I am a happily married mother of three boys. I am a full time mom, and I work part-time tutoring English at our local JC and on the OWL. I'm having a great time! Although I don't have much spare time, I do like to write and I try to update this blog as much as I can. Most of my free time is devoted to my family, and when they're busy, I can get on here and type a bit! Sometimes, I have a lot to say and you can read about it here.....
The damn rabbit ate through the bottom string of lights. (Don't worry, the lights weren't plugged in, and she's fine.) I haven't gone out to buy another string of lights yet so only the top third of my tree is lit up. It looks really stupid.
After all the work I've done finding my Christmas spirit...
Tomorrow is a big day. We will be one step closer to one big, happy family. Well, we've been a big, happy family for a long time now. However, tomorrow, we are going to see the social worker for our final interview in the adoption process. My husband is adopting the big boys and we will soon all have the same last name!! :-)
I know, it's not all about the name. Really, I know. It's about the boys and my husband belonging to each other and getting what they've wanted for so long. It's about that final letting go of bad memories and hurt. Their name is attached to someone who hurt them so deeply, someone who neglected their feelings and their need for love.
I can't wait until the meeting with the judge. While I had hoped that it would be before the new year, I'm thinking that the judicial wheels turn a bit slower than I had hoped. :-) Oh well, it's going to happen.
Well, I've taken most/all of his privileges. He doesn't have his cell phone, the PS2 is gone Mon-Friday, and he can only go to a friend's house once a week, on the weekend. He also doesn't have use of the computer, unless it is school-related. There are other things in place, too. For example, he is required to do homework every day at the table with us for one and a half hours. If all of his hw is done, then he reads at the table. He has read more novels in the last couple of weeks than I have seen him read in years.
I know that all of this won't make much of a difference for this grading period-there are only four weeks left. However, all of these things need to be in place so that he can start the next grading period off right.
I am torn with him because really, if he would just do okay in school, the boy would be damn near perfect. He's funny, good-looking, and a really good big brother. He doesn't talk back, and doesn't give me any grief-except with the school work.
I also don't want to be super-strict. I am not that kind of mom. I can't be with him forever. He needs to learn how to take responsibility for his own actions and deal with the consequences if he doesn't make good choices. Unfortunately for him, that may mean taking these classes in intercession or taking this grade over. Maybe that will wake him up.
So now that the elections are over, I'm going to go back to talking about the jumble of craziness at home.
My oldest son is slowly trying to kill me. We got progress reports on Halloween, and his grades have dropped even further, which I didn't even think was possible. He was kicked off the cross-country team and he is now required to attend math intervention on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. When we talked to him, he didn't have any kind of attitude at all; he just seemed resigned to the bad performance. He said that he just doesn't feel like doing homework.
So how do you deal with a boy who is so smart, but is the first to admit that he's just lazy? How do you motivate him?
We have changed around our schedules so that after school, we are always home when he is, and we have taken away all video games during the week. He is required to do homework for at least an hour after school, and all of us sit at the table together to do it.
Still, I got a call from his math teacher saying that he still isn't turning in his work. If he's doing it, why isn't he turning it in???? He says that he forgets.
I am just at the end of my wits with him. I'm so frustrated. I consider myself a good mom, but when it comes to what is happening with his grades, I am a complete failure. I just don't know what to do.
I never thought that it would happen in my lifetime. We have elected the first African-American President!!!!! Yes we can!!!!!! I am so proud of us! :-)
It is so very important to get out and vote!!!!!! It is both your right and your responsibility.
Although we don't always agree, I encourage you to vote for whomever you choose to vote for-even if it isn't my guy.*cough*Barack Obama*cough* Do it!!!!! Vote!!!!!
Peace Out, Mom
image borrowed from http://antsinmepants.blogspot.com/2007/05/save-kitten-vote.html
Last year, around this time, my heart was racing as I felt the dread of losing my home to the fires that were raging through our county. We, with anxieties mounting, watched the news as our community members grabbed loved ones and precious belongings and fled into an angry, flaming night, fearing for their lives. We were lucky. While we did get the news that we should be prepared, and we could see the flames tickling the hills near our home, we were safe. Our van sat five feet from our back door, loaded with a bag for each of us, our wedding pictures, insurance papers, and food and shelter for our animals. We were convinced that we weren't worried about losing our home, as long as our family was safe.
Now, a year later, that sense of anxiety is mounting again, but this time, it's because those around us are losing their jobs and their homes. You might have heard that Mervyns filed for bankruptcy, but what you might not know is that my mom and all of my adopted "aunties" have worked for Mervyns for 20 plus years.
The news is replete with businesses closing their doors, or employees getting laid off. If you're like me, you watch the news with a small tinge of sadness, thinking about how all of this will pan out. I know that I thought of those faceless employees and thanked God that I wasn't affected by the jobless situation.
Now, even though it hasn't yet permeated my small corner of the world in the same way it has affected others, I feel the pain and angst that plagues my mom and her friends-my aunties. These are women who don't have "formal" education. They worked their way up the ladder like so many women their age have done.
They worked in a retail store, where they began as a cashier or a stocker. They worked very hard, and proved themselves to be worthy of promotion after promotion, suffering through small raises and slave labor until they finally reached the level where they were given the opportunity to be managers and make a good salary with benefits. They reached middle age when their kids moved out and they could enjoy their salary by finally taking vacations and enjoying their husbands. They were also able to buy gifts for their families and enjoy the years prior to retirement.
Now, all of that hard work is gone. *poof!* Their 401ks are just about worthless, and they are all in their 50's, not yet ready for retirement, without a job. So without that "formal" education, and being the age that they are, what's next?
I've said before that my mom is one of the strongest women I know. She's smart and an extremely hard worker. If our country's economic situation wasn't in the dire straits that it is in now, I wouldn't be so worried. She deserves better than this.
The flames are tickling my ankles and the anxiety is mounting. It may be time again to hold everyone close and send up a prayer.
I wish that I could be independently wealthy. That would be fantastic. I've mentioned before that we work a lot. I'm not complaining. It was our decision to buy this house, so we need to work to keep it.
