Friday, October 31, 2008

Today's one of those days where


the work picks you... you don't pick the work. There's no...I think I'll.... or maybe I'll.... It's all you are GOING to do A, B, C and then D...no ifs, ands or buts about it. Sometimes I think days like this are easier since my indecision and lack of focus can be a burden.

Luke and Liz are going up to Ottawa with a bunch of church kids. They came home from the youth meeting last night and told me! LOL (thanks for letting me know) There's a work party up there and they want to be a part of it. It's awesome that our church allows the youth so much opportunity to travel and meet other people! I don't know too many other churches that can say that. Liz got notice that her tickets have been bought for her trip to the southwest in February. She's SO exicted! She's been dying to visit V and L since they moved away from here. Then there's her plan to go to Norway to work and learn on what they call the "A" team after graduation. Hopefully she'll be accepted. If she is she'll be gone either 6mos or a year. What a scary thought...to not be around family for such a long time. Out of all my kids Liz is NOT the one I envisioned embracing this type of adventure. She was one of my most shy kids when she was little. Someone saying Hi sent her sliding under the table to hide. She didn't feel comfy answering and talking on the phone until a year ago or so. She still doesn't jump to be the one to answer it.

Anyways, because they are leaving this afternoon I had to gather up all the important documents for their border crossing. I also agreed to throw in their bedding since they wouldn't have time to do it once they came home from school. That's all done and hanging on the line with a load of jackets and costumes washing now.

Yeah, costumes. We finally ironed out what the girls were going to be at school. Olivia decided to be a black cat. She wore black loafers with black leggings with Carrie's black halter dress. She also added a pink shrug over it for modesty's sake. We made paper ears and colored them black then taped them onto a black and white headband. Carrie let her take her eyeliner pencil so she can draw an upside down triangle on her nose and 3 whiskers on each cheek. (she didn't do it, said there wasn't enough time to put the makeup on in school) There was discussion about her lack of a tail but it was decided that she looked catty enough without it so we didn't bother.

Eileen was a bit more difficult only because she didn't really have time to figure things out and get things together. She's missed so much school that she had a bunch of things that needed to be done so she could catchup. WAY past their bedtime I finally forced them to go to bed with a promise to Eileen we'd work on it in the morning. As she went to bed she said...I'll just be a mom. So that's what she is. She's wearing whatever she wore to school today and brought along a lifesize baby doll and a cell phone. lol I initially tried to talk her into bringing the doll stroller to push. She tried to say she'd bring the umbrella stroller. When I said no because it was too big she tried out the doll stroller. We all laughed and agreed she looked ridiculous all hunched down holding the handles.

I have to go pick up Michelle at 3:45, run to grab a few things and hope to be back before the kids leave for Ottawa and in time to get everyone dressed up and ready to go out the door. We've decided since we only have the car we'll have to stick with the village...no traveling to far off galaxies.

Time to go get the clothes out of the washer.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Nothing like blanking out

That's what I did this morning....I shut down, totally forgot I was a mom and had things that needed to be done. I woke up for a second when Tom was getting ready for work and then promptly fell back to sleep. I never woke up again until Luke woke me up tell me it was 7:24. The first trip bus comes between 7:25 and 7:30 and he was the only one awake. UGH!!!!! I didn't even jump up out of bed in a panic. No use to it...there was no rescuing the first trip kids. They were going in late no matter how fast they moved. Carrie did ask me to drive her in before the 2nd trip bus got there. She had a project to work on in 1st and 2nd period and couldn't afford to miss it. So I did...yeah me! lol The rest of the kids rode the 2nd bus in. Well those that went...Liz and Olivia stayed home again.

Yesterday was a 2 egg day! I found 2 eggs in the coop...one green and one brown. The brown was almost as big as a store bought large egg and had a pretty pink tint to it. This afternoon for some reason I decided to dig through the piles of bedding along the edges of the nesting box. I was surprised to find a small brown egg. I'm not sure which day it was from...good thing it's been cold out. I have an 18ct carton in the fridge that is slowly getting filled. We haven't used any yet. I told Danielle I'd make her a green egg omelet for breakfast. Think she'll be disappointed that the green color doesn't show up on her plate?

The kids are wracking their brains to figure out their Halloween costumes. The little kids need something for the school parade, something for trick or treating and then something preferably along the western theme for the church Harvest feast. I said I was going to be a monster, first thing I'll do for my costume is take out my front teeth! (I have a temp crown in and they came unglued) Everyone was thoroughly grossed out and begged me NOT to do it! lol We're still not sure where we're going or what we're doing.
Think there might a chance that it'll be canceled? I'm such a wet blanket! Hmmm...I just thought of my costume. I can go as myself and be a Funsucker! Oh I slay me.

Well kids are demanding I help them think of ideas and some are trying to convince me we need to take a trip to the store. They're so spoiled!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The germs are invading

Time to break out the lysol! 6 out of 10 kids here have come down with the fever, sore throat but it's not strep illness we have. You haven't seen a needy Sean until you've seen a sick Sean. He was so pathetic...couldn't sleep, couldn't nurse, didn't know what to do so cried all night and day. It breaks my heart to not be able to help him. Danielle, she's pretty easy going when she's sick although she can be clingy. Here I thought she was latching onto me because she missed me on Saturday. Then she started with the fever Sunday night.

It made for an easier couple of mornings since Liz and Carrie were the only ones going to school. Still I find myself wishing I didn't have to wake them...especially this morning...it was so cold, rainy and dark out. It didn't seem right to have to force them out of bed. Fleeting thoughts of...if I homeschooled I wouldn't have to do this went through my mind. But I got them up and they went out the door like good girls.

Halloween is coming up and the kids are starting to worry. What if we're sick? What are they going to be? They don't need just ONE costume....but THREE (school, TorT'ing, and Harvest feast at church). I told them one costume per customer. Then there's teh question of where are we going trick or treating? In the past we'd go to either my parents' or Tom's parents' house. Well Tom's parents' house has been sold and my parents are on vacation for the week so their house is locked up. I've tried to convince them to just stay home and have a party but for some reason they aren't liking that idea.

Pat's still without a car and a job. I'm not sure how he'll pay for rent this month. All I know is the "Mom and Dad Loan office" is bone dry and closed for business. Of course the revolving door is always working if he needs a bed, but then there's a problem of how to get and keep a job way out here without transportation. *heavy sigh* On the good side he's looking into culinary school. It seems pretty steep for me in price, not sure how he'll swing it. But if there's a will, there's a way.

