eek it's dark!

I always have trouble with the time change.  My first pickups are at 6:45, before sunrise, now it is bright and sunny.  This morning my normally half asleep high school group (9th grade boys) were goofing around and stringing seat belts together.  ::sigh:::I am sure they will settle down soon.

Saturday night we watched the boys and decided since it was the last big breakfast at our campground, we help cook, that we would just stay at the trailer since it's just down the street.  Our house is about 20 minutes from the kid's house.  So we stopped by the trailer before going to the kids house to light the furnace as it would be dark & late when we came back.  And when it's dark a job like lighting the furnace involves a lot of swearing since we usually forget how to do it from year to year.  As I open the camper door I see some mouse poop, this is not unsual, the gun club is in the middle of farms and the fields are all being harvested.  Mark realizes he did not put the steel wool in the hole for the power cord so the mouse found his way in.  No biggie, I am used to cleaning up after mice.  BUT then I look up...there is a tree branch poking into my trailer...and there is a hole where the tree branch came through....more swearing (not by me, I decided to laugh...one of us has to be the calm one and this time it's my turn).  We survey the damage and decided to head to Jeremy's for the items we need to repair the damage.  It all ended up working out a-ok as after talking to some other club members we have been included in a group that will be sealing their roofs with left over roofing tar from one of the member's jobs.  We will trade work for tar...pretty nifty.

Liz's play was very, very good.  It was a Neil Simon production and I actually had a good time. This one was very well acted with an elaborate stage.  She ended up working yesterday and again tonight.  Kohl's is having a big sale for family members with 15 percent extra savings this upcoming weekend.  We can pick out what we want and then pay for it on the weekend.   We will be going Wednesday.  The boys have so many toys that Tracey requested clothes for Christmas.  I love shopping for the  little ones, but with so many boys do you think Jeremy will notice if I buy Dayton pink?!??

Jeremy with the boys at the pumpkin farm.  Look the deer even posed!

end of the week

This week went super fast.  I did have my x-ray redone on Tuesday.  At first they claimed I was never there...or at least not since 1998.  I think that was when I had my first Mammogram there!  Ish!  But somebody figured it out.  Finally... my husband, who went with me, was getting miffed. 

Tonight I am going to Liz's play.  They are doing 'Rumors'.  She is head of stage crew this year, and so far she only freaked out one time.  The Play started Wednesday night and runs until Saturday night.  I must of taught my kid well, she sure knows how to set boundaries.  She had to stop two kids from flirting when they were supposed to be working the behind the scenes props and told another kid to go home when he wouldn't help her clean up after the production.  The girl called her a 'bitch' & and complained about her.  A normal teenager would have gotten upset and backdown, not my kid.  Liz is only 18, it took me years of therapy to learn how to say 'no' let alone manage people.  I am so proud of her!  Her boyfriend is coming home for the weekend too, he's been at school since the middle of August.  What I like about these two, they were friends first since Junior high, while they are apart they do their own thing, but still are considered a couple.  They handle their young relationship very well.  Makes me stress less about her at least.

 

Tracey with the boys at the Brookfield Zoo~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Otherwise, things are going fine around my world.  We are watching the boys tomorrow night.  The kids are going to a comedy club.  I look forward to it, and weather is supposed to be a balmy 60 degrees! 

Can't wait to squeeze this little guy!

my boy is 22 today

My son Eric turned 22 today!

 

Happy birthday to my awesome son!

 

 

cold & sleepy

 

My grandson summed  my day up today.  YAWN!  The weather here resembles mid December rather than October.  It's cold, raw and gray.  Fortunately for me I came home on break at 9:00 am and took an hour nap...ah refreshed, but still hating the midwest fall/pre-winter blah!! 

FLORIDA !!!  anyone??!!!

I don't care if I use all my penny's for gas (it's $2.01 here) I am getting to Florida this winter break!

the cure for hot flashes!

