I got an email that someone had hacked into my blog here and that isn’t going to happen. Had to come kick them out.

     I guess I’m glad school has started back. I can honestly say that this summer flew by quicker than any I can remember. And yes, I think I can remember most of them. I’m not sure how I’m going to feel doing all the homework and the crazy afternoons. I’m not going to like those. I spoke to dh again about homeschooling. I still entertain that idea. He will never go for it. He never has. Too concerned about "socialization". Ack. Personally, there are times when I’d like to just keep my kids in a bubble. 

     Instead of sitting here blogging, I should be cleaning up the tornado house. Hmm, maybe not. I think it’s important for my children to see my thoughts. To know how their mom was really feeling. I’m concerned for Juliana. She is so afraid of her teacher and of having homework. She keeps telling me, "I do not know how to do homework."  Poor baby. And then there’s Tob. He got the strictest teacher in 5th grade and he is so worried about his handwriting. She takes off for handwriting. He is so worried about it that last night he was actually crying about it and asked me to hire someone to help teach him how to write better. Last but not least is Gray. Gray. What can I say ? He is going to sail through 2nd grade. He got an awesome, loving teacher and I’m sure he will have a wonderful year. Sometimes when I’m worrying about #1 and #3 I forget that I should worry about #2 (Gray).

     So, those are my thoughts right now. I need to go put on some coffee and music and start tackling the mess. 

Ps: I’ll add the first day photos later. 

Did what ? I got everything ready for tomorrow. I visited with my sister and niece, talked with my mother, talked with friends, took the kids to lunch and dinner, bought shoes, school uniforms, supplies, and typed up 2 book reports due in the morning. Nothing like a quiet day. I even bought groceries and toilet paper. Groceries and toilet paper.  Somebody ought to make a song about them. It’s the two things we are always out of here in the house. I bet it is the same in your house. When you run out of something in your house I bet it is either groceries or toilet paper. Having 3 bathrooms here really helps though. "Hey G, go check your bathroom and see if there is any toilet paper in there. It’s needed in the big bathroom." Don’t tell me you’ve never yelled that. I know you have.

Speaking of the house - it looks like a tornado has come through. I have finally gotten to the point where I warn people , "sure you can come in but know the house is a wreck" and then I let them on in. Yes, I hate it on the inside but I’m pretty sure their house isn’t perfect all the time either. Please tell me it isn’t so.

My throat is still killing me. I’ve got some viral something or other. Glands all swollen out. Throat red as heck. Oh, well. When you’re a mother you don’t stop. You can’t stop. Well, maybe to buy some groceries and toilet paper. hehe. 

So, I’m off to bed to try and sleep. I hate freaking getting up early in the morning but you know after the kiddies are on the bus I’m going to have PEACE AND QUIET around here. Ah, motherhood bliss. Peace and quiet. Along with groceries and toilet paper. (And dangit - it should be spelled toliet peper- cause that’s how my fingers keep typing it).

Peace out and butterfly kisses. 

     Today he got his cast off of his arm. They removed the cast and xrayed it and said that his bone was healed. The Dr made him go through a routine of movements and when none caused him any pain the Dr declared, "no more casts." Woohoo. We were really expecting to get a soft cast for another week or two. The first thing he did when he got home was jump in the swimming pool.

     Tomorrow we are off to see the "dentist specialist person". I have no idea what you even call her. She’s the one who is going to do the root canal on Tob’s tooth. His tooth has obviously died and is causing him a lot of pain. I took him to an emergency dental appointment yesterday morning and our regular dentist confirmed that he was indeed going to have to get a root canal. Tob is not happy about it. He keeps asking me if they could just pull the tooth and put in a "gold" one. Uh, son, I don’t think that’s going to happen in this family. Lol. Still a cute thought, but nope, not going to happen.

     Gray still has his rash and if it doesn’t clear by tomorrow I’m taking him in to the pediatrician. Juliana is still having pottying issues and I’m about to lose my mind over that one. I’ve got a headache that could kill a horse and I’m concerned because I keep getting this head pain in the exact same spot. All I keep wondering is "do I have a brain tumor like my grandfather did?" That’s a happy thought, eh ? 

     Tonight was the longest board meeting ever. Not that I have anything else in my life to do. UGH. Yes, that was sarcastic. Between hitting the different doctors’ offices I’m trying to hit the shoe store, school uniform store and the school supply store. I also need to hit the Jr League meeting store since I’ve got a lot of shitake to do before Monday morning. And oh yes, the luggage is still sitting in the foyer. Rest of the house is clean. The luggage just needs unpacking and laundered. Any takers ? Didn’t think so. 

Peace out and lots of butterfly kisses.

