Wrapping up the year....

Got to finally organize and clean up my coupons today, although in a few days they all have to be re gone through bc they will expire. Then I spent 4 hours shopping is aft noon to night to refill the house. My house has been in a serious stage of empty for what seems like weeks now! But tomorrow I get to reorganize all my drawers and cabinets after I get home from Ikea with brian and the kids since I didn't get to go today.

I have the new Toby Keith song, Red Solo Cup, stuck in my head. It is the unofficial official song of my summer to come. Which may be here soon since it is 57 degrees at 9pm on the second to last night of December here which is weird, and sucks.

Almost time for the kids to go back to school, and considering they were both wide awake less than an hour ago, I have a feeling those first few days are going to suck pretty bad. Laci has fully gotten used to staying up past 10 and sleeping in til after 9 every day....lol.

I am steadily working on my game plan for the new year and deciding what to buy when. Tonight I brought back some stuff laci didn't need or didn't work from Christmas and got a gift card. I bought her a Monster High car and new pink boots already on clearance and spent the rest with my eBay money I made on some kitchen gadgets like a smoothie maker and a deep fryer ( yes I am aware how those two items cancel each other out completely) and I also got some new tooth brushes, not that anyonen reading this cares about my new toothbrush. But if you do, it's purple. :)

I am wiped out. I hope my feet feel better in time for Ikea tomorrow. I am really excited to go. I guess I should check out the kids school calendar too so I am in the know on when they go back! Ha!! Thinking of spending the first day they are back in school sitting somewhere fishing! :)

Hope this night is good for anyone reading this!


ETA
Laci almost burnt the house down today. While I was downstairs cutting and clipping and organizing my coupons, I kept smelling chocolate. I just figured it was the bowl of dry Reeses ,PB cup cereal sitting near me, but then I noticed the hazy look to the top of stairs and realized what was going on! Laci had torn into the Easy Bake Oven and plugged it in, and started attempting to bake cookies without even letting me know!!! Dry cookie mix, plus high temps, plus a mess equals a lot of smoke and soon a mommy with a very sore throat from screaming so much!!! Luckily the thing is ok and the house is still standing but that was scary as hell! Mom of the year, party of one!!!
Lots of love!

A new year is coming!

And I am determined to get my blog up and running again! It has been too long and I miss sharing my life here and keeping up with happy moments that make my life worth living!! Starting the last week of the new year in bed with strep throat but it could be worse! I got my david Bowie playing and my mom has the kids and I am snuggled down in bed with my iPad and coffee and forming a game plan for the day! Hope anyone who happens to stumble across this blog has a wonderful day!!

Lots of love,
Mommy Pruitt

For my amazing grandparents!

A Grandma Like You

I just want to let you know
You mean the world to me.
Only a heart as dear as yours
Would give so unselfishly.
The many things you've done,
All the times that you were there;
Help me know deep down inside
How much you really care.
Even though I might not say,
I appreciate all you do;
Richly blessed is how I feel,
Having a grandma just like you.

Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting. ~Author Unknown

Grandma, when I think of you I don't think of money spent, or small quarrels we have had, I don't think of miles between us, or even our talks on the phone. When I think of you I think of laughter, and singing, I think of the feeling I used to have as a kid, when I could climb onto your lap and lay my head on your chest and feel you breathing. Smelling the "Charlie" cologne, and listening to you talk about all sorts of things with your new york accent. When I think of you I think of happiness and smiles, and banana boat tanning lotion. When I think of you I think of home. I love you. I can't wait to see you next week!!!

Grandpa

From the time I was

a little kid I remember

how much fun

it was to be with you

and how easy it was

to talk to you-

I always looked forward

to our "together times"

And on this special day

I wanted you to know

I still enjoy the special

closeness that we share.

A grandfather is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. ~Author Unknown

Grandpa, I am so glad to have you in my life every day. Even if we go a long time and not see each other or talk to each other, I know you are still thinking of me and will be there when I need you...and I hope you know the same about me. I could live to be a thousand years old and never forget your hands tying lines on my fishing pole. Your voice brings me peace and your presence brings me comfort. Thank you for loving me so much all my life. I love you! See you soon!!

What a week...and its only Wednesday!

Not even one picture can really capture the mess this week feels like it has been already and it is only Wednesday! Labor Day came to an interesting end when 5 storms passed through Cherokee county, leaving homes destroyed, cars flipped over on the highway, and buildings with roofs torn off thanks to an F1 tornado that came down 2 exits south, and didn't stop for 5 exits north of us, and missing our neighborhood by less than a mile! Thanks to T.S Lee, we had a scary afternoon, but as of this morning have been enjoying temps in the 50s!!! I am really hoping as I sit here with my door and windows open and day two of no a/c on, that this isnt some mean joke mother nature is playing on us and we will get some fall in here now and get a break from our record busting scorching drought summer we have suffered through!
Yesterday I took a mental day off. I didn't get to the gym, but I did get some cleaning done around the house, and then spent the whole rest of the day and into the night planted in front of the T.V with the kids just relaxing. The doors were open, we were under blankets, and I made peanut butter cookies. (I had 2). It was a lovely day!
This morning I got the kids off to school as always, even though Laci is dealing with a cold, or allergies, or something currently, and then hit the gym. I came home soaked and wiped out, and now I am planning another low key day. I think I may be on some kind of mental strike! 
This morning Christopher informed me he has a wiggly tooth, and that when it comes out he is going to put ketchup on it, now in my head I am thinking bc he wants to play a prank on me saying its a bloody tooth....but then he says..."so the tooth fairy will like it better when she eats it!"....Oh boy...poor thing....it has occured to me a lot lately that common sense may not be this boy's finer talent in life....I explained that she does not EAT the teeth but merely collects them...and he laughed and realized how odd that would be if she did indeed eat them "like on a sandwich"....sigh....LOL!
Well, I guess for now I will get back to my doing nothing while working on a list to start packing for Florida in 12 days! I am so excited! I cannot wait to be on the beach fishing and playing with the kids and hanging out with my grandparents! This is going to be great!! (now I just need to hit the lottery! ha!)
Happy Wednesday!

