Daily life of a mother of a child that has Craniosynostosis

Dinner cruise pictures (LOTS of them)

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:29:04 GMT

Hi everyone. On Sunday hubby, the kids and I went on a dinner cruise on our tribal boat called "Spirit of the Water". It is a boat our reservation has that offers trips, dinners, or private party service to. Hubby, daughter, and I got the prime rib that was out of this world yummy! My son got walleye that also was really good. It takes about 3 and half hours to go up and down the river and threw the lock and dam. It was a perfect day to be out on the Mississippi River. Not a cloud in the sky. I took a bunch of pictures that I will share with you all.

Yesterday was my 11 year anniversary with hubby. We didn't do much at all. We hung out last night and played some games. My daughter Alexis is here right now also. My girls are constantly wanting to run, run and run some more. I get so tired somedays lol. I cannot figure out if it is stress or if it is truly a illness but I have been dragging bad for about a week now. I have to many symptoms to list. But they seem to never go away all the way. Today when I woke up I ran for about 6 hours straight without stopping once, then after switching the laundry I laid in bed and slept for 3 hours. I feel like I get no sleep. I feel like I am tired no matter what, which is what makes me believe it is stress causing it.

School starts again in 6 days. This summer seemed to fly by. It started with something life changing for myself and my family and then the rest of the summer was spent just trying to be a family and loving my kids. My daughter is so upset with my mom still because she is still drinking, sounds like worse than ever. She misses her Nana so much but knows that we will not be talking to her.

We are doing a Cars theme in my sons room and last night I went online and found the cutest images from the movie and messed with them in PSP, then today I went to the dollar store and found 4 perfect frames for the pictures and grouped them on one of his walls. So for $4.00 he has the cutest set of pictures from the movie.

It is hard to believe that Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas is right around the corner. My daughter Rayanna's 12th birthday is also 2 weeks away. We will have a sleepover party for her the Friday after her birthday. I am trying to find a stylist online through Craigslist that will come here and do updo's and nails for 6 girls. She wants it to be like a spa themed party. So the girls will get all dolled up and spoiled Friday the 12th of September ;) I hope I can find someone who will come here for a few hours for a reasonable price. I will make sure to take pictures and share them afterwards.

Well I am going to load the pictures and go make some tags. There is quite a few of them so hopefully noone has any problems with the load time of my journal. I THINK my alerts are all working again, and I am so glad! Those of you whose journals I read I consider my friends and I hate when I can't read what is happening in your life when you write.

I hope you are all having a great week so far!

Love and Hugs, Robyn

A meme from a PSP group

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 01:40:33 GMT

ABOUT YOURSELF:

Name: Robyn

Birthdate: April 12th, 1975

Birthplace: Bertha, Minnesota

Current Location: Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Eye Color: Hazel with a gold ring around them

Hair Color: Dark brown

Piercings: Two in each ear
Tattoos: Not yet, but very soon I hope

Boyfriend/Girlfriend: B/F

Overused Phrase: OMG

FAVORITES:

Food: Italian, Comfort foods

Candy: Laffy Taffy's ;)
Number: 12 & 18

Color: Love a ton of colors

Animal(s): Dogs & Monkies

Drink: Mountain Dew and Water

Alcohol: Captain/Coke or a good icy fruity drink

Bagel: with swiss and roast beef once in awhile

Letter: People have favorite letters???

Body Part on Oppositesex: Eyes

THIS OR THAT:

Pepsi or Coke: Coke

McDonalds or BurgerKing: McDonald's (rarely)

Strawberry or Watermelon: Love em both!

Hot tea or Ice tea: Hot Tea

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate

Hot Chocolate or Coffee: Hot chocolate

Kiss or Hug: Both
Dog or Cat: Dog

Rap or Punk: Rap

Summer or Winter: Summer for sure!

Scary Movies or Funny Movies: Both
Love or Money: Love for sure (but if I could have both can't say I wouldn't lol)

Your Bedtime: When I fall asleep
Most Missed Memory: My chats with my grandma when I was doing dishes, and my grandpa's stories

Best physical feature: Eyes & Hair

First Thought Waking Up: Morning already??

