...please use your inside voice...

Wow, its been a long time since I've updated. I always start with the intention of blogging each day, maybe a few times a week, but then I forget. Or life happens. Sometimes its things I just don't want to share, as if those reading will look and me and make fun. But in all honesty, I blog for me, only me, and this I need to remember.

I always get a bit sad when christmas is over. I just love christmas. By the time the new year rolls around I'm curled up in a ball in some corner with silent tears running down my face. But it will come again so I'm pushing past, onward and outward.

The kittens are 10 weeks old now and we just gave one away yesterday. That leaves 3 more. We really got attached to these little guys and it is SO HARD this time. Hard for us and hard for the kitties too. One of them has been crying for days now for his lost brother. My heart just breaks. Right now she is searching for him, calling his name, searching each corner, looking for a lost ball of fur. Can you die from a broken heart?

My kids have been doing fabulous. Had orientation at the high school for my oldest, and orientation at the middle school is coming up for his brother. Gosh, I have a child going into high school. I wonder if I can pass for his sister? The kids are just growing up... I always heard everyone say to enjoy it while you can but I never really understood it... until I look and time has just slipped by. Amazing.

Anywho, I finally put the kids school pictures in frames. Now I just need to get moving on other things. Procrastination.

I read a few good books. Read the Twilight series. Loved the first three, the last one left me restless. I ended up staying up all night and rewrote the book (in a sort of haphazard outline form) and changed the direction the story went. So, for me, the story in the book is MY story. After I wrote it all out, I could finally sleep. Something about the original left me... hmm, whats the best word... well I thought the book was stupid so it just didn't pan out for me.

Read Stephenie Meyer's next book, The Host. That had me a bit lost in the beginning, the middle was good, but then the whole end of the book was blah. The story was good, but like the last Twilight book, why does everything end up happy and perfect at the end. Life is not like that. Where were the challenges in the book? It all worked out just too perfect. But still, the story was a good one.

I've actually been reading a lot lately, and writing too. So easy to get lost with a book, or a story. Ahh, life is good.

A Belated Birthday!

I'm a week late for a very, very special happy birthday! Someone very close to me, one of the most important people in my life celebrated the day of his birth last week on thurs, nov 20.

Ever since the moment we first met I knew that we would always be close. And we always have been. There is nothing I wouldn't do for him, in fact my whole world revolves around him. Since my eyes first looked into his beautiful blue ones, I belonged to him. He is my heart and my soul. I respect him and I admire him and I adore him, and yet he still makes me laugh and finds ways to surprise me.

My life could never be complete without him in it. Each day that passes, each month that passes, each year that passes, I am so thankful for, for not only being able to watch him grown and learn and reach his greatest potetential, but also that I can do the same right along side him. we bring about the best in each other and he will always be one of my bestest friends.

(some hockey guy in the car) my son Ricky (Happy Birthday!!) and son Cam

It seems like the age 13 has crept up on us slowly. I can't believe he is already a teenager! And taller than me! But now we have so much fun together... talking... cooking... reading.... watching tv or movies... games... so many different things and its just so nice. I really enjoy his company, the company of both my boys. I really hope they enjoy my company too.

So Happy thanksgiving!!!! Hope everyone had a wonderful day! Now will you enjoy a restful weekend?

New Additions!

Just wanted to give a quick update... we had kittens yesterday! Four new little ones! They are so cute, and I plan on enjoying them for as long as I can.

This is Nelly's second litter, the first on Feb 19, 2008. After these kittens are weaned we are getting her spayed, I already have a coupon for it. No more kittens! As much as I love them and I think its a wonderful experience for the kids, it takes a lot out of Nelly and it just becomes too much. So by the spring Nelly will be getting spayed. We may already have homes for all the kittens, but they still have some time to grow so right now I'm playing it by ear. She did have a difficult time delivering these and there was over a 4 hour gap between the third and fourth, so for health reasons I know this will be her last litter.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! We're going to kick back and relax, watch some hockey and football games and hang out together. I'm looking forward to some quiet time with the kids, family time.

Hello Blogger!

The kids have today off from school so I thought I would take some time off from housework (cleaning kids bedrooms) for a quick update at the new journal.

This is a picture I took of my daughter after the sunflowers bloomed and we were looking for something to do with all the petals. We had so much fun! My son even modelled the petals too.

This has been a fabulous school year so far. I think this is the first year we have wonderful teachers for all of the kids and it is such a wonderful feeling. One more year and my oldest will be in high school and his brother will be in the middle school. Time flies so fast!

Our cat Nelly is having a litter of kittens again, in about 2 weeks. I stared up a blog so that I can follow that closely. I love my kitties so much and this is always so exciting to me so this time I decided to just blog about it specifically. I know that I drive my family crazy talking about it so much, now I can blog till my hearts content.

Well, of course there is a lot more to say but I'm going to wait until the house is a bit quieter so I can collect my thoughts. Hope your weekend is FABULOUS!

Good News!

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!

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What weather we're having!

 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?

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!