So obviously it's been too long. Blogging has just been one more thing on my plate and my plate is already overflowing! I hate that I don't have time or maybe it's that I don't make time. I find myself bending over backwards to take care of everyone else yet the 5 or 10 minutes that it would take me to blog seems like a luxury that I can't afford. How many times do we as moms loose ourselves? I have that mom guilt...you know what I mean because I know you've felt it too! So today I say NO MORE! I WILL take care of myself. I WILL take time for me to do something that I enjoy and that does NOT include grocery shopping! I WILL tell myself that it's ok...everyday. Let's be honest... life is sometimes overwhelming. There are days when getting out of bed is a chore...let alone making the bed! There are days when we as moms, wish that time would stand still for just another hour so that we can sleep just that much longer!

Last Class!!!!!

Today is Tuesday. It's the first day, of the last week of this class I'm taking. I am jumping for joy inside...because once this week is over...I will be starting my very LAST class!!!! Whooo Hooooo!!!!! And what makes it even better is that it's Intro to Criminal Justice! LOL!!! I'm excited! I can't believe it's been 2 years of hard work...late nights...dozens of papers...tons of research...and finally - the end. I just checked my GPA... and it's at 3.78! YES!!!! I'm pretty stoked!

So...once I finish this paper that is due this next week I will be done...and moving on to the last class standing between me and my BA!

*sigh* can you can senioritis when your 30? =)

Time...whatever that is!

Hey. So I've been bugged to update my blog so I have caved. I've been crazy busy...but also a bit lazy when it comes to blogging or replying to email or whatever... so...sorry...

Here's and update.

Our Family Feud show aired and we laughed our heads off watching ourselves on TV. Laughed and blushed from the embarassment of looking so...um...not thin!!! =)

I'm working like mad and I love it!

The kids have a few days left of school and I'm dreading summer vacation. Will and Bella are done on Friday (with a party tomorrow and no school wed/thurs). Hailey and Jeremiah get out next Friday.

Steve had a little health scare last week and we are now recovering. He had a short stay in the hospital for heart related problems and now has an appointment to see a cardiologist on Friday. We'll see how that goes. Keep us in your prayers.

Hailey tried out for Robin Hood at a local children's theater and we'll find out later this week if she got a part. She also just got her hair cut...but I'll have to post pictures later.

I finally joined Facebook. Wanna be my friend? =) lol
I've found some friends that I haven't heard from since highschool and college. It's kinda fun!

Um...the kids' school wants to send them to a different school and I have to petition to keep them where they are. It's stressing me out. William starts kindergarten in the Fall so it's a super important issue right now.

We do NOT like our town... nope...not one bit...we wanna move... anyone want to offer my hubby a job?!?! We are ready to go.

Oooohhhh I have 1 class left and I will graduate!!!! Yeahhhhh yeahhh yeahhhh FINALLY!!!!

ok...so that's about it in a nut shell. We're pretty boring... =)

The competition!

Hailey and a classmate competed in the Oral Language Festival this past week. They memorized a piece and said it for the judges. There were a few other "duo's" but out of all of the 4th grade....Hailey won FIRST PLACE!!!!! Whooo Hoooo Hailey!!!!



They will now go on to compete in the district competition. It's a 4th and 5th grade competition. The students had the choice of doing it alone or duo or with a larger group. She chose to do the serious duo. She had wanted to do the humorous duo but there were already 2 groups that were already doing that ...so serious it was. There should be about 15 duo's... so it should be fun. If she goes on from there it will be to county. She is pretty excited and we are extremely proud! They won a medal and she wore it all weekend long and took it to church! =)

Keep her in your prayers for this Friday morning. She will be riding the bus to another school for the competition. We'll be there cheering her on...quietly of course. =) The video clip isn't all that great...sorry. Eventually,we'll get a new camera but until then....here ya go!

A week? Already?

Um... sorry for not posting for a week. Time sure does go by fast.
My excuses - I mean reasons for not posting are as follows....

I had 13 loads of laundry. No...I'm not joking.

I had to pack suitcases for 4 kids, myself, and a husband that needed 2 weeks worth of clothes.

I had to play with my new dogs.

I had school work.

It was our 10 year Anniversary on Saturday and we hid at my parents cabin for the weekend.

Steve left for a business trip (2 freakin weeks!).

Came back from our weekend and um...I'm tired.

Do I really need to say more?!?! =)

So, it's true. It's been 10 years. Steve and I can't believe it.