Goal for this year: Get my taxes paid off (LONGG story lol)

Best Friend: My hubby & siblings

Weakness: forgiving to easily (But I am working hard on it!)

Fears: Something happening to my family

Heritage: Native American

HAVE YOU...

Ever Drank: yep

Ever Smoked: Still Do

Pot: can I plead the 5th?? I have

Ever been Drunk: Long time ago

Ever been beaten up: :(

Ever beaten someone up: I have defended myself

Ever Shoplifted: Yes (Strawberry Shortcake figurines when I was 7)
Ever Skinny Dipped: sure have

Ever Kissed Opposite sex: certainly
Been Dumped Lately: nope

IN A GUY/GIRL:

Favorite Eye Color: Brown

Favorite Hair Color: dark
Short or Long: Short
Height: taller

Style: His own?

Hot or Cute: both

Drugs and Alcohol: Well he is a grown man.... up to him lol
Muscular or Really Skinny: Doesn't Matter

RANDOMS:

Number of Regrets in the Past: A Few
What country do you want to Visit: Paris

How do you want to Die: I Don't - but if I gotta go - I wanna go sleeping
Been to the Mall Lately: Yes

Do you like Thunderstorms: Yes
Get along with your Parents: another long story....no I guess would be my answer

Health Freak: A health what??

Do you think your Attractive: As a matter of fact I do inside and out

Believe in Yourself: I do, but faulter now and then

Want to go to College: I should have!
Do you Smoke: Didn't I already answer this?

Do you Drink: looked and answered this already also lol

Shower Daily: Yes
Been in Love: absolutely
Do you Sing: all the time
Want to get Married: 11 year anniv yesterday :)

Do you want Children: Not anymore than I have now

Have your future kids names planned?nope

Age you want to lose your virginity....It's a little late to ask me that now
Hate anyone: Hates a strong word!! I hate behaviours not people

Bragging mom and beach fun ;)

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:53:00 GMT

Hi everyone I hope you are all well and having a good week! My daughter Ray and 2 of her friends went to the mall a couple days and hung out for about 4 hours. She came home and told me what happened while the 3 of them were sitting in the food court eating lunch and I had a "Wow that's my kid" moment lol! Her and her friends were sitting at the table eating lunch and the lady sitting at the table next to them walked up to them when she was done eating and said......

"This may seem strange to you three. But I would really like to just thank you for giving me hope in the future that there are still awesome kids like the 3 of you who have manners, do not swear, are not disrespectful, and your just sitting being exactly what 3 girls your age should be. Children. So again, I just want to tell you thank you."

I already knew how awesome she was, but how cool for her and two friends to be at the mall unsupervised and have a middle age woman notice and feel the need to tell them.

I took Ray and Josh to Lake Calhoun a few days ago. It is in Minneapolis in Uptown. Here are some pics......

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I just snapped a bunch of pics then stuck my camera back into bag since the 3 of us were out near the bouys swimming most of the time. This is the first summer Josh has gotten into playing in sand and he still is not always sure about it but it is so cool to watch him explore new things!

You know it took him almost 7 years to even walk in grass, especially barefoot! He was scared of it and honestly just acted out right disgusted by it.

2 more weeks and school starts again. This summer has flown by! We have been painting (well I did one day with hubby) otherwise he hasbeen painting walls here for the last few days. Today he did the entrance by the garage hall. It was the same dark purple as upstairs and green. It works upstairs BUT the downstairs area has tan tones in the flooring and the dark purple was like a monster sneaking up on you when you walked in and turned around lol! So now it is a nice beige that blends well with the rest of the area.

LJ if you read this I sure hope your doing ok hun! I tried to visit you and couldn't! Ne I also got your emails and love you and will be writing you one soon ;)

Well I am off to make a couple tags before bed.

Hugs and Love,

Robyn

Pics of new house part one....

