Busy Mom Ramblings

So many many little things....

2011-02-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

We did get moved and found a home, and a year into this new home we are still "adjusting"...it has been a financial nightmare indeed! When you buy a home, remember to get a "home warranty". Unlike us, whom decided we would not need it, and ended up replacing every godforsaken appliance in this place before February. The furnace still has an issue, that we have let go because we have a wood burning furnace that heats the home instead of using gas, but still! In case of emergency it should work properly.

So in the matter of the children...well so many little things, tooo many to mention and name. Since we've been to our new home it has been a whole different world. The kids are not far from my parents, which Grace thoroughly enjoys, and we are not much farther from town than 30 minute drive like we were before.

We discovered that Kevin's OM "other mother" David's ex, has decided she needs to find herself moving back into the "windmill projects" where her stepdad and mother just recently moved from...they have a tiny trailer on a tiny lot smack dab in the middle of those dang blasted windmills. She has yet to reveal this information, although we know her lease on her apt is coming up due to resign, and since they will NEVER be able to sell the little lot with the little trailer...she might as well live there RENT free right?!? Have I mentioned "OM" has not paid her $39 and some change a month child support since last May? Yeah really! And she's got a nice paying job at a nice company here in town. She also managed to divorce her husband right at the year mark of marrying him in Aug 2009. Kevin divulged the tidbit of information on her moving...and that helps tons. At least we are soon to be expecting an argument on pickup and drop offs.

Since she stopped paying her CS (child support) we've managed to keep an even ground with her. She's not all bipolar and freaking out. She's kept it cool with us...I think so we won't take her back to court...but wait...there's much more coming her way and she has no idea just yet.

As for Grace she's alive and doing well I suppose...when school started I took on her little brother Ethan (my ex husband's son), watching him before and after school, and I've been doing a gazillion cakes, which I love love love to do. It substitutes my time and generates a little money for odds and ends. Grace has been doing well in her studies and I can't be happier...she's coming into her own personality more and more, although I could do without the awful moodswings that are reminiscent of her mother at 13. I was horrible! I can only imagine a year from now you will find me in that padded room..as she asks her grandmothers to buy her "unmentionables" for her.

I really can't imagine life any other way. Kevin knows where his home is and continues to threaten "I'm going to live with you forever, mommy" but in the same breath say "I'm going to move out when I'm 16 so I can own a gun." The story there is, I won't let him have a gun in my home, even a toy one...I fear he does not respect these types of weapons enough yet to know that you don't point them at people because they will die. Although he has a severe prefascination for them. The saddest part to it all is, is he wants to "learn to hunt" just so he can have a gun. Let's just say, it's going to be a battle. We have found no other interests he has except for playing video games on the wii and during the summer being in the pool and in the water. He loved baseball last year, but we are skipping it this year because he needs to practice writing. He's not doing so hot with that, but his progress in reading is now OFF the Charts! He's in the 95% where as when he started the school year he was only in the category of "does he hold the book right to read it." So kudos for that!

They say that writing will follow, but to manage for him to get a thought on paper is like pulling a tooth that's dangling by one thread, although very simple...he throws a huge fit, that it's "JUST TOO HARD"...and I've come to realize he's an all or nothing child...if he can't do it right the first time he doesn't even want to try, and he knows he's not spellig his words right, so why put forth the effort. Yup, that's kevin....and boy if he doesn't win a level at the wii, he'd much rather give up and play a different game than to challenge himself.

David and I are doing well, we are coping as best we can with all involved. I started a group on FB in light of many occurances with the "OM" and named it Drama Wednesday, it's a select group of ladies, we can get on and vent with and get support. I'm super happy to have started it because it's become a great area for my closest and dearest to stay connected when we can and vent frustrations and share ideas, and give each other suport. It's been a blessing in disguise, and I guess that's why I let the blog lag...in fact ALOT...we moved, and I got lost. ha ha ha

Go figure. Such as life! Another trial, that we are now surviving. Now the goals for this new year is to get out and visit our long lost missed family members and friends we have not gotten to see out of state. I don't know how we'll manage...but we are going to try to find a way! *fingers and toes crossed*

Waiting on Baited Breath....

2011-02-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

So if you were one of the one's following my blog and waiting with baited breath...guess what, I quit writing...and guess what!!! Kevin is now 6 going on seven and Grace turned 11 in December!!! We've missed so much together! So let's get started on to the new adventures!

I promise, you will not have to wait long...I'll be back to blogging either tonight or tomorrow...although tomorrow I think is best. :0) Happy Tuesday...now let's move on already!

2 hrs sleep in two days...and still going....

2009-08-05T21:12:00.000-07:00

Yes it's 12:12 a.m. and it's been a rough rough day. Court 9:30 a.m. was eventful. For those of you who did not know, David's ex started some stuff about a month ago and got confrontational in front of Kevin, which left him distressed, frightened, and lying to his mommy "D" (that's the ex), oh and let me add he was confused. It's been a very rough rough month for us.

With the fight of the windmill project, I have succeeded in getting through to the farmer, and I think the Horizon Wind Energy's pocketbook contributed to Mr. Farmer buying our home. We are getting out! Not for what we should have gotten for losing the home we had a love/hate relationship...but the blood sweat and tears have to be left behind.

But I digress back to mommy "D", she presented a situation as an immature child and not as an adult addressing questions and issues with discipline in front of Kevin...due to the fact that supposedly at random he says "Mommy Misty puts soap in my mouth if I call her Step Mom"....here we go again....the soap thing, he was threatened...because he dropped his bike on his leg about two weeks before and outright said G.D.!!!! in the right context...now I told him if that language was to continue, you are pretty darn tootin' we would revisit "The Christmas Story" that at one time was very acceptable for foul language usage...and in my own childhood VERY effective.

David and I's conclusion as it has been happening for two years...is that she was continually harrassing him once again about calling me step mom and that she is mom...so to shut her up...he told her that...ha ha...bright boy, but made her mad as a wet hen! And she got confrontational...so the letter was sent...yes the letter.

David asked me to compose a letter to her, stating that her behavior was uncalled for and unacceptable, and by the divorce decree, and as her wanting the title of mother, she need to pretty much (nicely stated and legally to the point) step up to the plate, but that until we met with our lawyer for advice we felt the need until we came to a formal agreement that visitation be withheld.

I came up with some "type" of agreement...but the lying idiotic twit handwrote a letter on notebook paper and filed it with the Benton Circuit County Court where they had their divorce finalized....and here we are at 9:30 a.m. documentation in hand...

The smirking judge reads her and explains to her the divorce decree she agreed to and signed and let her know in nice terms...with the struggle of not laughing in her face...that yes..she can have the change of visitation...since she got on the stand and confessed she's been doing it for two years already, but that she is responsible for the financial support of Kevin! Downfall...she fibbed and said she only made $13K last year...ha ha ha...she is requested to turn in W2's to our lawyer for 2008 so we can reevaluate...as it stands she is only $4.00 away from a pay increase to be financially "responsible"...she even tried to use her youngest "in high school unwed mother daugther and grandchild as a hardship" but then we let them know that the man she is married to, is the father of the daughter living with her, and the judge says with another smirk..."Well with that fact now mentioned, that hardship does not apply to the fact you are financially responsible for Kevin."

Point is, she left mad...we are to know follow the Indiana State Parenting guidelines...and that has been changed, and her visitation schedule that we currently do is now filed with the courts. From now on every year we are going to request W2's until she is able to be financially responsible...I have a feeling the W2 is going to come back being what we thought...much more than what she said in court...and guess what, she owes! But no back pay...and that's okay.

Mind you this started by her behavior of constantly harrassing Kevin over calling me mom...and what does she expect, I taught him how to talk, he lives with me 90% of the time, and Grace calls me mom or mommy...you expect the child not to do the same. We've told him he can label anyone in the family as he chooses, he knows our labels...our names, and who we are, and it's his choice...he's still five, and he's ADOPTED and a product of a divorce...do you really expect him to understand this? Do you expect him not to be confused? Wouldn't you just be happier, and him too, if he was allowed to have many mommies and daddies, and lots of family who loves him? I know I would, and I do...and David and I agree that that's how we are going to raise him...no psychological warfare.

Her lying made her look like an idiot..her comprehension of the agreement she signed for her divorce made her look like an idiot...and her changing her visitation to be recorded in the court...to get her to "not be responsible" for her child's welfare and support...was just plain well...do I really need to say it? Maybe it will open her eyes to the fact, that her confrontations, and her being reluctant to visit with him, the psychological warfare is not going to get her anywhere, and hopefully bring Kevin so peace and happiness when visiting his other family...we shall see.

After all, Friday is visitation day, and the Guidelines BEGIN! :0)

***Footnote, I wish that sometimes David and "D" could at least come to the understanding that I know I have with my ex...we can still be somewhat "friends" and jovial...we just couldn't communicate and be partners...just didn't work... Difference here...is that when someone is being a butt due to a bad day, we hang up on each other, and try again later...it's like riding a bike..you fall off but you get right back on...this is for the kids after all...it's not about you. If you didn't figure that out when you were in the process of making them, having them, and birthing them...you figure it out soon...the world doesn't revolve around you, it's all about THE KIDS!!!! THEY ARE OUR FUTURE!

--Back to the House.... Sold it Monday night...should be closed on deal by mid August...have to find a house and fast...we can rent up until Jan here...but well...the sooner we find a house and sign, the better...and I think we may have found "the one" already...just got to figure out where the money is coming and going from...ugh...I wish I was already driving my pink caddy... Too many houses to mention from 1 - 7:15 this evening..but the kids were drained by five...and well...it's now 12:45 a.m. and guess what...I'm still up, with only 2 hrs sleep, racking my brain on so many decisions.

And ladies! I forgot to mention...

Interested in a free makeover? Visit me, your Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant: www.marykay.com/mromack

Have fun with it...I'm still trying to assist my family in the move and adjustment to the new "beginnings" in our lives.

Hope everyone is more sane than I because I definitely know I'm not if I have had no sleep and am blogging! Love you all! Misty

Today is Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

A weekend where David and I should not have the children but under circumstances have them both! And I couldn't be happier about that. :0) We are now going to be eating mexican food at 6:15 and I'm looking forward to the end of the day.

For those who have been personally emailed the drama...pray for us, and for little Kevin. We are going to do our best, to help him as best we can. I love little man. It was so sad this morning, he said, "Mommy, I want to go home...I miss you..I don't want you to go to work over and over again in the morning." This made me tear up, the little guy is having withdrawals because I've worked all week...we have not had much time for just kids and mommy this week.

As for so many other things going on my head, I have to get on the phone, start searching for support groups online, and do the research to manage to accumulate all I can on what we can do to make the "battle" easier over Kevin. Wether the lawyer thinks it's feasible for us to fight her to sign him over, or just to take her for the cash...who knows...but what I want...is for her to either stop harrassing the confused little boy and let him grow and be happy. David and I counted up the hours last night that she has him from friday night, to sunday afternoon...once you take into account sleep time and naps...she gets exactly 48 hrs a month with him and that's not ONE on ONE time either. You do the math... :0( So disheartening.

I can't believe in a few weeks the kids will be starting school, and Monday I have to go to the BMV to get gracie an ID, so she can go with Dianna (her father's mom) to see her aunt Eve (her father's sister) in Washington D.C. Just so amazing, it'll be her first plane ride and I won't be with her. :0( But glad she gets the opportunity to do something fun this summer with her other family.

Wow...so much to do!!!!!

Safety warning....

2009-07-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so everyone knows Kevin's birthday came and went on Friday July 3rd. We had a small kids pool party with Elana's boys Tristan and Donovan and Grace in the pool with Kevin, while the adults sat around and chatted. It was a great time.

Kevin received two identical Batmobiles...and they have proved to be a joy! They wind up and it shoots across the floor and makes lots of noise then shoots some type of missile. GREAATTT!!!!...the best part....he wound it up...and placed it on his chest!!!!!! WOOOUCH!!!! Screaming like a banshee....

Now thanks to Gma Phillis and her story of Uncle Brice placing his wind up van in his hair, he decided that hair was not the way to go....so let's try flesh!

Needless to say a few tears later and an ice pack placed strategically on the left side of his chest and an ibuprofren for any swelling he was fine.

Monday, he was sitting at the table still very away there is bruising, but so happy that, "Mommy see, it still pokes out! I didn't rip my nipple off!" ha ha ha ha ha

So safety warning.....wind up cars belong on the floor, not on any part of your anatomy or you may lose it. ha!

It's been a long long time.....

2009-07-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, party people, I am alive and well. Or so I might not be so well...but what can you say about an ulcer? Or high acidity levels when it comes to stress.

In light of all that is going on, let me fill you in. Well as it comes and goes, Grace continued to have many problems when it came to school, there for a while the teacher and I really thought that she would come out of it, but then the last two weeks, the behavioral became an issue again.

So Grace was recommended for ADD/ADHD evaluation and testing. In the progressing months since I last posted, her anxiety level has skyrocketed. I can not walk out to the garage to get food from the freezer for preperation, I can not be in the yard, without her hunting me down every five minutes. Culprit is her sleep pattern. She is not sleeping near as much as she should. We met with the pediatrician in june, and grace is on a sleep aid/anti depressant. The evaluations from her teachers have yet to be returned to Dr. Woodman as of yet. After Dr. Woodman did her evaluation and interviewed Grace herself, her suspicions are of ADHD...Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder...Grace hyper? Nooooo.... Seriously.

But her constant fidgiting and unability to sit still unless she is doing a project she is performing that she PREFERS to do is the only possible way, and even then she seems to get up and dance in her seat, which I as a mother NEVER noticed before. I was in shock and disbelief. In fact if you want to know the truth, since April, I literally have dived into major research about the disorder and tried to figure out exactly what we need to do, and possibilities for treatment. I also struggled with the fact that we have to have acceptance from the family members for her treatment, which may sound easy, but RITALIN has literally has been giving treatment a bad rap for years!!!!!! It's not like they haven't improved medication since then.

I am one to be the hardest to convince that my child needs treatment. But at the same time, she is mimicking behaviors of her father...and as little time as she spends with him, not all of it is environmentally learned. This is genetic. He has graduated from borderline personality disorder to now manic behaviors and severe anxiety, which he is medicated for.

Our issue here, is that Kevin is now mimmicking some attitude and behaviors from his sister...which causes us great concern. How much of it is really him, and how much of it is his sister. We know genetically he may not be perfect (due to his biological parents, since he is adopted), but we really need to understand and define between what is what.

My current struggle is I'm writing a book on all of this.... and now Kevin's "other mother" my husband's ex wife, is now causing issues. Still after two years of Kevin talking and calling me mom, she continues to harrass Kevin about family member name labels. And was confrontational when the little boy told her, "they'll put soap in my mouth if I call her Misty." Why does he have to lie and say something like that to get her to stop, why does his rights as a child have to be compromised by not letting him be a happy child, why continue to confuse him about his upbringing? Isn't it hard enough already for him? Isn't going to be even harder when he understands and comprehends the whole adoption process? Won't this confuse him when he is older about his past and his future? It pulls at my heartstrings to hear him tell David and I, "this is too confusing." I cried that day, it saddens me alot, for his sake, he is such a loving and accepting child, and has so much potential. Where does she get off being able to do this?

Well, David has decided it's time to do something, so we ask for everyone's support with this. We sent her a letter, restricting her visitation to public places such as chuck e cheese and monkey joe's so we show up with him and leave with him. It's not like it makes much of a difference, because she cut down her visitation to every other weekend two years ago (due to $$$. She would have to pay for daycare while working and she did not want to do that). But she has not contacted us to set up a time or date of when she would like to visit with him. But this is an option for a controlled environment for visitation where we know that she can not be confrontational, and where we know there is not constant harrassment. This is for Kevin's best interest. Our first conference with the lawyer is on August 17th so we can set up for a hearing. Not sure what his opinion will be as far as what we have a better chance for fighting for, full custody, or child support.

In either case, we are hoping for him to be as happy as he can be at this point. :0)
But we are making progress in the right direction for both kids...and that's a blessing! :0)

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2009-04-12T13:02:00.000-07:00

Happy easter!

Loving the Ex's...

2009-04-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Do we love them or hate them, or just wish they would dissolve like the last alka seltzer you dropped into your tumbler full of water? Okay, I prefer the alka seltzer method, but unfortunately, they are the non cancerous moles that stay on your skin unless you pay heavy amounts of money and endure more pain to erase them from your skin. So yeah, needless to say, the ex's have to stay, and surgical removal isn't an option. **Although if I figure it out, I'll be sure to have it done ASAP.

Originally for the weekend David and I had planned to visit Nikki on Saturday and since the rainy weather was in the forecast for Sunday along with a temperature drop, we thought it'd be a great idea to see her on Saturday when it was sunny. Then my sister emmie put the cherry on my merriment sundae and called to ask if we would like to come up to visit. So we decided this was an even greater idea! We planned to shop at the Lighthouse Outlet, and go back in the afternoon to South Bend to have dinner and hit a few clubs. Shopping was glorious and David bought a dress that matches the shoes and purse that he bought me on our honeymoon (a year later)!!!! It was simply amazing to find it.

Let me say, he was going to get me a new wallet...but COACH had a line that was backed up to the door, and although they say we are in a recession and that the economy sucks...COACH's spring collection and Bath&Body's Smelly Soap seems to be the things that gets our economy excited. At least it was in Michigan City. The line was so long...I decided against the wallet, but I'm soooo going back to get one sometime this summer! Same with B&B, we had Josh stand in line, while we shopped just so we could make a group effort in getting in and out of the store in record time!

We went to the Vines in South Bend, and that was some fantastic gourmet pizza...and we even got a baked brie...and yummy...to my tummy...i want more of that food!!! We decided to hit a few clubs, the first one, had an auction sign in the window, they'd sold their franchise name and got rid of the website, but they were still listed...well the walk from the parking garage was nice, and lo' and behold, we decided to walk to South Bend Chocolate Cafe' because we had a little while to wait before another club's show was to start. After molesting the oddly placed Bronze Gorilla and getting some germs on my lips and some precarious pictures we went into the cafe'. David and I had chocolate cherry cheesecake, and I ordered a "Lake Effect" which is a white chocolate espresso drink...that literally they put three ladles full of white chocolate approx 1/2 lb liquid choclate in that drink....OH MY...I did gain ten lbs saturday night. By the time I had imbibed enough caloric intake to suffice for another quadtrillion years, we walked a few more blocks to the other club, only to find, anti social security guards, lots of flashing lights, pounding music, and an empty room. We then settled to stop freezing and hop into the Pilot and purchase a few libations to take with us to Club Fairview where we were at least guaranteed to have good conversations and a hot tub to parboil in.