My middle son's friend lives down the street from us. Well, we live in a condo, so he lives in the next building over. A couple of weeks ago, I saw his mom at the school and she told me that they were going in to foreclosure. She is a stay-at-home mom with three kids. The oldest is in middle school with my son, the middle daughter is in kinder, and the youngest is three. Her husband works during the day. She told me that he was working a lot and he was really stressed out all of the time. So I asked her why she didn't get a night job, a few days a week, that she could work after he cam home at night. She said that she tried that, but she was just too tired. Then, she shared with me that her mortgage is about half of what we pay-for the same sized condo. So this week, they are moving into a small apartment-a two-bedroom because they are short-selling their condo.
Now, I know that many people are facing the fact that they may lose their house. It's a reality. I have a hard time not passing judgement on their situations.
For us, we have asked the bank numerous times to work with us to drop our 4-grand a month mortgage. When we bought the condo, we were assured that after two years, we would be able to refinance for a smaller mortgage payment. I guess no one could have foreseen that the housing market would drop so much that we would lose half of what we bought our house for, therefore eliminating the option of refinancing.
So we work-a lot. I don't want to lose the first home that we bought together. Yes, it's stressful, but it's worth it. I hope.
Yesterday, I went to a lecture on our community college campus. Initially, I went because my professor friend was the one who organized the event, and to be honest, the lecturer is a beautiful man. So what drew me in ended up not being the same thing that kept me hooked.
E. Benjamin Skinner is a modern day abolitionist. He wrote a book called A Crime So Monstrous:Face-To-Face With Modern Day Slavery. I learned from this man that there are more slaves in the world today than there ever where at the time when slavery was legal in our country. He shared stories of heartache and horror. He told the audience about being able to buy human life for only 50 dollars in many parts of the world. He told us about a young down syndrome girl who was offered to him for the price of a used car. He told us stories of all of these atrocities that I had no idea were still happening on the level that he describes. And now, I am forever changed.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." To me, that means that when you know that something awful is happening, if you don't speak out about it, and do something to change it, you are just as much at fault as those who perpetuate the evil injustices. I don't want to be one of those people. And to be honest, after seeing Mr. Skinner, and meeting him afterwards, I just don't think that I can just sit back and let it all happen.
After the lecture, there was a luncheon that I was lucky enough to be invited to. When I met him, up close and in person, he was a very genuine and warm man. I told him that I was honored to meet him. My friend told him what I do and he replied that everything that he ever learned about writing, he learned from an English tutor. And everything that he learned wrong was from an English teacher. Of course, that really made me like him even more. ;-) I asked him what someone like me, just a simple mom and tutor, could do to help. He said that there were organizations that help to rehabilitate freed slaves and they need help with education-learning the basics. Immediately, I thought, "I can do that!"
Now, my goal is to find out what I can do to make a difference-as small as it may be-and encourage my friends to do the same.
Why is it that people feel the need to forward me emails about miracles that were performed by the common man or woman, with the influence of God whispering, and sometimes shouting, in their ears to influence their decisions? Following these unbelievable stories of coincidence combined with divine intervention, there are always instructions, requiring me to forward to 10, 20, or 40 friends to "prove" that I believe in, or love, God.
Last I checked, God didn't have email. And I don't need to prove to anyone but God that I believe in him-or her, for that matter. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I know that these emails are fabricated by individuals with wonderful imaginations. Why can't you see that????
If you need assistance or attention, please don't sit there and audibly sigh. Ask for help! Call your friend and tell her that you need to talk. Reach out to someone!
I am sitting here at work in the Writing Center, and I know that the student next to me is having issues with her computer and she is unable to print. Instead of asking for help, she is heavily sighing, waiting for me to offer my assistance. I refuse! I want to shout at her "Don't be a victim!" Yet, she has now sighed a total of 10 times. I would be more than happy to help if she would just ask...*sigh*
A couple of years ago, my parents started saving up to take a trip to Ireland. My mom had always wanted to go, and with the kids out of the house, they figured that it was about time.
Then, my sister decided that she makes a lot of money, and her boyfriend wouldn't be able to afford it, so she decided to go with them.
If it were just my parents going, I wouldn't be so f'ing jealous. They've worked pretty hard for a long time. But my sister going with them leaves me at home, a little jealous.
They left this morning and they will be gone for 10 days. I get to take care of their dog.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Associated Press) -- Seven of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's top aides are defying subpoenas for their testimony into possible abuse of power by the governor. Palin's Chief of Staff Mike Nizich and six other aides have failed to appear at a legislative hearing Friday into whether Palin abused her power when she fired her public safety commissioner this summer,
Alaska Senate Judiciary Chairman Hollis French, a Democrat, waited 30 minutes Friday before reading a statement that the witnesses could be found in contempt when the full Legislature convenes in January.
Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg filed a lawsuit on behalf of the seven state workers Thursday challenging the subpoenas. He claims the committee has no jurisdiction to issue subpoenas in the investigation.
We just got back from camping yesterday. We left Thursday evening, so we were up there about three full days. We really like camping together, and despite occasional bickering, we all have a great time.
It was warm during the day and pretty darn chilly at night, but we did okay. The dog went with us and slept with the boys, guarding their tent. We have two tents and we face them toward each other with just enough room to get out in between. The boys all like having their own tent and mommy and daddy like being in their own tent, too! ;-)
We only had minor issues,like little man getting a little burn from a flying, flaming marshmallow. Don't worry, it wasn't serious. ;-) Other than that, it was pretty fun.
We spent one of the days at the falls and the boys had a great time scouting for tadpoles and frogs. The big boys liked giving me a nervous breakdown as they jumped from high boulders into the water. (All I kept envisioning were ambulances and emergency rooms.)
I finished the last book in the Twilight series while I was there, and I enjoyed being away from the phone and computer. But now, I am enjoying being clean and campfire smoke-free. ;-)
His grades barely qualified him to stay on cross country. I was torn between taking him off of the team, and allowing him to race. In the end, I let him stay on the team because he needs to have somewhere to go and keep him out of trouble. We have changed the way that we do homework in this house, and we are working closely with the teachers again. He's a good boy. Other than his grades, I don't have any complaints. He makes me very happy. When he crossed the finish line, he was hurting. It was his very first competitive race and it was just under two miles long. I was SOOO proud of him. My eyes welled up and my heart just burst wide open. Peace Out, Mom
The boys got their progress reports yesterday. Not too good. Now, I am trying to be understanding. I mean, they both have moved to the bottom of the school food chain as they have moved up in grade. However, MO brought home a 2.0, which barely makes him eligible for cross-country, and MM brought home a 2.5. Both of them had comments that they were missing homework. ARGH!!!
