All settled in

After living with my parents for a month and a half I am now in my own place, a townhouse, and settled in. The Christmas tree is up, the kids rooms are mostly painted. I'm busy with design clients and running back and forth to get the kids.

While I know the kids would love nothing more than for their dad and I to be back together, they are dealing with the change far better than I anticipated. They got to choose their room color and their beds. My son picked a loft bed and my daughter picked a bunk bed. I tried to have them take ownership of their room to help make the transition better.

My son was accepted into the Gifted Program at school because he tested in the top percentiles in so many areas. While his behavior issues are not 100% resolved I must say that he is doing far better and I hope to see even better now that I think he will no longer be so bored.

Peanut is doing as I expected her to do in Kindergarten. She is the social butterfly who easily makes friends and is invited to more birthday parties than I can count but who isn't all too worried about the academics of school. She is very smart but doesn't realize it all the time and freezes up when quized or tested. I figure it will take some time to help her work through that and once she does she will take off.

Their dad and I are not officially divorced as I need to save up the money to file. I saved every penny I made for closing costs for this townhouse. Even though I had help with the seller's assist for closing but still I needed a bunch of money. Now I am just stressing as I am facing a mortgage payment alone but can't dwell on it, I must get the work done in my business and collect the money.

Also around 2 weeks ago, during a snow spell here their dad was hit head on in his new (just under 1 year old by only a week) Jetta he had called Wolfie. I believe I had pics on here when he got it. It was a total loss, he walked away from the car and stated he felt like the commercial for the VW Jetta. He is in physical therapy for his back and wrist and has a new car already (another VW Jetta.) That's about all I know.

As for me, I am involved with a new man. He is a former client who is, when looking at the issues I felt I had with my ex, the polar opposite from my children's dad. This guy (lets call him M) is laid back and positive in his outlook. He is an incredible cook and has made me many surprise meals from scratch, the most recent one was Fettucine Alfredo Carbenara. His sauce was incredible. He's funny, quirky and just makes me feel okay to be me. He is bald and while I never thought I'd love that I do. While I could go on and on here I think some things are better left close to the vest so just know that I am the most calm I have ever been and feeling pretty good.

I know living on my own and paying for things myself will not be easy but I know I can do it and will just have no choice but to do so.

For now my Christmas tree is up, I am starting to bake (much to my kids' delight) and I'm kept very very busy.

I hope you are all doing well this wonderful holiday season. May you and yours have a fantastic one!

Missing my peeps

What can I say, I miss all my peeps on blogspot and I'm sure I have a ton of catching up to do. I will read galore on evenings when I'm in my new home (that is if I'm not busting hump doing work to pay the bills. LOL)

What has happened since I last reported? A lot and nothing if that makes sense. My soon-to-be ex fllipped out on me on Halloween because I washed my car off at HIS house. My parent's neighbor was burning stuff and ash covered Cali. I couldn't wash it at my parents house due to constant ash and never thought it would be a deal to rinse Cali off. Boy was I wrong.

I'm apparently a disrespectful thief on top of the lieing cheating whore he has called me. Later, when discussing my move and previously arranged plans to have my parents watch my kids as I moved since he was supposed to supervise his home as I moved and we didn't want the kids to witness it, he flipped out again. I guess since it's his day on the custody and (unbeknownst to me) did NOT plan to supervise now that he was angry that I CHANGED plans on him again and was taking the kids from him on HIS day. I tried to calmly talk over him as he screamed at me over the phone what a liar I was and how I was a 'lieing good for nothing piece of shit' before I hung up.

It is moments like that that remind me of why I am leaving. His temper, his negative outlook, his controlling nature, his harmful hateful words and more. He still doesn't see why I have left. I just wish I could afford to file for the divorce but I am closing on a new home and need every penny for closing. I probably shouldn't even have went to get my eye's checked today but it has been over 2-1/2 years. I'm glad I went because now I need to have my eye pressure checked with an Opthamologist. I'm only 34 and too young to hear the words 'Glaucoma'. I'm just hoping it's the stress that has affected it but i don't want to mess around.

I'm still at my parents house (and can't get on line often enough) and the teachers at my children's school are still on strike until Nov. 15th (one whole month). I look forward to my own place and school again. A routine, a place a ritual.

My biggest fear is not being able to pay the bills. My design work isn't a guaranteed paycheck so I'm scared to say the least. I plan to send out marketing things but also will prep a resume to architectural firms as a back up plan. I will survive and perservere some how. I'm not a shrinking violet and there is one thing this whole experience has taught me: I am stronger than I ever thought possible.

I hope you are all well and miss you. I can not wait to peek into your blogworld soon. Just know you are all in my thoughts!! I'm outy like a belly button.

I'm alive and okay

Last saturday I moved out of the house I helped build to my parents 4 minutes away. The custody schedule begins and I purchased a townhouse that I close on in mid November. To say a lot is happening is a mild understatement. The paperwork for my divorce is almost final, I need the notary stamps with my signatures.

To top it all of my children's school is on strike so that is why I have been absent. Busy busy busy. And now that I have to pay my own bills I am focused on my children and on my clients so that I can pay for the roof over my head.

I am sitting in my parent's house, my kids asleep in the other room and I'm updating you all. So I am alive and doing okay. My belongings are still at the house and will move out mid november. I will keep on updating you as best I can. I'm sorry I'm not available more but.... well.... you know.

They are my heart

My two children are my heart, two large parts of my heart. Never did I think I could love so deeply two little souls but I feel so blessed to have been given them. If I didn't have my babies I would have probably left my marriage much much sooner. I stayed the last 2 years for them and tried for them. I know my husband says I could still stay and he still wants to make it work but for many many reasons I can not find it within myself to endure any more trying and any more failures as well as any more pain. I wish for my children's sake that I could because I love the more than words could ever describe, but that will never change.

I started this blog as a means to connect with people as I was isolated. I also started this blog as a means to try to focus on the positives in my life so that it could perhaps help me to stay. My children were a primary focus of that positive because that is what they are to me, my stars, my sun, my positives.

They are my heart.

The hardest thing

It was the hardest thing watching the slow deterioration of my marriage.

It was the hardest thing to suggest therapy for 2 years to be ignored.

It was the hardest thing to be called names.

It was the hardest thing to be lifted up with one hand by him but smacked down (not literally) by another and have him not even realize he was doing it.

It was the hardest thing to start working so that I could move on with my life.

It was the hardest thing when he found out I had confided in another man about our marital troubles.

It was the hardest thing to have my kids dragged through our muck.

It was the hardest thing to admit that I do not love him any more.

It was the hardest thing to tell my kids we are divorcing even if it's what I want.

It is the hardest thing to face the vast unknown alone.

It is the hardest thing to remain in this house despite my decision.

It is the hardest thing to realize just how little money I make.

It is the hardest thing to watch 14 years together (11 married) become just a memory.

It is the hardest thing to know that you don't want to hurt any more but by changing that you hurt so many around you.

It is the hardest thing to look at the house I helped build become soon no longer my house.

It is the hardest thing to plan to move back in with my parents.

It is the hardest thing to have my mental status questioned by anyone.

It is the hardest thing to see the pain in my childrens eyes and know I helped put it there.

It is the hardest thing EVER to know that some nights I won't get to tuck them in and kiss their little heads before I sleep. I always swore I would always do that.

First Day of School

Last Tuesday was the first day of school for my babies. My peanut is now in kindergarten and it hurt to watch her drive away on that big yellow bus. I know she is a big girl and I know it has to happen but it still hurt darn it. It also hurt to see my son go off to 2nd grade. Where have the years gone I ask you? I remember when he was a baby and it seems like yesterday.

Well I'm proud of my little ones and how excited and great they were that day. I'm proud of how much they learn and how fast they do it. I'm proud of their happy and polite personalities and I love them more than anything I could ever describe. They are two pieces of my heart and I adore them.

So here are pictures from that day.

WHAT??!!

