Hi girls! Let's have a check in!
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive August 2007:
Hi girls! Let's have a check in!
I've been reading pretty regularly again (I actually have time!!!) and haven't posted as much but I thought it would be nice to hear an update from everyone. What's going on in life? How's your summer? Counting down for school? Anything exciting going on??
Do share....... 
I only have time to check in once every couple days or so.
Our summer has been okay. We have been busy, yet ds still gets bored. We went on a weekend family getaway in June, we went to see Transformers, our Fourth of July was great, we went to an outdoor symphony orchestra concert a couple of weeks ago, we went to Michigan's Adventure ( the weather was too cold IMO, but it was fun,) and ds has been fishing a couple of times with dh and FIL and has had a few friends over for overnighters.
Dh had a vacation a week ago and we replaced our toilet which was cracked, he fixed the sprayer under the sink in the kitchen which was leaking, and he and fixed our underground sprinkling system.
My worst problem is my allergies. I haven't had them this bad in years. Every morning I sneeze and blow, sneeze and blow. Some nights I wake up in the middle of the night and sneeze and blow and can't get back to sleep. It feels like someone's pouring pepper down my nostrils. I have Zyrtec, but it makes me very groggy in the morning and I can't wake up and have a hard time keeping my balance. So, I only take it if I am desperate.
Oh, and I broke my glasses and have to wait for my next eye appt next month to get new ones. I have contacts, but you aren't supposed to wear them all the time, so for an hour in the morning and before bed I walk around half blind. !
Now it's going to be hot and dry for the next week. We don't have AC. I can tolerate the heat okay, but our house turns into an oven because the living areas are all on the south side of the house, and the enclosed front porch faces west. I have all the screens open, but it doesn't help. I actually like the warm weather. (me trying to convince myself. )
I've been a quick pop-in lurker because our lives are just crazy right now! I have a week and a half of work left. In the past 2 weeks we bought a house in Wisconsin and sold our house here. We close here on 8/17 and close in WI on 8/20, so as you can imagine we are busy. DH's last Sunday at our current church is 8/12 and then we head to TN with the ILs for a few days vacation.
The boys are great. They are growing so tall and becoming wonderful young men whom I enjoy hanging out with. DH and I celebrate 17 wonderful years next Saturday. I just got back from a weekend at the beach with girl friends from high school and college to celebrate turning 40 this year. The boys stayed with my sister and DH was in Nicaragua on a mission trip. I probably won't be around much in the coming weeks with our move and then adjusting to a totally different career. Plus, I haven't worked full-time in 13 years! I will be around lurking though.
Dang it! I had a long post all waiting to post and then hubby called and asked if I'd gotten his email and then I clicked the link, without thinking and it's gone! (mutters something about simpsonizing)
Today, Emily got registered for school. She will be a sophomore and school starts September 4th. Then we went school-supply shopping.
Sarah leaves for college, on September 2nd and we've been slowly buying stuff for her, too. We finally found a shower tote, that she liked.
We just went on vacation, up in northern WI and northern MN and I take back every thought I'd ever had, that Duluth was just a little hick town! It's not! Going up the north shore was pretty, quaint and quiet. Although, not many places to buy a drink (like bottled water, or soda)! LOL! I'm so spoiled, living in a big urban area.
It was hot and humid today and it will be the same tomorrow, plus lots of lovely air pollution is trapped in the hot air, over Lake Michigan, so guess where that is going to go, with easterly winds tomorrow? It's going to be right in the lakeside counties, so we have an air quality advisory tomorrow. Anyone want to come visit? I wasn't really planning on doing much tomorrow anyway. Our lawn is starting to need mowing, but I'm waiting until it's cooler outside. Besides, with ozone issues, it would be better for me to wait, anyway.
I stop by every time I have a few minutes so I'm here off and on most days, although I haven't posted much. My dks are doing well and enjoying their summer. We changed schools last year and they are all looking forward to returning to school for the first time. I'm contemplating returning to work part-time in the fall since even my baby will be in school all day. We are in the process of buying a house in this school district but it's a terrifying process for a new buyer, IMO, especially since we're buying an older home and have plans to renovate and expand.
