We have a thing....

We have a thing in our home. We call each other silly. We call ourselves silly. Of course only when it's warranted, lol.

It started several months ago. I don't remember what I did, but it was silly and mindless. I looked at the kids and said "Say silly mommy!" along with what I had done. It's continued with things like "Silly mommy, you left your phone in the car!" and, "Silly mommy! Your shoes are ON your feet!" I've added, since that first silly mommy moment, silly (insert child's name here). I want to continue this because it seems to help them with admitting mistakes and understanding that mistakes are ok. No one's perfect! I want them to learn to be humble.

It looks like it's working! A little bit ago I was sitting in the living room when I heard baby girl in the kitchen. She was looking for her cup of water, but couldn't find it anywhere! She was confounded! Out of the blue I hear "Silly me! I put my cup on the counter!" It was the cutest, sweetest thing ever! She admitted a silly mistake she had made and was ok with it... at not yet 3!!! Since then I've heard the older kids say similar things over lost shoes, misplaced belongings, forgotten jokes, etc.

It seems to me that my example of being 'silly mommy' is showing them that it's ok to not only make a mistake but also to admit to it!

Hello? Is anyone out there?

Wow, it's been over a year and a half since I last posted anything! Well, life is crazy. I know I posted a couple years ago that I'm getting divorced. Well, still working on that. It's crazy, and a mess, but we're surviving! I've made a huge transformation during that time! I'm no longer depressed. I no longer sit at home all day hoping someone is thinking of me. I live. I love. I have a life!! I'm not a partier, but I get out. I hang out with friends. I take the kids to the water park. I've lost 50 pounds, I'm gaining muscle (or trying at least, currently battling too thin, lol) and I have a tan! *heavenly angels in the background singing* A tan is a HUGE deal for me and my lily white Swedish behind! Lol. I work, though I don't make enough, but I'm trying to find something better. I have a job interview tomorrow! Hopefully that will help! I'm starting a fitness blog. I've become big into fitness and an active lifestyle. The blog is at mynewabs.blogspot.com. Let's see if I can keep up on that, lol. It will require me to sit still for a few minutes to post! Lol.

Umm, let's see. I've started taking American Kempo... I love it! I'm about to test for my yellow belt. I've worked so hard to get to this point! When it's taken you over a year to get something, you know you deserve it when you finally get it! Well, I'm about to get it! My instructor just needs to observe a little more to make sure I'm ready to test.

Oh! Another thing... I'm sure none of you were aware of this, but I never finished high school. Well! As of December of 2009, I have completed my high school requirements! I took the GED and got 1 perfect score, 2 near perfect scores, and 2 pretty dang high scores, lol. I'm now planning on taking my GED scores to the adult ed department of the school I took the GED at and asking them to apply it to the final .5 or so credits I needed to get my adult diploma.

I'm also planning on signing up to be a substitute teacher with the school district. This will help me a little with what I've decided to go to school for! So, I love math and finances. Love it! And I love teaching. I love watching as they 'get it'. Part of the reason I homeschooled my kids. So... I'm sure you've guessed it already, lol. I'm going to be studying for my secondary education degree with a math endorsement!

Ok, well, this tired mommy is going to bed! It's after 2 am and I'm still up! Wow, lol. I'm going to have a fun time waking up tomorrow morning! Lol. Night all!

Merry Christmas to All!!

Could the season get any better? I just love this one annual event! Of course, the days and weeks leading up to this one event and the recovery period aren't quite so wonderful, this one day every year makes it so worth it! The light in the kids' faces, the magic in their hearts... nothing else can halt the balking over the excessive baking and clutter galore quite as easily!

Today was absolutely wonderful! I say this surrounded in doll packaging and the stray bits of wrapping paper that I missed during the initial sweep of the house once the paper tearing frenzy was over and the random toy pieces that all belong to various sets and will likely be misplaced, only to be reunited with it's original set in, oh, 6 months or so. Doesn't that, right there, prove the last sentence of the last paragraph to be true? Lol. I will get into that subject a little more thoroughly when I can compose my thoughts a little more eloquently. I have a mindful of thoughts that would fill a single post and then some! Lol. That post will have to wait, though, since my normal, human self isn't able to run on an unlimited amount of energy and something begins to wane when exhaustion pushes it's way to the front. Well, my ability to be witty and cute is that sacrifice right now.

