believe that most dogs are quite intelligent, but I have a had a few in my lifetime that are a few cards short of a deck.

Bandit was a beautiful black and white husky with gorgeous blue eyes. My dad had his heart set on getting a husky with blue eyes and when he read the ad in the paper, he loaded us all up to go see this dog. The people selling it lived almost an hour away on a farm.

I remember there being two puppies, Bandit and his sister, she was a caramel colored female with gold colored eyes. I wanted to bring her home but the decision wasn't up to me. We were there for the blue eyed dog.

I vaguely remember the details, but my dad made a trade with this farmer and he traded our pet rabbits (my rabbit Black Beauty was included in this trade) with cash for the dog. That evening the farmer came back and loaded up our rabbits and the next day we went back to pick up the dog. That should have been a sign that it wasn't going to work out. He threw up several times in the car on the way home. It was awful. The dog was in the front passenger seat with my mom and she was hollering at my dad because the dog was vomiting.

The same thing happened several times during the few years we had him. There was one time that after him throwing up my mom opened the car door and he jumped out and ran down the road. That dumb dog ran off and we had to chase him down. It was quite a scene.

He wasn't a very smart dog at all. Beautiful but dumb.

After a few years of dealing with that dog, my parents put an ad in the paper. They gave him away. I cried the day he went. Some body showed up that day, said they were there to see the dog and the exchange took place. My parents never disclosed their decision or plan to us kids.

I'm linked up with Mama Kat at

Mamas Losin It

2.) List the names of five dogs from your lifetime.

Write about why one sparks a stronger memory to you than the others.

What's in YOUR bowl?

2012-01-17T10:18:00.002-05:00

I never analyzed why I choose the foods that I do for children. It's common knowledge that "kid" cereals are plain junk and that you don't feed them to your kids. At least that is my idea of them.
My mother never bought them for us and the only time I got a taste of Apple Jacks was when we visited my cousins and that was when we were little. My mother cooked us a meal all the way until high school.

After leaving home I indulged for several years and bought the crap for myself... You know the ones. Reeses Puffs cereal, Fruit Loops....

But my idea changed when I had my own kids. There is not enough nutrition in those boxed cereals. But not much thought went into my choices. I prefer to have my kids eat eggs and wheat toast for breakfast or oatmeal with fruit, or yogurt and fruit with granola. I eat the same things now and I want them to be able to make good choices later too.

So it was befitting to read this article about the top worst cereals you can feed your children. It's written by the editors of Prevention Magazine. It was astounding to see that some of the cereals had as much and if not more sugar in them than a Twinkie! And that is when you serve the suggested size of one cup! That means you don't fill the bowl or you might as well just give your kid a candy bar for breakfast.

It makes me feel good about the choices I have made. We do have cereal in our house and thankfully one of them ranks in the good choices category, Honey Bunches of Oats. I have been buying the Kashi cereals and they didn't do the study on them. I would have liked to see where they rank. They did study some healthy organic choices that can probably be found at stores like Whole Foods or your local health food store.

My kids won't be seeing the likes of these at the breakfast table anytime soon. Maybe if they added some whole grain, cut the sugar and removed the colorful dyes. Ah what's the point.

Memories Captured: Bonding Time

2012-01-16T21:25:00.000-05:00

I have taken hundreds of photos of my children. Just in the last month.

I have taken thousands and thousands of photos of my children in the eight and half years I have been their mother.

But then there are those photos that you get and you really don't realize that you captured an essence with the photo. I have taken a few that I look at and can see the moment.

I can feel the emotion that was happening at that moment.

I love this photo that I took this last summer of my children at our final beach trip of the summer.
We walked on the beach to say goodbye to the ocean, the birds, the salt and sand.

We left them behind and we took some memories home with us forever.

I'm linking up with Galit and Allison.

Friday Fragments #180

2012-01-13T12:42:00.001-05:00

I'm Friday Fragging again this week! I've been trying to get back to regular blogging and sometimes I just don't have enough to post or I ramble on and maybe my posts are borrrinng. I kid you not, sometimes I need to try and cut down. I've got to stop getting off track. It happens so easily. Which reminds me of a post my friend Adrienne at Stories from the ShoeBox wrote about with adult ADD.

I finally put on my "big girl" pants and removed some "friends", or used to be friends from my personal Facebook page. I was tired of toxic people that I've talked about more than once. They seemed to be stirring up more drama and I am more grown up than that.

What do you do when your garbage company doesn't pick up the trash? Thanks to some monetary changes, the county changed who picks up our trash. And for two weeks now they haven't come when they should.

A few weeks ago a customer gave me a recipe for Bacon Cheeseburger Pie. I finally made it this week and wow, was it good! It tasted more like a cheesey manwich (sloppey joe) pie, but it was a hit with my husband and Miss K. Little E wanted nothing to do with it.

I lost a few pounds this week. Finally!! I've been struggling with ten pounds that came back after quitting the gym last year. Honestly I really wasn't losing much weight going to the gym and eating better.I blame it on being over 30. My SIL nicely told me once, "you"re no spring chicken anymore". Thanks alot.

I'm on a laundry strike this week. I have actually not washed a load all week. I had the kids bring their dirty clothes into the laundry room last night and just stared at them. Not really. I had good intentions of starting washing but I was exhausted from a full week back to work, taking kids to school/dance classes, midweek church, I couldn't face it. How often do you do laundry?

PYHO: Navigating Through

2012-01-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

Navigating through the road map of being a parent to a child diagnosed with ADHD is pretty strenuous. It takes a lot of patience, time and scheduling. Just to name a few things.

For years I struggled with Miss K's inability to focus, stay on task and her horrible time management. Only recently was she diagnosed with ADHD. After the lengthy questionnaires and paperwork they requested before the actual evaluation, she was struggling yet again in school. There was no doubt anymore that I needed to get her help.

Once we finally got an appointment with the doctor, we had Miss K back on track again at school. She was doing better with daily reminders from her teacher. Thank God for understanding teachers. After the diagnosis I was still apprehensive on filling the prescription and actually handing her a pill to take once or, in our case, twice a day. I thought I could still prayerfully make a difference and not medicate her.

So I thought that maybe we could continue with what we were doing. But it was taking it's toll on me and I was neglecting Little E, because I had to spend extra time every day with Miss K. Then she starting slipping again and we were headed downhill. It wasn't surprising, since we'd been there before.

We just recently started Miss K on the medicine. Slowly we noticed a change in her for the better. Now, after a month of taking her medicine, she is quite different.

It might seem like I could breathe a sigh of relief. Not so fast. It takes some of the pressure off worrying how she will do in school, for the moment.

It's my job to remember to give her the morning pill on time, everyday. It lasts about 4 hours, which then she should take another pill at school to cover her until the afternoon. Of course I was worried about her taking a pill at school. The whole thing with leaving class, everyday to go take her pill. The interruption, being gone and then the kids in her class wondering what she was doing. All those things. So I have been giving her the pill right after school. Which has created another problem. She is not tired when it's bedtime.

So last week, I decided that I would go ahead and get it set up with the school to have her taking her medicine there, right after lunch. I spoke to her teacher about it, so she should would be aware of Miss K leaving class.

I knew her prescription was coming due for a refill. Or shall I say, new prescription written. Thing is another one of the hurdles I will be dealing with, every month, every year, that she is on medicine. The classification of these types of drugs that are prescribed for ADHD, cannot have a refill, by law. So every month I have to call the pediatrician and request a new prescription be written and then wait 48 hours for it to be ready for my pickup. It cannot be called in to the pharmacy.

I picked up the script on Monday and immediately took it to the Target pharmacy, the same pharmacy I used last time to fill it. Of course, they are out of the afternoon (lower dosage) pill. They will have to special order it and it will be in by Friday.

Here's where my mom failure, is going to help us out. Several times I missed getting Miss K here afternoon pill to her on time, so we skipped it on those days and went without. I thought badly of myself at the time, but now it those pills are going to come in handy. But it shouldn't be that way.

I recently heard that the pharmaceutical companies are manufacturing less of these controlled substances, when the amount of children in the United States using them has been on the rise. According to the CDC, that approximately 9.5% or 5.4 million children 4-17 years of age have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, as of 2007.

So like I said, being a parent to a child with ADHD is strenuous, even with medicine to help your child. It's not a quick fix. Not like I ever expected it to be. It makes it easier for her to focus and do well with school and everyday activities and that is most important. Despite the hurdles I am beginning to realize are still there for me, I will continue to muddle through. God gave me my daughter. He knew what he was doing. There is a reason for everything and I wouldn't change it for the world.

My 365 list for 2012

2012-01-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

Have you ever heard of a 365 list? I hadn't until last week when one of my fellow bloggers, Kerri @ Kerri's Klutter posted about it. I'm not one for making resolutions for the New Year and when I read her idea, it seemed better suited for me.

It's making a list of goals for the upcoming year instead of resolutions. I used to make resolutions but I could never quite stick with any of them. After I read Kerri's take on this, I figured I could certainly try this. In her words, this is what it is.

Here’s what to do.
Find a quiet place to think ahead, to the next day, into the weeks ahead of you and of the months full of possibility….then write down:
3 things you’d like to work on
6 things you hope to do
5 things you would like to get rid of
Keep the list somewhere you can access it when you need a boost, some direction or a reminder of what you said you’d like to do with your year.Then try.Be kind, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t find lines drawn through every single thing come December 31, 2011…
“You haven’t failed until you stop trying”

Sounds pretty easy to me.

List for 2012

3 Things I'd like to work on

1. Making better eating choices, get more exercise
2. Patience
3. Organization, filing

6 Things I hope to do

1. Take the kids to South Carolina in the Fall
2. Start my vegetable garden again.
3. Finish painting my kitchen and hallway.
4. Work on my scrap booking more than once this year. Attend one conference.
5.Prepare myself to sign up Little E for tee ball and rearrange my schedule with Miss K
6. Date night with my husband, once a month.

5 Things I'd like to get rid of

1. The wall border in Little E's room (still up from the nursery theme)
2. The crap under my bed. I don't know what half of it is.
3. All the old shoes in my closet that I don't wear and add them to the pile of clothes ready for Goodwill.
4. 20 lbs off my butt, legs and thighs
5. The empty cd boxes that are piled up in the computer room. My husband thinks we still need them, yet the cd's are filed elsewhere and downloaded on the computer and hard drive.

Friday Fragments #179

2012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Little E decided that the scar on his chin wasn't enough, he fell off my stool that I sit on at work. It has metal rungs on the bottom, his shoes were wet and he lost his grip while climbing to sit on it. His chin smacked the counter top and then he slid down the front of the rough formica edge scratching his neck. It was the largest strawberry scratch I have ever seen, that was even bleeding a little. I'm thankful that it wasn't much worse. It would have been a bad ending to the Christmas Break.

I still have my Christmas tree up. This week I found some time to move most of the gifts that the kids have been storing under it still. They must think it's going to be there until this Christmas. I'm sure the cat would like it if I left it up, he's been using it as a hiding place from the dog.

My husband found himself a new vehicle after his car accident. Our insurance company decided that his car was a total loss. Thankfully they valued it enough to pay off the lien plus enough for a down payment on another vehicle. He told me the other night that he actually likes his Element better than he liked his Civic. And he LOVED his Civic. I am not exaggerating.

I've been waiting for days, weeks, months....well maybe... for my favorite television shows to come back on and this is the week they have all started back on. Oh how I have missed Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. I have been filling my lonely tv time with Investigation Discovery channel and Discovery Channel. Not like those channels are bad, but I have seen like everything on them. now .

I failed as a plant owner this year. I blame it on the fact that I did not get any early November cold nights that dipped into the 50's or so to warn me. To prepare me for frigid, col, VERY cold weather that decided to dip into oh, lets say 24 degrees. Now my lawn sucks...my plants are burnt, droopy and dead.

I love when I take cues from other people and it works out. I saw one of Little E's teachers eating sushi for lunch today and thought oh that looks so yummy. Then on my way home from work the kids asked what we were having for dinner and I thought for a moment and heard something about sushi on the radio. oh that sounds so yummy. After turning my van around and heading to the supermarket, I saw on my husband's cousin's facebook page that he enjoyed some sushi tonight. Oh yeah that is going to be so yummy. And it was.

WW: It's What's For Dinner

2012-01-05T09:51:00.003-05:00

4.) Your significant others family is coming over in two hours..think about what’s in your kitchen. Now QUICK…what’s for dinner!?!

My husband loves to spring things on me when I'm not prepared. So this might happen to me and I'll be caught with mismatched foods in the house. We might have enough to feed our family of four, but not enough to feed six people. Lucky enough, this week I have extra chicken. Thank goodness for going to BJ's last weekend and getting a good deal on chicken breasts.

I always have plenty of bread crumbs on hand and my kids love provolone sandwiches so we have plenty of provolone cheese in the fridge. Publix, our local supermarket for those of you who don't live in the south, just had spaghetti sauce on sale so we have sauce.

I'll thaw the chicken and pound it for chicken parmesan. I have wheat spaghetti noodles on hand, so those will have to do. I'll serve romaine lettuce with some parmesan cheese and caesar dressing. I prefer to have fresh schredded cheese on top, but with no time to run to the grocery store I'm out of luck.

And if I wasn't feeling so fat, I would make dessert. But since this is a last minute visit for dinner, they can deal without dessert.

They're lucky I wasn't serving turkey hot dogs, wheat mac and cheese and green beans. If this was a week ago, that would be the only thing I had an overage of.

PYHO: No One Said it Would Be Easy

2012-01-04T09:24:00.003-05:00

For the first time in my life I am not upset or mad that a friend of mine made a choice that has affected me in a hurtful way. I think because I expected it to happen. I had hoped that it wouldn't. But you cannot control what other people are going to do.

For several months I have been dealing with issues in regards to secrets and truths about another friend, who I will name A. My other friend M, with whom I disappointed about, was best friends with A. M knew there was something bothering her husband about A's husband, but she was not aware of the secret until early November when her husband finally confronted A's husband about his cheating on his wife.

I knew A's husband was cheating. But how do you tell your friend that her husband is cheating? You don't. There is no easy or right way to do it. It always backfires when you tell some one else that their loved one is doing something wrong. And I've always been taught not to meddle.

M's husband had known for quite some time about the infidelity and A's husband had sworn him to secrecy about it and promised that he wouldn't cheat anymore. The problem: he had not stopped and was beginning to have a relationship with another woman. A's husband had decided enough was enough and was going to sever the friendship between the families. He felt that A's husband was a bad influence and didn't want his children around that.

M was devastated that her friendship was jeopardy. After the confrontation between the husbands, A called M. A was furious with her friend, she was in denial about her husband and she did not know who to believe. M tried talking to A and giving her advice, but A was not having anything to do with that.

Sadly, it created tension everywhere. My husband, who also knew of the infidelity, was confronted by A's husband just a day after the shoe was dropped. A's husband was trying to cover all his tracks and when he spoke with my husband he said, " let's keep what you know on the down low". My husband flat out refused to lie for him anymore. Which only forced the end to my friendship with A also.

I have been content without having A in my life anymore. My husband and I had already started distancing ourselves from them and the group of friends that we all hung out with. I have thought of her many times and prayed for her healing, since she chose to stay with her husband. Which is another post entirely.

But M is not content. She has not taken the separation well and I knew that she wouldn't. M and her husband have been coming to church with my husband and I regularly since the confrontation. There have been several sermons where it was as if the pastor knew what was going on. M and I would look at each other during service and we knew.

However, she has taken the messages differently than I have. Which can happen. So just the other day we were talking on the phone and she asked me about making plans to go see MJ in the end of January. Of course I was wanting to go too. Then she dropped the bomb. "Well A and her husband are going and they are getting a head count." WHAT??

I couldn't believe that she was going with them and wanted to know if I wanted to go too? I am still in shock about it as I write this. I told her that I would not be hanging around that crowd and we got off the phone. That same day in the evening I wrote her through text. I flat out asked her if she and A were on good terms again.

I knew the answer but I wanted to hear it from her. She said that they were kosher and that she forgave A, which I still don't understand. A should have been asking for forgiveness for turning her back on her friends. I can understand wanting to stay with your husband and working through the issues, getting marriage counseling. But don't turn your back on your friends.

I am not mad about M choosing to go back. Disappointed, yes. I had half hoped that it would have been longer so that M could see what it was like to have her own life. She has always been a shadow of A and tries to always be like her. I knew it was tough for her to not be wrapped up in A's life and I was so proud that she was making decisions for herself.

I will be a good friend and still be friends with M. But I will not associate with A anymore, not even for M. I am doing what is best for my family.

New Years Eve: A Year in Pictures

2011-12-31T00:10:00.000-05:00

So I tried to get photos for my post from my husband's computer for this post and I was doing like he said and clicking away at the pictures and when I was finally done....after going through a years worth of pictures.....only 16 downloaded. So I had to go back again and pick the ones I wanted and messed up again.

I will not attempt to rearrange them, because I do not want to run the risk of losing one and having to go back on his laptop again. So here is my 2011 in no particular order.

Santa Claus at Sea World December

Little E getting his first treatment since his was an infant , July

Miss K on her 8th birthday, August

Little E with a cake mustache at Miss K's party

Bolwing at a birthday party, September

Last beach weekend of the summer, September

At the pool on the last beach weekend, September

Saying goodbye, September

Our first Monarchs, October

10 year Anniversary, October

The hubs and I, Channelside Tampa, October

Monarchs hatched, November

Posing after painting the house, October

Church picnic, November

First Performance with the SODA POPS, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, December

Ready to perform, December

First Christmas with Sadie, our foster turned adopted pooch, December

Fishing trip with my dad, January

First trip of 2011 to Sea World, February

Little E with his guitar that was donated by a friend, January

First beach trip of the year, Spring Break, March

Birthday Party in the park, March

First Camping trip in 2011, Salt Springs, March

Easter Egg tradition, April

First time Easter egg hunting at my house, April

Random photo, May

Trip to New Smyrna Beach to visit relatives, May

After a full day, Father's Day weekend, June

Recital for SODA Dance Studio, Ballet Ms. Dion's class, June

Short haircut for Miss K, June

Summer begins and mommy takes kiddos to work, June

Little E turns 4, July

Shamu Rocks,Summer at Sea World, July

Visit to Uncle Travis, Aunt Christy's house for the first time, July

So I hope you stuck with it and viewed my year in photos.

I hope that 2012 holds as many surprises, good and bad, as 2011 blessed us with. We have had so many life changing experiences this year and hope to continue in the directions we have been heading. May God bless us and you all this year and that it prosper in the ways you hope for.

Happy New Year!!!

5QF: Last Friday of 2011

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

So here I am finally back to some blogging! I LOVE when I can find the time to sit down and write or do a blog meme. I have been enjoying the latest thing on some blogs A Year in Blogging. I wish I had gotten back on earlier so I could have done one, but sadly my computer was down to a nasty virus! Somehow I contracted it and thankfully my husband was able to remove it and add a new spyware program. But it took a few days to remedy the problem.
Cheers to one last 5QF for 2011!! Happy New Years y'all!

1. What's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet? I think I have finally gotten the clothes from high school weeded out. Whew! So the oldest article of clothing hanging in my closet would have to be, ten years old! That is still VERY, VERY sad.

2. How many random blog readers have you met? Well if Ican count MckMama as a random reader, then one. We met when she was in Tampa for photo shoots and she took pictures of my kids.

3. Do you let your kids stay up till midnight on New Years Eve? (Or, if you don't have kiddos yet, did you get to stay up until midnight as a child?) Yes, I let them stay up, if they can make it. I have yet to be able to go to a New Years party without kids, so for nine years (including the year I was pregnant with Miss K) I have had kids with me. Seriously though, I have a hard enough time staying up until midnight. There have been many years where I have passed out on the floor waiting. It's a big joke to see how long I'll last.

4. What are the gas prices where you live? Let's see. Today, the corner gas station near my house is $3.279 a gallon. Two days ago it was $3.199 in the morning and when I got back from Tampa in the evening it was $3.299. It's irritating to watch it jump 10 cents in one day, then 10 more the next, then down 2 the next. ANNOYING!

5. What is one resolution that you know you should do but are too afraid to try? Go back to college. I have been thinking about starting classes again. Biggest fear with this~~ that I won't be able to figure out a major again.

PYHO: In God's Hands

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

You never know what the day is going to bring. What obstacle, miracle, disappointment or surprise. It's all in God's hand and what he has planned for us.

I thank God for being by my husband's side on Monday evening.

You never know what lies ahead down the road.

You cannot predict the future.

Despite the fact that you have driven down the same road, five days

a week for seven years.