It's very cold and rainy out! I went out to take Michelle to work and the grass was crunchy. The wind was so strong it almost pushed me off the road. Luckily it was in the direction of the shoulder and not the other lane, the car moved THAT much. I just hope the roads don't get too bad before I have to pick her up again. It was a rude awakening that times awastin for me to get a pair of shoes or boots. My birks aren't going to cut it for too much longer.

Well everyone's home and will be expecting dinner soon. I also need to get the kids motivated to clean the floor up in here...it's a mess! LOL I just mentioned picking up the floor to the kids and someone asked me....Who's coming over?

Sunday, October 26, 2008

My new favorite picture

Michelle just sent this too me off her phone. It was taken at the playground on Friday.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Girls day out

Liz, Olivia and Eileen had a fun day today with some cousins and a friend. Earlier in the week my SIL Della mentioned taking her girls to see High School Musical 3. When she also mentioned it would be nice to have someone sit with them through it so she could check out the mall...I jumped at the chance to include us in the plans and offered Liz to chaperone them. (asking Liz first of course) So we made plans to meet at the mall at 4:30.

I didn't tell the little girls until yesterday because I knew they'd be jumping out of their skin in excitement. And I was right. We dropped off Michelle at work at 2:15, waited in line for cheap gas, ran to Burger King to grab Michelle a breaktime snack, dropped off said snack and then onto our adventure.

I ran to the mall to pre-purchase the tickets...12 of them, 3 adults (12yo and over) and 9 kids. Liz was laughing at me as I was pulling out of the mall parking lot when she noticed me drumming my leg. She asked if I was excited and I had to admit...I was. I think I was also very glad to have that task off my mind. I kept thinking they'd be sold out, or I'd not get the adult/kid ratio right, or SOMETHING! I was also excited for them. It's not very often that they get to see a movie at a theater.

The 5 of us headed to the Chinese buffet for a leisurely lunch. As leisurely as Sean would allow it to be. He actually was pretty good. Near the end he was a bit impatient with sitting so Liz lugged him around and occupied him. We'd all been starving when we got there. Eileen said she was full while on her first plate. I threatened to not bring her again since she's a lightweight! Then I let her know I was joking and she didn't really have to eat more...to just sit and relax with us. Which she did. Me, I loaded my plates and...well let's just say I got my money's worth. lol As long as I'm not feeling ill at the end...everything is great!

After lunch it was back to the mall to meet everyone. We didn't have to wait for long before Della showed up and it was time to go into the movie. Cheryl's girls got there, we gave them their tickets and then headed toward the fabric store. I've been wanting to look at their fleece. I've been thinking of making everyone wearable blankets for Christmas. Tom hates when they carry their blankets out into the livingroom because they also usually get left in the livingroom. But we have a blanket with a hood that's a monster face. I've been wearing it around and it stays pretty well, it also keeps a lot of body heat in.

JoAnn's Fabric usually has a pretty decent price on fleece this time of the year. And they did but I found some REALLY soft fur fleece on clearance for $2.50 a yard and bought a ton of it. I also bought black fleece with the alphabet on it. I think it'll be Danielle's. I might even have enough to make Sean one out of it too. Guess that means I have to get my sewing machine out and tuned up pretty soon. I could make the no sew versions but I'd prefer them sewn. I reserve the right to change my mind though.

After the fabric store we bought coffee and sat and talked for a while. Seemed like no time at all before it was time to meet the kids again. We were having so much fun too! I had to stay in the city because Michelle was getting out of work in an hour and a half. So we headed to Kohl's. I had tons of 15% off coupons and also $10 in Kohl's cash to use. The girls had NO problem finding clearance stuff to buy. I also bought my dad 2 short sleeve button up shirts for next to nothing...one Christmas present done!

We left Kohl's with 10 minutes to spare before Michelle was out of work. So we headed back to her work. I ran in and almost immediately after that...she walked out. Liz had decided she wanted to stay in the van with a sleeping Sean so we literally ran through. I ended up throwing almost $190 worth to stuff into the my cart in about 20mins! That's insane!

Michelle needed to run into Walmart. So I stayed in the van with the sleeping baby and everyone else went in. Obviously their idea of running and my idea are two different things since it took them almost 45mins! It's a good thing I like to people watch because I did a lot of it. Oh the stories I invented. lol

We finally pulled into the driveway at 9:45. Sean had woken up and was screaming for attention! The kids took care of the groceries while I took care of Sean. Danielle was nonstop gab, telling me everything I missed while I was gone. I'd missed her.

The kids had a snack and went to bed. I started writing here and fell asleep midsentence about 3/4 of the way through (yes, I'm finishing this on Sunday morning). Sean didn't like the couch and started fussing about 2am...so into bed we went. It was bright and early when I woke up to realize I hadn't even gotten into the bathroom since about 3pm the day before...OOF! Good Morning to me!

Friday, October 24, 2008

We left and we're back


We had a nice trip but it was down right COLD by the time we were done. The apple farm was fun! The lady behind the counter really took to Danielle. She ended up asking me if I was interested in hand me downs. Seems her daughter jumped from a 2T/3T to a 6 in no time so she has clothes, especially dresses, in between that haven't been worn. I gladly accepted and left her my number. She mentioned to the kids that the barn sale was in the back and to push hard on that door. She got a kick out of their reaction when they saw all the treasures back there. While it was cool, I saw mostly costly junk. Well not totally, I found a smallish egg basket for $3 that I snatched up. Guess I can check that off my Christmas List. :o) She mentioned how good my kids were and how I had a broad age range. After I mentioned my oldest was 24 she asked how many kids DO you have?. When I answered 12 She did the jaw drop but quickly recovered into a huge smile and said...that'll keep you busy! I of course agreed with her.

I bought a lot of stuff...5 grocery bags full of apples...ida red, rome red, cortlands, empires and a bag of mixed....jonagold, crispins, spygold, and yellow delicious maybe...that bin wasn't marked. A 50lb bag of chef's potatoes, a bushel box of butternut squash, a huge head of cauliflower, and some cinnamon buns with tons of icing for the trip home. The kids hit up the rock candy container. I heard hints of her cutting the kids breaks on the prie of things. We'll definitely be back!

From there we headed to a playground. I asked the kids if they wanted to go to the school or the state park...they picked the school. By the time we got there the sun was starting to go down and the wind was whipping...brrrrrrr! Poor Sean was shivering so we didn't stay as long as we wanted to. Michelle had wanted to stop at the ice cream stand/diner before we hit the playground, but they were closed for the season. So after we were done at the playground she asked if we could head into another village and hit up the ice cream stand there...her treat...so we did. It was scrumptious.