They are both VERY good boys, and I feel like we have a very good relationship as a family, so I really don't have too much to complain about. That being said, I won't tolerate them not doing their homework. If they are struggling with the material, that's something that we can work with. If they are just not doing their work-that is unacceptable.
I did not take away any privileges, except the play.station. They can't have their play.stations until they go on break in two weeks.(Year-round school)
I actually cried. A lot. My husband and I work very hard so that we can live in a good neighborhood and they can attend the schools that they do. We also work around each other's schedules to make sure that there is always someone home when they are. The researchers say that this means that our boys should be getting straight A's. Damn those researchers.
His speech was fantastic. In the beginning, I was a Hillary fan, but he's really won me over. I believe in the change that he's promising. To hear his story, his family's story, really, is inspiring. I watched his speech, and saw the look on people's faces, and I thought about the hope that he brings to people. Tears came to my eyes and I, like all of those people in the crowd, and all of the people watching,felt hopeful. Peace Out, Mom
Last week, I had horrible abdominal pain (mostly on the right side) and was out of action for a couple of days. I am thinking that it was an ovarian cyst. I had one many years ago, and the pain was reminiscent of that incident, and it subsided over time, which is a sign of a cyst. We don't have insurance right now, (don't worry-we're working on it)so I was unable to go to the doc. Also, my period was a bit late and my mind began to wander to pregnancy hopes. As I've mentioned before, my biological clock is ticking loudly in my ear, and I really do want another baby. I know that it's not a good time, and that we work a lot already, but that doesn't stop the yearning. I actually started to feel pregnant, and I was really happy. Then yesterday, my late period started. My husband was happy. And I cried. Peace Out, Mom
Monday, the college opened. Because we are in a recession, and because our school's budget has been hacked by at least 15 percent, our writing center won't open until the third week of school. We will also be operating with a skeleton crew and limited hours of operation. I have about ten fewer hours a week than I did last year. It hurts. I am already working a few part-time jobs.
I am working in the college bookstore for the first couple weeks of school until the center opens.
I am also piloting a new Power study group for English classes this semester. I am so excited. I started this week, and it really is a great opportunity for me.
Although I was accepted to the University, I had to put that on hold while we work through the changes that are happening with our family. It is frustrating because I would really like to be teaching classes of my own. Life happens, you know?
I hope our economy pulls out of this slump soon. We've already lost over 150 thousand dollars on our house. We now owe more than our house is worth. Our mortgage payment is over 3300 dollars. Every time we make a payment, a little part of me dies. I think it's the part of me that really wants to go on a Disney cruise. ;-)
The visit with the MIL went better than I thought it would go. Since my FIL passed away, she hasn't had any contact with his family. They don't invite her over, and she isn't included in any festivities or family get-togethers on that side. Although she denies it, I think it hurts her feelings. So I think that she really wants things between us to be different. I like her. I love her son. ;-)
We went to get a family portrait done, and we included all the grandparents. It was pretty fun. My mom and dad are so awesome. I'll post the pics when we get them!
On Saturday night, we all had dinner at my parents' house. It was really a good time, and we all laughed and played Monopoly. I really was sad to see her go on Sunday.
The only reason that I was happy to see her go is that I finally got my bed back! Without a spare room, the MIL slept in our bed, and my hubby and I slept on the couch. I'm getting too old for that! ;-)
My oldest, along with being incredibly smart, is also incredibly handsome. He knows this. For some reason, he thinks it is okay if he slips in his studies, as long as he has a cushion of friends around him waiting to socialize. We are diligent in our efforts to contact his teachers-weekly, and we require him to sit at the table every day for at least 30 minutes, with us, to do some sort of homework or studying. Despite this, he still fails to turn in homework, but continues to do well on tests. I am exceedingly frustrated.
Yesterday, my husband was driving home from picking up the middle son when he passed MO ditching cross country practice to hang out with some girls near the school. On my way home from work, I went by the field where all of the cross country runners congregate to find the coach. He revealed to me that MO had also missed a practice last week.
He came home at the normal "after practice" time and I asked him how practice was. He answered with the expected "good!" So from there, I told him that he knew. Instead of yelling, I calmly told him that we were revoking all of his privileges. Everything. Until further notice. I talked more to him about it later on when we had some alone time.
I think back to when he was born and everything that I ever wanted for myself went right into him. Everything and anything that I ever wanted for myself was transferred right over. I called him my little prince. He's in the midst of teenagerdom, and I know some of this is just a phase. In the grand scheme of things, he is a freakin' awesome kid. I know that he will turn out okay, I just hope that he isn't forced to pull himself out of too many sticky situations that he gets himself into. But then again, he may learn a lot from those sticky situations. ;-)
"If you want your children to improve, let them overhear the nice things you say about them to others." ~Haim Ginott
Me-I want my kids to know that I have faith in them. If I can't believe, no matter how much they may screw up, that they will make something of themselves one day, who else will? No matter what, I know that they are wonderful, loving, and brilliant boys. And I tell them, and everyone else around me, every day.
"The guys who fear becoming fathers don't understand that fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. The end product of child raising is not the child but the parent." ~Frank Pittman, Man Enough
Me-This works for moms, too. ;-) I am a better person because of my children.
"Parenthood is a lot easier to get into than out of." ~Bruce Lansky
Me-I've thought a lot about this lately. I can't imagine wanting out of this wonderful, chaotic experience. I don't understand anyone who willingly starts, or joins, a family wanting to get out-emotionally or physically. I am their parent-No matter what they do, no matter what happens, I am there for them. I can't take a break from this job. The end result will be that I am proud of the young men that I have raised. Along the road, there will be tears, shouting, angry words, and hurt feelings. That's okay. It's called a family. I'm not checking out. To balance out that heartache, there will be joy, love, pride, and accomplishment. It's all worth it.
The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.-Richard Bach
Me- Our family is not the "average" family. But we are awesome. My husband loves and cares for each of these boys equally. Even though a couple don't carry his DNA, they have his heart, and in the end, that's all that matters.
I can be very judgemental at times. I know this about myself, and I accept it. I can't say that it is something that I'm working on because really, it is just who I am.
When you are my friend, I love you fiercely, and I would do anything to protect you. However, if you hurt me, I can be angry and vengeful with equal ferocity. At the same time, I get over things quickly. My emotions are worn all over me, and I'm not good at hiding what I'm thinking or feeling.