I’m going to give a condensed version since I have 1 million things to accomplish in the next 3 days.

May 22nd - the kids finish with school. We spent those first 2 weeks mainly at Francos, on the water slides, lounging by the pool their and then coming home to the pool here. Those were 2 nice and lazy weeks.

June 7th - I get everything prepared for the children and myself to spend the week in the woods at Cub Scout Camp. I was dreading this week and it ended up being the best week for Cub Scouts and for the year-to-date(that date) it was the best week ever. I worked "water front". That meant that I spent an entire week on the beach, by the canoes, on the rope swings, water slides and zip lines. It was sunny the entire week. The water front group had a fabulous time together. It was just awesome. I really enjoyed being completely outside the entire week. The kids had a blast, too. This was Tobin’s last year as a Cub Scout at Camp. He will go to Boy Scout Camp next year.

June 15th - I spent this week getting everything of Tobin’s bought and packed to go to Camp Laney. He and I left on Thursday of this week and spent a couple of days in Birmingham, AL and then drove on up to Mentone, AL. That was such an exciting and nerve-wracking day. I was dropping off my "first baby" for his 1st away camp. 2 weeks of away camp. He wrote me one letter that was 2 sentences long. LOL. Just like a 10 year old boy. He had a blast at Camp Laney. He turned into a "fisherman". He went fishing everyday in his free time. He told me he caught something everyday, too. Since coming home he has seemed quiter and a little bit more mature. A shame he can’t go to camp quarterly. Yeah, yeah. Bad mommy.

I was only home for 1 1/2 weeks before I had to turn around and go pick him up. I took J and Gray with me and we also left a couple days early so that we could go to Huntsville and visit my friend there. I was so happy that she was able to meet my two little ones. We had a nice time with Tiff and her family and J was super excited that she and R got to sleep together.

That brings us to — July 3rd: We pick Tobin up from camp. He was smiling from ear-to-ear. Oh, he broke his arm while at camp. 1 night before I was going to pick him up. They put his arm in a hard splint and wrapped it in an ace bandage for him. He wasn’t in pain when we picked him up. Instead of driving home (9 hours) we drove to Fairhope and spent the 4th of July weekend at the Grand Resort. I love it there and we had a lovely weekend. Dh drove up and met us there. He actually beat us there by about 10 minutes. We drove home the night of the 5th and that was a nerve-wracking drive. The traffic was bumper-to-bumper. Everyone coming home from their holiday weekend getaways. Dh’s truck kept overheating because we couldn’t drive fast, etc. It took us 7 hours to get home from there and it’s supposed to take maybe 3.

July 6th week: Whew. I finally have a normal week. Throw in a nephew’s birthday party and shopping for the Alaska trip and it was a pretty normal week. Oh, wait. No, it wasn’t. I was dealing with Tobin’s broken arm this week. Having it set and casted. Twice. Overall, it was an okay week. I was happy to see some of my extended family that week. OH Crap - how did I forget about that weekend ?? That was the Jr League Board Retreat weekend. LOL. I wasn’t home again. 4 weekends in a row at this point. Not home. I can’t say I thought this weekend was nearly as good as the last two. I felt that the members weren’t nearly as committed. They all just wanted to leave. I feel that that the board is very divided. Very. I think I’ve truly made up my mind to go "sustainer" and not run for president.

July 12th. Sunday afternoon and I am home from the board retreat. I slept on the couch for an hour or two thatafternoon. My busyness is catching up with me. We are leaving on Wednesday headed to Alaska for almost 3 weeks. I was busy the entire time finishing packing, getting the animals taken care of and buying the last minute stuff.

That brings me to August 2nd - yippee yeah, I’m finally back home from the Alaska trip. Where’s the report on Alaska ? That will be a post all by itself. We had an absolutely wonderful time. Beautiful, beautiful country. I loved seeing all the animals, mountains, icebergs, etc. Will I be moving there ? Heck no. LOL. Would I move to Seattle if I could ? Heck yes.

So, there’s my summer in a nutshell. I wasn’t home hardly at all and what time I was home - I did not have a computer. Mine fried. This is the first thing I’m typing on my new laptop. 

It’s good to be home. There’s truly no place like it.

    It’s been a while since I’ve written anything. May is just mayhem every year. Things are piling up, coming to an end or just beginning. I’ve had plenty of those this month. 

    I think I’ll start with T: T finished 4th grade with flying colors. All A’s and one B. He maintained A/B Honor Roll for the entire year and had A conduct for the entire year. He was voted best "book report presentor" which is just wonderful for me. He doesn’t mind talking in front of others and he knows his books when he reads them. T played basketball this year and finally got aggressive. Thank goodness considering he is going to be one tall kid. He’s currently playing baseball and it is what I call "bamboo shoot torture". I have no idea why he is doing this other than his dad is trying to live through his kids but that’s a whole ‘nother blog. Oh, T is going off this summer for his first ever "away camp". He’s excited and nervous and I am hoping that it helps mature him a bit.