Today is day two after his car accident on his way home from work

on Monday evening. Thankfully the people in the car he hit are okay.

Thankfully he is not sitting in a hospital bed, or worse. I'd rather not think

about what could have happened.

He is doing okay for the time being.

I thank God for keeping my husband on this Earth for awhile

longer.

PYHO: Admitting your child has a problem

2011-12-14T10:27:00.000-05:00

As a parent you don't want to think that there is anything wrong with your child. They are this perfect human being that you created and you will stop at nothing to make their life normal. They achieve all the growing milestones on or before the average child. They talk at an early age and walk at an early age. Gross motor skills are right on target as well as fine motor skills. Then it's like something else happens.

I first noticed it when Miss K was going on two years old that she lacked the ability to focus on a given task. Even small tasks that only required a short amount of time and thinking, she would struggle.
At every pediatrician visit we would bring it up that she had issues. The answer was always, "it's her age. They have a short attention span at young ages."

So we struggled another year and would again repeat the concerns. Of course they would give us the same answer, that it was her age. They just didn't seem to understand that it's like she has all these thoughts going around in her head and she can't stop them.

Miss K is a very intelligent child, she just lacks the ability to focus for long periods and fidgets. She also likes to talk, too much sometimes which falls back into not being to focus and does not pay attention to her surroundings.

Her first year of school was a minor struggle. Since it was only Kindergarten and the school system treats them gently, she made it through.Unfortunately, the next year did not go as well. She received average grades but her behavior was causing concerns. We had several parent/ teacher conferences and a few conferences with the principal.

It was mentioned at one of the conferences about Miss K being gifted and possible testing. Her reading scores were high, she was on the next grade level and other areas pointed in that direction. I was dissatisfied with her first grade teacher and even more so when she failed to file the paperwork in time.

It was then that I was forced to wait until second grade to get the test done by the school. The teacher that Miss K got for second grade was really nice and loved my daughter. However, the class that she was in had two teachers with two classes. So the other teacher was not as compassionate and Miss K constantly got into trouble and her behavior was up and down.

By the time that I knew the gifted test was going to be performed, I realized it was not going to go well.With my daughter's inability to stay focused, it took her longer to complete tests, longer to produce answers and without paper she was going to score low. She couldn't just think the answer in her mind without writing it out. But I knew she wasn't going to ask for pen and paper for this test. It's mostly verbal answers.

By the end of the school year, I knew that I was going to have to pick her teacher for the next year. I was not going to leave it up to chance and hope she was placed with a compassionate teacher. If she was going to be in public school, I knew that she needed a better teacher to be able to make it.

This year has been completely different. Her teacher is amazing. We have had our ups and downs again, but this time I have been ready for it. And I finally stopped letting the pediatricians bulldoze me and I requested Miss K be tested for ADHD. They didn't fight me either.

The questionnaires were very extensive for myself and her teacher. I was also required to get test scores, report cards and any material that could show Miss K' performance. A few weeks after turning in the paper work we were called in for the first evaluation.

Miss K was diagnosed with ADHD with hyperactivity and low focus. The focus I knew, the hyper activity, I was some what shocked. But after thinking about it, realized that she has a hard time sitting still at times when she should be. The next step was deciding if we wanted to go with medicating her. I said yes and accepted their prescription and set up a follow up appointment.

But it wasn't until this past weekend that I finally started her on the medicine. I was still apprehensive. I thought, maybe we could still do this without it. Honestly, I was scared. The side effects worried me some. And explaining this all to her seemed very hard.

But in just five days time, I already see major improvements. It's amazing. We are seeing one of the side effects and we are supposed to call the pediatrician a week after starting the medicine. It's like the medicine has tuned out the random thoughts in her head and allowed her to focus on individual tasks.

I never thought it would take this long to finally get a grip on the issue.

Dear Santa: She's getting wiser

2011-12-13T12:45:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, Miss K started questioning the validity of Santa Claus. I wasn't prepared for her to start questioning whether or not he was real and I convinced her that he indeed was. I pulled it off, even though I would have liked to tell her the truth about it.
For many reasons, I really dislike the idea of Santa. I don't like lying to my children for starters. Too much emphasis is put on Santa and Christmas and he's not the one buying the gifts. And most importantly, what does he have to do with Jesus?
I honestly think by the age of seven or eight, it makes sense to squash the idea. I'm tired of this "jolly old man" taking the credit for Christmas gifts and confusing my children about the real reason we celebrate this holiday.
Yes, this is partly my own fault, because I should have never let it get out of control when Miss K was able to understand Christmas. It was only about three years ago when I changed direction with this. I decided that I would buy the Santa gifts and have them come from my husband and I and Santa would get credit for one of the gifts from her Santa list and her stocking.

Ok, I'm going to step off my soapbox now.

So last night Miss K did it again. She caught me completely off guard and said to me "mom, I know there is no Santa. There is no way he is real. Reindeer do not fly and there is no Rudolph.."

Me, completely shocked at how much she really disbelieved it started laughing. The kind of laughing that makes you unable to breathe laughing. I was making dinner, so I tried to hide my face in the fridge to collect myself.

After gaining some composure I said " how are you so sure? So if you believe there is no Santa, then I guess you won't be getting any Santa gifts and Little E will."

She stared at me for a moment and quickly rebutted " so it's true then. There is NO Santa. It's just you and daddy."

Some quick thinking on my part here.

"Ok then, I'll call him.You can talk to him".

She looks at me like WTH. I seriously caught her off guard. And then I quickly starting searching the internet for a phone number. Of course, I was not having any luck and she starting disbelieving me again.

Then my husband phone rings.

He tells Miss K, "it's for you!! Come here."

He turns the speaker on and you hear a jolly old voice that sounds like Santa talking about how he's so busy, he's got his "nice list" all ready to go for Christmas and that he heard that you've been good this year.

Miss K was flabbergasted. She got this look on her face that was priceless.

The phone call ended and she was just shocked that he called and told her she had been good. She said "mom, I have been good. I have."

So I've decided to keep the "magic" going one more Christmas.....we'll break the news after the tree comes down.

PYHO: Hanging on by a Thread

2011-11-30T09:02:00.001-05:00

I'll eventually get to writing about why I've been on hiatus for about four weeks, but today something bigger is on my heart. I've been struggling with my youngest, Little E with his behavior. I partly blame myself for being a softie and letting him get his way. I admit it, I have coddled him way, WAY too long. And now it's biting me in the butt.

I also blame the behavior on preschool and the fact that he's four years old. I thought the three's were bad, but now that I look back at Miss K's year of four, she was a tough cookie too.

It didn't start over night. And it's not like his attitude change didn't happen on his birthday back in July. It has gradually gotten worse and my threshold for his badness has reached "the level".

Little E was always a sweet, kind little boy and reflected that behavior when he used to go to daycare.We never had any problems with him.Then before turning three I pulled him out and he stayed home with me. To prepare him for school next year, I placed him in VPK at a really nice montessori based daycare/preschool. Since then he has complained about other boys treating him unfairly and excluding him.The teachers have not complained about him being bad to anyone at school, but who knows.

The problem: he's trying to befriend the wrong kids. The bullies, the "pretty boys", the rough kids. I can't choose his friends but when he starts reflecting their behavior at home, something has to give.

We've all heard the saying boys will be boys but that doesn't mean it's okay to come home and smack your sister because she won't give you what she has in her hands. And it doesn't mean when you don't get your way with mommy that you go to your room and kick the wall for ten minutes.

Dealing with the way he's been acting, doesn't make trying to get him to eat "big people" food any easier. I finally pout my foot down recently and will not cook him his own meal of either, chicken nuggets, hot dogs, fish sticks or mac and cheese anymore. He has to eat what we eat for dinner. We're on day five today and it's been awful to say the least.

I'm hoping this is just a phase and we grow out of it. Of course, he may grow out of it but I know we won't successfully make it unless I keep up with punishments and time outs.I'm open to suggestions from moms of boys who survived or are surviving the younger years.

You want me to sleep where?!

2011-11-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

This was my home for four days just two weeks ago. I used to like camping. Or maybe I thought I liked camping and this was the trip that finished it off for me.

There's not really one specific reason I have decided that I don't like camping anymore. Well, maybe there is ONE. It's TOO MUCH WORK! I have this huge sense of gratitude for the women and children who used to live like that. Camping in the woods without modern conveniences requires lots of manual labor...all day long.

And if I had to live like that day in and day out, I tell you, let the bears eat me. I was mentally and physically exhausted by the time we got home and that was only FOUR days.

At least the kids enjoyed every moment of it. From playing in the woods, to making pretend teepees and sitting by the campfire every chance they could, they loved it. Two other couples and their children joined us on our camping trip this year which made watching the kids a lot easier. It also caused some extra stress and annoyances too.

I kept saying next time we won't do this or we need to say that, or we need to bring this. But now if you ask me, there won't be a next time.

My husband is so upset about it, he has threatened to sell all our camping stuff. Which I know I wouldn't let him do because the kids would be crushed. But I don't think I'll join them. Unless we decided to go for 2 days and picked a different campground.

One with hot showers..and running water...and daily activities...you know...kinda like a vacation should have!

The Truth Will Set You Free

2011-10-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

Note: I started this on Tuesday and never finished it. Yesterday I saw it and thought, well I don't need to post it as a PYHO because I had more on my heart at the time. But God works in mysterious ways and lead me to his word and gave me the push to write on this again.

I know it's not Wednesday but I need a Pour Your Heart Out today. Why can't life be drama free? Why does drama have to find it's way into my life and try to tear it down? Why can't people keep their problems to themselves and not drag others in it?

We've separated ourselves from the friends that have created issues in our life. Not trying to be arrogant and say that we're better than anyone else, but if friends don't fit your lifestyle or the lifestyle you're trying to live, then you start distancing yourself. If you try to consciously do it, it is hard. And unconsciously we have found ourselves on the other side of the fence. The place where I want to be.

The more you involve yourself in other activities that don't include those people and don't join in what they're doing, the less interaction you have with them. Eventually they stop asking and it gets easier.

But the problem is when you are still friends with some of the people from your past. They are still linked to it. And you get yourself involved in the drama again without even trying.

I don't need that stress.

I worked so hard to distance myself from it. Life has been good. It's been quiet and enjoyable. No worries about who said what or did what.

You can't have relationships with people when it's based on nothing.

There once was a time when I enjoyed hanging out with them. Then I got a closer look into what kind of life they were leading. I realized that they weren't who I thought they were and the more I have tried to be a better mother, wife and Christian, I knew that I needed to separate myself from that.

I'm trying to find the reason that God has put me in this place. What is HIS purpose? Is it my lesson to learn? Or am I supposed to teach the lesson? I have yet to figure that out.

I feel like I'm caught in the middle without even trying. Gossip is a sin. And what I am involved in could be considered gossip even though what I have been discussing is the TRUTH. The truth about some one else that they cannot realize and are denying. And with their denying they are speaking non truths.About themselves and about others.

As much as I want to separate myself and walk away, as a good Christian I want to stand by their side until they see the light. The truth will see you free. John 8:32

Who will this truth set free? Does it release the burden that those who have carried it on their hearts for so long? Maybe for yet a moment. But it has now been replaced with heartache.

Ephesians 5:6-13 says Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Pour Your Heart Out: Are you Listening?

2011-10-19T10:29:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't talked much about Miss K and her academic performance in over a year. Actually since I wrote the post about her being tested for the Gifted Program at her school. The test was given last year while she was in second grade and unfortunately she did not pass.

I was disappointed and relieved at the same time. Disappointed because I truly believed she was smart enough to go into the program. Relieved, because at the time she was in a great class with an awesome teacher and I didn't want to pull her out of that class.

Then the realization hit me, that it was the best thing that she didn't make it. Miss K struggled with staying focused and on task. And she would have done poorly in a class that requires student independent working quite often.
We continually struggled with Miss K not paying attention, talking in class, getting out of of her seat and just "checking out" (mentally) during class. It was an uphill battle and tested my patience on many levels.After trying rewards for good behavior I thought I had gotten through to my daughter.

Thankfully with an understanding teacher, she did well and sometimes above average during the year.

So with all the hard work on both ends, for the teacher and I, Miss K passed second grade.

After experiencing a teacher who wants to work with me and my child, and sometimes going above and beyond, I chose Miss K's third grade teacher. It has been such a blessing.

At the beginning of the school year, just like the past two years, Miss K was like a new child. Motivated, paying attention and listening to direction. Then it started all over again.

She has been coming home with "sign ins" in her daily report book, and has had to be constantly reminded to get back on task during class and at home with her homework. She not only struggles with school work but with everyday regular tasks at home.

The final blow came this week. Her teacher requested to talk to me about last week's math test. Miss K did not get a passing grade and the test makes up 40% of her final grade in math for the first nine weeks of school. I was crushed.

The thought has been in the back of my head for years about Miss K's inability to stay focused and perform everyday tasks. Then it bled into her performance at school and she has survived. But now it's affecting her ability to pass tests and will affect her ability to take the FCAT this coming Spring.I'm worried.

I decided I wasn't going to take no for answer with her pediatricians office about having her tested for a medically diagnosed problem. For years at her well visits, they brushed me off about her lack of focus, blaming on her age. Not anymore.

I was surprised that during my phone yesterday, the nurse said that they have a packet that needs to be filled out by me and her teacher. We are now taking the first step to trying to determine the issue. I am not afraid. I do not want my child to"slip through the cracks" in school because no one cares. We will conquer this and let no one step in my way.

So sorry to those of you who are regular readers of my blog. I am sure you have noticed that I have MIA for a week or so and I feel terribly for that. I have started so many posts and have not been able to finish them. I have had so much on my plate recently that even escaping to blog is not an option. Please bear with me and I will be back to normal soon. I love you guys.

Friday Fragments Episode #165

2011-10-07T07:30:00.000-04:00

Here's to another wonderful week in the record books and successfully

making it through it.

I was so excited to finally witness an adult Monarch butterfly land on my milkweed plants and lay theireggs. My friend gave me a juvenile plant last year and we planted it and crossed our fingers that we would get butterflies. Our plant matured and released seeds and we grew more milkweed, but no butterflies came. Now multiple plants were blessed with eggs that have now hatched into teeny, tiny caterpillars.

These last few weeks of preschool for Little E have really opened the flood gates on absorbing so much information. He tells me something new everyday. He told me that he wants to do everything in the world when he grows up. Starting with scuba diving, followed by riding a motorcycle and building something. I remember when Miss K was that age and she wanted to be a nurse. He has not narrowed anything as of yet.

Miss K has been dancing again this year, the classes started a week before school started. She was asked to join the studio's competition group this year and she accepted the class that goes along with it. It's been tough for me with driving both kids to separate schools, work and dance classes 25 minutes from home. We were driving three times a week, and the dance instructor/owner finally agreed to let Miss K try a little more advanced tap class. This would put us to 2 days a week at the studio. Miss K nailed it! She did so beautifully, as if I had any doubt.

This weekend, the family an I are heading to the Ocala National Forest to browse and scope out our campsite for our annual family camping trip in November. We usually go camping with my husband's mother and stepdad during their annual hunt for deer, but they are not joining us this year. So we decided to pick a new site. Wish me luck!!

While trying to put Little E in some jeans this week to go to midweek church, I discovered he had outgrown ALL his pants. I figured that they were pretty long from last season and he grew some.... but none fit. You realize how much your child has grown when you buy school clothes or it's winter time.

I joined a n introduction class to Life Groups (small groups) at my church. This upcoming Wednesday class is the last one. After that they will figure out which group to have my family join, based on child ages, days we have during the week to attend and other factors. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. There are a few groups that are full that I really want to be a part of and I'm not sure how they figure it out, but praying to God that he puts us in the best place.

WW: Whose Effort?

2011-10-06T08:00:00.000-04:00

So this weeks at Mama Kat's she posted this photo as one of her prompts and prompt #5 says, I have no idea where the following message originated from, but it’s been floating around Facebook for the past week…who does it make you think about?:

This thought was on my mind this week and really on my heart tonight while driving home. I had the pleasure of being able to drive home from church without the offspring tonight. Yeah, I'm feeling kinda raw lately and my babies are the offspring tonight. They were a little off the wall today. Okay, I'm getting off track.

I'm going to answer this question, without really answering it. Yeah I know, that defeats the purpose but, it's my blog.

They know who they are. Every one has people in their life, or maybe shouldn't be in their life that fits that statement. My sister in law calls it "cleaning your friends closet".

The first time she told me that, I was like what the??? you want me to do what???

I haven't followed her mantra but sometimes it just happens on it's own. Sometimes I wish it would happen on it's own without any effort from me. That would be easy.

So if they don't make the effort, then why should I???

Enough said.

RemembeRED: Conjure

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

I could feel it coursing through my veins. With every beat of my heart, I could hear the sound inside my quiet eardrums.

The thumping growing louder in my chest. Da dump, da dump. Da dump.

Like the moment a needle hits the vein, the feeling had taken over me. It was in control and my actions of the situation depended on my full control. It would guide me but not maneuver me.

My mind raced with many emotions all at once but I needed to stay focused on what had to be done.

My instinct took over and I calculated what the outcome should be. You could see it in my eyes. The tone of my voice had changed from a low to that of a rabid animal.

The emotion was raw, like an open wound. It easily surfaced.

I would not let what others had done to me, be repeated with my offspring. Their well being depended on my course of action. I would not stand by and witness it anymore.

5QF: Feeling like Fall

2011-09-30T10:43:00.000-04:00

Woohoo!! It's Friday and I am so glad for that for several reasons. One, we are actually getting cooler weather this weekend in this neck of the woods. I have had my fair share of HOT, muggy weather and it's time we bask in the cool, crisp mornings of fall. We are quite busy this weekend and you'd think I'd want to slow down after a long busy week. Lemme think about this for a minute.....Nah.

I'm going shopping with my SIL and niece on Saturday with no kids!! My hubby has graciously accepted kid responsibility for a day while I go spend money. Also, with our Sea World passes we are heading to SW for their annual Spooktacular on Sunday after church. We haven't told them yet and I can't wait to see the excitement!!!

Now onto some 5QF. I haven't participated in weeks!! W E E K S!!! I'm usually volunteering in Miss K's class on Fridays, but I'm such an overachiever and got so much done, the teacher does not need my help today. Cool for me. I can enjoy three solid hours of no children, checking my blogs, writing and emailing. Nice.

1. Do you apologize to your kids if you're wrong? Yes I do. I've actually had to do that a few times when I made a mistake and blamed the wrong child for something. Like an innocent child, they have accepted my apology with a kiss and a hug. If only adults could display such innocence in a mistake.

2. Do you have a class ring, Letterman's jacket, or similar obscenely priced high school "must have"? Yes I did have my parents pay for a class ring. I wore that thing for so many years then when I got pregnant with my daughter I put it away. It's been sitting in my jewelry box for ten years now. I haven't even looked at it anymore.

3. If you could be one age for the rest of your life, what age would you choose? I would like to be 25. It was such a carefree age for me.

4. What is your favorite (unused) baby name? I love quintessential names that my husband wrinkles his nose at. Alexander, Nathanial, Edward, Elizabeth.. Wow I am at a loss for girl names. Boy names are easy for me. I also loved the names Natalie and Aubrey. Those names were never used for my little girl. Again.. the *nose wrinkle*.

5. If you could make your child like something what would it be? For Little E~ vegetables!! If I could get that boy to eat veggies without me trying to sneak them into foods or bribe him to eat them, it would be great. He is such a picky eater and it really frustrates me.
If I could get Miss K to like cleaning. That child is not me at all, in the sense of OCD. She might be obsessive about her trinkets and papers, but she is in NO WAY obsessive about keeping a clean room. She is definitely her father's daughter.

PYHO: Purity Starts at Seven

2011-09-29T12:41:00.000-04:00

I know that I am led to see or read things in my life. I believe in fate. Maybe even a little bit of pre destiny. This morning while getting my daughter's hair ready for school, it's school picture day, she talked about the last time she was at the dentist's office. Maybe it was because we were making a big fuss with how her hair looked. She said to me " the man dentist asked me if I had a boyfriend". I looked at her like what?

"I told him noooo", Miss K answered innocently "and then he said oh, by the next time you come to get your teeth cleaned, I'm sure you will". She was looking at me with question in her eyes as if I had an explanation as to why he would say that.

Heck I don't know why! Why would he ask my eight year old daughter a question like that? I know that she is a very pretty little girl, she'll knock you down with her gorgeous eyes. I may be partial because I'm her mother, but seriously, she is beautiful.

So maybe he figured that being such a pretty little girl, she would have a boyfriend. I really don't know.

