Time keeps on slippin... into the future....

I have the greatest plans, and then life happens! I have a couple of good, deep, meaningful posts that are just waiting to be finished but life keeps on "getting in the way."

Not really, it is the life I want after all!

We went to New York during the summer along with a lot of camping so that was good times for sure! I also had some minor surgery to help repair the damage to the urinary tract system that was caused by childbirth. Not such fun times, but the results are AMAZING!

I am still without permanent and full time work. I have been subbing, organizing, cleaning and bookkeeping for money. A few things here and there, but nothing substantial. I have applied for some jobs, gotten a few rejections, but more "wait and see" than anything else.

The family is good and growing. I have been volunteering in the classrooms and have taken on the role of co-leader for Ella's Daisy Scout troop. Gavin is now on medication for ADHD and it helps greatly. He is on a very low dose and it seems to "take the edge off" for him, he is better able to concentrate and has more control over his emotions.

Andy and I managed a little Vegas escape right after Christmas and then came home to support a family that we are very close with as they helped their father transition from this world to the next. It was an exhausting and very sad time, and will be for a long time to come. We are thankful and better for having known Rosario Bono and look forward to meeting him again someday!

We stayed at the Aria in the City Center... awesome! We were there with several other couples to celebrate Giacomo Bono's 40th Birthday! Incredible!

Instead of gambling our money away, we placed our bets on a sure thing and saw the Elvis show! It was so much fun and the best part was...it was in our hotel! Just a short walk to the elevators and we were in our room 15 minutes after the show ended!

Hanging out at the Bellagio... strolling and talking and relaxing.

We just celebrated Ella's 7h birthday and that seems impossible! But we had a "Candy Bar" party and so much fun.

Showing off her lollipop garden and new outfit from Justice! Ready for the guests to arrive.

Candy button cake. Thank you Pinterest!

The "Candy Bar".

The Peanut Butter Sandwich Bar.... lots of choices here! PB, fudge, jelly, marshmallow creme and minis, chopped up candy bars, fruit, granola, potato chips. The girls made some amazing creations. My fav: Creamy PB, cocoa spread, twix and strawberry. Ella's fav: Creamy PB, marshmallow fluff, mini marshmallows, m&m's and sprinkles.

I am going to try to post more often... especially now that I have a more reliable computer. So, hopefully... you will see me around!

Flashback!

I have been trying to get all of my stuff out of my mom's basement. I realized that at my age, I should take over the storage of my possessions. I am sure that she is relieved by this. My husband, is not. He has had to endure many boxes being brought in and unpacked. Of course, I want to share these memories with someone and he has been my chosen "victim". I look over each item and decide it it is going to the trash, goodwill, to be given to the kids, or put into storage in the attic. He has listened to every story and tried really hard to sound interested.

I brought home a box of miniature doll house furniture this weekend and it went to the attic. The other box was dolls and knick knacks. Some of the stuff was silly, like a plastic mother deer with two fawns chained to her. It was supposed to look like glass, and I know that someone gave them to me, but I don't remember who. (they went in the trash) Gavin got a small train and Ella got a Holly Hobbie and Carie doll in addition to this family......

The Sunshine Family! This is the newer version, the originals looked even more "hippy-ish". Mom had long flowing hair and so did Dad and the little girl was a baby.. these guys were headed into the mid-70's with the long flowing dress and the dad's perm..and they had a new baby. Ella is thrilled with them. I only wish that I had the old camper that they came with. AHHHH, childhood.. and memories.

Can't wait to open up some more boxes. (Sorry, Andy)

A tale of two cakes, a boy and a mouse.

So my baby boy turned 8! Last Friday, March 6th marked the 8 year anniversary of the start of my adventures in Mommy-ing. This has been the most challenging journey of my life and some days are filled with joy while others make me want to pack it up and head to a Hilton! I am so grateful for my family and the opportunity to grow with them.

Gavin had very specific ideas about his birthday this year, and I let him run with it. He started his day with a school assembly where he was recognized for his entry in the Reflections program at school. It is an arts program and Gavin had entered two photographs, even though he didn't win he was very proud of his "vision" and had a great time at the assembly.