I get a ton of spam, my email filters suck butt. So I got this email this morning that I felt I HAD to share.

"Hi Chaisson
Just imagine huge d*ck in ur pants! Its real! :-)"

First off... .who is Chaisson? Second off... I tried to imagine it and in one way I can and in another way I can not. LMAO. Holy spam batman!!

Reflections, novel and problems

I started this blog to focus on the good things in my life. I wrote mostly about my kids or things of that nature, if you'll notice. That is where my happiness lies unabated. I'm usually a happy happy uplifting person with a sunshine viewpoint. I'm not just trying to make myself look good, it's what I've been told. My mom has always told me that I lighten a room when I enter it and so I have adopted the motto that I want to be the sunshine and not the rain.

Somewhere along the line my marriage has become the rain and my viewpoint on it is dark and dreary. My husband doesn't view it the same and I promised not to write in detail the issues we face. I do know his intended outcome from all that is happening is different than mine and mine is not sunshine and roses. I've been optomistic for a long time and have great difficulty being so any longer.

Through certain channels I have been asked to read a novel about divorce and its legacy. I call it my huge guilt trip. Let me say this loud and clear I LOVE MY CHILDREN with all my heart. I have wrestled with my feelings of this marriage for over a year and never EVER want to hurt my kids. But I very well may hurt them in the most horrible way possible.... yes the D word.

I am going through a horrible internal struggle right now I know what I wish could happen but is too late to have it be so and I know where I am leaning which won't be pretty. The end of March is when I felt I let go of things here with my husband and so that is where I am.

Thank you to all my blogging friends and their support. Thank you to Terry for the props for the nice blog. I will post about that and recommend someone else in turn. I already have someone in mind. It's nice to know that even though we have never met that I have blogging friends like you all. Blog ya later chickies.

What up?

Well I have been away and for good reason. Without going into details too gruesome to share let me say that my family situation is in serious turmoil. I have started this blog to focus on the positive here in my home in the hopes of finding my way but I have been unable to.

A lot of changes may be in store here and I will blog about what I can when I can. Just know that I am feverishly searching for my answers. I miss all you bloggers!

Back and busy

Hey all. Mike's comment reminded me of my slacker status on blogging. Holy slacker batman! We got back late late last tuesday after sitting in the plane for 2 hours with a mechanical problem in Atlanta. For someone afraid to fly it was daunting.

I worked that following evening PLUS all my clients have been chomping at the bit so color me busy.

I have fabulous photos of the beach and sunset and palm trees. Ahh the palm trees. I do have plans to do a 'vacation' post but alas have been far more busy than I like. Last night was the first night I went to bed at 11pm. The rest was 2 am -4am. sigh.

So I'm around and running like a mini energizer bunny but miss all my blogging buddies. Seriously. I do.

And Mike, you should be jelly belly.... the island was spectacular. ;)

Still on vacation

Here we are on vacation. We arrived in Tampa at my little sis's place late on the 20th and left there on the 22nd to drive down the gulf coast. The temperaturs are in the 90's here and we are on an island only accessible by ferry and everyone has golf carts to drive. With white sandy beaches and a community pool we are getting tan. I didn't know I could even still get tan since I was two shades of transluscent.

But we are here until monday when we drive up the coast to see Hubby's aunt and uncle for a few hours then back up to Tampa. We fly back on Tuesday and I know I will be anxious to see my puppy... LOL. But not to get back to work. hee hee... Talk to you all later!!!

The sunshine state

We are heading off to Florida tomorrow. A few days with little sister and brother-in-law at their new house and then a drive down the gulf coast to a townhouse on an island. I have busted my rump for so long with design stuff that I need a rum and coke and a nap on the beach. Yep, that's what I need.

I might blog from the trip but I won't be back until August 1st. I know. Our first long vacation. I hope we don't smack each other around. LOL Later gators!

Fistses of Five year old furry.

Peanut put on the Hulk Hands and my goodness was it funny. I was laughing at the whole picture. Then she turned to her daddy and said, "I'm going to destroy you." We laughed hysterically. She went swinging at her daddy with the hulk noises erupting from the fists of five year old furry hitting her daddy. Funny little grunts emmited from her and even a growl or two. His hands were up protecting his face when she punched him THERE... guys, you know where.

He crumpled and she laughed. Turning to her brother she said, "(insert my son's name here) I punched daddy in the pee pee and that was funny."

Daddy didn't think so but the fight continued. He was covering his area better when she punched him in the face. Then she said, "My fistes are strong!" in a grunty voice that we call her REDRUM voice.

But of course, peanut.

My peanut was talking to me this afternoon about her stuffed dog. She said it was a wolf, it was a female wolf to be exact. I chuckled.

"Oh yeah? A female wolf?"

"Yeah mommy. Her name is Mrs. Wolfy."

"Wow, that's nice honey."

"And she has a sister. Her name is Mrs. Wolfy."

I tilt my head to the side and look at her with amusement.

"They have the same name?"

She gives me that slight eye roll (they pick that up quickly LOL) and then says, "yes mommy, they ARE twins."

But of course peanut.

Some tea please

I love iced tea. I have been drinking it since I was a child but it has to be sweetened. I make my own by boiling so no I'm not a sun tea type but I love tea. So when McDonalds finally started having sweet tea I was excited. Yesterday I took my kiddies to McDonalds as a treat for being good on all my errands to the bank, the pharmacy and to a tile store where I got tile for a client AND bumped into an old coworker and friend. We chatted happily for a bit, my that is fun.

So I get the sweetened tea because I try to drink little pop... empty calories is all it is. I get the tea and sit down.

DEAR LORD!!! Is there any tea in there at all? All I tasted was sugar! "Excuse me miss... I'd like some tea with my sugar please."

I added water and that helped but my god, who can tolerate it like that!?

Alive and kicking...

Tuesday we went to a Pirate game and last night we went to the community park for food and fireworks. I will be downloading pictures in a little bit to share. I'm a sharer. lol

Happy 4th

Happy Fourth everyone!!

Here I am... once again...

Rick pointed out my lack of blogging. *sigh* You're right. I have been down right absent from both posting and commenting. The summer weather keeps me running but mostly it has been my job(s).

One particular design client requires more hand holding than I can even begin to explain. I won't even try to because it could sound like whining and very unprofessional. Lets just say when her project is done, I will be doing an Irish jig and I'm not irish. LOL.

Friday I had some recessed lights installed in my kitchen as well as a island light bar. I have befriended an electrician and we are handing out each other's business cards. He does great work and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I know I'll hand out his business card to every one of my clients and hope to help his business. I will post pictures later. My parents are coming over this evening to see how they turned out.

I'm in the midst of trying to plan for something for my parent's 40th wedding anniversary in August so that is just one other thing. They never had a honeymoon and I love them dearly so that's why I'm planning something. I hope they aren't reading my blog right now. LOL. But my older sister might be leaving in August for Germany with her boyfriend for a few months so I'm not sure if my plans will fall through or not. I plan to email her but I know she's melting down right now so that should be fun.

My husband accidentally kicked my knee cap tonight in the pool and so now it's hurting. I played 9 years of softball and quit due to seriously dislocating it. I had surgery when I was 19 but it has been good. I just hope it will remain that way.

Tomorrow the famdamily will be driving to Erie, PA. Hubby's sister will be up there with her husband and two little boys from Atlanta so we plan to go to the Erie Zoo and an amusement park. So that is what has been going on here. :D

I will catch up on all my bloggy pals. I hope you are all doing well. huggles.

Sunday

It's usually cleaning day but all we had was a few hours to do it all. Hubby had two brothers, one of their girlfriends and hubby's good friend come by for a visit. I threw together a feast with what I had on hand which was pretty impressive. They stayed until early afternoon (so it was L-inner that we ate)

Now I am sleepy. Too bad I hate naps.

Saturday!!!

