Another day… September 19, 2011

The last few weeks have been pretty busy.

We visited with Papa Randy before Labor Day.  Over that weekend, we had Grandma Deb and Pappy Jeff stay for a few days.  Monday after we had Unco Chris bring his female dog, Lex, to us and he spent the night.  Tuesday afternoon, I kept the kids home from school to get to know the dog and spend time with Unco before he had to leave.  SO… we now have a dog.  Since the first few nights, we’ve found out that Zac is allergic to her.  It’s settling in his lungs and causing asthma type breathing.  He also says his chest aches.  He doesn’t want to get rid of her though so we are trying to see what we can do for relief for him.

Reagan has also started swim lessons again.  Once a week for 7 or 8 weeks.  She is doing so good!  We are so proud of her.  I got Zac to commit to one month of piano lessons, but the times my teacher as available, we just can’t make work yet.  Maybe she’ll get another opening soon.

I’ve started reading the Twilight series again.  Still only a few chapters in to the first book but I think I can actually finish it for a 2nd time finally.  I always start it but never finish.  The 1st part to the final movie is released in November so I am trying to gear up for that!  Love the books.  Love the movies.  Great stories.

Chris has a new job that he will start next week.  We will get health insurance (finally!!!) after the first of the new year.  We have to wait 90 days.  But the job sounds like one Chris will really like.  We are so happy to have this new chapter beginning.

I still tell myself that we will be able to move by my family in Wisconsin.  I am holding on to that hope and some day I hope I am waking up to a Wisconsin sunrise, surrounded by my family and planning the days activities with my siblings.

Gappy August 28, 2011

Reagan lost her first tooth today!

It started with the first day of school last week, she bit into a Dorito chip during lunch and she noticed her tooth was loose.  It’s been working it’s way out ever since to end with a very painless and very happy out-coming!!  Chris tried to talk her into pulling her tooth last night but she was worried it would hurt too bad.  She’s so much like me!  When Zac has loose teeth, he works them looser until he finally pulls it himself.  Usually a bloody mess!  I could NEVER.  So tonight, the Tooth Fairy will pay us a visit and hopefully leave a golden dollar for the expectant fan!  (Yes, she’s a fan of the Tooth Fairy).  So her nickname is now Gappy and probably will be until her tooth grows in!

Almost time for school August 11, 2011

The last week before school starts is coming to an end. My shopping trip tomorrow will involve some school lunch food items and after school snack items. Ugh! I am just not ready for school to start yet. I miss my lazy days of summer already.

This week I got both kids registered for school. Monday next will be the girls’ back to school night and Tuesday will be the boys’ orientation. He is in 6th grade. Wow! Like… where has the time gone?

This week Zac has been on the roade with Chris. Wisconsin, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. Plus all the states in between. What a way to end the summer! Rea and I went to a free movie last night with the neighbors and enjoyed that a lot. She finished her 4th week of swim lessons today and has moved up to level 3. I believe we will sign her up for one lesson per week through the winter. She really seems to enjoy it. I wish I could find a passion for Zac. He just isn’t interested in anything.

Well, as I’m writing, I see a stack of 4 books staring at me. Need to pay them some attention.

Spring/Summer reads – not that thrilling really August 5, 2011

As far as reading goes, here is the list I’ve read since April.

I never did read that Steve Martin biography.  Although I still really want to.  Here’s what I chose instead, like it or not.

“Moonwalk” by Michael Jackson (read 4/18-4/20)

I picked this up because I had just seen ‘This Is It’, the video documentary of his rehearsals for his tour in July 2009.  He passed away late June 2009.  I did like the book, as far as biographies go, I think.  This is really the first one I’d read.  Which leads me into my next book:

(Read 4/21-5/21)

A friend of mine suggested this book as the best, non-sugar coated version of any of the biographies out there about MJ.  The author actually was requested by Michael many times throughout his life to cover certain events.  Whether or not the author worked for the publication doing the interview or coverage.  So that speaks highly of the author’s account.  In comparison, I found that Moonwalk was actually Michael’s personal, non-depricating view of situations he went through.  And it only went as far as the middle to late 80′s I think.  The 2nd book covers up until his death and was written with so many more facts and lots more outside opinions.  I left the books with a feeling of sorrow for a man no one understood.  He himself didn’t understand the world around him and therefore could not understand other’s perceptions of the things he did.  If you are interested at all in MJ’s life, I would suggest reading the 2nd book.  If you are not interested at all, you may ignore everything you have just read! 

*************

“Where She Went”  by Gayle Forman (read 5/22-5/26)

OMG! LOVED IT! LOVED IT!  Such a great follow-up to “If I Stay”.  I should’ve posted back in February about “If I Stay”.  I would suggest these two books to everyone who enjoys YA.  They are not about werewolves/vampires/angels/supernatural stuff.