Happy Labor Day Monday!

Honestly, I am not even 100% sure what it is we are celebrating today....how bad is that? I know common sense wise it has something to do about people who work (hard labor i think) and have this recognized day in their honor maybe? I don't know....but...its always nice to have a Monday at home with everyone since usually its the loneliest day of the week for me.

I didn't sleep hardly at all last night. I couldn't fall asleep until almost 1am, and then I was woke up at 4am by a terrible pain on my C-section scar. This is the second time in a month now I have had issues with a soft lump that has come up on the right side of the scar, almost like a lymph node. The pain feels like I just had my c-section and has that same tugging pulling tearing feeling as moving around post surgery. So with my mind instantly snowballing I started researching and found that I most likely have endometriosis. And that inflamed little lump is uterus cells that are reacting to my hormones of my menstrual cycle....too much info for you yet at 8:28am? Well, after pages of research, I seriously think I have been suffering with this for a while and its been causing some of my other aches, pains, and health problems in the last few years. I am going to call the doc tomorrow and see about getting in for an MRI or U/S or larescopy. Then we can see if I am right. The pain is pretty unbearable this morning, but I am going to send Brian to Walgreen's in a few to get me some more Motrin to help...if he ever wakes up! Geeze!

It's kinda sad when medical crap is the most exciting part of your week huh?

In other even more exciting news...We only have 2 weeks til Florida!!! By this time we will be getting off the highway for breakfast hopefully in Cordelle. I cannot wait!! I guess I should start writing up stuff for the house sitter and stock up on dog food! I also need to start my packing lists, and get Brian to pull down the luggage soon. So happy! I just cannot wait!!! I need to email the person at the condo and find out when we need to pay the rest of the rent by too! Whew! I am already tired! 

Anyhow we have this storm system moving in today that came from the gulf, T.S Lee, and so far there isn't a whole lot to write on it, but they say we could still see up to 7 inches of rain...but I am starting to think that number is a stretch. However, a few days of steady drizzle and rain is a welcome change. I hope it gets the air good and clean, and maybe brings in some fall for us!

Hope everyone enjoys their day! Happy Monday!

Waiting on the rain...

While the rain is bad for many because of the mass amounts coming, we need the rain so bad. All the gardens around are dry and brown, slow producing if at all. Corn crops are done already and dried up, tomato plants aren't producing fruit, and even my own little garden has had its share of issues because of the lack of rain. And now, after less than a 1/2" of rain in the whole month of August, we are now possibly in the track for a tropical storm that made landfall yesterday in Louisiana, and we could see up to 7 inches of rain from it over the next 3 days! And while I know that will cause some flash flood issues, I couldn't be happier to see this parched land get a good soaking before the official start to Fall!

Going to try and start getting into a more steady routine this week, even with Monday throwing a wrench since everyone is off, and start trying to get more accomplished around the house and add a bit more time to my workouts. Tuesday I had planned on going to the track again (although I still can't walk good from being so strained and pulled from Thursday's almost 5 mile power walk/jog) but with the rain coming I may not be able to until Thursday, so I am hoping to hit the gym for at least an hour of cardio on Tuesday too. So far this first week as of this morning I have lost 4 pounds. I am still not drinking as much water as I should be, but I am drinking even less soda than ever (diet already). I need to add more dairy, fruits, and veggies in this week...I am getting too many meals off almost carbs alone and I know that's a major downfall for me. My goal this week is to drink 3 bottles of water a day, and have fruits or veggies and dairy a few times a day too, and to extend the length of my workouts. I have 2 weeks left before Florida, and I would like to see my prevacation weight at least so that I will be starting back on the big weight loss track I was on before letting it all go to hell for the summer. I am just hoping that by tomorrow morning I feel even better walking wise, lol, because I have been hobbling around like a little old lady for days now! My motto this week has been "I sure ain't 20 anymore!". 

We spent yesterday in Cumming with Brian's grandparents. That was nice, and as an added bonus we took Claudia to a family garage sale and got to see Belinda and Milton who we haven't seen in years! (Brian's cousins) and even met some other family members we have never met before! My kids didn't remember who they were, but they were happy to learn they had more family and gave lots of hugs! Laci's day was made when Belinda let her go to town on costume Jewelry and she picked 4 pairs of clip on earrings, a few necklaces, and a bracelet. Christopher was delighted when Belinda told him to fill a box with Halloween decorations that were for sale, and he picked a whole box worth of trinkets and odds and ends. It was nice to see them, but made me sad at the same time. I wish things haven't gone the way they have in the last few years. I am sad my kids have missed out on so much family time they could have been having. Its a shame how family falls apart sometimes. But at least with the family they have (even if its years between visits) they know they are loved dearly by those who chose to stay in their lives, and for that, I am very thankful.

I have a little shopping to do today, and I want to get the garage cleaned back up and work on organizing the food shelves better out there. But for the most part its just going to be an easy laid back lazy Sunday, and we will sit and wait for God to let that wonderful rain pour down on us! Have a happy Sunday!!!

Last day of August!

As the sun is quietly setting into a summer that is ending

A calming message unto my heart is transcending

Captured now by this cool breeze swaying o'er the bay

That drew me back to this place so many summer days

For with these final days a subtle change is on the way

In every sunny ray a cooler breeze sways every blade

In anticipation of autumns crisp air and vibrant shades

As summer gives way and graciously fades..............

It's hard to believe we are in the last day of August and its half over already. The summer is finally coming to an end, and the heat is starting to change to something less vicious. When the wind blows under the shade of a tree it cools the skin and makes you close your eyes and soak up the warmth, the crispness, and the smells of the world all around. The time in the pool is quickly coming to an end. I went last night and I was actually cold. We stayed for about 2 hours and an hour in I was ready to sit in a towel in the sun. I could feel the goosebumps all over me as I was trying to enjoy the last few grasps at the summer I wished by maybe too fast.

