Summer, Summer, Summer Time... What to-do!

Well, I survived my mom's birthday...  I felt pretty (actually VERY) blah all day, but thank God for my children who always brighten my days.....well, except for when they are all fighting with each other or whining at me for something or "ignoring" me when it's time for chores...... (just kidding... or maybe not!)
Anyway, I really am having a hard time with this birthday; she would've been 60 years old yesterday and that's one of those "big deal" birthdays.  I have memories in my head of how she used to look and how she looked as the cancer took over her body and it's weird for me to imagine what she would look like at 60....  and that make me sad!!

Sorry for the blah-ness....  I'll now move on to a happier "subject" (subject being MamaKat of course)...



10 Things TO-DO in June

1) Get through the "last days of school"... Locker/desk clean-outs mean big messes at home, class parties and buying teacher gifts!! This feels like a big move-up for my kids this time... In a few short months CJ will be a junior (yikes), Ethan will be a freshman (double yikes), Joseph in 5th grade (wowzers) and my baby girl Angie in 2nd grade (WOWZEEE).  WHERE.DOES.THE.TIME.GO?

2) Summer Cleaning... always, the first few days of summer vacation consistent of "summer cleaning" (mom of the year, huh?).  The kids have to clean out their closets of too small clothes/shoes, under their beds etc...

3) Get Ethan to the dentist for his pre-braces work... and then to orthodontist for braces.... yay, starting freshman year with braces (again... mom of the year?)

4) Get Winnie's sutures removed... she had cysts removed from both sides on the back of her hips.  In a couple days she'll get the sutures removed and she can finally get a bath!  Thank goodness, because she S-T-I-N-K-S!

5) Get cabinets, counter tops, new tub, tiles etc... ordered for our kids' bathroom RE-MODEL.  FUN.... seriously!

6) Get bathroom ready for re-model... everything cleared out and move what isn't being demolished etc... NOT fun!

7) Spend a few days at the resort with the kids...  we love to do this!!  Even though we won't be far from home, it still feels like a get-away vacation!!

8) Celebrate CJ's 16th birthday... yes, on June 21st, my first born baby will be of legal driving age! OH MM GEE....

9) Beach, beach beach...  whenever, wherever and with whoever... we love the beach and we love the water!!  'nuff said!

10) Spend the last week doing all I can with the boys, as they will be gone with their Dad through the entire month of July.... This is one of my least favorite times of the year, (aside from when they're away from me on one of the holidys).  Even though it's MUCH quieter, things just are NOT the same without them home!!

Thanks for sticking around...

Give Me Your Best Shot - PSF... Ice Skating in Florida (in shorts)

Since we don't get too much cold and definitely no snow here in Florida, the kids don't get a chance to do those fun super cold/snow activities (sledding, ice skating, snow ball fights etc...).
Luckily, the local university sets up a really cool event for the whole family to do alot of that; and this year I took all of the kids to try ice skating and (faux) ice sledding.


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

It was rainy and chilly that day, but it didn't stop Ethan and Joseph from wearing shorts.... ;-)

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They were so excited to get their skates on and get on that ice.....

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Ethan and Joseph picked it up right away....

And both got moving pretty fast....

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But CJ and Angie were a little wobbly....

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They had a GREAT time.... repeatedly telling me it was "the best day ever".... and that makes me feel good!!!

It's Almost That Time of Year.............

.... when the boys go to their Dad's house for the month....

Every July, they spend the whole month with him. And while the first few days (maybe the first week) are nice and quiet, after that I am serioulsy BORED and missing them terribly!!!

Don't get me wrong, Angie is lots of fun and she does keep me busy.... but still, the house is just too quiet.... :-(

So, I'm going to have a great weekend with the kids and enjoy every minute of it..... and try to get lots of crazy going on, so that I will be ready for the quiet!! (does that even make since)

Merry Christmas.....

errrr... I mean Merry SITSmas....

I have "lurked" on this super popular blog, SITS (Secret is in the Sauce), for a while now.... but in the spirit of Christmas, I have finally decided to actually join in.......

Make a Smilebox greeting

Under the Sea..... under the sea....

I woke up this morning to find the most beautiful princess Ariel had come to visit us....

Of course I let her stay and visit..... and she even met 3 of the greatest big brothers around...

Happy Halloween-- EARLY.... more pictures to come after the weekend's festivities!!