We purposely ran into our college roommates (they married each other) this weekend and we visited with them for a bit. We were driving up to my parents cabin and they live up in the mountain community. So, as we drove by Steve says..."If their light is on...we're stopping!" **sorry Ryan and Jaime!** They were gracious enough to visit with us unexpectedly. =) Jaime was my roommate my sophomore year and she had lived next door to me our freshman year. Ryan was Steve's roommate in the...um...1 year that Steve was actually in school.... =) We used to hang out a lot so it was nice to visit with them.

They live up near my parents cabin so it was nice to see them. One of their daughters is Annabelle's age and the other is just a sweet, happy 10 mo. old baby. It was fun because they were having their littlest one dedicated on Sunday and all of their family was going to be there. We went to their church for the dedication and were able to visit with their families.

Steve had a wonderful guidance counselor at college and he truly respected and loved her....well, she was the aunt of my roommate, Jaime, so she was there at the church. It has been about 10 years since we've seen her (at our wedding I'm sure) and Steve was stoked to see her. They are just a great family.

Anyway, Jaime's mom and aunt were reminiscing about our wedding and we just laughed because it rained on our wedding day but they remember it as a "wonderful, sweet mist" !!! lol I love it! I just remember it as RAIN! =)

So 10 years later and 4 kids later....we are still together. =)

The cabin was wonderful. The weather was great and we walked around the Arrowhead Village for the day. We actually shopped and Steve got me an adorable dress and some new shoes! =) Yeah! It was strange that we didn't have the kids... but it was nice to be able to relax. We spent a couple of hours with Ryan and Jaime and the girls. Their littlest one had surgery this past Monday for a cleft palate. She is so little...it's hard to imagine such a little one having to deal with something so horrible as surgery. But she is a trooper because she has already dealt with a feeding tube and other medical things. Keep her in your prayers.

I guess that's about it for this week. I am not working for the next 2 weeks because of Steve being gone so that is kind of a bummer. I stopped in there yesterday and they were busy.... I miss it already!

Oh... it is Parent Teacher Conferences this week at the kids' school. I met with Hailey's teacher today. She has a wonderful teacher who is just the sweetest thing. Hailey is doing well...which is great. Tomorrow I'll be talking with Jeremiah's teacher. We love her too....so it's a good year! =)

It's Wed....

So Jeremiah ripped open his birthday bag so quickly...that I missed it. Sorry, no pics. He was stoked to get 2 Spidey t-shirts and a couple of DVD's along with...candy. =)

Anyway, Steve and I will be celebrating 10 years on Saturday! Can you believe it's been 10 years? We joke that it feels more like 25! =) lol But truth be told...it's gone by pretty fast. He wasn't going to be in town originally because of a business trip but that got delayed so we're heading to my parents cabin. =) Yeah for us!!!! =) It will be a nice time to just get away. It's been so busy the last few weeks that we talk more on the phone than we do face to face. Do you ever have weeks like that? Whew! We do!

I don't work at all this next week. I have NO IDEA what I am going to do with my free time. Maybe I'll get my haircut. I'm totally embarrassed to say....I think it's been about 3 years since I've had my haircut. I'm not joking! My sister trimmed a bit last summer, in my mom's kitchen...yeah...so NOT a salon!!! =) But honestly it's just not high on my priority list. Especially when you consider how much money a salon can cost you.... I can fill up my SUV for what it would cost me... Steve just says...'Go to Super Cuts' ... um.... no. They SCREWED up my son's hair....so they won't be touching mine. Anyone near me know of a great hairdresser?

Whatever happened to the old barter system? You know....I'll cut your hair if you watch my kids for an evening? Or back in the day it would've been .... I'll trade you chicken eggs for some milk? Do know what I mean? Things have just gotten so expensive and so impersonal.

Remember when people used to actually know their neighbors? Yeah...we met 1 neighbor on the day we moved in. Haven't seen them since. We met another neighbor because the boys' ball was found in their yard! (that was a meeting that I don't wish to repeat!) oh and the finally neighbor we met... the couple next door...because their turtle had dug into our yard and was trying to hibernate. Wait...we met him twice....because the turtle got out twice... That's it. We live on a cul de sac and there are about 12 houses on our street. Now, I bet you're thinking..."why haven't you gone out to meet them?" Good question. My answer... lazy I guess. Partly, I know that we won't be here for a long time (maybe a year) and the last time we moved (from AZ to CA) the kids had to leave some pretty good friends. Fear. That's a good one. Fear of what they might think of me and our family. I know that our one neighbor is not keen on 4 kids living next door.... I guess it's just easier to drive into my garage and close the garage door than it is to actually get out and be vulnerable. I'm I preaching to the choir or does anyone else feel that way? It's really a shame. So, I was thinking... Hailey really wants to have a Christmas cookie party before their winter break.... So I thought of doing a huge open house cookie/coffee/hot chocolate party. If I just knock on the door and invite them....maybe they'll come. Maybe our neighbors don't know each other at all...and it would just take us getting everyone together for us to actually meet each other.