It was a fantastic time! But as all weekends go, they have to end.

David, Nikki, and I were traveling back and we weren't even on the road approx 10 minutes and the text message came from his ex...asking when we were picking up the son.

There are things that dig deep into the pits of your stomach like the last tamale you tried to consume with that 12 oz margarita...wether it was the tamale or the tequila...you know just something doesn't agree, and that's what is up in the ex's hood. A BADDDDD FEELING.

Kevin got in the car to say to me, "Denise and Eric told me to call you step mom over and over again."

Oh yeah, they go there every time they have him. Little do they understand in their little pea brains...that it doesn't matter what they tell my little boy, he only says that when he gets in, and then I'm "mommy" once again. They won't win, but at the same time, messing with the child's head, and trying to play word games, isn't going to work.

The other bad mojo was Grace's dad...he popped his fuel tank in southern indiana backing over a railroad tie, he was able to epoxy the tank to stop the leak on Saturday. And although he knew it was raining on Sunday,and me pointing out to him Grace has a Science Fair project she needed to work on last night, he decided to stay late, knowing his tires have no traction, and scaring him to the point of calling me to beg me to meet him at the Dayton exit because he really didn't want to drive anymore...puhleeze....did someone put STUPIDITY minerals in the water!!! Because yesterday both ex's had their daily quotient of stupid.

I seriously hope this week is better, and that Easter goes smoothly. Here comes peter cottontail...no red dye #40 in this house, but loads of high quality chocolate, and two parents that will be willing to sell their souls for an hours worth of peace and a good cup of coffee, after the chocolate consumption begins.

Wish us luck!!!! Hope life finds you well!

Grace made it home after 9.

"There's a spider on your shoulder!!!!"

2009-04-01T10:52:00.000-07:00

"Happy Fool's Day!" Kevin exclaims to each and every person that he came across today. Yes it has been an exciting morning for sure. Grace introduced Kevin to April Fool's Day this morning and that's what lead to the predicament this morning. He even fooled a few girls who had forgotten what day it was.

Saturday of course David had to work, so the kids and I worked at home. I had the urge to cook my FIRST PRIME RIB...and low and behold there was a possibility of a full house by noon. ;0) I had a few friends Nate and Carmen who may come, then I got a call from my best friend Tera...Myles (her husband) had passed his real estate state exam! So Tera and Myles came for dinner, unfortunately Nate and Carmen got called to attend a family dinner with his father. Myles proclaimed the Prime Rib was " of restaurant quality!". I was pretty proud. I had made homemade rolls, baked potatos, salads, prime rib, and a homemade pumpkin pie. David contributed with his special strawberry margaritas...and we literally were stuffed by the end of the evening. We played a few games of mexican train dominoes...before poor myles who had been up at the wee hours of the morning had to call it a night. It was a great time, and look forward to doing yet another prime rib. ;0) Yummy!!!

Although the events of the weekend have come and gone, we spent a lot of time at home just puttering around the house and relaxing, it's not often that we get to do that.

The kids and I have started their progress charts! They get check marks for all chores accomplished. Kevin is making his bed, keeping his toys picked up (which is a little more left to be desired but he is still 4), Helping Mommy (which he LOVES to do especially in the kitchen), Eating Quietly (which he is doing outstandingly), Brushing his teeth, and Going to bed by 8:30. Grace's consist of, Sweeping Floors, Feeding and Watering the cat and scooping her litter, Doing her homework and practice within an hour, Keeping her room picked up, Making her bed, and Bedtime by 9:30....although there are areas for improvement they get 14 cks it's ice cream, at 28 check marks they get another reward (but I've forgotten what LOL) and when it triples with checks they get a trip to the park or the zoo. :0) For starting out for four days so far, they are doing amazingly well, and we hope to keep it going! I am proud of my kids buckling down and working hard for their check marks!

I have to head off to get Grace and drop off Kevin's kindergarten paperwork...so off I go!!! I will post more later!

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2009-03-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

chiquita hiding under the blanket

I thought you knew everthing?

2009-03-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

The Kentucky Trip this weekend was a blast!

I was thrilled to be the one to make Cody's cake for his party this past weekend. Granted, it wasn't the cake I wanted to make, but that one split in half due to the cake being very moist. That was a disappointment. The cake disaster set my schedule back severly and we didn't end up leaving the house until one a.m. on Saturday morning to drive there. The kids had went to bed by 8:30 and by the time it was time to travel, neither wanted to sleep until 4:30 by the time we got to Cody's they stayed awake until they took 1/2 hr naps right before the party.

This was the cake that should have been in Kentucky (to the left)....(To the right)This is the cake that actually made it to the party.

The cake drama infuriated me, because I didn't allow some dry time and I threw those cakes in the freezer....they have to freeze to be able to carve...well this dry time allows for some moisture to release itself from the cake. With too much moisture once carved and thawed and no extra flat support in the middle of the cake I was doomed to failure, and when the marshmallow fondant was applied it cracked in the middle and the whole rear end went kapuut! GARRRR!

We made it to the party at the skating rink unscathed with a monster truck cake in hand. Cody was desperate to see the cake the next day, so we had him have a sneak peak about an hour before.

Let me tell you skating was something else all it's own! I haven't been on skates since I was 12 or 13 when the tore down the local skating rink. :0( And to see my brother don a pair of skates, along with my kids, and myself, I was in total shock. My own legs felt like a wobbly jello mold, or maybe that jelly that falls out of the canned hams... I had already told David a million times over I used to be really good...And all my hubby saw me do was wobble from wall to wall and obligingly fall on my uncushioned knees way to many times to count. I do believe I'll be wearing bruises from this excursion for a few more weeks. By the time it was time to cut the cake, I'll be darned if I wasn't getting the hang of things all over again. Since no one knew how the cake was constructed and I was part of this wonderful celebration, I was elected to cut my own cake! This is bad mojo for me...I do not like to hack into my own creations...nope, never, not once! But I did...and I got through it just fine. :0)

We attended a mexican restaurant that is the equivalent of el rodeo here, only their salsa was PERFECTO!!!! But when I got back to Mary's I was just so tired, I crashed while everyone one else had a blast. I continue to feel like I'm still catching up on some sleep.

For the people who were there on Sunday, I'll spare the details, but my uncle had an accident, he slightly got ran over by a mud truck/rail...he's okay, and thank God he is alive and kicking...but geez...I hope that never occurs again! The ride home from Kentucky on Monday was a breeze for the first three hours...the rest of the time, not so much. Then there were kids...and they were AWAKE!!!!

When we finally reached a Starbuck's I was in heaven. I do believe that if there was one in their town, that David and I would consider moving to Kentucky...that way Mary Jo and I could open a cake business. There's only one bakery in that area other than the Walmart and the Kroger...I bet it would do well. David and I lived off of gas station cappucino's and regular coffee...but nothing beats having those espresso's...and it was my own stupid fault for not packing my espresso pot.

The off ramp to our house was a sight for sore eyes...and Grace asked, "Where are we?" And Kevin said, "I thought you knew everything." And to that, through the fit of giggles I was in, I said, "Oh snap!" Sometimes Kevin is brighter than we think...and just as much of a smarty pants as his sister. LOL

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2009-03-21T11:11:00.000-07:00

My hubby and our baby. Lacey is visiting grandma!

Immunization Fun....

2009-03-18T18:54:00.001-07:00

So Monday was little Kevy's Physical for Kindergarten... It is coming up!
It was so fun, until he got to the room...and when the Dr. donned his rubber gloves, he got that crazy look in his eye...of course they had to check for hernia's and what not, and he didn't like that too much, but no pain.

The eye test was also fun...the nurse was asking him what certain pictures were...on the eye chart, the first one was a BIG gigantic HOUSE...and he said it was a house, he got the tree, he got a few others, but when it came to the smaller house he kept calling it a strawberry, and the nurse kept starting over....there was an apple on the chart too. LOL...he could see it but she failed his eye exam anyway because, well that darned house looked like a strawberry. And you know what? I agree. But I give major kudos to this nurse for being so patient...and her bold hairdoo!!! Not only was it a layered short style, but it was silver white on top and the bottom layer of her hair was PURPLE....like Grape Kool-Aid Goodness purple...and that is the bomb!!!! I do believe this is a style I will move to, only with tropical punch red, when I come to terms with my silver hair...I'm just not ready for that yet. LOLOLOL

Back to kevin, he had to have some immunization shots..apparently good ol mom#1 had not taken him in since 2005...when he was ONE!!!!! So little man had to have 5 immunizations Monday night. When she covered her hands delicately with the rubber gloves, he again got the crazy eyes....then when she asked for the pants to be pulled down he went berzerk!!!!!!!!!!!! He completely started thrashing about, and she hadn't touched him yet...and screaming he was petrified...but Daddy and I were there, and we held him and told him it was okay. He got stuck seven times because he pulled away so far that the needle got yanked out twice....poor little man. The nurse was even sly about it and walked in sideways so he wouldn't see how many needles. Kudos for the nurse with very good brains! And kudos for them scheduling for us to be the last appointment they seen that day....otherwise they would have had an office full of petrified children about the kid around the corner being tortured to the point his lungs would explode.

But we are through it....he spent the rest of the evening walking around the house stiff legged...he looked more like R2D2...or a penguin, I am going to say it was a toss up. He kept asking, "Mommy, why did she have to be so mean?" "Seriously buddy, it's over and it doesn't hurt anymmore and if you want to go to school you had to have them, they are medicine. It's okay."

Today he went to visit Mom #1 because we will be taking them for the weekend that they should both be at their "other parents'" houses. This is a special occassion and trip so we were taking them since they did not get to attend last year. Anyway, she called saying that they were in the middle of dinner and he was crying and said something about a needle in his leg and pulled down his pants...she called very disturbingly upset. Really wanting to know why he needed a needle in his leg...are you serious? We've been talking to her about kindergarten for two months! Seriously....ummm....how can you be soooo ummm....light in the head? Get real! Well as it all goes...I had the convo with her and she was better about the situation, but I did get a chance to tell her he had not had a shot since 2005, the doctor showed me his record.

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2009-03-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

My girls riding in the car.

What's up party people!

2009-03-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, so while some of us are recovering from our green beer hangovers....us "working class" either "had no greens to buy the beers, or green to buy the green to put in their beers"....so David and I worked. (this was a quote from my girl Heather). We had moved the deck from it's current location to the sliding door on the end of the front porch/guest room.

The point in doing this is so there is an entry from the house to the deck (which will be the most awesomest thing since sliced bread), and will be arranging the guest room so that there will be access for it's said use during the summer. :0) I'm thrilled!

David spent the evening leveling the deck...while I pondered why I am not out with my hubby celebrating St. Patty's....but alas, I am almost through the production of getting the bedroom done. :0) Both kids rooms are clean and I hope they stay that way...we will be off to visit our family in Kentucky this weekend, which I am thrilled about! Nikki, if you want to run away, you have a key!!!!!! :0)

We worked until our little hearts were content. Kevin spent the night with G'ma Phillis, and Grace focused on her work, cleaned her room, and went to bed at 9:30 p.m.....ummm...yeah where did the angel come from and is my daughter coming back, cuz whoever sent the angel in her place, I don't want the other one back. LOL

Tonight is production on Cody's Monster Truck Cake....ummm...I have forgotten the flavor but I think I'm going to do yellow and chocolate...if that's okay with his mom and him. :0) I've thought ahead and gotten the kids easter items, and that's taken care of. Trying to get all my ducks in a row, between production of baking and creating the millions lbs of icing I need to do I will also be packing for the weekend.

***Back to the lovely bedroom I have been creating, I got a full length mirror and I'm pretty sure I want to take it back down. It's not the mirror that I find repulsive, it's the image it portrays of me inside it....did you know Wal-mart sells funhouse mirrors? I didn't realize that the butt of all butts has spread wider than it should have, and I hope to gain my vanity back and start running again. Seriously, ummm...what I have seen in the mirror makes me want to gag....blech... Of course the 1000 calorie butter burger I had for lunch doesn't help much, but it was a splurge, since it's been like two months since we have had a burger of any sort!

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2009-03-15T12:43:00.000-07:00

Four Slice Toaster....

2009-03-12T06:44:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it? Grace has discovered we got a new toaster! One of my precious valentine's day gifts for the family! No more using that $10 2 slice toaster I've had for 15 yrs that I bought at OSCO's. LOL So my fine cuisinart toaster has been used for the first time since I have gotten it. Apparently Grace was not aware that you can toast only 2 pieces at a time if you want to... I discovered this yesterday when I went to go get a piece of bread. (We keep our bread in the fridge.) And curiously enough it was a little tan on both sides, but I used it anyway. Then I realize....I'll be darned if this bread isn't TOASTED and stuffed back in the bread bag! When making toast, she toasted four slices, she made PB&J toast for Kevin and herself and stuffed the other two pieces of bread in the bread bag. LOL We had a toaster education and I'm sure I will not be eating refrigerated toast again...blech!

**On an up note...Grace's dad had his hearing on Friday, although he is ordered for major counseling and drug testing. He will have supervised visitation with Ethan, and he'll be living with his mother during this 5 - 6 week period of time, but he has temporarily lost custody of Ethan altogether. Grace was not involved at all in this situation or mentioned in the hearing, but as a guideline, I told him Wednesday night visitations are now out. It is a small victory for me, because I've been arguing with him about it since she started her gifted and talented class this year.

**Easter gifts and such....if by chance you purchase the children candy for easter...please read all labels even chocolate! NO RED DYE #40 at all. Some white chocolates may also have traces, and there is also a natural product called carmine that they use to color things. Caramel Color is a listed ingrediant (there is also red dye #40 in it. I've found that we are going to restrict BOTH children from consumption. Eczema in children is sometimes an allergic reaction to the dye's consumption, although she's had it since she was a baby, some times it's worse than others and aggrivates her to the point she scratches until she bleeds.

**Kevin is now approved through the superintendent to start Kindergarten at Mayflower this coming fall, and I've got to finish the paperwork to send it to the school. :0) I'm excited about that. It's a small victory in his education. When we had met with Mrs. Fitzgerald , Principal, and Ms. Higgins, Assistant Principal...they said he's more than qualified, he's got to learn to tie his shoes, learn our address and our phone number and he is set to go! For this reason and the incident with the Orange Fanta Pop that Denise sent him home with on Sunday we have scheduled shot updates, and physical along with allergy referral to get him tested for sure about the red dye #40, so we have legal backing as far as she is concerned. Although it's obvious he has issues with this...some people are not paying attention to it, and it's highly inconvenient for his sanity and learning.

Grace has also had an incident last Friday at Gma Phillis's...where she ate WAYYYY TOOO MANY Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs, and needless to say she ate until she had gotten sick. So the mention of chocolate and marshmallow anything, along with Marshmallow now turns her green. LOL...It's funny that I threaten that Peter Cottontail will leave her another dozen carton in her basket...I know I'm a mean mommy...but it cracks us up to see her face.

Too many times I've had the discussion of her having to stop and not gorge herself, this is one of those times, and hopefully she's learned a lesson from it. :0)

**Grace's major case of the ick is doing fine. She woke up with a temp 102.3 on Tuesday and I took her to the doctor. A round of anti biotics and an anti-inflammatory for her trachea...to help with all the bronchial type aggrivation and lots of mucinex and she's doing well. No more fever. David and I also seem to be coming out of our ick too, which is awesome! :0)

**I've managed to get some of my bedroom painted yesterday, although today will be a busy day and we have parent teacher conferences, half day, and we will be volunteering at the school in the evening, I will not be able to work on it again until tomorrow...I'm excited to get it done.

I hope life is finding everyone well!

I can prove the ex's are psychos!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

First and foremost this has been a week I wish that never happened.

Started out Monday (0r some day this week)...it was going to be a great day...I found an old friend! Really he found me!!!! Jeremy Wampler the next great American novelist...he was my first original "adopted" son. When I first was married, my first apartment was next to a single mom with a young son. She worked all the time, but when she was working, we were normally home. I adopted Jeremy as my own, I was his surrogate mom and friend. Up until he turned 14, we were in constant contact. Then we moved, and he moved, and started turning into a teenager and life took us a different direction. I was thrilled to death about the new turn of developments and him hunting me down on facebook!!!!!!! Welcome to the turn of the century Jeremy! I STILL LOVE YOU!!!!!! Can't wait to get together!

Tuesday turned out not to be so well. Grace's father had an incident and his girlfriend and the daycare turned him into CPS. Something about a bruise or bruises they found on his sons behind. He smacked him for using the restroom in a corner.
The whole CPS thing is secretly something I've wished for and hoped for would happen. I wasn't the one who had done it, and mine were for very different reasons from what he was turned in for.

My reasons: he verbally abuses everyone...no one is called by their real name and Grace's name is usually "fatty" :0(
His house is very disgusting and no normal human being would live with animal feces, and human feces, and food rotting everywhere.
The children's rooms you can't even WALK in, you have to crawl over the junk.

All the same he is getting help that he needs. Although I could not withstand the constant emotional abuse, Grace thinks a lot like her father, so she does not mind as much as I did. The dilema here was...how do you tell your daughter she can't see her father, because he has lost temporary custody of his son? All I know is that CPS told me that if one child's custody is pulled it's the same for both. But I was told that at the hearing on Friday that Grace was not mentioned. This just has to do with the child at his home. All Grace knows as of now is that her dad and his girlfriend are having issues and they are working with counselors. And temporarily he will be living with his mother. I have to call the Indiana Welfare Person that is in control of the case on Monday, to see what guidelines I have to follow to protect my daughter also.He's not a dangerous man, but then again, he can get really carried away with verbal abuse so it's confusing for me. Tomorrow I will know more when I make that call. **MY SMALL VICTORY** Grace's dad has agreed that Wednesday evening visitations are out!!! During school this has been a hinderence in her learning and sleep schedule.

As far as that goes, at the beginning of the week Sunday or Monday David, Grace, and I decided to continue to get sick and get worse. Not only was my brain filled with every inch of bouncing around neurons of anxiety but it was bouncing around in cramped space with all the germie nasties that were up in there. Seriously it was not good, and still isn't to some extent. I was not happy about this. Can you believe you can be a zombie and deal with all the drama. I was on pins and needles for days!!!!! Seriously I was emotionally drained, and I would crash in bed at night without a thought as to what I needed to do the next day. It was bad. And poor David has been plum tuckered out.