WW- 1, 2, 3......... JUMP!!!!

Wordful Wednesday - Hosted by Angie (no, not "MY" Angie)

Last night we went to my Dad's house to visit with my Aunts and Grandfather.... And since it is still blazing hot here, the kids were still able to swim!!

We thought it would be fun to try to get a picture of all of them jumping in together.... yea right... fun for them.... BUT for this mommy trying to get them all to jump on 3 (and not 2...or not after 3), it was...let's say... interesting!! :)

Always, Joseph is in first.... most of the time he can't even wait for me to count!!

Joseph and Ethan...but not Angie...

They were all jumping...just not at the same time...

This is a shock-- Ethan and Angie, but NOT Joseph (he probably wasn't listening to me)...

Once again...Joseph and Ethan, but not Angie.... arrrggghhhh...

OK, let's take a break.... Gamps, you just throw Angie in...

Ok... now CJ has decided to join the fun...

Finally-- Joseph, Angie and Ethan... but NOT Cj... I was ready to strangle them....

OK....here we go... 1, 2, 3.................. JUMP!!!!

Wordful Wednesday - Organized

Awwww Wednesday... I am so glad you are here... it has actually taken you a while to get here this week... but welcome anyways!!!! You come second only to Thursdays; and that's just because I don't work on Fridays, so technically Thursday is my Friday (are you still with me?)!!!

Anyway, todays Wordful Wednesday (hosted by the lovely Angie at Seven Clown Circus) will showcase just what happens when you leave the kids to "put things away neatly".

This is the hall closet that is basically all kids stuff.... it holds their towels, their craft supplies, their extra school supplies, their extra sheets and blankets for their beds, light bulbs for their rooms, their lite brite, and their container of beads (you know the ones you put on the peg board and then iron).
When things need to get put away in that closet, I usually have one of the kids do it, since it is their stuff.... and they need to learn how to take care of their stuff and put it away.

They are kids, I know.... kids are kids... kids do not think like adults and that's fine..... So, WHY does it bother me so much when I open the closet to get something and it looks like this....

AND..... why is it ME who is the one to spend an hour cleaning, throwing away crap and organizing their stuff so that it will look like this......

Please.... someone enlighten me.... am I expecting too much for my kids (especially the 11 and 13 year old boys) to want to keep their stuff neat and organized....?

The First Day of..........

My crazy, hectic (but wouldn't change it for the world) life......

That was the day, my 4th child.... my 1st daughter, came into our lives!!! That was the day when all sanity left my head (well not really... but it sounds good for effect)!!

It's funny how each of my children have their own unique personalities, quirks, good and bad moments and challenges. CJ and Ethan were pretty easy babies (well, except for the colic that Ethan had for 3 months), toddlers, kids etc... Angie has been somewhat easy, in that she was a fast talker, walker, learner and can do alot of stuff on her own pretty fast; which frees up a hand for me. AND THEN THERE'S JOSEPH....

Please don't get me wrong... I love my Joseph... as a matter of fact, I have always babied him a little more than I should... he was born early, was very sick in the NICU for 2 weeks, was a baby when we divorced (which I ALWAYS felt guilty about), has always been little and somewhat "behind" on his progress...so, I think I have always felt like I had to nurse and baby on him a little extra....and for that, I am paying for now!!
He is the MOST.STRONG-WILLED.CHILD in this world....believe me.... he fights me for anything I say or ask him to do...

Me: Joseph, pick-up the mess
Joseph: I didn't do it
Me: I didn't ask WHO did it
Joseph: well I am not cleaning what I didn't do
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Me: Joseph, go sit in time-out and don't get-up
...a little bit later (after he's been in time-out)
Me: Joseph, go put your stuff away and then you can go back and play
Joseph: No, you told me not to get up
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Me: Joseph, hold my hand while we cross the street
Joseph: No, I'll hold your arm
Me: No, hold my hand
Joseph: no, I'll hold your wrist
Me: NO, HOLD MY HAND
Joseph: No, I'll hold your finger...
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Do you get were I am coming from....??? Do you understand my frustrations and struggles with him...?
Yesterday we were in a band store, getting Ethan stuff, and Joseph grabs a kazoo off the counter (that didn't belong to us), puts it in his mouth and starts blowing on it...then puts it back in the box and walks away. The guy at the counter looks at me and says "well, now you have to buy it".... great, thanks!!

