No School, No School La-La-La-La-La-LA!

Not exactly how I wanted to wake up this morning, Our school system has just started an automatic call system that will call you when there is a delay or cancellation so you no longer need to get up and listen to the radio or watch TV to find out if there is a change in school, my phone is next to our bed so when they call, I don't even need to wake up- which is nice-They just started this last week and already have had to use it twice. A delay on Wednesday and today school was cancelled. So we now are officially on Christmas Vacation! Two weeks off! The kids had fun things planned at school today. Elena is really upset, she was so looking forward to her Christmas party at school. She doesn't want break, she loves school.

So with the roads full of ice, I am bummed because it puts a slight damper on my plans, I was planning on grocery shopping this morning, picking up Jason this afternoon and Christmas shopping with Bill this evening. I still have most of it to do!!

This is the first year in some time that I have more than a gift or two to purchase yet and it is consuming me. I will not do this again if I can help it!

I will try to shift my attitude around and try to enjoy this extra day of being stuck inside and do something fun with the kids, the shopping will have to wait until tomarrow....UGH

Weekend Recap

Well I thought since I am sitting here half awake, I would try to wake up my rusty brain and post a recap. I did have an almost KC like weekend. Hee, hee. Usually my weekends involve one major event over the course of it, but this weekend was busy and FUN! Friday I took the day off work so that I could get things done before my cookie exchange that I host. I have to plan things like this from time to time, because it actually motivates me to get things done. I need that deadline.

So I stayed up late Thursday night baking cookies so I wouldn't have that mess Friday. Friday was all about getting the house ready. And also having a day off from work without having to run around was soo nice!! I am counting down the days until Christmas Break! Whoo-hoo! The joys of working in a school:)

Friday night I had some friends over here to exchange Christmas cookies and we had quite the wintery weather. It snowed all day and there was quite a bit on the ground and on the roads. One girl couldn't make it because of the weather. (Crazy as it is all melted already and in the 50's right now) of course KC the blogger girl already had pics up. Here are a few I took. I should of just made her my party photographer :p

Saturday we woke up and the whole family just lounged around ate Christmas cookies for breakfast and watched The Santa Claus. Such a great way to wake up!

My MIL wanted the girls to come over for a tea party lunch, so I took them over there, stopped and picked up a few things at the grocery and came home to a quiet house. AWESOME!!! Bill took Ethan sledding so I had some time. I cleaned out one of my cupboards and then made some cookie dough for Sunday.

When Ethan came home we started putting together Christmas gifts we are making for family and teachers. Can't show you because I don't know who will see. Don't want to spoil the surprise!

Saturday night we went to this neat cabin for a surprise 60th birthday party for my Aunt, my mom's oldest sister. It was the first time in a long time I have seen all 4 of my mom's siblings together. They took some pics by the Christmas tree and I got a bit sad. It has been 25 years since my mom has passed....

It was nice to see cousins and family I haven't seen in awhile.

Sunday got up and went to church, the kids did the bell choir thing for the congregation, I love when they get to do this, they are soo cute.

Came home had lunch and went to Aunt Sandy's social hall at her church and spent the afternoon baking cookies with the girls. It was fun and a great way to get a bunch done!

We went back to her house and ordered pizza and just hung out. Was a great weekend. Of course throughout most of it I forgot my camera, but that is just how it goes. Maybe Santa will bring me a camera phone?

Christmas Cards

No pictures today, just a musing about Christmas cards. Don't you love how someone can be placed on your heart and then you hear from them? I have a friend who I was closer to anyone in the world and with kids and business we drifted over the past few years, I miss her terribly, and she has been on my mind daily. She has been dealt a lot and she shuts down instead of reaching out for a friend for comfort. I haven't spoken to her in a year and a half and I woke up yesterday morning thinking I should send her a Christmas card, it was heavy on my heart and when I opened my mailbox yesterday there is a card from her! It literally brought me to tears.

Only at Christmas:)

Sick, Sick, Sick

The flu bug is going around and unfortunately decided to come to our house so last night I was up all night with miss Natalie. Ick. I can handle any kind of chest cold, respiratory infection, but I don't do well with the pukes!

So I am spending my day today disinfecting and cleaning -when I am not snuggling with my little girl- We didn't get much sleep last night, so I am hoping she will sleep more today. We have a busy weekend ahead so I am hoping the Lysol does the trick.