This was the opening to the moment I plan on having with her later. At the time, I didn't know it. I get a monthly newsletter from Crosswalk Daily.com and it my email today, there was a parenting newsletter titled Sexual Purity Starts at Seven.

God was talking to me again. He opened my eyes this morning with Miss K's conversation and if I had not had that conversation, I probably would have never read this email. But it caught my eye because my awareness has been piqued.

I want to share this newsletter with you because sexual relations amongst preteens and teens is on the rise. I want to try my best to keep my daughter from making the same mistakes I made when I was a young teenager and the first step is awareness.

Sexual Purity Starts at Seven

Dannah Gresh

By the time she is sixteen, a Christian girl has a 50/50 chance of surviving life without the experiences of sexual sin, eating disorders and depression. Parents who “did everything right” can’t understand how it happened when their daughter falls on the wrong side of the stats. What they don’t know is that they may have done everything right, but started too late. The foundation for building an emotionally healthy teen girl -- who stands free from the norms of an at-risk culture -- is built between the ages of 8-12.
I have to hold myself back every time a white-haired grandma leans in to her pig-tailed granddaughter and teasingly asks her, “So, do you have a boyfriend?” This, usually said with a chuckle and a batting of the eyes, is generally meant to be just silly conversation, but I know too much to consider it to be cute. It is dangerous. Being in a dating relationship for six months or longer is a significant risk factor for early teen sexual activity. Can you see why it might not be “cute” for our 8-12 year olds to be boy crazy or to have multiple boyfriends while they are still in the fourth grade? If she develops the pattern of “needing” a guy when she is eight or nine, she’s going to be in many six-month relationships in her early teen years. That’s not wise. Let’s help her stay off the boy crazy train.
I have two sixteen-year-old girls who have not only stayed off of it, but have managed to pull a few friends off. How do you navigate through boy craziness? There are three critical things you must do to prepare your princess to be successful in her quest for purity. First, you’ll need to have the big sex talk. Don’t think for a minute that it’s too early. Experts agree that sexual value formation begins when a child is between the ages of 8-10. A healthy, age-appropriate conversation during those years is critical. Second, you need to begin to establish your family philosophy on dating and begin to explain it to your child in stages. This will begin with the first stage of teaching her to related to boys as friends, not boyfriends in fourth grade! Finally, mom, it’s time to start dreaming of her future. If you take the time now to establish a dream of purity and a white wedding dress in her heart, she will know what to aim for and will be less likely to settle for anything less.
The book of Proverbs describes a virtuous woman. It says that she does her husband good “all the days of her life.” I think that includes when she’s seven!
*Article originally posted November 2009 on GirlsGoneWise.com.

I knew that I would need to start having the "talk" with her, but I never realized that it may be sooner than later. And I'm okay with that.

WW: Where I'm From

2011-09-22T21:09:00.002-04:00

I am from hand sewn school dresses from two generations of grand mothers. From Koolaid stained upper lips and Saturday morning cartoons with the Gummi Bears.

I am from the "house on the hill", where every kid wanted to ride their bicycle down and the only house on the block with a swimming pool to cool off in.

I am from the azalea garden that was so overgrown that you could hide in it for hours chasing bugs or picking weeds as punishment on a weekend. And the sand spurs or stickers as some people call them, that hurt like hell when you get them stuck in bare feet.

I am from strolling through the Livestock and County Fair every year in the fall, while indulging on fried elephant ears and cotton candy: and hot tempers that flare. I am from Marie and Estus Sr.and Bastian and Bailey.

I am from playing games of Uno late on Saturday nights and birthdays celebrated with home made cakes from a box. From having relatives close enough by to be there to celebrate birthdays that weren't even milestones.
From "Two shakes of a lamb's tail" and ghosts really did visit us that night in your grandma and grandpa's house.

I am from Protestant and attempts at finding the right church, to succumbing to the demands of owning a business and letting religion go.
I’m from Florida, lineage leading to Germany, Poland, Ireland and Scotland, mom's homemade meatloaf with the sauce topping, pumpkin pie and the never ending supply of home made jarred pickles.

From the time that when the guys(my brother, husband, father and grandfather) came home from a fishing trip early, grandpa stripped down to his t-shirt and walked through the house with no underpants like there wasn't a care in the world and pretending with my brother that we would shrink to the size of his GI Joes and wake up that way the net morning.

I am from mass amounts of containers and rubbermaid bins with old family photos, toothless school pictures and sleeves of negatives. Baby photos beautifully framed and line the bookshelves in hallways, the family Bible encased in a protective fiberglass case and a oil painting of the grandparents flank two walls in the living room.

I am from the brown haired, green eyed girl who loved on all the wayward animals that my daddy brought home, unconditionally loved the companionship of my siblings even when they found being with a girl annoying. Raised to stand up for herself and taught to fight with her fists and deal with the consequences later.

I am from good southern roots who met a boy who was born to Yankees.

This was written in response to the prompt: Where I’m From. Copy this template and fill in the blanks. Inspired by our Bloggy Boot Camp Writer’s Workshop.

Trophy Children

2011-09-20T10:58:00.000-04:00

You've heard of Trophy Wives. Have you ever heard the term Trophy Children? The term came to mind recently after reading many social network status updates and posts from friends and acquaintances of mine. I am not talking about any one person in particular when I point out or make judgments about their actions or intentions.

My opinion is that entirely, my opinion based solely on what I see and disagree with.

I don't agree with parents who outwardly convey that they love their children and when some one is watching. They loving dote on them, make sure you see that extra hug and kiss and go over board when in the presence of a large group.
I'm not saying that they don't love their children even when no one is watching, but it's not with the same passion.

The same parents who make sure their child looks a certain way, joins certain sports and activities to make themselves feel better. And if that child doesn't do very well, then something is wrong with that child. That they're not good enough, and they question themselves "why isn't that child like me?"

Parents seem to forget that their child is a person too. A separate person with different interests and abilities. Their child is not an extension of them and they are not to be controlled like so. As explained in two articles I found about the term Trophy Children, this is actually a form of narcissism.

The first article I found on UAB Publications titled Perfect Parents-Trophy Kids goes into detail about today's American culture and perfect children. Quoted by UAB Child Psychologist Vivian Friedman Ph.D says it’s at least worth some thought. “A danger of the quest for perfection is that the bar will be set too high, which will doom the child to failure. If your child happens to be Lance Armstrong, then those high expectations work just fine. But if your child is a mere mortal, it can be very damaging,” she says. “I see children who are quite high-achieving—top students from the best school systems—yet even when they do well, these kids don’t feel that they’re measuring up because the expectations are so high.”
Our job as parents is to raise, nurture and protect our children, not control them and mold them into what we want them to be.

I believe by the time those young children are young adults they are either going to explode to break free from what their parents have made them become or they will implode from all the pressure to meet the standards that their parents have set.

The second website, Word Spy authored by Paul McFedries gives a definition to the word Trophy child with different examples of how the term is used. It also defines this term as narcissistic. In the bottom of his article, he puts a note.
Notes:This sense of the phrase trophy child (also seen as trophy kid) was coined by psychologist Lee Hausner in her 1990 book Children of Paradise (see the earliest citations, below). It's part of a long series of phrases that use the adjective trophy to mean "something used to impress others and enhance one's status."

I feel that our society has the set such a high standard and many people are clawing their way to achieve the highest goal. They want to be the best, have the best and bore the best. It's like the term, keeping up with the Jones'. Who are they anyways?

It doesn't matter.

Hand me a tissue, please

2011-09-19T11:28:00.000-04:00

I hate allergy season. Hate is strong word that I don't like to use very often, but allergies deserve a strong word. Especially since they require strong amounts of medicines to overcome them.

It has become that time of year again for us to battle against whatever is in the air. We're not really having "fall" weather here in Florida, so I'm not sure how to explain the large amounts of pollen in the air. But it's there.

Both Little E and Miss K have allergy issues and have both been on prescribed allergy medicine since they were toddlers. Miss K progressively got worse the older she got and now has to use a rescue inhaler. She is actually going to the Pediatric Allergy doctor today for more skin testing to determine what triggers her. Thankfully we have ruled out dust mites, dogs and cats.

The poor child has to refrain from using her Zyrtec for seven days now and I am shocked she hasn't had too many side effects. She did start coughing more this morning and I'm glad that she will be able to resume her normal dosing this evening.

Little E however, has not been fairing as well. The local news reported that ragweed pollen would be at an all time high this past weekend and I thought to myself oh great, just what I need to deal with.

Of course Little E was already showing signs that the Zyrtec wasn't kicking it, days before the weekend. It started with a clear runny nose and by Saturday morning, the little guy had the crusty, dark yellow all over his nostrils. He was really cooperative with letting me remove it with a warm wash cloth and saline up his nose. On that morning.

Last night was another story. His nostrils were starting to block up again (it always gets worse at night, you know what I mean) so I told him we needed to rinse them again. Holy cow! I have never seen my son act like he did. Full blown tantrum. It took my husband and I took hold all his limbs, and his head still so I could try to spray the saline. Unfortunately we did not get the nose rinsed. My little man was in tears and his nose starting flowing on it's own. So after several nose blowing sessions, he was sent to bed. Of course, with a warning.

"I'm going to use the saline on your nose in the morning." I told him as I exited his room, shaking my head. Still shocked at how horribly he behaved. This being the same child who stood there just two months ago and took four shots on his four year old check up, all without tears.

I was pleasantly surprised that Little E reminded me to use the saline on his nose this morning. After taking a dose of Ibuprofen and Pedia Sure for his cough. I can see this is going to be a long week for all of us. Well, more like a LONG few months. It's only just begun.

I had to buy myself some sinus medicine yesterday. Have I said I hate allergy season?

It's NOT even October

2011-09-19T10:51:00.000-04:00

On our way to a birthday dinner at my father in law's house toady, we had to make a quick trip in Target to pick up a few things I forgot. It should have taken less than ten minutes to get in and grab the three items I had on the list. Maybe if I had not taken the kids and the hubby in.

After grabbing the last item and summoning my herd to follow me to the front of the store, Little E asked if we could go see the spooky stuff. I knew he meant the Halloween decorations. He wasn't going to get it out of his mind.

Thanks to the Target marketing agents, they already have the hanging decorations in plain view when you enter the doors. So my two Halloween holiday lovers were screeching "booo! boo!" through the isles.

I figured what the heck, why not. I need to get ideas for their costumes anyways.

We managed to get to the isles, which they have also strategically placed near the toy department and electronics not before my husband stopped at two end caps to browse through movies and stereo equipment. The two places I try to avoid when having my husband and children with me.

As soon as the kids and I were strolling down the costume isle, my husband disappeared again into the electronics black hole. After several passes through the costumes we made our way over to the decorations. I LOVE fall decorations. Cute pumpkins, not so spooky ghosts, yellow and orange fall leaves and not so spooky witches.

My husband had joined us again by the time I had found the cutest pumpkins and table decorations. I was hoping to find more isles to rummage through and asked my hubby to go one isle over. He came back chuckling and told me, "nope. Can you believe they already have Christmas decorations over there?" Seriously?

Summer isn't really over, not in this part of the country. We're still hitting the 90's here. They can't even wait until October 1st! So I'll actually bet that maybe they'll put their Halloween stuff on clearance sooner so they can move in the mass quantities of Christmas displays, decorations and holiday cheer into those isles. We'll soon see.

I did discover what I'm dressing the kids as. I'll bet you want to know. You soon shall see.

PYHO: I have a Secret

2011-09-14T07:34:00.000-04:00

Recently I was told some information about some one that I wish I didn't know. Secrets bother me. They bother me when I know that the secret could destroy some one. Actually it could destroy more than one person. I didn't ask to be told, it just happened.

I went out with some friends this weekend and shortly before meeting up with the gang, I was told some shocking news. One of the couples that I have known for quite some time, have separated. I was shocked and not surprised. If that makes any sense.

Shocked because I would have thought that they would actually separate. Their relationship had been rocky for a little while, but all relationships have valleys and mountains to overcome.

Not so surprised because even on the outside they might have seemed okay, but you could tell that it wasn't going so well. There were lots of issues going on. It was only a matter of time.

I came home after an enjoyable evening with friends with my mind swimming. I shared the news with my husband. His reaction was parallel to mine. We talked about some of the friendships we have and their marriages.

Then he dropped the bomb. He shared with me a secret that I wish he had not. The news he had, was told to him several weeks ago. Maybe he wanted to get it off his chest. It was probably eating him alive, like a virus. Sharing it with me was his way of letting it go.

But it's stuck with me.

I can't do anything with it. If I told anyone else that knows the people involved, they could accidentally let it slip. I don't need to have my name tied to it in any way. Then the parties involved would know that my husband told me. You see where I'm going with this?

The other part of it is that what I know, really burns me. I am infuriated with this person. It's not my place to judge, because I know that one day they will have to answer to a higher power and explain themselves. And even if they tried to lie, HE will know their heart.

HE knows the truth.

I feel a little better now, knowing that I sort of got this off my chest and that I am going to give this to God. I'm going to let him sort it out, because as much as I love the person that this could hurt, I love them too much to say anything.

Weight Watchers Fresh Meals Review

2011-09-12T22:33:00.002-04:00

Not your everyday brown bag lunch. Grab a Weight Watchers Fresh Meal.

Leave the brown bag behind.

I like to watch what I eat for lunch. I take care to check the calories and fat intake. I usually purchase frozen meals that I can have on hand to quickly cook as a fast meal for a mom on the go. I was recently contacted about trying some Weight Watchers Fresh Meals. I was excited to try some new meals and thought they would be like the WW frozen meals that you usually see in the store.

I was surprised to come home and find a large cooler box with several different choices to try. The best part, that the meals were fresh an NOT frozen. I was given more meals than I would use in one week and they have an expiration date on them, so I went ahead and froze some of them. They actually turned out amazing even with being frozen for a week.

When choosing a meal to take with me to work, I would place the meal in the refrigerator and let it thaw for a few hours. Then following the cooking directions and not adding an extra time the meal came out perfect!

I will be honest, I was tentative to try the Turkey and Stuffing meal, because I have tried other prepackaged meals and was disappointed with their flavor. But I was pleasantly surprised with the taste of the turkey and gravy. My favorite dish was the Three Cheese Macaroni and it was the first I tried which I paired with some steamed broccoli.

Having pre-portioned meals with nutritional information and PointsPlus information right on the package is a perfect solution for someone who is constantly trying to watch what she eats.

You can find the WW Fresh Meals at your local grocer and if you can't, The Weight Watchers site gives you a link to print out a product request form that you can give to your grocery store of choice. Many grocery stores would be happy to special order items for you. I know if you live in the Southeast and have a Publix Supermarket, they will special order for you.

Disclosure: I was given the meals from Weight Watchers to try but was not compensated or required to review. All opinions are my own.

Beach Bums

2011-09-04T11:15:00.001-04:00

This is the second trip to the beach we have taken in less than a month. For my birthday we stayed on the east coast only and hour away from home. We spent most of our time playing in the pool while we were there.
This time we made plans to head over the west coast and play in the Gulf. The ocean is usually calmer on this side. Usually.
This weekend it's not. The waves are actually about 3-4 foot tall and pretty rough. The riptide current is a little strong. We can thank one of those tropical storms for it.
When we arrived yesterday in the late afternoon, the sun was shining. The weather was breezy and comfortable. We let the kids play in the ocean until almost seven o'clock. Sadly, the pool has been off limits since yesterday early evening. I won't go into too much detail, but some one obviously didn't put a swim diaper on their child. You can pretty much figure out the rest.
The pool guy came this morning to rectify the problem and has shocked the pool. We should be able to use it later this afternoon. Hopefully I don't get green hair from all that chlorine!
The hubs bought children fishing poles for Miss K and Little E. It's the cutest thing to watch them throw their lines in the ocean water.
There are too many people in the ocean, so we left off the hooks from their lines and used some small weights. Little E has been having a blast trying to be like his daddy.
Now I'm off to go get my book and camera that I left in our room. I'll update later with photos!

Writer's Workshop: Valium needed

2011-09-01T09:49:00.000-04:00

It was one of those hot summer days, where it's so humid that it was almost pointless to get up and take a shower. And going through the trouble of rinsing the sweat from the day before makes no sense. I wanted to stay inside all day and enjoy my central air conditioning. It was an August Sunday afternoon, so both my husband and I were home. The hubs was planning on doing some yard work.

Keeping Miss K in the house was nearly impossible. She loved the outdoors and if daddy was going to be outside so was she. She had not been outside very long when her little friend Dee came over from two houses down. She was having a birthday party and invited Miss K over. Her parents had rented a bounce house, slide and set up a kiddie pool for the celebration.

I wasn't so sure about letting her go. Both girls had been playing together for quite some time, we were cordial with her parents but didn't really know them. Miss K begged. She gave us the sad, puppy dog face that usually melted my heart. It was tough living in "the sticks" with not many friends to play with.

I agreed to let her go. I told her to stay in the front yard where the party was and not to go in the house. She promised. The hubs said he would keep an eye on her from our front yard while he was busy clipping bushes and washing his truck.

An hour later the hubs came in the house to get himself a drink. He told me Miss K was still outside playing and having a good time. I stepped outside to take a peek and make sure I could see what she was up to. I watched her jumping in the bounce house. I can only assume, but I'm sure she had a big smile on her face.

After several hours at the party, I figured Miss K would be tired of playing outside in the heat. The hubs went down to retrieve her from the bounce house. Most of the other children had gone home, but being a neighbor has it's advantages of being able to stay longer after the party is over.

I knew something was wrong when my husband looked back at me from their yard. Miss K wasn't in the bounce house. She wasn't in the yard. Her friend Dee was still outside with one of her cousins and few adults were standing around chatting. My husband went asked Dee's father, MJ if Miss K was in the house. He shook his head no. He told my husband that she told him she was going home and had left about 15 minutes earlier.

But she wasn't home.

It was like a fatherly bond amongst the men was formed. They stopped drinking their cups and started searching for my baby girl. My first born. You could hear them calling her name. Shouting her name as they looked in the woods.

I was knocked into shock at the thought that she was gone. Did she head to the train tracks? Was she in the woods? Did another party goer take her home??

I couldn't believe this was happening to me. I should have never let her go. But it was just two houses over. She was within eyesight.

Then all of a sudden our other neighbor, Ed, across the street from Dee's house came outside. He said she was on the side of his house playing with his cat's kittens. My husband ran to her and grabbed her. The emotions of being angry, sad, and happy all rushed within me. She was safe.

We showered her with kisses at first. Then she was scolded for wandering away. That experience taught me a lesson too. I realized that my child was still a bit young to go alone. I was grateful and spared that day. It could have been much worse.

Prompt #3 Your first panic attack.

This is true story that happened when Miss K was five years old. I had pushed the memory back and when I saw this prompt, it was the first one I could recall that caused a panic.

Writer's Workshop- School Days

2011-08-25T09:05:00.002-04:00

Top ten reasons why you’re glad you’re done with school.

Drama. The social drama of dealing with who's popular, who's not. Is your friend going to be your friend today. Or with they make you a social outcast again. I really, really detest drama.

Facebook. I am so glad they didn't have this when I was in school. Refer to the first reason and it goes hand in hand. I enjoyed being able to go home and get away from all that. Now, you're expected to have a page and have 500+ friends.

Clothing styles. I know that they say all styles rotate through generations, but they can keep the skinny jeans. They make girls like me look like a pear. I would have to opt for shorts and freeze my butt off during the winter.

Digital cameras. Growing up in the 80's we lived with film cameras and it was fun to have your photo taken and the film developed. You never knew if you weren't in some ones photos, because it wasn't digital.

Cursive writing. Many schools are not teaching this anymore. I can't wait to see the future generations signatures.

Texting and cell phones. What happened to passing notes in class and the adrenaline rush of not getting caught.? Those were the days.

Music and arts classes. School funding is in the toilet and has depleted the amount of creative arts classes from elementary school all the way through high school. One of the reasons I have my daughter enrolled in dance classes and taking art camps in the summer. Where are my ta dollars going??

Dating. It isn't the same anymore. Boyfriends breaking up with you via Facebook or texting. Where is the dignity?

I can't think of 2 more. Some things haven't changed since I went to school. So using some of the reasons wouldn't make sense for me. I pretty much focused on how different things are now to as they were over 20 years ago for me. I would never want to repeat school and go back and have to do it over now. Most of my information is derived from my own daughter going to school and my niece and nephew who are 12 and 16. You hear the horror stories about school life and the trials they have been through. It's no walk in the park, whenever and wherever you go.