But...with the end of summer...comes the best time of the year for me...FALL! A time when we live outside practically, and weekend nights are spent playing into the late hours outside, coloring with chalk, riding bikes, and enjoying a fire pit and marshmellows. Ghost stories, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and more...fall is the best time of the whole year! And living in Georgia, summer, and her fury at times, will be back before we know it! So I will do all I can to enjoy every second of a world I can finally breath in and reacquaint myself with!

Today started off on a great note, kids went to school with no issue, I hit the gym for an hour and a half, I came home and got the dogs washed, myself washed, and I am now doing laundry. I am sore, but in a good way (well, except for my aching back), and feeling accomplished in what I have set out to do for myself health wise. I have almost 2 hours left before leaving to get the kids, and a ton of homework to get done with Christopher tonight. I am going to try and get a bit more cleaning done, and dinner started soon. Other than that, there isn't a whole lot to report on today, just enjoying knowing my favorite time of year is coming! I am looking forward to the 3 day weekend too! And...today we are in the teens! Yay!!! 19 days tile Daytona! Whoop whoop!

Have a happy Wednesday!

Count Von Count says....

TWENTY!

AH HA HA!

What a week! I have had so much going on I haven't stopped by my blog to really catch up! Mostly during the week its a whole lot of same old same old type stuff. School is going well for both kids now, and my days tend to fly by with piddling around the house and around town. I have been working out and trying to get some more weight off now that I have more time for myself, and thats going to intensify over the next week and through the rest of the year. Brian was off last Thursday and that was so nice. Me and him had a whole day together to go look at stuff and do stuff. We started the day dropping the kids off then heading to the pool, after that we went to Jasper to the Bargain Barn to check it out and I got some great ideas for Christmas too. Then we went out to lunch and poked around a few stores and pawn shops looking to see what was in them. Then we got the kids and the afternoon, as always, was a blur. Sadly he had to work on Saturday, but I took the kids to Lowe's to do the building shop and then we went to my moms house and then we went to a few garage sales. After that we went to Target and lunch at TacoBell, and then to my friends Doug and Amy's son's birthday party at Mountasia. It was super hot outside but my mom and the kids wanted to ride the bumper boats, so they did. Then we went inside and played some skiball and other games. Laci hit 100 tickets on a snake game that made us all squeal in amazement for her! It was like one of those impossible shots that she nailed by accident. It was funny as hell! After we got the tickets cashed in, we took my mom home and hit the thrift store. I was lucky and scored a dresser for 11.00 there that is perfect for what we needed. Then surprisingly, my mom met us in the store and helped us get the dresser in the car. After saying goodbye again, we came home, exhausted, and ready for bed!

Sunday we were all up and ready to go early. Even though money is tight this week, we went to our traditional pay week breakfast. We chose McDonalds so the kids could play in the big empty play area while me and Brian worked on a game plan for some things coming up, like our trip, and groceries, ect....

After breakfast we headed to home depot, and then home. We spent the whole day working in the yard and garage. And by the end of the day we were sweaty, filthy, and tired....but the fall garden is 90% finished now and the garage is gorgeous and the chalkboard wall finished (minus the border)!  Soon it was time for dinner and bathtime and bedtime.

Monday I got up and got everyone on their way. Then I hit the gym and pool with Tiffany. The rest of the day as usual was a blur that ended at the dentist with the kids. Christopher got 3 fillings done and he left not even knowing what happened! Score! They did great and so did he. He had laughing gas for the first time and had me cracking up on the way home. He said it felt like his legs were melting into his body, and then his head got busy and his body got dizzy and then the women back there started talking in Spanish...which they weren't, lol...and he said that he kept saying he can't understand them with their masks on....what a silly boy! When I told him I was the one who told them to give him the gas, (as he put it the freaky gas), he scolded me telling me it wasn't nice that I played that trick on him! LOL!!!

Oh well, today is another beautiful day, hot as hell in the afternoons, but quite nice in the shade and cooler and more breathable in the mornings and evenings. I am so glad that I can taste fall in the air now...it can't get here soon enough for me!

Today I have a doc appointment then a ton of cleaning to do. I also need to get an ankle brace so I can start walking the track on Tuesdays and Thursdays after the gym on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hope everyone has had a great week! I'm off!

Tuesday is shaping up to be a bit like Monday!

Somehow my alarm clock went off this morning at 4:00am....ok...I think it did...I remember hearing it, I think?, and then jumped up and out of bed. I went to the bathroom and went to wake Christopher up...who had a hell of a time waking up. Then I went and got him in the shower and went downstairs. Brian had started my coffee and I was feeling super tired! Then he asks....is this the right time? While looking at the microwave..and I say, no it can't be...well...it was....it was 4:05am!!!!!!! Ack!!! So he laughed and said he was going back to bed and I went upstairs and apologized to Christopher and made him wrap it up in the shower and get back in bed. They have all been in bed for a few more hours now and I am sitting here working on pot #2 of coffee feeling like a schmuck! Ugh! Christopher has testing in school today that determines where they place him class wise for the first part of the year and they stressed a good night's sleep and a good breakfast....since I messed on of them up, he has blueberry muffins waiting on him! I feel like such a dope! Needless to say, I will be uber tired by bedtime tonight I am sure, especially since I am supposed to go workout in the pool at 9am! I may end up taking a mid day nap! I have to work at the school this evening from 5 to 7:30, so needless to say I will be wiped out by tonight! Thankfully I think it should be a fairly easy night other than that. Not a lot else to report on at the moment, I got a busy day of organizing and cleaning and pool time ahead of me and I am watching hurricane Irene worried about my grandparents, but that's about all! Looking forward to Thursday, Brian has all day off as a comp day since he is working Saturday and I am stoked! It will be the first whole day together kid free in a long LONG time, and the first one of the school year! Yippee! 

Well, my alarm clock just went off...so I am guessing I had a dream that woke me up that it went off earlier! Oy! What a stupid start to the day. 