Miss Elena is having two birthday parties. One tomorrow with her friends and one Sunday with family. So I have the house to get ready, which isn't much but we had new carpet put in last week and I still need to move some furniture around. But later I need to make cupcakes and when Bill gets home I need to shop for all the yummy food and decorations. Her theme is Littlest Pet Shop.

Today is one of those crazy little gifts, that you asked for but just not exactly. I was just complaining to my dh about how I have all these projects upstairs that are started but not finished and I can never keep the kids in one spot so I can finish them. Last night while miss Natalie drifted off to sleep after getting sick, I sat in her room and finally got all their summer things out of the closet and dressers and put away, sorted play clothes and school clothes, tossed some things and got the girls room cleaned. Today I have moved her into my room so she can watch cartoons and hopefully I can sort through these piles of papers around my desk and start on the boys summer things. If she was well, it would still be sitting here. Crazy.
Now I just pray I don't get sick!!

SNOW!

Before I went to bed last night, I looked out the window and shrieked! Everything had a thin blanket of white! It snowed!! The kids were getting ready for bed and got all excited as well. This is the only time of the year that I get so excited to see the white stuff and the kid in me now that I am working in a school thinks - maybe school will be canceled tomorrow?? Hee, hee.

Of course it didn't really stick around by this morning, but it brought back good memories of when I was a kid and my brother and I would mark the calendar when the first snow was and compare it to the last year and run outside in it. Love the first snow!

So guess what i am gonna have to listen to as I do the mountain of laundry? Christmas music of course!

Have a great Monday!

Blogging, what is that?

That is how I feel lately, I never have any time to post, let alone read up on other blogs. I miss my sahm days:( I definitely am working more than I expected to and it's amazing how just working 2-3 hours in the middle of the day throws a kink into everything else! I had a nice four day weekend, but I babysat Natalie's friend Friday and babysat 2 kids on Monday so nothing really got caught up. Oh yeah and throw in a play date, a night of puking by Elena and a trip to the Dr with Ethan (luckily not the ER) because he sprained his wrist!!

I really want to take more time on here, but I need to hop in the shower and get ready to head to the cafeteria! Lunch duty calls once again. I go to a new elementary school today so I get to torment a new group of kids. YAY!

I hope I can get this new routine down and get back to blogging. I miss it. Really, I do.

Have a great Tuesday and probably week too!

New Beginnings

First day of school underway and Miss Elena starts today. She was so excited. She picked out a
Hannah Montana shirt to wear with sparkly silver shoes and of course a silver headband to match. I was never so accessorized as a kindergartner. Not even in high school! Anyways, I keep thinking I need to pick her up in a few hours. That will be different. She didn't act nervous at all and we found out there was a little boy from her preschool that she played with all summer that is in her class. So that was reassuring. A familiar face.

Ethan wasn't so crazy about his first day. Lunch was later and his friends were all scattered. It will be better for him today I am sure. He thinks he doesn't need me to walk him to/from school anymore. He got mad when I made him walk with us. Big second grader.

My first day was fun. It was great to see all the kids that I know and the teachers were so nice. Surprisingly Ethan's teacher from last year was quite chatty and told me of a job opening. So I am going to see what I can do about getting it. The ladies I worked with were great and I got to work with my friend who got me my job so that made it so much easier getting into it.

Natalie was super excited to go to the babysitters, but had a rough afternoon. We'll see how she does today.

So my new beginning besides working out of the house is getting back into working out! I have been such a slacker and I can feel it. I don't usually go by the scale, I go by how I feel and lately I can feel that I have put on a few pounds. When I went to the Dr a few weeks back his scale said I have gained 12 pounds since late spring!! WOW! So I have been watching what I put into my mouth, trying to snack on veggies and such and since I just have one child with me starting today I amgetting back into walking daily. I took the kids to school and took Natalie on a 30 minute walk. I am gonna shoot for 30 min a day this week, bump that up to 45 next and keep moving until I am at an hour. I will walk until the weather gets too yucky and then I will head to our local rec center.
So wish me luck with this. It is so hard to get into a new routine.

Okay now I am off to bake a chocolate cake for dessert tonight. Hmmm wonder how those 12 pounds snuck on? I have no idea!