I worked a long day, ran peanut to a party after scooping up a last minute gift for a last minute invite. Ran back and forth between my son's last baseball game and then to my parents. At my parents was my little sister and her hubby visiting. I haven't seen them in 6 months and it was awesome to have them back. We had dinner (ribs and corn on the cob...yum) and dessert (oddly enough my mom pulled out my sister's wedding cake top from Sept. is that bad luck? I didn't have any btw.)

A friendly polish/german game of horseshoes commensed. My son thought it was da-bomb. Little sis brought her tiny tiny dog Winka. I had Amber my cocker who wasn't amused by the nipping puppy. They saw my new car and test drove it. We had a bonfire with hotdogs, smores and fireworks. Pictures to follow.

Friday night

Friday night we went out to a club downtown owned by a radio disc jockey. It's near the ball fields and we slipped in before the cover charge was applied. Hubby and I ordered a free drink and some sandwiches. I got a turkey club, supposedly a favorite at this club. We got our meals, talked with the roar of the crowd growing. I shared some thoughts that the kids being around have prohibited me from doing so. I ate some of my sandwich and then I thought...hmmm something's missing.

I called the bartender over and sure enough... my turkey club was missing.... .the turkey.!!!! I know. I got a new sandwich and a second rum and coke on the house. Hubby's brother and girlfriend were driving in from S. Carolina for the Jimmy Buffet concert (which we were supposed to go to but for my son's last baseball game.) They joined us at the club along with two other people. After getting a bit tipsy a girl ordered a drink beside me. I'm a chatty lady and before long we were talking like we knew each other for years. It was only after an hour that I realized (due to something she slipped out) that she might be trying to pick me up. I think she was bi. It was flattering because she had a very pretty face, a bit fuller figured than me but cute. I let the comment slide and a few minutes later a guy approached us and asked us to join him and his buddy in a drinking game upstairs.

His pitch was a good one. We wouldn't have to pay... we wouldn't even have to drink much (yeah right...lol) that he and his buddy would do it all but the teams had to be coed.

Hubby told me earlier that the guy and his buddy were checking my new friend and I out.

Well, I stated I had to check with my husband and giggled. Obviously hubby didn't let me drink and hang out with some guy at the bar. He got pretty upset. Later we went to the 3rd floor and there was my new female friend and the two guys. I was greeted with 'HEYYYY!! There you are.' I giggled. The guys looked at me smiling and then saw hubby. The guy who approached us and shook hubby's hand 'sorry, man. I meant no disrespect.'

'no problem,' hubby said and we went about our night.

It's still awesome for someone to try and pick me up, is the moral of the story here folks. LOL.

Who's ya daddy?

To: hubby

From: Your kiddies

Happy Father's Day.

Hubby and kids in Atlanta April 2006

Ignore the flushed woman on his arm... he's the daddy.

The man on the left.

Your kids love you.

Recooperating

This week has been a tough one for my family with me all sick and stuck on the sofa. Yesterday I felt decent enough to see my son's baseball game and I pushed myself further by going to work for about 4-1/2 hours. I'm glad I did because one guy I had been corresponding with about plumbing items came in. You see he wasn't getting answers from anyone else and was excited that I knew what I was talking about. We had planned to handle the order via fax but he decided to just drive the 5 hours to the center. I know! What if I had called in sick!? This poor guy would have been looking for me and no one would have been able to help him. They would have tried, I know them but I was familiar with what he needed.

Despite my dragging butt I managed to assiste people with flooring questions, along the way a few accidental free design insights slipped off my tongue. They were so pleased and excited. I just love when someone says with a smile 'and what was your name? You have been fantastic, thank you for all of your help.' I had one guy the other day ask for my name and then asked if they send around a comment card thing to say how they were helped. I told him no. He said that is too bad, apparently he thought I helped him quite well. LOL

So between that and how excited CW-Jessie was to see me it made going in worth while (on top of the pay...lol)

But from there I had ground to make up. Sick the week before father's day... eeek! So I was from store to store with exactly what I wanted to get him. It only took two stores and I had it in hand, some Penn State stuff. He wanted a sport chair of his alma mater and I (the kids that is) got him a few other Penn State things. Then a gift card to an electronics store and wahlah. Instant gift.

He was happy, I was happy the kids didn't have to go out with me when I felt like poo and the kids were excited to see just what they got their daddy....lol.

sigh

Sick.

Fever.

Doctors

Laying down now.

*sigh*

Flies like a bird

Time flies, doesn't it? It never seemed that way as a child but now as an adult it does. I think that time is relative, and by that time is different for an adult than it is for kids. I don't remember blinking and it go from Christmas to Summer so quickly as a child. I don't remember sitting down to do something and 4 hours go by like nothing before. And yet when vacation approaches it crawls for us adults. Crawls but is full of a million + 1 things to do.

To a child a few hours is like days. Take for instance today. I arranged yesterday to have a play date for my kids here at my home this afternoon. There are a brother and a sister both my kids ages (older brother younger sister and in the same grades in school as mine even!!) who live down the street. Their mom works part time and so I know that I have to schedule play dates. I tried to set one up for yesterday but that didn't work out. I don't work again tonight so I was able to get a play date scheduled for today. I know. My daughter woke up 2 hours earlier today than any other day the last week and a half with excitement.

The questions begin... "When will they be here?" and two minutes later the same question, over and over again. Then after I finally say..."Peanut, it's going to be after lunch now stop asking me." She breaks down and cries. Through tears she says, "But mommy! That will take forever!"

Yeah...3 hours is forever. To me it's a blink of an eye. *sigh*

Peanuts Grand Plan

We are preparing for a bonfire tonight and I have been doing dishes. Peanut came down with hubby in long pants and a long sleeve shirt. The evening promises to be cool so that's why the long clothes.

Her pants wouldn't snap (incidentally both of my kids grew over a 1/2 inch in two months!!! I know!!) So I tell her to change her pants and she said NO! I then tell her that she has grown out of the pants. Then she tells me her grand plan.

"Mommy, I'm going to have a sale. I'm going to have lots of people there. I'm going to sell lots of things to make a lot of money."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's my plan. Cause I'm smart."

I laughed. That was her answer to her pants not fitting her. Later she was telling her daddy about her plan. Again I laughed. Then *snap!* she got them to snap.

"I did it!!! Welp. I guess I don't have to have a sale after all."

hee hee... off to roast marshmallows and hot dogs on an open fire. Blog ya later.

Bringing up the rear...

Phew... pant pant pant... Here I am running into the blog world.... What did I miss? Did miss I alot? Holy cow! I did...!!! I'll catch up buddies, I swear!

Life has been a busy and I have been adjusting things with the kids home all day now and the pool open.

I had a new trip to the SPA today. I had a tad more done but still not enough so I might try another spa next time. I like the woman who worked with/on me but this other one offers more of what I want. It's farther away so we shall see.

I'd tell you all about my design clients and how my manager at the center went on vacation leaving some things for me to handle on my day off at home but that would bore you.

What I will tell you is that my son is a little gentlman lately, holding the door open for me and saying 'after you'. His allergies are easing up and he's a happier boy. It helps that he can sleep in now that school is out. But it's the first week off and they are already chomping at the bit to have play dates with friends. He's even looking for school-like things to do. LOL. I bought them eraser boards each that has practice printing and other things on it today. They were in heaven. :D

My peanut is still amusing to me and everyone else. She is starting a bad habit of wanting to use the lawn as a piddle room when in the pool. Right now I'm just glad she isn't piddling in the pool.

Right now we are watching Chicken Run before getting them in bed. I hope to catch up with my peeps later. I've missed ya'll.

Update on my son..

Thank you all for your support. It has been an up and down thing since kindergarten for my son (I know, just two years but it seems like an eternity.)

I had some advice from a friend who suggested I arrange to get my son to his last day of school, a half of a day, and accompany him. I phoned the principal and explained what I wanted to do. I wanted my son to attend the last day of school with me so he could partake in the festivities, see his friends one last time, end on a good note and most importantly apologize to the kids in question for his actions so he could take ownership of what he did wrong. He needed to stand up and face the music.