With our bellies full we headed home, unloaded the car of the veggies and the kids started painting and carving pumpkins. They didn't have tons of time since they had to leave for Friday night activities. It was hard for them to stop what they were doing so they could leave but they did...except Jake...he's still sick. Seems the dr's office called while we were gone. They didn't mention why or who they were calling for. I'm assuming at least one of the boys tested positive for something. We'll have to wait until morning to find out who and what it was. That means Jake will definitely be missing my great nephew's birthday party tomorrow. I have to remember to call my nephew when I'm done here.

Danielle is now burning up. I guess I can consider it officially illness season. I just hope it's not one of those years where we keep passing things around and around.

Microwave just beeped...my squash is done. Time to eat!

I'm liking this


We decided...actually I decided to not go to the zoo today. Yes, it's the perfect day weatherwise but will sickies in the house it wouldn't be fun. The kids finally caught wind of my idea and were trying to convince me to go. Jake even offered to stay home with Luke offering to stay with him. But I'm not too keen on that.

Michelle came in from work with a bunch of pumpkins. She bought 2 bags of mini pumpkins. Each bag has 6 of them along with 2 paint sets. She also bought 5 boxes of already decorated small pumpkins. There are 2 pumpkins about the size of a cantelope in each box. They have silly face decals on them. So I guess we're painting the mini ones this afternoon and maybe carving the bigger ones this evening.

The kids all woke up ready to go. They cleaned up the floor and laid out tablecloths while I made pancakes. Then they had a pancake picnic on the livingroom floor. Now I personally wouldn't have chosen pancakes as a picnic food but they surpriseud me and did really well with them. Of course we had to keep Babyzilla/Sean out of the mix which he wasn't too pleased with.

Now the kids are getting cleaned up and dressed so we can leave. I'm hoping to go to the apple farm and get a bunch of apples. Then over to the school so the kids can play on the new playground. I'm trying to decide if I want to try to bring my magazine with me. Guess it wouldn't hurt to just bring it along.

Egg count is now up to 4 collected eggs. I know which EE'er is laying. Tom and I set up temporary nest boxes with a broken dresser on it's side and a rubbermaid tote ontop of that. I saw her fixing the bedding in the tote this morning with the White Plymouth Rock rooster next to her purring/cooing. Sure enough I just checked and there was a still warm green egg. :o) Her eggs are increasing in size nicely and has gone from teeny to small.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

It's Friday!


Yeah I know it's really only Thursday but to me...it's Friday. The kids have tomorrow off for a staff developmental day. (IMO they should make this staff day the day after Halloween so the kids can stay home and recoup...although this year it didn't matter) To me it' s a bonus day because Michelle has it off too. Any sensible person would say...YAY! I can stay home and relax or get something done. What do I do.. I know! Let's go to the zoo. My sensible side was starting to win over and I was thinking I probably should stay home (haven't mentioned the idea to the kids yet so no disappointment there). Thing is, I just checked the weather forecast...it's going to be VERY nice out...sunny and almost 60. We've just finished up a very wet and chilly streak so it'll be especially delicious. How can I not want to go to the zoo now? I have a zoo membership so it'll just be the gas to get there (have a full tank as I type). We can bring lunch, so no expense there. There aren't going to be too many more nice days to go. SHUT UP sensible side!!! So what if I really need to get some things done around here. So what if I deserve a day to just stay home. We can have FUN! Especially if Della and the kids go. :oD So yeah, as of right now....I'm going to the zoo tomorrow. Ask me again in 5 mins.

Around here things are going along as normal. Olivia is in a bit of a panic because she can't find her bookbag and today is her spelling test....we didn't study. (BAD mom!) Eileen went to school without her bi-weekly essay not done (rough draft due one week, finished copy due the next and on and on). I forgot it was a short week so didn't encourage her to get to it like I should have. WHY does the teacher insist on assigning stupid, boring topics? Write about 3 characteristics that make up a good student? BORING! How about something like...what would you life be like if you lived in space. Or you're going on a trip to Australia. or Antarctica Or your favorite fall/Halloween memory. I don't blame her for procrastinating. Although it doesn't excuse me from neglecting my homework duties. (HEY! I sign those folders every morning...what more do they want!?!)

Jake is sick today. I feel bad because he's been not feeling well all week and I've been treating him like he's been working me over to get a day off school. Last night he looked horrible and started running a slight fever...so he probably didn't feel well the last few days. Not exactly sure what I'm doing with him at the moment. I'm waiting to see how he fares once he's up and about this morning. I'd rather go to the doctor's today then tomorrow. UHOH! It just hit me...if he's sick...we CAN'T go to the zoo! UGH! I hate when my brain forgets something like that in the equation. It happens a lot.

Yesterday was an eggless day. We did get a 3rd one on Tuesday...another small green one. I'm not sure why the brown egg layer hasn't given us another yet. She may be laying them out in the yard. I thought with all the rain they'd lay in the coop for sure yesterday...there were huge puddles everywhere.

Yesterday was also a convenience less day. We lost electricity for a few hours. When it came back our DSL and internet were down. By dinner time DSL was back but internet wasn't. That came back shortly after bedtime. HOW did we survive without the net? I needed to call someone...but their number was online. I needed to look up a recipe...but couldn't get online. I had to find some info on the chickens...couldn't find my book or get online. One thing I learned though...I don't need the net to waste time. I can do that on my own very well. It helps that UB bought a new Mother Earth News magazine for me to read. :o) The nice thing is that I could read it semi guiltfree as I couldn't really do any work without electricity or water (no electricity...no pump for the well).

This post has sat as I did a bunch of things around here this morning, including taking care of the chickens. I came across some of them in the yard eating a broken egg. I just hope it's not a habit that'll be hard to break. NESTING BOXES! NESTING BOXES! NESTING BOXES! I guess the oyster shell I put off buying last time is now at the top of my list. And they won't have to sneak the cat's food anymore...I'll be giving them some of their own now.

I made Jake a 3pm appt for the doctor's and then called them back and had them add in Sean. He's not nursing well and isn't a happy camper. Well guess if I'm going out the door in a hour I should start getting people ready.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Another present from another lady


This time one of our Easter Eggers left us a present. I can't imagine she was actually trying to nest where I found it. I think it just kinda slipped out when she was roosting. We REALLY need to get those nesting boxes done!