Back to School

The last weekend of summer vacation. A month ago I was dreaming about this, craving the regularity of a schedule. I have 2 going to school this year. My middle child is beginning kindergarten and although I have been so excited for her to go, now that we are days away I am getting sad. I know she will thrive in that environment. She loves school I am hoping it continues now that it will be an all day everyday thing. I am looking forward to days with just me and my 3 year old though. She is at such a fun age, I know we will make lots of special memories together.

Another thing about school starting this year that I am nervous/excited about is I am going back to work. I was hired by the school system the kids go to in May as a substitute helper. I will float between all the schools wherever there is a need, secretaries, library, teachers aide, kitchen. I am a sub so I can for the most part choose my schedule. Well I got a call with a request to work at the elementary school my kids attend for the whole week next week. I will only be working for two hours each day just to help in the cafeteria. Perfect. I will be here with them before and after school. I am glad I will get to see them at school each day, but nervous about returning to the work world. I have been home for over 3 years and even before that I was only working 1-3 days for 2 years before that. But I know once I get in there it will be fine. Natalie is excited about going to the babysitters, she has been telling me for weeks that I go to work she will go to the babysitters. So I know the adjustment for her will be fine.

Well I better get myself ready to go shopping. Just a few more items to pick up and the kids are ready for back to school!

Updates

Back and have some time to catch up a bit. YAY! Seems this summer is absolutely flying by! I guess that is a sign of getting old, eh? When you are young time drags on and on and when you get older it whizzes past. Anyways.
First thing is my dear son Ethan who I am sure will cause me to grey waay before my time, Is in the clear with his tooth!

For now anyways. Last week we went to the dentist and he says his tooth is being held by the bone. It has grown around and is now supporting the tooth and the X-ray showed that the root is reattaching. So we are back to normal for the most part. I am still going to take caution with some of the things he does or bites into. Of course we come home from the dentist and that same night he thinks he is going to pull out his ramp and start jumping his bike. YIKES! Don't think so. But he was able to play in his last ball game of the season which was nice because all season he wasn't allowed on the field, only could bat with the protective helmet on. And we can actually swim now too. This whole summer has went by and we only could go to the private pool we belong to a handful of times. I am hoping we have many sunny days left so we can get down there and enjoy them.

While this was taking place with Mr. Ethan Miss Elena wanted to get in on the action and dislocated her elbow. It was a rainy day and we were leaving the dentist office I took the kids to the mall to play. Just as we were getting ready to leave she does one last dive off a toy and must of fallen just right. I didn't see the fall, but she complained all day about it hurting. I figured it was bruised because nothing appeared to be out of place. When my dh got home from work I took her out to the ER since our Dr was on vacation. 3 Hours later it was all back in place and life was good. Other than she had to rest her arm for 2 days in a sling. She hated that you would've thought the world was gonna end. How would she react if it was broken? Anyways glad that is behind us as well.

I have spent most of the summer sick. ICK! I had strep throat in the beginning of summer and for the last 3 weeks have another lovely sore throat. I guess I better start taking better care of myself. eh? I will make a mental note to do that.

Some positive, I mean WONDERFUL news is miss Natalie is now Potty trained!! YAY!! It took a little time, but once she had it down, she had it down. It has been over a month and we have only had 3 accidents. She is thrilled with herself. I cannot believe I am finally done buying diapers! 7 1/2 years straight of diapers, diapers, diapers. I almost grabbed the microphone at Walmart and announced it to the store I was so excited when I bought the Princess pull ups. My last package I will buy for myself!Whoo-hoo!! She wears the pull ups at night, but she wakes up dry. I still am making her wear them a little longer to avoid any messes. But Go Natalie Go!!

I started am currently babysitting Elena's best friend and her big brother until school gets back in which has been an adjustment around here. Now this week they are sick so their mom is keeping them home (which I soo appreciate!) I also will have Natalie's best bud a few days in there so at least they all have someone to keep them busy.

Even though we have had to lay low. And I mean low. I couldn't even do play dates because I just didn't feel like telling Ethan no 300 times so I just avoided anything he might have trouble controlling himself with so that was friends, parks, beaches, etc etc. We did do the summer reading program at the Library and they really go into that this year. Natalie was old enough to participate too so that was fun. She is looking forward to story time this fall.
We did go on our annual 4th of July family camping trip which was a lot of fun, we went to the drive in movie a few times, the zoo, VBS, and lots of just hanging out together which I am loving.