Oh well, at least I get to enjoy my muffins and coffee in peace and I will give Christopher until 6:45 before waking him up I think.

Happy Tuesday!

What a morning!

DAYS TIL DAYTONA!

The picture above is the most smile inducing part of my Monday morning! Wow, it started off good with me going to bed medicine free again, and getting up with the alarm clock on time, and making confetti pancakes for the kids...and then the testing came into play. First, I should have searched for Laci's black shorts last night, but instead went to bed thinking they would be an easy find. They weren't....as a matter of fact, they were a NO find! They were to go under a blue and black dress/tunic she has and when I finally found a pair of shorts that would look ok under it, it was way too short! Even though I knew there was shorts under it, there was no way I could send her to school like that. Then, I went in the closet to find a new outfit and her entire shelf of clothing ripped out of the wall and fell to the ground! I finally get her dressed and Christopher dressed and eating breakfast, and then we had shoes with knots, laci peed in her undies while getting her teeth brushed and we had to chase momma and clover around the neighbors yards for 10 minutes before we could leave. Then I was almost late dropping the kids off!! And now I just got home from my "workout" and the gym I have been waiting to use is really in poor condition. Seat not attached to the exercise bikes, treadmill out of order, the two elipticals are dangerous and falling apart and the pins are missing to all the weight machines! I would be SO mad!!! I did 10 minutes on the eliptical and feel like I could pass out, and now I am home. Finishing this up and then working on some laundry. Thinking of calling it a day already!

Now for the kids update. Christopher is doing a lot better "facing his fears" (his words, not mine) and is learning to take it and put it away when he has moments of worry during the day. He is doing great with his school work and making good grades so far and is still loving school...and he is trying to make friends, although this is the first year he has struggled with it. I do feel bad for him over that. Laci made my heart overflow with pride last week when she started turning around to wave bye to me when I let her into the classroom, and then this morning, for the first time, she actually did a BIG smile and waved goodbye and said she loved me. She actually seems to like when we drop her off first, so I may start changing my morning around and doing her drop off first. She seems to be making good friends and enjoying school, and when her folder came home Friday it was full of pictures....and each one was of me! (and some with her too)...seems I am on her mind a lot, which is good, since she pretty much is on mine constantly. I look at the clock more times than I can even count during the day! Her calling card of interest in school is her hairbows, its so fun to finally have something we can get into collecting with her as a girly girl thing, I have a ton of fun ordering and finding and winning free hairbows for her and its funny to see people start looking for what it will be each day!

We are holding steady on our Mcdonald's for ice cream every friday, although I will be looking forward to parks when the cooler weather comes since it gets awfully smelly in there now! 

Life has been fun, quick, and at times crazy the last few weeks, but its been a wonderful journey all the same. We have been grilling out on the charcoal grill a lot and it is SO yummy, and we have been spending a little more time outside in the evenings when its not too bad humidity wise. I am getting ready to start my fall garden this weekend, and I am still pulling tomatoes and peppers out of my summer one. I am excited to start it! Brussel Sprouts, cabbage, peas, beans, peanuts, peppers maybe again and more! I am stoked! Although making home made salsa this weekend I did learn a very valuable lesson about veggies....jalepenos HURT! I got the oil on my hands not knowing about it and after bleach, rubbing alcohol, germ-x, greased lightning, dawn, baby soap, dog soap, orange body shop scrubbing lotion, aloe, and more...my hands still burned for 2 days! I bought some gloves at wal-mart using brians gift card he won at work and will not be making THAT mistake again! Wowza!!

Anyhow, not a whole lot to report on otherwise, just getting on day by day. Gonna buckle down and try to lose another 10 pounds by our vacation, but honestly that may not happen since its only 28 days away...but who knows! I am getting so excited for the vacation and cannot wait to get there! I am so happy!!! I can't wait to see my grandparents and go fishing and see my kids play by the ocean! What a wonderful year this has been! Wow!

Well, I guess I should go for now, trying to find a cheap used dresser to start getting laci's clothes off my closet floor now thanks to the craziness this morning brought me! Happy Monday!

The following picture pretty much is my life currently....

Started the week off on a terrible foot with Christopher. Having more issues with him and these crazy fears he has about everything under the sun and back. He is scared of the trailers, he is scared of school, he is afraid he wont make friends, there are bullies at recess, he is afraid something bad will happen to me while he is at school, he is sad.....I finally had a blowup yesterday morning and was over heard by the neighbors thanks to Laci holding the door open and got the hands on hips, head shaking look like I was the douche bag mom. Wow...lived my whole life for my kids since becoming a parent and they live like kings while I live like a pauper, yet somehow, someway, I got the "look". I sent him with Brian instead to school bc at that point I was going to be late and couldn't handle it anymore. I took Laci to school (blissfully easy) and then get the call from Brian that he was keeping him home from school bc the way he was acting there was no way he could go to school. I was HOT boy! But, I didn't go over him and let him make the call. He drove around with him all day and they had a day long conversation...which still wasn't good enough for me. I sent an email to his counselor at school bc I was just at a loss, I have never dealt with this before or even heard of it. She actually called me after school which was awesome. She gave me some great tips and pointers and we are going to try a timed session every day to express and squash all the crazy thoughts and he will NOT miss any more school and he will also work on standing up for himself to the kids giving him a hard time at school. Today they two counsellors are going to have a meeting with him and see if they can't work with him and see if there is something else that they can work through with him and help him with. She will call me this afternoon and let me know how it went and see what's going on.

On the much needed upturn this morning, its Picture Day at Laci's school. I got her up and dressed her cute in pink and brown with braids, and we went to school. On the way she told me about some girl who was crying yesterday, and on her own she said "this is getting old!" and I said "yes it is! Old like Santa Claus!" and boy did that make her mad! She snapped back "Santa isn't OLD he is NICE!!!"....ummm ok, when did old become the opposite of nice? LMAO!!! Then we got to her school and I walked her in and did the whole bowling move....but before I could turn to the door she spun around and my heart dropped....here it goes I thought....and then she smiled and threw her hand up and said "bye mommy!" and spun back around to play! Wow!!! Here came the tears again....the hardest hurdle of growing up so far and it seems we have jumped it finally! I was filled with sadness, pride, joy, and just an overwhelming mix of emotion at that little wave and smile. What a crazy feeling!