Friday night was GIRRLLLZZZZ NITE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!! And boy was it FUNNNNNN!!!!!!!!
Tera, Heather, Carmen and I met at the Nine Irish on 38, started with some dining and a drink...then headed to Cox's by 8. It was a great time, by the time we got seated two of my great friends Mandy and Nate walked in and we had a mini reuinion! Totally by accident. Ann and Brian showed up with friends of theirs and the place was packed with friends and loved ones! :0) It was a great time, and hope to do it again soon, if we add Jeremy, Myles, and a few more, I believe we could take over the whole side of Cox's all with our group of friends and family members. :0) Wouldn't that be awesome?!? We should all try that some time. :0)
David and I ended up staying until closing time and it was fantastic, we caught up on our sleep by today and that was awesome!

When we went to get Kevin he had an orange ring around his mouth and they sent home a bottle of orange Fanta pop with him..>RED DYE #40 anyone, after strict warning, she has been advised. Tomorrow I'm scheduling his appointment with the doctor...I have to pre register Kevin for school at Mayflower anyway, and we will have him tested for all of his allergies. This is going to get her back in court. And that's just the way it goes. You abide by what's best with for the child, OR YOU WILL LOSE!!!!!!!! GUARANTEED!!!!

Hopefully this week will be a much more positive week!

"Mommy I won't laugh...."

2009-03-04T06:09:00.000-08:00

As most wednesday mornings go, I was getting bathed when Kevin woke up and came to the bathroom. Seriously, I don't believe he gets the fact that knocking is a priority, he was coming to get Chiquita. Without his morning kisses from her he just isn't complete. ;0)
Then as most curious little boys go, he asks, "Mommy why are you sitting like that." I've planted myself hunched over in a half ball in the tub so I am not exposed). All be it, I was VERY uncomfortable and kept asking him to shut the door, and innocently he asks, "Why?" I tell him, "Mommy doesn't have her clothes on she is naked in the bathtub and would like him to close the door NOW." Mind you I am gritting my teeth, being pleasant but firm because the draft from the hallway to the bathroom is a little chilly and I am not very happy by this. He looks as me and says, "It's okay mommy I won't laugh." I mean SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!! HE WON'T LAUGH AT MY NUDE BODY!!! This sends my dearly beloved husband in fits of giggles, covering his face because this was tooo funny....yeah I have to agree, I was struck with the funny bone after that. We managed to get him to close the door by this time.
As things go, Grace has lost two teeth side by side each other this week. Monday morning she woke up to tell me, "MOM I JUST SPIT OUT MY TOOTH!!!" Apparently the other tooth underneath it was tired of waiting for her to pluck it out. Then that night at school her teacher had commented on the fact that she needed to pull the other one, because, "I could seeing it being a HUGE distraction during your ISTEP testing Grace." The following morning I told her, "You need to pull that tooth because it did all it's bleeding yesterday when you lost the other one." She cried and threw a fit and told me that it "HURT REALLY BAD", and I instructed her, "Don't push forward or backward just get a hold of it and pull up." Screaming and crying she swears to me that, "It's gonna hurt really bad, see I'll show you." Then boink...and the tooth is out. She looks at me and shrugs her shoulders, "Huh, I swear to you mommy it hurt really bad last night." And she merrily finished brushing her hair, then skipped to get her baggie to put the tooth in.
Although she caught the tooth fairy , apparently she still doesn't want to believe it's me because yet again, she put the tooth under her pillow Monday night and gained $1.00 and no tooth. (The tooth fairy didn't have time to get the last one, that's kinda how I got caught.) Then last night she gained $2.00 for the secondary tooth, and yet again, the tooth fairy actually took that tooth too! I guess the "tooth fairy" learned the hard way, that she would drag her biological hazardous teeth to school with her after they were plucked from her mouth, so she lost the priveledge of keeping them. LOLOL

We were at the school Monday night for Family Reading Night, and I turned in a cake that gets auctioned off for proceeds that are split between the school library and Riley's Children Hospital.
Grace's choice in book for the cake was, What Mom's Can't Do by Daniel Wood. It ddn't have a bunch of candy or use dry ice for the erupting volcano cake, and it sure didn't look like a 2D version of R2D2 but it grossed $20 for the school, although the cake was definitely worth much much more!

I was thoroughly impressed by how much time people staring at the cake in awe. And the family who purchased it, the wife carried it out like it was the biggest trophy she had ever gotten. And that made me feel really good. I didn't get anything from it other than some good quality time with my daughter, who by the way made the dinosaur boy, and helped with the orange trash can, and helped make the fondant and icing with me. So it was a good time. But Grace stated to me as we left the building that night, "We have to make a much COOOLER cake next year mom." I gently reminded her, I had her pick the book and the scene she wanted to create, so um...."MAYBE NEXT YEAR, you'll come up with the cooler idea yet." LOLOL
Kevin is learning to read some sight words, although you can't get him to recite the alphabet letter for letter he does a pretty good job as it stands with a few letters missing in between. He's doing very well in his progress. The other task is tying shoes, learning his address, and a phone number...which is going to be a little more difficult but I think we'll be able to accomplish it. :0)
Wishing everyone well!

Tball madness....

2009-02-26T06:03:00.000-08:00

Things to have seem to become a blur for me.... I think it's because of all the fuzz in my head....I'm trying to recover, but to no avail...the sleepiness took hold of me on the couch last night about 7:30 I do believe and passed out.

David has really been great and he wants me well, so he let me sleep and put the children to bed last night.

I don't know if I ever updated you guys on the latest....big D (Kevin's other mother) really wanted him to start Tball this year. She tried to call david and let him know the details....we (I) declined by text message saying that he would have to test into school this fall so he needs to be ready for school and not doing sports already, too much hassle with as far out as we live. Her reply was, Whatever Ball is in the Summer Funny part about this is, Grace brought home the sign up sheet for us this week, and guess what? He doesn't meet the deadline for his age and birthdate to sign up for Tball this summer either!!! So was she going to lie to get him in the league?

Kev has also had the struggle with the sinus thing for a week longer than I have, and he has been doing okay with the exception of drainage...so I had to give him liquid Red#40 yesterday...two things that is very apparent....he speaks WAYYYY TOOO FAST, and he stutters and stammers a whole lot more, and the involuntary jaw movement worsens when he is on this stuff. Oh yeah and the hyperactivity....but it was well contained at home yesterday.

Today we have a 2 hr delay due to fog, so we'll be dropping grace off to turn around a few hours later and go back to get her...really why do they bother?

Tax Season is here, and we went and had that done the week before last...it takes all we have just to survive right now with the economy the way it is...(I mean in general for everyone, not just us). The scary thing that I have noticed recently is this...(There's still christmas stuff on the clearance racks, and now valentine's day stuff on the racks with it) When normally right after the holiday it all goes to 50% off and 75% off and is gone within a week or so. It is frightening to see that, because people are so scared, they are not spending....and most just can't spend. I have yet to hear near as many people talking about splurging their tax checks either....but last night on the news they report that many people are more into repairing what they have than buying new from everything from appliances to lamps and their cars.

I guess that is good, for my father and for David...auto repair is the way to go anyway...who needs a new vehicle every year....whatever happened to be faithful to your ride? You didn't see Laura Ingles and her dad going out and trading their horse every so often did you? They kept them around for a while. LOL

Trouble in the heartland....

2009-02-25T08:15:00.000-08:00

Well with all the drama of my lovely computer and password and account changes, I was in grave fear I had lost my blog forever. Seriously...I thought it was gone.

I can still do my random photos and mini posts from my phone but nothing more. And I was sad to find that on my blog that the only thing that posted from my phone was the abbreviated version of a literal Paragraph of my outlined drama on Wednesday.

I had those cub scout cakes to do and it started out with a flat tire, which left me in town until 10:00 a.m. so I decided to stop and get an extra cake pan, and sit at Honda for an hour and a half to eat lunch with David. :0) But it was well worth it, Kevin really wanted to eat with Daddy, so I told him if he was quiet and watched his DVD we'd stay in town so we could.

Our visits to town and staying in town have become less....I really miss my hubby during the day, but it's better that I let the 4 yr old get into mischief at home...after all he won't be home for much longer during the day. "I hope" I say this with mixed feelings. I want him to attend school with his age group, but he doesn't make the deadline so he'll have to test into it. I strive for him to start with children of his own age...otherwise he'll be six before he starts kindergarten. And that places him at almost 19 by the time he graduates high school. Unfortunately this is no good for him. Boys usually want out of school earlier when they are older.

I was saddened to discover a few things this past weekend. A friend of mine that I worked with lost a wife suddenly in a car accident. He was also with her. It hit me hard although I was not VERY close with them, but at David's company Christmas party we sat with them while we dined. I was also in attendance when he showed off his purchase of engagement ring for her in 2006. She was an educated young woman you had a bachelor's in Psychology and worked with Child Protection Services here in Lafayette. It tears me up when I think about how young, and how suprisingly it happened. A northbound 18 yr old girl lost control, hit a U-haul that in turn crossed the median, hit her in the southbound lane, and put their car into a semi's path.

It makes me realize many things...one it doesn't matter where you are, you be cautious of other drivers and road conditions....no matter what road, you are not immune to on coming traffic, two life is so short and yet so sweet, don't forget to tell everyone you love them at any given moment, they may not be there to say goodbye, and three have I told everyone that I love them lately? If I haven't, I"m doing it now!

I worked really hard last week to make up for lost time, the picture of the cub scout cakes was the last order I had, and with the delay on Wednesday it seemed I would never catch up, in fact my drama had reached an all time high Friday afternoon. My kitchen aid locked up....which I had to replace. I am torn between sad and happy because I knew full well a year ago it was going to come down to this. I have been struggling with some kind of sinus infection/illness for the past week or so, and that really was bringing me to the point of tears in the evenings last week and I could not think, so this really had me on the short end of the stick.

It all worked out...with the exception I had to bail and not see my best friend all weekend. Saturday we attended a family outing with my parents and sister, brother-in-law, and my brother. I have to say it was fun...I guess. I got to play Bingo for the first time in my life...we went to Indianapolis to PF Chang's which has delightful food...but when you go to a Chinese restaurant, do not expect Bob Evans or homestyle made by mom Chicken Noodle Soup when you order it. LOL That's what Grace did, and the look of horror when I lifted the plate off the top to reveal, floating mushroom people on top of the soup, it was tears abound.

David and I had decided ordering some "normal" chinese selections to share with our lovely daughter was a good idea, and I'll be darned if we weren't right. :0) So we had her covered, it was getting her convinced that it wasn't that big of a deal...the food will be fine if she eats ours.

The Bingo experience was new....good ol' bro didn't inform the BINGO Virgins that it would be a 4 hr set, and sent my Dad to his place with Grace to be tortured by kids DVD's for the next 4 hrs. And us...we attended Ghetto Bingo...it was in a run down store that had closed up, and not the cleanest place in town, and by the occupants of the place, you could tell it was a no go for the restrooms...and they SERVED FOOD THERE!!!! All of which we did not eat, we had a coke...because it came with your bingo cards....but we were losers abound, but for my mother it was fun! And it was her birthday and that's all that mattered. I managed to make her a coconut cream cake...ultimately delicious refrigerator cake, I have mastered the perfect recipe...but when I piped out the bingo card on top...it was obvious when we got back to eat it, that I had no idea where the numbers were supposed to be on the the card...LOL...so naturally she had to give me a little verbal smacking around about that one...jokingly.

Sunday I spent most of the day recovering and sick, and Monday was a recovery day, and I think last night was too...because I fell asleep early and don't remember how when or who I was when I woke up this morning, all I knew I was 20 minutes behind schedule and so was everyone else in the house. Mom has kind of slacked on her duties because her head has been all stuffed up...there seems no place for brain matter, just mucus.

Well off to work I go, Kevin is watching his favorite shows on the PBS station, and I am going to quickly prepare his lunch, so I can prepare of reorganization of my kitchen once again, I do this often because it just needs it. :0)

OH and PS....last Tuesday Hubby and I started P90X...although we've only worked out three days of it, we've been on the diet, David has lost approximately 10 lbs so far and I'm down 5 lbs....we will begin our workouts again tonight if possible. With all the other things we do, I don't know how we manage any time for anything...but last night it was testing for his work, so we completed that, it was priority. Jobs are important in these economic hard times.

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2009-02-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

Five cub scout cakes done and doing mom's now. Have fun!

2009-02-18T08:54:00.001-08:00

I've spent half the morning getting a tire repaired. Leaving the school the tire pressure light came on. Ho

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2009-02-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

My secondary heating unit aka lacey guaranteed to keep your hiney or feet just as toasty. :)

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2009-02-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

The perfect heating pad called "the reading buddy" aka chiquita. Lol

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2009-02-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Sick little kevin and his concerned little puppy.

New discoveries!!!!

2009-02-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

Well, Grace has constantly been asking about where babies come from and puberty and such....so I got her some books. These books educate her on taking care of herself. They are not too explicit but it gives her the information she needs to know since she is discovering her body is changing a little sooner than the other girls at school. I did explain that if she has more questions she can ask, but until next year, she will not learn any more, when they do sex education. I also got her a book called THE KEEPING AND CARE OF YOU...for girls. :0)

The new haircut has turned out to be a positive change, she's very happy to have that done. She also liking the maintenance of this hair cut, which is fantastic!

Kevin has had a mood change and behavioral change with his growth spurt. He's had random different mood swings and signs of aggression for no reason, and when he gets angry he threw toys last week. There are a few discoveries after a little research. He has shown signs of a random jaw movement, that looks voluntary but he seems not to realize he does it. A "tic" so to speak. Children who have ADD...(which both of his biological parents were diagnosed with at a young age), can typically show signs of severe mood swings, random aggression, and "tics". Taking Red Dye #40 out of his diet and many colored candies and foods have helped tremendousl with his behavior. Recently since the "tic" has reared it's ugly head last week, the random agression has started. This is unlike Kevin to be this way. It is linked to a magnesium deficiency which children his age and size are supposed to have 65 mg a day. His love for mexican food and bananas are cravings for magnesium and potassium (when you are magnesium deficient your body has low potassium levels in the blood) that is common in children who have ADD and tourettes syndromes.

One point to this, is that we are not "labeling" Kevin, we are trying to help him. Phillis pointed out to me that we should not label him (we agree with this too)...and David and I are not trying to. David and I though know that these signs and symptoms that we deal with everyday are all tied in with his learning. If all we have to do to help him with symptoms and behavior and learning is to give him what his body needs to function properly, he may not have a rough way to go, and this is what we want for him. We don't want teachers to "label" him either, or suggest medication. :0) He is such a good little man otherwise. :0) We love him bunches and want the best for the little guy who is growing so much, so fast. He has complained of legs hurting recently, and I swear everytime he wakes up from a nap or bedtime, he is 1/4" taller. He's made so many leaps and bounds in personality and growth in the 2 1/2 yrs I have been his mommy. :0) Many vitamin supplements remove the magnesium due to taste and the volume (size) that it would make most supplements. I however have a liquid supplement that will provide him with his daily requirements plus 20 mg of magnesium. It's progress, considering most foods other than peanut butter, cashews, macadamian nuts, spinach, and certain fish are normally about the only thing you can get a good dose of magnesium from.

Irritatingly enough though, he spent the whole morning on the couch yesterday lethargic from the weekend's events. Being with his "other mom" caused him to have no naps, and he was sooo tuckered out, he spent the whole morning recouping....he fell asleep about 10:30 and slept all morning, I woke him up at 1:30 only to get him to eat two bites of sandwich and drink half a 6 oz juice box, and back to sleep he went until it was time to leave to pick up Grace. :0( It's frustrating that they do not take care of him the way he needs when he's gone. A little afternoon nap goes a long way for this growing little boy!

It's going to begin to be a busy week this week for me. Valentine's day is just around the corner, and I have a 60 cookie order for two little boys class parties, along with Grace's party. I also have a over the hill birthday cake for saturday to produce, and next week are five cakes for a cub scout banquet. :0) I'm excited about that.

It's been an eventful weekend this past weekend, Nikki came to visit and spent the weekend with David and I. This coming weekend we plan to take the kids to lunch and a movie for valentine's day. We are thrilled the weather is warming up, soon enough we will be outside a lot more, and we are excited to get started outside. Spring can't come soon enough!

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2009-02-05T04:52:00.000-08:00

Ready for school with her new hair cut!

Sunday Snow Fun

2009-02-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

After the Sunday Morning Boredom, David, the kids, and I decided it was time to dig ourselves out of the driveway...so we could go to Grandma's for the Superbowl Party. The Result...The best Romack Family Snow Fort Ever!!!!

Stay tuned...we may get a roof put on it. LOLOL

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2009-02-01T07:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning boredom. Grace made kevin into a cow complete with utter! Lol

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2009-01-31T19:28:00.000-08:00

All better.

Allergies!!!

2009-01-31T19:25:00.000-08:00

Can you believe that Chiquita has been with us since September and she has this allergic reaction today?!? We have no idea what she got into, or whatever it was...but Kevin stated tonite to his Dad..."she looked like a scary monster, daddy." Poor little thing.

Naturally I was in the middle of making a cake for a retirement party tonight.
So I freaked I would have to take a trip to the vet. Instead I opted for a benedryl wrapped in cheese and gave her the pill, she took it no problem. Then her and I laid in bed for 1/2 hour to make sure that she did not get actively any worse and that she kept the pill down. Within three hours she was somewhat normal...her snout was still puffy when we left to go to the party to deliver the cake. By the time we got home was the final picture. Back to her normal little wirey self. :0) Happy as a pea.

Still I'm racking my brain, because this little vacuum cleaner will eat ANYTHING...when I noticed it, she was chewing on my apron strings which I had tied with latex gloves on my hands....Possibly latex? or the powder on the inside of the gloves? That may have had residue left on the strings...
I had sat down on the couch for a moment to do something for kevin, and she untied my apron, then I turned around to see a red waterey bug eyed chihuahua on my couch, with a really big nose. :0(

The Retirement party went well...when we arrived with the cake...they were praying, NO ONE knew we had arrived and when they lifted their heads SUPRISE LEE had a cake sitting in front of him, it was PRICELESS!!!!! Couldn't have worked out more perfect!