I guess the reason why I am spilling all of this out is because I often say what I'm thinking or write it out. It's not that I don't think before I speak; that's not it. I do think about it, and what comes out is what I truly feel. I know that I can hurt people sometimes, but I would expect those close to me to tell me when I'm doing something stupid.
My mom asked me once why I have a blog, and she commented the other day that I wouldn't put all of this out on the internet if I didn't want people to read it. I guess that's true. I have this blog to vent, and to connect to others who are venting. When I post about things that are happening, I expect people to comment, either favorably or inauspiciously. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. That would be silly. But I do hope that, whether you agree with me or not, you keep coming back. Dialogue is what makes people think, and that is so effing important. Peace Out, Mom
My oldest has decided to run cross country this year instead of football, which makes me very happy. He is very fast, and his body is made for running.
Everyday, when he gets home from practice, we ask him if he has any homework, and to that, his usual reply is "no." Yesterday, I asked to see his binders. Then, I told him that I would be emailing his instructors to check on his progress. At that point, he broke down and started to cry. He said that he is having problems in his second year Spanish class, and is just not understanding. He was afraid to tell us. That sucks. I told him that we just want him to succeed, and we want to make it possible for him to do that. I recommended that he go to his counselor tomorrow and ask if he can move down to Spanish 1-2. He's afraid that if they make the change, they will change all of his classes and he won't be in classes with his friends anymore. I can understand that, since it is his first year of high school and would definitely be stressful if he was alone in that big school.
I wanted to go to the school on his behalf and talk to the counselor myself, but he wanted to do it himself first. The next step is me going over there. I hope that this works out for him. His tears made me sad and brought back my high school issues. It sucks to be a teenager. Peace Out, Mom
My little man (kinder) has so much homework that we are doing it for at least two hours every day after school. He has an albhabet workbook that he has to color and cut out pictures from magazines for every day-one letter each day. He also has a homework packet that is sent home on Monday and due Friday. This packet consists of 11 worksheets that vary in activities from cutting/coloring to writing. He also has a family activity that is due every other week. He also has a book that he checks out every week from the library, which comes with specific instructions for us to do with him each day. Now, I am not against homework. I like doing homework with him; I really do. However, he is just a little dude. I don't think that this much homework is necessary in kinder, especially since he is only in class half day-three hours. We are doing more work at home than they are doing in class. It really is time-consuming. Am I being a bad mom because I am complaining about sitting at the homework table for three hours every afternoon? Or does anyone else think this is A LOT of homework for a five year old???? Peace Out, Mom
I bought a Dell computer about a year ago. I am somewhat satisfied with my computer, but my battery started just freaking out right as my warranty is set to expire in two weeks. I decided to go with the tech support online option tonight when I got home from work. And to my utter surprise, they are sending me a new battery! Wow! I have been dealing with them with another issue for about a year now, and I pretty much hate them, so this is a nice surprise. Seriously. I hate them so much that when a rep calls my house, I tell them how much their company sucks and that "no, I don't want to renew my warranty because Dell is an awful company who doesn't deserve one more red cent of my hard earned money because you are all awful people who work for an awful company. I hate you all!!!!" But really, I', glad they were helpful this time and will be sending me a new battery in 2-3 working days. Peace Out, Mom
So...I'm having issues with the layout. I changed it again, and now when I try to change it to a third-party html layout, an error code comes up. I am frustrated.
Update: I think I've settled on this one. At least it got up okay, right? Whatever. I'm done playing with it for a while. It took up too much of my time because I was pretty much obsessed with it. ;-) Peace Out, Mom
They are doing construction in the intersection in front of my condo complex. I can only turn right now, which is a total pain in the ass. Also, there is a blinking red light where the stoplight used to be. Now, I assumed that everyone knew that the blinking red means that you treat it like a stop sign. You stop, and then proceed. Every single g'damn day, I am amazed at the people who breeze through it without even slowing down. And accident is inevitable. Peace Out, Mom
My mother in law will be coming for a visit in a couple of weeks. This is her first visit out here in about three years-since we got married, and her first trip out alone. She hasn't made the trip out here since my father in law passed away two years ago. We know now that when he came out here, he already knew he was sick. At the time, no one knew. So he came out here, and his health began to decline, so he cut his trip short and went home. He died three months later. I think she connects his illness and his trip out here. I hope her trip goes well. I hope we all get along. I'm sure it will be fine. Really. *sigh* Peace Out, Mom
Please be patient with me. I was trying something new. I didn't like the blogger layouts, and I don't know any html, so I'm just goofing off. Let me know what you think. I don't like how the text sits right next to the border in the posts, but I'm not sure how to fix it. What do you think? Do you hate it? Honestly. Let me know what you think. I think it might be a little too my-spacey. Peace Out, Mom
On the weekends, I work for my sister at her dog grooming place downtown. Yesterday, we decided that my dog needed a makeover, so we jazzed her up a bit. Now, before I start getting hate mail...it is a temporary pet dye, intended for pet use and very safe. It will be gone in about two weeks. Don't worry. But really, doesn't she look pretty cool??? :-)
AND, last night, my little man lost his first tooth while eating an apple. We had been waiting for days for it to come out, so we are sooo excited! :-) Isn't he cute? Coincidentally, tomorrow is his very first school picture day. Awesome!
The highlight of my Missouri-aka Misery-trip was the trip to the St Louis Arch. It was very interesting, and I can now check it off of my list of things to do. To get to the top, you have to ride in a little pod that feels very much like an escape pod from a "Star Trek" episode. It only seats 5 people-snugly. If you are claustrophobic, it isn't a good place to be, as it takes four long minutes to get to the top. However, it was a lovely view from the top-I could see the Mississippi river, the ballpark, and their county building. Anyway, been there, done that.
I want one. I have reached that age where my biological clock is taking its final turn. I just want one more. My hubby does want one, but says that we can't afford it. Logically, I know he's right. We work hard enough. We are in a recession for God's sake. BUT, when we can afford it-because there will be a time when we can-we will be too old. Or my eggs will be too old.
There are babies everywhere! Everywhere I go they are just cooing at me, and willing me to make one to join them in their baby games. Yeah, I'm delirious.