And more good news? This weather!!! Two mornings in a row of mid 60s and low humidity!! I actually still have my windows open at almost 10am! Woot!!! Could it be that fall may actually be on its way?? Or if that is too much wishful thinking, maybe just that the 80% humidity and 105* temps may be gone for a while now? Oh please please please let that be the case!! I so badly want to be out walking at the park right now, but I feel like my sickness is getting into my lungs, and I have been coughing into being lightheaded for days now and having that icky cold sweating thing...so as wonderful as it feels, looks like I am waiting a bit longer before walking again...sigh!

Today consists of cleaning, and then errand running. So far this stay at home mom while kids are in school hasn't exactly equalled mom relaxing and watching netflix or window shopping! So far its consisted of laundry, cleaning, cooking, and errands! Bleh!

Anyhow, praying today ends as wonderfully as it began....I need the mental break! This has been the 2 weeks from hell I tell you!

Happy Tuesday!

Hmmm....that week went by a bit fast....

"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana"

Well, the first week of pre-k is in the books, the second week of second grade has come and gone, and I am starting to get a feel for the fact that I may not have quite as much time on my hands as I thought...or...I have just filled this week with too many things to do so I forget how lonely it is all day long. 

I worked til almost 11pm on Wednesday night for the consignment sale, and by the time I got home I was hurting everywhere! Whew! I forgot what 4 hours on my feet felt like! There was so much stuff being delivered it was crazy! I met a lot of nice people though and had fun even if it was mind and body draining. Then I went back in and worked 8-12 on Thursday and by then I was wiped....I was injured and just done. I came home and laid on the couch and watched a movie and ate a delicious stuffed baked potato and enjoyed just resting for a few before getting the kids....then I got to go back and shop Thursday night at 5:30! I was excited as always and got a ton of stuff for the kids for winter/fall and I am actually almost done with both now, minus some heavy jackets, and some long john type shirts for Christopher that he wears under his short sleeve ones. We lucked out because Brian had found what he thought was a dollar in a parking lot earlier in the day and stuck it in his pocket....when he got home and gave it to me it was 100.00!!!!! That pretty much covered all the stuff for the kids at the sale and was a huge break for us and I couldn't have been more thankful for the good luck we had in finding it. (and no, it wasn't the kind of place you could find the owner of it so we kept it)

Then I was back to work at the sale on Friday from 8 to 11 even though I didn't really want to be since I was sick and sore already....but I worked my day shift, bought a cute bow for Laci, and headed home. I stopped at a few yard sales on the way home and picked up an awesome little gadget for 3 bucks and that was that. 

2 weeks into school and I am sick though....yep...already. Me, and both kids. Sniffing, sneezing, coughing, hacking, sore throats, achy bones and joints and just feel nasty. I am really honestly surprised we got sick this soon into the school year, but oh well. We will somehow work though it and be done and hopefully catch a sickness break now for a while. 

The school week itself has gone a lot better than expected as of Monday though! I did the "kid bowling" in the morning with laci, imagine the whole stance you take when you throw a bowling ball....yep...that whole step forward and with one arm kinda push the object forward and turn around afraid to look...yep...that was me...and it WORKED!! The last 3 days of the week have been a breeze dropping her off! Now I know I am jinxing myself saying all this, but I was really floored how quickly she seemed to adjust after the horrific screeching fit she pulled on Tuesday! LOL! Lets hope come Monday its back to easy bowling moves and one happy mama!  Christopher has been doing great and even though he isn't switching classes yet, he is still doing wonderful and seems excited for the year. He is making friends good and seems to have a good grasp on everything. He had a ridiculous amount of homework this week and somehow managed to get it all done and as far as I know he did pretty good on a spelling test we studied all week for. (although I am almost sure he missed "lettuce" and "engine") He seems to really be doing great already and as always I am more than proud of him! We have started going to McDonald's on Friday after school and having an ice cream while the kids run through the playground thing for an hour and a half. The kids both seem to really like the tradition already so I am sure we will continue it...even if we change it up a little as the cooler weather comes and switch to an ice cream to go and a trip to a big park instead. God I can't even believe I give myself the opportunity to think of cooler weather! Gah!

This week in all has left me searching for where my "free time" went. I haven't had my phone on me hardly at all, and when I do its dead by 9am. I have been trying to charge it all day to get to all my missed calls and messages and I feel terrible I missed so much in the world while trying to learn what normal is now and work all my volunteer time! I am hoping that this next week will give me the time for myself I so desperately want now. I need to start working out on Monday and I am hoping to lose another 10 pounds by our vacation next month to Daytona! Fingers crossed in my head! 

Today has been a day of errand running and has left me very worn out. I am thinking its another early bedtime for me and the family. My throat hurts pretty bad at this point and my head is following it. Thinking I may have more to type, but will wait til tomorrow morning and coffee to get there! Have a happy night!