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2009-01-31T19:21:00.000-08:00

our chihuahua had an Allergic reaction to something. Poor puppy. A little benedryl and a few hours later She's all better.

Snow Day Fun!!!

2009-01-28T13:09:00.000-08:00

As most of you know in the area, it hasn't exactly been fun. The snow didn't stop until about noon, and they are yet predicting another wave of it tomorrow afternoon. The kids have already missed enough school that Grace will be into the second week of June I believe before she is finished this year. :0(

All in all, Chiquita seems to be enjoying the snow as much as the kids. Although she shivers like crazy she likes running through the snow even if it is belly deep on her. LOL Hope everyone is staying home, being safe, and staying warm!

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2009-01-26T13:48:00.000-08:00

Adding cheese to his pizza.

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2009-01-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

Let's get cooking. It is now time for dinner with my sou chef by my side.

Espresso Pots are cool...Alcohol is bad

2009-01-26T08:10:00.001-08:00

Okay, I first have to start out saying I apologize for my public display on Saturday.

I was raised that even if someone didn't see you, someone else did, and so making public apologies are best, because THE SIDEWALK TALKS.

***I got an espresso pot....I love it...got it on Wednesday, and now I can fuel my caffeine addiction craziness with my own pot on my own stove without frequenting the starbucks...so my quad venti is in my kitchen and with me in the morning. I don't know if this is good or bad, or if it was the fuel to the craziness that drove me on Saturday night.

I had my espresso....the pot is big enough for one person, one quad...mine only, no I won't share. Wasn't hungry all day. Now I don't have my kids this past weekend, one bonus to having a split family and having primary custody is scheduling so the kids are gone at the same time, and we are always together as a family. So no one child is gone while the other is here. It makes a nice family life, and gives us a weekend to ourselves.

We were celebrating my sister's birthday and it was such a great idea, seriously it was. We went to El Rodeo...and I told David I was going to start out slow. Only a large margarita nothing horribly bad, right? After the dinner and giving the rest of the yummy pina colada cake to the restaurant employees...we left and headed to J.D.'s lounge. This place is a hole in the wall, and these are older people...which we didn't blend so nicely with I guess. I don't know, after a few more drinks it didn't matter. Myles went home, and so did my folks...the rest of us went to Cox's.

Many more drinks later, and I think many more shots that I consumed but Josh bought (after recalling the number of events with Tera) I discovered that I was wayyy tooo gone for words. Apparently more than I have been in a very long time. Bad enough, that I swore to David I would never go out again, or consume anymore alcohol ever.

Mind you, in my defense...I was letting my hair down. Christmas break lasted two full weeks, and Grace had two days of school, and then another five days off due to weather. So I wanted to have some fun, I was being stir crazy.....so with espresso fueled craziness, and wanting to really relieve the stress...yeah I did just that.

Some creepy guy walked up to our table, and exclaimed how beautiful I was, and I flipped. Mind you, I've had some esteem issues...when you are sitting at home with the silence in your head drowning out Kevin and Chiquita, you don't notice that you haven't done your makeup, your wearing sweatpants everyhwere, and you plain just don't care how you look. But this guy had to make a point that I was beautiful....Mind you, I don't remember what he said (thanks to Tera now I do), I don't remember what he looked like, (my vision was a tiny bit blurred). But then I started crying like crazy. I was sooo upset...some creepy guy touched me (all he did was place his hat on my head). I was so freaked out I apologized a million times to David, swore I didn't know who the man was, and that I never talked to him before, and begged him not to break my nose.

Promptly we left the bar....there was going to be no place like home from that point. LOL
**David would never hurt me, ever in my whole entire life.**This was suppression of relationships past...which would be a whole other book.

The point of this rambling blog...if you are gonna let your hair down, don't do it with alcohol, it only induces stupidity. Gratefully my loving darling husband mentions that I don't do it often. As far as I'm concerned, never again, is tooo soon enough!

I think I will stick with espresso, at least when I crash from that I don't feel hungover the next day, and it's legal to drive with a caffeine buzz, after all, you are so much more alert and your vision is not blurred!

A Venti Quad....what????

2009-01-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

Sbux...addicts pay attention.....
I have heard of a quad....my brother faithfully orders a quad at Sbux, he has to have his liquid crack in the morning (coffee and Starbucks are what I am referring too). Well I ventured to find the local Sbux because of my insomnia attack late last night and so early in the a.m. this morning. Home coffee, no matter how much instant coffee I added to my coffee wasn't doing it. A proper steamed Espresso was needed to satisfy the artificial awakeness I would need to function to do my motherly duties today.

So I did it, and I ordered a Quad Venti Soy White Chocolate Mocha with no whip....for serious...I did it. And now I can't even imagine laying down to nap...even though I need sleep....it hasn't crossed my mind...oh my goodness! My body won't let me, the ants are crawling up and down my arms and legs, and I feel the need to vacuum and mop my wood floors...I say mop, but I have a cleaner machine for wood floors, so it's a scrubber/slash polisher...who knows what you call it, but for explanatory purposes, it's a mop. LOLOLOL

Okay so I'm gonna go do that now! P.S. Did you see my Ricky Martin pic today? I found that shirt at the local good will and I put it on Kevin, and Wham, it hit me...dimples and all...he's simply the most adorable boy on the planet...Lock up your girls...he's a heartbreaker. :0)

FAMILY...head my warning!!!! Hide the bathroom trash!

2009-01-21T07:53:00.000-08:00

It's umm.... 1:57 a.m. and I'm awake, wondering if the 2 tsp of tylenol nighttime cold will help. I've been drowing in my own drainage for like an hour and coughing my damn head off. I'm so freakin tired I can't stand myself, but I'm past my point of sleep. Don't ask me how David managed to help push me past that point, okay maybe he didn't, after all he mentioned I should go lay down at like 10 after going through the dry heave stage. (When I get tired I get nauseated) Needless to say, around 11 we started to get ready for bed...then at 11:48 I'm wanting a cup of tea!

So my extra efforts at the good wife thing, is reading to David at night, and we are covering some of the book, Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster to David, and guess what? He was laughing and within ten minutes his mid chuckle turned into his full blown snore...it was kind of humorous. He was actually enjoying the story as much as I was, but then WHAM, the REM fairy opened up his nasal passages and freakin gorilla glued his eyes shut...so I was stuck alone and un attended with my book, and next thing I know it's One in the morning!

My neck hurts though, the muscles are tight, and I don't know if it's from all the half sleep coughing or the reading, I'm tired, yet I'm emailing my bestest girl at 2 a.m. waiting for the tylenol to make my head clear enough to lay down again, so I can breath/sleep. REM Stage 3 might be better than whatever I was doing for the past hour whenI actually did force to close my eyes. Okay so it's now 2:12 a.m. I have to go to sleep...I mean I have to get up and take Grace to school, and be a mommy on demand tomorrow. It's Wednesday tomorrow and in the afternoon it's a grueling schedule of driving to pick her up, driving to the shop, to drop her off with the dreaded you know who for her visitation....which I think is still such a wayyyy bad idea. Visitations on Wednesdays have to stop, not only are the utterly inconvenient period, they are sooo not doing her any favors, when they are uneducational visits and emotionally damaging. You know the grill so why am I rambling....hey maybe the tylenol is setting in!

***Yeah this is how my night went..... then my BFF receives an early a.m. email from me, subject titled: WONDERING
*Whether I had a stupid attack and took that green tea pill tooo late in the evening .... then drank tea on top of it....yet still having the cold issue, may be part of my insomnia....
*Why my "feminine hygeine" products that are placed neatly back in their packages after use, are pulled out of the wrappers and laying on top of the trash, and which child did it, so I can have a serious conversation with them. (I'm sorry but I have to be blunt about this.)
*What my BFF is gonna say when she reads my facebook comments and my email rants about what a retard I am.
*Why I'm here, now talking to my son who just got up to tell me he's hungry for like the second weeknight in a row. Oh geez.
*Why I didn't buy more bananas because they are quick little snacks for the hungry four year old monkey who eats in the middle of the night.

Seriously, the culprit to the bathroom trash is my nine year old girl, who claims she didn't know what it was....then we had to talk about curiousity of bio hazard trash cans...and that it's not smart that once you've identified one package, why you would bother picking up yet one that looks the same as the last, and pluck out the contents of that package too. Yeah really I had this conversation this morning...so hide your trash, please, I beg you, cuz she's gonna dig in it. Although I hope the bio hazard talk helped....maybe leaving a piece of dog poo in the top of the trash can every so often will detour the digging. LOLOLOL Just kidding...but I have to drive the point home sometime.

She's getting overly curious about the feminine thing...she's gonna find out in another year anyway, and I told her if she has questions because of kids at school, then she can ask, but we will not have the "talk" until they watch the sex ed videos in class at school.

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2009-01-21T06:19:00.000-08:00

My little ricky martin. Lol

Another day in motherhood....

2009-01-17T05:44:00.000-08:00

Well the days have been below freezing in fact in the negatives here in Indiana for the past few days. Grace has not had school Thursday or Friday, and now she will not have school on Monday due to the holiday. So we are stuck here, at home.....driving mom crazy.

Why does it seem when it is a school day you practically have to drag the kids from their beds in their pajamas just to get ready? Yet on the days they can stay asleep they are up at 5 a.m. knocking on your door asking to watch cartoons even though they were asleep by 10 p.m.? Grrr...sometimes it's frustrating.

So far this year we have spent a lot of time at home. We plan on taking the kids to a movie tonight, and we are looking forward to that.

I did get to make a baby boy baby shower cake for my girlfriend Tera's co-worker. I even received a thank you card from the woman I made the cake for, praising me on the time spent and how delicious it was. :0) I hope that eventually it catches on, that I do these on the side and I may be able to sell them to the locals. I've been making tons for free, but in economic times, I can't afford to do that anymore. :0( I spent the thursday before last making the cake and then that evening hand painting the cake. :0) It was loads of fun.

My sister's birthday is coming up and I plan on making her a cake. I skipped making my dad a cake this year, because I felt that it was just way toooo much sweet stuff that we consumed this christmas, but apparently that was the wrong thing to do because my mom made him one anyway. :0( So now I feel bad. There was drama over his cake last year, since I had made one, and then my brother had bought one upon my mother's request. So everyone thought I was still bent about that. On the contrary I had forgotten the snafu....my life has been pretty hectic up until New Year's. Sorry Dad, I love you anyway, just cuz I didn't make you a cake doesn't mean I don't love you any less. But my sister will be getting one. I just haven't decided what kind yet. My girlfriend Heather is also having a bday next Saturday, but we'll be taking it to her work, because well....she has a family and usually has plans, and well I have plans to go to dinner with my family next Saturday for my sis's bday.

Kevin is going through another growth spurt, and that seems to be very fun....I may be a little sarcastic here. Every five minutes, "Mom, I'm hungry, I'm starving." After he's just eaten a full meal....and the other night, he added to it by getting up at midnight to eat something...apparently an overripe banana that I was saving for banana nut bread....but accomplished eating only half and passing out on the couch.... LOL Poor little guy. But the growth spurt has also added some attitude swings that are much for me. And no matter how many times you remind him not to poke anyone with his swords (he had received for xmas) or how he is not supposed to run in the house, he still manages to forget. But he has cabin fever and what do you expect, they can't go outside to play. It's too cold, they'll manage to freeze in 5 minutes or less.

As with all January's after the rush of the holiday season, you always end up having a little let down and then wham the January blues hit you in the face. That's where I am right now.

I have been focusing on writing a book, thanks to Tera and Myles for the inspiration for this...maybe someday soon I'll post some excerpts....Looking forward to the responses I get from it.

Hope life finds you all well. I send love to you all, and I promise blogging will begin to become a regular thing again soon!

Happy New Year!!!!

2008-12-19T02:52:00.000-08:00

Where do I even begin? I've been absent from my blog for it seems like forever. But events have kept me away and a touch of some kind of flu or something, since the day before New Year's.

The picture you see is (left to right) David and Myself, Nikki, Josh, Emily and my brother Brian. We attended a Masquerade Ball held in Indy for New Year's Eve, and it was soo much fun. We were upstairs in VIP enjoying the drinks, the munchies and lots of laughs. This is something we do believe we will be attending again next year.

It's been a long hard year for all of us. Me in particularly. From Birthdays to Home Remodeling to our wedding in June, all the way to my best friends Tera and Myles who joined their union in October, to working on the front porch, things have been quite a blur for us. But the year is over and yet we are looking forward to all the blessings of this year, and the ones for 2009.

The kids made out like bandits for Christmas, there are still toys that have yet to be opened and played with, but hey we will have all year for that. LOL I'm looking forward to it. David and I have no particular major plans this year, but as always we take the days as they come and smile and love with all our hearts. We hope to spend many days with the kids and with our friends and families. We have so many people in our lives we are blessed to love and know. And we wish them all the very best with the New Year. We are there to help when you ask, with what we have, and can't wait to spend the fourth of July or the weekend around that with the celebration we have held for two years. Along with our special cookie party celebration in December, and all the blessed visits and events we will attend with Tera and Myles, Nikki, Phillis (Mom #2), Emily and Josh, Brian, my own parents, and all others who wish to see us once in a great while!

Christmas Events!

2008-12-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

There's been so much going on that I have not had time to blog! Christmas is in full swing for our household. This weekend was sooo much fun, and I wish I had even more people come to the cookie party, but it was a blast either way.

My cookie parties are a little different from most. I do all of the specialty cookies, several dozens and different kinds along with candies and little extras. This year was even more special because David helped ALOT and so did Grace. I made doughs and David rolled and cut them and helped bake while I produced yet more items during the process. I can't tell you how many dozen or all the types, but it was really awesome. The shaped cookies we saved for the girls to get there to help decorate. When the girls arrive it's time to eat, chat, relax and decorate then pack up their boxes to head home to give to their own loved ones. Whatever is left over, or if I have to supplement and bake some more go to David's work for everyone. (In fact, it was asked just last week why I hadn't brought Halloween cookies as I did the year before and when the Christmas cookies were coming? LOL) So it worked out nicely. We accomplished getting all cookies decorated and by 4:00 we were headed out to watch a movie. Some came and others decided it was time to go home. But the one's who attended got to see 4 Christmases with us... A great movie by the way, it makes our families look tame in comparison.

After the movie David and I ran home to change and attend his company Christmas party. It is enjoyable to go to this. And waiting on Mr. Rohrman always seems to be what we do. It's really funny after all these years he knows the party starts at 7, yet he doesn't get there until 9 or 9:30 every year. :0( Then we can eat. So if you haven't eaten all day, it doesn't fly with your stomach's schedule, but there are hor' duerves and lots of free beer, so you are full of carbs by the time you get to the main course.

I've had my christmas tree up before thanksgiving and my house has been decked out for the holidays and I'm just so excited. My christmas presents have been huge and expensive this year, a Honda Pilot, a new bathroom, and a new television for the family...so I'm not asking for anything and David isn't either. That's more than enough, although most were necessity, it's just the simple fact that it was way more than anyone could ask for in a year, and I'm okay that we will not be doing anything else for ourselves this christmas. The kids will get the benefit of that.
:0)

I've had so much fun so far, and I am due to make two cakes for this week, along with some more cookies, and whatever Mrs. Harshbarger has decided for Grace's school party this friday (which I have not received notice for). This is my favorite time of year...although it isn't for my waistline. :0) We have so much more to do. Looking forward to every minute of it.

I get to visit my friend Ingrid whom I haven't seen since highschool. She is an extrodinary individual and she was so kind to remember me after all these years and look me up on myspace. So I will be making a visit to her to deliver cookies, and see Heather who is coming in from Florida for the holidays. I'm so excited! Heather used to work with David and I at Honda. Ingrid and Heather both will be located in Crawfordsville, so it will be a day trip that I can make all at once, and enjoy yet some time with people I don't get to see often.

Kevin has picked up on how to "play" people, from crocidile tears, to batting his beautiful blues, and puckering up when he is pouting. That and he's figured out how to antagonize his sister now that we've warned her multiple times if she continued with that behavior he'd pick it up and dish it out ten fold. LOL The other night driving home she was saying something to him, and he said, "I didn't hear you all I hear is blah blah blah." LOLOLOL David and I laughed for five minutes over that one! He also went to lunch with us yesterday and at Wendy's when he figured out he didn't get that toy he wanted in his kid's meal he puckered up lip quivering forming tears in his eyes and David and I both looked at him and laughed and I told him, "Kevin give it a break we know your faking." lo and behold...he STOPPED INSTANTLY and giggled.

I can't wait to see their faces on Christmas Day. The best part of it all....is that we had to sneak presents to my folks house, because one of his toys WOULDN'T shut up in the car. LOL...so they'll have a few extra to open at Grandma Marie's. :0)

Hope the holidays are finding you all healthy and well. Wishing you lots of love!

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2008-12-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Christmas cookies. My sixth annual cookie celebration for my girlfriends.

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2008-12-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

More yummy cookies.

Rover Saves Christmas...

2008-12-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

Well the exciting post from last week (not really but okay)....I have survived another week.
As you have seen, we have traded in the Suzuki and purchased an 07 Honda Pilot. LOVE IT! The goal for the week is to prepare for the Saturday's Cookie Party and David's Company Party. I am excited. Once again I will only blog once or twice this week I believe, but who knows I may find time. LOL

Grace's birthday party was a lot of fun. We went bowling, and most of us showed up. I invited her dad and part of his family, but they had to go to Ohio to visit Grace's great grandmother who is failing in health. I want to say 6 kids bowling and 8 adults bowling and I was greatful that Carrie was there to help with the kids. She was managing when I couldn't and her poor girls were real troopers although Kaitlyn was tired and cranky and Emmie was moody. It was a great time, and we would likely do it again just for fun. Thanks to all who showed up and shared that special day with Grace, it's been the best birthday she has had yet!

Okay so the title of my blog.....It's a children's book, authored by Roddy Doyle...
It was left by one of David's Ex's kids I think...but I picked it up to read it...because it was a kids book about Christmas right? So I'm reading it to kevin, just the first chapter and it started itself over three times, claiming about Christmas in Dublin and cacti and two lizards who met and changed their name with the weather....at the end of the first chapter....this is an excerpt...

"Hans chewed and smiled at Heidi. Heidi chewed and smiled at Hans. They were full of fly and falling in love. But this story isn't about Hans and Heidi, although they're in it. And it definitely isn't about the fly. (He was tumbling down into Heidi's tumy, humming a sad song called "Torn between Two Lizards.") The story is about Robbie and Jimmy and a dog and some other people and what they did on Christmas Eve. It starts on the next page, Chapter Two. And that means that you just wasted your time reading Chapter One. Sorry."