I was so excited to see some of our chicks develop into what I suspected were Easter Eggers. These are a mixed breed that can lay a blue/green shelled eggs. Tom wasn't so gung-ho about them. After all, if we sell them who's going to want to buy weird colored eggs? I said I would! It could be a selling point, besides wouldn't green and/or blue eggs be pretty!? The hens didn't look to be maturing too rapidly. So I never would've suspected they would be next to lay. But lo and behold a teeny green egg was sitting on the floor of the coop when I did my rounds this morning. It's so pretty! Here it is next to a store bought large egg...



And here is the view from my camp chair. This is where I sit with my coffee and watch their antics. While we have their yard fenced in, we keep the door open so they can get the lush grass outside of their yard.



We ended up with only one Silver Laced Wyandotte Rooster which is good since I might have a hard time deciding who was to go. They look almost regal.



But my all time favorite guy is this mutt. At least I think he's a mutt. I'm pretty sure he was one of our packing peanuts (extra chicks put in the shipping box to ensure warm for the ordered chicks). He's so ugly he's adorable and he's really mild mannered and laid back too. I wasn't going to name any of them but I've started to think of him as Stew! lol



Then there's our freebies we got this week...

Leaving Danielle on cloud9 and asking to go outside a dozen times a day...a swing set! (had a picture of Danielle actually using it but the memory card wouldn't work)


Leaving me on cloud9...a glass topped patio table with 5 chairs!


And our pile of salvaged wood for the chicken coop

How can parents do that?


I admit as far as parents go, I can be considered a pushover. I have allowed things that a long time ago I thought for sure I wouldn't. I accept things I probably should be stronger against. I know that in the long run I'm probably not doing my kids any favors.

What I don't get is why would a parent deliberately sabotage their child's future? Why agree to do A and then pull it out from under them mid process because they aren't doing EXACTLY what you want them to.

One of the kids' friends is top of their class, was accepted to a ton of ivy league schools, is in the honors program in the school they're in now. They're preapproved for med school. All they have to do is keep up their grade point average during their premed years. Which they are willing to do and work for.

They don't approve certain people they hang out with (ok, my kid) and they think my kid is going to make them give up their dreams and quit school. So what do the parents do? They make it as difficult as they can for said kid to stay in school. This poor kid went to register for next semester today and found out that they owe $8000 for THIS semester and it has to be paid before they can register for the classes they NEED (and are in jeopardy of filling up fast). The only explanation for the gap in financing is that their parents stopped a loan they had applied for this summer. They didn't even warn this poor kid!

The school is helping them come up with $5,000 but that still makes a $3,000 deficit...kind of hard to make up on the spur of the moment. It's almost laughable in the grand scheme of things since a successful career will net that amount in a few days!

Even if they can go to their bank and get the loan, it's going to take time, which means classes are filling as they are waiting for the loan to process. If this had come up at the beginning of the semester, said kid would've had a job and been making payments on the deficit.

I don't know, maybe I'm only hearing one side of the story. I just know this kid is an extremely hard worker and good kid. That has bent over backwards to please the parents and yet they do this. And me being me, I'm trying to figure out a solution to this! I was fooling around and said we'd co-sign for this person. Pat didn't think I was too funny (remember I said we wouldn't co-sign on a car for him). Kids have no sense of humor!!!

Someone remind me I have 12 kids of my own to worry about!! I can't be a mother to everyone!

Bear with me for a while please


If some of you have noticed a few intrusive ad boxes, I apologize. I thought I'd never monetize my life or my personal blog. While working on a finance related blog (in the very baby stages...prefer to be anonymous right now) I stared adding adsense to it. Then it got me thinking...

With the state of the economy and even moreso the state of OUR economy, why not use what's already available to try to make ends meet. (over 4yrs of writing and almost 800 pages) So for the present time I'm doing a little experiment to see whether I can live with myself with selling out, write for myself and not the ads and just live with the aesthetics of having the ads on my blog. I'm thinking I'll give it to the end of the year before I make a decision one way or the other. Although I just may throw it all away.

I'm learning the system and adding things over time. And incase you're wondering...no I didn't redo the layout so I could do the ads. It seriously was an afterthought this weekend. Feel free to let me know what you think. What's your stance on it. Don't worry, I have a thick skin.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Something is bugging me!

I have no idea what it is but it's causing me feel terrible! It started while I was driving to pick up Michelle last night. It was so bad that I almost had to pull over. My eyes are swollen, sore and icky. I can hardly see this screen (good thing I can touch type fairly well). I can feel my sinuses starting to fill and a headache brewing. Hopefully getting some claritin in me will ease things up. Wish I could say it was from cleaning (stirring things up always irritates my sinuses) but we haven't gotten to that yet. I did spend a good amount of time outside so it's probably something out there.

Tom and I salvaged a bunch of wood panels from the conference grounds yesterday. They're gutting a building to make a caretaker's residence. When I dropped off the kids that were working there I saw these panels. I think they might've been shelves in a former life. Well I asked if we could have them and they said sure I was dying to stay and see what else they were throwing in the dumpster. I know there's huge hunks of insulation that I'd have loved to use in the chicken coop.

Funny how God provides. We are in need of nesting boxes and a way to enclose the bottom of the chicken coop and it wasn't really in the budget. Then I come across these panels. I knew they'd be perfect for those projects as soon as I saw them. Actually I've got a few more projects they'd be good for too. I don't think there'll be enough though. (cold frames, another chicken coop, fort for the kids)

When Eileen saw us unloading the panels she asked...Are you going to use those to build another chicken coop. LOL They say chickens are addicting...now I believe it. I love to take my coffee outside and just sit and watch them. I think when I'm older I'll be the crazy chicken lady instead of the crazy cat lady.

Well guess I should go and get some claritin into me and tell Tom how to do things the RIGHT way...I mean...help Tom. ;o)

Friday, October 17, 2008

Someone's been a good girl!


Someone was nice and left me a present today....an EGG! It was tiny but still...it's an egg! Our chickens have started to lay! I almost missed it even though I walked through the coop looking for them. (we haven't made the nest boxes yet...guess it's on this weekend's list now) Not seeing any I then cleaned up under the roosts and stirring up and renewing the rest of the bedding. It was as I was scooping up the litter from under the roost that I saw it. So I'm not entirely sure where they laid it. It was a little bit bigger then a golf ball. I knew that the eggs are small at first but it really surprised how small it was. Yes, I said was, as in no longer in existence. No we didn't eat it. It met an untimely demise. I won't go into details but will say it wasn't pretty. I just wish I'd gotten a picture taken before it happened.