I am so torn about school coming up, part of me wants to keep them home longer and have more fun together and part of me thinks 3 more weeks? AWWWW.

Okay I think for the most part we are up to speed now. I have more, but I will save it for another post.

I'MMMMM BAAAACK!!!

I hope for good this time. It has been over a month since I have been able to be online. We have a trusted friend who fixes our computer problems for us and my dear hubby will not allow any one else to work on it. So I had to wait for a good time for one of us to take the computer up over an hour away and then pick it up. Apparently it was a task for us because it took over a month to accomplish!

I have so much to update you with! I don't have the time now, I have been babysitting this summer and I have to get all the kids ready for VBS. I will be back with pics, stories and more. I know you will be waiting at the edge of your seat. hee hee.

I will be doing my blog rounds soon too. I can't wait to see how you all are doing and how your summers are going.

Be on soon! Just wanted to let you know I am still alive:)

And a little more....

Well if I wasn't a mess when I typed my last post, I sure was by the end of the day! I do have a major praise, well two praises from my horrible day Tuesday. When I called the dentist to get him back in they couldn't see him until 3:30! I was in tears. This is his bottom front tooth just sitting in the socket, I couldn't let him eat for risk of him swallowing it and the lady on the phone was not so nice. I hung up the phone and bawled. No sooner did I cry out to God that I couldn't do this today. That I needed some help, the phone rings - dentist office- come right in! He said it looked better after 5 days than he expected. The gum was healing up nicely around it. Oh I forgot to mention 3:30 was the time I had an appointment that I couldn't miss for my job for next school year. So luckily I was able to do that still. But my day just kept getting better. My computer had gotten some kind of virus and I wasn't able to get online at all so I had to wait for our friend who is our computer expert who got ahold of me today and fixed it, YAY! (I went 2 days without a computer, that was hard! I didn't realize how much I get online to look up stuff!) Then at the kids T-ball game I had to make Ethan sit out -and keep him and Natalie still- And while I am watching the game, Natalie slips on the bleachers and gets herself so upset she pukes all over me!!

Let me just say by the end of that day I told my dear hubby that I quit as momma! Oh yea my second praise in the midst of all of this flowers were delivered to my house and a balloon. My hubby sent them to me with a little card telling me what a great job I am doing. Okay, I'll still be momma:)

Well my littlest one, is still wanting momma instead of sleeping, so I better spend a few extra minutes with her so I can get some quiet time.

Thanks for the encouragement ladies:) I really needed it!!

Just some Ramblings

So far we have entered into a busy summer, busy for us anyways. We started the summer off with a slumber party, we went to the private beach we belong to a few times, went to see Indiana Jones at the Drive In, had some baseball games a T-ball game (those keep getting rained out) Started the summer reading program at the Library which the kids really get into and this is Natalie's first year that she can participate and she is doing great with it. Went to the zoo, caught fireflies and done sparklers. And of course friends are over every day.

My biggest obstacle occurred last week when Ethan was playing on the neighbor kids new slide pool. All inflatable, but my little man found a way to get hurt on it. He lost a permanent tooth sliding down the slide on the edge of the piece of plastic that connects the slide and the pool. I do not do well with emergencies, but luckily the dentist could get him right in and they reattached the tooth. They say there is a high chance of the tooth reconnecting if it is reinserted within an hour of coming out. But see, he lost the baby tooth next to it this last week also, so that tooth will be shifting and growing and could pose a problem. This has been a rough 5 days for me already and when I woke up this morning, the bonding (they bonded his tooth to the other permanent tooth) the bonding broke. So now we are waiting to get into the dentist again this morning.
He has been on a soft foods diet since Thursday which is so hard because he wants what everyone else is eating. He can't do a lot of the things he likes to do because he cannot bump that tooth again or the chances of his tooth going back again aren't likely. I know its just a tooth and they make fake teeth all the time, but I don't want my baby to worry about little things like that his whole life if they can fix it with his real teeth. I just had to share because I have been a mess trying to keep this active boy busy, but not wild like he wants to be.