My oldest dd is becoming a real school leader, involved in student government, chorus, traffic patrol and playing the viola. She had the 2nd highest grades for 4th grade last year. My ds (dxed with autism) is doing really well. His social issues are almost non-existant in the spring, summer and fall, although we had a very rough time this winter. We're focusing on speech issues now. My youngest learned to read last school year but, surprisingly, her strength seems to be math skills and is already enjoying some basic multiplication problems. She's still a real people person and is in dance now. We may start her in a local acting program here next January. DH is routinely being promoted and enjoying his work. He's been working with a tattoo artist in this area and thinking about opening a shop in the next couple of years. I've been working on some extra weight issues and have lost about 35 lbs now and it feels great! This is without a doubt the best I've felt in years.
You've gotten updates from us now. How are things going with you, Melissa?
Same old, same old here.......kids are grown, but I'm actually seeing more of Jeff and Jen together than I have in years. Jen's living back at home, Jeff's new girlfriend is Jen's best friend, so Jeff comes from MS for a couple days each week and there are 2 or 3 of them at my house every day of the week. He's on vacation this week, so it's a full house. :-)
No vacations anywhere this summer, just gearing up to go to the Galapagos on Nov. 30.
Oldest DS Jason *might* be getting engaged in the near future, oldest DD Jules graduates with her Masters either in Dec. or May, Madison will be in first grade.......
Time flies!
We're getting geared up for school to start next Monday. I've still got to get Randy's school supplies, but we just got the list Saturday and we still don't know what classes he has! We'll find out tomorrow when they have their "Beat the Rush" day at the middle school. He's looking forward to 7th grade (which he made by the skin of his teeth!) and playing football. I'm hoping he doesn't get crushed! Robin's actually ready for school to start and already stated he's going to do better this year. If I hadn't been sitting down when he said that I'd have fallen over! lol He's taking math, science and technology with COVA and I'm homeschooling for the rest. We're going to do unit studies for history and language arts. We're starting with the history of martial arts weapons. He's very back into karate since our seminar a couple weeks ago. I'm glad because he really is good at it, it's good for him and he's come SO far with it! Both boys have. Robin was ready to quit before we left. Now he wants to go four days a week! Both kids will test for their jr black belts in September and they're VERY excited about that!
Dh quit his job yesterday. He accepted a new job in Denver and will start that the first week of September. We bought a new car for his commute since my car (which he can't have anyway!) only gets 15 miles to the gallon and his truck only gets 12. The new car gets 35-40 and it has a full warranty, plus road-side assistance. Even buying a new car, if you figure out what we'd be paying for gas in the truck compared to gas with the new car and the car payment, we're still saving money! He's excited. He's going from a contract position that could go away at any time (when the contract ends) to a government position with job security and he'll actually be in charge of the office. There'll be some travel involved, but I'm okay with that. Maybe when the kids get a little older I can go some places with him!
My business is going well. I decided to take a couple older babies (11mo and 14mo) and they're doing great! The 11mo is and AWESOME baby!!! He's SO good! He has 9 and 12yo brothers that I may have during school breaks. The 14mo is a little snot most of the time, but I'm working with her. The 2yo I've had for a year is now 3yo! He's come a long way and is doing great! He's adjusting to having littler ones around and sharing "his" toys. I interviewed last night with a 4yo boy. His parents say he's and Indigo Child. He's had a terrible time at a big center (several now, actually) and they're looking for a small group for him. He was great last night, but they did tell me some of the things he's been doing at the center, and I tell you, I was having flashbacks of Robin in public school! I have no doubt I can handle this child. He was such a sweetheart last night and he's SO smart! His parents are going to let me know in the next few days what they decide. The biggest factor is their drive. I'm about 30-45 minutes from where they live and at least that far from where each of them work. When I fill the spot they're interested in, I'm considering myself "full". I'm licensed for up to 6, but I only want four. I've discovered that's a good number for me.
We're had a busy, FAST summer. I'm not ready for school to start!!! The kids had a blast in Vegas and at the seminar. It was a great experience for all of us. Things are going well right now and life is good! I like reading all these updates. Who's next?