I just thought I'd wish all of my dear friends a very Merry Christmas before the day has passed!! I just noticed that even if you're on the east coast it's still before midnight, therefore still Christmas! Besides, If I don't do it now then it likely won't happen until next year, lol.

Let it Snow!!!

The white stuff has been piling on us for about a week now off and on! This is the most snow I've seen in a couple years!! I LOVE it! Well, not the roads. I really wish they could invent roads that repel snow. Wouldn't that be nice?? As of right now I cannot see a single patch of, well, anything ground related when I look outside. It's so pretty! And the snow is falling straight down, not like a few days ago when it came at my porch at an angle. I had to actually shovel my porch!!! Right now, though, there isn't a single flake adorning my path from the door to the steps!!

Happy Birthday Sass!!

Only 9 days late here!! Lol. 8 years old on December 13th... My baby (well, big girl, but she'll always be my baby!) is growing up!!

Now, keep in mind we had just eaten lasagna for dinner, hence the red mustache, lol.

Happy Birthday Fuss!!

Almost 2 months late!! Ack!! Well, Miss Fuss celebrated her first birthday at the park on October 25th! Yay!

Here she is with her birthday cake and oh so stylish "bib" lol (hey, it kept her clothes most of the way clean, lol).

Finally! Some Pics of my Kids!!

I was looking through my blog today and realized it is bland. The purple is pretty, yes, but it needs more! Then I remembered that I promised you all a pic of Fuss in a Bum Genius so, here she is in a yellow BG One Size pocket diaper!!



And them some of them all for you aweing pleasure!

Sass


Queeny


Captain


Prince


And another of Fuss

Well, I'm back with a new outlook!!

So, I was pretty down last time I posted anything, lol. I probably made you all roll your eyes in annoyance at my 'pity-me' show. Well, that is over and has been for a while!

I've moved on. I still don't have a job and my financial situation is worse than the last time I posted, but that is trivial in comparison to what I've come to learn. I made the concious and not so concious decision to be happy. I was such a pessimist when I was with my ex. I irritated myself at that time and I don't see how ex can stand being so down constantly! Being away from the negativity he brought has shown me that there is a bright side to this life. There is something to hope for. There is something to work for and a reason to dream. My current motto is "Things will work out eventually. I just have to wait for eventually to get here." and I've decided that I don't need to be the portrait of grief and despair. I can choose to not think about a problem if the solution is out of my hands at the moment, and that is what I'm doing. If you see me on the streets you wouldn't know that I'm dealing with anything tough at the moment because I've chosen happiness! Now, don't get me wrong, I am not totally ignoring my problems. They are obviously still there, alive and well just as my heart is beating in my chest. However, it makes me miserable to dwell on them when I am unable to take care of them. Who wants to make themselves miserable? Not me. So, I refuse to think about it until I can do something about it. When the solution is within my reach it isn't so depressing, thus sparing me the dull ache I felt before.

So, this is a new me. Happy, optimistic and annoyingly cheerful!!

Merry Christmas!

Hard Time....

I really am having a bad day...

I just feel very alone and feel like things will never look up. I don't see how on earth I can actually make things work right now. I can't pay all of my bills and buy food and get haircuts, shoes, jeans, etc on the little bit the ex is giving me. What's so different about today?? I see posts by others about their husbands, about buying houses, about moving forward in life and here I am... stuck... Not able to move forward because I don't have the experience/equipment/talent I need to make a living on my own. I don't regret being a sahm for those years, but now that I need to work I can't. I can't even get a job doing work typically done by high school students after school or by recent high school graduates. I don't know why... I have as much, if not more, experience than them. I have a more open schedule than them. I just need to get out of this place. I have neighbors that are making my life hell, the rest of the 'neighborhood' is junk. People getting drunk and passing from home to home, children playing in the roads after dark with no adults in sight (and I'm talking 2-7 year olds, not that older than 7 is any better...) And then there's the whole 'who wants to date a mother of 5' thing. Even if I knew how to meet people I'd drive them away with my family size. So, I am destined to be alone for the rest of my life.