Guest Posting

2011-08-23T09:27:00.002-04:00

In lieu of a regular post today..did I just say that? Ok I humor myself, because really would I have had a regular post today. Probably not. I'm trying to figure out how to write posts when I am now going to bed at 10:00pm to be able to wake at the crack of dawn to get the kids and I ready to go to school. Little E didn't even want to wake up yesterday because after looking out his blinds from his bunk bed he says "mom, it's not even light out yet. We don't wake up yet." Poor child. I spoiled him over the summer.

So after I stop squeeeing with delight about this. I want to let you know that I am guest posting over at my dear bloggy friend's blog, Single Mom in the South. If you haven't met her, you will just love her like I do. Head over and show her some love!! Happy Tuesday y'all!

One down, Goodbye Summer

2011-08-21T21:36:00.005-04:00

The last day of summer vacation for the kids I was trying

to keep it low key and hang inside the nice air conditioned house.
But they were bored out of their minds and I was tired of
them complaining. So I set up their kiddie pool.
It was actually bought to transplant our fish from
our fishtank but you know how everything
can get turned into a water toy.

I gave Little E his brand new side walk chalk and
told him not to get them wet. Well, Miss K wasn't present for those
instructions. I wasn't upset about it. The water and chalk kept
them occupied for almost two hours.

But the chalk didn't stay on the sidewalk. They used it as body paint!
I laughed and told them they looked like the
people from Avatar.

So the last day turned out to be quite fun for everyone. And I was
lucky enough to have worn out Little E and he fell asleep
waiting for bedtime.

So long last day of summer!
Hello to first day of school for my third grader and preschooler.

5QF: End of Summer

2011-08-19T09:52:00.002-04:00

It's Friday!! The last Friday before school starts! Woohoo!!! We're going to meet Miss K's teacher today and I'm so excited! I think I'm more excited than she is. She is going to third grade and this is an important year. The first year of FCAT testing and it is imperative that we have a good teacher. We had an amazing teacher last year and I'm hoping we do again this year. Wish us luck!!

1. Do you close the bathroom door when you are home alone?

Nope. I usually head to my side of the house and try to go as quickly as possible. If I close the door, the kids think I'm doing something fun without them and will head in the direction of that closed door. Like, seriously, what else would I be doing in there?

2. You have to walk around with a word on your forehead. That word describes you. One word. What is it?
Spastic. I wasn't sure of the real definition so I googled it. Here is the use of it in the United States according to Wikipedia. In American slang, the term "spaz" is largely inoffensive, and is generally understood as a casual word for clumsiness, sometimes associated with over excitement, excessive energy, or hyperactivity. I usually have this excessive amount of energy and am going a mile a minute. I talk like that, drive like that, do everything like that. That's me a nutshell.

3. What store do you refuse to shop at and why?

Victoria's Secret. They do NOT make a bra in my size and panties in my size. And I'm going on a limb here I AM not that big. An extra large is not big enough to head to the plus sizes!!! I think the lady who started VS is a big old snooty b!tch.

4. If you participated in arranged marriages for your child(ren), who would you choose for your child(ren)?

Heck, I have no flipping idea!!! I don't know any boys who are Miss K's age that I find worthy enough and brave enough to be my future SIL. My BFF's son is the same age and absolutely adorable, but considering the difference in religion, they would not be able to marry. (according to her)

Little E , I have no idea again. You have to remember, the person they marry has a family and you forever become linked to them.

5. If you could pick how and when you would die, would you?

I don't want to pick when, as long as I've lived long enough to see my children marry, then I'm good. I would like to die in my sleep, just like my sweet grandmother who passed away when I was very young. I don't want to have my life linger in pain.

Summer Fun:It's almost over

2011-08-12T07:23:00.004-04:00

Miss K and Little E being silly at my work. The showroom of my parent's business has plenty of room for them to ride their bicycles in. I was snapping shots of them riding but then they started posing for me. Back at ya Miss K!!!

Little E and Miss K stretching out at a friend's birthday party. The party was held at a local gymnasium where the kids got to run through tunnels, walk on balance beams, jump on long spring boards and jump into the foam pit! It was a fun party!

I wanted to take this photo in front of the Shamu at Sea World of my kids. It's been a tradition for the hubs an I. I have a few of myself and my husband, before kids, taken at this very spot.

This was our first attempt to take this shot of the kids this summer. It didn't go too well, thanks to the almighty bright son. Little E would not take his hands away from his face. But it's a cute reminder of one of our Sea World trips.

I am linking this photo up with Shell at Things I Can't Say for her summer link up Summer Fun Show Off . Also, Link up your Summer Fun for a chance to win prizes from Ubisoft .

Writer's Workshop: Bad Laughter

2011-08-11T10:56:00.004-04:00

Laughter is the best medicine. Or is it? When laughing in the correct atmosphere, where it is an acceptable form of expression given the circumstances.

At a comedy club, in the presence of friends at a birthday party or at your friend's wedding when she smashes cake all over her new husband's face. But finding yourself chuckling at Aunt Mary's funeral while your cousin is giving a eulogy is not a good way to express your condolences.

I can name many times that I have laughed an inappropriate times. When my son fell off the ladder in his bedroom and was crying that he got a boo boo, was not a fine time to smile and fight off a chuckle. It doesn't make me a bad mom. I would think it would if it was the first time but since this incorrect expression has happened many times in my life, I just figure I'm wired wrong.

I've found myself trying to stifle a laugh when a friend of mine was getting yelled at by another friend. I should have been angry but I couldn't get that part of me to trigger to anger. I actually had to walk away and compose myself before returning to the room.

About a month ago, I read a blog somewhere that gave a name for it. But I spent over an hour trying to find it again without any luck.

I've never laughed at a funeral or church at the wrong time. Thankfully. I'm not sure I'd be able to explain my sudden outburst of laughter.

This post was written for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. This week I chose prompt 5 and wrote my non fiction piece, in my own words.

5.) I sometimes laugh when I’m uncomfortable…or being yelled…or in church…or at a funeral. Write about a time when you laughed at an inappropriate time.

PYHO:Twelve Days

2011-08-10T00:30:00.000-04:00

I know I've said somewhere this summer I couldn't wait for school to start. That twelve weeks was just too long for summer vacation. I think that was me when the last school bell rang and I was thinking, what am I going to do for the next three months with the kids?? Especially since we live on a limited budget which does not allow me to take them on an excursion everyday. How could we possibly fill the time up everyday?

For five different weeks I shuffled Miss K back and forth to either an art camp or a nature camp. I wanted to keep her creative juices flowing through the summer since public school doesn't offer enough art/creative arts/music/science in the curriculum anymore.

But we did squeeze in several trips to Sea World. Thank you Sea World and EZ Pay annual passes-we LOVE you! Shamu does Rock! Summer Nights was the best.

We spent several Saturdays or Sundays at the beach. We made a trek to Tampa and visited some out of town family. We even made several trips to the library. My kids LOVE books.

But now I'm feeling guilty. Many times I have wished that school would start already. Those are on the days when we're having down time and the kids are nagging each other, picking on each other and not just getting along.... I want school back. I feel so guilty.

Here we are just 12 days away from the first day of school and these last twelve days are going to fly by. I'm sad.

I'm going to redeem my bad thoughts and celebrate my birthday and our last weekend of summer fun and take the kids for a four day beach weekend. This Friday the four of us are packing up and heading to one of our northeast beaches. I am so excited! I am not going to think about back packs, schedules, dance classes, preschool or 6 am wakeups this whole weekend.

I'm going to laugh at my silly kids while they play in the pool, dig sand castles by the beach, swim in the salt water and let them stay up late the last weekend they can.

This Saturday is my 35th (gulp) birthday and I'm sharing the celebration with my children. Normally, I would plan an event with my closest friends for a night on the town. But not this year. I'm going to soak up the sweet tenderness of my now 4 year old and 8 year old. My little man is going to be starting preschool this year and my princess is going into the third grade.

They won't be little forever.

I still feel guilty. Where did the summer go?

Peeved with Pet Peeves

2011-07-31T15:31:00.002-04:00

I wanted to title this post with some cool twist on words but I couldn't think of anything witty. Maybe it's this massive headache I have. Of course my Tylenol is in the kids bag in the back of the van. That's a safe place for it to be.
So back to the point of this post. I've got to stop thinking about other randomness.
I couldn't resist complaining about the English language today. I did not take honors English in high school. I attempted to. It was fast paced. I couldn't keep up. I transferred back to regular English. I excelled. All four years.
What I don't understand is how any one can pass high school English, even elementary English without knowing how to spell correctly? The misuse of words drive me crazy!!
What makes it more entertaining is when people post it on public social networks. My favorites today are the incorrect use of their, there and they're.
More commonly misused then and than. Or today's laughable feature jeans instead of genes. I wanted to comment on the photo that this incorrect word was used but I refrained. I withheld my snarky comment.
The one that makes my skin crawl is your and you're. I want to scream when I see "your welcome". When did some one own welcome? The worst part is that some of the people using these words are college graduates or school teachers. I want to see their degrees to make sure I don't send my children to school there.
I know I'm not the only one who can't believe it.
Windows can recognize when you have misspelled a word but it cannot decipher what context you are using the word. It's not a grammar corrector.
That's just my two cents on that today.

5QF:Summer almost over

2011-07-29T18:41:00.002-04:00

It's Friday and I'm looking for a little down time. The first nine weeks of summer have been very busy to say the least and we have three left. I think I'm counting right. Miss K has been in various summer camps for several of the weeks and the last one ended today. As much as I like that she is kept busy doing things she loves, this mama needs a break before school starts. I want this to feel like summer. We need to squeeze in a few more trips to the beach and head to the zoo. We have been so constricted by summer camps that we haven't been able to relax and really enjoy what we used to do when the kids weren't old enough for camps.

I had good intentions of doing my 5QF early this morning, but we headed to the mall after picking up Miss K to get more school clothes. Dillard's is having their fabulous 40% sale and I scored some good deals for my girl.

1. Vow renewal ceremonies-yay or nay? Ok, I was on the fence about this one, but after reading a few other answers I think that an intimate ceremony on a special anniversary on an island like Hawaii would be my idea of a vow renewal. My parents actually had a vow renewal on their 30th wedding anniversary but only because they never had a real wedding. They eloped before my dad had to leave the country while he was in the military. It was a wonderful ceremony and the last time I remember my grandmother being out of her house. Ok, I'm completely going off the question.. sorry.

2. What sound/s annoy you the most? The noises that people make when eating. It's like nails on a chalkboard. Slurping. crunching food with an open mouth. chomping loudly. Gulping for air in between bites of food. NO THANK YOU! I cannot stand it and have taught my kids to eat quietly and even had to train the hubs. It's funny how he never noticed and after showing him he can't stand it either.

3. If you had to pick, would you have only all boys, or only all girls for kids?
I don't think I would pick all of either. I used to want all boys before having kids and I had a girl first. She is such a drama queen about things. It's very trying. My son is a complete polar opposite. He's laid back and goes with the flow. If I have another babe, personally I'm hoping for another boy. We have enough drama here.

4. Do you believe in alternative medicine?
In certain circumstances. Western medicine is a lot about pumping you full of drugs. I'm not saying medicine is a bad thing, because I have been very grateful that I have advanced medical care readily available for me.
BUT..

When I was in a car accident many years ago I went to my family doctor first. (I skipped the ride in the ambulance to the hospital) He prescribed a barrage of drugs to take. I then went to a chiropractor who took xrays and determined my back and neck were under pressure from pinched discs. I went for the chiropractor. Six months later my back and neck were almost back to normal.

5. Would you take a family member's children and raise them if they needed it?

Yes I would. If it meant between my house or under state's care I would take them. I would make sure that the situation would not adversely affect my family and consider the circumstances as to why they need care to make sure.

It makes you think about if you and your spouse were to die unexpectedly, ie car accident. Where would your children go? Do you have a will? Something I haven't done either and have talked about many times. I want to make sure my children go to the right home.

Have a great weekend y'all! I'm heading out this weekend on Sunday again. Tampa bound!

PYHO:Periods between Periods

2011-07-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

Before writing this post I went into my archives to link to a previous post about this. But the only one I found was one I never published. It was written back on 02-08-11. So before writing what is on my heart and mind, I want you to see where my mind is.

I have been praying that God will soften my husband's heart about having another child. Last year it was discussed and I actually made an appointment to my OB/GYN to have my birth control removed. But just two days before I was to go, I canceled the appointment. Then my marriage took a turn for the worst and if you've been reading my blog for some time you know what I'm talking about. God was watching out for me and thankfully I listened and didn't go ahead with it. The timing wasn't right and who knows what the outcome could have been. After soul searching and repairing our marriage, changing churches and finding God again in my new church I put aside the thoughts of having another child. My family and marriage were more important that fulfilling my deep personal desire to have a larger family. So just a month ago I spoke to my husband about having number three again. It went better than I thought, at least he didn't flat out say no. Small subtle hints and praying daily and weekly to God has been the only thing quenching my soul. Until recently. If I didn't know any better, I would say that I was pregnant. But unless my birth control failed it's not possible. I know my body and I'm having symptoms that make me think that I could be. Nauseous, moody and my medicine is all wacko. I called my Family Care doctor and made an appointment because if we do want to to start trying I need to adjust my medicine to make my body safer for it. If I have my sure tell sign ( nosebleeds) that I am pregnant. I would say that it is God's will, because only he can make things like that happen despite the fact that I am trying to prevent being pregnant at this time. I know that my husband would not be upset because he getting softer about the idea. My prayers may have been answered. Only time will tell.

So recently I've been thinking about having another baby. It's actually been on my mind for quite some time. After Little E turned three I really started thinking about it. A few times I was supposed to go and have my IUD removed and then I canceled the appointment. My husband got cold feet and my marriage is more important that adding to our family.

Then we got a possible pregnancy scare, despite having birth control in place. I couldn't find my IUD string. If you have one, you know what I'm talking about and you're supposed to check for it monthly. I'm such a scatter brain and I can't remember the last time I checked for it. I was pretty scared and my husband was like, "oh my god, you could be pregnant". I had been having crazy menstrual periods for two months, even twice in one month.

If you can't be sure that your IUD is in place, then you should be using a secondary back up type of birth control. Well when you don't know how long it's been that way, then it's hard to say what might have happened.

I made an appointment for the next day to the OB/GYN. My husband and I discussed the possibility of removing it this time. I figured that when I saw the doctor that she would find it and I would have her remove it and we would be trying for another little one. Well, she couldn't find it either. After trying three different methods of locating it, I was going to have to get an ultrasound. I was really worried now.

What if I'm pregnant with an IUD in there? What do I do?

The doctor didn't seem that concerned and I think because I had a period on the 8th of this month. I explained to her that it was only one day and that is not normal for me. Basing that I had quite a bit of bleeding in the first trimester of Little E's pregnancy, anything was possible.

I've prayed to God. I've asked that if I'm wrong about my desires that he give me an answer, a sign that I should just stop my thoughts. For him to squelch my dreams.

Then I thought maybe this was his answer. That I should go ahead and remove it. That this was his way of getting me there. That this was the push and in my own free will I was to take the plunge.

I got the ultrasound and everything is as it should be. Just an IUD where it's supposed to be. No baby. I was happy and sad all at the same time. It was a bittersweet moment. I did not make another appointment to remove it. I don't know why.

I guess I thought that if it was devine intervention and I did get pregnant with an IUD, that it was not my plan. That it was God's plan.

So here we are and I'm having another period. I'm thinking it's a second chance. I was having second thoughts about not removing it because my husband and I decided to go ahead. I actually got cold feet this time, not my husband.

The Kids Throne

2011-07-26T10:00:00.003-04:00

Before starting to write this post, I realized that I must have poop on the brain. Or something like that. You ever heard about dinner conversations always ending up talking about bowel movements or sh!t? For some reason in my family, we always seem to head in that direction. Don't ask me why. I really don't have an answer. Call me crazy.

So this last weekend we were forced to purchase a new toilet seat for the kids bathroom. It's been one of those things on the to do list that just hasn't been important enough to do. But one of the kids broke the hinge on the back and one of the cushions on the lid. I guess that's what I get for removing the toilet seat cover and some small person decided to drop the lid down.

The hubs was going to go to Lowe's and pick the seat himself. I told him to take the old seat with him and he said "they're all the same. Why do I need to take it with me?"
Uh yeah. I went with him anyways. So we schleped both kids into the self improvement store to find a new seat.

I was glad we brought the old seat with us, because there are two sizes. Men! (enough said)

I never realized how many decisions go into buying a new toilet seat! Do I want plastic? What brand? What kind of hinge? Chrome or plastic? Slow shutting? Antimicrobial?

It took me 30 minutes to find one. I went with an expensive $31.00 white, with chrome hinged antimicrobial seat. It is supposed to prevent staining. When you have a little boy in the house, preventing staining in the bathroom is important.

Glad I didn't send the hubs alone. He would have brought back the plastic, slow shutting one. As much as the slow shutting is nice (no dropping of lids) , it takes too long to shut. No thanks.

Of course, like a new toy the kids couldn't wait to try it out. Both kids couldn't wait to use it once we had it installed. The moments in life that make us laugh.

Surprise Surprise

2011-07-24T20:07:00.004-04:00

There's nothing like enjoying the afternoon at Sea World with your husband and kids. Even when you forget to pack extra clothes for your four year old. The four year old who has a tendency to forget to tell you that he needs to go potty when he's having fun.

Or when he's having constipation issues again.

Five minutes after walking into the park I needed to head to the restroom. Both kids accompanied me and I let Little E go into a stall by himself. That was my second mistake, after forgetting to pack the spare underpants.

I'm standing outside the door and he tells me his pants are wet. Just great! In a hurry to sit down to try to go poop he forgets to pee first while standing up and just sits down. Now if you are a mom to boys, you know what this means. Inexperienced boys forget to hold down their "noodle" and close their legs and the pee goes straight out to the pants.

I'm frustrated at this point and take off his pants and throw out the underwear that are soaked. It's not like I was going to be able to convince the hubs to put them in his backpack and carry around urine soaked underwear for seven hours.

This was like a flashback to the time at Disney CityWalk back in December '10. When I actually remembered to bring spare clothes, but Little E kept wetting his pants and I ran out of clothes. We spent an hour searching the shops to find him underwear. I was lucky that time but spent a small fortune to buy Disney underwear.

We didn't get as lucky this time. No underwear are marketed by Sea World so they don't sell them. But they do have vending machines that sell diapers and anything else that you might need when traveling with small children. The catch? One pullup will cost ya $4.00.

It was pretty painful to drag the kids from the front of SW all the way back to other side of the park to locate one of the four vending machines in the park. All the while they keep asking to stop and look at this or that.

After getting the pullup on Little E, I told him not to go to the bathroom in it, to think like it was his underwear. Yeah, best laid plans.

While waiting for the Pets Ahoy show to start, Little E loudly calls out "mommy, I need to go poop!" What?!
"Are you sure?" I'm hoping he says no, because I was alone with both kids watching the show while the hubs was riding the Kracken roller coaster. So we would have abandoned our seats for another potty break.
"No. I'm good." he says.
I should have known better.

A couple of hours later I took the kids to the restroom again. It was so hot out and trying to keep the kids hydrated so what goes in, must come out. I was surprised again with a mess in Little E's pullup. Poor guy was having such a time with constipation that everytime he passed gas, it was not a pretty sight.

So we headed out again to locate another vending machine. So $8.00 later, I could've bought a whole package of pullups for what I spent on two!! The price of convenience. It's still a hard to pill to swallow.

Thankfully the second one we bought was the last one. The rest of the evening went well. No more accidents and Little E skipped dinner for a much needed nap.

I'm going to make a mental note for our next trip out and it doesn't matter where we go. I'm packing underwear, shorts, socks, wipes and a ziploc bag. I'm tired of being empty handed. I thought my diaper bag carrying days were over when the little guy was potty trained. I guess not.

Happy Birthday

2011-07-17T23:04:00.003-04:00

We had an amazing time today celebrating this little guy's
fourth birthday. After all the guests had packed up and left
for home, we took some time to play
on the playground where we held the party.

Little E is a great subject for photography.

He and his big sister love to pose for the camera.
And he still got to enjoy running to everything
on the playground while I chased him with my camera.

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy.
You are growing up too fast
my little man.

Shame on you

2011-07-16T22:28:00.002-04:00

You know the saying hurt me once, shame on you, hurt me twice, shame on me. Well shame on me. I try to overlook the bad things, the stuff that goes on that bothers me. No one is perfect, so you can't always pick people apart. Everyone has their faults.

But I'm tired of always giving in. Being the nice person and not saying what I really feel. I guess I figure if I don't say anything, then I can save the friendship. Because if I tell her how I really feel then the friendship is over. What's the point???