It's funny how one factor can change your outlook of things. Just this morning I was moaning and groaning that I had to go out and take care of the chickens. I was complaining about how hard it was going to be in the winter with the snow. I had barely dragged myself out there this morning to take care of them. Since the egg was found I've had NO problem dragging my rear out there! I've actually been out there a few times this afternoon. lol

We've been leaving the run gate open so they can free range in the lusher grasses (their run is getting matted down and muddy). Now that I know someone's laying I'm kind of reluctant to let them roam. What if they lay in the bushes or tall grass? Yeah I know it's no biggie, they do it all the time. But that means I miss out on an egg. Poor poor me. Hopefully they'll be good little girls and go into the coop to lay. And hopefully I can get a picture of the next one!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Just to let you know


Things might look a bit wonky around here for a bit. I'm redoing the look of this place. So ignore the dust, hopefully before you know it the new and improved blog will be up and running.

My heart stopped


Put me to the top of the list of lunkhead moms. Way back in 2006 I bragged about fixing my screen door with velcro. It worked and has continued to work. The problem is...it's not escape proof. Sean just peels up the screen and out he goes through his very own baby door. Needless to say we have to keep the front door closed when it would be beneficial to have it open (main breeze source).

Yesterday Drew came by with his dog Sweetpea and Allison's dad's dog Spanky. Danielle and Sean were both terrified of Spanky! So I made a stupid assumption. Drew was sitting at the computer desk by the front door and could watch Sean who was sitting on the front porch with Spanky at the bottom of the porch stairs. Drew went down into the Val and Michelle's room. I assumed Sean wouldn't try to go down the porch stairs past Spanky since he was so terrified of him. WRONG!!!!

I realized that Sean was being really quiet so went to check on him. He wasn't on the porch. I couldn't see him in the front yard. I screamed for him. Michelle came running out the front door and I told her to check the road to see if he went for a walk. Then I ran out back. Having dragged Sean off the pool deck a dozen times in the last few days I was sure that was the first place he'd head. I knew when I came around the corner I'd find him in the pool. I was so sure of it I didn't want to go around the corner. But as I rounded the corner of the house I saw that the pool gate was still closed. PHEW!

But where did he go? I scanned the immediate area...the swingset, trampoline, ride on toys...nothing. That must mean he headed for the road. So I turned to run back up front. As I swung around I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I turned back around and looked again. There by the chicken run fence sat Sean, playing in the leaves. About 20ft across the ditch was UB (Uncle Billy) mowing under the tree.

I ran to Sean, scooped him up and gave him the biggest hug and kiss ever. I then realized I was shaking like a leaf. I haven't talked to UB about it. I'm too embarrassed and ashamed. I really have NO idea how long he was back there. Walking back up around the house all I kept thinking was...where was the mother? And that folks is what tragedies are made from. I'm just blessed and lucky this time there was a happy ending.

Oh if only they had NICE parents!


It's dark out but I can hear the rain falling...woohooo! Now I have a reason to stay inside. This place needs some TLC pretty badly. After my frenzy of a day the other day I switched gears and worked mentally. I spent a lot of time with Pat trying to figure out his car dilemma. It goes like this...you have to have a car to get to work, you have to have work to get a car. Ah life is simple. lol

It really had been an "I told you so" day. It went along the lines of...

Delusionalman - I don't want to buy a $500 car that'll break down on me immediately.

Practicalmom - It's hard to buy anything else, especially since you have NO money! If you get 6 months out of it you'll be 4mos up on a car payment.

DM - I'm going to buy a new car.

PM - You CAN'T buy a new car!!! You don't have a permanent job (working temp jobs atm)

DM - I'll work 3 jobs if I have to. They'll give me credit. They give EVERYONE credit.

PM - Ummm that's how the economy got the way it is NOW! Doesn't mean that you SHOULD have credit. And I really don't think they will.

And on and on it went. It took all I had to keep from smashing my head on the wall until finally I said... Your father TOLD you again and again...your car won't last forever, save your money. Baby your car or it'll crap out on you. Save your money. Well guess what...he knew what he was talking about!!!! But the young whippersnapper knew better and off to a dealership he went. I thought...ahh good let him hear it from a professional that he can't get credit. I got a phone call from DM later and do you know what he said...

I found a car...a Mercury Cougar (not a Corolla, Nissan, Focus, Elantra....a COUGAR!) It's only $7800 (I love those onlys...they are oh so effective). I respond with Oh good. Then the kicker came in... The dealer said I need a co-signer. STOP THE BUS! BAD car salesman! You were suppose to say you couldn't give him credit. Not say...Go ask your mom! Why do I have to be the bad guy!?! I was just the bad guy all day trying to squash his dreams and see reality! Now I have to do your job too? So what do I say??? I doubt it. I don't think they'll allow us to co-sign for you. Things are tight here. I'll talk to your dad! (yeah I suck too). I heard he talked to his dad too. I would think his dad was pretty clear to him that it wasn't possible. But obviously not because the kid called back the next day...Well? What did you decide? UGH!!! I had to take the gloves off and smash him against the wall of reality...both his and our's (our's isn't so pretty either). It wasn't a fun phone call and I felt like crap after. I was almost in tears. I really really hate being the bad guy.

I hate the fact that he's now sitting in his apartment alone trying to come to terms with things...trying to figure things out. I have to keep reminding myself he has options. He lives in a big village. He can walk down the street and have a job today if he wants (granted it's burger king or a gas station but it's something). He lives on a bus route, with a little planning he can go almost anywhere in the city. And I'm speaking from experience because I did it when I was a pregnant newlywed. I didn't drive until I was pregnant for Michelle so the boys and I took our fair share of bus rides. And of course as always I offered him a place to stay if he couldn't afford rent. But then transportation might be a problem out here.

Oh if only all their booboos could be fixed with a kiss, a hug, a bandaid and a piece of candy still.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Since I posted here last...


I decided to keep track of what I did today. I wanted to be able to look back and SEE that I didn't just sit on my fanny all day. (like some would have you believe) So here it is...