    Then there’s G: G passed 1st grade with brillant colors. Straight A’s. A’s for the entire year and for conduct. He’s the little golden boy at school and the girls just love him. He is going to have no trouble getting dates one day. He played basketball for the first time ever and they stuck him on the wrong team. He never made a basket the entire season except for the "free throws" at half time. We were proud that he tried as hard as he did. He’s in baseball right now and absolutely hates it. I think that’s a lack of confidence and not really a dislike for the game. The last 2 games he has actually hit the ball and in the last game he scored a run. I cried. 

    Last but not least is J: J finished Kindergarden with a bang. She was the wildest dancer in her graduation performance and had everyone laughing. She is reading already. Shocked me like crazy the first time she read something to me. I had no idea she could even read. She did "Daisies" this year and has really enjoyed it. Can’t say that I made any close friends with the other moms. Maybe I should get involved more, eh ? J’s dance recital was this past weekend and she did the best she’s ever done. She had no fear on stage and was so excited. She truly knew the dance, too.  I was worried mid-year on how she was going to do academically, but I have no fears now. She blossomed these last couple of months.

    Me: I finally made it back to tennis and pilates. I’ve got a headache at this very moment from playing in the heat today. Yay for sunshine. I’ve got a new position on the board for Jr League. Sometimes, I really wonder why I continue to stay on. I’m doing a lot of reading right now. Spending a lot of time at the pool - one at the gym and in my backyard. It is so nice having a pool. Can’t say the house gets cleaned a lot because we seem to be staying outside all the time now. This is one of the reasons why I haven’t blogged lately.  I finally feel as if I’m to a point in my life where I can move forward and decide what I really want to do/be when I’m completely grown up. Life is real good right now. Other than my complaining about my body shape and weight everything is good.

   Here’s to a wonderful summer. I feel like the kids and I really started ours today out in the sun, sliding down the waterslides. Had a blast. I hope your summer is just as wonderful as mine.

Memories sure are a funny thing. There are places I’ve been I can’t even remember the name of but I can remember almost every detail of the first night I told this person that I loved him. I wonder if he remembers it ? It’s probably for the best that I do not ask him that because I know I’d be disappointed with the answer. I remember standing in the kitchen and telling his mother the names that we had picked out if we had sons. Good grief.

Speaking of his mother, she deserves a special star for putting up with me. I wasn’t mean to her or anything but she sure spoiled me. I went through this one stage where I wouldn’t eat fish. (Ironic now that all I want is raw fish.) She would always cook me some other meat. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it ? Well, not till I tell you that she did all this other meat cooking for me at their fishing camp. LOL. I think I’d beat my daughter if she did that to her boyfriend’s mother.

We had some great days at that camp. I loved going crabbing, running trout lines, gigging and especially riding the jet ski. Taking the big boat out alone was a lot of fun, too. Ah, to be young again. It would be so neat to look into a crystal ball that could show me what my life would have been like if I had taken that road. I know I’d be digging in a garden a lot.

Happy Spring, Y’all. I hope you have fun thinking back on your young loves.  

My list:

2 Flashlights (in case one of them quits working)

1 blanket

1 folding chair

1 reading light (it’s going to be pitch dark and there are no street lights around)

1 book

1 ipod - fully charged

1 cell phone (for 911 when the whacko tries to take me)

3 drinks (coffee, water, oj)

3 breakfast / snack options (donut holes, 2 cookies, 1 banana).

    I think that is it. Am I forgetting anything ? It’s going to be cool and damp at 4:30am, well, closer to 5 by the time I get there. I’m wearing bluejeans, tshirt and hoodie jacket. Not putting in contacts or makeup. I think I’ve truly lost my mind. Why am I doing this ?

    I’m doing this for my daughter. So that hopefully I can be in front this year and she can actually know that her mother/family was at the recital to see her. I’m doing this because the dance academy has a really whacked way of selling tickets. I had a friend get there at 5am last year and she said the line was already wrapped around the building. The tickets go on sale at 8am and it is "first come, first serve." So, if you want decent seats - you set your alarm to get up before the roosters and you go.

    Have I ever mentioned that Saturday is my one day to semi-sleep in ? Have I ever mentioned that I am not, without a doubt, a morning person ? Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely love my daughter ? I guess that sums it up. I wonder how many years I will set my alarm at 4:30am to go buy tickets for one of my childrens’ performances/atheletic games ? My answer is: For as long as I have children to show up for.