Why does it matter? At this point I'm tired of getting let down.

After telling me that she and her family would be coming to Little E's party and the day before, after I've already bought all the food and gift bags for the kids, she tells me. I knew it was coming.

We were chatting online and she asks me to call her. I had some family visiting so she asked me to call after they left. I had time to mull it over in my head before calling and figured she was bailing.

Sure as the world, she did. And the infamous line I know you're going to be upset with me, and I understand. Bullshit!
Do you really understand?! The same woman who complains about people doing rude things. Inconsiderate things. Well, I'd like to tell her that she falls right into that category.

I thought she was different.

And she came up with this crap excuse that really pissed me off. Saying that they had to go to this function for church and that she really didn't want to go and her son was torn about going because he wanted to go to my son's party. Blah blah blah.

Whatever!

I'm not done with this situation. During the phone call I didn't know what to say. But I can't let this go. It is bothering me enough that if we're as good of friends as I thought, then she needs to hear me out. She really hurt me.

It doesn't matter at this point where the friendship goes. Because if I don't say anything, then I'm going to just push her away. And if I do say something, then I may just push her away. Whatever.

I'm so tired of being crapped on.

Rockin the Baby or Babies

2011-07-13T00:05:00.008-04:00

I'm linking up this week with my good friend Shell at Things I Can't Say for her Rockin the Baby link up. It was so hard to choose just one photo of my sweet kiddos when they were just little babes so I picked two of each. That was even pretty hard to do because I could just go crazy linking up photos of my kids.

Miss K at 5 months

Miss K at 9 months

Little E at 1 month

Little E at 6 months

Now that you've enjoyed looking at my little babes, head over to Shell's to check out the blogs who have joined in and maybe you can link up too!

Oil and Water

2011-07-12T10:27:00.004-04:00

I survived the weekend. I knew I wasn't looking forward to having extra kids around before they showed up but I was trying to be optimistic. I know, I know, I'm a bad aunt. But speaking from previous experience when my niece came to stay once before, I knew it was going to be rough.

Rough is an understatement. From lying, breaking toys and down right refusal to listen to me was only part of the chaos.

My kids are contented to hang out in the house and play with toys or do arts and crafts. Or play in the yard without issues. Or just watch television quietly while eating mass amounts of popcorn. I don't have to constantly entertain them on rainy days. Which 2 of the 3.5 days that my niece and nephew were there, were rainy.

Oil and water. This was like mixing oil and water. As much as you shake it, it still separates. Every single time. That was us.

I'm walking away from this and taking it as a learning experience. I can honestly say that I will not have both kids come stay together again. It was just too much.

As if I hadn't had enough stress all weekend, as soon as I waved goodbye to my "extra kids" my husband and I tore the house down. Ok, not really. We decided to paint the house a few weeks ago. And this was the week. Crazy I tell you.
It went from painting the living room, to now painting the kitchen and hallways as well. I hope we can finish it by Friday. Little E's birthday party is THIS weekend. Thankfully we are having the party somewhere else.

Here are a few photos to show you. They don't do the color any justice. The lighting was horrible.

More photos to come soon this week. Of course once I find my way to the computers.

Friday Fragments #153

2011-07-08T11:24:00.003-04:00

This last week was one of those weeks that I'm glad is over. It was mentally stressful for me and I was carrying around some issues that I finally got off my chest on my PYHO post over at Shell's Thing's I Can't Say. After writing that post and talking to my husband about it, I can breathe a sigh of relief that he understands where I'm coming from.

I decided that my posts need to be a little more light hearted and not so deep all the time. I don't want to depress all of you and have you thinking my life is all sadness and tears. I need to get back on track and start writing more fiction over at the RDC.

My little E's birthday is next Thursday and we're celebrating it on Sunday the 17th. I ordered his invites the last week of June, they still have not arrived. I broke down in desperation and planned the event invites on Facebook. Something I completely and utterly detest.

I've found my new favorite song of the week. Here's the video. I can't get it out of my head. I love the beat and the music. I haven't had a chance to listen to it in my husband's car (his stereo is outta this world) but I'm sure it beats listening to it on my iPhone.

I made a trip to Walmart last night to grab some last minute items to avoid taking 4 kids shopping. As I was passing the stationery section I stopped dead in my tracks. Can you believe they already have school supply lists out already??! There are still six weeks left of summer!

To answer any questions to why I have four kids now. No, I didn't magically have two babies in the past week to give me four kids. (although I am still trying to convince the hubs that one more kid would be great.) I am babysitting my 3 year old nephew and 6 year old niece for 3.5 days this weekend. My husband's stepsister and her husband are taking a cruise, their first vacation together without kids, and I offered to watch them.

PYHO: Stuck in the Middle

2011-07-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I find myself standing in my kitchen thinking about how nice things are going on in life. That there is no stress and how well the week is going. No craziness.

Life is smooth. It's like a piece of bliss. Perfect harmony.

I'm feeling self assured that my life is going in the right direction. Spiritually. Financially.

Then the rug gets pulled out from under me again.

I'm not sure who is trying to correct me. Is it Satan rearing his ugly head at me? Laughing that I actually thought life could always go so easy. Or was it God? Is he testing my devotion to him? Making me prove my worth yet again?

I've talked about how my in laws and I have strained relationships. Some days things are good between us. Usually when they keep their distance. Sadly that is the best way to keep a sane relationship with them. For me. I can't let them in too far. Of course when the holidays roll around, or a birthday celebration, it gets messy.

Father's Day was a small train wreck. I had a weak moment and decided to go to dinner with my husband's dad, his stepmom and the kids on Saturday, the night before. There was a long, let me say VERY LONG wait at the restaurant. His step mom starting getting weirded out. She couldn't sit still and we tried to make the best of the moment. Thankfully after an hour we were seated but the weirdness stepped up a bit. She ordered a glass of wine. Big mistake.
The alcohol accelerated her mood and she was loopy. She was giving the waiter a hard time about the menu. Complaining about the service. Loudly complaining about the wait for the salad bar.
She was putting me on the edge. I wanted the evening to end and everyone to finish dinner quickly. It's one thing to be uncomfortable with her at home but when it's in a public place, not so much.
We survived the evening. The only good thing about being in public with her is that when it's over, we go home. No whining that we're leaving her house. No dancing around with the kids because she's had four too many glasses of wine to drink. We just get to walk away and drive home.

Fourth of July weekend came and I thought it was going to be peaceful. We only made plans with my parents and a few friends. Tried to keep it low key. We went to church on Sunday morning before heading to the beach for the rest of the day.

It was nearing the end of the day at the beach and we were planning on going home and enjoying a nice evening with my parents coming over to our house. Then my husband gets a phone call while we're trying to load up the van. I gave him a look like are you really going to answer that now? Call who ever it is back. He quickly brushed off the caller, promising to call them back.

Then his phone chimes that he has a text. You'd think that he would wait until we're leaving to read it. But he just couldn't. It was from his dad. He was telling him that the cops were on their way to his house and that his wife was trying to have him arrested for abuse and holding her against her will. What the hell??!!

My husband turns to me and angrily says " I should have taken that phone call! I can't believe that I listened to you."

"Are you kidding me??! You're blaming me??!" I defended my actions. "As if taking that phone call was going to change anything!"

I was glad that my parents were standing there with us. They sympathized that my husband was upset but defended me as well.

I've had about enough of his family's crisis' and shenanigans. At that moment the thoughts that ran through my mind were, what now? What are we going to be expected to do? What has that crazy woman done THIS time?

Without going into more detail and making this post much longer, I'll briefly summarize the rest of it.

My husband went to his dad's house that evening, ending the rest of our fun for that day. His dad was not arrested. His step mom was arrested after attempting to attack his father in front of the officers and announcing she was going to kill him. She was taken to a mental health treatment center for observation. She was supposed to be held for 72 hours but was released after 12 hours after accepting their recommendations to seek treatment.

Currently, I am fed up with the situation. The relationship between his father and step mom are like when some one is being abused. The abusee thinks it their fault and they love the abuser, despite the crap that they put them through. That is where is dad is, he loves her and he is blaming himself for her problems. I personally believe that nothing will change. She will continue to drink, take her pills and cause problems, even if she goes to a treatment center. I used to have sympathy for his dad when dealing with her. Not anymore. So here we are, seven days away from Little E's birthday and ten from his party. I am going to take a firm stance that she not attend.

I know that my expectations are going to come with repercussions. My husband is not going to agree with me and if his step mom is not welcomed, then his father won't come. She doesn't know that we know what happened. Another issue that bothers me. His father doesn't want her to know that he told his son. Where do I with this? What do I do? I'm stuck in the middle.

Friday Fragments #152

2011-07-01T23:44:00.004-04:00

I love Friday Fragments (just a day late) with Mrs. 4444.
I haven't participated in awhile but it feels good to
just jot down snippets of thoughts and call it a day.

*The closer I get to my son's fourth birthday I realize that he's growing up. My little man is exiting toddler hood and will be embracing little boy status. He's going to be more interested in sports, trucks and bicycles than sitting in his mama's lap.

*This past week was one of the best week's so far this summer for the kids and I. After four weeks we finally got ourselves a great routine for the week. Even when we have moments where I can't take much more of their "mom!! she's touching me!!" or "mom, he took my toy!!", we still manage to overcome the trials and pull it together and have a great day.

*It's been so dry for many weeks, that even watering the lawn for 2 hours in each section, it was still dry hours later. Now, it's been raining everyday for over a week. The smell of moisture outside is bugging me. It's so wet and it's great and you'd think that I wouldn't be complaining.

* After getting a chance to sneak away last weekend to buy birthday gifts for Little E, he tells me today that he wants something other than what I purchased. I'm hoping he's only asking for it because he saw it at Target while shopping.

*I stumbled across this awesome blog, momcomm this week and I am so inspired by her tips and information on blogging.

*I don't remember picking on my little bother as much as my two argue, grumble and having sibling rivalry. Boy, it's a tough job getting two small people to learn to get along sometimes. ugh.

*Speaking of little brothers, my younger brother moved back closer to home this week. He was in Pensacola for four years and he and his family moved back on Friday. They will be living only two hours away from us now and I'm so excited. I can't wait to give my littlest nephew hugs and smother him in kisses.

The Last Time.....

2011-06-30T14:20:00.003-04:00

My friend Elizabeth over at Confessions from a Mom came up with this little game. She recently gave birth to her second child, a little boy and all us mamas know how tough it is to take a shower even with one little one around. So in her words. "So I came up with this fun little game this morning, when I was trying to figure out the last time I had showered. I hope you play along".

The Last Time You...

...took a shower: this morning

...shaved your legs: this morning. It's hot here in Florida so I wear either capris or shorts everyday until the end of September.

...got your hair cut, colored or professionally styled: last month about 3 weeks ago. I keep a regular schedule on haircuts.

...wore mascara: put some on this morning. Have you seen me without mascara??!?? I don't think my eyelashes exist unless I have given them a good coating.

...read a non-children's book: last night. I'm reading The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner on my Kindle. It's funny how I can read a book faster on that.

...cleaned your kitchen: cleaned? everyday I do the dishes. Deep cleaned? uhhh. It's been a few months.

...changed the sheets on your bed: I use the same set all the time, I wash them every two weeks. They were washed on Monday.

...kissed your children: my daughter- this morning. my son-last night.

...took a vacation: December 2010, Colorado. Ahh.

...took a vacation... without the kids: uhhh. haven't the slightest idea.

...went to the gym: I quit the gym.

...talked to your mother (in person or on the phone): today. I work for my parents, two days a week.

...told your spouse you loved him/her: this morning.

Lost and Found

2011-06-29T16:10:00.004-04:00

I hate losing things. I think most people do but it sends me into a tail spin. It doesn't matter if it's an item of mine or the kids. As soon as it's realized that the item is missing, the questions begin. When was it seen last? Where did I have it? Where was I if we were out of the house?
I mentally ask myself these questions if it's my item. If it's the kids, it might take longer to get answers and usually more questions ensue.
This time, it's me who lost an item. I lost my earring. A gold earring. This wouldn't be the first time I lost one. It's more frustrating this time because I don't have a back up pair that I like. And I lost one of these before and was lucky enough to have found it.
Not this time.
When I realized it last night, I went on a man hunt. Or woman hunt. I started looking under my recliner. Which I made a mental note, clean under that thing. I checked all the obvious places. I even looked in my jewelry dish, maybe I started the day with only one. I wasn't leaving out any possibilities.
I didn't find it. The worst part of hunting around the house to find something that is missing. I find dirty spots in my house that I hadn't noticed before. So it escalates my OCD. Compound that with a missing item plus the scouring the house for it.
I finally gave up. I'm not sure if it was finding more things I needed to clean or knowing that this was an effort in futility.
I'll be on the lookout for it now when I'm cleaning.

PYHO:Hurt

2011-06-29T16:00:00.000-04:00

I have this feeling in my chest that is hard to describe. Sadness? Disappointment? Jealousy? Anger?
It might be all of those emotions rolled up in one.
It hurts when some one intentionally does something to you that isn't very nice. But when they unintentionally do something to you without thinking about how it may affect you or those around you. It bothers me.
Maybe because I do try to think of others before I do things. I might not have in the past but I've learned that your actions will affect others.
The hardest part about it. It affects my kids.
If it were just me, then I'd be able to brush it off. Get past it and move on. Maybe I'd hold a grudge for a bit but I'd get over it. But....not when my babies are involved.
I'm a mom. and sometimes a bit overprotective. But while they're little, impressionable and don't know how to handle their feelings like I do, I get upset.
I haven't decided where to go from here. It's only day one and the affects are still raw.
I haven't spoken to the person who did the unintentional act that has bothered me. I don't know what to say. The options in my head are to either take a step back and distance myself or say something and put the wedge there.
Time will tell.

RemembeRED: The Beach

2011-06-28T10:14:00.004-04:00

It was my sophomore year of high school. I was back on track, focusing on my school work after falling apart my freshman year. Science was one of my favorite subjects and I was currently taking Zoology.
Half way through the year our teacher announced that we would be going on a field trip to St. Augustine Beach. Our class and several of the other science classes would be going together. We would be exploring marine life and the eco system. I was pretty excited about this because one of my best friends, who was in another class, would be going too.
I'm not sure what it is about bus rides for me, but I always seem to find some boy to adore. I saw him in the back of the bus. Attractive. A "baby face". Eyes that captured your heart. I wanted to meet him.
The buses pulled up along side the beach side parking. We unloaded and I didn't rush off the bus. I wanted to make sure he noticed me too. Without making it too obvious I exited my seat just a few people ahead of him.
The teachers were organizing us into small groups of ten students. I got lucky and was in a group with him. I was still nervous. He wasn't paying that much attention to me, he was listening to the teacher give us instructions. Something I should have been doing. I don't even know to this day what we were instructed to do.
The beach was empty except for our groups. We headed to the large rocks that were onshore. Climbing up them was not an easy task. Opportunity number one. I asked him if he could give me a hand up. Without much thought, he gave me his hand. Butterflies in my stomach. My heart was racing.
The rest of our trip continued that way. I took advantage of any opportunity to talk to him or ask him for help. He was enjoying the attention. The attraction between us was growing. As much as he tried to concentrate on the sea life growing on the sides of the rocks, he couldn't keep his attention off me long.
Opportunity number two. When it was time to load up to leave I changed seats and sat next to him. I wanted to get to know who this guy was who had captured my heart. His name was Shane.
Ah, Shane.

This weeks prompt for the Red Dress Club was to write about School trips. We all go on them. What trip do you remember the most? Where did you go? Who was with you? How did you get there? Have you ever been back?

Write a memoir post about a memorable school trip.

Where theres water....

2011-06-27T17:11:00.007-04:00

What happens when you mix water, two kids and a silly water hose?
Some summertime afternoon fun

Little E squirting his sister

How about a little drink?

Disconnected

2011-06-26T22:28:00.003-04:00

I waited until Saturday to go grocery shopping for the week. I needed to go on Friday since we were out of some important items, but heading out with both children in tow was not worth it. I knew that the kids wouldn't mind staying home with daddy on Saturday afternoon. I readied my lists and decided to venture to the warehouse store as well as my regular grocery stores. Before leaving the kids wanted to play some ringtones on my phone. I told them to bring it right back so I could have it with me.
That was a mistake.

Pulling out of the driveway and waving goodbye to hubs, "I'll call you when I head back over the bridge". (the bridge that separates one county from another) Little did I know, I wouldn't be making that call.

I decided t swing into McDonald's for a sweet tea and realized I was without my cell phone. I debated driving back home. It would have wasted 20-25 minutes of my time.

Nah. I'd survive without it. Could I?

I got off the interstate to head to the warehouse store and decided to hit Toys R Us. Little E's birthday is next month and when was I getting another chance without kids to shop?
I wanted to let hubs know. Oh darn! No phone. Oh well. He probably would have been whining that I was taking too long adding another store.

I finished my shopping trips in four hours. Four hours without connection to my family. No kids. No crying. Silence.

It was nice. I survived. Even though I did miss having it available if I needed it. Thankfully I didn't break down on the road. That would have been scary.

PYHO:Spades are always spades

2011-06-22T00:30:00.001-04:00

I was going to write about my dysfunctional in laws again for this Pour Your Heart Out and I had already started the post in my thoughts. Then something happened Monday evening that really deserves the attention. I have to get this off my chest. I wanted to spill it out on the social media forum where it escalated but I'm going to be a better person. I try to avoid drama and people who say they hate drama, actually enjoy creating it. Case in point, a so called friend, or as the new term I hear a lot lately, frenemy.

I blame myself for not being a better judge of character. Maybe reconnecting years after being friends in high school was a mistake.

There have been several things that have raised a red flag with me. I've only recently started putting the pieces to the puzzle together. I usually over analyze situations or conversations and it gets me into trouble. Not this time. Without actually pointing the finger at me, I know it's me.

She and I started playing an online game against each other through our phones. Hanging with Friends. If you have an iPhone you may know it. It's pretty much like hangman that you used to play as a kid. She beat me the first game. The second game however. I was beating her. And as far as I believe she couldn't believe that I was winning on my own so she throws a word that in no way she figured on her own.

The word in question. Zariba. What in the hell kind of word is that? Especially with previous words like ejector, pursed, bites, folk, quits, thins....do we have a pattern? I'm certain she has an average vocabulary.

So after I figured her word out with some help the game went downhill from there. The next two words that she had to solve that I gave her, she didn't try. She guessed crap letters to lose the game. I wondered what in the hell was going on. Later that evening while browsing Facebook I saw a comment she made to another friend of ours, whom I am also playing the same game with. It went on to say that she was quitting all her games because of cheaters. Sore loser if you ask me.

I will defend my reason for using a cheat to figure out her word. She cheated first and used a word that she has no way of knowing the meaning of without the use of a dictionary. I could bet that she didn't like losing fair and square so she threw a word like that at me. I fell for that trap and cheated. Only that once did I use another phone app to figure out the word. It's just a game.

The point is not that I cheated, the point is that she couldn't say something to my face about it. She had to run her mouth on a social network where I would read it. She could have texted that friend the same exact comment. But she LOVES attention. She wanted others to read it and put their two cents in. Of course leaving out the part that she did. People need to grow up, stop acting like we're still in high school.

I really wanted to run my mouth on the thread. I wanted to call a spade a spade. But it's not worth it. It won't do any good.

I know where I stand.

RemembeRED:I crawled

2011-06-21T00:30:00.000-04:00

We partied the night away, my best friend Keri and I. Dancing. Drinking. Moving our barely clothed bodies on the dance floor among the other hundreds of other party goers. It was a regular Saturday night ritual after working a long day.
Ladies night. Free well drinks. We mixed our free drinks with shots of vodka. Vodka and lemon juice. Those lemon drops always went down so easy. Followed by sucking the sugar coated lemon wedge. Before you realize it, you're pretty well tipsy. Well past tipsy.
I get caught up in the moment. The laughter and fun. My mind losing rationality and forgetting how many drinks I have consumed.
The evening is winding down. Time to leave the club while we still have enough sense to remember where we parked the car.

The cool night air hits me and it refreshes the senses. We giggle and laugh as we walk to the parking lot. I'm giggling like a kid again. Forgetting about the long week for awhile.
I don't remember the ride home, thankfully I'm the passenger and Keri is driving us home. I enter my parents quiet house. They are asleep. It is two in the morning.

I undress and drop my clothes on the floor, slipping a t-shirt over my head. I crawl into the cool sheets of my water bed. My room is almost quiet except for the sound of my overhead fan whirring. I would have been okay laying there letting my head spin while I closed my eyes. But I moved and rolled over to clear my head. Uh oh.