Summer has been great. My boys just seem to be growing up before my eyes. We have had such a great time together. I have not heard "I'm bored" once!!! We have been swimming a lot. We have new neighbors. My boys love playing with their boys, they are all close in age. And, I really like their mom, we have become good friends the last few months. We have the same interests, similar parenting styles, and we just really enjoy each other's company. So, we have become pool bums with them! We usually end up at our neighborhood pool each day, or should I say, each sunny day, we have had a lot of rain. Our actual summer vacation was a bust, we got flooded out at the lake. Literally, our lake house, that we rented, flooded. So, we had to evacuate after just one day. We got all our money back, so we are going to Disney World for fall break. It looks like my brother and SIL are going with us, so it should be lots of fun.
School starts in just a few weeks, I am really sad  . My boys are going to a brand new school, so they are excited. They are rushing to get it ready. Next week, they are having an open house, so we get to check it out. It looks beautiful from the outside. I just can't believe I will have a 4th, and 2nd grader.
My oldest started tackle football last week. I don't know how I feel about it, but he loves it!! We just found out last night, that he will probably be quarterback. He seems to be one of the few that can throw the ball well. He is beside himself with excitment. My youngest is playing baseball again, with his same team. Dh is coaching. Ds just loves baseball, and so does dh(he played baseball in college) So, he is really enjoying coaching.
Dh's job is going great. I am just about done decorating the house. I am thinking about working at school as a lunch/recess monitor. It pays pretty well, and is only 4 hours a day. I could even do it Mon, Wed, Fri if I wanted. So, I am strongly considering it. It would be nice to have a little extra "play" money. I love kids, and I would be at the boy's school. So a win, win all the way around.
Lets see.... I will go next...
Callie is 17 (September birthday) graduated this past May.. She is not sure what she wants to do with herself. So she is planning to take at least a year of to decide. She has a steady boyfriend and they seem to get a long well. But she is not planning on taking anything past boyfriend status until she is 20.. We will see how long that last. I would prefer she wait longer.. But not my choice.. She is to be starting to work at WalMart as soon as she turns 18 next month. She knows a manager and she has been promised a job. She has been taking the summer off...
Dillan is 15 and will be a Sophomore this year. He was trying out for Soccer and the schedule kept conflicting with church so he decided to not play soccer and look for something he can do that won't keep him away from attending church activities. We'll see what he finds to get into. He is switching from the school he attended after our move in October back to the school he had attended since K.
The girls are 10 and will in the fifth grade this year.. They were picked to be crossing guards this year, so that will mean early to school and staying after.. They played softball for the school, this is their first year and they did really well.. they are growing into young women right before my eyes... They have spent the whole summer in and out of the pool and loving having it right in the back yard..
Everyone is dreading going back to school... The years just seem to fly by faster now..
I am the doing okay.. They have changed up my medication, so I can keep most of my issues under control for now, except for being tired nothing they can do about that I guess. I started tanning for 10 minutes a day to help with some of my joint issues. It is like one huge heating pad.. I get out feeling less stiff and it last for most of the day. For those that don't know.. I have Advanced Fibromyalgia and damage to my body from untreated Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis which seems to contributed/caused me to get Osteoarthritis that for now has played heck on my spine.. In time it could spread it self around.. But for being 36, I am in a sad state.. lol One of our major summer purchases was a wheel chair.. I run down very easy and walking wears me down quicker. So I ride around WalMart now.. which is one of the hardest things I had to let go of... Anyway, things could be worse... I will survive all the above. And other than those issues I am doing great..
Rob is actually doing well.. So far so good.. 6 years out of the hospital and off work. It took 7 years the last time for him to have an issue.. So my fingers are crossed we make it passed the 7 year mark. For those that don't know DH has a mess load of issues the biggest being Schizoaffective Disorder. He has been hospitalized three times and the last time his doctors took him off work indefinitely. Which he hates....
We are doing as well as can be expected... Living life and trying to make memories as we go..
AND YOU???
Oh and I love my new house (moved in in October).. Just had to throw that in.. I think I love it more every day..
Congrats on the new house Bobbie!
I have been out of the loop for sometime, but I read alot and wish that I had more time to respond.