Now while my husband doesn't think my son has aspergers (sic) and I might not think he meets the severe form of it I don't think I should just sweep it under the rug. The best thing I can do for my son is have someone meet with him and do a complete evaluation because I would love to avoid this problem year after year if they can direct him properly. I don't want him labeled and he is just like a normal 7 year old boy, in the end if he doesn't have it I can show the school... "see, he doesn't have it... now what?"

He is a pleaser. He loves to make people happy, laugh and smile. He loves to hug and was crying yesterday because he said no one says yes to hugs. I had instructed him to not hug someone without their permission. (These days lawsuits can happen in elementary school, grrrr.) He has a huge heart, a huge vocabulary and a passion for life. All I want is the best for him and I plan to help him in any way I can. He's a part of my heart and because of that I'd go to the ends of the earth for him.

Thanks again everyone! I will keep you updated.

Schools out.... (hair turning grey as we speak!! LOL)

Lowest of lows (I know it could be worst but it fit)

I'm working away, the sun is shining outside on a beautiful day. I'm trying to get as much done to get peanut in the pool. I make a few phone calls, get a fax.... do some drafting. OHhhh I feel productive. Heck, I even had the dishwasher and washer going. Woo hooo...

Then at noon I get a phone call.

Dum

Dum

Dum.....

It was my son's school. My stomach dropped. Today is his last full day and tomorrow they have a half of a day. The staff I met with yesterday stated that he does well with structure so the unstructured end of they year has messed with him. *sigh*

So this phone call was from the front office stating that I need to get in and talk to the principal. That there was an incident with my monkey and she can't explain the particulars, that I'd have to come in.

My head is imagining it all. I'm grabbing shoes and peanut and we are off. The short 5 minute drive to the school is pure torture, agony. Hubby isn't reachable by ANY phone and I don't know what I'm walking into.

I walk in and my son is in the front office, a ton of stuff in his arms and his backpack on his back. This doesn't look good. I try to get out of him what happened and only got a little before walking into the principal's office.

Now I was NEVER sent to the principal's office as a child. Call me a goodie goodie if you want but I was never sent. I even hated when, in high school, I'd forget to sign into social study hall because that would earn me detention. It was the only reason I ever got in trouble in the 13 years in the school district.

So I'm walking into the principal's office for my son, after a day of glowing reports and complimentary behavior. I'm sick, I'm terrified.

My son pinched another child for no reason and then crawled under the table and hugged another child's legs. For that he was being sent home and I was told that they thought it best if he didn't go in the half of a day either. My son was kicked out of school at age 7. The principal felt that given my son's need for structure that it would be best if he didn't come back the rest of the year.

And then the term Asperger syndrome was thrown out there given his need for structure and problem today. So we took the walk of shame with all of his stuff but I have to go back tomorrow to get the rest. I cried the whole way home because I was embarassed and upset and unable to get ahold of hubby. After exploring what Asperger sydrome is and the key points I know my son doesn't match up with anything but a few things and that's not enough for him to have it.

Still... I feel quite deflated.

Highest of highs...

Peanut had a birthday party yesterday. We walked in and heard 'oh there she is! The girls have been asking where you were.' So it seems my daughter has found a way to make good friends.

It was a wonderful feeling yesterday.

Another wonderful feeling yesterday was loathing going into my son's school to discuss his behavior, fearing the worst.

What I got was a high ride of 'he's very bright' that he tests extremely high and they want to recommend him for the Gifted program. I was so excited, so proud and so happy that I almost cried tears of joy.

Despite having to work last night and having a morning appointment on the other side of town, and generally speaking a day that was run run run.... it was a good day.

BTW

Happy Memorial Day!!

Holiday Weekend masochist/curse

I have been very clumsy the last few days so the day of the bumbles has taken a turn for the worse. My holiday weekend doesn't involve my job or design work but it has involved work, such as most peoples Memorial days.

Our huge task was opening our pool. This is only our second year opening it and last year was a dream. It was clear, clean and just needed chemed up and cleaned.

This past fall we took extra precausions in closing it thinking we were smart. What we didn't count on was the fact that our winter cover we received in our pool package to be... um flimsy. Apparently many holes got in it and that meant a ton of dirt, leaves and yes... many other gross things. That and algae. *sigh* That means more chemicals, more scrubbing and we have to flush the filter after only a few days when normally it would be over a month before we'd have to do that.

Saturday when we put the hoses together for the filter hubby had me help jam them on. This morning I could barely move my hand, it was killing me! *sigh* So the day ahead of us with just my son's baseball game at 6pm we proceeded to finish the pool opening now that the water level was up. Hubby began to work on readying the filter and get me the DE that I needed to measure. I'm not a chemist but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once. hee hee... so I measure out the 4#'s of earth into the filter as it is turned on while hubby realizes the solar heater hoses are leaking. Minor frustrations there. The trees are letting loose tiny white flowers causing us to skim the pool 6 times today. yeah.. fun.

So hubby does something while I start to vacuum the bottom of our now skumy pool....ewwww I'm so upset. I suggest he run out to get the special chemicals for it. We added the shock, the chlorine, the stabilizer and the PH up but we needed something for the skuz. So he agrees and even takes the kids with him. After stating that I should stop if my sore hand hurts to bad he is off. I'm in my bikini and the sun is shining, such a beautiful day. Hubby even left me with a radio playing. Woo hoo.

My Sicilian neighbor had his brick layer over bricking another structure to add to his pizza oven that smoke fills my house. Hello guys.

So I clean clean clean. I'm finally getting sore and only halfway done. That's when I hear the filter running funny. It sounds higher pitched and not right. So I look at it. The pressure is too high. If I don't do something it could ruin the filter. So I could bump it, which is me just turning the filter off, pumping a handle three times and turning it back on. But I notice that the inner chamber that has a basket is full of leaves and junk. So I decide to open it and THEN bump it. It opens counter clockwise and I forgot that it has a shut off valve to keep the water from gushing out. My right hand is so sore but I feel I can open it, grab the basket and close it again. I brace myself onto the lid, squating. I then yank. It gives only too fast and my left hand has it's pinky finger and ring finger smashed between the lid and the valve. I have to turn it the other way to free my fingers which are now slashed and bleeding plus my ring finger is swelling rapidly and turning black. I, luckily took my rings off before this, have the ability to grab the basket and I close the lid before I stumble to the house in emense pain. I make it into the house, light headed and find an ice pack. I ended up on the floor in the family room and that's where my family found me, nearly passing out.

My kids were terrified and calling for hubby because I must have looked so pale. Hubby came up and asked 'what did you do?' After learning of what I did and that I was seemingly okay he headed outside. It took me another hour before the worst of the pain subsided and I could function.

Then we go to my son's baseball game and there I roll my ankle in my thick flip flops and it slices between my toes. Ouch. In the 3rd inning I hobble to the other side of the fence to suggest to hubby that my son stand farther back in the batters box when foul ball nearly hit my head.

Hubby looks at me quizically and says, 'what is with you lately? Did you piss someone off and they cursed you?' I sigh and hobble away.

My bumbles have turned into bandages.

Bumbling

I am having a bumbling idiot day here. First I wake up late, then I rush rush rush to get ready for an appointment. Peanut gets ready and we are off. I have only a half of a poptart in my tummy and peanut has an hour and a half before having to be at her preschool for her graduation practice / pizza party. She's psyched.

I get to work where my appointment is to be held. I wonder why she isn't there since I was tardy. Looking into my big bag of tricks at my calendar I see that I looked at Friday. *sigh* Bumbles. I don't want to waste my trip so I prep a quote and fax it through for a client and Peanut and I are on our way.

We get home where I have a better breakfast and she draws. I decide to clean up and put the screen in my kitchen window. In doing so I had to move all my plants including a prickly cactus. I cleaned the window while perched on the countertop. Then I put the screen in and put the plants back up. 2 seconds later one of the plants fell spilling dirt everywhere. *sigh* Bumbles.