Yeah and reading into Chapter Two with Kevin I stopped reading allowed, cuz it got more messed up and confusing yet funny...something about supergluing Granda's teeth to the top of his car then using his can opener to retrieve them from the car. LOL Really nuts....and then their teacher from Ireland named "Eejit" which means "idiot" but...that's another messed up story as how he got the name to begin with...Yeah I'm gonna read it...just really I had to blog, because it's messed up...for a kids story. LOL

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2008-12-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

Replaced suzuki after accident. It stayed clean for fifteen minutes. Lol

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2008-12-08T04:24:00.000-08:00

our new truck

Guess I should catch you up...

2008-12-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I flipped my Suzuki this morning. I'm an idiot....road hazards at its best.

Dropped Grace off at school and was headed home. I was doing well, Kevin was sleeping, went around the two S curves on morehouse, and low and behold after the second curve started to accelerate, doing only about thirty, hit an ice patch year end swung around, I steered into it, missed the ditch by about 20/25 feet, went into the field...no big deal right...except the field was just plowed! The wheels dug in about a foot and tossed us on the passenger side.

Kevin woke up and asked me, "What happened mommy!?! Help me out I'm stuck! Get me out!"
I told him, "Hold on buddy, mommy is a little stuck too, let me get out and I will get you." Of course the whole while I'm braced on the steering wheel hanging from my seat belt. LOL What a day.

He was sooooo wonderful and did really well with the whole thing, and I am ever so thankful.

So many more things that I am thankful for! Kevin being asleep. That the field was soft to make a cushy landing. That I have such wonderful friends and family, that helped us smoothly through the horrible chain of events. I love you all. Kevin and I are safe, and all was taken care of in less than an hour. I am so grateful that everyone was looking out for us. And that big man upstairs, who loves us enough to keep us safe.

The Suzuki still survives and it runs, so I will be driving it to the collission center to get the estimate done. I am sooo grateful that we are okay, and hopefully for all who come visit me, know just how dangerous that road can be, even when you think it's just "okay". You don't have to be going fast to lose control of any vehicle, any where, even if it is four wheel drive! Mind you I wasn't using mine at that time.....sometimes I'm just an idiot. But I am here!

Lots of love to you all!

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2008-12-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Lots of crumples :(

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2008-12-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

My monday morning excitement.

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2008-11-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

Setting up the christmas tree saturday night. May not be designer but the kids did it themselves. :)

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2008-11-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Dinner with tera and her phone was awesome!

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2008-11-21T05:51:00.000-08:00

Bed head then sock hat head. "Makes me a monster, mommy with spikey hair." Lol

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2008-11-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

This is for the one's who've never been here. The peeled logs are to cover the old siding. We will be eliminating windows or converting into shelving. :)

Giveway....from Michigan

2008-11-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Go visit this blog that I visit faithfully....We will build our log cabin eventually.
And Shelley's is sooooo beautiful. Enter her giveaway!

http://logcabininmichigan.blogspot.com/2008/11/giveaway-from-building-log-cabin.html

HUGE DILEMA...

2008-11-20T14:06:00.000-08:00

Apparently David's company Christmas party is December 13th!!!!!!!!! This is a dilema...it runs into the cookie party and such. :0( If I start it at 10 a.m. and we end the festivities by 5 p.m. all should be well. Anyone from out of town is welcome to stay if David and I attend the dinner and a little festivities....after all, you have other relatives to visit here also....just let me know if this throws a wrench into all of your plans! :0( Man, I am soooo sorry. I planned on having overnight visitors and you are welcome to stay here no matter what...but hopefully this year...David gets his ring for being at Honda since 1995...he should have had it and a diamond put in it already for his ten year anniversary. But someone drops the ball on him every year.

FW: To nice

2008-11-20T11:25:00.000-08:00

Too nice. Greeting from nikki in arizona.

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2008-11-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

My office on right side lol

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2008-11-20T11:12:00.000-08:00

My front porch left side

It's already Thursday!

2008-11-20T07:34:00.001-08:00

Man, what a busy week..... I had a root canal on Monday that took up my day. Worst part was, the dentist asked me what I'd been doing for pain the past week or so since it's been giving me issues, and I said, Ibuprofren and my antibiotic, so he said, "Stick with that, and if you need anything call me." Oh...that was a dumb move on my part. So a few narcotic pills later (leftover) and a loaded warm apple cider, I was off to bed. So no production on Monday.

I have an office now, in my front porch again, and I'm soooo stoked about that. It's about time. Now on the other end, will be a temporary guest bedroom, until we decide in the summer what we are going to do (if we are going to move the deck or not....or how this is all going to go. We still do not have the log work done, but, it's going to have to wait. We'll peel the logs, and get them prepped to install. But the two main windows going into the house that still exist, we have to figure out what we will do with them. The one going into Kevin's and the one going into the living room. We are thinking an open bookshelf from living room to out there would be great, but Kevin's room needs to be shut in...No doubt about it. So we can close it in from the porch and then leave it open on Kevin's side to remain as a bookshelf area. :0)

I don't know at this point what we will be doing after the holidays, but since everything is fast approaching I will be working hard to getting house decorated and organized and then baking starts. :0) Yahoooo...my favorite part of the year.

I have slacked on cakes because there's too much time being taken up doing all the necessary stuff with this house. So, it'll be nice to get to do some holiday stuff. I'm happy!

Wednesday Grace had a filling put in, and promptly went to school (with mouth numb), and accidentally yanked out the loose tooth that's been loose for TWO months. LOLOL I think she caught the "tooth fairy", but I told her I was just checking to make sure the tooth was still there, that the tooth fairy had left it as requested. But she told me that it was ME that left the dollar. Then on the way to school she promptly told me, that the tooth fairy still hadn't read her request for EIGHT DOLLARS...I nearly choked on my drink. And I told her, "I'm sorry but you don't set the tooth fairy rates." Then it was dropped. LOLOLOL

Kevin, he's been a great little guy this past week. And Chiquita...well she loves him and hides from him sometimes. Kevin wants to play all the time. But Chiquita likes to go hide and chew on things or eat kitty crunchies out of the litter box. BLECH! :0P We are working hard on the no chewing thing, and for the most part if you keep your clothes out of the floor, she's good. She just eats random tid bits of paper and such. She hasn't tackled a rug in a week, so I'm happy about that. LOL

Any takers to watch my kids tomorrow night? I need a break, and Tera and I need to eat El Rodeo and have a small bit of margarita. :0) The girls have been so busy, we haven't got to spend much time together recently. :0(

Nikki is still in Arizona, and she texted to tell me she loves it, and that if she could she'd just get a job and stay there. I told her she should. David said we need someone else to come out and visit when we get out to see Michael. LOL...I just think sometimes we should just pack up and move out there. But what do I know...tooo many people who'd hate us for taking the kids when they are still young....but I bet when they are 13, and 16 they are going to be begging us to leave town. LOLOL Just kidding.

I'll keep you posted with pictures soon! I have some finish work this morning on the front porch and furniture to move tonight, then tomorrow, it'll be posted I believe! Hope life finds you all well!

We thought we'd be done....

2008-11-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

And no, we are not..... *sigh* Last night we took time out to visit with the "family" My sister's husband Josh celebrated his 24th birthday I believe it is 24th...LOL so, we went to O'Charleys for dinner. :0) But to no avail...we skipped the birthday cake and went home to work.

Well as things go, nothing ever goes as planned. Grace (although not here this weekend) caused some drama. She failed to tell us the cat litter was running out. So the last time she cleaned Smokey's litter box it was not full enough to use really. Well, guess what? Yeah Smokey used the litter til it was sopping wet then decided to hide her piles of you know what in various toys and clothes that Grace had scattered about her floor. :0( Although I've stressed a million times over the importance of cleanliness, Grace still has not gotten it...and now she's lost 3/4 of it...it all went in the trash. :0( What else was I supposed to do...cat poo is not good. So there will be drama when she gets home.

Chiquita has decided that dirty socks and underwear are good chew toys... :0( We have managed to lose three pairs of underwear torn to little cotton ball shreds, and one rug so far during her "puppy" training. Someone had called her a "land pirhana" one time, and now I get why they collect this nickname. So once again, she is in "lockdown" for a period of time to curb her shennanigans. But soon she will be broken of this behavior. :0) I'm just wondering how much she chewed at the original owner's home?????

So, the drama with Grace's room put a damper on progress of the front porch, we are still progressing, but the peeling of logs has once again come to a hault so we can deal with other things. From the time we got home from dinner until 1 a.m. I was working on Grace's room, and I still have to completely SCRUB the whole entire floor before she gets home and it is almost 2:30 p.m. Wish me luck! LOL

As for replacement of items for Grace, I know her birthday and xmas are around the corner. So purchasing of educational items, craft supplies will be handy, only if they come in their own organizer or tote, or can be placed on a bookshelf. LOL I'll update soon!

Oh..an afterthought, I figured out how to post from my phone "mini blogs" with pics....so once in a while if you get one...you have to click on the link to take you to the blog, to see the photo!

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2008-11-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday dear josh happy birthday to you!

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2008-11-15T14:12:00.000-08:00

We've torn the house apart today. :( major reorganization tonight. I'm sad there's more work to be done. Big television will be out though. :)

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2008-11-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

Molly with her halloween costume on. Lol mom bought one for chiquita too!

To finish filling you in....

2008-11-13T18:38:00.001-08:00

As most "soccer" mom's lives go...I have been a busy bee.
So for the rest of story, he he he.....

We acquired a new family member as you seen by the picture. It's Chiquita she is a 4 month old Chihuahua.....and simply adorable and full of little vibes. She likes to chew. Teething seems to do that with babies. But we are training her that toys and chew bones are better than paper... with all the drywall dust around, paper bits are just even more annoying. I want my home back to normal! LOL

But Chiquita is a "rescue"...the brother in law's son and his girlfriend (who bought Chiquita (formerly known as Paris) and realized when looking for apartments they would not be able to afford to keep her. So we decided we should! I was so excited when I seen her. She's adorable.

Kevin's picture I posted was of him wearing Hammerhead Shark goggles he had gotten from Taco Bell, don't they show his personality? LOL Don't even need the horns...the goggles do it all.

Grace's performance was phenomenol! She has a wonderful voice, and I'll gush about it a bunch. I'm so proud of my little girl. When she got up to that mic...and just let it flow I was astounded. She received tons of applause from her whole entire third grade class when she arrived tonight, it was amazing. She asked me why they did it? I said that they were proud that she had done so well. :0) Simply awesome!

We are still peeling logs...well David is currently doing yet another, while I blog to keep everyone updated, and then I'm headed to work more on the front porch....in fact...that's where I'm going now!

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2008-11-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

New member of the family! Chiquita!

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2008-11-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

Goggles from taco bell have been amusing.

Front Porch Remodel

2008-11-13T08:53:00.000-08:00

So once again, where have I been? On the front porch.
David and I have not lost momentum, well last night we did, we relaxed, we had to, we have been tired. But what have we been doing so far?

Drywall is finished on the front porch! Tonight is Grace's performance at school at 7 p.m. Thanksgiving is coming up soon and we want to have this done, at least almost done. :0)

I haven't forgotten you all, just really busy and working right along. I'll post more later.
We are going to try to work on the porch some more on the weekend, we are hoping to make a lot of progress!

Peeling Logs....

2008-11-05T07:03:00.000-08:00

Either we are lucky or crazy, I haven't figured it out, but David and I have started the front porch project. Apparently Butch (the ex father in law) with the tree service, has had a customer asking for planks out of the wood cut off his land. This leaves lots of scrap half logs and such. :0) David had an idea, and off we go. The idea is to install the log cabin feel into the front porch. :0) I'm stoked, but either we are stone crazy or just happy to be so lucky. We peeled our first log last night. :0)

What? Peeling logs? What are you talking about? It's the removal of bark and cambium layer to get your solid wood, so it will dry, so you can add stains or oils of your choosing. He will be headed over to collect more from the pile this week, so I'm stoked to have what we need to do what we want out front. And for the low low price of some hard labor! LOLOLOL And we all know that David and I aren't immune to that.

Let's see we have had no word from the appraisal report at this time, and I am working on the second layer of paint on the ceiling on the front porch. Mind you it's not what we want to do with the ceiling, but for cost reasons, we are going to leave it as is right now for the time being. This is disappointing but we have no choice. We tried scraping and it's just not a go....we can't get all that paint off those slats, and some are bowed from wear and tear and weather, so we scraped off the big chunks and painted it. For now it'll do, but it will eventually be replaced with drywall if we are here long enough. :0) I am disappointed that we will not be able to make it as "unique" and "finished" as the bathroom at this time, but you do what you can with what you have in some situations and that's all we can do. It's a matter of consequence we are going this far with the front porch to begin with. LOL

So as for now, things are going well. The kids go back to the dentist on Monday, for cleanings and Grace receives two fillings. :0( There's so many projects going on it's crazy. I've decided that December 13th will be the cookie party and that will be held at our home, starting at 10 a.m. and ending whenever. If you plan on attending email me, and let me know. Let me know how many projected dozens of cookies you will be taking with you, and of course, bring your decorative boxes!!!! Also Grace's birthday is the 10th of December, which is going to be a factor in all of this. I have her the weekend of the 6th, so doing a birthday of some sort the 5th, 6th, or 7th is fine with me. Although Kevin will not be with us until the 7th probably. Denise's older daughter Danny will be marrying and Kevin is the ring bearer on the 6th, and I'm not sure how the schedule is working out for that. :0(

Any ideas or opinions just let me know. Thanksgiving will be another one to think about since it will be here so shortly. My family from Kentucky, who didn't make it to the wedding will be up visiting. It's the only time I've got to see them since March. So Thanksgiving plans need to be decided on when and where we are all supposed to be. LOLOLOL Let me know your thoughts and ideas on this as well.

Lots of love to you all, and hope life finds you well!

Bathroom Remodel Done!

2008-10-29T09:10:00.001-07:00

Was completed this weekend....
Here's the slideshow if you didn't get it by email.

The appraiser came yesterday and we have to finish the front porch to get the refi loan in action, that we know for sure, once his report is turned in, we'll have to verify the rest of the "little fixes". Wish us luck!

I will be working at the shop thursday and friday, so I won't be available, and the kids will be disbursed for trick or treating to their respective parents. :0) But there is nothing but work lined up for us. **Shaking my head** ho hum...i'm tired

Sneak Peek!!!

2008-10-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

So the only one who has got a sneak peek at the project has been Phillis and Nikki! But it's not done yet, there are a few trim pieces that need to go up, and the window, yeah I'm tiling the window. It's been the dread of the whole project from the start and we knew we would have to do it. David is at work, and Grace is on Fall Break today and Monday so four day weekend with the kids! :0) ***The secret to the tiling of the window...when David is still contemplating a project, more like not wanting to go there...he procrastinates...I just tackle it. So he's coming home today to a tiled window. LOLOL.. works out wonderfully! That way he doesn't have to stress anymore about it...and my bathroom can be done, and we can get on with our lives. LOL Wish me luck!

Kevin has already been dressed up in a dress and a pink cowgirl hat, with cowgirl boots, and clip on earrings....very studly, yes and I got a pic on my cell phone! LOL As Myles said, great bribe material when he is older! LOL

Collecting paperwork up for refinancing of the house. And I have to fax that today. It's almost noon...so maybe the window won't be completely tiled. Oh who knows. Wish me luck all! And in a few days, you are going to have some pictures to look at, or maybe you should just schedule to stop by. LOL

Life

2008-10-17T07:03:00.000-07:00

So it's a few days away from being a month long bathroom remodel, and I have walls. I have been working feverishly to finish mudding the drywall. It has been just a really busy few weeks and the bathroom has went by the wayside, but as you can see by Tera's wedding blog. It was well worth all of it.

We are laying the basecoat of paint down as different sections of the drywall mud drys and we have a ceiling, and it's all painted except for one corner! Mind you if I post pictures of the bathroom, the color is not what it is going to be but it was spare paint we have a lot of and it works out nicely as a base paint. :0)

I'm excited to get the finals done and there are lots of suprises in store. And to see it coming together David and I are getting really excited. The past few days have been slow in progress also, since Grace has had a half day of school, and that has thrown me into yet another loop.

Half days due to parent teacher conferences! My gifted and talented child has made it into the AB honor roll after her first two week scare of trying to lie and turn in her homework not done, which received her an F in all her subjects except math. :0(

When they do work in this class, it incorporates almost every subject, so she has to be careful about slacking and focus much more. It's hard to recover from an F, and her social studies and science class grade was sitting at C's for a while there. :0( But she got it, and I couldn't be prouder of her!

I have had a busy schedule this week with helping take care of Tera and Myles's "kids" (The cats Nikon and Piper). But I've managed to get stuff done. I just can't wait until I can reorganize my bathroom and my life again. The house is a shambles and there is drywall dust EVERYWHERE. Ho hum...drives me nuts but we are going to get it done.

David and I make a fantastic team when it comes to getting things done. And as you can tell emails and blogs have come few and far between, I haven't had much time to log on and do a lot of stuff. But in most cases I have managed to fill people's emails with forwards when I can!

Wish us luck on the bathroom. We are headed to Indy tomorrow afternoon to spend Saturday with Nikki. To celebrate another year getting older, and how much wiser, and beautiful she is getting. ( Although she denies it ) Beauty comes with age. :0)

The wedding is over!