Our house is currently on the market, we have since purchased a new home that is being totally renovated by my DH with a little help from me and the kids..LOL My DH lives in the back bedroom and me and the kids are staying about 4 minutes away in my dads house. This is the first time in my life I have lived with my father(raised by my mom) but it is working out. I have a little sister who just turned two and its like having a new baby again. Although she makes me thouroughly exhausted...I think I'm getting too old!
My son already started school he is in the 3rd grade and having a hard time adjusting, but things will work out.
We are trying to aim for Early October to move into our new house. My daughter made the Volleyball team at her new school so I am crazy busy running her to practice, but we are all so proud of her. This seems to have really boosted her self-esteem. She is 14 and 6-foot tall so she has had alot of issue with this lately.
We haven't taken a vacation of any sort this year but I am planning on doing something fun once all of the work is done and the other house sells. The one thing I can say is everyone is healthy and I am thankful for that!
I have been trying to post more, but things have been crazy here lately.
Rylee starts pre-school at the end of this month. She will be going for 2 days a week and is so excited. We just started our count-down calndar today. She meets her teacher on the 23rd.
We will finally be taking a vacation in September. We are going to the beach for a whole week. I cannot wait!!!!
I forgot to mention, that Emily goes to horsecamp on the 12th of August, so she is counting down the days for that!
I'm counting down the days, to when Sarah leaves for college. Probably Sarah is too! I think the puppy is going to be sad, when she doesn't come home, for a long time!
Wow.... lots going on! I'm glad to see everyone doing well for the most part.
As for me....
Things are going well. Kaitlyn starts preschool on the 27th of this month 5 days a week, 3 1/2 hours each day. I'm EXCITED!!!!! Did I mention how excited I am????? LOL I think she's really excited about it too. She keeps asking questions about what she'll do there. My goal for this summer was to get her to spell and write her whole name (first, middle and last) and we accomplished that. That's all she ever writes now! Oh, and she is 4 going on 14. I didn't know teenagers came in miniatures bodies!
Nathan is just about 14 months old. He's doing great and is into everything. He's going to be my wild child. He is ALL boy. He actually LOVES riding Kaitlyn's quad so I see that as his future sport. Help me now! Andi- I don't know how you survive with Dylan on the dirt bikes! LOL He's not much of a talker so other than Mama and Dada everything is "point and grunt". Quite the opposite of Kaitlyn who has always been a talker.
I'm doing good personally. I've gained about 5 pounds since running the marathon and I haven't ran since because of my knee injury. I start training in the next few weeks for a 10K mud run in October though. I'm excited! DH just left for training for a month and will be back Sept. 1st. I get to enjoy him for 3 weeks before he's shipped off to Iraq for a 7-10 month deployment. He also is re-enlisting this year (I won the bet, I knew he wouldn't get out!) and the bonus is quite hefty so were paying off his truck and the rest of the debt we have and taking a cruise next summer (yes, he wants it in the summer instead of fall, grrr...) so we're pretty excited about that. He's thinking about doing recruiting duty for 3 years when he gets back. I'm not looking forward to that! Nathan will be 2 next year so i'm also contemplating working, especially since DH will be working sun up to sundown most of the time. We'll see how it goes though.
It's really nice reading all the updates. Lots of fun stuff going on! Everyone's kids are growing up so fast!
I have not had much time to read or post here, mainly because I share this computer with the kids, but also because those same kids keep me busy. Our downstairs air conditioner broke on Friday and we weren't able to replace until yesterday, so I haven't been spending much time inside anyway!
September brings a big change to my life: it will be the first time in almost 19 years that I have not had a child at home during the day. My oldest graduated from high school in June and will be taking classes at the community college in the Fall. The other kids will be going into 10th, 5th, 3rd and all-day kindergarten, respectively. I plan to go back to school in January and have signed up for a career program starting in Sept. to help me decide what it is I want to study. I doubt I'll have trouble figuring out what to do with myself when school does start.  .
Speaking of school, it doesn't start here until after Labor Day so, we still have a month of vacation left. We are going to a family reunion this month and in a couple of weeks we are headed to Maine for a wedding and short vacation. July went by quickly and I expect August will go by just as fast. Then my birthday will bring me one more year closer to forty and I'll enter the next phase of my life. I am scared and excited at the same time! LOL
Well ladies I am now checking in also. We are getting married in 73 days can you ladies that have known me forever believe it!! Wedding planning is going great I am having tons of fun with all of it not stressed at all really.