I rush to the bathroom and wrap my arms around the cool, porcelain rim and the contents of my evenings drinks spill into the toilet water. That sucked. If I had only not moved, I would have been in control of the spinning in my head. I crawled back to my bed.

The first time I crawled after drinking.

*The prompt for this week's remembeRED post....It's a fill-in-the-blank-for-your-own-prompt Prompt: The first time I ________-ed after _________-ing. This is a true story of a time I went out drinking with a best friend of mine after I turned 21. It seems so long ago that this was a regular time of my life.

Rocking the Bump

2011-06-20T22:08:00.007-04:00

A mother's love is like no other

Unconditionally loving the new life inside of you
Rubbing my belly and your response to me with a soft kick
Feeling you move for the first time brings tears of joy to my eyes
Hearing your heartbeat and it is forever captured into my heart
When we meet face to face for the first time
it is as I have known you the whole time
We have a connection
a bond
We are mother and child
And nothing can ever take that away.

Monday Minute:06/20

2011-06-20T06:00:00.001-04:00

It's been a long eventful weekend and I'm glad to be sitting in my favorite recliner in the living room on my computer. It's funny how I remember the last time I went to Sea World with the kids, the traffic was so bad when we were leaving, I wrote my answers for a MM while in the car on my phone. This time we left early.

1 - In terms of having sex, etc, what's your 'safe word'? I don't have a "safe" word.The hubs and I don't communicate in words when in the midst of friends or the kids, when we're thinking of leaving the the room. We have a "look". The eyebrow and a cock of the head, while making eye contact.

2 - What are you wearing? After a long day for Father's Day with the kids and hubs at Sea World. I am now comfortably sitting in my cotton running shorts and a t-shirt. Comfy clothes.

3 - How are you feeling? Exhausted. 90+ degree heat, crowds of people squished together to watch Shamu soak us and long lines waiting to ride Journey to Atlantis. (55 minute wait to ride for 3-4 minutes.)

4 - How many and which languages can you speak fluently? just one. English. I took French in high school and that has not been retained.

and finally...

5 - Name at least one thing that you did as an adolescent that if you caught your child (or future child) doing, you'd get pretty mad. Sneak out my window and to go see a boy. Ugh. I did it once at my house and got caught the first time. The repercussions from that were awful and that boy was not worth it.

Week Recap before Dad's Day

2011-06-17T23:51:00.004-04:00

This week has been quite a whirlwind for me. Of course it happens after I decided that I was going to be better about writing more frequently again and regular posting. I guess it happens to the best of us.

My old church was holding their annual Vacation Bible School and since Miss K enjoys and needs camps to do this summer, I agreed that she could go. It was held from 6:20pm -8:45 every night and I didn't plan on Little E being able to go. Much to my surprise, they were offering a preschool class for siblings of the school age kids that were attending. I didn't find this out until Wednesday since my mother picked up Miss K for Monday ( I was out of commission with a stomach flu) and Tuesday we had other plans.
The kids wanted to spend the night at Grandma's house on Thursday night after VBS so after dropping them off at the church, the hubs and I had the evening to ourselves. An unplanned night....alone....kidless!

After what seemed like forever for me to decide where to dine without the kids.We went to dinner at our local and favorite steak house. I wanted to go somewhere that the kids don't like to eat at, like the Chinese Buffet. I know, I'm crazy. But I love this buffet. They offer a Hibachi grill and some decent sushi. I'm picky about chinese food which makes it hard for me to order takeout. But the choice for steak worked out nicely. I was able to eat my steak while it was still warm and not deal with bathroom breaks and picky eating kids.

After dinner the hubs and I went to WalMart. Yeah, I know...another great place for a kidless night. I needed to pick up a birthday gift for a party we're going to on Saturday afternoon and it's so much easier to shop in the toy department without my two. It felt like old times, meandering through the store...the quiet.. the alone time. Of course, I took my big kid, the third child in the family..yes, hubs, to the electronics department. He convinced me to buy a movie.

So the evening ended with us watching Battle:Los Angeles on the home theater, shaking the house down. It was really nice.

Today, started my weekend for Father's Day. My dad wanted to have his truck washed for his gift. I agreed to take care of it for him and take his truck where I get my van washed. I've been taking my van there for quite some time and never had a problem. Of course something had to happen to my dad's truck. Going through the machine, his mirrors stick out farther and the passenger one was pushed in by the machine. I didn't notice it until I pulled out to leave, the glass in the mirror was shattered. Just great. Thankfully, after speaking with the manager, he assured me that he would replace the mirror at the company's expense. Whew!

This weekend is going to be really fun. We're going to a birthday party for a friend's son, a Father's Day dinner with in laws on Saturday early evening and Sunday we're going to Sea World with hub's brother and family. The kids can hardly wait!

How are you celebrating the Father's in your life? Hope you have a great weekend!

PYHO:Frustrated

2011-06-15T14:20:00.003-04:00

This weekend started out as one of the best of this summer. We took the kids to the beach, we spent most of the day there. We had to leave earlier than planned because the ocean high tide came in earlier than expected, and farther into the shore. That should have been a sign.

Monday was going to be a busy day of washing laundry from the weekend, including wet bathing suits and damp towels and doing some house work. Best laid plans. Monday morning welcomed a stomach bug for me. For twelve hours I spent my time on my bed or in the bathroom. I will leave those details to the imagination. My husband, my knight in shining armor, came home from work to tend to the kids and do laundry for me.

I could not physically stand in the kitchen long enough to make breakfast for my kids. It really sucked for me.

What bothers me the most.? I can never get ahead. Just when things are going well, I get a curve ball and knocked out.

I'm behind on my housework again, but it's my day off from work. I didn't want to spend today doing ALL that house work plus more and ignore the kids. If I never get my regular work done, how will I ever get the computer/craft room reorganized? How will I find the time to paint the living room? I can hardly find the time to blog, let alone get anything extra done? I feel like I'm running in circles!

Either I choose to neglect the current housework and tackle an organizing task that could consume hours or shove the organizing aside like I've been doing for months... I thought I might do it this summer.

5QF:Summer

2011-06-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Is it Friday? Ah yes. I look forward to Friday's every week because it starts a four weekend for me every week! And now that the dance recital is over (pictures to come soon) there are no more dance classes on Friday nights. Yippeeee!! I get my Friday nights off again, at least until school starts again. Shhhh. I know, we have 10 more weeks left of summer and I plan to enjoy every bit of the sun, sand, surf and whatever other excursion we plan.

Now for some 5QF.

1. How close to your childhood dreams is your life now?

Funny you would ask, since I wrote this really off the wall post about what my life would be without kids. If I followed that childhood dream my life would be extremely different. My choices have not paralleled those dreams at all. So my life is not what I thought about as kid, not really.

2. What is one must have item for the summer?

FLIP FLOPS. I love my flip flops. I can slip into them and just go. Whether I need to run a quick errand, go to the pool, hit the beach or take a walk down the road chasing the kids in the Power Wheels Escalade, they're convenient. If you're looking to do a flip flop swap, my fellow blogger is having one.

3. Do you have your kids stay up on school stuff during summer vacation? (Or, if you don't have kiddos, did your parents make you keep up on school stuff during summer?)

Only Miss K is in school, Little E will be starting Pre K this fall. I never kept up too much on it besides having her continue to read and write stories during the summer. But last year she struggled with some Reading Comprehension testing in second grade so I purchased some books to help her out. Her teachers sent home books and workbooks that were not used during the school year so we're going to start doing a few pages each day. Third grade in Florida is a big year with FCAT testing. If your child doesn't score high enough, they will fail. I think that 12 weeks is too long during the summer (even though I am excited about all the fun time) for a kid to go without school. Little is pretty prepared, almost over prepared for Pre K and we'll be working on learning how to read this summer.

4. Do you can or freeze fresh produce?

Nope. I used to prepare baby food for Little E and freeze it when he was a baby, but other than that no. I probably should start thinking about it. We're growing fresh vegetables in our garden but have not attempted fruits. I want to start checking out my local farmers market to get some pesticide, GM free produce. If I got an overabundance I might just need to learn how to freeze or can it.

5. Do you get ready for the day first thing in the morning?

Only three out of the seven days a week I have to. Only in the summer anyways. I have been a homebody these first two weeks of summer vacation and sat around in my house shorts and t-shirt until 1:30 yesterday. It was movie day at home for the kids and I. It was so much cheaper to rent $1.00 movies from the Blockbuster Express box, pickup a $1.80 bag of Whoppers candy and pop our own popcorn. Boy that was fun. But seriously it depends on the day. Soon, when Miss K starts her day camps I'll be getting up early again, showering and leaving the house by 8:30am to get her to art camp. Cheers to summer!

Chicken Fettucine Alfredo with Petite Shrimp

2011-06-09T22:42:00.005-04:00

I finally remembered to take photos during the preparation of my
meal. I've made this dish several times, without the shrimp, and have
wanted to share it.

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
with Petite Shrimp

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 16 oz package frozen petite shrimp
1 box fettuccine noodles ( half of of box is used)
1 jar garlic alfredo- I prefer Bertolli
Shaved Parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove ( I have minced garlic on hand to make this easier)
Olive oil for braising
Powdered Garlic
Black Pepper

Directions:
Remove shrimp from packaging into colander. Rinse with cold water for two minutes to remove ice. Drain. Leave shrimp in colander and place on plate lined with a paper towel. Place in fridge while cooking all other ingredients. Cube your chicken breasts to about 1 inch cubes and remove any unwanted fat trimmings. Sprinkle about 1-2 tbsps of olive oil in your pan. If you have fresh garlic, then you will need to prepare the clove to cook with the chicken. Start boiling your water for your noodles before coking your chicken. Heat large skillet to medium high heat and when preheated, cook chicken and garlic in pan just until chicken turns white.Remove from heat. Once you have cooked your noodles to desired tenderness, drain. Add alfredo sauce to your chicken, return to heat. I start on low and gradually add my noodles, stirring frequently then add the shrimp last. Since the shrimp has been previously cooked, I do not want to overdo them. I sprinkle the pepper, shaved parmesan cheese and more garlic (we LOVE garlic) while tasting it. I let sit on medium low to low for about 20 minutes. Cook your side dish and/or bread. I served steamed broccoli and french bread this time.

Let me know what you think and if you made any changes.

Life Without Kids:WW

2011-06-09T20:30:00.000-04:00

The phone rings, it's early in the morning, the sun hasn't even crested to show it's brilliance in the sky.
It's 5 am.
I find my cell phone laying on my nightstand in my room. I really don't know if I want to answer it because I know it will mean leaving the comfort of my king sized bed. 1000 thread count sheets. Down sateen comforter. My memory foam pillow that won't be holding the hollowed out spot where my head was once laying.
It continues to ring.
I answer the phone, the sleep still in my voice "hello?" It's an emergency call from my answering service about a prized show German Shepherd that is in labor. The caller needs me to meet them at my office.
I know that my expert reputation is on the line if I don't head in to the office. As if I wouldn't go in anyways, there's nothing holding me back. My job is my love, it is my life.
Being a veterinarian was my life dream. After finishing college in Orlando, I interned at a local veterinarian's office and got my feet wet. The clients were a mix of wealthy pet owners who would pay any price to protect and save their beloved pets and low income pet owners who chose the later.
I finished my internship and moved from my hometown to the rural outskirts of Orange County to pursue my career in the largely populated suburbs. I partnered with an established vet's office and built up my clients. I knew the animals by face and name better than the owners. I'd always had a connection with animals better than people.
I married the man I partnered with at the vets office. We didn't have children. Our children were our rescued strays from the office.
We loved animals.
Life was good. If I had children I wouldn't be able to wake in the middle of the night and leave on a whim without worrying about who would be there for them. Children weren't in the cards for us anytime soon. If at all.

Describe what you think your life would be like if you had never had kids.

I thought it would be fun to think about what my life would look like if I had not
chosen love when I met my husband as a senior in high school. I had decided that
I would not get serious with anyone so I could go to college and pursue my
life long dream to be a veterinarian.
Life threw my a choice and I chose love. I would never go back
and redo it because I LOVE my children with my heart and soul.
I would miss the early morning wake ups with some one standing at
my bedside at 5:30 in the morning. The messy chocolate faces
after digging through the pantry to sneak chocolate chip cookies.
I would miss the noise in the back seat of the van, the laughter
while watching DVD's with their headphones on.
The moment each of my children were born is forever born into my brain.
The moment their eyes locked with mine, our souls were intertwined.

5QF: Floating on a Raft

2011-06-02T21:07:00.002-04:00

1. If you had to choose, how would you prefer to choose to spend money...on landscaping or a pool? If I had to choose between just these two, I would go for the pool. Since I live in Florida and grew up having a pool, swimming the entire summer and every weekend we could, I want my kids to have that same opportunity. Nice landscaping would really go nice with a new pool but maybe next time...

2. (Scott likes to get things stirred up...) Death penalty, yay or nay? ohhh, going all controversial are we?? I say yay. If the punishment fits the crime, then it's that persons time. If the criminal kills some one(intentionally) then they should be punished for what they did.

3. What's the worst thing your kid has gotten into when you turned your back/blogged/showered/blinked?
I can't think of anything over the top that my kids have gotten into when I was busy. I don't have any of those funny stories with kids pulling out a box of tampons and opening them up in my bathroom or dumping powder and lotion all over. The one thing that I can think of is that Little E had an obsession with liquid soap. I would give him a bath and let him play for a little bit, leaving him in the tub. (yes, I can see the children's bathroom from my recliner in the living room) At least a handful of times I have gone back in the bathroom, he would have extra bubbles in the tub and we'd have an empty bottle body wash. Once, it was a brand new bottle.

4. How often do you REALLY go to the dentist?
I had not been in YEARS! until last year. Now I regularly get my cleanings. dental work isn't cheap and it's nice that I have dental insurance. Hence the reason the whole family goes now.

5. What is your favorite animal (doesn't have to be a pet-type animal)?
hmmmm. That is a tough question when you can choose any animal. I still LOVE dogs the most. If I could have any dog I would have a great dane. I don't have a house big enough for one but if I did....I just love how goofy and clumsy they are. A sweet dog in a big package.

Unfairly Treated

2011-06-02T14:45:00.003-04:00

WARNING: CONTENT MAY BE UPSETTING TO
SOME READERS.

source

On Monday Memorial Day, we took the kids to New Smyrna Beach. We use the same beach access ramp everytime and park in the same area, because the bathrooms and lifeguard are right nearby. As we were pulling into the spot to park my husband looked to his right and said "that looks like a sea turtle over there" pointing to a mound that looked like rock. It was a sea turtle. Sadly, this turtle was not alive and was not making her way back to sea.

It's egg laying season and it's pretty exciting to see those awesome creatures when they come in from the ocean to lay their eggs on the beach.

We stepped out of the car and the smell hit us. Apparently the turtle had been there quite some time. It was already 9:30am and I wondered why they had not removed the turtle once the beach opened at sunrise. I have seen more crews from Sea World rushing for a dead beached whale or dolphin but this protected animal was left there to rot. It upset me that it was just left there.

A few hours later, after several Beach Patrol crews drove past the site, a pickup truck marked with the words 'work site crew' pulled up. I watched them pull out a large plastic garbage can from the bed of their truck which was full of old rafts, tattered beach chairs and other hodge podge of items that were left on the beach. I looked at the turtle for the last time and it was obvious that this turtle did not die of natural causes, it had been killed by some one. A large gash into it's head and shell were visible.

So sad.. As far as I knew, it was illegal to molest or harm those animals. The counties give residents such a hard time about keeping lights off during nesting season and bordering off areas with nests. I cannot believe that no one was concerned that this animal was killed! Now the poor creature is being loaded into a trash can like garbage and going to the local landfill?!

I have never seen a loggerhead turtle in the wild and my first time, the poor thing is treated like yesterdays garbage.

PYHO:Fat Girl

2011-06-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

Again, just a brief reminder that everyone linking is pouring their hearts out and we should all be respectful in our comments. ;)

We are our own worst critics. Some harder than others on themselves. I fall in the middle to high range and you'd never know it.

I hate my body. I have hated my body since seventh grade. I was born a robust baby at 11lbs 3 oz. I was an average to slender child until I reached the age 10 or 11. Then my body got large. I became that chubby girl. I blame it partly on being a lonely child. I would come home after school and munch on snacks. My mom had gone back to work when I was nine years old and she wasn't home in the afternoons. My brothers and I weren't allowed to leave the house or have friends over, so it was very lonely.I found comfort in food.

As the years progressed I ate more and my body size grew. I hated having those BMI tests taken in middle school, when that nutritionist came to the school and measured your fat on your back. All the other girls would discuss their numbers and I always lied. I was not about to tell them how fat I was. Dressing in the locker room for physical education was torment enough. I usually got to the locker room first to make sure I was alone while changing.

I hate looking back at photos of myself.

I used to be able to lose weight by cutting out soda, not eating pasta or bread and skipping breakfast. I could drop 5 pounds in one week. I lost quite a bit of weight before getting married but I look back at those photos from my wedding and yikes. I was still very heavy.

I got pregnant with Miss K. I wanted so badly to be pregnant, but I did not have the body to have that cute round pregnant belly. I felt fat. After having K I went on a strict diet, exercised and lost all the baby weight plus more. I was feeling good. Then slowly I started gaining the weight back. I lost weight again and got pregnant with Little E.

After having Little E I really put the pressure on myself. I was tired of being heavy. I tried to get strict with myself and completely cut out soda, snacks and cut down carbs. I joined a gym and was religiously working out at the gym. That lasted a year. I was feeling happy with myself but still didn't have that beach body I have always dreamed of.

Slowly the weight has creeped back up on me and I'm heavy again. I'm depressed about it. There are so many factors that account for my downfalls with weight.

I start feeling fat and my clothes are snug so I get determined about losing weight. I follow a good meal plan for about two weeks and when the results are not as fast as I'd like I get discouraged.
I LOVE to eat. That's a big downfall. I think, oh one more helping won't hurt me. Or, that bagel with egg and cheese will be okay, I'll eat less at lunch. Uh huh.
I need willpower. I need the willpower to hang on and be patient. The weight will come off. It gets harder the older you get to lose weight.

Knowing all these things, it still doesn't calm my mind about hating my fat body. I am constantly looking at my body in the mirror with or without clothes on. I try to dress to hide myself. It sucks. I wish I could get lipo suction, a tummy tuck and I'd feel so much better. One of my best friends just had the same thing that I've wanted done. She is three weeks into her recovery and wow, she looks great. Another reason I'm feeling more sad about my weight.

I'll never get there with just exercise and good nutrition.

Monday Minute 05/30/11 Edition

2011-05-31T15:24:00.002-04:00

1 - Aside from your armpits, what body part of yours sweats the most?
On my legs, that part just below your rear end. I sweat like crazy when I'm working out.

2 - You have two slices of bread. You can add one additional ingredient to make a sandwich, but as much of it as you want. What are you putting on it?
Peanut Butter. Can I toast that bread? It's so much better on toast.

3 - Can you put your entire fist into your mouth?
No, thankfully.

4 - Open your email. How many emails do you have in your 'Inbox'?
My personal email has probably 200 emails, lots of junk mail and forwards. My blog/business email probably has 100. I don't move emails into folders. For me, if I don't see it when I open the email, I forget it exists.

5 - If an adult male is taken for ransom, is that considered kidnapping?
Yes, technically.

Little Miss Citizenship

2011-05-23T22:49:00.002-04:00

It's the last week of school for Miss K and she will no longer be a second grader. This year has had it's highs and lows, struggles with behavior ( my little girl loves to talk) but it has been well worth the ride with her amazing teacher. Last year's trials with her first grade teacher resulting in many visits to the principal paid off. My little girl was placed in a much better class with an awesome teacher who took the time to figure out what it took to keep Miss K on task.

With positive reinforcement for this last nine weeks, improving her behavior to almost perfect and being a model student Miss K was awarded the Citizenship Award today at the Second Grade Awards Assembly!!

I am so proud of my little girl! She finally figured out what it takes to be a great student and person at school. She didn't even expect this award which made it so more deserving.

Monday Minute: 05/23/11

2011-05-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

Oh Ian has done it again with his
questions that make you question yourself and if
you want to answer truthfully...or not at all..
Here goes nothing

1 - Think back as far as you can, what's the first tape, record, etc you remember listening to? I remember listening to Michael Jackson's Thriller. My older brother got the record and we listened to it while I looked at the album.

2 - What's the first concert you've ever been to, the year and who performed? The first concert I went to was New Kids on the Block. I think I was 13, I have no idea what year it was.