Mommy P

*Sigh*

Although this morning these lyrics are in my head too:

Four years later ‘bout 4:30

She's crawling in their bed

And when he drops her off at preschool

She's clinging to his leg

The teacher peels her off of him

He says what can I do

She says now don't you worry

This’ll only last a week or two

It won’t be like this for long

One day soon you'll drop her off

And she won’t even know you're gone

This phase is gonna fly by

If you can just hold on

It won’t be like this for long

Its been a rough week emotionally for me. Wishing the happy fairies would come and make me feel like a better mom. The week started off on a disastrous foot Sunday night when my days as a foster came to an ugly end. I know everyone thinks I am going to sit here and post the whole big song and dance to fill everyone in, but I am not. I know I have been hurt for a long time now, and did all I could to be liked, accepted, and make friends....and almost a year later I find out I have been judged before anyone even knew me and those who I thought were my friends forgot what friendship means and shut the door in my face...and that's a bed they can sleep in alone. Unexpectedly though, I had to make a split moment choice on either dumping Athena off Monday at a vet to be boarded alone until someone, if anyone, would step up and love her like I do....or adopt. Brian made that choice for me and we officially adopted Athena into our family about 10:30pm Sunday night. And that's ok....Athena is the special sauce to our family burger. She is that little kick of spice that keeps me and the kids and even the dogs on our toes...and she forces me to be a better house cleaner! So now, we are the proud family of 3 large dogs...we go through 40 pounds of food every 2-3 weeks, and I have a canine over active garbage disposal...but...she is mine...and that makes me happy.

As far as the kids go, its been a stressful week so far and its only Tuesday! Christopher spent the week last week stressed out for some reason thinking I would forget to get him from school this week when I started getting Laci. Now, I have dropped Christopher off and picked him up every single day of his life in school so far. 3 years now! I have picked him up with migraines, stomach bugs, strep throat.....I have picked him up holding a wet rag to my eye that I had cut, I have picked him up in pouring rain, sleet and snow, and blazing heat....but for some reason he has it in his head I will forget...gee thanks....so yesterday I am in the car to come get Laci (and then him) and my phone rings...and its his teacher! you know, the one I haven't even gotten to meet yet...anyhow she is calling me to tell me that Christopher cannot even concentrate in school today because he is worried and anxious I will forget him at school....WHAT??? After a small uneasy laugh and asking "I'm sorry what???", she again tells me that my son wanted her to call and REMIND me to come get him today....ummm...<<>> I explain to her that Christopher has clearly lost his mind and that I am a SAHM who has never ever ever forgotten anything to do with him ever, and that I spent a year working on nabbing a spot for his sister at a pre-k close to the school so his routine wouldn't change...my ears were burning on the phone I was so red with embarrassment. I assure her that I will be there at the same time I am there every day and hang up to get Laci....after picking him up I gently but firmly explain how embarrassed I was with the phone call and explained that clearly while driving home at the same time as every other day of his life that I can do my job and pick them both up and clear up that no matter what I will *always* arrange him to be gotten from school, and that no matter what he will never sit on the curb alone and hungry waiting for morning to start school again....that that's not how it works. Sigh!

Laci had a rough time as expected....I dropped her off and she was all excited until we got into the class and a little boy was screaming and gagging and shrieking at the door clinging and begging his mom not to leave....Laci looked up at me and Brian and I knew we were screwed. 10 minutes of promising I wouldn't get "losed" (gee thanks kid, whats up with my kids???) and that I would go to jail if she didn't go to school, and crying for her and then for me in the car I left....what a sucky time. Turns out 10 mins later she was laughing and playing and did great all day until the afternoon when after a nap and before the last story of the day another girl started crying for her mom, and then Laci started in too. They met me outside the class to explain that Laci had *not* been crying all day even though that's how I left her and that's how I picked her up. This morning was even worse...super excited all night, even squealed out "oooh dats tute

I spent my first day home yesterday cleaning and laundry folding and made 2 banana breads and froze some veggies from the garden and feeling mighty June Cleaver....today I have about as a glamorous day planned. Its only 9:45 and I have already looked at the clock 100 times. I have cried listening to music and I have worked on this...soon I will wash the floors and I considered painting all the baseboards in the house white again. I have little money and less gas, and honestly I just want to see my kids again.....come on 2pm.....

Hope everyone else has been having a less worrisome embarrassing week than me so far! Lots of love, Mommy P.

Ok kids, please, if you dont mind....

My babies are growing up way too fast all of a sudden. What seemed like eternity to get to, has suddenly sprang to our feet in a blink of an eye. I have had more than a few heavy sobbing can't breathe, head pounding cries already and I have a feeling tomorrow will suck. Brian has to work but has permission to go in late to be able to see Laci off into her first day of school. Christopher begins class changing and homework for the year and just like that, the new year has started rolling...and will likely roll quickly into the next month, season, and eventual year. Its dawning on me that life somehow got by while we were wishing for the next thing. It's funny how that happens. I swear I was just telling my mom on the back patio that I was pregnant with Christopher, and I was just registering for a baby shower with Laci, and I was just coming home with her from the hospital. And wasn't I just making cupcakes for Christopher's pre-k graduation? And going to his first open house? Didn't laci just take her first steps and we realized all hell was about to break loose? What happened? Where are my tiny babies? My boy is 7! Seven! He loves star wars, plays a DS, laughs at all the right jokes on MadTv, and can stay up til 11pm on Saturday night....he is in second grade...and can read whole books to me, and do double digit math addition. My baby, my little girl, she pairs color matching jewelry to her outfits, she wants a pink rifle, she loves shopping at the mall, and plays barbies. She can sing, and dance, and is starting Pre-K in the morning. I am confused. When did I end up standing on the side of this road, waving goodbye as I packed lunches and fixed booboos? Suddenly my life is in a different place...and for a change its me scared to open my door and wanting a light on. It's scary in this new place, this place where my kids grow up and I am left wanting to watch Sesame Street one more time and rock someone to sleep. But ready or not, here it comes....and starting tomorrow I enter the next phase of my life. The phase where I am the stay at home mom of two school aged children, where I cook and clean all inside the quiet place in my head, the phase where I watch the clock waiting to see my babies again all day, and where the house stays clean for more than 15 minutes at a time, and I long for a mess, or a spilled cup of juice, or someone needing me for something. Tomorrow begins a change in my life, and I don't like change anymore. Tomorrow I watch my baby boy jump out of my car and wave as he walks into school wearing his size 2 shoes, and big bookbag, hair spiked up and some shirt that screams silly young boy instead of Thomas or Power Rangers, then I take my baby girl, in my head still wrapped in her lady bug blanket, smiling and cooing on her pink cupcake boppy, and open my door and take my 4 year old silly, spunky, diva by the hand and walk her into class, where she will run to her friend and want to play and wave goodbye....and I will surely cry again. Tomorrow my whole world shifts again....and ready or not, here it comes.....too bad I'm not ready.