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:46:40 GMT

I am going to do this in two entries. My new place is colorful ;) If you like white and beige this may be blinding to you lol! The bedroom in this set and bathroom are our guest bedroom and bath. So if you wanna come visit see where you will be sleeping? ;)

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New house part 2

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:55:28 GMT

Master bath.....
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Hubby, daughter and son were all sleeping when I snapped these lol......

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Josh's room and the canvas I started and need to finish for him. I am going to make like 3 of them to match his blanket....
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Ray's room........
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Kid's bath....
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A cool meme ( A couple swear words)

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:33:09 GMT

1. My uncle once: Disappeared for a month flying wherever his heart took him that day

2. Never in my life: Would I hurt another the way I have been hurt in my life!

3. When I was five: Life was anything but normal but at my grandparents I fell asleep with strawberries in my pockets ;)

4. High School was: Something I had to quit because I had to work about 60 hours a week to afford my apartment and survive

5. I will never forget losing: my son and daughter

6. I once met: Johnny Gil at a party

7. There’s this person I know who: invented roller blades at 18 years old and sold the patent for 4 million dollars! And spent it all in just over a year and big ouch now that roller blades are worth FAR more than the 4 mill he received for them. We went to school with him

8. Once, at a bar: I kissed the bouncer with a tongue ring because I was curious what it felt like lol

9. By noon, I’m usually: Finding my happy self, I am NOT a morning person

10. Last night: I made 3 tags and went through a bunch of emails and did some laundry then fell asleep watching License to Wed

11. If I only had: The answer for my son to live a more normal life..........

12. Next time I go to church: I will pray

13. What worries me most: My kids being safe

14. When I turn my head left, I see: Aquafina wild berry water and my stair railing

15. When I turn my head right, I see: My hubby's computer and desk

16. You know I’m lying when: Um, hmmmm, I guess I would not be able to look you in your eyes?

17. What I miss most about the eighties: Surely not the big hair! That was a really rough decade so honestly not much

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare, I’d be: Let me get back to you on this one ;)

19. By this time next year: I hope to be in my dream house I plan to grow old in

20. A better name for me would be: Shortie or QIB (My MIL gave me that name) Quiet Indian Bitch

21. I have a hard time understanding: ignorance, people's judgemental ways, people who ALWAYS have a story to tell when you tell them something (Example.....My head hurts I say....They say "Oh that is nothing, my head hurts, my neck hurts, blah blah blah!"), and people who think it is just to much for them to take even 5 minutes out of each of their days to help someone else

22. If I ever go back to school: I would go to be an interior decorator for sure

23. You know I like you if: I hug you lol

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: my hubby for all he does in our life to be an equal part of raising our son and to my brother for being one of the best friends in the world a sister could have

25. Take my advice, never: Judge another unless you have walked a mile in theirshoes

26. My ideal breakfast is: My mush I make.... It is hashbrowns, sausage, cheese, eggs, pretty much whatever I toss into the pan and make. Everyone in my house loves it. Otherwise fruit

27. A song I love, but do not have is: Amazing Grace

28: If you visit my hometown, I suggest: I am from a town called Bertha with about 400 people and honestly I would suggest to just keep on driving if you blink you might just might miss it!! lmao

29. Why won’t people: Help another in need?

31. If you spend the night at my house: We will have a blast, you will get a good meal, some laughs, some sort of game playing, karaoke or something like that

31. I’d stop my wedding for: I stopped my wedding when I went in labor 3 months early with my son

32. The world could do without: All the assholes! And the people who don't signal anymore driving because they are to busy on the cell, or doing their makeup, or shaving, or reading.......

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Ewwww I guess have the same cockroach crawling on me

34. My favorite blonde is: My daughter (ask me about redheads and I have two in mind ;)

35. Paper clips are more useful than: I don't use paper clips

36. If I do anything well, it’s: being a true friend, and real compassionate person, and being a mother (Well I try my very hardest to do the very best I can)

NICE analogy hunny!

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:22:28 GMT

Hiya everyone! I hope your all having a great weekend so far. We got moved and are settling fine. When everything is put away I will take some pictures for you all to see. My daughter is really happy to be back in the city where all of her friends are, and she will not have to switch schools this year which she is really happy about also. We have gotten about 75% of her school supply shopping done but still need to get her school clothes. Same for my son.