The kid are doing great. Timmy is running Go-Karts now and kicking butt everywhere he races at. I am so proud he is AWESOME!!
Jade is a holy terror she is going to be my demon child. Not sure what to do with her when she is an angel she is awesome but man is that few and far between.
Hope all is going well for everyont talk to you soon.
Our summer is going by so fast! Natalie turned 3 at the end of June and starts preschool (2 days/week) on the 16th. I'm frustrated because the teacher I "evaluated" (LOL) was absolutely wonderful and decided to take a full-time 4th grade position. SO, we now will be meeting the new teacher tomorrow and I'm hoping she passes my "tests" or we will be looking for another preschool at the last minute. I'm trying not to panic. I'm not sure how I'm going to put this kid in public school because I'm soooo picky!
DH is looking for a new job but not finding much out there that's not on either coast. It's becoming frustrating but I'm sure the best thing will turn up at some point. The cost of living on the coasts is soooo much more than here but the salaries for those jobs aren't much more than what he's making now, so I don't really get that!
I've just spent every waking moment this summer with Natalie (not that I don't anyway!) but even more so with planned activities. I'm quite devastated that she is starting preschool and thus the "beginning of the end" in my mind. I'm consumed with my baby growing up these days and just can't believe it! I don't really need more time to myself, so her being at preschool isn't a big break for me. I'm planning to schedule my developmental therapy appts. during her classes as much as possible so we can be together more. I'm dreading next year and 3 days a week!!
So...we are all well!! My workouts are in the dumps lately. It's frustrating because I don't *love* to work out anyway, so when I don't see consistent results I get a little bummed. All I keep thinking is that when I go back to work, workouts will come to an abrupt END and I can't imagine how much farther downhill my body will go then!!LOL I can't imagine eating too much less than I do now!
I can imagine how some of you others feel about going back to school. One of these days when Natalie and I both have to go back to school in the fall it will feel so sad. DH takes lots of vacation in the summer and we do so many things together. It's just a great time!
It's cool to hear about how everyone is doing!
My older two are getting ready to go into 3rd and 2nd grade. My youngest won't be 4 until December, so I still have 1 more year until she is old enough for pre-k here. A lot is up in the air with me and Dh, trying to make decisions about school and work, part time, full time and all that. I used to work part time so this has been my first summer off with the kids since they became school age. Overall, I think it's been our best summer! It hasn't been too awful hot most of the time so we've been spending a lot of time at the playground. I've lost 22 pounds since May 1st, hit a plateau and now I'm starting to lose again. I guess I diagnosed myself as having a gluten allergy and I have seen such improvement in my energy level. I love reading the updates too!
Things are great here. Dylan stats 1st grade on the 20th and Taylor will start Pre-K next month 2 days a week.
Dylan is still racing his Dirt Bike and Billy just bought one so they can start riding together. (Melissa, it's not easy but Dylan loves it so I just pray he will be safe) Taylor really wants to start riding but we told her she has to learn how to ride a two wheeler before she can get on a Dirt Bike.
We leave for Hawaii on Saturday and we will be there for 7 day, we are very excited about the trip. When we get home Billy will start his new job. He will be the in house Developer for a Bank Down Town. The goal is to build 19 new branches over the next 10 years. I never realized all the perks you get working for a bank..he's going to get 4 weeks vacation a year and they expect you to use it! We are planning on getting an RV in the Fall, so we will be sure to use up all those vacation days. LOL
As for me, I'm trying to work off some of the weight I put on over Summer and get back in a routine. I may do a few more 5K's and another Duathalon soon. As long as everyone is healthy then I'm one happy mama.
Andi- You will LOVE the vacation time your DH is getting now! My DH gets at least 4 weeks every year, witht he option to buy more. We always buy at least one more week and it's great. He takes lots of long weekends with them!
Checking in.... Same old stuff here. LOL! We vacationed on a lake in NH for two weeks. Now the kids and I are hanging out and doing typical summer activities. School starts Aug. 30th. Ty will be in Gr. 6 and B in Gr. 4. They'll be in the same school this year so it will be nice for a change. Next year Ty will be at the middle school. Yikes!