I saw a woman on the plane with her newborn son, and she was staring down at him while he was staring up at her with that intense baby stare. That baby stare that says "You are it. You are the only person in the world that I love." Complete adoration. No, it's not that I need that. I have a whole lot of love coming at me, really. I just feel like I have more love to put out. Damn this biological clock ticking in my ear!
Well, I got back Tuesday night. It was a very interesting trip. Like I said, I went for my dad,so I did accomplish that. My aunt did indeed wear another pair of bootie shorts and another tank top to the funeral and cemetery. But this time, she wore some closed-toed shoes. Such class! Two of my uncles wore jeans, and one of them had his shirt unbuttoned just about to the navel. All that was missing was the gold chain. AND, the man kept flirting with my sister and I. His nieces. He is the father of over a dozen childern that he has no contact with. Yeah, a real winner. And gross. I kept hearing banjos playing in my head. It was just one thing after another.
Now, I need to also say that I love the country. I love the simple life and I respect people that live on the land and work with their hands. However, please don't live up to every hick stereotype that city folk put out there.
It was over a hundred degrees and 94 percent humidity the whole time we were there, so when I got home, I had never been so happy.
My granddad died a few days ago. He was my dad's father. When my mom called to tell me, she described how sad that my dad was. It was at that point that I knew I had to go to Missouri with him. My mom and dad flew out Saturday morning, and my sister and I flew out Saturday afternoon. After a layover in Phoenix, my sister and I arrived in St Louis with a three hour drive ahead of us. Thank God there was a White Castle open all night, since we arrived at midnight and had an issue at the car rental place. So we started our journey at 1am. We got to the hotel at about 4am, and slept only until about 8:30. The viewing and masonic ceremony was yesterday, and the funeral is today. It is always interesting being around this family because we never see any of them. And really, I was somewhat disowned when I had a baby with a black man and married him. Noone is saying anything outright, but I know its there. I keep reminding myself that I am here for my father, and that's it. But there's a small part of me that wants to hit someone. I'll write later about my aunt who wore bootie shorts, a white shirt, and glittery flip-flops to the viewing and ceremony. Yeah, wow. Peace Out, Mom
Yesterday was his first day of Kinder, but the parents stayed all day. Today, he went all on his own. Wow. I didn't cry like I did when my oldest went to Kinder. Maybe I'm an old veteran now. I got this school seperation anxiety down. It wasn't until I was driving away in the minivan that I realized that the van was so very big and empty. And I also felt so silly talking to myself. Peace Out, Mom
Today, MO and MM went back to school. MO went to his first day of high school, and MM went to his first day of middle school. Tomorrow will be the first day of kindergarten for Little Man. This is a busy back-to-school time for our family with a lot of transitions for us to work out, which is why I took the summer off from the Writing Center. We have to figure out what our schedules are going to look like and how we are going to handle it. I really wanted to keep little man out of daycare this year. However, that's going to be pretty hard. Here in wonderful San Diego, kinder is still only half a day. He will be going to the afternoon class, which means he goes from about 11-2. Not too long, right? I need to get my schedule at the Writing Center worked out so that I can drop him off, and work for a while, and be home for the big boys. My wonderful husband did homework with them all last year and I think he's a bit burned out. I'm better at that sort of thing. ;-) Anyway, I'm trying to not worry about the big boys at their new big schools. I really hope MM makes friends. Psychologists say that the most difficult transition for kids is the one between elementary school and middle school. They are going from a small group of kids that they've known for 7 years to a huge pool of kids from all around. Ugh! Still, I'll try not to worry too much. :-I Peace Out, Mom
The fair was pretty fun. My hubby and I took the little man over to ride a few rides in the kiddie area and then we looked at the exhibits and ate a few fattening things. The fair food is so effing good; it's ridiculous. I probably clogged a couple of arteries. We let the four big boys run amok in the ride area and checked on them periodically. It was pay-one-price day, which means you p;ay 30 bucks a piece and ride all of the rides. They had a great time. I figured that it was better to let them run around and ride than be subjected to watching them ride those ridiculously scary rides. :-) Like I said in the last post, I knew that I would be picking up our little visiting friend on Monday. I did, and we still have him. I'm taking them to the beach in about 10 minutes. We also have an extra boy. So again, I have five boys. I must like to abuse myself. D informed me Monday morning that he's moving back here. He says that his dad hits him and his mom said that he could move back. I'm so glad that he's moving back, but I'm so sad that he has to volley between two bad choices. WTF??? His mom doesn't live in a very good part of town. I proposed to my husband that he stay with us Monday through Friday so that he can get a good, safe education. I don't think my husband wants to think about it. We are struggling with a huge mortgage and feeding these growing boys as it is. I just wish I could do more for him. I feel like it's my job. I don't know, maybe something will come to me. Peace Out, Mom
The boy who is visiting from Chicago will be staying with us at least through Saturday. When we called his mom this morning to ask her when she wanted him home, she said we could keep him until we got sick of him. I told her that we wouldn't get sick of him, but we would be dropping him off Saturday because I have to work this weekend. I will be picking him up again Monday morning because if I don't, she wil take him to daycare. It makes me sad for him, but I'm glad to have him. He's pretty awesome. Peace Out, Mom
Today, I have five boys in my home. I will still have those boys when I take them to the County Fair tomorrow for "Pay One Price Day." One of them is a boy from our old apartments that often comes to visit. His mom said it was too hard to raise him, so she shipped him off to Chicago to stay with his dad. When he comes back to San Diego to visit, he calls us when his plane lands and is usually at our house within a day of arriving. He then usually spends most of the time at my house. I love him. I have told my husband many times that I would adopt him if I could. I picked him up last night. He arrived Monday morning and spent Monday and Tuesday in daycare. He is 12, almost 13. His mother kept his little brother living at home, so she sent D to the same daycare that his little brother is at while she's at work. She didn't take any time off from work. WTF???? He comes about every six months or so, and every time, she doesn't take time off from work. When he's here, she doesn't call to see how he is, and she always expresses gratitude. When he's not here, I have passed her in the halls at the college, and she pretends that she doesn't know me. I know that I am not a perfect mom. Believe me, I know. I screw up. However, I can't imagine shipping my son off and then not taking time off when he visits. It makes my heart hurt. The other boy lives across the way and his mom works a lot. So he is here every day and a lot of nights. He calls me mom. I kinda love him, too. I always wanted more kids-I just didn't realize that they would come to me as boys, on the brink of manhood. I want them all to grow up to be responsible, loving men. I feel a responsibility to all of them to teach them the importance of education and responsibility. I want them to know that it is important to love and care for each other. It's hard being a woman in a sea of burdgeoning testosterone. Peace Out, Mom
"You hear it in classrooms. And courtrooms. They'll say, 'Tell us...in your own words...' Do you have your own words? Personally, I'm using the ones everybody else has been using. Next time they tell you to say something in your own words, say, 'Nigflot blorny quando floon.'"