3 - Ever bleed from your ass? I might have after having a large infant being birthed from me. Not every woman can give birth to a baby without having some cutting involved. Sadly,this woman was cut from one end to another. I will say no more. Nuff said.

4 - If you went to your Senior Prom and had a date, do you still speak to said person?
Ah yes, I went to the Senior Prom with my high school boyfriend. Do I talk to him? I haven't talked to that guy since he dropped me off after a long prom night that ended early in the morning. Just kidding... I married my senior prom date..so I'd say I talk to him everyday.

and finally...

5 - Name the one television show that's no longer on the air that could have gone on forever.
ER. It's pretty easy to rotate out characters which I'm sure happens at hospitals all the time. Yes, I missed ER after they took it off the air. It was an amazing show.

GTKY: 05/22

2011-05-22T08:44:00.002-04:00

I know this is a little late but better late than
never. I started my GTKY this morning but the family and
I went to a family BBQ last minute at my brother in law's house.
It was an enjoyable time. It's nice to chill out
on the weekend and let some one else cook.

1. what's your favorite rainy day activity? sitting in the house, watching a good movie.

2. what time do you go to bed? usually around 11 o'clock. After the kids go to bed and I watch some tv, read some emails, write a blog post...it gets late.

3. how many magazines do you subscribe to? two

4. did you sell all your belongings because you thought the world was ending yesterday? heck no. For one, I wouldn't believe that the end of the world would be predicted by some one. No one knows when it's going to happen, except for God. Two, what would be the point to sell my possessions? Worldly items mean nothing in heaven. The money I would gain from selling them would mean nothing, you can't take it with you.

5. what's your beauty obssesion? make up and facial cleansers. I love my make up and keeping my face looking the best that I can.

6. if you could only wear one designer/brand for the rest of your life...what would it be? I have no clue. My closet pretty much contains clothing from Kohl's.

7. what's your summer must have? flip flops!! I pretty much wear them 9 months out of the year, but I love to get new ones for summer.

8. do you make weekly dinner menus? I was for a few months, then I fell off that wagon. It was nice to have a set plan and go with it, but it took so much work to locate different recipes and come up with one every week. Then if I found a recipe that required an ingredient I didn't have and you had to buy bulk for 1 tsp, it wasn't worth it.

PYHO: Unhappy Holidays

2011-05-17T22:54:00.007-04:00

Holidays, birthdays, celebrations and get togethers should be fun and enjoyable. I think once upon a time those events were something to enjoy. Now I dread when another holiday is rounding the corner. I actually stress out about it before it ever happens. It shouldn't be this way. But after getting married, you add another person's family to the mix.

Family. Family is complicated enough without having complicated people to make it worse. Before kids, life was good. There were no calls to see where we were going. But it changed after Miss K was born, it all went downhill after that.

Whose house are we going for Christmas Eve? Christmas morning? Dinner? How long does each grandparent get at their house? Can we come back after being at so and so's house for dessert? You're not coming here for Easter? Will you be making it for your dad's birthday? Fourth of July?
All those questions that drive me crazy. But it has gotten worse over the years. It has gotten to the point that if we make plans a few weeks in advance with one family another one is bound to ask us to do something. And when we decline the second offer, that person gets snippy. It's beyond ridiculous!
Mother's Day is no exception to the rule. My husband's step mother is the one who has made me dread the one day, besides my birthday, that I should be enjoying. We've even had rude phone calls between each other because she expects us to spend the holiday with her. She is not his mother! She has never been regarded that way. Although in her twisted mind, she some how thinks that she is more of a mother to my husband and his brother, than their own.
This year was like no other. She was asking yet again if we would be coming to their condo to visit. Nope. I flat out told her in person that we would be spending the day with our mothers.
Even after I told her our plans, she continued to whine about how we never go to see them. She has lost her mind. Of course even with her out of the way, Mother's Day was not centered around this mama. We spent our day taking care of hubs' mom and mine. I really wish that sometimes we lived a bit farther away.
Now that Father's Day is approaching she has already started her crap. My husband mentioned a few days ago about going to this nice italian restaurant on Father's Day with his dad, step mom,my parents and us with the kids. It was his dad and step mom's idea. I figured I should test the water on this one with my father since he usually likes to go on a guy's fishing trip with my brother and husband.
After suggesting the idea to my dad about going to dinner on FD, he scowled. He said he doesn't want to spend his day eating out with mobs of people. Ugh. I figured it was a no go even before asking since 1. he does not like italian food and 2. he does not like to drive more than ten minutes away to go to dinner. 3. If he's going to eat at an expensive restaurant he is going to choose the place.
So I told the hubs last night that we will have to make different plans with my dad. No problem.
Yeah right!! I get a text last night from "step monster". She tells me that the restaurant does not reservations for less than 10 people. Obviously she is assuming that my parents are going so I reply that we have nine, not including my parents, but including my husband's brother and his family. She flat out writes back "We are not paying for Steve's family". What?!

She obviously was not inviting her husband's other son! She has some nerve. I told her that my parents would not be going. She didn't like that answer. The conversation continued on back and forth and then she tells me the menu prices $18-29 a plate. Oh my. I realize that this place might not be "kid friendly" and check out some websites with reviews on the restaurant. It's got mixed reviews. Good food, but so so service.

I decided that I wasn't keen on taking the kids to a fancy shmancy restaurant where we might get treated differently because we have children under the age of 10. We did that once in Daytona and we were seated on the other side of the restaurant where there was NO ONE. I suggested to my husband that maybe we should go to a more family friendly restaurant for Father's Day and go to this place another time. He agreed.

Then the "step monster" starts texting again about going on Saturday night on FD weekend and I tell her I'll let her know after we figure out what we're doing for my dad. The tone changes. She abruptly tells me that she is taking his dad. She tells me to make sure I tell my husband what HER plans are. Uh huh. Will do, biatch. She has struck a nerve with me and I begin ranting and fuming about her attitude.
I'm done. I told my husband that I want to move far enough away that we are not expected to go to things like this and can send a card for these days. I'm over the drama. As far as I'm concerned we're spending Father's Day alone. Our kids and us. It's his day too.
I'm not looking forward to Memorial Day weekend. The psycho drama is beyond my threshold.

RemembeRED

2011-05-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

My boyfriend decided he wanted to get a tattoo. It was his first one and a friend had suggested he go to the same guy he used. The tattoo guy was supposed to be reasonable and he was in the next city in the next county.
We pulled up to the house and it looked a little run down. What kind of guy does tattoos from his house. Being naive and young in love I went along with my love. I wanted to be there to see his first one.
It hit me like a ton of bricks when the guy opened the door. The smoke in the house was like a warm haze. The lights were dim through out the house and you could see the smoke like a large cloud in the room. We followed the guy through the house into his tattoo "parlor".
I hoped it would get better once we entered the room. Hoping for cleaner air. It should be sanitary when using needles. Not so much. It was just as smoky in the room.
I did my best to stifle my coughs and utter repulsiveness of the smoky smell from burning cigarettes inside a house. It didn't help that the house smelled like a humane society with cat urine. Cigarettes and cat urine. My eyes burned. It was like the moisture was sucked out by the smoke.
I don't remember how many hours I stood in that room watching...waiting... for them to finish his tattoo. It felt like forever.When I finally was able to escape the smoky hell, I breathed in like I had been drowning. I couldn't get home fast enough that night. The anticipation of a hot shower to remove the stench from my skin and hair. My clothes reeked that night. I don't know which was worse. The urine or the smoke.
I have never forgotten that evening and the sight and smell of it.

It's time for another image prompt.

Write about the first (or second) memory that comes to mind when you see this:

Don't Blink, They Grow Overnight

2011-05-16T23:04:00.003-04:00

It seems like yesterday that I was having contractions and was about to meet this little boy who would steal my heart the moment I held him. In less than two months he will be four years old. Little E will be old enough to attend Pre K in the fall and get to go back to school. Last year when I decided to stay home and work barely part time, I pulled my little boy out of daycare.
Since then he has learned so much staying home with me. Daycare gave him the building blocks, so to speak, in his learning foundation. I don't try to boast but he is a bright little boy. I had considered enrolling him in the summer VPK (Voluntary Pre Kindergarten) but I know that if went now, he would be bored with the fall VPK program.
I used to worry that my little boy was going to have trouble since he waited until after a year old to start talking and saying more than mama and dada.I compared him to his sister who started speaking at 6 months and could communicate with me. But I think he has done quite well.
He surprises me all the time. Little E used to only recognize the letters in capital form, now he knows the lowercase letters. He can count to 15 and recognizes all the numbers from 0 to 9. He knows his shapes, colors and basic commands like up, down, inside and outside. He surprised me last night by spelling his name. I thought it was a fluke, so I asked him to spell it for daddy tonight and he did it! He was SO proud of himself.
I was beaming!!
I have started teaching him how to read using a book that my friend, who was a teacher before having her own children uses, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons , by Siegfried Engelmann. He is so excited about learning this book and keeps wanting to do more than one exercise a day.
I still can't believe that my little boy will be going to school this coming fall. I'm going to enjoy every moment now. I will relish in every moment of prayer time when he asks me to read the prayer book one more time. I will sing him Itsy Bitsy Spider an extra time if he asks. They grow up too fast. I am taking every day, one minute at a time.

Weekends of May

2011-05-16T09:47:00.008-04:00

It has been a great month of May so far. I can't believe that it's halfway over and in 10 days Miss K will be done with school and finishing the 2nd grade. Where does the time go?

The first picture is from Mother's Day weekend after the kids and the hubs gave me my gift. They bought me a Canon Power Shot SX230 HS point and shoot camera. It takes amazing photos, much better than my Nikon D50. Since the Canon uses a different SD card than my computer accepts, my hubs has been uploading the photos to his Mac and I finally got on it to use them on the blog. It's quite frustrating to say the least, because I know how to use a PC but it takes me forever to work the Mac.

We took the kids to the beach on Mother's Day weekend where Miss K never left the pool. Little E loves the ocean so he went with us to see the waves and pretend he was fishing.

Miss K finally started swimming without using a float or holding the side of the pool that weekend. I was going to take her for swimming lessons this summer and she finally did it by herself. Living in Florida where the beaches are, swimming pools are in every other back yard, and going to the water parks in the summer is a necessity one must know how to swim. I am still going to sign up Little E so we can have a peace of mind for both kids.

I never took lessons. My parents had a pool when I was a kid and we taught ourselves. It was like, sink or swim. When I was a kid your parents threw you into the pool and you floated or sank. Nowadays, it would be child abuse if some one witnessed that.

This Saturday Miss K had some dance rehearsals for her upcoming dance recital. On Sunday we went to my niece's 6th Birthday party. Her parents live in a gated community with a clubhouse with a pool. The kids spent most of the time swimming like fish. We were lucky enough to pull them out to eat lunch, sing Happy Birthday and watch the birthday girl open gifts.
Now the weekend is over and I've got to get busy with housework. Wet towels from swimming. Laundry. Mopping the kitchen floor from wet feet. It rained this weekend, which is a good thing, but it makes dirty floors from the dog and kids.

Hope you had a great weekend.What did you do to enjoy the sunshine?

Putting on the Ritz

2011-05-10T09:58:00.002-04:00

It's that time of the year again for dancers to get organized, tighten down, perfect their dance moves and look their absolute best for the recital. It's been a crazy year as a "dance mom" driving Miss K back and forth three times a week, thirty minutes one way to dance classes. The pressure has increased these last few weeks will an ALL day picture call and dress rehearsals.

This weekend will be no exception, on Saturday afternoon we have to get Miss K dressed in one of her costumes, apply full recital makeup and do her hair for her Acrobatics class rehearsal. Next weekend we're having rehearsals for her other three classes and then the show is only two weeks after that.

I'm getting so excited! I bought my tickets for the evening show where Miss K performs two of her numbers. Unfortunately, I will be the only one who sees her at the matinee show where she performs her ballet and jazz numbers. I will taking photos and videoing her though!

Wish us luck for a great performance and that I survive these next few weeks of driving to and fro.

PYHO: Getting the Grade

2011-05-04T00:30:00.000-04:00

When my husband and I decided we wanted to move out of our apartment in 2004, we didn't consider schools as a reason to choose the city we would live in. The housing market was crazy and finding a home in our top two choices was impossible. We decided to purchase a home in the city I worked in but didn't think about the school that our children might have to attend.

I actually hoped that we would be able to sell our home after living in it for five years and Miss K might only attend the school one year, but the market fell. Crushing my idea.

Thankfully in 2007 a new elementary school was built and I thought we wouldn't have to send our children to the old, old school that supported the city. Wrong.
I didn't realize until after the school was built that our house was not zoned for the new school even though we are 5 minutes away from it.

So at the end of 2007 I enrolled Miss K at school A. (the old school) One month later I got a letter in the mail from NCLB (No Child Left Behind) because the school we enrolled at did not meet State Requirements and I could choose another school for my child. Yippee!!! The letter stated we had two choices one was school B (the one Miss K currently attends) and school C (a new school built in the next town). We chose B and got it.

I always figured that Little E would attend the same school since his sister goes there. Obviously not. I was recently told by some one that I would have to enroll him at school A and apply for a variance for him to attend school B. I will have to apply for the variance each year and when Miss K leaves that elementary school to go to middle school I can get denied. This is what worries me.

Now I know that I don't have to worry too much until the next year, the school year 2012/2013. But I want to have my ducks in a row and know what I'm up against. I am preparing an email to the School Superintendent that handles Choice Schools to get some answers. I don't know if I should risk enrolling him and hope he gets a choice option which would lock him into the school I pick. Or do I go for the variance and when Miss K leaves fight for his right to go to that school still. Or hope that in three years we get to move and maybe move into that school zone or an even better one? Or if I do choose to Home School Miss K when she goes into middle school like I have planned and just home school Little E too.?

I'm such a worrier and I know that I really don't have to worry about it too much at least for another year though. But.... I am concerned because the school we are zoned for is not a well performing school and I know my child will have a better chance to succeed at school B. Thanks for letting me vent and any advice would be great.

Wordful Wednesday

2011-05-03T23:07:00.005-04:00

This past Saturday Miss K's dance studio had their
Studio Photo Shoots for their upcoming Dance Recital

I brought along
my camera to take some photos of my own of her beautiful
face in her oh so cute costumes
Glad I did, the photographer wouldn't let us take photos once in the
"studio" with the backdrop

Tap Outfit

Acro Outfit

Ballet Outfit

Monday Minute: 05/02/11

2011-05-02T19:30:00.002-04:00

It's been a long time coming for this to happen.
Yeah, yeah I know I'm late at this
but it is still Monday...
I actually had these questions answered on my phone but
too many crisis' today prevented me from getting on the computer.

1 - Where aside from a toilet have you taken a dump? Explain.
The woods of course. Who hasn't gone camping and had to do it? It was easier to find a dark place in the forest, than climb into the truck and drive up to the port a potty.

2 - At this point do you really think that Magic Johnson has HIV/AIDS?
Really? Are we talking about that again? If he has HIV he is lucky so far if it hasn't developed into a full blown AIDS attack.

3 - Would you wrestle a member of the same sex, nude, in pudding for 10 minutes for one million dollars?
Sure would. As long as I don't have to win the wrestling match, I'd go for it.

4 - Squash just doesn't sound very tasty. What say you?
I love yellow squash. It's the only squash that I do eat. The rest of them, I'm not so sure about trying.

and finally...

5 - Is it worth the effort?
Is what worth the effort? Depends on what you're referring to..

Red Writing Hood: Not a Fighter

2011-04-28T22:29:00.003-04:00

I didn't want to go back there, I was safe behind these walls. Being home I was protected by brick and mortar. The phone rang and I didn't answer it, the answering machine picked up. I tuned out the venomous words that were spoken for me. It didn't matter what they said about me on a machine, it could be easily erased from an answering machine tape with the click of a button. It was going to be a long Christmas Break, it was just the break I needed but never expected.

Just two weeks earlier the eight of us were a group of girls, eighth graders enjoying our friendships. It started out with three of us being close friends together. Julie. Tera. Me.
Inseparable. Best friends.
We each had another close friend and they joined our threesome. We shared lockers together, makeup with each other, traded clothing and spent weekends at each others houses. Lunch at school we had "our table". We sat together. Everyday.

When you have three, some one is going to get left out. Disagreements happen. Girls are viscous. It happens overnight when you're not there to defend yourself. The next morning you go to school and they've decided that you're not their friend anymore.

You hear from some one else in the group that Julie is pissed off with you. You know that the rest of your day is going to suck. It's lunch time and you go to the place you've always sat at with two of the girls from your group. You go to sit down with lunch tray in hand and Tera tells you, "you're not sitting here today". What?!

Julie shows up, she carries herself like she is queen of the lunch room. She looks right through you and gives you a cold, hard stare. The look that tells you you are not worth my time. The classes you share with each of them are more painful. You can't sit at the desk you always have because they have invited some one else there. You find yourself slinking to the back of the room while everyone stares at you. You see them whispering about you.

The locker you once shared with Julie is now being shared between Tera and Julie. You have no choice but to approach her about your books and backpack in her locker. She hears you and after much thought she throws them out on the floor of the hallway. How much worse can this get?

The week before holiday break gives you false hope that you will survive and everyone will make up. Tera and Julie have stopped talking about you and giving you a hard time. You're looking forward to the eighth grade party on Friday during the last two periods of class. But they circle you and your friends Nichole and Brandy.
"You bitch. Why don't you just get lost. I want to kick your ass", Julie spits at you. You're terrified. You're not a fighter.
She is not satisfied anymore with just ignoring you.
"Just leave me alone.", you say. The bell rings for the end of the day and you can't get to the bus fast enough. Julie follows you to the bus, calling you names and pushing you from behind. Stupid. Whore. Slut. You know as soon as you board, you'll be safe. You may not be a fighter but you will not show her your weak. You never cry. Not in front of her.

This week, we want fightin' words.

Write a piece about a fight. What happened? Why? Who "won"? What were the repercussions?

Show us. Use emotion. Description. If it's a fist fight, what did it feel like to hit someone - or be hit? What does it feel like to be screamed at - or get the silent treatment?

PYHO:Money Isn't Free

2011-04-27T10:46:00.003-04:00

I know that I shouldn't worry about what other people do. I'm supposed to worry about myself and mind my own business. But damn it, this issue that I have, well it burns me. I'm tired of people sticking their hand out and not doing anything to get it. Right now, case in point would be my BIL.

Last night my husband tells me that his brother is tired of his current job right now. What's new? As if I haven't heard this at least a dozen times or more and not just about where he is working now.

I told my husband, "you're wasting your time trying to talk him out of quitting. I know for a fact he has his mind set and you won't change it."

My husband continues to have a texting conversation with his brother trying to convince him to look for another job while still working. That makes more sense.
The conversation ended when my BIL realized that my husband was not going to support his irresponsible idea.

This is what gets under my skin! A person has a perfectly good paying job, yeah maybe the hours suck, but you're getting paid decent money. They's rather just quit, sit on their a$, look like they're trying to find a job and get paid unemployment to do so. But I had my aha moment this morning, yeah in the bathroom, where I always have those epitomes. You cannot collect unemployment in the State of Florida if you quit your job. So when you apply for it and your last employer says, "no he quit", boom you're done. Rejected.

So, now as a Christian woman I shouldn't be saying, "haha, you DA, that's what you get!" I should be saying " you might want to rethink this. You will not get benefits for quitting. " You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink. I know full well, I'm wasting my time. He's been down this road many times, quitting well paying jobs because the going gets rough. Usually not getting unemployment wages, but he got a taste of it a year ago. He was laid off and got unemployment and sat on his butt. So he's thinking, I'll do that again. Summer is right around the corner and I can chill out, hang with my buddies, go ride my motorcycle and get PAID!

Not so fast, brother dear!

RemembeRED:Going up in Flames

2011-04-26T00:30:00.000-04:00

In one evening my life was spiraling out of control and I could do nothing to stop it. One moment I'm smiling and enjoying the evening with a hundred children the next I'm collapsed on the floor of my kitchen sobbing tears. I will never forget that moment in my life when my husband walked out of my life and I was caught off guard.

The emptiness. The fear of the unknown of what the future held for me. I had to collect myself for the children. At that moment my life wasn't about me anymore, it was about the well being of my two innocent children.

I was numb and went through the motions that evening. Baths. Teeth. Brushing hair. Vitamins. Bed time stories. Kisses and hugs.

After that, I couldn't tell you what I did. If I had to guess ,I cried myself to sleep that night. If I even slept that much. I remember being exhausted mentally and physically.