We then head back the way toward her preschool (which is past my work.) I get her signed in and kiss her goodbye. Holding back my tears of joy and sadness of this being her graduation day. I know folks, she's ONLY in preschool but in my minds eye she was just a tiny baby a few weeks ago and now preschool is over. Slow this crazy ride down!!

Then I came back home and did....

nothing. Bumbles.

Top Down log

Yesterday and today Cali had her top down. Ahhh such gorgeous weather.

A hodge-podge catch up...

I have been away. Did you notice? If you did I feel special, thank you. LOL But I don't expect you to be missing me THAT much. :D

I have been bombarded by new clients and completing projects. Spring has sprung and school is coming to an end. My son is getting spring fever and being a bit of a handful. My daughter had her last day of preschool today *sniffle*. Tomorrow she graduates (tomorrow evening to be precise.) In an effort to have my daughter see these kids one last time because they will split up between at least 4 schools, one private and the other three as zoned in our district I hand out my business cards with my home number on it and tell the mom's I would like to have a small pool party in July for the kids. After I did this I thought, 'OMG, what have I done?' LOL. We'll see how big this gets.

This graduation is particularly sad for me because my son went for two years at this preschool and then my daughter so it's a chapter in my life that is closing and that means my kids are growing too fast for my liking. (can you see a tear in my eye? yes... there is one.)

I'm proud of them both and all that they have learned this year. My son began to learn how to read more words at the beginning of the year and at the end read a 300+ page Harry Potter book in 10 days so color me the proud mama.

My daughter learned how to write her name proficiently and to work scissors like a pro, not to mention numerous other things.

So the end of august I will have a second grader and a kindergartener on my hands and wondering where did the time go already. I know a lot of you have older kids, some graduating high school even. (;-D) So I am using knowing that as a reminder just how fast time does fly.

This spring has been a different one as I'm not planting annuals this year. I ordered and received mini rose bushes so that I won't plant each spring and pull out each fall. I hope they take. Another interesting thing is we have a robins nest on the beam of our deck and three baby heads sticking out. The daddy bird dive-bombs my dog who is clueless and it's amusing.

Hubby bought a basketball hoop for in the ground and is like a kid in a candy store putting it together. He hopes to have my dad help tomorrow evening putting it up after Peanut's graduation.

I get Sat-Monday off for the upcoming holiday and we plan to open the pool WOOO HOOO!!! I bet I'll lose the last 5-10 lbs in there. I just hope my shockingly white skin doesn't blind passerbys in their cars. LOL

So there is a 'catchup' in a nutshell. After work tonight I plan to catch up on all of your blogs, I've missed you all!!! :D

The poll is closed

Thank you all for voting! Thank you all for the name ideas. But the poll is closed.

In the end each name got a vote. I did neglect to explain one of the names on the list. Hubby had suggested the name 'Cheetah'. Why? His nick name for me is 'cheetah bear'. Back in college a roommate I had, a female, who was wild and fun used to say, 'lets go Cheetah'. The nickname stuck with me with regards to hubby. So that's the orgin of that name.

So the voting may continue if anyone wishes to vote but as of today (sunday) I am stating that my car shall be named 'Cali', short for Caliente since she's red and red is hot. So there you have it.

Btw... I got to have the top down on Cali yesterday for the first time in a long time. And then it got cold. Grrrr... silly weather.

Some peoples parents

Friday evening I went to my son's baseball game. I had scheduled off work and while they warmed up I made some phone calls to clients. When the game began we (peanut and I) sat down on the cold cold bleachers. Immediately she befriended two kids, siblings of a boy on my son's team. Hubby was on the field with other dads coaching. The area I live in is pretty affluent. Growing up here the town was like a farm town but in 1991 it began to grow by leaps and bounds given our proximity to Pittsburgh. Now it is the 'place to live' and houses are going up faster and faster. More and more expensive. I've noticed that while these people have money, that doesn't make them nicer.

At his games I talk to other parents and cheer. That day I made some phone calls, left messages to future clients and made one appt for a new client. Then I went to watch and cheer. It was in the low 50's, windy and cold so that made it fun. For an hour and a half my daughter was playing nicely with the two kids, not a problem, conflict or anything. They were playing around a tree as home base. Two VERY rambunctious kids run into the group of kids. The boy with my daughter tries to say that they were there first as does my daughter while the other girl leaves.

I watch from a short distance away figuring that 'play ground' rules apply and will let them handle things on their own. But these kids are all over the other ones, screaming at my daughter as my daughter screams back. She kicks them after they push her and that's when I poise to intervene. My method of choice, after a few more screams from the boys and as I watch as the other two kid's mothers stand by, was to go grab my daughter and pluck her out of the crowd. I carry her crying back to the bench and tell her if they don't want to play with her then don't play with them. Heck on them. That she didn't need to be scratched. I didn't whisper it but I didn't yell it. I was telling my daughter, not the other mom's. I don't want my daughter thinking she needs to take that stuff and was trying to teach her when to walk away. That must have upset the moms. But the boys left. So I let her back down and she ran to the tree.

They came back and ripped the leaf out of her hand that she had been holding, scratching her again. The other moms come swarming... obviously the lone little girl 6 inches shorter than the boys was to blame, right? So I plucked her away and told her again that she didn't need to take that. We sit back down. They leave one more time. I let her get up and I go with her. I stand sentry to her while watching the game. Never once did I say a THING to the other kids or moms. I decide to just remove her from the problems and deal with it without conflict. It seemed to me the better choice but these parents had something else in mind.

After about 10 minutes one of the boys came running over and threw a glove at my head, hitting me. I stood there with a shocked look on my face. What the heck was that all about? I mean which one of the kids (him versus my daughter) is the problem maker I ask you? Who does that to an adult? One of the women's husbands came walking over to retreive the glove and says, 'I'm sorry ma'am.' But THEN ADDED THIS!! "But she WAS kicking them."

WTF!!???

I laughed out loud in surprise with aN 'oh yeah that's mature' look on my face. I can not believe that that was a parent's response to the situation at hand! To drop an insult and gloss over his son's actions. I was in shock. What was this!? I did nothing, she did nothing what the heck was with the attack? I lean down to my daughter and tell her that kicking those boys wasn't a good thing and to not do that but if she has to protect herself then she could do that.

So the game ended and we walked over to my son's bench. As we headed back to the car I began to tell hubby about the interaction. I didn't get to tell him much by the time we get to our car. That's when I realize that one of the bitches was parked next to us with one empty spot between us. My daughter, being the spunky little one that she was, says to the boys 'see you brats' in a sing songy voice. At least I think she did, I didn't hear her because I was talking to hubby. How did I get informed that she had said it? You ask. I was floored when this woman leans into my 35" tall 33 lb daughter and says 'what did you say? Did you call my kids brats?" I looked up from my conversation surprised by the interruption, wondering wtf this lady was saying. That's when I realize she was adressing my 5 year old daughter who was dwarfed by her. She got all disgusted and said 'incredible', shaking her head.

THAT'S IT!!! I remained quiet long enough. I'm done lady.

"What's incredible is two boys picking on a little girl" I retort.

"She was kicking them" she replies.

"And she was corrected for that. But they were all over her." Game on lady.

She makes comments under her breath but turns her back to me. My daughter was crying, my husband stuned because he had no idea what was being said. 'I can't believe it's coming to this,' I say. "Unbelievable.' Now you tell me when it's okay to have two boys gang up on one smaller girl regardless of her standing up for herself or not. This woman kept commenting under her breath. And I finally said in her method of backhanded discussion, 'You did nothing wrong, sweet heart, they are brats.'

After recounting it all that had happened prior to hubby he was pacing at home, he was so angry. They play this team again. I know I shall stay on the side of my teams bench but I need to mentally prepare should these losers decide to pick on a tiny girl and her 5' tall mom and gang up on her 3 to one.