We are always late. My husband is more guilty of this than I am, although he would probably argue. I am tardy for things when it is not important to be on time. He is tardy when it is important. He is late going to the movies, and other things that have a set start time. I am late when we are supposed to be somewhere at a time that ends in "-ish". Tonight, we were supposed to go to the movies with my family. My dad was very excited about seeing "Get Smart" because he loved the TV show. It started at 8. It is now after 8 and my husband is still not home. He thought we could get in after it started. On a Friday night. The night the movie came out. Riiight. So we are not going. The kids are disappointed, and so am I. Maybe I am just tired because I worked all day and came home to dishes overflowing in the sink. Whatever. Peace Out, Mom
ps. There is nothing worse than an overflowing sink full of dishes where someone has dumped the wet coffee grounds in the sink. Icky.
Growing up, I was in a female-dominated world. It was my sister and I and my mom, and then there was my dad. I know that he was sick of the period talk, the emotional roller-coasters, and the boy-crazy teenagers in his house. My dad wasn't always able to express himself, and I remember one time when I was younger, after he told me to do something, I told him that his voice sounded like finger nails on a chalk board and I didn't want him to talk to me anymore. For a week or so, he didn't talk to me; he left post-it notes all over the house. It made me crazy! Yeah, I missed his voice. So even if he didn't always act conventionally, he always taught me something. He taught me that learning and knowledge were important and he encouraged me to find the fun in the pursuit of the answer. When I went through some of the hardest times in my life, he was just there. He didn't intervene, but made me learn it on my own. I love my dad. He is such a great man. He is a wonderful father-in-law and an awesome "boompa."
Now, my honey. I know that since his father passed away, father's day is especially hard. It breaks my heart. I hope that he knows that he is everything that his father wanted him to be. Not just because he is a great businessman, but also because he is a fantastic husband and father. Even though he is very tired, he helps the boys with their homework and takes time to play. He takes the boys to the park and stays up in their rooms with them to watch them master their video games. He is firm and strong, and the boys are so very lucky to have them in their lives. He provides everything that they need and he is the reason why they will all grow up to be awesome men.
Happy Father's Day to the men who enrich my life everyday. I love you!
Yesterday was our third wedding anniversary. We rock!
I've known him since I was 16 or 17. I first saw him when I went to meet my mom for lunch at work. He was going up the escalator and my mom said "See that guy? Stay away from him."
Yeah, that pretty much encouraged me to find out what she was talking about. I got hired at the department dtore for the Christmas season when I was 17. When I turned 18, and he was 26, we had a fling. It didn't last too long, and we both moved on.
I moved on to my not-so-wonderful ex-husband and had two kids. After suffering in that relationship for about four years, I moved back home with my two very young sons and got a job at the same department store, but at a different mall. There, I ran into J running a coffee shop. We started dating soon after and took it real slow with the boys.
We've lived together now for over five years, and we have another little man added to the mix. He is an awesome husband and an amazing father.
Like any marriage, we've gone through a lot of crap together. We have even pissed each other off quite a few times. It's not easy all of the time, but most of the time it is. I love, love, love him. He makes me so happy and I am having such a great time experiencing this chaotic life with him.
My mom pretty much rocks. She's pretty, smart, and funny. She is very fair-minded, even though when I was younger I shouted "That's not fair!" at her enough times! ;-) She makes me laugh. She's a great grandma to the brood of loud boys, and she almost always has purse-candy. ;-)
When I was younger, and going through those teenage years, we fought. Not because she was mean, but because she wanted to keep me safe. It took getting older and having kids of my own to realize that she was right.
When I was pregnant the first time, I was very young and the father of my baby was an idiot with no job and really, not very much hope. My mom was crying, and I was angry because she was crying. I wanted her to be happy about the baby. I will never forget what she told me that night. She said "for the rest of your life, this is your baby. He will leave, but the baby will always be yours." At the time, I was filled with righteous indignation. Now, I realize that she was right.
When you become a mother, that baby is yours. No matter what. It is amazing to me that I feel that momma tiger come out so often when I feel my cubs are in danger. I know that my mom felt that when she heard that I was pregnant. She wanted to protect me from what she knew was coming.
Of course, it all worked out. Now, I'm married to a great guy and my mom really loves him. So really, I rarely see that momma tiger come out in her anymore. ;-)
On this day, I also think about two years ago when I almost lost my mom. When my dad called to say that she was going to the ICU, I scrambled to get dressed and rush off to the hospital. My husband was on his way to the house, and I was trying to get it together so that I could drive up to the hospital. As I was getting ready, I found myself putting on jewelry that she gave me. I realized that I was putting all of these things on as some sort of amulet to protect me, or to protect her, or maybe to link us in some way. I wanted her to be protected, and I thought that if I could just find the one thing that would work, everything would be okay. I know, it's strange. On the way to the hospital I realized that it would be hypocritical of me to ask God to save her. At the time, I hadn't been to church in quite some time and I didn't want to be the kind of person that only looked to God in times of trouble. All I could do through the tears was look up at the sky and just say "please. No."
She made it through and is back to her old self; and I like her. Through all of this, I learned what life is about. It's about living for today and spending time with the people you love. You unever know what's going to happen!
Anyway...all of this to say that my mom is awesome, and I really don't know what I would do without her. We don't always agree, but in the end, does that even matter? I love her so much. What I learned from her is that once you have a child, everything in your life is done for that child. Everything.
This picture is hilarious to me because he is horrified of spiders. He is so horrified of spiders that he will not enter the bathroom if there is one in the corner: He'll go upstairs to the bathroom instead. The mean voice in my heads wants to blow this picture up and hang it on his wall, then he would be scared of himself. I think that would be so very funny. ;-) Peace Out, Mom
Is it a coincidence that the price of gas is going up astronomically high at the same time that the government is sending out checks to stimulate the economy? Hmmmmm...
Just a little conspiracy theory to get you thinking...