2008-10-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

http://s173.photobucket.com/albums/w51/bluemist1977/Kleinfelter%20Wedding/?action=view¤t=861e10a6.pbw

Click on the link...it will take you to the link of the slideshow of Saturday a.m. Prep. LOL

Okay so the events of last week were just tiring in itself....so where have I been?
On the Wednesday I was doing some final stuff with Tera, started packing favors...on Thursday well...I was working on Groom's cake Wednesday evening, then on Thursday I went to Tera's for some more stuff, took her mom to do a trial run on her hair, then went back home...took a little short nap and got up at 3 a.m. to finish the Ferrari Cake, which ultimately squashed into a lamborgini...but none the less Myles loved it, and it made an appearance at the wedding too, because..NO ONE ATE IT!!!! LOL Friday was half day for Grace but we managed to get our nails and pedicures done, just Darsha (Mom) Tera and I. Dawn was having allergy issues and stayed at her hotel, and well Stephanie just needed some sleep because she flew in from Hawaii and was having some jet lag. :0( Needless to say it went off without a hitch though. I ended up having my mom rescue me from tripping over my gown at the wedding by doing some pin tuck stitches. THANK YOU MOM!!! FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!! Grace stayed with her so Emily and Josh could bring her to the wedding. Kevin stayed with David and those two handsome men arrived at the church on time in their tuxes. Although he had a struggle with having to wear daddy's black socks...he preferred his white ones to keep his legs warm. There's a photo where Tera is in my truck talking on my dead cell phone which was plugged in, to convince him to wear Daddy's socks...(cuz ummm it's the only thing that mommy had forgotten to get him). LOL

Sleep deprivation was my goal...not really but that's how it happened for EVERYONE! And it was a blast. Many pictures to be seen...but since I was in it...go figure there are none of the group or the wedding, just the pre getting ready stuff and the reception and what nots... :0)

I met a twin of mine who lives in Washington. And Tera wasn't even kidding when she said so. Dawn, which you'll see in the pictures. She's same height, personality, just about amazing how uncanny it was. Even Dawn's son Andrew walked up to her and asked her when she got a tattoo on her back. LOLOLOL...Yeah she's the same height and build. Kevin her husband even discussed that with David, just how freaky it was. So now, with fingers crossed, we are hoping that Kevin and Dawn move back home...because Tera and I will have the third musketeer...and we would literally be inseperable. Dawn and her two kids....which amazingly enough Ashley is one year older than Kevin, and Andrew I think is a little older than Grace. We've decided that Ashley and Kevin will definitely make a great pre arranged marriage and some simply beautiful grand babies! LOLOL....But as parents we can only hope.

There are 213 photos that I am currently uploading for all to see, I'm hoping to set them up into a slide show so it's easier for viewing. :0)

I'm glad that it is now done, and we can get back to the bathroom that desperately needs our attention. With the market being the way it is, and all, David and I are pressing to get things done, so we can refinance so that just in case our "new president" doesn't rescue our economy, we will be secure in knowing that all is well. :0) I want to be able to stash some major cash, so that David can retire...and well you've seen the stock market....where are your retirement funds going to end up? See that's what I'm sayin'....no good right now.

I had some major camera issues throughout the whole thing. First it was Grace's camera that mom bought, apparently Grace dropped it while it was open because it kept reporting a lovely lens error and hence I disovered that it wouldn't zoom in or out because it was cockeyed...then I had mine, so I had to buy batteries for it, but in some cases it took some bad shots, and in others not even visible, and then even others were just simply perfecto....so I don't get it. Myles will have to teach me because apparently it's operator instead of camera...I prefer to blame it on the camera though. LOLOL

Oh and a little other snafu...while the bride and groom are on their honeymoon I am watching the house and the cats. :0) But when they got home on Sunday part of their ceiling in their kitchen is now lying on the counter and the floor...so yet another project for Myles and David to tackle...we are not sure of if it's just the water damage from years ago when they moved in or if there is yet a leak to be repaired. It seems our work is never done. :0(

The drama sets forth...

2008-10-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

Well the bachelorette party was not a huge success, it entailed a big fight between Tera (the bride) and her other maid of honor (Ann) which she has now pulled herself and her daughter from the wedding. I'm glad Tera had two of everything, two maid of honors and two flower girls..so guess what. She has backup and it's no big deal.

The bathroom is temporarily on hold until the events of the week are over with, and hopefully by the time their honeymoon is over, we'll have the bathroom done, so Myles can come and use it the following week...just in case he wants a vacation from his vacation/honeymoon. LOLOLOL Just kidding..but seriously. I'm hoping we get it all done soon!

I currently finished 14 lbs of chocolates for the wedding favors which I will feverishly work with Tera to get packaged up and ribboned tomorrow with the poems attatched. I still have to pick up David and Kevin's tuxes on Thursday, and finish the grooms cake I am working on. :0) Then make it to Tera and Myles for Thursday evening meets and greets and then prepare the fammily for Friday. Grace gets out of school half day thank goodness, but David still has to work until five and they are down to three techs. :0( I pray he makes it to the rehearsal early but we know it will not be on time. But he does not have a difficult job. It's the training of Kevin that will be worse than anything. LOLOL

Then it's off to the rehearsal dinner where I'll have the cake to deliver also. :0) I'm torn into a million pieces on everything I have to do, but that's okay. We love Tera and Myles, they are the bestest friends and people anyone could ask to have in their lives, so if they make my life a little hectic now and then, that's okay, cuz we do it to them too. LOL David and I could not be happier helping them in any way we can.

But hopefully Myles still doesn't have to worry about coming out to help work on the bathroom when he gets back from the honeymoon. I want it finished so he does not feel obligated to do so. :0)

Into the Blue Lagoon....

2008-10-01T18:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so where have I been you ask? LOL Good question. Many of my beloved blog followers have asked why I haven't been blogging much lately. Where do I begin?

I don't even remember what I did last week...it was that crazy...or the weekend. Oh yeah that was Myles' Birthday on Saturday, so we took him to dinner....Kevin has started another phase of NOT EATING, he'll sit with a plate of food and nibble for two hours and not be done, last night was three, with no TV at all and starting at 6:30-9:30 well needless to say he went to bed, and no television, and he didn't finish his dinner. Today on the other hand, he couldn't stop eating. LOL I just don't get kids and their growth spurts.

Myles and David are hard at work in the bathroom again this evening. I'm not much for the stuff up until finish work, so I helped with deconstruction...reconstruction is another process, and then finish work, like mudding and taping the drywall and stuff, yeah that's my line of expertise...and then I get to paint, trim and all that jazz. I still don't have a vanity in there yet...I have it in the middle of my living room floor, and no mirror, I still have to purchase that. I have all accessories for the bathroom at this time, but geez...I can't do anything with them.

The Blue Lagoon...is my nickname for the bathroom at this time, no one sees my vision and no one can see my bathroom in my head and the guys have NO IDEA, they have a concept of mechanics but that is it when it comes to this bathroom. LOL But right now, the protective coating is on the tub surround and the moisture proof drywall is blue, so yeah it looks like the bathroom is blue, umm...but you are all soooo wrong. LOLOLOL And I'll take pics of it up until it's time to do finish work, and then well...when it's FINISHED...completely. I'll make you all come to visit me just to see what Myles, David, and I did to our bathroom. LOLOLOL
Myles said with all the complications and dramas we've had with it, he was going to come and bath at our house for at least a week. LOL...and that's the honest to goodness truth, I think he would.

Oh and the pic of Myles on the ladder, the man is so decent, that he'll never have plumbers butt a day in his life, but for humor...I got his "plumber's belly" while he was hanging drywall. LOL

I don't know what we would do without such wonderful friends. Tera and Myles are getting married next weekend..and this weekend well it's no kids, and bachelorette and bachelor party weekend. David is skipping out to work on the bathroom, staying home, and well I, I will be following Tera around like a lost pup.

I've been working hard on making their favor chocolates for their gifts at the wedding. And I also have been working on a long standing "private" project, that is indeed very important and special for me to get done, but if I told you what that was too...well then you all would know and some just shouldn't right now. LOLOLOL

I've found myself also spending lots of time watching the stock market thanks to Myles, and sitting in front of my sewing machine. Yeah that has been fun, mending a pair of pants for Tera, hemming my old jeans for Grace to wear, because well, let's not deny it, I put on a little poundage, and she can wear those for now. But soon enough I'll be back in them! *Fingers crossed* (I hope) :0p

Wishing you all well and lots of Love!

Plumbing fiascos....

2008-09-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well let's see today is Thursday right? I'm pretty sure I think that's what day it is. Who knows? Well we have not managed to get any drywall up yet or the surround around the tub, I think they are going to try to do that tonight.

Plumbing was some sort of an issue. Now Myles and David are not novices at this stuff by any means. But like all projects nothing goes as planned. The pipes would fit together for the tub, and had Myles in fits. Then the night before last David and Myles took turns soldering the pipes for the tube TWICE, removing and reinstalling...then removing and taking them out to the garage to do it so they wouldn't burn the house down. LOLOLOL Yeah when I went to check on them I asked how it was going and David was wrenching a pipe in, Myles had started to explain then all the sudden the pipe fell through the hole into the basement and ting ting ting...Myles just looked at me and said, "That's how our whole night has been." LOLOL

So needless to say I have a tub, that we have to clean debris out of from construction every night so we can use it in the morning. And a toilet. But still no walls. David did electrical last night, he got soooo frustrated because they were installing a vent but the hole that was cut wasn't big enough, so he just started hacking at the ceiling. LOLOL...I laugh, but it wasn't all that funny because he was WAYYY TOOO frustrated. He literally has had no luck with putting this bathroom back together. One piece at a time. Each project has become a fiasco in one way or another. Tonight is a little more electrical and I do believe they are starting on the drywall...at least for the ceiling. So they can throw their backs out before the weekend. I'm still clueless as to why the false wall behind the tub has not been studded out yet. Yeah the width of the bathroom is 5'8" which leaves a gracious 8" behind the tub, that we have to fill. I was thinking a really skinny shelf would work out beautifully...But what do I know? :0(

Ohhhh.the woes...
The kids have done fairly well with the whole matter. They really enjoy seeing uncle Myles here. And to see us all working together, I hope it instills teamwork, and ummm..good Work Ethics later. :0) *fingers are crossed* Although last night all the little complaints and arguments I had from them to do the requested chores that they were supposed to do, I did prewarn them would "Scare Uncle Myles into not having children so they can play with them." LOLOLOLOL

I really can't say I have done much, There's only enough for two in the bathroom with all the lights and materials sitting around. It's really cramped with three, but I do work when they aren't in the bathroom. Last night I started doing dishes and such, but I'm home today, trying to catch up on life, because well it's gotten ahead of us, and we're still stuck in the bathroom. LOL

An email to the teacher....

2008-09-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

I wrote:
Currently this past weekend Grace was with her father. So if you find that she is distant or has attitude, please let me know, this is a hard transition the first day back for her to get back into the groove of things. His life is very unstructured, leaving hers...well you can imagine the same. Please let me know if she has difficulty.

Also, Currently she is reading Eragon for Oct. 3rd on her reading log, she is having a hard time getting into this book, and is not enjoying it, where Old Yeller was a very thrilling read for her. The reason I say this is due to the fact she went on a mini-strike and refused to read the rest of it, because Old Yeller had been shot. She wound up in hysterical tears, and once convinced to finish reading, she wound up in tears once more. :0) I explained to her that the author did a wonderful job if you feel you connect with the characters in one way or another, that is the reason the book is now a classic. LOL It was touching to see her do this. My reasoning behind this email is to ask if she can change her last book. Unfortunately I wrote it in ink when we agreed upon the book when she started school, but she found this to be tragic because she isn't getting into it. I do believe that she is fine with reading it, she is intimidated with the length of the book. Any suggestions here? Or can we change it?

Thanks so much!

Mrs. Harshbargers Reply.....

Mrs. Romack,

Yes! Grace can certainly find a new book. The second book does not even have to be a chapter book. Old Yeller was her Newbery Award chapter book, so she can read anything of her choice for the second book. I warned Grace that Old Yeller was a sad book, and I wondered how she would handle the traumatic ending! Your reference to author connection was great! Feel free to have Grace choose a new book.

As far as Grace's behavior today, she did not have a productive morning, and she basically sat at her desk for thirty minutes ignoring my prompts to get started on morning work. She ended up paying several fines, and by mid-morning was back to her more productive self. Thank you for the information because it helps me!

Sincerely,

Mrs. H.

Grace's progress report came home also on Friday...
It was stressed that most children are improving greatly but since the curriculum is much harder not to stress about the bad grades. ;0) I know Grace has a hard time focusing which is most of why she has fault in some areas.

Reading she is at 90% A-
Writing she is at 81.1% B
Spelling she is at 96.8% A
Math she is at 90.9% A
Science/Health is at 70% C
Social Studies is at 75.7% C

There was a part of the Lesson of learning Lafayette's history, that she failed to do the work a few weeks into class (I would assume to test her limits)...and lied to me about it. This received her an F and directly impacted her writing, science/health, and social studies grades at this time. :0( That was discouraging to say the least, but we are doing much better.

We are now into day ummm...4 of the bathroom remodel...an hour into the work, My husband and Myles are feverishly working on the plumbing. Last night we got the trim around the window outside the house, this evening I was painting. Needless to say one of the kids decided to push the plastic bag into the tray of paint I was storing from sealing one side of the boards before they were hung, and I had paint all over my hands. Nothing like having paint goop to contend with. The worst part, when I came into get dinner out of the oven and get the kids fed...low and behold they had shut the water off. GARRRRR......... So shower cleaner and a towel have been my best friend. Because there has been two applications so far on the bare boards to get a good seal on them. :0P It never ends.....

Deconstruction....Reconstruction...

2008-09-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

So as many have been anxiously awaiting my next blog....I have determined, I love doing this way too much. But it gives me reason and a place to vent, so it is all good.

The news is, as most of you know the bathroom remodel is underway...and under time constraints. It's Sunday evening and deconstruction is done, and Myles and my wonderful husband (who has been battling a headache for two days straight (figuratively and literally)) are now finally trying to install the tub, we have not started the vinyl installation or the drywall as of yet. But they want to be able to turn on the water to the toilet and tub tonight for the kids sake. Wish us luck. Because this is all too frustrating.

We managed to convince Denise to bring Kevin up and drop him off. It's the second ever trip she has made here to drop him off!!! Surprise Surprise. But we have valid reason for her travel, as does when squared drops Grace off tonight.

Grace managed to tick off Grandma Dianna and Grandpa Lee, and her father with her cell this weekend. I let him know she was going to have it, but he called to inform me that she is holding it over everyone's head again, that if they say or do the wrong thing she will be calling her mother. LOLOL..This makes me curious, what are they saying and doing that is SOOOO bad that she has to call me. And why are they making her upset? She should be enjoying her time there. Or is she up to her old antics of playing others against one another? Who knows. This is just something that I wish I could get a straight story out of one of them. But as it goes, I knew when the divorce happened, that he was messed up and so was his family and I knew it when I had her, that her life and me raising her wasn't going to be an easy one. I made my bed, I will lie in it, with my eyes closed, hoping that no one covers me with dirt in the process. LOLOLOL

I feel absolutely horrible about the party, I miserably failed when it came to my mother in law, in fact I've miserably failed a lot of people. Grandparents day came and went without special visits to the grandparents, the party to be held in honor of us, we had to cancel last night at the last minute because, well the bathroom remodel is not even halfway what we wanted to get done. I feel like a heel because Phillis went through all the trouble. I just don't know how I am going to manage to make it up to her. :0( I'm sorry Mom #2...I really am. David said we couldn't help it but I can't help but sulk, and the crow's have landed on my lip today because I've pouted so much. But I did get to take some of my anger and frustration out on myslef by doing demolition in the bathroom, so that was a nice change :0) A crowbar and a lot of plaster shattering, makes for a pleasant time and a lot of stinky sweat...

Yeah sweat...and there's no shower...no one wants to be within the vicinity of David, Myles, and I, the people at Menard's stayed at least a two foot distance from me when helping me this afternoon...probably of me emitting testosterone odors and sweatiness like Linus the little boy with the blanket and the dirt cloud that follows him...is that Linus, from charlie brown? I don't know but you get the picture. LOLOL

I had a great time yesterday with Nikki, I made my annual trip to Zionsville, I did manage to get a little something for Mom#2 that I hope she likes. :0) I felt bad that I scheduled it and then the mayhem started and I still went, but again David told me there was not much I could have done yesterday to begin with. :0( And if you ever get the chance to go to Zionsville, make sure that once the town closes down at five, that you have reservations at the Villagio...best italian I've eaten in oh FOREVER....puts papa vino's to shame!

..Lost without the avenger....

2008-09-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

My little man..."the avenger" is with Grandma today. He's having withdrawals I suppose. We practically have not seen her much since the start of school. :0( He refused to go with me today, and wanted to stay with Grandma Phillis. But it's okay. I had lots to do. I was pricing out the bathroom remodel project we know have to do.

It seems funny how this all works out...the "buyers" never called us back. They were notified of the water leak in the bathroom, in fact David pointed it out. But low and behold the leak is worse, and we have to tear into it, no matter what this weekend. So I went to Lowe's, Menards, and Home Depot to get prices on things we need for the bathroom project. And now, ho hum..it's off to graph it out.

I'm bummed that once again it's a set back and we'll pull the sign down and not start looking until spring to try and move again, but what do you do? It's still cheaper to live where we are for the time being, and we enjoy it out here, although it's hard to get many to visit since we are so far away. Sad but true.

I'm stoked about the upcoming events though...This means once again, we get to do something cool to make the house look nicer. And in the process remodel some other areas and maybe finish my front porch / office area I spend so much time in. And the KITCHEN, yeah rock the kitchen idea! LOL

Friday we have Samantha's birthday party, and an old friend who may come up for a visit, who is not well, her heart is giving way at such a young age, but she is a fire fighter by trade, and I respect and love her enough, to say we need to see you, before she says goodbye to this world. It's been 5-6 yrs since I seen her last. Saturday, we are visiting with Nikki, and doing our annual trip to Zionsville which is awesome, and if you've ever been there, you'll know what I mean, and if you haven't..you should go sometime, it's shopping but its a quaint artist town like little Nashville. The upcoming event on Sunday is one to be expecting an invite if you live close to us. Sunday afternoon there will be an adult only pool party, held at Dennis Romack's house in honor of David and I, for the rest of Phillis's family to meet me. Hosted by Phillis herself. :0) I'm so proud to call her mom #2. :0)

In the midst of all this, we still have the upcoming wedding for Tera and Myles and I have to start making chocolates for that. :0) That is exciting and work out making the grooms cake...Where is the time? I don't know.

Grace is yet again ahead of her game, at least I think so. She's still as spunky as ever, and trying not to get fined too much at school, there are a few C's arriving home, but all of them are over her not reading directions and not double checking her work. ;0) Man, that was so much like me when I was her age. The difference is, in this class, she can't wake up from her daydream and expect to get it right, she has to focus and pay attention. This is a stepping stone for her, and Mrs. Harshbarger says she's progressing beautifully. :0) Me on the other hand, I was in a daydream starting at grade 3...and never stopped, in high school I was the same way, but everytime I "woke up" I couldn't figure it out by that point. LOLOL I hope she does not try and do the same.