Rambling thoughts in the middle of the night

It's 1:22 am and I'm tired. I have been sitting pricing for one client that seems to never end. I need sleep.

I had to calm my son down tonight. He finished reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone in 10 days. Seven years old and read a 300 + page book in 10 days. Well he stayed up too late each night sneaking a read but it just felt wrong to say 'Hey... put the book down and stop reading!' He was craving the next book, the Prisoner of Ascoban (sic) and again it seemed wrong to say "NO! You can't have a book!" And yet I had to in some way for the principal of it that he can't demand things from us. So that was fun.

Peanut is still not 100%. Poor little one. Not only that, she was told for the millionth time "you look like your mommy." Again... poor little one. LOL.

So I'm about to turn in. Please don't mind my ramblings. I'm dopey and tired. One of the well known dwarfs and his second cousin. hee hee (see...I'm loopy.)

Please vote for my car's name and thanks to those who did. I think I'm getting pouty about my lack of readership based on the votes....lol But honored by those who do.

Vote for my Beetle HERE.

My Monday madness

I was ready to go to work today. Of course this morning I was worried I had gotten food poisoning but I was feeling better, albeit a bit nauseated but better.

Then whatever had hit me hit my Peanut. She was running to the bathroom and was getting feverish. I was torn. Do I head to work? Do I stay? I got my hubby to get home to take over the kids so I didn't have to drag them with me.

Hubby gets home, I had called into work and told my manager about my daughter. She told me to do what I had to. My daughter woke from her nap and said she had to go again. Poor thing. I took her in and she began to vomit. Now it's coming out both ends.

I call the doctor and got what I figured I'd get... fluids, gatorade and such. If she couldn't keep that down to take her to the hospital. I was thinking about leaving for work when she vomitted again. *sigh* Mommy stayed home, Peanut needed me.

She got her bath by me and some loving. She is also keeping down some iced tea (her beverage of choice like her mommy.)

So now I'm prepping for appointments tomorrow, that I hope I can keep, that is, if Peanut is feeling better and can go with me.

Car name poll

This Poll will be up and running until Friday. I will back link if necessary.

My Mom...

*** Special note: Some people have asked... the bride in the photos is my little sister (the one who lives in florida) not me. Just an FYI ***

My mom is an amazing person. I know you can probably all say that about your mom but I still say that my mom is amazing. She lost her dad by age 16 and her mom before turning 18. Alone with an older brother who could care less than her and a younger brother who was her grandmother's favorite she still remained strong.

She had dated my dad for awhile and they had broken up. He was living in CA for some time and returned to visit family when they bumped into each other. He suggested she come out to CA with him and later he sent her a ticket. Before turning 18 she left the only home she knew on a plane by herself. A strong lady following the man she loved.

They eloped and married at a justice of the peace after she turned 18. A year later they returned to PA to marry in the church since it was my grandmother's request.

My mom is all of 4'- 11-1/2" tall and a tough lady. She has endured a ton of things in her life. But she has also made the most amazing memories for me in my life. I remember nothing but happy Christmas's, birthdays and every holiday in between. She baked things from scratch with me watching on eagerly wanting to do what she was doing. Our house was always neat, tidy and organized. Our birthday cakes were the most delicious and amazing looking things you have ever seen. Once she made me a cake that looked just like a pizza with icing shaped and colored like mushrooms, pepperoni and such. It was incredible.

Throughout life she never thought twice about putting us first. She may have needed something but it gave her more joy to get what we needed first. My sister's say she likes to play the maryter role, I just see it as a great and giving mom.

Always seeking to learn more, always there to talk to, always excited about things in our life and cheering us on. Always catching more than one of my kid's soccer and baseball games. Always willing to watch our kids when we are in a bind. Always there for advise. Always giving hugs and encouraging words. Always there to turn to when I have difficult moments. Always gets on the floor to play with the kids. Always fun, smiling and happy. She has always been someone I look up to despite her not being taller than me. She is a strong woman who loves greatly. I have been so honored to know her as my mom and in the last 10 years have been happy to call her my friend as well.

I love you mom!! Happy mother's Day!

Unnamed new addition

Here she is. The day we got her was sunny and gorgeous. Peanut went with me. We drove with the salesman to the gas station where he said he would do a nascar pitcrew thing where he gased her up while I sat. That was cool, him paying, pumping and he wasn't my husband. Woo hoo! We thanked him, he teased me that I'd be turning heads in it soon and we bid him farewell. Then we pulled over so that I could put the top down. Woo hoo!!! Boy that felt so freeing with nothing but the sky above. Blue with puffy white clouds. The wind blowing and yet we could still talk and hear the radio better than in OSST minivan.

I pulled into my plan of homes just before my son's bus arrived. I pulled alongside the sidewalk to wait for him. He ran off the bus and freaked out he was so excited. We went for a drive to my moms (hubby was home early too, it was a family affair.)

These pics were taken the next day. Every day has been beautiful here and the top has been down each day. I can't wait for a warm night to have the stars above as I drive. Now to name her. I shall have a poll. I have received a good number of names. Some good and thoughtful and some just plain silly. (*cough* mike *cough*) I shall post a poll and you can vote. Hubby even volunteered one. I will do that later and then I have a video of peanut to put up. Blog blog and away!!!

I have more pics of this beauty but I'm having wireless router issues. More to come. If she inspires an idea for a name let me know. Sunday or Monday I'll post a poll for my blogging friends and visitors to vote on.

Ode to OSST Minivan

So all of my blogging friends know that I have traded my sheek OSST (to those who don't know... it means 'Oh so sexy teal') minivan.

Monday I got the call that I could get my VW (thanks Sally...lol). I had a frustrating time with something that was holding up the handing over of the keys. You see they had to find me a car. There aren't too many salsa red vw beetle convertibles with package one readily available. So the one they found me had Sirius radio (satellite) which I didn't ask for but accepted and planned to pay the difference. Upon prepping the car it was found that the antenae component was not there. Did that mean it would work or didn't have the inner components? They couldn't tell me. They didn't know. The guy who could figure it out wasn't there, corporate wasn't calling back and neither was the dealer they acquired the car from. *sigh* So they weren't ready to hand it over.

In the end they decided to credit me for the non functioning feature and I could pick it up. These pics are of my OSST minivan upon leaving with it. Our farewell journey.

When we bought this old lady she was used, 4 years old and misused. We cared for her and took care of her the best we could. She has left our family due to needing more work than she was valued at. With no heat working, no ac, an oil leak, an over powering odor of gas, it creaked when you turned it and so much more wrong with it we knew she was begging to be put out of her misery. I believe she will be sold for parts. *sniffle*



That's peanut in the OSST minivan on her farewell journey. When we bought her my son was an infant (3 months old) and I had no idea that in 7 months I'd find out I was pregnant again with Peanut. We brought peanut home in this old lady. *sigh* memories.

She served us well and I thank her for hanging on to trade-in day.



This is at the dealership waiting for my new ride. Farewell girl. We will never forget you. *kiss* And I never got to do that whole Tawny Kitaen thing on your hood. Still you rocked, you rocked out loud.

Have I?

Have I been tooling around in my convertible? Sure. Have I been doing that instead of blogging? No.

So what have I been doing? Design work. Design work for ONE client. She has me hopping. I'm hoping to get her pricing done for her budget that's tighter than a rhino in a tutu.

I'm about to post some pics.

Productive and a question

This morning I got some information out for a client who has a fast moving project. I will be working on more of it today. I have two clients on the cusp of completion and will be contacting them with pricing, selections and a surprise color board. LOL.

Also, I FINALLY got the car dealership locked down on a time. Today at 1:30pm (eastern Standard time) I will be at the dealership signing my life away and speeding off in my new car.

That brings me to my question. I plan to name the car. I need help. I had one suggestion from my bff Lioux at Damn You Dan for 'Bugsy' and I love it. But I feel I need to explore all options. So please click on my email link in my profile if you have a name suggestion. After getting some suggestions that I like I will make a poll for everyone to vote on the best name and the list will include 'Bugsy' for sure.