My quit smoking is going terrible! :( I wish I could say I was done but I can't. Life's stresses seem to be never ending and it makes it SO hard to quit. I know that those of you who don't smoke will say that is just an excuse (which it is lol) but it is very true. When every part of my life seems to be flying all different directions it makes it VERY hard to not do one of the things that gives me a few minutes to myself everyday through out the day.

Sometimes I wonder if being a wife, mom, ect means that you give up all sense of privacy?? Can some other moms and wives answer this question for me? I go to the bathroom and someone is there or will just come in (I don't do this to them). I take a shower and someone is standing there trying to talk to me or get my attention ( I do not usually do this to them), I wake up and have always demanded at least 10 minutes to myself and that seems to be alot to ask sometimes also. My head literally feels like it just might explode when I just roll out of bed and someone in my house starts talking to me right away. I just wonder if I am honestly asking to much to have 30 minutes to myself while I shower, or 5 minutes while in the bathroom. I wonder why it is that everyone seems to think I do not want to shut it all away during those supposed to be private times? I honestly cannot even say that it always bothers me, because it doesn't just some days it really rubs me the wrong way.

I always try to keep my chin up and keep trucking forward no matter what the situation but since this stuff with my mom happened it has really been hard. I do keep going because I have no choice, but man oh man am I tired ya'll! What I would give to be totally 100% taken care of for like a week. To not have to remember everything, to not have to clean, or cook, or run to the store, or make calls, or a few day break from my son who I love with every thing inside myself but am tired because we have very little outside help from anyone. And if I cannot even trust him with my own mother who the hell can I trust him with? There is truly not a person (other than Rayanna and hubby) who truly understands what our daily life is like with Josh. Some have an idea from being around or hearing us talk, but noone understands how hard it can be. Yet everytime you look at him and see all he is doing it is awesome considering we were told "IF he made it he would never walk, talk, see, hear, eat by mouth, he would be a vegetable". So please do not think I complaining about being his mother. I am not in any way shape or form complaining, I am just admitting I am so tired. You know when I look back at my whole life I truly have NEVER been taken care of the way a young girl or young lady should be taken care of. I have fended for myself pretty much always. Vent over..........

So my subject line I am sure your wondering about? Last night hubby and I picked his 15 year old son up to spend a few days here. On the way home we were talking about just random stuff. His son says "I never make my bed, I do not see the point when I am just going to sleep in it again that night". SOOO my hubby comes up with this analogy for him (CAN YOU SAY OMG!?).....

You like girls, it is safe to say that you will never be with any guys. Yet when you shower you wash your butt right?"

His son and I were like Huh??

Hubby says "Well that was the only thing I could think of to get my point across. Meaning, even though it is safe to say noone is going near your butt you still wash it when you shower right? Same goes for your bed" lmao!

I said "Nice analogy hunny!!"

His son was like omg dad!

Gotta love him lmao ;)

I made a yummy roast in the crockpot today. It cooked all day and Mmmmm was it good tonight for dinner!

Next weekend we are going to our upper tribe's Pow Wow. On Monday I am dropping Ray off at my other daughter Lexi's house and Tuesday morning they are going on a tribal supervised camping trip in Iowa. They will have to hike 2 hours to thier campsite and then will spend the night and hike back the following afternoon. Sounds fun.

I have been thinking about getting a job when my kids go back to school in a few weeks. Just something to do for me, and the extra money could never hurt lol.

I do not know if I told you all but where we moved back to in Eden Prairie is literally two houses away from where we were last school year. We are in a townhouse but it is much bigger than the other we were in. It is close to 3000 square feet and 4 bedrooms instead of 3. The whole unit is higher end I guess you would call it. The nice dark cherry hard wood floors, the same with the kitchen cabinets. Our bedroom is huge we have a couch in it and a california king bed with plenty of room to spare. Just overall it is way bigger. It was funny when we got back because the neighbor who used to be on the left of us is now on the right and he said "You musta missed me!" when he saw we were back. Another cool family directly across the street came over and was great also. Even though their house was completed 2 days ago so they moved into it yesterday. They will have us over for dinner when they are settled.

