on the outside

Good News!

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:21:01 GMT

Finally its the first day of summer vacation! WooHoo! The boys had a friend sleep over last night, something I promised they could do the day school let out as long as their room was clean. I should have checked it! I wouldn't have been so quick to say yes if I had seen the condition of their room. This morning we got up early so I could go to a doctors appt. Too bad I had my days mixed up and I went on the wrong day... while we were there my husband slammed the van door and the window shattered... holy cow. Came home with a mother of a headache so I layed down and the boys cleaned and cleaned some more. Because of the mix up I even gave them extra work! So now the house is in order.

The weather has been beautiful the past week which is unexpected since they have been calling for rain the whole time. So far the nice weather has stayed. We had a few thunderstorms in the evenings and overnights, but the days have been nice. Found a nice deal on a pool, so we're setting that up now, well filling it actually. Its the one thing I really wanted to have this summer. We have to take it down at the end of the season, then put it up again next season but at least with this one we don't have to blow it up. I couldn't stand those!

We have a few things planned for the kids this summer but really I know that they are going to want to play with friends and swim and hang out at home with video games mostly. Thats good for me. Thats my plan too! They all did real well in school and I'm so proud of them. For my birthday last week we were going to go out but it seemed every place we wanted was closed so we ordered KFC, and since that worked out well I think we're going with simple and quick from now on.

I'm going back to college in the fall! I recieved my acceptance letter today in the mail. This is something I've been wanting to do for years, so this is a big thing. I'm so happy and excited! My oldest is aleady betting me he gets better grades. I probably won't take that bet since he's a straight A student and I haven't been in school in ohhh, 12 maybe 13 years. But I am looking forward to what thefuture brings.

I'm off to check on the kiddos and hang out outside for a bit. Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

What weather we're having!

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:06:25 GMT

Scattered clouds with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm developing late. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 30%.

This is today's forcast. LOL Its been in the low 90's all day, hot and humid, unbearable in the house. I actually put on my bathing suit and went outside (embarassing the children and I didn't care a lick) so I could run through the sprinkler. Nothing has ever felt so wonderful! Not at that moment anyway. I layed in the sun for 20 minutes after that to dry and got myself a nice sunburn. But it was cooler outside than it was inside, it was breezy and that I can tolerate.

We bought a case of water yesterday while the kids were in school, and its almost gone! Thankfully its been all 5 of us drinking it, goodness in this heat, sweating like this, water is the only thing that quenches the thirst. I've also been walking around with a spray bottle of cold water squirting everyone, and myself.

My daughter had a swim party for school yesterday for school and I can't tell you how badly I wanted to swim. I did go watch but couldn't swim. I had some minor surgery on my foot and can't swim for a few days. I can get wet but can't do the chemicals. The kids had so much fun. I took some pics but until I get my computer up and going I can't post them. My son has his swim party on June 20 (My birthday!) so I'll be going to that one and hopefully swimming. That may be like asking for a death wish with all those 4th graders but I know it will be fun. On the other side of the pool. hahaha. Thats also the day my daughter is in a play so its going to be a busy day. The one day I'd love to sit home and do nothing, maybe go out for lunch, or just enjoy the quiet, nope I'll be spending my birthday with all the elementary school kids. Ah, thats ok schools almost over and they love having me there. The kids call me Mrs. B and that just tickles me. Then I go to the middle school with my oldest son and he walks 10 feet ahead of me and refuses to talk to me so no one has any idea who I am unless I tell them. LOL Sometimes I do say I am his sister and they believe me. That probably won't work much longer but its pretty funny. My son will stand with me if the kids think I'm his sister. I do always tell them the truth and off he goes again. Gosh, I remember doing that too. At least I know what I'm in for with the other two.

Anyhow, I've decided to start walking each day for at least a half hour to an hour. My son wants to go with me. We're near the elementary school so we can walk there and go on the track or we can just walk the neighborhood. At least we have some variety. Weekends we're going to try and walk a little bit longer since there is no school and work is slower for me. Weather permitting we're going to walk each day, I think even if its raining we can go unless its storming. He doesn't have to go with me in weather thats not good. I just really want to get some exersize and I'm not going to let myself make excuses. We're supposed to start tonight, but according to the forcast there is thunderstorms expected tonight and tomorrow. So I guess we're playing it by ear now. We're also going to start eating more salads and healthy foods. Bananas, oranges, apples, that sort of thing. The kids like carrot sticks. Instead of cookies and chips. Thats all just wasted calories and a waste of money. So we'll see how it goes. I planted a lot of veggies in the garden and they are starting to grow so its going to be a fun summer.