    I think I’m officially a mom now.  

December 2008 was just hell. I’d say it was probably 2nd in the "hell line" right after Katrina. I pray that nothing ever tops Katrina. What made December such hell ? Let me list the ways. 1) my surgery. My body is too old for that. 2) Tob’s surgery. Are there any antibiotics left that he can take ? 3) Car wreck. State Farm is a cheap, cheap insurance company. They should have totalled out my car. 3) Christmas. Good grief. This one alone stresses people to the max. 4) Tob’s tooth. Hey, why not break out all of your permanent teeth ? 5) Knee didn’t want to heal. Subsaquent weight gain followed. 6) Dh was overwhelmed by my being bed-ridden with knee. Great lack of food till friends stepped in.  Etc. Etc. Etc.

So, how did January go if December was so bad ? January went very well. Most all of the little things resolved themselves and I became afraid of the "January Jinx." I’m not lying. I became afraid if I mentioned that January was going well that I would screw everything up. I even thought of coming and doing a post called "January Jinx" but I honestly was afraid. I’ve lived near New Orleans way too long. All the "voo doo" and "hexes" and "shit".

I’m sure you know that February rolls around right after January and wouldn’t you know - February was good too ! I thought, "there is no way I can mess up my lucky streak." So, I didn’t. Can’t say I did anything romantic for Valentine’s Day but I got a really nice coffee pot and a bonus water cooler. You know you’re rating way high on the romance scale when you’re excited about a coffee pot and water cooler. I’m obviously getting old. Oh, wait. I think that happened in February too. Yep, it did. I turned a year older. Uh, we need to reverse this trend. My body is really beginning to protest.

However, with the exciting coffee pot and the extra candle , things were still going very well. I still couldn’t bring myself to come and break the "spell’. Somebody could really write a book about me and my neurosis. Spelling on that word, anyone ?

So, here it is March and here I am writing. What happened? you say. This is what happened. March brought about some stress. March brought about some awakenings and I’m not talking about the Kate Chopin style Awakenings. There is an old saying about "hold your friends close and your enemies closer." In my humble opinion that little quote really needs to be changed. It needs to be read like this: "Hold your enemies close - you already know who those are and hold your friends closer so you can see which one is about to stab you in the back." Nothing like a little sunshine on this bright and cheery night, eh ? Lol. 

It’s all good. I’m still being very respectful. I’m doing my part of "heaping coals on heads". (It’s in Proverbs. Yes, in the Bible) I know that I am accountable for my actions not for others’ actions.

Overall, March is still very good. Yes, there was a little blip on the radar but maybe God put it there so I’d get back to writing. I do miss writing.

Have a great night, Y’all. Peace out and lots of butterfly kisses.  

    In the last two weeks, we’ve had 2 surgeries, 1 wreck, and 1 major dental emergency in this family. My surgery went just fine. I thought I was going to die the first week and honestly do not remember a lot of that week. I’m so glad I’m doing better. Tob’s surgery went just as well. He got really sick that evening from the anesthesia, but other than that you can’t tell he’s even had a surgery.  Now, the dental emergency is a completely different story. That was just crap and I hope I never had to go through this again. Tob decided to take a face plant and break one of his front teeth completely in half while pushing up and out the other front tooth. Permenant teeth, of course. That’s the only way a 9 year old knows how to do it. And the wreck, well, that wasn’t fun at all. It scared the stuffing out of me. I can still see the stop sign coming right at Tob. Thank you Lord for allowing the angels to keep us safe. My poor car is at the car doctor right now and I’m really interested in seeing what the damages come back in at. I do feel for the 16 year old who hit us. I’m glad he wasn’t hurt. I’m glad I only banged my shoulder. Maybe his parents won’t give him another brand new car. Somehow, I doubt that.

    The tricky situation to the whole car wreck is that the kid who hit us has a sister the same age as Tob , in the same class at school. The family goes to our church. We see them very often. Tricky, tricky, tricky. Also, the insurance company is wanting me to settle with them and I really have no intentions of "sueing" them, but I don’t have a clue what to do regarding potential further medical bills, if they should arise, regarding my shoulder. Sighs.

    However, it’s Christmas Eve and I’m happy. I think the children are going to be super pleased with Santa’s gifts this year. I will be happy to retire the Elf. The little Elf is a great tradition but at the same time a major pita. Look that up if you don’t know that acronym.

    Don’t forget to put out the cookies and milk for Santa. His reindeer might like some food , too. I’m off to start getting Christmas Eve dinner together and to put one little , grumpy princess down to a nap. We had a late night last night and it’s showing right now.

Merry Christmas Eve, y’all from a balmy, humidity 77 degrees !!