The morning didn't bring much peace to my mind, but I continued through what was expected of me as a mother. I would not let my problems affect their lives. Not then. Not yet. I hoped that he would call and we could work it out before the kids questioned why he wasn't there.

I knew that I couldn't do this alone, but my husband, their father was unreachable.

Not answering my calls.

I did what I was afraid to do. The shame of being a woman whose husband walked out on her is not the label I wanted. But I called my friend,I needed to tell some one. She did not judge me. She listened to my cries and sobs. She was there for me.

I would not have survived that weekend if she had not been there for me. She held me up when I felt that I couldn't go on. She stood by side. She stepped in like a friend, a good friend should do. I am forever grateful for her compassion, love and friendship.

I grew up that weekend and learned a few things about myself. I discovered that when I am weak, that it's okay to ask for help and turn to some one. I realized that I don't always have to have it all together, that no one is perfect. I learned who my true friends are. I learned to let my walls down and open up to others besides just my husband.

This vulnerable time in my life opened doors to friendships that were still in the developing stages. Those friendships are stronger and those women have built me up in ways that I never expected.

I am forever grateful for their presence in my life that weekend and thereafter. I can't imagine where I would be if they had not been there. You find your true friends amidst the flames. When your life is in flames, the ones pulling you out are the ones who love you the most.

This week we want you to recall something in your life that seemed terrible at the time, but looking back, brought you something wonderful.

A positive from a negative experience.

5QF: Easter

2011-04-21T22:06:00.005-04:00

Happy Easter Weekend!
I'm looking forward to a nice family fun filled
weekend. The kids and I dyed our Easter eggs this evening
and they look really cute!
I was going to take the kids to an egg hunt on Saturday but the hubs
didn't want to fight the masses and stand in line to get a few
free eggs filled with candy. So we have decided to go to Sea World .
The best part, this weekend starts the new Shamu show called
Ocean One. We couldn't have timed that better.
The kids don't know the plan, so they'll be excited. Especially
since we skipped seeing Shamu last month because we were so tired of the Believe show.
I won't say this will be a relaxing holiday weekend..
I decided to host Easter dinner at my house for my parents and
the hubs' dad and stepmom. Wish me luck!
Now for some 5QF.

1. What is your favorite Easter tradition? I LOVE hiding the plastic Easter eggs and watching the kids find them. Before having kids, I used to hide them for my niece and nephew and it was so fun! Now watching my 16 yr old niece and 12 yr old nephew is pretty funny, because they get into these drag out arguments when hunting the eggs. Hiding the eggs has been a tradition for my family for years. I remember waiting in the house with all the curtains pulled while my dad would hide the eggs outside. There was always one "golden" egg and one "silver" egg that were prize eggs to find, which were created from tinfoil and paint for the gold one. Those were the days.

2. Are you a "shower" or a "long, hot bath" kind of person? I like to take a long, hot shower and let the spray of water beat on my shoulders. An uninterrupted shower is the best kind, but those are few and far between. For some reason there is always a crisis when I step into the bathroom. So long gone are the days when I can just relax in the shower. I'm lucky if I get to shave my legs without one of the kids calling me.

3. Can you parallel park and if so when is the last time you did it? I sure can. Unlike the people I watch trying to pull straight into one at Walmart. (our Walmart has parallel parking) I wonder how they ever passed the driving test?! I think I parked the van like that about a month ago. It's hard to get one of those spots. Or I could learn to do it like this.

4. What is your favorite Easter candy? Cadbury eggs or Robin Eggs. It's a toss up between those two. I had to stop buying the Robin eggs because I would eat an entire bag in one sitting, I just can't stop.

5. Easter: do you go all out with the Easter Bunny or focus on the religious part of the holiday?
I try to focus on the true meaning of why we celebrate Easter and not go overboard on the bunny. I want my children to know why we celebrate this day and why it is so important. We always attend church service so my children know why we do. Like all the religious holidays, I remind my kids of the true meaning of why it's celebrated and still let them enjoy the "magic" of it.

Safe than Sorry

2011-04-21T10:55:00.000-04:00

I take a lot of photos of my kids on my digital camera. I'm really bad about saving the photos to the hard drive on my husband's mac computer. Honestly, I have no idea how to so I have to wait for him to do it. So my 8GB disc had 908 photo files on it from December to April.

I'm semi careful with my disc, making sure to keep it dry, eject it when the computer says it's safe, but I never thought about not carrying it in my pocket. I've carried it in a pouch in my purse and it was fine but something happened to it in my pocket.

Last night I put it back in the camera and tried to take some photos of my dog. One click was all I got. Then it wouldn't work anymore and I thought the battery was dead. I looked at the display and it said CHA instead of a number count. I was like, what??
So I pushed the play button to view my photos and the display read, This Card cannot be used.
OH MY GOD! My stomach sunk. I started sweating, freaking out and needed to turn on my computer. Of course, the darned thing was taking FOREVER to boot up.
I put the card in the sd slot and only heard like a no no no beep. Not the nice bing bong it makes when it recognizes the card.
The computer was not seeing the card, I checked "my computer" and the port was not showing. I pulled out the card, licked (yes, licked) the metal end and slid it back in. Something in the spit worked and the computer recognized it had the card in. I opened the icon and it read, THIS FOLDER IS EMPTY.
I think I went into shock. Normally I would cry, shout and act like a child about a crisis. But I remained calm and tried to think of what to do. Those pictures were on that card and I had to try and recover them.
I Googled "sd card recovery" and clicked the first option. It was fate and I got lucky to find a program that would let you download it's program as an evaluation to attempt to recover lost photos or files. If it didn't work then you were not out the money. It's called winrecovery.
It searched my card and starting downloading the files into a file on it's program and after it's done, you can view the files/photos to ensure that it did it's job. After viewing you then have the option to purchase so you can save the files.
It worked!! It was worth the money to recover photos that were irreplaceable. Memories that would be lost.
Lesson learned? Don't forget to upload photos regularly. We'll see about that. No promises. But I do have a back up plan in the event of an emergency.

PYHO: Where the Heart is

2011-04-20T00:30:00.000-04:00

Again, just a brief reminder that everyone linking is pouring their hearts out and we should all be respectful in our comments. ;)

I'm at a crossroads in my spiritual life. As far as I can remember into my childhood, I know that my parents tried to instill religion into my life. They took us to church, Bible camps and Sunday School until I was about ten years old. Then, the hectic lifestyle of them working outside the home six days a week took a toll on us going to Sunday services. It ceased to exist.

I found the love for God again after getting married. I was Baptized the Easter Sunday in 2003 and reconfirmed my faith with Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit working in me, I have faithfully tried to get my husband to be more committed to God, Christianity and the Bible.

After, nearly losing my marriage my husband and I started fresh in a new church home. The church we were attending was leaving me frustrated. The time and commitment I was putting into it was taking it's toll on my marriage. One of the most sacred things to God, the union of a man and woman.

It is our job to glorify his name, the union of two souls working together to do so.

We left the small church.

My husband and I started attending services at a very large church. The pastor's word spoke to our hearts. His interpretation of the Bible compared to today's lifestyles captured us. I wanted more, I wanted to join groups in this church. We decided to attend a new member class for those who wish to become a member.

The smoke and mirrors were gone. It felt like we were being tested, looked at under a microscope and now I question, is this the place for us? There are bi laws of being a member that I question and can't seem to get past.

My sister in law gave me a good metaphor for how I feel. "The small church you used to go to was like a shoe too small to fit. You chose a larger "shoe", but it's too big. Quit stuffing it with newspaper to make it work. You have to find the right size shoe."

I love the sermons, but is it enough? The kids LOVE their church classes and I will feel terrible pulling them out. Do I swallow my doubts about their requirements and just go forth and be a member? Is this where God wants me? I wish I knew the answers because it's hard to decipher between what God is telling my heart and what my mind is telling me.

Hello and Goodbye

2011-04-16T14:55:00.004-04:00

So I thought that I wanted another dog.
I told the hubs that another puppy is something that
I needed to fill this empty space I
have in my heart. I said I would get another
Jack Russell like our Bella and we would get one this summer.
So the kids and I would be home to spend time
with it.
But after he said yes I got all excited and started
searching the internet for one.
I found an ad and lucky me they had one left.
I drove 45 minutes to see this puppy, telling Little E
I had a surprise.
He wasn't as excited as I was.
Once I saw how
cute she was I knew she was coming home with us.

But only four days into puppyhood
I knew that having a puppy around
wasn't going to work for us.
Trying to make it home in 3 hours to take her to go
potty wasn't possible, the potty training was leaving
me frustrated and not to mention having her admist the flea problem
we were having. It was stressful.
I tried to suck it up but Bella and Hannah we not getting
along like I had hoped. Bella is used to being the only
dog after the loss of Ryelee back in December.
So Friday afternoon I made the choice to find her a new home.
It was quicker than I thought and worked out perfectly.
She went to her new and permanent home this morning.
After the kids woke up this morning, I explained to them where
she went. They took it better than I had feared it would go.
The family she went to was so excited.
I look at it like I was a go between for this dog.
No more animal adventures for me, our house is
full enough.
Happy Trails Hannah.

the Red Dress Club: Phone Call

2011-04-15T00:30:00.001-04:00

It was a regular routine evening for my family and I. I felt accomplished with being able to get the kids to bed at a reasonable hour and settled down to read some of my latest book. I lost track of the time after a few hours of page turning drama and woke my husband from his slumber in his recliner. We headed to our room to finish sleeping in our bed. I was over tired by this point and listened to the radio playing softly in the background and drifted off.

Once I fall asleep, I am like the dead. I've told people that I could sleep through a Mack truck driving through my bedroom and not stir. But this evening, it was different.
It woke me immediately. What is that? Is that the phone?

I rub my eyes and look at my alarm clock across the room and see it says 3:35am. I jump up out of the bed and try to grab the phone before the answering machine picks it up. A thousand thoughts run through my head. Are my parents ok? Did my brother in law have another seizure and he's in the hospital? Has some one been in an accident? Or worse, a wrong number maybe.?
"Hello?"
"Hello." The voice on the other end of the receiver says. " Tiffany, it's Christina. I am so sorry to call you so late. But I couldn't think of anyone else to call. Honestly I have no one else to call and I need your help."
"Is this a joke? It's 3:35 in the morning and I haven't spoken to you in what, three years. Where are you?"
"I am sitting in my car on the side of the road. I'm terrified. I can't go home, my husband.. he. he.. he's not breathing. There's blood, lots of blood.
"What happened? Did you call 911? " I'm fully awake by this point and I'm pacing the floor in my bedroom. My husband has woken up to question who I am talking to at this hour.
I shoot him a look and mouth the words I'll tell you in a minute.

"No. I can't. I can't do that. If I call them, I'll go to jail. I need your help to figure this out." She is sobbing into the phone now and it's starting to sound irrational.

"What do you want me to do?" By this point I'm thinking she's crazy. Why would she want to involve me in something unlawful. I'm debating whether to hang up because it sounds like a sick joke. " I really think you need to calm down and call the police. What did you do Christine?"

"We were having an argument and I grabbed his gun. He has always said that it was unloaded. I.. I don't know anything about guns. I was crying and he was yelling and I pointed it at him. I didn't know.. I didn't know." She is uncontrollably sobbing now and if I don't get her to calm down this may get worse. Where is the gun now? What is she thinking? Is she going to hurt herself?
I need to get her to calm down and get answers soon before some one else gets hurt.

"Ok, so what happened next?" I have to remain calm so I can find out what her address is and get some help to her husband. This is far beyond what I'm used to dealing with but she called me for a reason.

"He was telling me to put it down but I was so scared. I knew if I did he was going to get really mad after wards. Then he stepped forward and I pulled the trigger. I expected a click. I wanted to shock him.. I just wanted to scare him. Oh what have I done??!! Oh my God!!"

Then the phone clicks.

"Hello.. Hello Christine?? Christine??!"
Then the beep beep beeping of a disconnected line.

This story is a fictional story written for the prompt "In the middle of the night, you get an urgent call from a friend you haven’t talked to in years. Something terrible has happened. What is it and why is he/she calling you?" for the red dress club. Comments are welcome and constructive criticism is encouraged. What could have I done different? Did you like it? I am trying to stretch my wings in the fictional writing.

What I've been doing

2011-04-11T21:56:00.002-04:00

source

I can't seem to remember the last time I posted something. I have been so busy keeping my mind busy these past few days amongst all the hell I feel like I've been through. It's completely exhausting. It started last Friday, 11 days ago when I found fleas...yes fleas on my dog Bella. Completely grossed out I immediately bathed her and applied Frontline on her. I checked the cat ( my indoor cat) and yes he had them too. I quarantined him in the garage and headed for Petco.

I was in such a rush because this was going on 4:45 and Miss K had a Science Night at her school that evening starting at 5:50pm and Little E was taking a nap. I spent $100 in Advantage for cats, flea spray for the house and powder for rugs. A small fortune. This was only the beginning.

I called my pest control guy and left him a message asking him to come out ASAP that we were having a flea issue.

He came out Monday morning and had I known that he was going to require the house be vacated for 2 hours I would have taken a shower that morning. So I had to pack up Little E and I in 15 minutes and leave. I was amidst laundry piles, house cleaning and entertaining my son.
The plug got pulled on that.
That afternoon I did body checks on the cat and dog and lo and behold, Bella still had fleas! I couldn't retreat her with Frontline so I called the vet. They recommended a pill she could take by mouth and it would start working within an hour. Well, after running 2 kids to the vets office and forcing the dog to eat this pill, 30 minutes later it reappeared. Certainly not the way it went in. Fifteen dollars down the toilet. I called the vet and they said I would need to try again.

Tuesday we tried again with a new pill and I tricked Bella and fed it to her into pieces of expensive roast beef. She has been flea free since then.

So all this last week I played catch up on getting my chores done in between working, cooking, chauffeuring Miss K to school and dance classes and everything else in between. Then I got a brainiac idea and carpet cleaned my living room rug on Wednesday afternoon.
Halfway through it I realized how STUPID I was. Now the bug killer on my carpets was gone!!! I called my pest guy and he confirmed the bad news. So he was supposed to call me today to reschedule a retreatment this week but he never called. I told him I would pay again.

So to add fuel to my fires. I got another dog. Yep, I need my head examined. Seriously. If you're counting we still only have two dogs even with the newest addition. We realized we were NOT big dog people and my brother in law gave our hound dog a permanent home. So before welcoming this new pup into the house I bathed her and flea powdered her. But today I discovered she has fleas. Here we go again!

I cannot get her the fancy little pill from the vet because she has not been there for her shots yet. So off to Walmart to get flea dip. I have not dipped a dog in years!! That stuff burns like hell! I got some on my arm and oh my goodness! IS that was it does to the fleas??! Yikes!

I've been paranoid about the bugs. I feel like they're crawling on me. Seriously they have only been on the animals and I would say we've had 20-25 on each dog. My pest control guy has reassured me that it's not a serious case and the growth regulator he has applied on the carpets will kill the cycle, in conjunction with the stuff we used on the animals we should be good now. He along with the lady at Petco both told me that this is the worst year for fleas. I have NEVER had them on my animals. One here or there, but not like this.

So you can see what I've been dealing with. Yuck.

RemembeRED:Nothing Compares 2 U

2011-04-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

I sometimes find myself searching through the radio stations when I can't find a good song on my favorite stations. I settle on one of the mixed stations that play music from the 80's to current albums. I'll land on a good Pearl Jam song or maybe even Carrie Underwood and enjoy the white noise in the background that cuts out the arguing between the kids.

It doesn't happen too often anymore but I'll start to hear the distinct tune and that unforgettable voice of Sinead O Connor and I don't let the song get too far and I switch the station. I can't bear to hear the music let alone the lyrics.
It's been seven hours and fifteen days........ Since u took your love away........ I go out every night and sleep all day........... Since u took your love away ....

The song Nothing Compares 2 U is one of those songs to tears deep to my heart. It has been twenty one years and it still brings me back to the day that I chose it to cry to every time I listened to it. I wanted to feel the pain then. I wanted to shed those tears for the loss of my first love. We experienced so many highs and lows in our erratic relationship that when it was finally over, I felt like my life was over.

I know that looking back now that I was very young and naive and it's impossible to feel like your life is over when you realize that the person you truly loved has left you. But hearing that song still brings on the painful emotions that I can't listen to it. I don't want to be brought to that place in my life through that song. I closed the door on the past in my life, good or bad.

This week, your memoir prompt assignment is to think of a sound or a smell the reminds you of something from your past and write a post about that memory. Don't forget to incorporate the sound/smell of your choosing!

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

2011-04-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

I can't believe that it's already that time again for the Ultimate Blog Party 2011 hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom!! I joined for the first time last year and it was great to meet new blogs and make new friends. Not to mention the daily activities, Twitter parties and fabulous prizes they are offering. It is a ingenious way to bring thousands of blogs together to join in on some fun!

Welcome to my blog, My Crazy Kind of Wonderful my home away from home so to speak. My name is Tiffany, I’m a 30 something mom to two wonderful, beautiful blessings who define how I am as a mother and a wife to a patient, loving husband who lets me be just me. I love cooking new recipes and making up my own, organizing, cleaning and meal planning. I take pride in my faith with Christianity and teaching my children the love of God. My desire is to raise Christ loving, well rounded citizens out of my children.

For the newcomers and my regular readers I'm going to give you a flashback of random posts from the past year that give you a better idea of who I am and what I have going on in my OCD brain. Posts about my faith in God or when I questioned not discussing parenting roles with the hubs. ( my pen name for my partner in crime) I post about my struggles with friendships and why I think that the friends you have when you're a child pave the road for insecurities in life.

I love writing about my children that I have been blessed to protect, mother and spoil rotten.

I love challenging myself in my ability to write and like to participate in a few weekly memes that give me that chance. I recently started joining in writing at the red dress club and find the positive and constructive criticism a great way to better my writing. I like the idea of a suggestion or a prompt to write about, because when I'm having writer's block it's simpler. My other favorite meme, The Writer's Workshop has been a favorite of mine with it's weekly prompts to choose from that challenge my mind. One of my longest and most fun WW posts was 100 things about me, my bucket list.

Blogging has been one of the greatest things I ever started doing. When I talk about my blog to other people some question why? and why would you tell people you don't know things about your life? Because when it's hard in real life to reach people who really understand, my blog is an outlet for others to read and relate. I enjoy the friendships I have made, some very wonderful ladies out there who let me know that I am important and not alone. That they are there when I need to cry, laugh, vent or share a secret. Blogging for me is a safe place to tell it all. Like or not.

I hope to meet some more great and wonderful fellow bloggers during the party. We're all in this together.

Just sit back and enjoy the ride!!

Somewhere Marvelous

2011-03-31T00:30:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a break from my regularly scheduled, err well mostly regular scheduled Thursday post, this week. Because today you will find me guest posting for my fellow bloggy friend Marvelous Mommy! She just had a new baby girl a few days ago and is spending some time adjusting and snuggling her new bundle. So go on over and give her some love today or every day and check it out.

RememRED:Being Five Again

2011-03-29T00:35:00.005-04:00

"Good afternoon to you, good afternoon to you, we're all in our places with bright shiny faces, good afternoon to you Mrs. Harkenreider"! How I can still remember this song I used to sing almost 30 years ago is beyond me. I have such fond memories from my first year of school in Kindergarten. It was the last year they did half day for Kindergarten and I went to school in the afternoons. I spent every school day with my mom in the mornings, ate lunch before school and rode a big yellow s hooligan bus.

The first day was pretty tragic, I ran down the isle of the bus trying to watch my mom stand there as the bus pulled away and found myself in tears because she didn't seed me waving her goodbye. I think that was the only time I cried.
I carried a yellow daffy duck shoulder bag everyday to class. I remember when my mom brought it home for me. I was nervous and was shy about taking it from her. I still remember being careful to not lose it, not as careful about leaving my jacket or sweater on the bus several times throughout the year. I made sure I clutched that bag like my life depended on it.

I will forever remember being in my first play. It was the alphabet and I was Tall T. I thought I got the letter T because of my name starting with a T but I think it was the luck of the draw. I got to wear tights, a leotard and a cardboard cut out T that was painted with shiny silver paint. I was so proud! My mother still has Polaroid photos of this day. The smile on my face is priceless.

I had my first crush on a red headed freckle faced boy named Billy. I used to bring him pennies to school. Don't ask me why, I have no clue. My mother still remembers that boy too. She came on a field trip with my class to Publix grocery store and I held his hand the whole time. It was puppy love.

Ah the days of carefree life. School had no worries. It was full of crafts, playing musical chairs, making home made doughnuts, recess, learning to write your name and being able to survive the next year in first grade. Such fond memories from my past.