Want something FREE? Go out and get it!

Today, Thursday May 15, 2008 is the day for you if you'd like a free deal!

Dunkin Donuts is having free iced coffee day! Stop in between 10AM and 10PM for your free treat! Not sure where there is one close to you? Click the link above to find a store near you.

Also participating McDonalds restaurants are giving from 7AM-10:30 AM today the Southern Style Chicken Biscuit and from 10:30AM - 7 PM you can receive a southern style Chicken Sandwich. Now you do have to purchase a medium or large beverage to get your free sandwich, but you would need something to wash it down anyways, right?

So go out and treat yourself to something FREE - TODAY!!

Wow has it been that long?

I hopped on here today and couldn't believe that it has been that long since I have blogged. My poor little blog which was given so much love the last week or so was completely ignored. Not to mention the blogs that I was just starting to find time to read. So I have missed my bloggy friends! Today I am here and hoping to catch up with some of you!

While I have been away I have been soo busy. Love the weather changes, but it is hard to change things around. The kids always want to be outside and I need to move a little faster to get what I need to get done so we can play outside. I have been going through all their spring/summer things to see what fits them and what needs to be given away. Rearranging dresser drawers and closets. Oh my!

Besides that trying to keep up with my reading challenge. Which has proven to be a challenge indeed. I will post more about that another time.

We have had some fun too. The weekend before this last, I got to go away on our Alliance Women's retreat with our church. which was so nice. I do think this was one of the first trips I have had without my hubby or kids that I was able to enjoy. I had a nice time spending it with some people that I don't get to hang out with as much as I would like. I don't schedule much time that is just for me so this was much needed. One of the things that I thought was great about this is there were so many great speakers and such wonderful messages and when we left, our group was talking about how nothing popped out at us.
Well I love how sometimes the Lord just plants a seed that will grow into something later. One of the things discussed was conflict resolution and how to do it with a biblical perspective. Wouldn't you know when I come home there is a conflict waiting for me! We are having some issues with one of our neighbors and it was trickling down to another neighbor. Well the conflict is only partially resolved, but I know that with God's help things will smooth out and I am not stressing over it like I normally would.

I have been able to finally been able to help at my son's school which I love to do and his teacher has only allowed me to come once this year. So here we are at the end of the school year and I didn't know half the kids in his class! So I helped two weeks in a row and have learned most of their names. I love it! This week I get to help out 2 days. One for the whole day. They are having a COSI on wheels there, so this should be a lot of fun!

We had a fun get together with family yesterday to celebrate both my sister in laws' birthdays and my step sons. He turns 14 today!!! How did that happen?? Oh!! our cousin announced she is moving up her wedding date. She was getting married next May and they now are getting married in November this year!! AND she asked miss Elena to be a flower girl! Oh this will be exciting!

Well there is my update for now. No menu posting today, I am planning pretty much a kid menu for most days, although I am trying a new recipe Saturday for an Italian chicken chili which looks sooo yummy. I am gonna serve it over spaghetti noodles. I think the kids will like it that way. If it is good, I will share the recipe.
Take care, take in some sunshine and have a GREAT MONDAY!!

Wordless Wednesday - What a nice surprise.

I was surprised the other day when I got a package in the mail. The kids announced that the mail lady dropped something off and I assumed it was something I had ordered not long ago. Much to my surprise it was a package from one of my oldest and dearest friends who now lives in New Mexico! She sent me a sweet card and photo album and made this hat and scarf for me too. I loove the colors!! I was really having a bad day that day too and it completely turned my day around to know that someone was thinking of me. I would've been happy with a card or a phone call, but this was so nice. What a great surprise!

Well it wasn't so wordless - Sorry!

Daylight Savings

Hope you all remembered to set your clocks ahead an hour
(SPRING AHEAD)
It's probably a good thing that we were bombarded with like 18 inches of snow and that our 1st service at church was canceled today because I never would of made it to class on time! I was scheduled to teach in the pre-school wee worship class and I like to get there about 8:30 AM. I thought about the clocks last night, but didn't set them before I went to bed, so when I woke up it already was 8 AM! We're all reset, but it could've been a crazy day, instead it's another stay inside and snuggle up day. Which is much needed as we all have been passing around a cold and fevers. NOT FUN!
So if you haven't yet- so turn your clocks ahead and enjoy a little more sunshine in your day:)

Vote Today! - Ohio Primary

Just a reminder to hit the polls today!