After school I met Gavin and a couple of his friends and we headed off to Chuck E. Cheese. This was the easiest birthday party EVER and we all had a great time! We took 4 of his friends and so we had 6 kids all together. Andy's parents and grandma joined us and were a great help. After 2 hours of pizza eating, token spending and ticket collecting, we headed back to our place for the ice cream cake that Gavin ordered himself from Baskin-Robbins. A few gifts later the kids played for half an hour and then headed home! Gavin ended his day cuddled up with me in his bed, that is what he asked me to give him for his birthday! So sweet!

We had a family birthday dinner with Andy's parents and my mom and step-dad on Sunday. Gavin wanted Panda Express and I made him a surprise birthday cake. I had intended on making this cake for the night we went to Chuck E. Cheese, but he really wanted the ice cream cake that night. So, we had Chinese food for dinner and "pizza" for dessert.

It was a great weekend and a we have had a great 8 years with this kid. I look forward to many, many more birthday celebrations.

Now What?

The week went really well! I felt rejuvenated and renewed even though my gut has been acting up (the last remnants of the stress ended up there). I got a lot done and Andy and I are getting along and working together as a team. (Yeah!) I made my way through some paperwork and did some homework and rested and worked and spent time with the kids. We had a busy weekend but spent time with family and worked on Gavin's room. (I am almost ready to post pictures.. maybe after next weekend) With the help of my mom, we even got one of the bookshelves put together! (I can't post pics of that because the drawers and baskets are not in yet!) It is frustrating that we now have ANOTHER project half finished, but I am dealing with it!

The fact that my mom came over to help leads you to the title of this post, my mom had to help put the bookcase together because..... Andy broke his hand! Last weekend he was trying to get a nail out of board and when the nail came out, his hand slipped and he punched the board! He broke his pinkie finger down by the wrist. It looked terrible and he spent an entire day at the Dr's office trying to get it taken care of. He is not very happy about his cast, it is waterproof, but not very comfortable. Being in a cast made it near impossible to use the drill or a screwdriver, so.. he called in the troops!

Funny story about the waterproof cast...Gavin got one when he broke his elbow last summer so Andy asked for one too. The Dr. asked if he was a surfer or something and Andy replied that he was a dad. Andy explained that he needed to be able to wash dishes and bathe kids without worrying about his cast getting wet, not to mention the convenience of bathing himself without bagging his arm. The Dr. seemed very confused about this and told Andy that it was a very unusual reason for getting a waterproof cast and that he would have to confer with some other Dr.'s about this. The Dr.s convened and they all agreed that this was not the usual reason and that they were not sure that Andy's reasons warranted the special cast. Finally after much deliberation and coaxing from Andy, they gave in and gave him the waterproof cast that he had requested. Apparently, surfing is a loftier reason than dad duties. I wonder if they would have questioned it that much if it was a woman who had mom duties? I told Andy that he should have just said, "Yeah, surfing.. that's it!" and been done with it!

I was able to take some time out this morning and join a few of the wonderful and amazing "Moms" in my life for coffee, conversation and a great speaker who talked about ways to strengthen your marriage. It felt like he was talking to ME! I really needed to hear his words and I am thankful that I made it to this meeting. (of course I had a hundred excuses of why I couldn't go, glad that I didn't fall for my own tricks). I really need to get to my homework and then head off to the gym (of course there will be laundry to fold in there too) so... I am off...

Hopefully we can finish up some projects and I can take pictures for you all to see all of the work that has been going on here... until then...

Off on another journey...

Well, we took a poll and all in the family agreed that there has been WAY too much going on around here lately and after Andy and I had a major blowout on Friday night, I am in agreement. We have been running around like crazy people, working and playing WAY TOO HARD! I have learned that there actually is such a thing as too much FUN! We are going to spend more time at home, just hanging out and maybe even doing nothing!