I'm going to do it. Whether I feel like it or not, I'm going to be social. =) Wanna come to my cookie party??!?!?!!? =)

Ok...sorry for the rabbit trail. I don't know where my thoughts were today. I have to go and do some homework now. Did I mention that I made the DEANS LIST again!!!!! Whooo Hoooo!!! That is 3 times in a row! I'm pretty excited. Ok...really... I have to go... =) Enjoy your Wed.

Election results and I'm tired!

So, Hailey did not win the race for Secretary. A 5th grade girl who's mom is a teacher at the school, won. Hailey was pretty bummed. I mean, really bummed. I picked her up from school and I could tell she was about ready to fall apart as she walked to the car. You know that look of...if I could just get in the car without crying, I can fall apart when no one can see me...bless her heart. She just fell apart in the car. It made me sad to see her so disappointed...but after a bit she jumped back up and said...I have a song picked out for next year's speech! We are so proud of her for even running and we've told her that, over and over. I do hope that she runs for something next year... =)


I have been busy! I have worked everyday this week and weekend and will continue to work until Wed... I have Thursday off! =) I have to be at work no later than 3:55am...(( I was so extremely early for my first day but my second day...I was 4 minutes late. I left a few minutes later than the day before but underestimated how long it would take me to actually get there... I admit I was late...and take full responsibility...well... the shift supervisor decided to um...well...not be very nice. She made me stand outside for 15 minutes while she took care of the money inside the store. Now, I know that when money is being handled, every safety precaution should be taken...however...when I got to the store...she didn't have the money out yet... so I think it was more of a "I'm going to make a point!" type of attitude. BUT then, once I did get in the store...there was no explanation of why she left me out there. It was 4am and dark...it would've been nice to know why my safety was put at risk... one of the other employees told me that it was because of the money but the supervisor didn't say anything. As a matter of fact, she told me to go sit in the back and just get started on my book once I did get inside - instead of helping set up like I had done the morning before. Ok...I'm nearly 30...a mom... and I've worked for many years... there was no need to treat me as if I was a child and send me to the back room, nor was there a reason for me to be disrespected and left outside without a apology or anything. I apologized for being late...which she pretty much shrugged off. *sigh* Oh well....we're moving on... it really wasn't a big deal but I think she made it into something. ))

Needless to say.... I am SOOOOO tired! =) It's been really fun though. All of the stuff is coming back to me, and once again I come home smelling of coffee. All things have been worked out with me and that particular supervisor...so that is good...


I have been running around trying to find donations for our Fall Festival.... grocery stores, other stores, Costco, etc... Some places just told me straight up that they don't have any money left in their budget for donations so I'd have to wait until next year... others have told me that they have to ask a district manager....but my fingers are truly crossed and prayers being said for Costco and another locally owned grocery store. They both told me that they would get back to me on Monday....I hate asking for stuff....it's so far out of my comfort zone...but I did it! And it wasn't so painful...just a little nerve racking....but not as scarry as I thought it would be.

I started a Bible study on Wed (Beth Moore!) and they mentioned that they were in real need of nursery workers...a paid position and only on Wednesdays. I'm thinking...I might do that too! =) They offer the Bible Study at night... so I can bring my kids to the kids center...watch other people's kids...for 3 hours and get paid $10 an hour...then go back WITHOUT my kids for the night study. Money is so extremely tight right now that the lure of $30 for 1 morning...times 4 weeks... works out to be over $100. I think that would at least help with groceries or gas or maybe pizza for a treat. *sigh* don't you wish there was a money tree? I would love to have farm land for that!!!! =)

First Day of School Pictures

So, I finally got around to getting the pictures uploaded. I thought you might enjoy seeing all of them...=)



Here is Hailey and Jeremiah on their first day...







Hailey and Jeremiah in front of their classrooms...










Here is Annabelle and William on their first day... the picture didn't turn out too great because Bella has her eyes closed but keep looking...I added a few more...









Here is Will...looking so handsome








And of course Annabelle...this is the front of the building where we check them in... and William grabbing a bike to head outside.










This last one is my favorite of the two of them. They really are eachothers best friends and it's so cute to see how William literally takes her under his arm and cares for her. Oh and P.S. .... Go Angels! Will LOVES his lunch bag!!!!

Classroom Fun...

So I helped out in Jeremiah's 1st grade class today. It was so cute to see the kids figure stuff out. I love my son's teacher. She is great with the kids and really has the classroom running smoothly. They are encouraged to be independent and it's fabulous!