Mia is a regular, albeit gifted, teenager who happens to get into a car accident with her family and becomes a type of spirit.  She can see everything but of course, no one can see/feel/hear her.  She is going nuts trying to figure out why she can’t move on to the next life or why she can’t go back to her body.  The entire book, If I Stay, is about her struggle being a spirit after the accident.  Helpless in that she can not figure out how to move beyond where she now finds herself.  The sequel, Where She Went, tells us what happened to Mia and those who surrounded her, her friends and family.

I cared so much about the characters of If I Stay, that when I finished the book, not knowing there would be a sequel, I was dying to know what happened to everyone.  I didn’t care if Mia lived or died.  I just wanted to know what happened.  Well, you do find out at the end of the 1st book what happened.  And the 2nd book continues on that path, a few years later.

SUCH a great read.  And not very long.  I finished both books very quickly because I was so drawn in.  XLNT writing and charater development.  Again… if you like YA… read these!!

* * * * *

“My Booky Wook” by Russell Brand (read 5/29-6/30)

Who knows what brings us to read the things we do??  I can’t remember why I picked this up.  But it’s a good book.  He is so very British and you can tell by the way he writes.  It was a bit hard to get through in that respect but he’s a great story teller and the story just happens to be his life.  He sure has went through a lot of crap to get where he is today.  You may not like him but after some of the bad blows he’s been dealt, he kinda deserves to sit up on his sober throne and revel in this luxuries.

“Booky Wook 2″ by Russell Brand (started 7/5 and still reading)

With lots going on this summer, I haven’t read as much as I have before.  We all stay up til we’re tired and I go right to sleep with no reading.  Again, this one is very British in lingo so it’s hard to make it smoothly through.  It’s been a month and I’m still not halfway through it yet.  I do like it.  Just not taking time to read every night.

I don’t even recall knowing much about him at all.  I mean, even though he was becoming famous, I had no idea who he was or where he came from when he hosted the VMA’s on Mtv a few years ago.  It’s so odd to know this guy was out there in front of my face but I never saw him.  I guess because I am watching Nick Jr/Sprout TV/Hub/Disney.  Not MTV and the like.

Anyway…  interesting guy.  He’s done some funny movies now.  Married Katy Perry.  Clean and Sober for at least 9 yrs now.  He can even sing very well, as evidenced by the band Infant Sorrow and the CD “Get Him To The Greek”, a strictly promotional CD for the movie of the same name.  It’s an excellent cd, if you like explicit, british, literal lyrics.  It’s pure fun and I smile and laugh every time I listen to it.

My review of these books is basically… if you want to learn about him, you will be able to sit through the “brititsh-ness” of the writing.  It’s not something I’d recommend for a casual read.

Short summer :( August 5, 2011

April 4 was my last post?!  Really??  Wow.  This has really slipped through the cracks.  I don’t even know all that has happened since April 4.

I last left you at the start of Spring Break.  Lord only remembers what all the girl and I did during that week.  We didn’t go out to see Tangled, but it was at the library for free.  So we checked it out and LOVED it!!! I bought it that very week.  And we watched it at least 3 times during that week.  VERY good, funny, musical movie.

Since my last post a few things have happened.  The kids, of course, got out of school for summer.  Funny thing is, the timing of this post puts them ready to start again in a week and a half!  Yep, starting school on the 17th.   We also had our roof and aluminum siding replaced.  We have also had the house painted to match the new vinyl siding (well, MY part of the painting isn’t done, but I hope to get it done….  soon?   LOL! yeah right!).  We’ve also painted the trim around windows and doors white and repainted the shutters and storm door from a very faded, dull burgandy to a lighter than we originally thought navy blue.  Chris has wanted navy blue for at least 4 years.

I was also ready to homeschool Zac in order to help eliminate some social issues he was having at school.  But at the last minute he decided he wanted to go to school.  Be around kids his own age.  “No offense, Mom” he says.  I am stressed thinking about the possible negative outcomes of this.  But I want to honor his choice to go to public school.

The only trip we were able to make this year was a two week jaunt up to my family in Wisconsin.  I SO want to live there.  It’s just beautiful.  And knowing my sister is right there makes it so special.  Plus, my neice Josie, who will be a year old in October, is there to.  About an hour away from the town my sis is in.  But I could have her at least once a month, for an entire weekend.  I’m sure of it.  She’s so awesome. I miss all my nephews dearly.  I miss not being there for them and having a close relationship with them.