My husband dared me to ride with him out to Jeremy and Tracey's house, on his motorcycle!  The temperature outside?  32 degrees...the bike does have a windshield, which helped.  The kids live 20 minutes away.  With plenty of clothes on the trip was fine, I actually wasn't cold at all...maybe the menopausal furnace inside me will workout afterall.

And I got to see the boys, too!  Dayton was asleep. Outside, Jacob was helping Jeremy cut wood for their fireplace and Dakota was wandering around (needing a nap) in a daze saying, "pa pa, pa pa".  While I was visiting with Tracey she sent me some more picutures of the boys.

Dayton from the visit last Sunday at the pumpkin farm.  I remember when Dakota could wear that Harley sweatshirt!

 

and

What a happy group, I do not have blue eyes so I don't have 'red eye'!

Have a great rest of the weekend I am off to enjoy!

 

oh it's so hard to be a woman

This week has been one emotional rollercoaster for this girl.  Being 49 and a woman is a crazy, hot flash-filled, teary-eyed experience.  I lost by bus keys this week, the school lost my kid, my youngest turned 18 yesterday, my middle kid had problems with an atm machine (debited his account gave him no $$), my oldest and my middle stepson went out to dinner and a football game with us last night, & I am still here smiling and feeling utter relief that it's Saturday & I am home safe and sound.  Oh yeah and sane too. 

Oh, and I had my yearly physical on Wednesday.  I have to have a Chest X-ray rather than a T.B. test as I test positive.  Thursday the office tells me that the clinic found 2 shadows on my x-ray.  Right where my breast (nipples) are, so I need to go back and get another x-ray.  Am I the only woman on earth who has nipples???    Of all my body parts I worry the least about my Lungs.  My blood pressure was it's usual low 117 over 67, my health great, but my x-ray?!  Ugh, I'll be going back today to take care of this.  I have to, to keep my bus permit.

 

Dakota, isn't he getting big??!

 

Aunt La La (my baby is 18!!) and baby Dayton

 

  My Jacob, he's all boy!

Photobucket re-did their picture sizing so I am still trying to figure it out.  Change sure is a hard and wonderful thing isn't it???!!!

Have a wonderful weekend !!! 

Homecoming pictures....

Thank you all so much for all your support and kind words regarding Liz.  My husband thinks I over reacted  Pooh on him.  I am mother, a mother's job is to protect her children no matter how old they are.  Mark's son is now out trouble, sort of.  He was arrested for some traffic tickets that were not paid.  His girlfriend got angry with him and called the police knowing he would go to jail.  He was out by noon.  Such drama, glad he does not live here, he's 20 years old it's time to get over his parent's divorce (happened when he was 6) and grow up.  Least that's my humble opinion.

Here's my girl at Homecoming.  Boyfriend is 6 hours away at SIU so he did not come home.  She went with friends, she has no problem showing off her own unque style. 

                                     

Dakota came with to take pictures, he is fell asleep in the car right after we left.

                                                    

I had to have my neice download the pictures to her computer and put them on photobucket :::sigh::: at least I have them. 

I have come up with a brillant idea to get a good camera though!  My kids always give me gift cards for Christmas.  SO I am asking for gift cards to a Circuit City or Best Buy.  Then I can get my own digital camera and then look out world!!                           

 

 

A moment of utter terror

Have you ever had one of those moments with your kids, where you are in utter terror because you don't know where they are???

My 17 year old daughter walks the 1 mile to school every single day. Today I got a call from school saying she had been marked absent for 3 blocks.  The message was at 11:45 and I wasn't able to get to it until 12:45 after my bus routes.  I had last talked to Liz at 6:30 am.  She was in fact at school, she was selling tickets for a play, her first hour teacher didn't change the computer from absent to present after she came in late with a pass.  She helps in the DEANS office 2nd block & they too marked her absent.  Then third block she went late to class again because a student didn't show up to help with the ticket sales, she had pass that time too.  Finally they called me, I freaked out!  My child never, ever is absent let alone skips school.  I called the school back and demanded to know where she was, they said she is marked absent for three blocks, so that means she's not at school, so I said then something bad happened to her on the way to school because she is not at home.  Fortunately I work right behind the high school and was able to go directly there and told them to search for her.  By this time I was freaking out.   It was passing period but thank God the Dean located her in gym class and I saw my precious daughter face to face and got to hug her tight.  I am so relieved but very upset at the school for such irresponsible behavior.  My kid is fine, but me, I am not so sure how fine I will be for a while.  God is an awesome God, but His people I am not so sure.  I feel like the acts of the few punish the good.  The school was so ready to tell me my always responsible child had skipped school....period.  She wasn't there and they were in the clear.  The are so lucky they have a sympathetic security person, because my first call was going to be to the police. 