Happy Sunday....enjoy every second, because in a second, it will be Monday.

Neuters and Puppies and Open house....

But First....

Thank you Kellogg's, for making the ever so delicious Raisin Bran Crunch. This is my favorite "adult" cereal and make me happy just eating it, LOL, and since I just finished off a heaping bowl of it, I wanted to give props where props are deserved!

Anyhow, yesterday ended up becoming a MUCH more busy day than I had anticipated! After getting Clover dropped off we went to look for hangers (fail) and then we came home and pretty much relaxed for a few hours, but then I found out I was getting 2 foster puppies and suddenly my afternoon got crazy! We left to go get Christopher at 2, then picked him up and drove to the feed store for some high quality puppy kibble since these guys have some catching up to do, and then to the vet to pick them up where I learned just how behind they are. Little Brae has to have shots every 2 weeks to get his lungs built up so he can breathe good, and both are pretty tiny and need to learn to eat solid food. So after getting all of that taken care of it was a mad dash back to the house so Brian could take Christopher to swim class, then after that I got the pups settled in some and went back up to Ballground to pick up Clover who was a whiny dramatic mess as expected. We got him home and settled in, got the pups cleaned and in the half bath, got the girls out to play, and then had laundry and dinner to do. Me and Brian decided we would share a pizza instead after the kids went to bed so we ordered dominoes and had a little late quiet dinner.

After making puppy much, bottle feeding, and cleaning everything and feeding everyone it was finally bedtime.

This morning, my alarm clock went off, but after a very restless night of storms, whining, and Christopher up 3 times for various reasons, I turned my alarm off and accidentally fell back asleep!!! I woke up in a stressed out frantic panic this morning when I rolled over and it was 7:27!!! Luckily Brian had gotten up with Christopher and got him off to school, but I feel horrible since today he is meeting his official teacher and I am sad I missed getting him excited for that this morning. That will NOT happen again!!

This morning I was going to go check out a consignment sale but I am not sure I feel like dealing with the heat and sun again right yet, so I may end up sitting home....still not sure yet.

I got puppy grooming to take care of today and then tonight we have Laci's pre-k open house!!! Yay! I am so excited for her and I know she is going to love it!!! We are heading up at 5:30 and I hope its awesome! I will report back on that tomorrow!

For now, its going to be about 112* with the heat index today, so be careful! Lots of love!

Snip Snip!

Doing my part by removing some of Clover's this morning. Today I dropped my baby boy off to get the big snip! He dragged me half across a parkinglot wanting to play with another small dog in the car next to us and as he is dragging me along, I see the look of horror on the other owners face and all I can say is "he's friendly! he's friendly! I promise! He wants to play!" and do everything I can to stop i flip flops on gravel! Ugh! He is such a bad boy!! I have got to get him working better on a leash and get some manners and for God's sake NEVER forget to put his prong on him again in public!

After we got him weighed (a surprising only 85 pounds) we got him crated and did the paperwork and left. Laci rolled over in her carseat and I asked what was wrong and she lost it! She started crying big heavy sobbing alligator tears and said she was sad we left Clover and that she didn't want them to hurt him or keep him....awwww....silly thing, he wont feel a thing, and when they see how destructive he is they won't want to keep him either! LOL! So I finally calmed her down and we were on our way...wishing all along I had a bandaid for my burning swollen torn open finger thanks to trying to maintain Clover on the leash....

Today is another semi quiet day. The weather man urges us all to stay in unless necessary thanks to the intense heat and humidity and I am all too happy to do as I am asked. I am still trying to figure out the wire hanger mess, but at least I finally got my tags printed for next week's consignment sale!

Well have a happy day! I will update after we get Clover later this afternoon!

Brrr....it's so cold out!....yeah JUST KIDDING!

Yup...that about covers it. Somehow we are under an advisory that it is about to get even HOTTER here in the Southeast before we start cooling down temporarily during rains possibly expected by TS Emily....now...I don't know about you, but this news SUCKS! I have been dying and now its going to get *hotter*???? Ugh!!! Well, they say sweating burns calories...yet somehow I haven't dropped 20 pounds...hmmmm....

Anyhow, morning two of school went even smoother than morning one, making me feel like either A.) I finally have this school morning stuff figured out and under control or B.) I am getting set up for a major chaotic event next Monday when both kids start school....but, I will take it while I got it easy peasy!

Today will be a fairly productive day, having me at the movies with Laci this morning watching Despicable Me (again) for a buck. Then I am going to swing by the dollar store and try to get some metal hangers and safety pins, and then I need to go pick up some crates, and then get home and do some cleaning and start dinner. I am hoping to have dinner done by the time Brian gets in this afternoon. I need to find the hangers and stuff and get the stuff washed again and hung up in time for the consignment sale next weekend! 

Tomorrow Clover is getting neutered. I am a little nervous for him, but I know this is for the best and hopefully will curb some of his grosser habits when it comes to the females he lives with, and maybe have him stop cramming his nose in Brian's crotch all the time and my boobs! Blah!

Christopher had a good first day of school. Pretty slow moving and not a lot of work being the first day, but I am sure that will change quickly....now if they could just get him a solid teacher that would be great!

Off for my day! Stay cool!

2nd Grade!

HAPPY AUGUST!

Well today is the day! I was up early again, thankfully not as early as yesterday, but still early enough to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before the day got going. Christopher woke up in a great mood and was bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go right off the bat. After a breakfast of strawberry waffles and orange juice and some tooth scrubbing and hair gelling, we were ready! The line to get into the school was brutal and I had totally let that fact slip my mind, so after the 20 minute wait we finally parked and headed in. Christopher did pretty good getting to his class for the first time after he wanted to make the original turn towards kindergarten and 1st grade hall. Brian was able to have today off so he got to go too and see where the class was since he had to miss open house last week. We got him in class and all settled in and got a quick pic and a kiss goodbye and he is all set for his first day!