Off I go to start the measurements on the bathroom, wish us luck!!!!

Emergency Bathroom Remodel.... ARRRGGGHHH

2008-09-15T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well after all is said and done, we haven't heard from the "buyers" and if things can't get worse enough, David went in the basement while Grace was in the shower to find that we have another shower underneath it in the basement!!!!! ARRGGGHHH!!! So on top of all the plans this weekend, we are going to have to tear into the bathroom.

Hope momma Phillis is ready for us to rampage her house for showers for the next week. ARRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!! We can't win can we?

Head Colds...and what nots...

2008-09-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

Well as it stands, the 3rd inspection came and went and no word from the "buyers" on our house. Garr...this aggrivates me.

The kids and I are ill, we have head colds or something, and David is yet to be effected by this epidemic at our house, so I guess that's a good thing. :0)

We did receive Grace's Star Reading Diagnostic Report...it is as follows:

This studen't Grade Equivalent score is 5.0. Her reading skills are therefore comparable to those of an average fifth grader after the start of the school year. Grace also achieved a national Percentile Rank of 94. This score is in the above-average range and means that Grace scored equal to or higher than 94% of students nationally. The PR Range indicates that, if this student has taken the STAR Reading test numerous times, most of her scores would likely have fallen between 85 and 97. It reflects the amoun of statistical variablility in a student's PR score.

These scores indicate that Grace is probably learning to apply her readin gskills to different academic areas. Grace likely uses textbooks and other nonfiction resources to achieve her content area golals.

For optimal reading growth, Grace needs to:
*Maintain a min. of 60 minutes of sustained silent reading daily.
*Understand text structures for expository materials, especially textbooks.
*Develop study skills to tackel content materials systematically.
*Exhibit self-direction in reading assignments within a wide range of materials.

This student's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) for independent fiction is 3.7-5.1 reading level. This is the adjusted level that will provide appropriate growth.

On yet another note....

Grace just finished Old Yeller... she stopped and had a mini strike when yeller got shot, she was bawling, and all tore up about it, and said she could not finish the book. I did explain that it is a good book when you get wrapped up in it, and you feel all the emotions the characters do, and she finished the story last night. I am so proud. It was definitely a step in the right direction. Little does she know she has many more sad stories to read and contend with.

AS for us, if we haven't heard from the buyers by Wednesday David and I are pulling the sign and refinancing this place and starting the remodeling. It was by happenstance in the first place we left the sign up, let alone the neighbors that practically live next door stopping by to take a look at it. But I think in the long run we'd be better off. :0)

Unexpected visitors....revisiting...

2008-09-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Well as the day goes on I can't seem to make progress at least it doesn't seem that way. Talked to Jay today and a possible lender and they are working through the tape. The soon to be visitors will be coming by once again to view the property and crunch some numbers on possible contract sale on our house. I am so excited about that. I have to continue to work on this place and work on paperwork.

Kevin has not stopped eating all day long, every five minutes he is saying he's hungry, I do believe this is yet another growth spurt. Because although his diet is structured he is driving me nuts and wayyy tooo aggressive the past two days. A hormone burst for sure. :0p I hope he gets over it soon, I have to order his ring bearer suit soon for Tera and Myles wedding. :0( We can't have him shoot up two more inches overnight, but what can you do? LOL

As far as everything else stands, I feel as though I'm going crazy. I had another exposure to the allergen that caused the major problems last month, it happens to be home defense insect stuff...this time it wasn't near as bad as the first. So although I was dead and tired last night and really foggy, I wasn't near as foggy headed this morning, so the exposure was brief and not inhaled too much. But I am pretty sure we found the cause. :0)

Natasha had her baby last night or this morning....it's a girl we knew that...and for you that don't know, that's David's step daughter. She's 6lbs and 7 oz or something like that. And for an absolute fact, Denise got married on the 3rd, so she is now Mrs. Gold Digger ( Oh I mean Mrs. Nugent) LOLOL Oh who am I to judge? Bite my tongue...I'll use my filter. I promise. ;0)

This weekend is going to be hectic, but isn't it always for us. David has to work until noon, they will be here at ten to look at the house, then when he gets off work and gets here, we will go over numbers. Then David has to help Brian do some things with the Expedition, so there goes our Saturday. And Sunday, I hope for some rest and relaxation...but I doubt that will happen.

Wish me luck! LOL If you haven't put in orders for Grace's fundraiser, please do so. It ends on monday!!!! And if you have already, thanks! She'll be happy to know she didn't have to do any footwork. LOL

Mommy...do you remember me?

2008-09-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

LOLOL...Kevin grabs my face, and squeezes my cheeks...and says..hellloooo mommy do you remember me? We were sitting at the table discussing the drama of the day.

So we work out some good contacts thanks to Myles and Jay Benner we found our home in question....http://lraor.fnismls.com/publink/default.asp?GUID=ffe6cb3d-6189-4f17-81a3-3e5c0c445197&Report=Yes. I say home in question because low and behold we have to wait on our buyers.

Their "investor" is coming for house review on Saturday at 10, they believe there may be some red tape on an FHA, we don't believe there will since this was originally a VA loan at one time. :0) Good stuffs maynard. But they asked if we were interested in a contract sale. *Fingers crossed* this all goes through.

In a few months in the midst of Tera and Myles wedding, we may be MOVING...ARRGGGHHHH
And things are going to be significantly up a creek without a paddle. Talk about crazy...this is nuts! But ha ha ha..>I wouldn't have it any other way! Progress is being made. :0)

As for all other life in general, Grace is still being Grace. She's been fined at school multiple times now for not focusing and paying attention. And she's now spent her first several weeks of paychecks in economy at the stupid store they have every tuesday, and she's complaining she has to pay for health insurance since she has a dentist appt and they have to pay a $5.00 fine for any day that they miss, or have to be gone for a few hrs..unless they pay for health insurance. LOLOLOL
Oh..the moral dilema! I explained to her how this wasn't so bad...and that mommy wishes she had insurance when she got sick and had to go to the ER it would have been cheaper, but she doesn't get it. LOL

All in all life is good.

Going to the Chapel....

2008-09-10T04:34:00.000-07:00

And Denise R. Romack (David's Ex) will be getting married! Two sundays ago, her marriage license was in the paper. She will be Marrying Eric Nugent...the man she spent her whole life screwing all other men in her life over for. We do believe that she will get hers this time...but only time will tell.

So what does it mean that when we went to pick up Kevin this last Sunday, that she kept hiding that bling on her ring finger? Who knows...LOL Maybe she is embarrassed of herself for submitting into a relationship that is doomed from the get go....oh well, who are we to judge. ;0) At least we do not have to be embarrassed because she was carrying the Romack name, and now she won't be..... HOOORAYYY!!!!!

We processed more apples last night, and there is so much more, but we have to get on the road....I will blog from wherever I get to. Today is friend intervention day for me. :0) Many people to talk to. I should charge for psycotherapy I believe. This would gain me lots of dollars....LOLOLOL Just kidding. I love my friends, when they need me, I'm always here to help.

It's Naptime....

2008-09-08T10:41:00.000-07:00

So I'm at Tera's house, and it's nap time for Kevin, we'll be leaving in an hour to head out and go to get grace, pick up some munchies! Yahoo! I'm stoked about that. It's been a long time that Tera and I had some "girlie time". Now going to South Bend a few weekends ago was wedding stuffs, and it seems that all of it revolves around that, but this is some time for us to enjoy just being stupid, like ourselves.

We are going to be doing a dance class tonight. To see if this ol' timer can learn that "booty roll" thing. LOLOLOL...It'll be funny to see all of my rolls roll. LOLOL But it sounds like great fun. I'm looking forward to it.

As for the phone call from the teacher, Grace put a guilt trip on her. Last week Grace's face started to peel because of the sun burn from labor day...instead of sucking it up and going in there like a pro..she walks in with her hair in her face. Yeah drawing attention to herself is not socially exceptable. As Mrs. Harshbarger (her teacher explained) it's normal for these things to happen and it is not normal for you to draw attention to it, it would not be a big deal if people asked, less mystery and curiousity. So then she convinced the teacher that she had called her NOT NORMAL...and so she had to call me.

I told Mrs. Harshbarger this is just Grace , and she said she has dealt with MANY eccentric children and they teach them social acceptance and what is socially acceptable behaviors throughout the year. So lets keep our fingers crossed! LOL The best part, I told her to grab a cup of coffee and visit Mrs. Walsh, the teacher from last year, she will have some stories to tell.

But all in all, Grace told her teacher I was on my deathbed a few weeks ago when I got sick, and took myself to the ER, so I had to clarify a few things there. Let's just pray she gets past this drama! LOLOL I love my crazy 8 yr old.

As for me, I'm going to plop on the couch and chill, I can't wait to leave already! I'm looking forward to tonight!

Oh..after thought. Yet no more comments from the "neighbors" wanting our house, but there was positive head shaking when they were leaving this last time. So one final inspection from the "investor" and we should be making contracts, hopefully we get that call!

Tera's Bridal Shower weekend....

2008-09-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well it's complete. Tera's bridal shower was on Saturday, and it went off without much of a snafu. :0) I spent the past few months coordinating all this stuff in a notebook, writing things down and just going to town with ideas. The cake was the hardest. Actually Grace was the bright one for the idea...and David. And from there we had two bridal shower cakes! LOL I was very happy how it all turned out. The shower didn't have a theme per say...other than it was ALL ABOUT TERA...everything from the foods that she loves, italian, mexican, and the hick little mini pigs in a blanket she asked for. ha ha ha

We had meatballs, bruschetta which all raved about how wonderful it was, although I was worried because Mr. Myles was eating a bunch of the french bread before I put the bruschetta on them to toast in the oven with some mozerella. Then we had fruit salsa, with cinnamon chips, Taco Dip with different crackers and Tortilla Chips and Doritos...LOL If it wasn't for her wonderful Dad making a trip to Meijers to pick up last minute supplies, I wouldn't have had crackers or Doritos. LOL Then there was the mini pigs in a blanket with some melted cheese, that I was displeased solidified instead of staying liquid after it cooled down. :0( But maybe I'm just too picky. We had some sparkling punch for the kids. and homemade Sangria for the adults. It was a great time.

The games were fun, and I made sure everyone walked away with a gift or two with momentos of Tera. I had made mini white chocolate high heels to stuff in miniature boxes of wedge heels and purses. The gifts were mini wooden elephants, glass calla lilly coasters, mini ariel keychains, and lockets, ice cream cone bubbles, and ice cream sundae candles, love note post it cubes, elephant blank cards, pens with high heels, lipstick bubble batch gel, high heel bubble bath gel, stickers with lipsticks, sports cars, and many other items.

The greatest part was the toilet paper bride, Grace's team won the "adult category" which was awesome, and if you want to see Tera's response...her blog is at this URL http://editortera.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-bridal-shower.html
Tony (Tera's father) and Darsha (her mother) were ever so greatful and a huge help in assisting the setup, along with David, to give me a helping hand where needed. I couldn't tell you how many times people told me I did a great job, but I can't count on both hands how much Darsha and Tony both told me they were so please their daughter has someone as a friend who loves her as much as they do and they were greatful at the thought I put into all of it.

It's my nature, just as it is David's, that if you are our friend, we love you and give you our 100% no matter what. That's who we are, and I wouldn't change it. I brought Tera to tears a few times. I was so happy with how the recipe scrapbook turned out, and my sister Emily put in the best ADVICE ever since she is a "new wife" herself! Tony, Darsha, David, Myles, Tera and I, got a really good laugh out of that one, but it was sooooo TRUE! If you cook something, and Myles says "it's okay" just hold your head high, and you can try again tomorrow! Or something like that. LOLOLOLOL Awesome stuff. Myles' family contributed a bunch, and so did Tera's Grandma Wegernowski (not sure if I got spelling right) LOL She almost doesn't have enough pages left to add some things that she wants to.

I feel like I could have done more, but all in all I was pleased with the outcome. There was one game that was "test your memory--What's in Tera's gift bag..." She went through it, and at the end of the party, we were supposed to have our quiz...um...well guess what, my memory was tested because I forgot!!!! But when I was upstairs chilling so that Tera could socialize with people getting ready to leave, I heard Great Grandma Zelma say "what about Tera's bag?" then I remembered. LOLOLOL...oh well. It was how I wanted it...to honor Tera, for one of the biggest changes in her life. She need not forget who she is or the things she likes, she just needs to remember to blossom with change. :0)

AS for this week, I'm looking forward to a short slow down! Just a few days anyway, Grace's school pictures are Tuesday. Monday evening, if I can find childcare arrangements I have a three hour "class" to attend with Tera. She doesn't know what it is yet, but boy oh boy will she be THRILLED to find out. ;0)

I'm signing off for now...but I have to fill you in on the Teacher phone call I received on Friday....I'll do that in the a.m....

Love you all!

Mania!!!!!!!!!

2008-09-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, so yesterday was a blown out of proportion day. Grace's father decided after telling me he didn't want to fight about having her on the weeknights, threw a tissy about this weekend! I emailed him about the bridal shower about a month ago, and carbon copied it to his mother, to notify them of the invite and request grace be at Tera's Bridal Shower, and he went and bought tickets to the Indianapolis Zoo!!!! HELLO DUDE, ARE YOU THERE? IS YOUR MIND FUNCTIONING? (This is what I was thinking the whole time I was talking to him.)

Well he went manic and hung up on me twice, and on grace once, because I had her call him, because this isn't my fight, it's hers and her fathers. Then he laid one huge GUILT trip on her that made her cry. But I had explained to her BEFORE she talked to him it would happen this way, and that, it was no big deal. Then I called Tera and had her "talk down" the event to Grace (who didn't buy it for a minute cuz she's way too smart), but Grace said it made her feel a teeeny bit better. Then her dad called back and said I could pick her up on Saturday morning, and I'll have her the rest of the weekend I suppose.

I told him that she WANTS to be there, that this isn't MY THING, and he accused me of threatening him by text message that I was going to withhold visitation. One thing straight here, I said I reserve the right of PROTECTING my daughter. And this whole mess started over him pushing her down and holding her on the floor and having some manic attack because she didn't move the clothes right or she didn't do something right. It was only once, but it scared her enough and upset her enough that she feels the need to come home and say something and say she doesn't want to see him anymore. The man can twists things around so that they don't sound like what really happened, then he tried to convince me yesterday it didn't happen, after he admitted to it the wednesday before when I called him to let him know she didn't want to see him.

Ho humm....never a boring moment, but the guy is a jerk, and everytime something like this happens it worries more and more that Grace will turn out like this when she's older. But she gets to go to the Bridal Shower and that's important.

Big News: David will be in the wedding as one of the groomsmen also! He's a new "addition" to the clan. LOL If they hadn't started planning this two years ago, before David joined our "clan" he'd a been a part of it then, but Myles asked him yesterday to be a part of it now. :0) David is happy to do it, he asked what he should do, and Myles said, "Just make sure I don't run for any doors." So David has decided to wear a security sign on the back of his tux to reinforce the position. LOLOLOL Just kidding, but it's a great thought!

We got a phone call today from the people that came by and looked at our house, we are now going to pass an inspection of HIS parents coming to look at it. His father apparently does all their electrical work, then once that is decided, the INVESTER FATHER...hers will come to look at it. LOL What's there to look at? You can't buy land this cheap out here for what we're asking for the whole kit and kaboodle. LOL...give it up people. We want your $$$$ and a house in town!!!!!

But in the midst of this, the visit will be at twelve thirty tomorrow afternoon! While I'm in the midst of doing the catering for an event!!!! OH PLUEEEZZEEEE grant me the serenity I need to make it through the day! Friday night I will deserve a margarita and some fajitas or something.

I've been working really hard on eating properly this past week, and it's paying off in huge amounts, not only am I feeling a million times over better, I am awake from the time I get up until time I lay down, and seems to be a miraculous recovery...stay tuned though, the gym starts up on Monday. LOLOL

Where did I come from?

2008-09-04T11:06:00.001-07:00

That was definitely a question that came out of Kevin's mouth yesterday, and it put me on the spot. I fumbled and told him a mommy's belly quietly and he kind of left it at that. David said next time, tell him home hospital. LOLOLOL

So I've been working feverishly to prepare for Tera's Bridal Shower on Saturday. It's been one heck of a week. I've been wrapped up in many different things, and I'm doing it all in stages.
So today was completion of the "cake" and tomorrow is food prep for the rest of it for Saturday.
Then Saturday, after a few things are heated, we'll be ready to parteeaaa'....LOL And celebrate Tera getting hitched. It will be fun.

It seems like not a lot of work, once you put together and have it, but I've been planning this for over two months, with a two week STALL of sickness in the middle of it. Although I was half out of it, I still seemed to get little things here and there done.

Kevin decided today he wouldn't take a nap and it's 2:10, so we are leaving the house to head in, we are supposed to leave until 2:40, but that's okay, we can sit, well I can sit, while he snores. He'll pass out in the car! LOLOL.....

You have to say the magic word...

2008-09-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Well as it goes the holiday has came and went. Exciting stuff to come.
I'm anxiously at home preparing for the upcoming bridal shower this weekend.
It's an exciting time, my BFF is getting married, FINALLY! To make up for all the crap I've put her through I get to do the most wonderful thing for her, have her bridal shower, which I am stoked about. Not at my house but at hers. None the less, it's all the more exciting. :0)

So as most holidays go, it was a great one. The kids got to bicker and argue and fight ALOT. And mom as usual was unprepared when Aunt T came to pick us up. I had everyone packed up but me! ho hum...then David was like, you packed a lot of stuff, yours would have fit in my suitcase. LOLOL But as most mothers do, you always pack extra "Just IN Case". You just have to, you have no choice.

It was a pleasant weekend, Tera and I dropped the kids off with Emily, Josh, and Brian, then we went to the dress fitting, only to excitedly report, the DRESS zipped UP!!!! Then for Tera to ask to have them let it out 1/2" on both sides, so she can eat on the delicious food, we are going to force down her throat at every weekend event, for the next 38 days until the wedding. LOLOLOL But it zipped, and I'm so proud of her!

Me on the other hand, I am yet bummed about my weight. I've kept myself down to at least 148 for a few years and got down to 132 last year, so this year...yeah well..I'm not happy about it. I mean 158 is just too much in my book, although I'm down to 152, I just want it to go away again. Without the gym this makes it twice as hard. Ho hum...I am sad about this.