So MO's birthday was the end of last month. We didn't make a big deal about it because last year was the big 13, and this year, he just wanted a couple of friends over to swim and eat pizza. So that's what we did! The boys were pretty good. My son is now 14 and just on the edge of boy and young man. His voice is so deep, and he is as tall as I am. He's so helpful and witty...he's really damn sarcastic, but it's great. I look at him and I remember when he was born. I remember all of my hopes and dreams for myself being poured in to this little man. I am so proud of him. He could do better in school, of course, but overall, he is pretty darn great. When he was born, my sister had the local radio station play "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles and every year, I play it on his birthday. Every time I hear that song, I think of him and all of the wonderful things that make him such a great guy. So Happy Birthday my big man. You make me so very proud. Peace Out, Mom
This is my least favorite phrase because I know someone who overused it and used it incorrectly. I feel that this phrase should only be used when it really is an unchangeable situation. If it is something that can be changed and should be changed, then we shouldn't just shrug our shoulders and say basically, "oh well!" Say, for example, that your husband is abusing you...this is not the time to say...
It is what it is....
Or for example, when you are failing a class because you aren't doing your homework. This is not a time to say...
It is what it is....
When it is raining, this is, indeed, a time to say...
It is what it is...
Because, in fact, you can not change the situation.
I'm just tired of people shrugging their shoulders at things that should be changed.
What does that mean, exactly? I think too many people are saying this, and to quote one of the best movies of all time (Princess Bride): "I don't think it means what you think it means."
You know, I want to believe that people really have my best interests at heart. I want to believe that they really aren't just gossip whores or that they really don't want to just watch my heart shrivel up and die right before their eyes. I also would like to believe that everything happens for a reason and that everything will work out in the end as it's supposed to. I also very much would like to believe that the world is a good place and that people will do the right thing in the end. I have decided that all I can do is just push on through and keep my mind in the game. It's all about how you handle difficult situations, right?
In the last post, I said that the other company got the recommendation from the ASO (Associated Student Organization) and they were moving forward with it. After doing a little research, we found out that it had to go before, and be approved by, the student Senate before it went on to the Governing Board. Well, after the students started hearing about it, and people expressed the distaste for what was happening, a grassroots movement built up on campus. Over 1,200 signatures were collected on my husband's behalf. We went down to the Senate meeting with the collected sigatures, and amazing amount of supporters, to give a speech and stop the vote of approval from being accepted by the Senate. After my husband read the speech that we wrote, and after I read comments about my husband that were posted about my husband on the school newspaper's site, and after all of us were crying a bit, the Senate voted to NOT accept the recommendation of the ASO.
Of course, that means the process may start all over again. We are kind of in a waiting game to see what happens now. The ASO has the option to either start all over again or just pick us. I don't have very much faith in them just picking us because I think their little egos are bruised. However, now I now what not only my husband and I are capable of, but what our student, staff, and faculty supporters are capable of. Now, the students and everyone else on campus are aware of what is going on, and they will have a voice in the process. I have hope again.
The most important thing that happened out of all of this is that we are so very proud of our friends. This was a very heartwarming experience. All of their support was amazing and that's why there were so many tears at the meeting. Just looking around and seeing all of those faces of people who love us was just so very powerful. It really felt good. Now, we are just hoping that the ASO makes the right decision next time.
So... The business fell through. We took a huge risk, and it didn't work out. We are going to generate a petition, and that's really all we can do at this point. This is an awful thing. Everything is going to change, and I'm pretty scared. I know that we are hard workers, so I shouldn't worry about what will happen. No matter what, we will be fine. I just really love that campus. It is such a part of our daily lives. We've mourned with these people, celebrated, welcomed babies, learned, and shared with these people. I would like to say that I hate the place, but the truth is, I really love it. That is exactly why it hurts so much. It hurts that they aren't rewarding loyalty or someone who really cares. Really. I'm sad. These last couple of weeks have pretty much sucked, and I feel so drained. Just empty, really. Peace Out, Mom
My friend just told me that when she was at the Louvre in France, she slipped while walking up a marble staircase to view the "Winged Arm of Victory." She feel down a number of steps and she said she couldn't believe that she fell in the classiest place on Earth. My response was, "That's what you get for wearing flip-flops to the Louvre."
My middle son ran away Saturday morning. We woke up and there were signs of a break in, and when I checked on the boys, he was gone. I screamed and moaned so loud, calling for him, that my oldest woke up and cried. We called the police, my parents, his friends, my sister, and his teacher. All of them converged onto my home in a panic at 7am. I have never in my life been so scared. At the time, I thought someone had taken him; I never imagined that he would want to leave. He was found a short time later by my dad at the walm*rt by my house. He had spent over 300 dollars in cash purchasing a GPS, a mess kit, a camel backpack, and other survival gear, and no one stopped him. Yeah, an 11 year old kid buying survival gear with that much cash when the store just opened is no cause for alarm.
He has been bullied at school all year. We have gone to the school many times, and while the teachers are very supportive, the Principal is not. There are two boys that spread gossip and try their damnedest to ostracize my son. They pretend he has a disease and encourage others to do the same. He has a few friends, but ultimately feels alone. Although we have gone to the school many times, nothing was done. It kept happening. My son is able to defend himself physically, but because he is the nicest boy in the universe, he is unable to understand why these boys would talk about him like this. He has the most tenderest of hearts. He says he ran away because he just couldn't take it at school anymore, and we were making him go there.
The fact that my son felt so desperate, and felt that we couldn't/wouldn't protect him, shreds my heart. I have been crying every day and trying to come to terms with how I failed him. We are still talking about it and I kept him out of school on Monday. I talked to the principal about it, but she is continuing to act like a politician instead of focusing on the needs of the school. These boys need to get the f out. My son isn't the only one being hurt. There are others. I'm tired of living in such a PC world where we tiptoe around the rights of bullies and punish those that do the right thing. I don't give a SH*t about these boys. Get them out and let the rest of the school get an education in peace.
When we asked him how the boys should be punished, he said that he didn't want them to be punished, he just wanted to be left alone. Why can't they just leave him alone? My heart hurts.