Reagan is currently out with her daddy for an overnight job.  They will be back today in time for dinner.  This is only the 2nd time she’s gotten to ride with him and the 1st overnight of the year.  However, she won’t be able to go back out with him due to school starting soon.

We did have one accident here at home this summer.  Zac was doing a flip on the trampoline and he bashed his nose with his knee.  We’re still not positive it’s not broken, but he can breathe fine.  There is so much bruising.  But the Dr. office said they can’t get a good xray until swelling goes down.  So we’re waiting for that.  I hope the bruising clears up before school.

Here are a few pics from summer.

^ Sprinklers in the backyard ^

^Canal Days Festival. Zac didn’t really want to ride this but Reagan wanted too with him. ^

^Reagan at Toys R Us on her birthday^

^Rea, Josie and Grandma Deb at Grandma’s house in WI ^

^ Zac helping to mow the lawn in WI ^

^ I love this picture of Canaan and Reagan. Cousins rock! ^

^ Mt Olympus water park in the WI Dells. My sis took us with free passes she had ^

I have pictures of Zac’s bruised face but they are on my phone.  Hope over to my facebook page and you can see some of those.

With only 2 months for summer this year, time has really flown by.  So sad to see it ending so soon.  Hopefully we can make it through more snow days than we did last year and they can get out of school on time and have a longer summer.

Spring Break April 4, 2011

So we are just starting spring break for the kids.

Saturday, Reagan and I went to see the movie “HOP” by ourselves.  Dad didn’t feel well and Zac stayed home with him.  To which Reagan says “It’s okay Mom.  It’s good practice for us for next week.”   Meaning that it’s just us girls for the week as Zac is with Dad on the truck.

The guys left around 2 or 3 pm on Sunday.  So Reagan and I went grocery shopping to get some of the good sales.  I had a free milk coupon I’d forgotten to use and she just wanted to get out and do something knowing we were alone.  Sunday night, we watched the ACM awards.  The Academy of Country Music awards.  Yes, I said Country Music.  The ONLY reason I watched that was because Mr. Rob Pattinson (my *swoooon* fave actor!!!) was presenting an award.  As Reagan got tired, we moved to my bed for a “slumber party” evening while watching the award show until my Rob was on.   Little Reagan was in rare comedic form.  1st she says “Wow.  A week without Zac.”  I said “Yep!”  She said “He was a good kid.”  I was like what?!?   I replied “He still is a good kid you big goober!!!”  And she was laughing, saying “Hahahaha.  I was talking about him like he was in Heaven!!”   So….  we laughed together and I tickled her.  It was cute.  Then I was curious.  I asked her “Who lives in Heaven?”  She replies “Papa Randy’s dad”.   That is Grandpa Harold.  And yes, he is in Heaven!  I asked “who did Grandpa Harold go to see?”   Reagan says “God.”   “Right!” I replied, then said “He wanted to see God so he went to Heaven.”  She totally caught my ‘wanted’ comment and asked, kinda scared, “did he do the suicide to see God??????”   I was a bit shocked she knew what that meant.  But calmed her down… “No!!  No!!  He was very old and died because he was old.”   To that Reagan says “But Papa Randy’s old and he isn’t dead.  I don’t want him to die!!!!!”    LOL!  After that I just couldn’t NOT call someone.  SO… I called Papa Randy to let him know he’s old and should be dead but Reagan doesn’t want him to be!!!!  He laughed so hard!!!  What a clever little girl!

Today is Monday and Reagan and I have watched The Wot-Wot’s and In The Night Garden on tv.  Which she can not see normally because she’s in school.  Then we went to the library to check out a new Leapster TAG reader book.   While there I found the Steve Martin biography to read.  Can’t wait to read that.  I love Steve Martin.   I also found that I owed two dollars for a past due movie.  Ugh.  I rarely carry cash on me but I did have two dollars.  I had held on to it for over a week in case I needed it for something important.  Darn it!!  I hate library fines.  So I went ahead and paid the fine, turning over my last two dollars.    Now I’m sad and poor.  BUT have a Steve Martin biography to read.  That should put me in a better mood.

The rest of the week should bring viewings of Twilight’s New Moon and Eclipse with Reagan while we munch on cheese popcorn (a family recipe of my mother’s that we have had since I was a little kid).  We also want to go swimming at the Y and maybe go to the mall because they have a large two-story carousel in the food court.  We have many puzzles that really need our attention.  And many many markers that are anxiously awaiting a meeting with some paper.  We would love to get outside for some fun but it’s raining right now.  Hopefully it won’t be raining all week.   We do need to go see the movie “Tangled” tomorrow at the cheap theater.  That should be fun.  Reagan really wants to see that.  It’s the first princess type movie she’s requested to see.  So maybe she’ll sit still.