Wow, just since I've been sitting here the temp has cooled consiterably. Maybe I should open all the windows and get the air flowing. It sure feels good! Still sunny out so maybe the storm will hold off until later tonight. I do know that a storm would definitetly cool the air and make it more bearable in the house. Its just what we need, but not until later this evening please!

Lots of cookouts going on, I can smell chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers.

Well, the kitties are all finally starting to walk around instead of just laying on the kitchen floor so I'm going to give them some cold water and start some laundry. Hope your day is a great one!

Tags: weather, kids, exercize

Is Anyone There?

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:05:58 GMT

Today's question of the Day:

Does anyone know how to get a worm out of a computer? How to fix it? What in the world I can do?

That seems to be the problem I'm having over here the past few weeks. I'm ready to throw both computers out the window. Whatever infected the first one ended up infecting the second one too. They shut off all the time, constantly. They won't go to websites. Now I can hardly get online. I was so happy I got aol to start up today I'm afraid to sign off. I'm afraid to visit any journals though because that is when it always shuts down on me. Why is technology so complicated?

Actually a lot has been going on around here, but its springtime so I think thats happening in everyone's family. Tomorrow my oldest son has an awards ceremony before he goes into 8th grade. I already know he's getting a bunch of awards, this kid is so smart it blows me away. I wish it had come so naturally to me ... that is so rare. We may treat the kids to pizza or ice cream afterwards. I don't care for either so it doesn't matter to me, but those are two choices the kids love.

So far we have gotten rid of three out of four kitttens. This last one left yesterday and it has really taken a toll on the remaining kitty. All she does is cry and mope around. I haven't seen her play all day, and I've tried to get her active, but nope she didn't want anything to do with it. I guess cats can be depressed? I'm sure she'll get over it soon, she's just so used to having her sister with her all the time.

I've been trying to go on field trips with the kids, I still have two more to go. So far they've proved a very enlightning experience. Man did I come home with a headache. Back when I graduated high school I wanted to be a teacher, but changed my mind. These experiences only reinforce my desicion. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time being with my kids and their classmates, but wow those kids get rowdy and it is a long day! I do have lots of respect for those teachers.

My parents just got home a few days ago from vacation. They took an Alaskan cruise! They have been wanting to do this since I was a little girl and have been saving for many years, so this was very exciting for them. I had to havemy husband drive them to the airport, I knew I would cry and I didn't want them to worry about me being upset on their long flight. They had a few days before the cruise to take a train trip and do lots of sightseeing. I only spoke to them a few times, maybe two. I was so worried about them while they were gone! Usually I don't worry when they are on vacation, but with them being so far away I had a really hard time. When I knew they were on their way back I was so nervous and excited all at once I was a mess. But now they are back and had a wonderful time. At this time of year in Alaska there is no night time, it is light all 24 hours a day although in the evening it does get dusky, it never gets anything close to dark. So the pictures all turned out great. Glaciers and iceburgs, eagles and mountains. The cruise ship had something like 5 decks and 3 pools, plus hot tubs. Miniature golf, restaurants open 24 hrs. There were shows and dancing and so many things to do I think its just amazing. They even had a formal night. So glad that now they are home safe and sound.

I've been doing lots of gardening. Not as much as I want but its getting done. I'm starting from scratch here I don't think this house has had gardens in a very long time so its a lot of work. Lots of digging and dirt and sweat. I did get some flowers, just some annuals put in for some color in the front, by the bushes under the front windows and around the tree. In the backyard I planted some veggies, different tomatoes, cucumber, squash and carot, oh and some watermelon and pumpkin. Thats all we really use anything else we use sparingly or give away and since its a new garden I'm not making it real big so I'm limited on space. So far it looks nice. There is so much more I want to do. The rest of the week is supposed to be beautiful so I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty and spending some time outside. We had to plant grass seed almost through the whole back yard and since that is mostly in we can walk in the yard now so it makes my job easier.

Well I have an early day tomorrow so I'm off to relax. Hope everyone has a great week!

Food For Thought

Fri, 16 May 2008 22:25:52 GMT

Did you make any New Years Resolutions this year? Have you kept them? Have you thought of them since?

I've been thinking about this lately. Personally, I didn't make any resolutions, more like "goals". And I have not kept them. I have not worked toward them. This has been bothering me! Time to get the ball rolling I guess.

Have a great weekend! We're going to be busy bee's over here!

Tags: New Years Resolutions

Couch

Wed, 07 May 2008 22:36:28 GMT

I've been sick, again, so tired of being sick. Last night I put the kids to bed and since my husband was working I decided to lay on the couch for a bit. We have a leather sectional and for some reason there is just no way I can get comfortable on that thing. I do like the look of it, without the claw marks on the sides from the cats, but I really miss our old furniture.