We took the children to the beach where they enjoyed it tremendously. Emily took her camera, but until she posts the pics, I can't steal them from her, so it may be awhile...but I'll get them to everyone. Uncle Josh has found a new buddy...I've NEVER in my wildest dreams figure that Kevin and him would hit it off so well, but that little man was screaming and laughing in delight as soon as Uncle Josh showed him Demolition Derby on his computer. OMGosh! What a thrill.
Little did mommy do to pack any toys for the boy other than what was in the truck from the travel trips and his preschool stuff. :0( So yeah Bad Mommy for being over packed and too underprepared. But the kids had fun none the less.

Sunburns yes, we all got some sun. Mine was stupid me not sharing the love on both sides, so my bottom half on the backside was a little to overdone, my thighs look like christmas hams right now. David of course..tanned all over except for his ankles and his white feet. Man wears socks all the time, otherwise he looks like he walked away from the bahamas after a week. Garrr...I'm jealous. LOLOL Kevin...same thing. It's just sick, I think the only pink place was his cheeks and his ears. Blah..>Grace...fried of course. And well Josh...Same thing. Poor guy, looks like an atomic fireball. And Emily, she was a tad, but like mine, it faded and goldened. :0) We spent 5 hours at the beach and got there early to get a good spot. And lots of COLLLDDDD water in the beginning. LOL

Emily even lucked out by getting Josh in, I don't know how LUCKY you would call it. She dropped her ring, got her foot on it, and Josh dove for the $$$$. LOL...yeah, he mentioned it was a way dirty trick to get him wet. But none the less, it got me a good laugh. Tee heee hee.

We survived the trip back, with the exception of the children bickering, grace putting body parts on Kevin's seat and Kevin putting body parts right back on her. GRRRRR.....this disrupted in a flip flop slapping Grace, Emily taking it away from Kevin, Grace arguing with David, and Mom who was pleasantly napping in the back a wake up call to giving Grace a smack on the back of the head for arguing. Just a nudge. To let her know I was still back there listening. *rolling my eyes* It never stops.

We made it home that night to have a few margaritas and brave the hot tub. With sun burns it didn't sound like such a great idea, but all in all, we found that it took the heat out of most of our sun burns. Stung for the first few seconds, but after that, presto chango...no more burn, it actually felt cool. Hot tubs + Sunburn= Pleasantly recovering. :0) The first night we tried to do margaritas and that didn't hit me very well. Made my stomach burn. So I gave up. Second night wasn't so bad.

Believe it or not I think I am pretty close to recovered, the day at the beach wore me out, and the trip home yesterday evening I could have done without. LOLOLOL But all in all I'm doing a thousand times better.

The trip home....Grace hasn't figured out that no matter how much you eat, no matter how much you complain and we've known what you've eaten and when, that restaurants sometimes just don't pop up out of nowhere. LOL So we made her wait until she was absolutely quiet with the exception of a few moans until we got to Monticello and went to Arni's. 15 minutes before this her and Kevin and begun the arguing and fighting again, which resulted in, her telling him he had to say pretty please for something, then when she THOUGHT we would be stopping somewhere trying to get him to put on his flip flops. Smart little devil he is, turns it around and tells her to say pretty please, and her stubborn behind wouldn't say it which resulted in him throwing one flip flop, that was MIA somewhere in the car. Which finally got her to say, Pretty Please....but then he said , "No you have to say pretty please wif cherry on top." LOLOLOLOL One day she will get that everything she teaches him is coming back to bite her in the rear.

For now I have to go... I have tons to do..and it's halfway through my exciting day already.
I'll have much more to blog about later. Hope the weekend was loads of fun for everyone else too! Lots of Love to you!

Fun in the Sun, wishing for shade...

2008-08-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

The family will be headed to south bend, then michigan this weekend, so we won't be around.
Tera's final dress fitting is tomorrow, and then we'll be headed to spend the rest of the weekend with Emily and Josh. Exciting stuff.

It was a typical Friday, which is good, easy going...and now we are home, and the kids are full of energy, and as usual daddy and I just want to chill and relax. After all, the week has been a little hectic. :0) Glad for the weekend! Hope everyone also enjoys themselves.

Random Buyers...Horrible Children

2008-08-28T17:44:00.000-07:00

So as all things go, we do the usual schedule, with the exception of a phone call from a nearby neighbor. They saw the sign, they do the mail routes, and guess what? They really like the house. The lady called David today and told her they wanted to stop by to look at it.

The strange part is, David and I have mulled it over and thought we might as well stay, and never took the sign down. LOLOLOL...We know we need to move but we love it here. But we know we NEED to move, no doubt about it.

Well as it stands, they came to look, and the woman loved the charm of this old house. :0) I told her about the horrid colors that it was painted, and she LOVED the colors the living room is painted, that yellow green antique color I found, I told her I'd give her the rest of the five gallon bucket if they bought the house. :0) They loved the attic space where Grace's room is, and she digs the hardwood floors. So needless to say, she loved the house. :0) It's great, I guess.

I'm torn, I may have to give up my apple orchard, and plant a new one. :0( But there are so many possibilities it's ridiculous. So we'll see. They said that they have a van to pay off in the next three months, and they want to talk to her "personal banker" (good ol' dad) before they jump off the deep end. But they've lived in rentals and fixer uppers, so they really like this one too, as much as David and I have a deep effection for it. Ho hum...

So house hunting I go again, to see what we can find. Just to be sure we are set if they come back with the banker and say okay. :0) No more debts if that's the case, and that's okay by me.

Oh and her horrible children, yeah two of them climbed the ladder at the apple trees, started picking and hiking my apples across the yard, I was not so happy. She sent one to the van, and the other to pick up the "wasted apples" I told him to load them in his van and take them home. What's a few apples. Then he took the liberty to pick all my ripe cherry tomatos off my volunteer plant and put them in his van too. :0( Garrr...that did not make me happy. But I gave him a gallon bag of appleslices and a jar of applesauce so he'd stop theiving. If I gave him something he was enteretained, and no more stealing. :0)

My children were complete angels to these horrid boys. One couldn't walk or talk yet so he wasn't so bad, the other three, yeah, I would say my children are so well behaved, and that's saying something!!!!!!! LOLOLOL

God Granted me the Serenity to withhold my sanity and my ground, because if she hadn't there, I would have gave them a good whoopin! LOL

I hit the lottery!!!!!!!

2008-08-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

At least I feel like I did. So I got the vitamins from the clinic, and I'm happy to report, I'm a million dollars feeling richer!!!! Didn't really hit the lottery, but ya know we can always dream. LOLOL

I had another bout of symptoms yesterday morning though, where the confusion was there, headache, and head was swimming out to the east coast and I couldn't catch up with it. I napped, then got up when David called, to tell me to take some benedryl. By the afternoon I was much better, by the evening! I'm all smiles! Sweet!

So I'm on top of the world and fidgiting like crazy cuz I want to get on the treadmill again so bad.
But at the same time I've dropped a few lbs. since this all started, but it's nothing like getting my excitedness and jumpiness out during exercise. I feel like Kevin locked in a closet. LOL Although I've never done it, I think that Kevin would tear the door down.

Oh speaking of, we have a leak in the basement, from the infamous SHOWER in the house. GAR...so the bathroom remodel may be really soon...since it's rotting out a wall, above a SUPPORTING BEAM....wish us luck on this one! So tonight, I have to get measurements and what not, and we'll be graphing out how we are going to do it. :0) Not happy about spending the extra cash we have because there's not much left, but what do you do? It's not like we didn't know that we were going to have to do something!!!! We were just procrastinating. We can't have the house fall out from underneath us either, so we have to do it. Blah.

Kevin and I have taken a break from preschooling this week. Randomly I will ask life questions...what I mean by this, is everday when I come across a color he can simply pick out, a letter, and such, I ask. His attitude this week has been less than desirable, so he gets stubborn at times. But we are working through it. Just like Grace, it takes time to get them to transition from one home to the next easily. And even then, Grace isn't a pro at it.

So once again, I have to say I am proud of someone. My cousin Mary Jo, she's now on Gmail...if you don't know what it is, you need to figure it out. Cuz when I'm online, I can chat with people without downloading a bunch of stuffs on my hard drive. Tera uses it to talk to me at work, so she doesn't have to download stuff on her work computer. AWESOME! So she's now online with me. And using her blogs on myspace. I have a tear in my eye, she is staying connected to my information age. LOL, I say mine, cuz it seems if it isn't by email, text message, or blogs, I don't seem to get to talk to anyone. LOL

The next thing on the agenda! Lunch with David!!!! I haven't got to see him in two days for lunch and I am missing him BADLY, yeah I see him every night, but dang it...his handsome face is just so welcome during the day, and that smile.....oh.....LOLOL okay enough mush....

Halloween will be sad.....

2008-08-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

So I just got an email, with a sneak preview to the halloween candy coming out this year. Yes, being a mom, I have avenues to buy candy in bulk if I like, and it keeps me up to date with the latest fad. So what's so sad about halloween.....Red Dye #40...think about this one.

Kevin is not going to like me.

Fund Raising Time!!!!

2008-08-27T17:33:00.001-07:00

Two weeks into school and it's fundraiser time already! Boy do I not miss this stuff, so if you get an email that says Grace M Shaffer, open it.

If ordered online by the link provided not only does she gain prizes, but it also gets shipped directly to you!!!

Thanks so much ahead of time.

Busy Mom's Brain Commits Suicide....

2008-08-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Guilt sticken and lost....mom turns to men in white coats. LOL...this is a twitter I posted yesterday. I thought I was doing really good seriously. But alas, I was not. Where do I start, I got up yesterday got everyone ready. David has been so good about things even though I feel like an absolute failure.

I ended up coming home to tearing the house apart looking for supplies that I had gotten a few weeks ago to finish up Tera's bridal shower stuff, to no avail, I did not find it. That was the first disappointment. During this rampage, I cried, did all the laundry, and cried some more. David called on lunch, and after I got off the phone and my phone was going dead, I plugged it in, only to get a voicemail a few minutes later. It was the school. It was a half day. And I didn't remember it, Gracie didn't remind me, and wham! I'm racing across country to pick up the frantic little eight year old! I felt like an absolute heel. It makes me feel bad to not be functioning like I used to. And it is driving me INSANE!!!!

So needless to say I try to make it up by getting her a banana split, kevin a shake, and David something to drink from Sonic, from 2-4 it's half off or something like that, but for $7 you can't go wrong for what they got. I stopped by Honda to tell him all the crazy stuff that I did. :0(

As it goes, Grace's attitude has been fowl ever since I got her back from her dad, and she's about made me have a coronary two days in a row. Gar, I just don't know how to get her past it. Kevin got into an aggressive streak the past few days, where he likes to hit things with other things, and run and bump into you and hit you. :0( This is disheartening, because before he went to Denise's I had him pretty calm. I hope this is just a phase.

I managed to make a tater tot casserole, that I had no complaints from Kev other than it was too hot to eat, then once it was cool, he did not say a word, he kept shoveling it in!!!! It took him 15 minutes to eat instead of an hour!!! LOL...The kids didn't know that it had zuchinni in it, they just kept shoveling. LOLOLOL So don't worry, they got their green food too, just didn't know it. I love being sneaky like that.

The score today is that I am sluggish and very tired. My brain is somewhat foggy...and I think I overdid it yesterday with the rampage of the house and the work in the kitchen, and the fast and furious drive to the school. :0( So I have to take it easy today.

I did get my stuff from the clinic in Maine today along with the book on the things I need to be doing, glad I've already got part of them covered. No coffee for me today either, I have to cut it out. Caffeine is what has been saving me, but it's only to keep me awake, you can be awake and not AWARE. David and I are hoping that the stuff from the clinic may improve all the other stuff. Like memory loss and what not. For the most part my long term has been fine, it's the short term that's really shot. :0( But what do you do, it started fading when I became a mother. There seems there is no hope for sanity at that point. LOLOLOL

Off I go to do a list of things ( I mean rest), you know me, I can't sit still. Even though I try to put forth a major effort to try (sometimes) *wink*wink*.

I can't wait for the weekend to get here. I will be able to relax with the kids and such, it'll be exciting. David and I and Josh and Emily and the kids, the beach, the hot tub, the relaxation will be well needed. It seems it has been way too long since the honeymoon already. LOL

Hope life is finding everyone else well!

Haunted Hobby Lobby....

2008-08-25T11:12:00.001-07:00

Can you hear the screams from the aisles in Hobby Lobby when you go to visit? Is it being haunted or is it unruly children....well today it was my Kevin. He was haunting the aisles and being a complete poo about attitude.

Low and behold it is Monday, and he did really well this morning, but then he decided that after schooling and some television time, he would try his luck. Starting with lunch with Daddy. We got halfway to Taco Bell and he started demanding (after we were going upon his request) that we turn around and go to Culver's. Then he wouldn't get out of his car seat. So we carried him in kicking and screaming to the Taco Bell restaraunt to have a little chat. He apologized, after a minute of trying to argue as to why he was there and that he wanted out of the restroom.

Lunch from that point up until it was time to go to Hobby Lobby to pick up final supplies for everything I need to do in the next few months was fine. But we got to the store and he wanted to push but would not let me guide, he started pulling the cart backward and after the third warning he got put in the cart, and he threw a tantrum OUT OF THIS WORLD! Where is a hole in the ground when you need one? Never where they should be, or at least never where I'm at. The greatful thing is there was no one in the aisle to witness the exorcism of the child, thank goodness, and then I discussed in every aisle after that, how he had misbehaved and what a bad example he was being to other children. ;0)

So yet another peaceful monday morning/afternoon I guess. He is napping now. I should know better that he needs his recovery from Big D's house this weekend, he went straight to sleep with no argument last night and slept throughout the whole night, he didn't even move. So being tired today also would be expected, after all she does not make him Nap! And I guarantee he didn't have one yesterday. It seems we'll never win that battle. But he'll grow out of that soon enough.

There's a big sign posted outside Grace's school that says do not drop children off until 8:25 a.m. Wouldn't you know it, I'm there at 13 minutes before, the first one, so I pull up, shut the car off and wait. Little do you think the parents read the reminder notes sent home, one child walked to school WAYYYYYYYYY tooo early, and was standing outside, then a mother pulls up right behind me and throws her three children out. The doors didn't get unlocked until 8:20 by the children. How safe is it for your kids to stand outside? Instead of inside, just because they don't have teachers there to watch them for 10 minutes. I say inside the building is still better. But geez oh pete parents!!! Read your notes and get a clue!!!!

** Grace's attitude has been far from angelic from the time she came home and including this morning, her television time was gained last night, only to be lost this a.m. with the runny mouth. Too bad they didn't make maylox for that. LOL Soap just doesn't seem to work sometimes. She also came home to start crying and telling us how horrible it was when she didn't move the clothes to the right place at her dad's house, so far as she ticked him off and he threw her down on the floor and supposedly started threatening her or something. I don't know. But even if her dad did to that stuff because when he gets upset he does some pretty outrageous stuff, she also over dramatizes it. With two drama queens tellin the story you just never know. Another I can't win situation. LOL

Wish us luck on the evenings progress!

Kevin's Preschooling...

2008-08-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Letters to date that we are working on A-G
Colors: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange..... He is still confused about Blue, and I'm not sure why. Coloring inside the lines is a little hard, but he is getting better with his fine motor skills of his hands. :0) This is good.
Shapes: Squares, Circles, and Triangles...he drew his first Triangle by himself today...

Now it's TV time for him, he has been awarded 15 minutes. :0)

Working on nothing....

2008-08-24T18:07:00.000-07:00

That's exactly what we are doing, chillin' relaxin' and watching a movie.
Kevin is in bed watching his toons. And Grace is begging for applesauce, although it is her bedtime. :0) Yeah it's a Sunday.

Big D as usual was calling at 2:47 to ask if we were going to get Kevin. After all, I guess she got back with her on and off again married man boyfriend thing. So they went to the ballfield for his kids. And yes, she was there, and so was Tasha and the boyfriend. Kevin was overwired but not too bad attitude wise, he tried to push my buttons, but I was cool and collected, and he settled right down to clean his room when he got home so he could receive tv time before bed. :0)

As all goes, Grace did get positive marks on all her homework this past week. So that's exciting news. None of the third graders in her class, were advanced to a higher math level, so they will study 3rd grade math.

All is well in the Romack/Shaffer household this evening...let's hope that tomorrow morning goes just as well!

Lazy Weekend.....

2008-08-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it has to be noted, so everyone pay attention!!! On Friday, Densie never called until 6:57 p.m. by David's phone, after Tasha called to ask if she could pick up Kevin. NEVER not once has she ever NOT made a phone call before 5 to make arrangements to pick him up. So this is highly noteable, and will count against her in the court of law. Garrr!!!

We went ahead and went to dinner with the family. Emily and Josh, Mom and Dad, David and I, Kevin and Tera (Myles had to take a nap so he wasn't in attendance). As all found out, I was just way too abnoxious after the medium sized margarita I had.... Something with this sickness had made all my tolerance to my favorite drink to consume with my mexican food hard to handle. Mind you I pretty much cut them all out of my diet for the past two months that I wasn't exercising to keep my butt from getting to wide. LOL...Geez did me no good, did it? LOL

But anywho, it was too hot to do anything today so David and I slept the afternoon away, it feels good to get to relax after all the hassles the past few weeks. We are currently processing apples now. We started pretty close to 8 and still working on them. It's been fun. I dance around to the radio while David peels and cores...then I soak the slices, weed out the bad ones, and make my applesauce and can. :0) It's very good to feel like I'm getting something done.

Tomorrow's agenda, get more jars!!!! And p.s. for the ones who have my jars, we want them back when you use the stuffs all up, next year is gonna be KILLER...because we are gonna prune the trees at the end of the season, so beware!!!!

**On another high note, tomorrow I will be studying all the books and such that I've been working with Kevin on. I'm going to write down a "plan" and track his progress at the end of the week. This Friday as far as "test day" was bust for him. David has a feeling he just KNOWS even though no one says it, that he's going to see Big D, and this attitude switch flicks on...and until we get him back on Sunday, there's no point in fighting. :0)

***On yet another note, we have to start the chore chart tomorrow before the kids get home so they can start earning TV time, it just seems way too addictive to our children. It's amazing. I growing up wasn't addicted that much, because we didn't have many channels. So I hung out in the woods. I guess I want my kids to have a better quality of life than rotting their brains with television and video games. :0)

Off for more jars of applesauce and bags of apples.
Lots of Love!