Divorcing....

Yep, finally happening. I'm getting a divorce. So far, things have gone from bad, to ok, to worse, to civil between us. We are discussing our divorce in a civil manner tonight. The only problem to come up so far is who gets the lcd tv, lol. I want it because it's mounted to the wall and the kids can't reach it. He wants it because the old 27 in tube tv is horrible with the xbox and he can't connect a computer to it. Either way, one of us will get it and a new one will be purchased later on for the one with the crt.

Oh, another problem is the baby. He wants me to have sole custody of the kids, but he wants to take her overnight at times. That would be reasonable if she wasn't breastfed. I'm fine with him taking her overnight once she is weaned, but that won't be until she is 18-24 months hopefully.

Oh, I really hope things go smoothly now that we have both come to terms with the divorce. He's moving out this weekend (I think... I hope) and I need to find a part time job and (unfortunately) apply for financial aid to get us by until I can make it on my own.

So, that's why my posts have been a rare sighting lately. With all of the yuck that's gone on this summer I've been stressed and overwhelmed and haven't had much good to say.

Roseola???? ACK!!!

So, baby is sick. I've been fretting over her fever for a few days. Then came the tummy troubles. As of last night she has a pink rash all over her body!!! Luckily her symptoms match that of Roseola, and from what I understand it's not serious, thank heavens!!!

Now, where on earth would a baby who is rarely away from her mother, who's older syblings aren't in any kind of child care, and is pretty much never touched by people I don't know GET this????

Well, how she got it doesn't matter I guess, what matters is that she's almost over it (I hope!)

Goodbye Grandpa

This morning my grandpa left this earth and entered the arms of my grandma.

My mom visited him recently and she said that he didn't acknowledge her, but he was reaching for something behind her. There was nothing there. She said that when he was reaching for the door he was almost sitting up trying to grasp what he could see. Last night, a resident of the home he was in was visiting with her granddaughter. She told her granddaughter to 'tell [grandpa] it's time to go home'. She did and shortly after he passed.

He was feisty to the end, lol. My mom said that one of the nurses there told her a story about him. It was time to do something (I want to say eat dinner but I wasn't listening all the way... still trying to absorb the information I had just been given). Well, Grandpa didn't want to. He argued and refused and, finally, said "ok" and held out his arms for help getting into his wheelchair. When the nurse came over to help him out of bed Grandpa, instead of holding on, popped him between the eyes with his fist. The nurse thought it was funny and was laughing as he told her the story. He said it didn't hurt, just startled him a bit.

Grandpa, you will be missed.

God be with you till we meet again;
By His counsels guide, uphold you,
With His sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Neath His wings protecting hide you;
Daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
With the oil of joy anoint you;
Sacred ministries appoint you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
When life’s perils thick confound you;
Put His arms unfailing round you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Of His promises remind you;
For life’s upper garner bind you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Sicknesses and sorrows taking,
Never leaving or forsaking;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
Strike death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

God be with you till we meet again;
Ended when for you earth’s story,
Israel’s chariot sweep to glory;
God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

Words: Jer­e­mi­ah E. Rank­in, Music: Will­iam G. Tom­er, com­piled by Rank­in, J. W. Bisch­off, Otis Presb­rey

Miss Spits is 7 months old...

Now, congratulate me for posting this ON the day she turned 7 months!!! Lol.

SHE SITS!!!!

The other day Miss Spits reached a milestone!! We woke up in the morning and I sat in bed playing with her toes, and her tummy and those cute little dimply cheeks on that smiling little face when I thought "Hmm, what would happen if I sat her up"... SHE SAT!!! For a good 2 minutes!! I put a toy between her feet and she grabbed for it and just sat there playing with it!!