It's times like this that life puts things back into prespective.  It reminds you of what's important.  Not things but people, family...especially family.

My son Eric actually called me last night and we had a nice talk.  My stepson Dale is in trouble again, and hopefully he will finally take us up on the offer to come live here and we will guide him back to school and a sober life.  Who knows, one day at a time...it'll work out.

Love you guys and thanks for listening I can breath again!!

See this funny boy!   He's getting so big!  This picture is from his mom's photo album that I swiped while I was babysitting last night & emailed it to myself.  I told you all I'd crack this picture thing yet!  The picture is over a month old & the kid's cheeks are even bigger, but that smile is all Dayton!  He is happiest kid I've ever seen!

We watched the boys last night, they are all three getting so big, Dakota will be 2 in December and 3 year old Jacob has a memory of an elephant.  His favorite thing to say to me is, "da-ma do you remember the time...".    He easily recalls things we did together over the past few months.  Tracey tried to go back to work part time this past two weeks, but there are sitter problems that I won't go in to.  I did offer to watch them in the evening if she chose to work part time around my house.  There are many stores opening as my area is growing rapidly.  She really wants get out of the house.   She has some options open and I'd love the time to spend with these boys. 

We also went to the last football game that my son Tim is helping coach.  They lost in the last half second, by which I feel was a bad call.  But it was an exciting game.

Fall is definitely here, it snowed Thursday and the kids all started singing Christmas carols.  One preschool child even told me that we are skipping Halloween, because of the snow!  No way!  I am not ready for that!  I enjoy the fall too much.

Things are coming together in an awesome way in my life.  Mark and I are finally overcomings some issues that we have regarding our money & bills.  My faith has been tested over this and I am truly growing in a new way.  God truly has blessed me and today I feel overwhelmed with JOY~

 

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr, I spent the whole day off & on trying to get my CD disc of pictures from my buddies at the local Walgreens to work.  I think my spyware thinks it's  spying on me so it will only show the main screen but no pictures.  I know I'll figure it out, I always do...I've kept this old girl up and running for many many years and I am not going to let this little 'grrrrrr' keep me from getting this disc to work.  But I have so many adorable pictures to show off!!

My day off was nice, I did not watch the boys, so Liz and I hung out here.  My bil Mitch is in from Colorado.  His daughter is back from, not sure where, she is the one who's husband is at war in Iraq and their town threw them a big wedding last summer.  My bil had a bad accident a few years ago, shortly afterward his wife of 25 years divorced him.  He was no angel, but like most bitter woman (I can say this because I was once a very bitter ex-wife), she doesn't want my bil to be happy.  She's not, so he isn't allowed to be.  Mark's ex and her met regularly to discuss my husband and my bil.  Ish girls get over it!  Take it from me, you are never truly free until you let go of the crap and move on.  And forgive for God's sake, you are only hurting yourself by hanging on to the past.

Mark's ex was brought up again too.  My son Tim has a half brother named Joey who is in the 8th grade.  He plays Youth Tackle Football, my ex is the coach.  My son helps out so we went to the game yesterday afternoon to cheer them on as they are in the playoffs.  We've attended a few times this year, it's fun watching my son be a big person.  Anyway while we are climbing the bleachers, two ladies start calling Mark's name.  They happen to be old friends of his and his ex.  So we sit with them.  Again they talk about how his ex is still bitter...they can't see why either.  They were both so sweet to us.  Gabbing like old friends.  They even hugged me after the game.  Weird, but in a nice warm fuzzy way. 