Before we moved into our place last week a MN Viking lived here and he did a number on the walls lol! They are all getting repainted this next week. He was a cool guy though, we met him while we were here before.

Well I think that's it for tonight. I am off to make a couple tags I think and switch the laundry. I am also painting two canvases for my son's Cars room that I may start tonight.

I am pretty sure alerts are not working or very rarely so hopefully some of you will get this alert ;)

Love and hugs,

Robyn

What Love Means to Me........(awesome poem!)

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:04:21 GMT

What Love Means To Me.

Love means a million things, not always smiles and diamond rings,
Love can mean tears, and echoes of a thousand fears.
Its opening your eyes each day, with yet another chance to say,
You will be there to catch each fall, however big, however small.

Love can also be a touch, one that means so very much,
A glance that's made however shy, just from eye to eye.
It's starting anew. Its making each promise so true.
However absurd, its never breaking your word.

It's staying with someone, for better for worse,
It's putting them always first.
It's sharing each day, in a magical way,
Like an unquenched thirst.

It's holding a hand, and other things planned,
And surprises too, and seeing things through.
It's caring when sick, being strong like a brick,
When others depart, staying there with your heart.

Love is smiles, and then tears, throughout the years,
And comforting words to alleviate fears.
Making special each hour, like the buds on a flower,
Always to grow, and unfold by the hour.

Love is making the time, to make your lover shine,
However they feel, don't let feelings conceal,
What you're feeling inside. Don't ever hide.
They must feel number one, don't let good be undone.

Love is candlelight and flowers, and special long hours,
Or a walk on the sand, and just holding a hand.
It's sharing a dance, to keep fresh the romance,
Or leaving a note which you secretly wrote.

Showing love all the time. Making them feel sublime.
Or sending a card where you've written a rhyme.
Love is good times and bad, ecstatic and sad,
Being patient and kind, all these things combined.

What love means to me, isn't simple to see,
Its the sun in the sky, and a reason to try.
It's just giving your all, and a chance to recall,
How you were when you met, so you never forget.......

When your love was a treasure to be shared without measure,
And you always were there, you made time just to share.
Love is kind. It shall fill up your mind,
With such wonderful feelings, to send senses reeling.

Love is offering space, or a tender embrace,
Whichever is wanted, or a kiss on the face.
Love is making it known, you don't need to be shown,
You'll be there when there's need, and be faithful indeed.

Share deep, how you feel, and thank God as you kneel,
Let them know of their worth, to the ends of the earth.
Just always be there, so they know that you care,
Never let it suffice, love can be gone in a trice.

Never take them for granted, be especially enchanted,
By their look or their smile, or their cute sense of style.
And do all you can do, to keep your love true,
And hold love in your heart, when you are apart.

Dont ever tell lies, and dont ever surmise,
Because love is just simple, yet truthful and wise.
And share all you have, in your heart to your love,
And pray to be blessed from your God up above.

If you do all these things, without any rest,
For sure you will know you have given your best,
And after you've read this, I'm sure you'll agree..
There's wisdom and truth, in "what love means to me".

Good karma???

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:22:36 GMT

Hi everyone. The last few months have been so crazy around here! I told you all that my truck broke down on the first of this month. The day that it broke down I had went to get a money order to send my daughter's camp fee in. I needed the remaining balance so $250.00. The girl working there that day accidently gave me a money order for $500.00. I noticed and we went right back into the store and I gave the money order back. She thanked me many times, and told me she probably would have lost her job over a $250.00 error. It was the right thing to do so I did it, period. There was never a thought in my head to keep the extra money. Well an hour later my truck fell apart!