Lastly... let me say: "HOLY GREAT WEATHER!" I am loving this .... what do you call this stuff? Oh yeah... SUNSHINE! Crazy warming stuff that makes me smile more than usual. I am loving the warm weather and sunshine. It makes me want to skip out on my design work and run barefoot in the grass. Also, the grass is looking great with Scotts help. I haven't heard hubby complain about weeds or anything. Could this be a great summer? I don't know but not hearing about clover and his griping would make it be so! LOL

Later gators!

Sergeant frustration... and

Major let down.

*sigh*

No I'm not cruising in the beautiful sunshine today (and yes, it is a beautiful sunfilled day today.) I got a call at work Saturday from the car salesman. I was excitedly waiting to confirm the time to get my beautiful car. It seems they were not going to get it ready in time for Saturday pick up and would be closed on Sunday.

So..... I will be getting it tomorrow or someone will be hurting at the dealership from a size 6 womans boot up their butt. I might be small but I'm full of attitude. LMAO.

I'll update you all with photos of my OSST minivan, who was granted a temporary stay (as I was told it would only be worth parts *sniffle*.. wait, am I sniffling?) and of my new beauty. I will also be asking for assistance from my blogging buddies. Until then... blog ya later!

MY CAR MY CAR MY CAR!!!!

I was approved by MYSELF!

I have secured the car!!

They are bringing the car in TOMORROW (Saturday)

I might get it by the end of the day TOMORROW!!

I can't breath I'm so excited. I got my car! I got my car! *breath... deeply*

Okay.. it's a bit sad to say goodbye to the OSST minivan since I brought the peanut home in it but I will totally be loving this.....

The Children's Museum

Today Peanut and I went along with all the other 4-5 year old preschoolers in her school plus their parents on big yellow school buses to the Children's Museum in the North side of town. My daughter thought the school bus ride was "tool" (which is cool in peanut language.) She rode in the seat next to me going down and insisted on holding my hand the whole time. I was looking out the window and watching her expression. But eventually I looked down at her tiny hand in mine and thought how I should just look at it and enjoy her wanting to hold my hand. It will be all to soon that she won't want to any more. *sniffle* So I lived in the moment right then and basqued in the joy of my daughter.

The museum was full of other nursery schools and such and was a bustling place.

We enjoyed Mr. Roger's Neighborhood exhibit, some climbing things and she did some artwork in the studio section. There was a kids climbing thing that we mothers joked looked like a giant aunt farm. Peanut climbed like a champ and didn't get scared.

They had a section that my son would have loved, which was called the garage and in it were inventions: Things like a car with parts and pieces and you could see how a circuit worked. They had a system where you pulled the ball up and tipped it onto a section of a two wire track that led around the whole ceiling (which we tried) They had slides and rope ladders.

After lunch with her friends and their parents we went to the floor that had the water play area. She didn't want to go but I talked her into checking it out. After all I lugged a complete change of clothes she should at LEAST look at it. In the end she LOVED it. I took tons of pictures and some videos that I'll put up later. I'd like hubby to check them out first.

On the way home Peanut sat with a girlfriend of hers and I sat with the little girls mom and I smiled to myself remembering the fleeting moment she held my hand. I'm glad I enjoyed it. The two little ones giggled and talked the whole way home. Some kids fell asleep but not my peanut, she is high energy all day like her mom. LOL

We got back to the school with a future play date discussed between the two girls and climbed into the OSST minivan (which might be gone in the next 2 weeks...dare I hope?) Peanut looked at me and said, "why didn't I get to see the dinosaur bones?"

"Well honey, that's at the science museum. I'll take you there another day."

All in all it was a great day, with great weather.

I got home and hubby was home early and the kids are now outside playing as kids should. I don't work tonight like last night and I'm loving it.

I hope you all are having and enjoying a beautiful day and enjoying the fleeting but wonderful moments found within them.

What having kids has made me realize

Having children changes a ton of things as all of you fellow parents know. Last night I took a bubble bath that I felt I richly deserved and listening to my mp3 player. My mind wandered and I found myself thinking about my children and how they have changed my life.

Here is a list of 15 (among hundreds I'm sure if I sat long enough) things that having kids made me realize:


#1. Saturdays are no longer to sleep in or sleep off a hangover.

#2. Your worst fear of someone laughing at you when you're naked comes true. (no matter how great you might look kids always laugh at you if they accidentally see you naked.)

#3. You get to say things you always hated to hear when you were a kids like: "If Eric jumped off a bridge would you?" or "Turn off the lights this isn't the electric company" or "I don't care if it isn't fair, life isn't fair, deal with it." Ohh I could go on and on.

#4. You find out the places that you knew playdoh shouldn't be placed or stuck in ones home or body and a few that surprise you.

#5. You forget what you did in your free time before you had kids.

#6. At night you learn the true sound of ..... silence. And you are almost affraid to talk to your spouse to ruin it. LOL

#7. You know where every bathroom is in every restaurant and store in your area because you have one child or more that ALWAYS has to go even if you asked them 100 times to go before leaving the house.

#8. In some instances you learn how to change a toddlers diaper while they stand up because of no changing stations or dirty facilities. (It's been some time for me but I remember vividly. LOL)

#9. You work to teach your kids the proper way to pronounce things but are sad when they stop mispronouncing them. (are we ever happy?) ie... Peanut used to say hostibal instead of hospital now she says it correctly and I'm sad. She still says aminal instead of animal so I'm clinging. Hee hee.

#10. If you have more than one kids you probably have one that sleeps well and one that doesn't. Or one that eats well and one that doesn't. I call my kids my ying and yang so when one is giving me problems the other soothes me. LOL

#11. You are willing to do stupid dances and voices for them that you wouldn't do for anyone else on the planet just to hear that laugh again.

#12. You get to see birds, flowers, the sandy beach, the ocean and the changing of the seasons for the first time again as your child does. You get the wide eyed wonder of innocence that makes you stop and smell the roses. I love that part.

#13. Spanking them really does hurt you as much as it hurts them. :(

#14. You see your own parents through different eyes and apologize for some of the things that you did as a child.

#15. You realize that your heart really can overflow with love. That you can love someone more than words can say and that you can't imagine what life would be like without them.

Fire stopper

Today was my 'putting out fire's' day. Both at home and at work. I ran around running errands I put off and then at work I got to sit right next to the boss who was finding problems that needed resolved. I'm not against resolving them, so don't get me wrong it was just a 'put out fires' kind of day.

Peanut and I went to a few stores and she is so much fun to shop with. She is a girly girl and says things like 'ohhhh mommy I love that. That's so pretty' and models in the mirror with hats and sunglasses on. She wants what mommy buys (remind me not to have her with me when I buy underthings. LOL)

My son is obsessed with reading and a thing that is going on at school is furthering that desire. If the school reads for a combined reading time of a million minutes the principal does something funny. He's obsessed although reading just as much as usual. He will sit for at least 30 minutes a day with books and is learning by leaps and bounds.

Tomorrow my son goes on a field trip to the city zoo and aquarium with his class and is so excited.

Wednesday peanut and I go on a field trip with her preschool to the children's museum with all her classmates and their parents. She is excited as well, especially since we ride down in a big yellow school bus. Fun fun. Apparently they have some water interative thing there and I was advised to take a complete change of clothes for her (down to her shoes, even.) So this should be interesting.

I have a new client I meet with tomorrow evening, one demanding client who hasn't signed a contract and pay me my retainer which is highly irritating my lawyer (aka hubby.) I also have two more clients that I hope to complete tomorrow or at least this week. It would be exciting to finish up. Lastly the guy I made the color board for posted earlier hasn't paid (again irritating hubby.) Isn't working independently grand? *sigh*

Tomorrow I will be visiting another car dealer. I should be getting my beetle convertible very very soon. :D

Things heard at my house this evening

My daughter and Hubby:

"ohhhh peanut... was that you?"