I LOVE not working and spending all my time with the kids when time doesn’t exist.  I am looking so forward to summer!!!

*************************************************************************

3/25/2011  Zachary in the space that once had a large spruce tree.  We had it removed.

3/12/2011  Reagan at our piano we had just brought home.  Bought from Craigslist.  XLNT deal!!!  I am still taking lessons and loving it.  I can’t get either kid to step up commit to lessons.  But maybe some day.  Having the piano will make it easier if they decide they want to.

Things I’m looking forward to!!! March 27, 2011

April 1: “Hop” released in theaters

April 5: “Where She Went” by Gayle Forman released.  This is the sequel to “If I Stay” which I liked very much.

April 8 : Narnia-Dawn Treader released on DVD

April 11: “Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 1″ released on DVD

April 22: “Water For Elephants” released in theaters

July 12: “Forever” by Maggie Steifvator released.  Part 3 in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

July 15: “Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2″ released in theathers

Nov 18: “Breaking Dawn Pt 1″ released in theaters

 

 

Just Friends March 27, 2011

Last week, I was dropping the kids off at school.  Reagan looked ahead and saw a classmate, Dustin, get out of his truck.  She says, rather loudly and excitedly, “It’s Dustin!!” and hurries to get her seatbelt off and get out the door.

Me:  Do you like Dustin, Reagan?

Reagan:  As a friend!  (still fiddling with her backpack and trying to get out the door)

Me:  are you sure?  You’re trying awfully hard to get out there to him.

Reagan: He’s just my FRIEND!!!!  (As she flies out the door, leaving it wide open, and walks at a very fast pace to try and catch up to him)

Me to Zac:  Well, I guess you’re not walking up with Reagan today.

Zac:  Yeah.  I guess she likes Dustin.

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

 

 

End of March March 27, 2011

As the end of March approaches, I sit back and wonder where exactly the time has gone.

I now have a different school job, as I left the previous school cafeteria job right after Christmas break.  I am in a high school this time with more hours.  I really like it.  I also part time it at the YMCA downtown and the director there has graciously cleared my schedule until the end of school so I can take full advantage of the school opportunity.  ♥

Christian (husband) and Christopher (brother) have both celebrated birthdays this month.  Christopher’s being the big 4-0!!

There was warm weather in which jackets were not needed at all and then we turn around and need our winter coats again.  It hailed last week during one storm.  And I have flowers already peaking out of the ground at least 2-3 inches!!!

We had some trees cut down around our yard to make way for our lawn service to help us get a healthy lawn again.  We still do intend to sell our home and move…. somewhere.  But for now, we need to get the lawn back to a healthy state without dirt patches.  I hope this can be accomplished.

Spring break for the kids starts the first week of April.  Zac will be going with Chris over the road.  Reagan and I will probably hang out at home.  Doing girly things: painting fingernails, coloring Barbie pictures, having slumber parties in my room on my king size bed and reading to all the little girls stuffed animals (and maybe my Edward doll!!).   I love this one-on-one time with the kids.  I get it so rarely.  As Zac gets older I’m finding we have less in common.  <pout>  I have to really be creative to get him away from the video games.

School is not due to be out until around June 13th.  So I’m not sure when we’ll start our summer sojourns.  But a trip to Wisconsin and Oklahoma are in the plans.

 

Sick February 27, 2011

We’re all sick.

Reagan was very sick last week.  Sunday (2/20) to Wednesday(2/23).  School was canceled here Monday and Tuesday but she was high fever and vomiting.  Wednesday she was back to normal but I kept her home.  Thursday she went to school but after coming home, she napped for about an hour and woke up with a 103 fever.  Then, as the night progressed, she complained of not being able to roll over from her side to back, to belly, or back to side, etc.  She said if felt like she was being punched in the stomach.  It was about 8:30pm and I decided to take her to Redimed.  I can just see her having an appendix issue and I ignore it.  Thankfully, everything checked out fine.  But she is still sporting a fever!  Geesh!

Zachary has been fine up until Friday (2/25).  He developed a low grade fever that he’s had since.  And he’s been getting his migraine headaches everyday.

Chris and I have basically bad colds with some body aches thrown in.  My congestion has me coughing to a point of almost vomiting.  (nice though, yeah!)  I can’t wait to get over this.

School was canceled again on Friday and Chris did get home around 4 pm Friday so having him home that early made yesterday (Saturday) feel like Sunday.  But, it was actually Saturday, so we got what felt like a 3 day weekend.  Today he leaves for work right after lunch and me and the kids are just going to lay around and be coughing couch potatoes.  Sick spuds!!!    Thank goodness I don’t work again until Wednesday.