A couple days ago my hubby took my son with him up north 4 hours away to pick up our truck which was fixed. The day before we had been at the beach all day and my son swallowed a bunch of lake water. The evening they got up to my hubby's best friends house/my cousin/son's god papi, Josh got sick. Really sick. By the next day when they were supposed to head home my hubby called me and said "We have a big problem". He said that Josh was wretching badly, bad enough he was having a hard time catching his breath. Josh had a surgery done almost 9 years ago called a Nissan Fundoplication. They wrapped his Esophogus around his stomach to stop the GERD/Reflux he had. My hubby was afraid that the Nissan had burst and they were 4 hours away. We called his GI doc here in the cities and then also his ped doc and were told he needed to be soon before 4 hours. So hubby had to take him to a small rinky dink little place up north. They ran a bunch of tests and seem to believe his Nissan is still in tact.

BUT when hubby talked to Children's down here where my son has spent at least a year total admitted. They told him ALL of my son's records are missing????? WTF did they go? He has went to that hospital since he was a newborn for everything except his cranial stuff which his team of surgeons in Washington DC take care of. So tell me how it is that I have about 5 files FULL of bills and statements and letters to and from certain doctors that Children's Hospital cannot find one single record of Josh?? We had an episode happen there years back that the head of the hospital came to us and asked "Are you looking for a financial settlement?". We told her no we just wanted to know that the neglect from there hospital staff didn't cause any permanent damage. We are now wondering if his records were destroyed after that (or maybe I should say convienently disappeared).

So in the end Josh and hubby made it home at midnight last night and he is ok. He is sick and it will pass.

Last night my daughter and I had the scariest thing happen! Around 9 last night after being at the beach again all day long and running home to change out of swimsuits and eat we ran to Walgreen's to drop off her film from camp. She saw some of the cutest school supplies and they were having a buy one get one free sale. Can't beat that! So we got a bunch of stuff there. Well we got home and she asked "mom, where is my pencil sharpener?". I said it has to be there somewhere, we looked at the reciept and they never charged us for it. She realized she had stuck it in her pocket and on principle AGAIN because it was the right thing to do I drove her back up there a little after 10 to pay for the sharpener. We pulled in, the cashier sort of laughed and thanked us for coming back. When we pulled in we walked in the store and went straight to the register. There was a cop standing the cosmetic counter with the nighttime store manager. We got in line. It was me, my daughter next to me and then this middle aged man got in line behind us. I thought nothing of it. We payed and left to come home. I was turning left to get onto the main road to get home and this truck (the man from Walgreen's) was in the right lane and turning right. He looked into my truck and knew it was just the two of us in the truck. He let me turn left and switched lanes and turned our direction. Still didn't think much of it. We live about 5 miles from the store, but there is bunch of turns to get into our place. By the third turn I was really watching this guy because I could tell he had no idea where he was going and was going the same way we were. I didn't say anything. Once in our neighborhood we have 5 short turns to actually get into our unit. Once we were on the street our driveways are on I KNEW this man was following us. I then told my daughter to roll her window up and I locked the doors. I did NOT want to turn into our house area so he could block us in because we live on a dead end. So I did a Uturn on the street. He did a uturn and proceeded for almost an hour to follow us. He parked a couple times and I called my brother right after I did the uturn and told him we were being followed. He said stay in your car and don't stop driving I am on my way down. I considered calling the police but after about 40 minutes I lost this guy and have no idea where he went. I knew he was around here somewhere so when my brother and his roommate got here he escorted us into my place and we locked everything up. He then drove around my neighborhood for awhile. My hubby got home about 40 minutes later.

My hubby got home and we told him what happened and he called my brother to thank him for coming so quick and to see if he saw him anywhere. So he wanted us to run back up to the Walgreens to see if the store could show us a video picture of this man who followed us. I assumed he wanted the truck I was driving. I found out differently at around 2 am and my god was that scary! My hubby went into the store and talked to the manager who knew which man he was talking about right away because he was acting "odd" while she was talking to the police man about a seperate issue. WELL while my hubby was in the store talking to the manager I decided to drive our truck right across the parking lot to wash all the bugs off the windshield and my truck died AGAIN 30 minutes after he got home from picking it up!