* Put Sean down for a nap (happy coinky dink)
* Finished first cup of coffee
* Planned weekly menu and posted it on my food blog (link also in the bar at the top of the page)
* FORCED Eileen and Olivia to stop cleaning their room and to GO OUTSIDE! (I'm such a mean mom!)
* Have kids watch Sean outside while I started bread
* Throw together the first batch of dough in my kitchen aid mixer
* Remember laundry needed to be changed
* Run down cellar to switch loads
* Realize I forgot basket and it's taking too long...need to shut off mixer
* Run back upstairs
* Met by Luke who announces Sean is stinky
* Throw in 2nd batch of dough
* Change Sean - wash hands
* Throw in batch of dough for garlic sticks
* Put ingredients away and wipe down counters
* Remember laundry is still waiting for me downstairs
* Dump basket of clean clothes out on kitchen table and go downstairs
* Empty dryer - throw in wet bedding (originally intended for the clothes line)
* Carry up unfolded baskets of lights - frustrated that I didn't just fold from the dyer like I normally do
* Shoo kids off the kitchen talbe - remind them it's not a stage
* Start folding clothes with Eileen, Olivia and Danielle
* Refold clothes thanks to Sean (I tell ya, it's a good thing he's so cute!)
* Girls take their clothes upstairs, taking Sean and Danielle with them
* Run down into basement to switch clothes
* Dryer not done - find a pile of damp clothes someone removed from the dryer on SUNDAY! GRRR!
* Empty washer into tote to wait for dryer
* Throw in quilts destined for the clothes line
* Run into bathroom - sort clothes on floor, pick up the floor while using the facilities
* Realize Michelle REALLY needs the bathroom I'm in (she had to go to work)
* Cut my visit short and move to the other bathroom
* Sort clothes and pick up what I can reach around me (much bigger room)
* Clean and sort the rest of the room with my mind (it doesn't work)
* Finish business and leave bathroom unfinished
* Pick up clothes in the hallway
* Sweep hall
* Get Sean out of toilet - wash hands- take him into living room
* Sweep up pile from hallway
* Remove Sean from toilet again - wash hands again
* Remember to close bathroom door
* Throw multiple small clothes pile into appropriate big piles
* Load kids into the van
* Drive Michelle to work
* Get frustrated that I can't multitask while cleaning
* Try the cleaning with my mind trick again...again it doesn't work
* Get home, drag sleeping kids out of van
* Shape bread and garlic sticks, let rise again
* Switch laundry
* Hang bedding on line
* Check on chickens and watch for a while
* Drag Sean out of chicken coop
* Pick some apples and tomatoes
* Drag Sean out of chicken coop
* Carry Sean and box of produce into house
* Throw bread sticks into oven
* Switch laundry, hang on the line
* Take out bread sticks, put in bread pans
* Sit with Sean and nurse intending to come write here
* Get reading and lose track of time
* Put Sean down for a nap
* Overcooked the bread!!!!!
* Came back here to write
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Still need to do....

Make dinner - easier dish of Shrimp Alfredo with linguini
Switch laundry as many times as I can
Make sure bedding is dry for bedtime (probably need some dryer time)
Have girls take showers
Get Carrie to come home sometime tonight
Go over spelling words
Pick up Michelle at 8
Pick up Liz after getting Michelle
Hopefully talk to my husband for a few minutes
Drive Pat into Liverpool

I'm sure there is more I'll end up doing tonight. I can honestly say I've slooowed down a bit from this afternoon. As busy as I was you wouldn't know it. It's a mess in here! I want a running tab to be displayed all the time. Oh wait, that probably wouldn't be so great for the days I really do sit on my fanny all day...nevermind.

Oh no! It's one of THOSE moods!


It's one of the moods I love/hate. I call it my domesticated bliss mood. The mood where everything you see that needs to be done, you want to do. The laundry...not only do I want to do the piles that I have sitting here...I want to strip all the beds and do a zillion loads of bedding too. I want to organize dressers and closets. The kitchen...not only do I want to clean and bleach the counters...I want to rearrange the cabinets, make a 4 course meal and do tons of baking. I want to get out my sewing machine and start tinkering...making Christmas presents, draft dogs, curtains, etc. And the kids are home! I want to take them up to the lake and go to the playground, go outside and kick the soccer ball around with them, sit out in the shade and watch the chickens.

UGH! The reality is... I'll end up with piles of sorted clothes and beds stripped. The kids will be clamoring for dry bedding when they should be happily jumping under their fresh linens and going to sleep. What clothes I did manage to wash will be sitting around in baskets, threatening to sneak back into the dirty laundry piles. I'll end up with my kitchen table piled high with various things from the cupboards and I'll throw together a quick pot of pasta and sauce together at 7pm. I won't get my sewing machine out and I'll probably never see a ray of sunshine. (ok, can't really say that will be true since I'm sitting in a sunbeam like a kitty right now lol)

Yep, it's one of those moods I love and hate at the same time. One of these days I may surprise myself and actually get everything I want accomplished. I doubt today will be the day. But you never know.

Time to go throw a load of bedding in the machine. Wish me luck! ;o)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

I am getting TOO old for this job!


Oh my goodness! I'm no spring chicken anymore. I had a doctor try to tell me that 6yrs ago...but would I listen...NO! Well Dr S, I'm listening now...because I have NO CHOICE! Right now my body is threatening to shut down at a moment's notice.

It all started before the sun came up yesterday. For some reason I've been finding myself awake at 4am. Usually I'll toss and turn for an hour or so, finally giving up trying to fall back to sleep and going out into the living room. Sean usually follows within 15-30mins. At least yesterday he let me sort and throw in some laundry before deciding he couldn't live without me by his side.

Then it was time to get ready for the Fall Conference at church. Due to needing to get Michelle to work and Tom's run to the dump we got to church 1.5hrs after I'd planned. It was beautiful day and Sean was taking full advantage of it. He LOVES the playground!!! Watching him it's amazing to realize he wasn't walking a month ago. He's getting fast! Most of my day was spent shadowing him along with attempting to sit and talk with the ladies.

It got really chilly, really quick once the sun went down. Then Sean fell apart. So I decided I wouldn't try to stay all night for the snack bar. I packed up the younger kids and we headed home. The proper thing for a responsible mom to do would've been to thrown them into the tub and wash off the grime of the playground. Instead I plunked myself down on the couch, changed Sean's diaper and nursed him while cuddling with Danielle. It didn't take either one of them long before they were out cold.

As much as I wanted to, I couldn't go to bed because I had to go back to church and pick up the older kids after the youth meeting and they were done cleaning. So I finished watching Princess Diary 2 with Eileen and Olivia and tried to catch up with things online. What I managed to do was doze off on the couch for about an hour. At least I woke up so I could pick up the kids when I needed to.