The masses were sick for the last couple of weeks, and they are just starting to come around...And I am feeling a tickle in the back of my throat. I don't have time to get sick!!! I have a Spanish project due, an exam on Friday, work piled upon work, and my hubby and I are bidding for a new business. This is put-your-balls-on-the-table time. This is the time where it all changes. No matter what happens, our life is going to change. God willing, things will go the way that we want/need them to go. If not, there we will sit...at the top of sh*t creek without that trusty paddle. Ouch. No matter what, this is the time in our family that will go down in history as the best thing we could do for ourselves, or the "what were we thinking?" moment. These are the moments in life that you both dread and long for. This is one of those make-it-or-break-it times. Damn, I'm hoping that we make it. Peace Out, Mom
My house is again, an infermary. I had two boys home sick today, and it looks like the little man will be home with me tomorrow. These are the days when I wish I worked somewhere that paid to be out sick. I can't wait until I'm officially a grown-up with benefits. Maybe one day... Peace Out, Mom
Update: Tuesday morning: I have the little man home with me and the middle son, too! They are playing rotating sickness!!!!
I have way too much going on right now. The pitch went okay. It will take a few weeks to know anything, but when we do...I will post more. My hubby was sick during the pitch, so we were a little discombobulated, but what can you do, right? My middle son came home from school early yesterday and stayed home today because he is sick. So both of them were here in our makeshift infirmary while I was at work. I am feeling a little achy myself, but I'm fighting it off. I don't have time to get sick right now. Friday, I will have a little reprieve. I hope everyone out there in the universe finds that moment where they can just exhale ever so slowly, close their eyes, and feel a sense of calm-if only for a moment. Peace Out, Mom
We're pitching a new business tomorrow. Send up a little shout to whomever you believe in to help us out. This could be life changing, and we really need it.
It sucks. The problem with taking a morning class at a JC is that all of the people in the class are young. In my Spanish class, which is the third semester and a little difficult for me, we are required to do a skit that is part of our test score. We are supposed to write it up together, memorize it, and present it to the class. We were only given-total-about 10 minutes to work on it in class, and the rest should have been done via email. My group mates, who are both about 18 or 19, and I , decided to break up the work and communicate via email to finish the project. It is due tomorrow and after sending out numerous emails, I still haven't received the rest of my groups' work. It's due tomorrow morning at 9am. It is now 7pm. This is gonna suck. Peace Out, Mom
update: It is now 9:30, and I still haven't heard from them... update 2:It is now 6:30am and I never heard from them... update 3:The girl tossed me her part on a piece of paper 10 minutes after the class started and said that her email must have screwed up her replies because she was sure she sent it. Are you effing kidding me????
We went to Sea World yesterday. It was really fun! ;-) My hubby didn't go because he was at work, and my sister didn't go because she was at work, but her boyfriend went with the boys, my parents, and I. We saw a few shows and walked around a bit. Really, we just meandered, but it was pretty fun.
I was walking behind my parents at one point and they were holding hands. I flashed back to being a little kid in the same place-walking behind my parents at Sea World. Sometimes my friends would come with us, and we walk straggle behind my parents and they would walk in front of us, holding hands. They would be whispering in that grown-up talk that was just their own language-something that we wouldn't understand. I would feign embarrassment, and my friend and I would moan about how embarrassing it was to walk behind two grown adults acting like teenagers in love. Oh the horror!!!
But really, I loved it. I loved that my parents were still in love. My parents, unlike so many of my friends' parents, were still very happy together and actually enjoyed spending time with each other. They hugged and kissed, and they even shared a laugh or two with each other.
Yesterday, I looked at them holding hands. They are still very much in love, still whispering things to each other and looking back to check that we're keeping up.
I can only hope that after 33 years of marriage, my hubby and I are still holding hands and murmuring words of love in each other's ears.
I applied to SDSU. Hopefully, I will be starting in the Fall when my little man begins Kindergarten. I only need 33 units to get my BA, and it should only take me three semesters if I go full time. I hope I can pull it off. I've been waiting a long time for this. I'm really nervous about making this jump at this age. I know a lot of people do it, but it's a little unnerving. It's about effing time; that's all I'm saying.
Back in September, I posted my favorite Martin Luther King, Jr quote. I thought today would be the day to do it again. It's so very wonderful to know that, in my lifetime, I will see an African-American President. I would like for it to be Obama, but if not, there will still be an African-American President in my lifetime. A woman president will be not too far behind. Maybe a woman Vice President, and an African-American President. Wow, that would be fantastic.
Here is my favorite passage from Martin Luther King, Jr:
"The hour has come for everybody, for all institutions of the public sector and the private sector to work to get rid of racism. And now if we are to do it we must honestly admit certain things and get rid of certain myths that have constantly been disseminated all over our nation.One is the myth of time. It is the notion that only time can solve the problem of racial injustice. And there are those who often sincerely say to the Negro and his allies in the white community, "Why don’t you slow up? Stop pushing things so fast. Only time can solve the problem. And if you will just be nice and patient and continue to pray, in a hundred or two hundred years the problem will work itself out."There is an answer to that myth. It is that time is neutral. It can be used wither constructively or destructively. And I am sorry to say this morning that I am absolutely convinced that the forces of ill will in our nation, the extreme rightists of our nation—the people on the wrong side—have used time much more effectively than the forces of goodwill. And it may well be that we will have to repent in this generation. Not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, "Wait on time."
"You would wish long and long to be with him, you would wish to sit by him
in the boat that you and he might touch each other."
It reminds me of my husband. It reminds me of that secret electricity that sends shock waves through your body when you touch in a room full of people or on a fishing boat full of grisly fishermen.
Cleaning my sons' bedroom. My middle son is a pack-rat. He collects everything, and he finds it hard to let go. So every once in a while I clean his room to clear out the clutter. He is a messaholic and needs some sort of twelve-step program to change. I don't know how I created such a child. I love him, but dangit! He's making me crazy. This time, I'm doing my best to maintain my anger and frustration, but boy is it hard! I will finish it tomorrow. Now I get to do some homework. Oh the joys of parenting and trying to do a million things at once.
Well, we were in New Jersey for about ten days, and then we had a little over a week back at home. It was very nice and relaxing. I really like my family. I adore my husband, and my boys are a lot of fun. It's really nice when we all get a break from our busy lives and just spend time together. The boys went back to school last week, and I go back tomorrow. It all goes back to normal. Bummer. I was telling my husband today that I wish that we could just hang out together everyday and get paid for it. Wouldn't that be fantastic??? Anyway, all is well here. Peace Out, Mom