Today will be a pretty low key day, I am thinking me, Brian and Laci will head to the pool for a quiet swim for a few hours and then spend the rest of the day cleaning and organizing as usual! Seems like the more I do of that, the less my house seems clean and organized! Ha!

Anyhow not a whole lot more to report on at the moment, same stuff with heat/humidity, messy house, crazy dogs, and busy afternoon planned that will probably end still a mess and with me watching netflix, LOL!

Lots of happiness on this first Monday of August!!

50, 0, 7

That's what my countdown chalk board says in my kitchen now....50 days until Daytona in September, 0 days until Christopher starts school, and 7 days until Laci starts! The end of the summer happened a lot faster I think than even I realized, but I am kind of happy and kind of sad, but I am still expecting a whole lot more summer fun....if this awful humidity ever breaks! I know one day I am going to open my door in the morning and be able to breathe! I know it! But, for now, I will just continue to wait...and hope.

Yesterday was great fun at the river. The kids did really good, and I wanted cold water, and by God I got it! That water was so cold that whatever body part was in it for a few minutes would be red! My hands were screaming in tingly coldness for the first hour or more we were there...but eventually I had the courage to make one leap of faith into the water and thought my heart would just blow up! It was freezing!!! We had a nice picnic lunch with everyone and laughed a lot and the girls had fun collecting snails and sending them off on leaf boat rides in the rushing water flowing over the big rocks, and the boys had their "base" set up and had fun playing and throwing rocks, and riding the current down the river a little and just doing boy things. 

It started to rain so we came home, we were all freezing! The kids got a nice warm shower in and into some PJs, and I made some coffee and the afternoon sailed by. Sadly that wasn't the way the night ended. Christopher has gotten too carried away with playing video games and stuff this summer because we have been stuck in the house and it's been easier to let him do that than force him to do other stuff...I failed him there...but his reading over the summer has taken a down spin and that became very apparent last night when I asked him to read to me while I labeled his school stuff....after almost an hour and a half of tears I found out that I apparently yell too much, and he is really struggling to read. I took the DS away for the next week and we talked for a long time, we finally came to some conclusions on things we both can do to change the way homework time goes, and I spent a long time explaining to him that I do the things I do bc of how much I love him and because I know he is ridiculously smart and I just want him to know that enough to push himself to do better too...he went to bed, I went to the garage to cry my eyes out (and as I listened to fireworks outside I realized I forgot the get together across the street I was going to go to) and cried for a good 20 minutes like a baby before finally getting it together and drying my then puffy eyes and going upstairs to get Laci to sleep too. 

Today I plan on working on a game plan. The new school year begins tomorrow and I have to give my time to my kids more. I thought I was doing that already but clearly I am not. So I am praying that God gives me the strength to find a way that life around the house can work better and smoother and that I can become a better mother than I had thought I already was. 

I was up and down all night and finally gave in at 3:50 this morning. I got up and took a shower in the kids shower and now I have been sitting down here drinking coffee and thinking more on life. Its going to be a long day but maybe better....maybe some answers will come to me finally....and if nothing else maybe I will get to sleep better tonight.

Hope your Sundays are all beautiful!

Broken cars, school events, and heat!

It was a hell of a day yesterday. Starting off with the car starter dying, just one day after the battery in the blazer dying, and then a frantic call to Brian when I realized he had been off to get gas for almost an hour. Running upstairs I found 5 missed calls from him on my phone and with the history of 3 accidents now with him I freaked out and panicked as I called him back. Luckily, he was just walking in the sweltering morning sun and humidity home and told me about the car. I jumped in the blazer (which started right up thanks to a new 100.00 battery) and picked him up. 154.00 later and one very irritating morning the Corolla was fixed and Brian was off to do a partial day at work.

I then packed the kids back up and we went to Old Navy and got some shirts for Christopher during an awesome 4.00 sale they had going on in the kids department, then we went to BJs and got some snacks and stuff to be fully stocked for the beginning of the school year, and the mass amount of food inhaling it seems to bring with it. LOL! I was excited to get a lot of stuff, and thanks to some really good coupons it was only 60.00 total for a bunch! Even Brian who had already finished with his 2 cars and met us there was impressed.

The rest of the day was a hot slow moving day. I took off right after getting home from the stores with the kids to go up to the school and work the Kindergarten registration for the PTA. I love working it on that day, although it wasn't set up like it was last year and I am afraid we really dropped the ball on getting the amount of people to join that we did last year. After that, I met Tiffany and we went next door to Freedom to do Matthew's open house. Wow, what a nice school! Holy Moly! I mean, my goodness, this middle school is bigger than both my high schools probably combined! An absolutely gorgeous school though and one I will be proud to have my kids attend some day....but if they have direction like their daddy, they will be lost for days, LOL! After that it was just your basic hanging at the house, which was a night that ended with me crying in the bathtub realizing that my kids are growing up...way faster than I had realized, and I feel like I missed so much somehow. This has been the summer from hell, and I really feel like the kids don't understand the kind of weather we had this summer, and when you pair that with the finances, its been a recipe for a long boring cooped up cabin fever kind of summer. I am telling you, fall can't get her fast enough! I have some serious making up to do!

Today I am sitting here drinking my 3rd cup of coffee, and then we are packing up and heading up to Blue Ridge for the day to play at Horseshoe Bend Park with Tiffany, Eric, and the kids. My kids have no idea, and I am a little scared of the kids drowning, getting lost, getting hurt, getting kidnapped, and all that jazz, but, we are going anyway! I am about to hop off here and pack the cooler. The kids have no idea where we are going so that should be fun too. Ha. I hope today proves to be that burst of fun I have so desperately been searching for for the end of summer vacation. Its hard to believe tomorrow night we will be preparing for school the next morning! Wow!

Well, I hope everyone has an incredible Saturday...including us!

Happy day!