Excercise your civil rights and VOTE!

Waiting

House full of people and nothing I can do. No place to go, no space to call mine. Mil in the kitchen, ss in the living room, daughters up in the boys room/computer room, Son and Hubby in ours. The house is filled. There are a zillion cleaning things and projects I could do, but nope. Got myself all ready to be presentable today. I was suppose to take Elena to a birthday party so I figured I would hang out with my friend. She wound up with a fever, we're not going anywhere... My nephew is coming by sometime this afternoon. Don't know when so I keep watching for him. Waiting.. I don't see his mom often and I would like to not look like a wreck when I see her. ( Have certain clothes I wear just when I am doing cleaning or stuff around the house- they are not going out of the house things) So I wait, really can't start anything because the minute I do, someone needs something and I am pulled away from it. Not in the mood to get pulled away or to get into anything. I feel like I have been waiting for awhile now. Not just waiting on Jude, but like everything in my life is just on hold for the time being. Not long ago my dh even said something to me about it, it feels like we are waiting for something big to happen, but have no idea what it is..
There was a time in my life I was Not so patiently waiting. I even joined a Babycenter group with the title. At the time I was so anxious to have another baby and I knew I had at least another year to wait. These girls were in the same boat. (most of us go pg within weeks of each other)(Love you girls!)
But now I am waiting and surprisingly patiently waiting for my next step. What am I being led to do next. I feel like the little neighbor boy on The Incredibles when he looks at Mr incredible and when asked what is he looking at? He replies" I don't know I'm just waiting for something amazing.. I guess." I guess is right. I can only imagine what is in store for me. I hope it requires no more waiting though. I have been waiting for days when our family has appointments, waiting for the kids to have a full week of school again (then here comes spring break) waiting for mil to find a job (she's been unemployed for a month now) Waiting for hubby's body to heal. He sprained his ankle over a week ago and he got a vasectomy this past week, so he has been down and hurting for a few weeks. I am waiting for things to return to what they were. I am used to this house being mine. Having some time of the day where all is quiet and mine to do what I will.(without interruptions) I don't want to leave or do anything, I just want my house back! I thought I was supposed to go back to work, I had a job opportunity and never felt led to turn in my resume. I have been feeling like I need to work up a new budget for us though. Need to cut back on some spending happening lately. But when I think something is going to happen, it doesn't and here I sit and wait with this feeling like something is about to happen. What is it?? And will I know when it happens?

Some not so depressing thoughts

Here we are getting through what they call the most depressing week of the year. In our house we actually had one of the best weeks. This year having my dh home has been better than any year in the past. We really are enjoying being able to be home together and be with the kids. We were just talking about our childhood today and I honestly don't even remember my parents being around to much when I was playing with my brother or cousins growing up. They never sat down and played games with us or hung out and watched movies or read stories in the middle of the day. The other day I was dealing with a really yucky migraine and Bill and Natalie snuggled up with me and we spent the morning there. Doing nothing but snuggling and watching TV, mostly Dora, but that is what kept her there that long. It was so nice to just be. We didn't have an agenda. The other kids were in school. I am just so thankful for those days to just really enjoy the life that God has provided for us.

Karaoke Theme Song

Your Karaoke Theme Song is "I'm Too Sexy"

You're a total goof ball and a bit of a nut job. You don't take yourself seriously at all. And while you may not be the greatest singer, you're the first to volunteer for karaoke. You have a wild and unpredictable sense of humor that always gets people cracking up. Irreverent and rebellious, your humor knows no bounds or limits. You enjoy shocking people. You might also sing: "Like a Virgin," "Ice Ice Baby," and "Hey Ya!" Stay away from people who sing: "Sweet Home Alabama"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

I have to absolutely LOL at the "You might also sing" part because when I was in 6th grade, at my uncle's wedding while the band was taking a break my cousins and I goofed around with the microphones, the band came back and tricked us into singing "Like a Virgin" because I was such a Madonna fan at the time. Looking back what a horrible song for a 12 yr old to be belting out! Had no idea but it is funny to look back on! Here is me at that breakout gig:)