I've learned in life that resentments are deadly, they will eat you alive if you let them.  I am no angel, I still get pissed like the next guy, but I forgive & move on.  Or at least try to.  Makes life easier.

My bil came over yesterday for awhile and will be staying with us Tuesday and Wednesday nights.  It's nice for my husband, he's worked hard over the years to be close to his family. 

I'll keep working on the disc, hopefully can show off soon!

Another fun filled week, the weather has been gorgeous, hubby worked all week also, Liz started work for real (with customers, store open) at Kohl's Thursday night.  When I picked her up there was a bit of normal teen whining, "God mom it's hot in here, my feet are killing me, you remember that girl who used to date my friend Mark from freshman year?, well she works at Kohls too and you know what she did?!!"  Gad girl do you have to scream, I just woke up from a nap!!  But she did have a few positives to say, such as she's made some friends, is using her acting abilitlies to make alliances via the show Survivor.  She feels like she will do better at work if she gets along with people, has a good work ethic.  Cool!   She worked last night and is there again tonight, but off until next Saturday.  She also used her age and curfew to get out staying until 2 am as they needed the store to be opening day perfect for today.  And let me tell you when I brought her dinner the store is wonderful, but people are slobs.  Leaving clothes hanging where ever they feel like hanging them.  I never cared for that practice, whenever I didn't want something  I always waddle my happy butt to where it belongs and put it back.  I work too and do not like it when others make my own job more difficult.

Speaking of jobs, I drove a 5 hour tennis trip today.  Mostly spent the day reading trashy magazines inside my bus, although I managed to read a Newsweek.  Some new person at work brings in all their old ones and I grab them to read and return.  Always to the proper spot mind you.  The extra hours are a God sent...as are Mark's...we are blessed I will never tire of saying that, even when I am freaking out over some stupid bill.  I have much to be thankful for...indeed.  I also am scheduled for a trip next Saturday morning.  I go to one junior high pick up the girl's volleyball team.  Take them to the junior high down the street from my house, drop them off, first giving the coach my cell number.  Then I park the bus in back and walk home to do whatever until th;ey call me & get paid.  Whoo hooo love my job!

I am off on Monday and will most likely have the grandkids...Tracey has my school calendar on her frig, with all my days off...I think that is so cute too.  My pictures will be ready tonight so tomorrow look for some pictures of my boys! 

a busy girl is a happy girl

Since school started back up I've been a busy girl.  Liz has been working, her store officially opens Thursday, Homecoming was last night, & we kept the boys last night at the trailer.  Dakota has gotten so grown up, he'll be 2 in December and he finally can play side by side with Jacob or by himself.  He's talking so much too.  Tracey did Liz's hair and she looked very cute.  She had big hair, and a strapless baby doll dress.  Liz was a little sad because Mike didn't come up from college to go to homecoming.  They officially started dating 2 years ago at homecoming.  Young love, speaking of I think my 21 year old Eric broke up with his girlfriend of 4 years, Tina.  I learned this again through Liz who got the tip via my space.  What weird world we live in.  This news is from last week, I am sure they patched things up by now.   My boys never tell me anything until way after the fact.  They are not like Liz who always has an update on her feelings and life.

Camping was great, we had a huge fire, and the boys helped us make chicken.  I love it!  Dayton is getting big too, he's only 2 months and 11 days old and already weighs 14 pounds!  I knew he was getting fat, he's a shorty too only 23 inches tall!  He's like his brother though never likes to lay down, always wants to be sitting up looking at all the action. 

Jeremy brought Jacob's 4 wheeler from home and they both got to zoom around the empty campground.  I love camping late in the season, less people, but we do have to watch out for the deer hunters.  Afterall, we do camp at a sportsmen's club.

One of these days I'll get my film developed.  Hopefully before the boys can drive.

take care!