Wow, I never thought I'd say that.

I've always wanted a leather sectional so when the chance came up we took it. The kids are older so we figured, why not? I never imagined in a million years that I would miss sinking into those big cushions so much.

Old couch versus Leather couch = Big Difference

Anyhoo, I ended up going up to bed instead since I couldn't get comfy. The leather always makes me cold so I have to put a blanket down first, then I need a pillow, and everything always slides around. Better off just going to bed, at least I know I'll be comfortable.

I didn't get much sleep but I do feel a little better. Tomorrow I have errands to run.

If you want the original couch story, about my last couch, thats in my very first aol journal. The first couch entry is here, and the second is here.

Have a great night!

Tags: couch

Changes

Fri, 02 May 2008 18:25:51 GMT

Welcome! Today's theme for me is Changes.

This whole ordeal with the kittens has consumed me and I've decided to put it aside. I can't think of it anymore. They have good homes and they are loved, so why am I sad? I can see them whenever I want to! So I need to put it aside, not think of it if that is the case, and find other things to occupy my mind.

So I've spent the past few cold days making mental lists. And now I'm making some changes!

I'm changing the way I eat, because honestly I feel like crap. No more of that. I know how to eat right and thats what I'm going to do. Just as soon as I go shopping this weekend.

I really need to change my sleeping habits. I can't sleep at night so I sleep mostly during the day while the kids are in school. Somehow that has to change for a few different reasons. I'm hoping if I can start being up more during the day I can do some walking while the kids are still in school, maybe some bike riding. But first thing first, changing my sleeping habits.

I need to be stricter with the kids. Seriously they run all over me and by the evening I'm wiped out. Sometimes all three of them are going at once and I can feel my head spin. Time to get some order. Actually I put this in action a few days ago, and there was some grounding. One of the big problems is at night they call me upstairs no less than 20 times, up and down up and down, for little things that could have been said at any point during the day. Just excuses to stay up, excuses to see how far they can get with me, maybe? So enough of that. I've laid down some rules, last night was a little better but still. I know I never would have gotten away with this sort of thing. I am way too lenient, and I am the one that pays for it, so it needs to stop.

There are a few more changes happening, big ones, but I'm saving those until I know all the details. I'm super excited! This is all some really big stuff for me and I'm pretty excited to see it all go into motion. This is going to be one big busy summer!

Have a great day!

Tags: changes

Mirror Image

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:08:05 GMT

Today's theme is Mirror Image. I'm going to try and put on a happy face today even though happy is the oposite of what I feel right now. The kitties are slowly leaving me, they have wonderful, loving homes. Still, it doesn't help my grief. But right now my happy face is on.

Today was a half day of school and we had parent teacher conferences. Not much new there, same old, same old. The class got a new ginea pig recently so we got to see him. So cute, looks like one of our kitties, all browns and blacks and tan and white. Just a cutie. That was in the fourth grade classroom. My second grader did not need a conference so we just skipped home and relaxed after that. Nice quiet afternoon.

Yesterday was a beautiful day, I got some gardening done. We had gone to Lowes and picked up only a few plants for my back garden. A few because it doesn't get any sun so I needed to find plants that required little to no sunlight. After planting them I can see how much room I have left so now I can go back and get some more. Thats going to have to wait though because today is cold and windy, raining. Supposed to stay this way for most of the week, possibly with some snow mixed in there. Where did the spring go? That was fast! lol

The weekend went by rather quickly, we didn't do much. The kids just played outside and I got the house cleaned up spotless. I want to get started on the basement which is going to take the longest because we have a lot piled up. I need to pick up a box of garbage bags and then the basement is going to be where I'll be spending most of my time. But then when its done its done! We can have the central air put in and we'll be set for the summer.

This weeks going to go slow for me, I really need to find something, anything to keep my mind occupied. The loss of my kitties has me so devestated, even though I know its meant to be, its for the best. I had so hoped I could keep just one. But I need to remember what is best for them, and keep my emotions out of it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful week! I'm planning on getting back to journals this week after I cheer up a bit. I welcome any words of encouragement!

Tags: mirror image kitties, regular update, weather, gardening

Nothing going on Tuesday

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:50:19 GMT

It's been hard staying away, but when I don't have anything good to talk about, when there is nothing happy going on, then I'd just rather not say anything. I always remember the bad stuff, its the good stuff I want to remember.