The manager told hubby she would piece together the video of this man from the time he walked into the store til he left and followed me and my daughter. He was sort of lingering around the store I guess for a bit before we walked in and when we walked in he went and bought a box of condoms and followed us out and home. So my idea that he was just wanted my sister's truck was obviously wrong. Thank god I pay attention and realized he was following us because god only knows what would have happened if I just pulled into our garage and would have been cornered. Needless to say the police made a CD of the images of this man "lingering" and then following us out of the store and also printed a reciept for the report to show he had indeed bought a box of condoms. The police seem to think he would do something like thatso his sperm was not tracable or something like that. I was freaked out to say the least, and so was my daughter! We are safe and paying very close attention now when we leave the house. He never did see exactly which unit we lived in, just the area we are in. We are moving on Saturday back to the district my kids went to school at last year.

It is a crazy world and TWO times I did "the right thing" something terrible happened. I believe in doing the right thing no matter what but man come on god a little break now and then??? So now my truck sits dead again after spending 700.00 on a rental car for two weeks, then borrowing my sisters truck, and 650.00 to fix the truck for it to die within an hour of getting home.

For the last couple weeks we have been meeting my brother, sister, one day hubby's mom and sis to BBQ, fish, play volleyball, swim, and just spend some good quality time together many days a week. We have all been having a blast. Yesterday my brother brought his jetski down and his kids were with him. We all layed on the beach for a few hours and chatted and laughed and swam. We then decided to rent two paddle boats and meet my brother and niece in the middle of lake. My daughter Ray and my nephew rode with me in a paddle boat and my sister and her friend rode in the other one. We crossed the lake and hooked the paddleboats together and everyone jumped in the middle of the lake and swam. My brother even came and tied his jetski to us and jumped in. He took my daughter for a ride also. We had so much fun. Well my sister and her friend decided to take his jetski out for a ride themselves and hit a wave going 50 MPH and got tossed about 20 feet off the jetski. My sister sprained her finger and felt like she couldn't breath. They both got the wind knocked out of them but are ok other than being pretty sore from hitting the water. Her friend grabbed her life jacket and held onto it while my sister tried to catch her breath. Then they had to swim about 40 feet to get back on the jetski and bring it back to shore. I am thinking next time she will slow down a bit. I am so glad they were ok!

Today we met my brother and sister and were going to go fish off the paddleboats lol! We got there and it was to windy so they were not letting people rent them. We walked aways down a path and fished off a dock. My sister and I caughta TON of baby fish. Hubby and brother only caught like one each in a 3 hours period. They kept trying to steal our spot on the dock lol. I also caught a really small large mouth bass.

My daughter had a BLAST at camp last week! I left early thank god to pick her up Friday morning to be there at noon. I got stuck on 35W going no more than 20 miles an hour for almost 50 miles. I pulled into the closing prayer/song ceremony 2 minutes after they started. She wants to do the teepees next year also.

My daughter Alexis spent the week here while Ray was at camp and her and I spent some great quality time together. My hubby took off to stay at his best friends for a few days to give us some alone time. That was awesome of him. He knew we needed it. One day we picked up Chipolte for lunch and brought it to them and ate there then when we were headed home to wait out sitting in rush hour for an hour we went to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. Lex, Josh and I parked and walked on the beach. Aquatennial Day's had been that weekend and there was a sand castle contest and the big castles were still on the beach so we walked and talked and looked at them. Then Josh decided to fall into the water and soak his shorts and Tshirt so we just let him swim and let him ride home naked lol.

We have all gotten so much color in the last couple weeks and we are having a blast! The day my MIL & SIL met us at the lake here near us we BBQ hamburgers and swam and tried you see I said TRIED to play volleyball in the sand. We all laughed so hard but we all get a A for effort lol. Everyone but me fell and got road rash on there knees. Then we all went down to get in the water to cool off because it has been scorching hot here in MN and my SIL was sitting in the water and got bit on the butt by a fish. I bet the people across the lake heard her scream :)

Well that's it for tonight. I hope everyone is having a great week.

Love and Hugs, Robyn

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:21:29 GMT

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is........
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.
-- Ricky, age 10