Did I mention that the school only has 1 male teacher. 1! He teaches 5th grade... Even the principal is a women! =)

I want to help out in Hailey's 4th grade class. I think that as of now, I really like the 3rd grade level and I think I would like teaching that age...but I still want to check out the 4th grade. I'll be done in April with my degree...then off to the credential program... so... I have some time to decide but I think that I would do better with the middle ages. I have a lot of respect for those teachers that work with the Junior High and High School. I'm not sure I would have the patience...same with Kindergarten. I think that if I co-taught Kindergarten it would be fun but I'm not sure I would be able to do it all alone.

Jeremiah's 1st grade class has 20 kids... not too bad... Hailey's though...has 31! Holy Crap! 31 kids...wait.... 31- 10 year old's! Girls are getting to the "click" age and boys are realizing that girls exist, and girls are maybe thinking that boys are cute but they still stink and are gross... I think Hailey's teacher needs a HUGE hug and a LARGE cup of coffee! =)

So, all of you teachers out there... THANK YOU. Thank you for pouring into our kids' lives every day. Thank you for giving of yourself, your family, your time, your money, your love and your lives. Thank you for making school and environment that out kids want to go to and enjoy going to.

And, for all of us parents... volunteer in their classrooms if you can. Ask the teachers what kind of supplies they need and keep replenishing them when you can. (It's week 4 and she has already gone through a bunch of glue sticks...and erasers) Send notes of encouragement and appreciation. And teach your kids (as I teach mine) to be respectful and loving. To use manners and be kind. Spoil your kids' teachers because they are making a difference in your child's life. =)

Procrastination....

So, I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now. Actually, it's due tonight so I should have been writing it a while ago... but I haven't. School is getting monotonous.

*Sigh*

I'm schedualed to be done in April... so lets hope that the time will fly by.
What else should I be doing?... unpacking more boxes, mopping the kitchen floor, getting stuff ready for dinner tonight, organizing the playroom, finding a place for everything that has been unpacked but not put away. I remember now why I don't like moving.

Oh... we got our first electric bill. YIKES! I hate paying bills. Just when you think you've gotten ahead, you realize you're still sitting in the same spot.

Do you ever feel like your life is boring? I read some blogs from my friends and wonder how their lives stay so full. Even with 4 kids I feel like we are bored. I think the kids have enjoyed the park down the street and playing outside since it isn't 120 degrees like it was back in Arizona. But, seriously.... we're boring people.

Steve is taking some days off next week and we've decided to take the kids to Knotts Berry Farm for the day. We're going to see and Angels game too... the boys are excited about that. We didn't get to one last season so it'll be fun. I'm sure when school starts life will pick up...or when I find a job...but for now... we are enjoying the leisure of summer.

Packing

So it's been a while since I posted. It's not that I didn't want to post...just haven't had the time to sit down and put my thoughts into actual sentances! You know how that goes don't you.... the 2 year old refuses to go to sleep and now that she can climb out of the crib she thinks it's fun to get up in the middle of the night. She wanders into my room and says "Morning Mommy!" but....it's only 2:45am! AM!!!! No, Bella, it is not morning let get you back in bed... again! After a few nights of this, I am EXHAUSTED!!! So my thougths tend to be sporatic and fatigued! =)

Since I'm also trying to finish my degree by taking classes online, I have homework (which my kids find hilarious!) and Monday night is when everything is due... Did I mention the class is on the American Constitution! Yea....um...I don't do history very well... and me being determined to get an "A" in every class....I'm screwed! =) lol I have had an "A" in every class but 1...it was a "B+" !!! 2 stinkin points away from an "A"...
Anyway, so between kids....school...and packing...I'm tired.

This whole moving thing has really began to stress me out. It's not packing and the move itself ... it's the fact that we still don't know where we are moving. I decided to take a few days to really pray and fast about what the heck we were going to do. In the midst of my time with the Lord, Steve's company informed him that his district will double at the end of the month but they can't tell him where the stores will be yet. >=( Why.....why can't we catch a break? After I begged him to find out some more info (like a general vicinity of locations) he was told to stay along a specific highway. So not the answer I wanted!!! It's in the middle of the state! So, my dream of moving to the beaches of the central coast were just put on hold... and now we are trying to find a place to rent.

We'll be moving in about 12 days.... and ask me if my house is packed! =) NOPE! Still working on it... somehow I misplaced the huge tape roller....so I'm on pause until I can find it...=) The joys of packing with 4 kids that decide that those items you put in the box were really items that they can't live without! and so "please, please, please can't we just keep them!!?!?!?!" as they pull the items out of the box... Yeah...I'm getting lots done! =)