So one of the kittens went to a new home, one of my daughters friends took her. She's doing very well there, they have a dog and the two are getting on pretty good. That leaves me with three. The one with the broken tail isn't doing so good. We had to talk with the kids about her yesterday, its time we had something done with her. We can't provide her with the amout of care she needs and last night it became obvious that she has an infection. Tomorrow we'll be taking her to someone that can help her, hopefully save her. Honestly I don't have high hopes, I've always had this bad feeling about her outcome, but nonetheless I'm hoping things work out. We're going to miss her so very much.

Its been warm, summery weather the past week and its been so beautiful. Its so nice to see all the kids out playing and not in the house watching tv! I was always outside not in the house so I'm always trying to get them out, but now there are so many new things out thats just the way it is.

Not much else going on, I've been spending my nights trying to clear up the dvr, its all filled up with CSI so thats about all I've been watching, I'm starting to get sick of watching that and nothing else.

I'm off to take a shower and wait for the kiddos to get home so we can take one of the cats to the vet.

Have a great day!

I've been tagged

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:40:15 GMT

Dan over at Slapinions 'tagged' me earlier this week and its taken me this long to get moving on it.

The rules are:
1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1) What was I doing 10 yrs ago?

I had just had my second son and I was staying in my in-laws attic. We only stayed there for about a year and a half, and it was really nice. The attic was huge so that the boys had a section where they slept, we had our section, and we had another section with a couch and tv, a refridge it was a little studio apt. We were just saving money and enjoying our family. The best thing about staying with the in-laws was that we got to see all the neices and nephews all the time, my husbands sisters and brother because everyone goes to mom and dads! Once we moved out we didn't see everyone so much.

2) What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):

Make dinner, watch a movie with the kids (not sure which one yet), change the litter boxes, take some pics of the kittens, wash dishes

3) Snacks I enjoy:

Chocolate, salsa (or taco dip) and chips, twinkies... gosh I think thats about it I'm not much of a snack person more of a meal person

4) Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

Pay off all my bills. Buy a car. Build or buy a house but go house shopping first. Go back to school. Clothes shop. Furniture shop. Start up another company, maybe restaurant or novelty shop. Open ahair salon for my mom with a small bookstore inside, or a large one inside and a coffee shop with lots of cookies and goodies. Start a non-profit organization for women with children who lose their significant other and need help. Need help picking up their life, need help going after them for support, need help with whatever.

5) Five of my bad habits:

I like to sleep. A lot.

I hate doing dishes and I'll do anything I can to get out of it.

Lately I've been sleeping through the phone ringing and I need to get up and answer it since its for work.

I almost never put the laundry away as soon as its out of the dryer. Usually it ends up in a pile somewhere or is folded in the basket for a few days until I get sick of looking at it then I put it away.

6) 5 places I have lived:

In a house with my parents. My first apartment with my husband. My in-laws attic for a short time. Since then we've lived in a few different duplexes

7) 5 jobs I have had:

Burger King, dough maker for Little Ceasars inside KMart, Toys R Us, dispatcher and business owner.

5 peeps I wanna know more about:

Everyone! If anyone plays this please leave a link and let me know

Another short update

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:47:55 GMT

Another short update since I have more facts now. My neighbor was 20 yrs old, his birthday was only about a week away and he would have been 21. His friends went to a lacrosse game, not a soccer game as I had thought.

My heart is still so heavy. Now, I am so thankful that the path of the slug went out of the house. If he had been turned it would have gone right through my childrens bedrooms. Since I didn't hear the blast, he could have killed my kids too and I never would have known. Just thinking of this takes my breath away. Still I can't help being thankful that it didn't happen.

The kittens are over seven weeks old now and I still have all four of them. They spend the night running around, jumping on the beds and playing with each other. They spend the daytime climbing me and playing with each other. I'm sure they think my legs are trees they way they all try to climb me at once. So next week we're going to start giving them to the new homes and I think its going to be so hard, but has to be done. I can't believe how much cat food I'm going through, there is no way I can keep this up.

We've had mostly a really nice week here sunny and warm, except yesterday and today with rain and clouds. Today its pretty cold out I'm thinking of turning up the heat a bit to take the chill out of the air. I'm really looking forward to the warm weather so I can do some planting. We did start some yard work, my husband in the front and me in the back, but I was raking the leaves and I started to get worried I would find the slug under all the leaves... so after 15 minutes that was it. I had the kids running around me so I took them out front and figure I'll finish that when everyone isn't running around. Hopefully once they get the hole fixed in the siding it will be easier to be in the yard.

Well I'm off to find some lunch before the kiddos get home. Thanks so much to Dan for spotlighting me as he's guest editor this week at Magic Smoke !

Have a great day!