Kinda bittersweet.... My baby's growing up!! Just 7 months ago I was getting ready for an appointment with my midwife (which led to rushing to the hospital to have her forcibly evicted, lol) Now she's sitting, eating solids (sometimes) and she'll pull her knees under her!! I remember when Scooty (see Miss V's blog) was born... He's a big boy now!!! Baby's get too big too fast!!

Does anyone even READ this blog??

ROFL!!! Well, even if it's just me and my best friend that's enough!! Lol. I suck at journaling so I figure this is just as good!!! Lol. Now, let's just hope that blogger's servers are still up and running when my grandchildren try to learn about where their insanity (and genius if I do say so myself) comes from, lol.

So, if you're reading!! Let me know you're there!!! Lol.

Countdown!!!

18 1/2 hours until my Honey comes home!!!!

Be prepared to be knocked over by some weirdo wearing a baby and 4 children (2 of whom will likely chew through their stroller straps to attack you at the gate) running at you at first sight!!!!

Cute 2 year old stuff for your awwing pleasure!!!

I just love my little Kiddo!! He is just the cutest little thing!! Here is some stuff that he has said over the last couple days, mostly today (today meaning Saturday since I have not yet gone to bed, lol)

Said to me as I lay in bed trying to wake up "Momma, wate up Momma"

As I put my back into scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees, he comes along and rubs my back saying, "Momma, you pree Momma. Me wuv you Momma"

As I do dishes, him with a really adamant tone to his voice, almost scolding like, "Momma, me wuv you. You wuv me too Momma. You pree Momma"

And then there's this gem.... said after something he was playing with hit his chest "Momma, mine boobie hurts"

I swear, there are times when I will be in the worst mood and just hearing him say I'm "pree" (pretty)or that he "wuvs" me can turn my day around and put the biggest, fattest smile on my face!!!

Countdown

3 DAYS UNTIL DA COMES HOME!!!

I'm going crazy sweetie!! I can't wait for you to get back here!!!

Goats, Chickens and Kittens!! Oh my!!!

I am now admitting to a skill I have. A little known skill that I haven't used in years, but will be using this weekend!! Here goes... I can milk goats!! Yep, that's right. I have a little bit of farm girl in me, lol.

A friend from my homeschool group posted on the homeschool forum that she needed someone to come milk her goats and gather eggs and just take care of the animals while she's camping with her family this weekend. I replied, as well as several others, but I was the only one who has milked before. So, needless to say I was chosen to be the stand in milker.

I'm actually looking forward to it!! I met the goats last night and, oh, are they cute!!! I also saw the chickens!! That was awesome! And then, of course, I stayed and chatted for a bit, as is my nature. Lol.

And what about the kittens? Well, while we were in the barn meeting the goats her 7 year old son brought in a couple cute little kittens!! So fluffy and soft!!! Kinda makes me want another one... Kitten, that is!! lol. But then I think... They scratch, they poop in the house and they shed. No thanks!!! The 1 cat we have is too much for me as it is, lol.

I have come to a conclusion!!!

My walls are boring! My house is bland!! My house looks like 5 kids live here!!!

I am going to redo my walls. My living room and bedroom walls at least. I'll be using brown paper in there. Hehe, you're thinking "And I thought WHITE was boring!!" Actually, a good friend of mine did her walls like this and they turned out beautifully!!

Ok, so, really... I'm just trying to finally move. I don't want to live here anymore. So, why am I doing the walls?? Well, I figure if I fix it up and make it look nice then we'll end up moving. Pregnancy didn't work so I need to find something different, lol.

Ok, the "pregnancy didn't work" thing is only funny if you know the history, lol. When I was pregnant with Sass, I moved. When I was pregnant with Queeny, I moved. When I was pregnant with Bud I moved. When I was pregnant with Kiddo... that's right... I moved. Well, I got pregnant with Spitsy and was almost certain we would be moving!! We started looking at houses and everything!! Here we are, still, 6 months after Spitsy came along. She broke the pattern.

So, if I do something nice for this place murphy's law states that we'll HAVE to move!! Hopefully when we do it will be to a nicer house with a bigger yard and a master suite faaaaar away from the kids' rooms!!!