We *might* have a new member of the family soon. NO, I'm NOT pregnant! LOL! We may be adopting an adult Ragdoll cat who needs a new home. I'm calling today to make arrangements to meet him. We'll see...
We have enjoyed some time off this summer.
We will start school (homeschool) next Monday.
We sold our boat and bought a brand new jet ski. We have had a lot of fun out on it.. and plan on buying another one soon.
I have been interviewed 3 times for a Home Depot commercial. So far--no commercial-BUT my kitchen story will be on their web site in a couple weeks.
I have spent a lot of time in my studio. I am having fun fusing glass and just finished a stained glass panel for my in-laws 50th anniversary.
Jessica now has 4 dance classes a week. She is really enjoying dance competitions. She will dance at Disney in February.
Addison is still into baseball.
He has taken a huge interest in science. He loves doing experiments. We will be taking science lab classes at a local museum this year.
We are going to Disney for a week in October.
I got my hair cut shoulder length. I had it mid back length. I love it shorter. Hubby is getting used to it
It's been a busy summer for us. I am constanty on the road driving my 13 yr old dd here & there & everywhere, and her friends too. I love it. The kids seem to congregate at our house and I'm so happy that she has such a nice bunch of friends. Volleyball will start later on this month for her and I'm excited and nervous at the same time. She hurt her arm back in June and is in physical therapy, but it's about 85% better. I just don't want to undo what has already been done.
Little dd is coming up on 2 & 1/2 and she is into EVERYTHING! We take her to daycare 2 half days a week to give her some social skills. She likes it and it gives me a break. We haven't heard anything about the adoption appeal so we wait & wait & wait. I think we'll hear something soon.
Hubby & I are doing well other than a few aches & pains.
I love these threads!
I can't believe it's August already. It's been a quiet summer here. Some swimming but mostly staying close to home. Lara and I hatched some baby ducklings last week. Our neighbor's ducks come over daily to visit us. One of the females made a nest in our yard. Lara found the eggs and pleaded with dh and I to keep them warm so they would hatch. With the neighbor's okay, we placed them in an incubator and now have four adorable ducklings! It has been a wonderful experience. But, lots of work, and lots of poop! Dh is making an enclosure this weekend, as they can live outdoors soon.
Lara starts two days of preschool in September. Like you, Deanna, I have been so sad. I know it's just two days, but I'm going to miss her SO much. It will be great for her to make some friends. Living here without many neighbors, she hasn't had the chance to form many friendships. Me either, for that matter. Except for all of you.:-) It will be good for both of us to get out and about more.
I'm glad everyone seems to be having a good summer!
I haven't even been able to check here until lately! With 3 kids in the house, there's always something going on.
Kolby turned 6 in June and will start 1st grade Aug. 14!! I remember freaking out and asking Deanna a bunch of questions about K. Well, he did SOOO well! He is in the top 7 in his class of 90 or so. I'm so proud of him! He's been reading a lot and sailing right along. He did get glasses in Jan., but they suit him well.
Miss Raya turned 2 in May! Man, that flew by. She is my "wild child". Constantly into everything and doesn't like to listen to me. It seems my brother is the only person who can rope her in. She is still taking 2 naps a day and goes to bed around 7-7:30 and most days doesn't get up until 8ish...so that's a plus.
My stepdaughter(Alexa) is now 15 and going to be a Sophomore in a week and a half. She took driver's ed. this summer. I was the lucky one who got to teach her how to drive....and my goodness! I now feel sorry for MY mom! I'm lucky I have any hair left. She finished her Freshman year as #7 in her class. Plus, she took all advanced classes. We've had some depression issues and some other stuff going on with her, but she seems to be adjusting better now.
As for me...I've been so busy I can barely sit for 2 mintues during the day! I CANNOT wait for school to start back up! That's MY vacation.
Oboy! I'm working bit by bit on sketches for the graphic novel I'm doing. It's going pretty slow but it's going to be a long term project anyway.
We're getting ready to gear up for homeschooling again. We're switching to a more formal approach on math although other subjects will still mostly be built around Catherine and Harry's interest and be unschooled.