AND, then, I got him home (ready to pull his hair out--- and no, I didn't reall do it), opened his planner and found a note from his teacher "joseph was very talkative and silly in class today...couldn't settle him down".... great, thanks!!!

There are some times/days/moments where he is a little angel...and he always wants to love on me....and during those moments I am thankful.... but then I am just waiting for the next defiance...always waiting to pull my hair out... arrrgghhhh!!!

Any advice on dealing with a hard-headed, strong-willed child?

Check out more wrtiting fun at MamaKat's house!!! :)

First Day of School!!

Dear MamaKat, have you missed me?? I have been bad...very bad...very, very bad..about doing my "assignments"; but I figured that since the kids are back in school..... well, I better get back to "MamaKat's school"!!

The 5 Best things on the first day of school:

5. Angie now has to wear a uniform (at least a uniform shirt).... this now means I don't have to spend so much money on clothes for her to "stay in fashion"!! :)

4. Angie's pre-k3 teacher moved up (into the VPK-4) with her, which made for a very smooth and easy transition into a new class!!

3. I got to watch as my big boy (8th grader), CJ, helped his younger brother (6th grader), Ethan, "learn the ropes" of being a middle schooler......

2. AND watched as the 2 older boys helped their younger brother, Joseph, "learn the ropes" of waiting in the gym (instead of the lunchroom) now for his teacher!! It always makes me feel good to see them looking out for each other and taking care of each other....... even if it doesn't last long!! :)

The number 1...the BEST thing that happened on the first day of school........ My little Joseph walked right into the gym and sat down, waiting for his teacher, WITH NO TEARS!!!!!!! That's right.... we did not repeat last years fiasco of crying, screaming, kicking, clinging to me...only to be peeled off by his teacher as she quickly shut the door on me.....and then me having to drive to work in tears myself!!! NOT.THIS.YEAR. (he's a big boy now--- he says).... and as a matter of fact, he told me "OK mom, you can go now"!!!

Go check out more Writer's Workshops at MamaKat's house!!!

And PLEASE, PLEASE go over and check out CJ's blog.... he's so excited to be writing a blog like his momma...and it makes him feels good when he gets comments!! :)

Wordful Wednesday - POOPED!!!

Better late than never...right??? I have been missing out alot lately on all my fun blog carnivals that I enjoy so, so, so much.... but I am here now......

This is what happens (by 7:00pm)..................

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After a long, SUPER FUN day of this.....

:)

AND

this.....

:)

AND

this.......

:)

This past weekend we had my sweet little girl's birthday party..... and at her request, we had a Mickey & Minnie Mouse themed party..... with a bounce house....... that was here ALL DAY long!!!!

Be sure to head over to my sweet bloggy "friend" Angie's blog, Seven Clown Circus and check out more Wordful Wednesday's!!!

What a Weekend.... Part II

After my busy, busy Saturday, I slept in on Sunday morning...... I slept in and then lounged around in my pajamas until I had to get showered and dressed for my BBQ.

Joe and my Dad had planned a nice family & friends birthday party/bbq for ME... both of them knowing how much I enjoy get-togethers like that!! It was a day full of family, friends, LOTS of food, gifts, cake and FUN!!!

Joe made his "famous" ribs and I made my "famous" homemade mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.... I know, I shouldn't have cooked on my day, but since Joe really wanted those potatoes...and since he did peel them (all 10 lbs. of them) for me....well, I just did it!! And my dad my my favorite cake of all.... yellow cake with chocolate frosting...yummy!!!

Some pictures of our day...........

Joe and I waiting for the crowd to show up:

My dad worked up a sweat watching Joseph ride his bike:

Hanging out.....

....waiting for Joe to finish cooking.....

.....his famous ribs (and WOW are they good...I mean, great!!!)

I had to get a good picture of the kids before they ate and got all messy (yea, I'm a bit anal like that!!)

And mommy had to get a bit silly with them too........

Chowing down..... yummy, yummy!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!!! (they thought it would be funny to put 34 candles on the cake.... ha-ha)

It's all mine...don't try to take it from me!!!

Some of my gifts.... Some of my favorite things.... I love Brighton and Bath & Body Works and I love, love, love Willow Tree figurines!!!

Happy Tuesday Friends!!!!