We got home and I sat back on the couch and talked to Luke for a while (Liz and Carrie went right to bed). Then I heard the noise every mother dreads at 1:30 in the morning...the phone ringing. It was Pat's personalized ring. UGH!!!! What now? Hopefully it wasn't he needed me to bail him out or he was in the hospital.

Nope, no jail time or hospital visits involved (phew!). His car was being idiotic! It was making a weird noise so he pulled over, now it wouldn't start. The only problem...he was on Route 81, south of Binghamton! As in...in Pennsylvania, south of Binghamton. "Luckily" it was only about 10 miles over the NY/PA border.

So I woke up Tom, put Sean's car seat into the car, grabbed the GEO's title (incase it was decided it was best to scrap it) and the temporary AAA membership card I received in the mail this week, and made a cup of coffee. Tom mumbled and grumbled about Pat not checking the oil (they JUST topped it off last Sunday when he was here!), grabbed a gallon of oil, his power inverter, my laptop with his Civilization CD in it and made himself a cup of coffee. We loaded the car and put Sean in his car seat and then hit the road.

After a few mistakes on what mile marker they were closest to we finally found them. They put oil in the car, tinkered with it a bit and it very reluctantly started. If he stopped giving it gas it'd quit but we decided it was best to try to get as close to home as possible with the thing. We stopped at the closest convenience store, grabbed some caffeine and a snack and then headed North.

We convinced Pat "as fast as possible" wasn't a good option for the car right now. That slow and steady was the way to get it home in one piece. That poor thing really took a beating on the hills. Pat was worried he'd run out of gas. We decided it was better to risk running out of gas then to stop the car before we got it into the driveway. We made it and pulled into the driveway shortly after 7:30am.

Sean had slept most of the drive and was raring to go. After all, the sun was shining! I fed him and let him play then managed to convince him to go lay down with me. After nursing a while he finally fell asleep for a decent size nap. Just wish I could've slept the whole time.

If this happened 10yrs ago, I'd have been raring to go after my little nap. Now all I'm doing is yearning for another nap! Which is pretty bad since I normally consider them a waste of time. Oh yeah I can see me just thriving with a nighttime job that leaves me with only a few hours of sleep every night. (something we've talked about recently). I'm turning into an old fart!!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Few more pictures I wanted to share


I'm suppose to be in the shower getting ready for a mega trip to the dentist. I've been told to expect to be sitting in the chair for 2 hrs (starting the caps for my front teeth). Liz and Olivia are getting work done before me so we'll probably be there 4+ hrs. UGH!! Luckily my parents live a few miles from the dentists. My mom's agreed to come and pick the 4 kids (Liz, Olivia, Danielle,and Sean) after the girls get their work done. Then I can sit in the chair care free. LOL

So instead of showering I decided to throw a few pictures up. Let's see if I can get this done before time runs out...tick tock, tick tock. Most are from the trip to the zoo we took in September. A few are from around the house.

Val and Michelle by the duck pond


A visitor during our lunch


Sean fascinated with our visitor


Danielle holding up the world


Me and the little ones


Val and Danielle


The colors changing, this morning as the first trip kids were waiting for the bus

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Sunday....Apple picking


I took Sean and Danielle to the meeting for the first time in a looong time. Because it had been so long I had to reteach Danielle how to act during a meeting (staying next to me, playing quietly, whispering if she needed to say anything). Sean is at the prime age that is difficult to have at the meetings, so I was wrestling with him quite a bit. It'll get easier the more I go...just need to stick with it.

Shortly after we got home Pat and Alex pulled in the driveway. They'd gone to my sister's house and picked up the 4 girls and brought them home. It was time to go apple picking! Liz had mentioned taking Sean and I blew her off saying he didn't need to go. Thinking about it more though I decided it would be nice if he went. As they climbed into the van I yelled to Pat....can you take Sean and he agreed!

Drew got home from work in time to go so Pat picked him and Allison up. I guess they also picked up Cory (Michelle's boyfriend) on the way through the village....so 15 kids with no parents. Weatherwise it was a perfect day to go!

Tom had no clue that I had shipped Sean off because he was taking a nap. That is until I came into the bedroom and announced we were TOTALLY alone! (first time that's happened in probably 1.5yrs!) I think we were having "fun" before they even pulled out of the driveway. LOL

After we cuddled and snoozed I announced we had to get up and get on with our date....it was rooster butchering time! Tom offed the roosters while I plucked and cleaned them. I still haven't decided which one of us has the worst job. We managed to take care of 6 of them before night overtook us. We finished just in time because the van pulled into the driveway as I was washing off the last one. I couldn't imagine doing that icky job with Sean underfoot!

Everyone was starving when the came in. I made a huge pot of broccoli soup. You can tell I haven't made the soup in a while because everyone was excited about it. It's one of my quick meals during the winter and they can get bored with it, but not now. Now it was a yummy feast!

The whole group
back row... Luke, Cory, Michelle, Val
middle row... Pat, Liz holding Sean, Carrie, Alex holding Danielle, Allison, Drew
front row... Jake, Eileen, Olivia
(click on it to see a larger version)
Photobucket

Who needs a ladder when you have a Lukey?


Pat being bad...climbing in the tree


Sean says...This day gets a thumbs up!


Danielle says...Is this how you do it?


Val, Allison and Michelle


Olivia, Alex, Danielle and Eileen


Carrie and Olivia


Pat! King of the apples!!!

Saturday night...Michelle's toga party


The kids had a good time. We hung out for a few minutes but ended up going into Liz and Carrie's room to watch Shrek the Third and then went to bed.

Janna (Val's best friend), Val, Michelle, Alex (Pat's girlfriend), Allison (Drew's girlfriend)


Sweetpea...Drew and Allison's dog


Drew and Allison


Pat and Tom


Janna and Danielle

Picture sharing time! Saturday morning


This weekend was busy and fun filled. The kids took lots of pictures so I'll steal them from their pages and share them here.

The issue I can't talk about has been resolved. Thank you for your prayers and positive thoughts, they helped a lot. We have a lot to be thankful for...things could've been a lot LOT worse. While no one likes setbacks, I'll gladly take this one over what we originally thought was going to happen.

I almost had a heart attack this morning. I was talking on the phone with my SIL. I put my coffee on my computer table, walked about 5 steps away from it when I realized Sean was next to the cup. Before I could turn around and get back to it, he had turned it over onto the table. He also managed to get it on my keyboard (bottom left quarter of it). I took a blow dryer to it but it didn't help, nothing was working when I tried to turn it on. I unscrewed the bottom of the case, cracked the case and turned the blow dryer back on. This time the laptop started but I didn't have a keyboard or mousepad. I now have a keyboard. :o) I JUST made the first payment on this thing!