My husband is hoping for a call anyday now that would have him changing career tracks. He'll go from restaurant manager to a signal maintenence for Canada's biggest (possibly only) freight train company. Since he was lots of management experience and they're facing a huge turn over rate due to retirement it looks like he'll go through the ranks pretty quickly. If he gets the call!
I had a great summer! DH and I were in Hawaii for our 20th wedding anniversary in June, and we just got back from a family vacation in the Outer Banks. (BTW a big THANK YOU to those who had input on that vacation...we had a great time! We will def go back!)
DD is getting ready to start her senior year, so we are involved with everything that goes along with that! DS will be a freshman. He just started a trampoline and tumbling class which he loves. (This is exciting because he isn't ever interested in ANYTHING unless it has to do with video games or paintball!)
DH is okay, under a lot of stress at work, but things are getting better there. I'm actually looking forward to school starting and getting back to a schedule, and subbing. I also need to get back to the gym...I have a personal trainer and had lost 13 pounds and lots of inches before I went to Hawaii (went from a size 12 to a size 8), slacked off since June, and have gained almost all of it all back! :-(
So now life has settled back down, and you will "see" me around more!
I am an avid reader of momsview and have been for a few years but don't post too much because I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words and am amazed at the knowledge of the women here and their ability to put it in writing and feel like I know each and everyone of you. So here's a little about me and my family.
I live in southern MI (about 10 miles from Tonya though I've never met her) with my husband Kevin of 19 years and my two sons, Frank who is 16 and will be a junior in high school and Steven who is 9 and will be entering the 4th grade. School here starts on Sept. 4th and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and having more structure to our days and evenings.
I'm a WOHM and this summer Steven was unable to attend our home daycare (the same one I've been using for 15 yrs) due to capacity (the newborn to 5yr olds having preference) so Frank has been taking care of him for us. I was nervous at first but several of my neighbors are home daily and watch out for them. He's done a good job and we pay him but boy can they make a mess and forget to clean it up. I've been leaving chores on the fridge and they complete them but seem to think what isn't written doesn't have to be done. I don't know about girls but with the boys I have to give step by step instructions, one day I said to put the clothes in the dryer and when I went downstairs to fold them when I got home they were still wet, when I questioned them their response was "You didn't say to turn it on" duh!! They are getting quite good at cleaning the bathroom and laundry which is nice for me
We went up north MI for a week over the 4th of July to our hunting cabin (no water or electric) with extended family and friends and spent the days at the lake and the nights in the woods with the kids riding their quads. They had a great time and a couple times we had to go back to the lake so they could clean the mud off before going to bed. There were lots of raccoons and the teenage boys had fun hunting them with cameras, they would set out food and when the coons came in to get it they would take pictures. One night they "shot" about 13 of them and the pictures are actually quite good.
We don't see much of Frank once we get home from work now that he drives. Since he's responsible for his brother all day we let him go hang with his friends in the evenings. He is a good kid and so far hasn't given us any reason not to trust him. Gotta love cell phones! He probably gets tired of us checking on him all the time. He just got his letter from the National Honor Society about joining so now we have to collect the letters and he has to do 20 hours of community service which he has until October 10th to complete. Baseball ended last week and for the first time he'll be playing in a fall league which starts this weekend.
Steven just finished a week of Vacation Bible School which he really enjoys. He's not into sports but likes playing outside with his friends and swimming in our pool. We set up a target for him so he can shoot his bow which he loves to do. This child can get into more things than anyone I know and I sometimes wonder where he gets his ideas. He tinkers with the trailer for the quad and is obsessed with the pop-up camper and since it's older I don't have a problem with him "fixing" things.
We're getting ready for our second week of vacation and are headed to the northern west coast of MI and for the first time I will be seeing Lake Michigan and the Sand Dunes. Our neighbors moved north a couple years ago and we are going to see their house and camp in their yard, they have ten acres. This is my friend that was in the accident and lost her two children so it will be a little emotional but should be a good time and an adventure.
And to top it all off a couple weeks ago I took my DH to the hospital for chest pain which we thought he was having a panic attack/anxiety and it turned out to be his heart. He was in AFib with a heart rate of 198 when we got there and three days later I brought him home with a stent, he had a 90% blockage in the front descending artery. He's fine but we need to make major lifestyle changes which include diet and exercise.
