Yeah!! An Updated Blog!!

Once Again, I find myself far behind in my blog postings. I have quite a bit to catch you up on since June. So here It goes......

July 23 - August 1st

We took our annual trip up north, this time to New York to visit Tom's parents. The trip started off with a bang when I started choking on a roast beef sandwich within the first hour of driving. Tom had to pull over the car when I vomited all over the front seat trying to force myself to breathe. I followed that little show with a fall flat on my back at the state park, the stomach flu at his brother's house and a bad head cold two days later. I ended the trip with conjunctivitis in my right eye. But through all that, it was exactly what I needed to revitalize my spirit and put me back into focus. There is no doubt that it is absolutely beautiful up there, and Grandma Sue has done amazing job landscaping her back yard with gorgeous flowers and plants and which made a very peaceful spot to drink my coffee and relax each morning. The entire family (minus Annalisa, who was on a mission trip) had a great time catching up with the family we don't see often enough. The trip really made Tom and I wonder....why DO we live so far away?

August 4

Surprise! You have company! Okay it wasn't really a surprise for me, but we did surprise the kids with a visit from their cousins in OH. My whole family, Michelle, Ken, the cousins, Shari, Mom, & Dad all came for a

"last-minute-decision" visit. We got to see both sets of families this year!

August 8
TJ's Birthday!!! Yes - I know my son's birthday is the 11th. But we had his party on the 8th. This was our first real big party for him, and we did it right! The local fire department came out and told the kids all about fire trucks. We rented a water slide (thank goodness, because it was in the 90's) and Jeannelle even made a home-made fire engine cake. I think we enjoyed making the cake more that we did eating it....although that was good too!

August 17

TJ's first day of Kindergarten. AAAHHH my baby is going to school!!!! I was so proud of how excited he was, and how ready he seemed. He has fallen into school like he was just meant to be there. Of course, for TJ it is just one big social event (he's so much like his dad) But he's doing pretty well on the school work too. He didn't protest too much when I made sight-word flash cards and surprisingly enjoys his art class the most. He's convinced that the school gives him free food, because although he eats breakfast at home and I pack his lunch everyday, for the first week of school he insisted on going through the lunch line. I got suspicious when he would come home with his entire lunch. The kid was eating two breakfasts and a lunch and giving me a negative balance with the school! "But mom, I don't have to pay!" They probably think he has a mother who doesn't feed him.

____________________________________________________

August 21

My best friend's mom died on this day. Kelly - my heart is breaking for your family, and pray that the healing comes quickly. Marci - you will be deeply missed, but have a good dance in Heaven for me!_____________________________________________________

Today, September 1

I believe that's it for now. That sums up my last month fairly well...without all the stress, emotional break downs, and temper tantrums (from Chris, not me......okay maybe a few from me too) As I always promise, I will try to update this more frequently. Happy September anyway....just in case I don't get back!

Summer is Here!

SUMMER TIME! I remember when those two words provoked feelings of excitement, anticipation, relief and overwhelming joy that school was done! Now....work is hectic, Tom's hours have doubled and I still have to get the boys up at 6:00am to get out the door and to camp/daycare. And to top it off, we're now trying to function in a 106 degree heat index. I guess that is what we get for both of us taking jobs in the recreation/tourism field. It sure did sound fun at the time!

Toddler's Property Rules

Rule 1. If I like it, it is mine.

Rule 2. If it is in my hands, it is mine.

Rule 3. If I can take it from you, it is mine.

Rule 4. If I had it a little while ago, it is mine.

Rule 5. If it is mine, it must not appear to be yours in any way.

Rule 6. If I am doing or building something, all the pieces are mine.

Rule 7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.

10 Random Thoughs

1. I think I've come up with a new exercise fad - Dancing to the Wiggles.


2. I'm declaring war on my two-year-old's temper tantrums.


3. I got two bouquets of flowers for my birthday. The first was from TJ and was a weed (roots and all) pulled from the front yard. The second was gorgeous native flowers my friend pulled from her garden. It's tough to say which one I like better - but I'm leaning toward the weed.


4. I will be perfectly content if we never sell this house. I will also be perfectly ecstatic if we do.


5. We went to TJ's first school function. I must say I'm not looking forward to the next 15 years of these - it was chaos!


6. When I can't sleep, I think of my favorite TV show, book, or movie and try to place my friends in family into the characters. i.e, If I were Harry Potter, who would be Hermione and Ron? or if I was on a deserted Island like on "Lost" who do I know that would play Jack and Sawyer?



7. Whoever created Sponge Bob Square Pants has a seriously deranged sense of humor.


8. If you watch the show "Lost" you know that the title of show says as much about the viewers as it does the plot line.


9. As I was writing #8 I heard running water in the bathroom...This is what I found.

10. I'm watching Vegetales and it's an episode on how to be a good friend. I hope I am as good a friend as the Asparagus and squash are.

Times - they are achangin'

You know the world around you is changing when as you pass a garbage truck on the road your 4 -year-old exlaims "Look Mom - a Recycle Truck!"

WE GRADUATED!!

Tom and I graduated on Monday from Financial Peace University! We have Goals! We have a budget! Now all we need is money.