OK onto the picture sharing....

Saturday morning...Breakfast with the Bears at the Zoo through Allison's work....

After they ate breakfast they made treats for the bears. Danielle made them a candy necklace with licorice whip thread and fruit loop beads. Olivia and Eileen made them wraps with tortillas, peanut butter, honey, apples and sweet potatoes. They then took the treats into the bear pen and hid the treats for the bears to find. They got to see how the bears feel because they were being observed while in the pen. lol



Michelle inside the pen


A bear finding and enjoying Olivia's treat


Allison and Danielle watching the bears


Olivia and Eileen


All my girls who went...

Saturday, October 04, 2008

I forgot to mention


I also managed to finish and publish my first post over at the newly relocated Mega-moms Blog

I did a take off of a post I made over at LOK last week about going to elementary school open house for the 19th time in a row.

So jump on over and take a gander...Do I HAVE to?. Oh and feel free to drop me a note and let me know you visited.

Sitting for a few minutes


Aaaaaaaaaah! Don't mind me, I'm just sitting on my butt. Yeah usually someone would be right to say I should get up and get going. Right now though if you said it you'd be risking your life. ;o)

Everyone is where they need to be for the present moment. Although they should start returning in no time at all. Danielle, Olivia, Eileen, Michelle and Val went with Allison to the zoo at 8am. They were having breakfast with the bears through Allison's work. I guess they get to go INTO the bear area and hide food for the bears to find. Sounds like lots of fun. They're suppose to be home around noon. The other kids, minus Liz went over to our church's bible competition at 9:30. Liz is home as she's sick with what looks to be strep throat. Right now she's napping upstairs with Sean. I couldn't get her into the dr so found a 12 day supply of antibiotics in my med cabinet to start her on yesterday. Yeah I know...you're NOT suppose to do THAT! But I can't let her stay sick until I find some free time and a vehicle...so I did it. Tom had an errand to do in the city so I'm truly sitting here alone right now!...when the sun is shining! Can't remember the last time that happened.

So what am I doing? Trying to ignore the HUGE list of things I should be doing while I sit here, nursing the rest of my cold coffee and scarfing down a fresh from the garden tomato sandwich. I've gotten the chickens watered and fed, and their coop cleaned out. Both the clothes and dish washer are going along with the clothes dryer. Should I start with the refrigerator, counters or bathrooms next? Hmmm...

Michelle is throwing herself a birthday party here with Drew, Pat, Val and a few friends...without little ones underfoot. It was all she wanted for her birthday...since she's never had a big birthday party. OOPS! So I've farmed everyone out except for Danielle and Sean, they'll stay here with Tom and I. Yep, we're staying put, that way we can make sure it stays at the level it was intended to be. I know Michelle is a responsible girl and doesn't want it to be anything but what's planned. But I've found word of mouth can do some crazy things and it's good to have backup. We'll probably hide out in our room with some snacks and a few movies.

Tomorrow looks to be a bit more relaxed, I think. Unless Tom has plans, I haven't talked to him about what's going on tomorrow. My plans so far are to go to the meeting in the morning. Pat and a few of the big kids want to take the little ones apple picking. So he's taking the van and picking up the kids from where they're spending the night and going. I've been invited but I was hoping that Tom and I (along with Sean) could spend the day here together. I was actually thinking of attempting something romantic like butchering roosters! ROFL! It HAS to be done, they're fighting each other constantly. What better time to do it then when you don't have a lot of little ones looking over your shoulder, getting into things or needing your help when you're a mess. But like I said, I haven't totally connected with Tom about tomorrow so we'll see how it goes.

Starting back in some group blogs


And the first one is LOK's Large Family Cooking Blog which started up this month. It's off to a good start and my first post is up...

Get it Done Ahead of Time which talks about my favorite shortcut in the kitchen.

Make sure you check out all the posts so far. And of course feel free to comment, we all love to get comments.

Up next is the relocated and revitalized Mega Mom's blog. But it's not quite ready yet, so it'll have to wait. I'll let you know when it's done and published.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Officially still on hold


But unofficially things are not looking good in our unmentionable situation. Granted it could be worse but it's still not like it should be. Looks like we're in for a fight and it's going to be a looong hard one.

It's so hard to try and be merry for a birthday with something so heavy hanging over you. I'm not even praying for a positive outcome anymore. Now it's the strength to give it over to God. I know everything that happens is for my benefit, even if I don't like it. I know that there's nothing I can do about things by thinking and rethinking it through. I just have to be patient and let the wheels that are spinning do what they have to do whether it's in our favor or not.

Another full fledged adult


Michelle is 21 today! We're not doing anything too special, just her birthday dinner which she picked out (pancakes, bacon, sausage, and fruit & yogurt parfaits) with cake and ice cream. I'm not sure how the timing of it'll go since we also have middle school open house and the youth are having a feast tonight at church. Luckily I canceled a dentist appointment that was today or I'd be ready to crawl back into bed. Actually I am ready to do that anyways.

Poor Olivia, she's laying on the couch next to me under a very comfy fleece blanket. She can't seem to keep her eyes open and get moving. It's one of those chilly, grey, wet mornings that makes it hard to get out of bed much less out the door. I already miss the beautiful weather we had last week. I could sit here wishing I'd enjoyed it a bit more, but I won't.

Sean on the other hand has NO problems getting up and getting going. He's been running since before his eyes opened (he literally does sit up before he even gets his eyes open). I think he's been over every inch of this house already. Unfortunately he's also discovered Michelle's birthday cake sitting on the counter and has tried to pull it down to see it a few times. This is gonna be fun (or I'm going to have to find a higher place to put the thing). Now if I could just bottle that energy....

Hopefully we'll have some news on the thing I can't talk about. I HATE not being able to talk about it. I'm normally a lay it all out there type of person. Stupid need for privacy...but I'll respect that, kinda.

Well Olivia is finally moving and that means I should help her and pay attention to her. I'll be back if there's any news on anything.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Asking for positive thoughts and a prayer or two


That thing I mentioned I can't talk about last week. Well I still can't talk about it but it's trying to go toward a really bad scenario for us. The we're fine and it's nothing major may be about to change to we are in deep doo doo.

So please send everything you can to us. Send for us to not be anxious. To have the strength to handle whatever comes up. And most of all for things to stay nothing major and fine.

Thanks