I am understanding that I cannot expect everything to be done NOW and perfectly and that somethings I must just do myself (and get over it). I am telling you, for a grown up, I really don't know much...at all! I think that I have it all figured out and then, I realize that the rules have changed, or that we are playing a different game entirely! I seem to think that my husband is superhuman and can fix dinner, clean the kitchen, put the kids to bed AND do all of the "man" jobs like fix stuff and take care of the yard (oh, and balance that with the new job that he has this year!) I am wrong, he can't... just like I can't go to school, go to work, do the paperwork and household chores, spend time with kids, scrapbook, work out AND still have the time and energy to work on projects until midnight. I am ... human. So is he. That is it. My secret is out! I CAN'T DO IT ALL. I can do some of it and I can do some of it well and the rest of it will either not be done, or done "half-assed". What I really want for my family is to do some of it and BE HAPPY. Whatever the cost, be it messy house, unfinished projects, dirty cars, unkempt yards.... I want us to get along and to enjoy our lives.

Don't get me wrong and go thinking that I am going to let everything go to pot and be joyous about it. I am just saying that I am going to try to let more things go and focus on what really matters. I will still probably hate the clutter and the brown patches on the lawn, but I would rather be known for my happy, wonderful family than for my Martha like home and yard. Really! (boy, that is hard to say, and I am sure that it will be even harder to live with) Today, I worked out and then I went to Lowe's to get the things that I thought Andy would get ('cause he is the man and men do that stuff) but realized that they were MY priority and not his. I also bought new plants for the porch, 'cause the ones we planted last spring are half dead and not really working in the space. I look at them everytime I walk in the door and wish that "someone" would do something about it, so I am, and I think that I am going to go and plant them, as soon as I get off of the computer!

After that, I am going to put on the handles for the laundry room cabinet, fold the laundry and maybe replace the hinges that are the wrong color. I will not get "everything" done today that "needs" to be done. But I will also do some of my homework and fix dinner and read to my kids. After that, I will see how many more hours (or minutes) are left before I retire to the couch to watch t.v. for an hour (which I am learning that I deserve!) before getting myself off to bed. I am going to work harder at taking care of ME... (and not by getting manicures or having days at the spa, but by being nicer to myself and accepting my human-ness). I am going to work harder at taking care of my family too, in this same way. I think that I spend so much time taking care of the house and the shopping and the laundry and the, and the, and the.. I forget about taking care of our hearts and our souls...

Off on another journey I am.... one of a deeper level of understanding and acceptance. I think that I have packed well and I really hope that I haven't forgotten anything.

p.s. We did not put together any of the furniture this weekend...we hung out, laughed, played, watched a movie, ate popcorn, went to a birthday party, had dinner as a family... and Andy replaced all of the switches and outlets in the family room, kitchen and laundry room. We will see how we do next weekend!

Weekend Fun!

Friday night was fun.. my mom and I had a blast at Gymboree and we did have coffee! When we got home, we found that Andy had hung up the Halloween lights and gotten started on decorating the house! We had a great dinner and then just hung out and relaxed.

Saturday was busy! We got up early and started painting the patio table, we decorated for Halloween with the kids, the neighbor kids came over to play, I did homework, we went to Gavin's soccer game and then we went to Andy's parents house to visit with GiGi and to have dinner. Andy and I even had time to watch a movie last night, we watched "The Breakup" and we both thought that it was pretty stupid, oh well.

Today, we headed off to Apple Country! Andy's parents and GiGi came with us! That was REALLY exciting because she has never gone on an outing with us! The weather was cool and crisp, but the sun was warm. After an hour in the car, we were ready to stretch our legs and have some apples! We bought candy, jam, apple butter, cider and LOADS of apples! We had a yummy fried chicken lunch picnic while we listened to "Merle" the yodeling country singer and the kids climbed around on the pumpkins. We brought home 4 different varieties: Pippen, Honeycrisp, Laura Red and Ambrosia! Lots to eat out of hand, some to cook with, some for applesauce and some for pie! We visited our 2 favorite sheds and figured out some other places that we would like to visit next year, since the kids are getting older and can handle a longer day. We got apple doughnuts and picked a few raspberries (Ella was a pro at this!) and then headed home for a wonderful pot roast dinner! A wonderful weekend with my family makes me feel ready for the week to come!