*giggle* (from my daughter) "yes"

"Ohhh my god, something died inside you."

"A goose, a goose died in me daddy." *giggle*

~~~~~~~~

"Rahhhh!"

"Rahhhh!"

*giggle*

*chuckle*

(we were jumping out and scaring each other and then laughing hysterically. My daughter wasn't much of a hider since she giggled in anticipation so you knew she was there. LOL)

~~~~~ moments later I had hurt my back goofing around with my daughter and fell to the floor in pain.

My daughter came down and asked me what was wrong and I told her.

"I'll help you mommy," Now picture her blowing on my face a few times.

Hubby is now laughing as am I...

My son saw her and said, "Mouth to mouth education mommy!"

Hubby and I are now busting out laughing. Ahhh my kids.

~~~~~

"Ahhhh" (from hubby after taking a swig of his beer)

"What?" I asked.

"Beer just splashed up into my eye!"

"Ewww."

"Yeah, it actually burned."

"I bet. Those hops are bitches." (yeah, I'm a goof. It made hubby laugh hard.)

Our trip.. a synopsis

I thought about a play by play recount of our trip but I tend to be long winded and shall spare your eyes from exhaustion.

Destin was gorgeous. The white sands were magnificient. We didn't roll in until late and the start of our only day together as a family was great. Don't ask me how it progressed because it is not as much fun to share. Needless to say we got a bit too much sun and the kids and I enjoyed ourselves.

We got to see in the first hour a pelican dive bomb into the water 10 feet from us and dolphins 30 yards from us cresting only later to jump out of the water farther out. I'll you tube the video I got later. Here is a photo of one...
The second day (friday) was a mix of a baptism, picnic and rehearsal + rehearsal dinner. I didn't have to be a part of the actual rehearsal and the kids and I enjoyed time alone. The rehearsal dinner showed my in-laws in true form unable to pay for everyone so we had to pay for ourselves. Typical. Let me just say that when I'm with my inlaws I feel in 10 minutes like they sucked all of the happiness out of me. I consider myself a positive person most of the time. Sure I have my down moments as anyone will but they are very negative so it made things difficult

Here is me holding my new nephew at his baptism with my two monkeys. As you can see their sunglasses didn't help my kids eyes as they got burnt. Don't ask me about it because that's a point of contention for me with hubby.

Here is me holding my other nephew. He looks like he's dangling but I have his bottom in my hand and he's not being squeazed silly. LOL. Next to me is my BIL and hubby's sister is holding the other cutie next to hubby.

Peanut looks good in any hat... I'm jelly belly. LOL

The boy.. who is in perpetual motion. :D

Angel says... "Another picture? Crap... please don't! *suck in tummy*" lol As you can see I never lost those lbs I sought to lose. Grrrr.

After the baptism we had a picnic at a park that had beach access. We were run run run... rest... run run run.. rest. LOL

The day of the wedding (saturday) I was sporting an odd burn that is visible in the photo of me in my dress. LOL The wedding was nice but as in any beach wedding you couldn't hear a thing but the wind and waves (although that was nice too. LOL) I was on cloud nine by evenings end because I got compliments on my dress by a handful of guys and was checked out as I drove there down the main street by a few young guys even with the kids in the car. So woo hoo to the ego. LOL

Hubby and a bridesmaid. One of his brother's is in the backgroud.

The bridal party on the beach. Hubby is the oldest of 8 and all but one was at the wedding (long story) But there are 5 boys in the family (now men, loosely used for some) and all 5 are in a line there. Directly in front of the camera are two of the three sisters (you can see the back of their heads...the blonde and brunette.) Me and my fam-damnly

I showed the brides step mom how to do the electric slide moments before she electric slid into her grandson. Poor thing. In the end I found that in the group of the inlaws hubby and I are the glue that holds things together.... that's scary.

We got back to the gorgeous condo and packed up a bit before going to bed late. The flights there and back were nerve wracking for me since I am terrified to fly but I survived and my kids were non the wiser. Thank goodness for Lorazapam. I'm not one who medicates often but I have a healthy fear of flying (among a few other things.)

The view from our condo.

I guess I did a play by play in the end. And you asked for pictures... so don't go yellin'. LOL

Color Board

Here is one of the many design things that has been keeping me from blogging. Freakin' design clients. LOL j/k This is for a commercial client. It took 4 meetings and many hours of research to get this with paper attached to the back listing each product and related pricing.

Hey all!

Well I'm back ladies and gentleman. Aren't you excited? Didn't you miss my goofy face? Awww admit it you did. LOL j/k.

Anyway, I plan to play catchup with all my peeps through out today (after a seminar at work *sigh*) We arrived back in town around Sunday evening and Monday was a mass of chaos that if I blogged about it I would not only exhaust my fingers but bore you to tears. I will blog later with a synopsis of our trip to the beach for my BIL's wedding with photos.

Blog ya later! :D

Well.... my peeps!

I am off to pack and travel. Wish me luck! I'm nervous about flying. I'm stressed about work, I'm NOT taking my laptop because Angel needs some time away from all the hairpulling stress. I only got out of work at 9:30 pm tonight to make sure I left all well at the center. I have tons of stuff to do so I'll say now... see you next week!

Weekend recap

I had a post I started Sunday. Luckily I saved it to draft because I just reread 2 sentences and fell asleep. Holy snooze fest. I'm glad I spared all of your retinas from such boredom. LOL It read more like a list of what I've done and not a real enjoyable post. Am I slipping? Maybe, just maybe.

So my weekend recap. Fun was mixed with work. There... one sentence covered it. LOL. Actually my son's soccer game was awesome. They won. Two kids bumped chests after a goal. 7 year olds!! It made me giggle.

Apparently I amused both a coworker AND a member who belongs to the club where I work (yes, the design place is for members only.) Both men were laughing and saying I was amusing which was heard by one of the owners. I am happy that I can spread laughter. Life is too serious some times.

Speaking of serious. My 'to do' list is serious like a heart attack. Too much to do in too little time. *sigh* I did manage to send out our local taxes. Why so late? Because we owe hubby's and why should they get it too early, right? And I almost forgot. *phew*

It seems I'm always running out the door and peanut and I are about to do just that this morning. A few things to do today. Hopefully I can dodge design work rain drops when I get back to post another addition of the psychology of color. I know you are all thinking... 'hey, what about that color? I mean when is she going to post about that already!?' *rolls eyes*

Blog ya later peeps!

Freakin' forecast on both fronts.

My little sister gave me the news that they are expecting a cold spell in Florida next week. A FREAKIN' COLD SPELL! Yeah... she said in the 70's. I know that would still be super hot to me living in the great white tundra up here with snow knocking on our doorstep with tales of record snow falls Sunday - tuesday upcoming. But still people. I have a bikini. I have sun screen. I have delusions of grandeur. I have thoughts of losing the reflective quality of my bright white skin. I have thoughts of warm gulf waters and warmer pool waters and closing my eyes on the beach and feeling the sun on my face. All of it was centered around warm 80 degree days.

She goes on to say that they are in the 90's THIS week. THIS FREAKIN' WEEK! *sigh, shoulders slumping* I would let this get me down. I WOULD... but I won't. I have/will shell out about $2,500.00 for this 4 day freakin' wedding excursion. It will include the four of us, 4 flight numbers, layovers in Atlanta both ways... that's 4 take offs and 4 landings people... and I don't have enough meds to keep me calm with my fear of flying. Plus countless number of bags because when it's snowing it seems wrong to pack a bikini and sunglasses so I'm sure I'll plack pants too somewhere in there.

I will not let the news get me down. I WILL NOT! I will use my unyielding powers of hope. I hope that the over paid, over quafed weather men/women who get paid to be wrong 89% of the time have used all their powers of being right and that the warmth will be as I wish it to be. Yep... that's what I'm doing folks and you can't stop me!