Well that's it for me!! I'm in a talkative mood this morning and sitting here at work with no one to talk to, the phone hasn't rang but once since 8:00 a.m. so thanks for reading.
Enjoy the rest of summer We will
Bemerry, you've never seen Lake Michigan? Wow! I've almost always lived fairly close to Lake Michigan, except for when I lived in central WI! I would love to see the Sand Dune park!
Looks like going through the upper peninsula and across the Mackinac bridge, would be the best way for us to get there! One of my co-workers went there last summer.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Yep Dawn, that's where we're going Sleepy Bear Dunes. Can you believe I've lived in MI for 49 years and never been to the west side of the state. I'll take some pictures for you. We're going to rent a dune buggy for the kids but I doubt that I'll get in it. I enjoy looking at all your pictures and assume that's what it'll look like on our side of the Lake.
Bemerry, just wanted to say I'm glad your husband is going to be okay! That must have been scary for all of you.
And, based on your post, I think you are very good at expressing yourself through writing! I enjoyed reading about your family.:-)
Have a great vacation.
Dawn, there are ferries that go across Lake Michigan. I think they go from Milwaukee to either Ludington or Muskegon. That'd probably be faster than driving through the UP! The Dunes are awesome! We went there lots when I was a kid. LOTS of fun! You're going to love them, Bemerry!
We'll have to look into crossing the lake! Not anymore this year, though. We have a college education to pay for.
I haven't been able to post as much as I used to, ever since I went to work full time. I work 4 ten hour days, and I am pooped when I get home. Sometimes, I literally come home, put my jammies on and crash for the night.
I do check in and read the posts, even if I don't have time to answer many of them.
This has been a busy year. Youngest DS Mike made Eagle Scout in April, then graduated from high school in June. He is due to take his road test September 14th. He has a little used Honda Civic that he bought, but it is registered and insured to me until he gets his license. He hopes to start plumbing apprenticeship in the Fall. He received a scholarship for a young person going into one of the building trades.
DS Shawn finished his semester at the community college in May. He was taking prerequisites. Not sure what he wants to major in. He does not yet drive, and has no interest in driving, even though he is a year older than Mike (19). I was taking him back and forth to school three times a week for three semesters, but I wasn't working then. His education is going to have to be on hold now until he can drive. He and Mike both work in the local chain supermarket. Shawn has been on sick leave since June 28th with Lyme Disease. It has hit his knees and legs, and he has been on antibiotics since the end of June. He just started physical therapy today to try to strengthen his legs for when he goes back to work August 14th.
My DD Debbie is still working hard as an ER nurse and raising little DGD Megan, age two and a half. Megan worries me because she still doesn't talk as much as I remember my bio kids talking at that age. It is a difficult subject to broach with her, so I just keep my mouth shut.
DH is still working at the post office. He hasn't done any fishing this summer like he usually does, however, he has really gotten into reading, big time, this summer. He LOVES World War II history, and prefers large print books, so I buy used ones in good condition on Amazon, for very little money.
Besides working, I hang out with my guys, and stay active in church. We have no choir for the summer, which I am glad of. The church is very hot, and those robes get REALLY hot. Also, so many people are on vacation.
The medical office I work in closes for vacation from August 17th to September 4th. I am SO looking forward to it, though I love my job. We aren't going anywhere this year, except for day trips. We just put a new roof on the house this year. Also, all three of our dogs are elderly and wouldn't do well in the kennel.
Time seems to fly very quickly. However, I try to be mindful of everyday, and of my many blessings.
I'm glad everyone is having a fantastic summer. I won't comment on mine because it is just depressing. Instead, I'll update you on the kids.
Matthew is doing great. He is 7 now and is an active boy. He spends all of his time outside on his bike or the trampoline. Unfortunately, there aren't many kids around so he gets lonely sometimes.
Brittany is 11 and is growing like a weed. She is almost as tall as me and I'm not short. She loves the computer and is starting to look at TV stars (the young boys on Disney channel shows)...Oh no, I don't think I am ready for that.
Today is my 13th anniversary although I am not really feeling the love. It's been a stressful and hard summer.
{{HUGS}} Paulas...I'm sure things will start looking up soon. Hang in there!!!
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