Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! Wow, October has flown by. Bits and Pieces of our life...maybe I should make that my blog title. Nah, cuz I still ramble all the time.

A cool, damp morning in Tennessee. Watching Legend of Sleepy Hollow with the kids. Both of them have snuffy noses and won't go get kleenex to blow them. Drives me insane. Not so much for me to remove them from my lap and go get it myself though.

Jack isn't so much interested in the movie as he is about asking when it will be over so he can watch his power ranger mobies. He is back on the PR kick lately. I tried to stop the fascination, but he's a boy and he likes them and it allows me a break to get some stuff done. A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.

Jack is being tested soon for possible speech therapy. He has trouble with R's and a few other letters. We've referred to his talking as "Jackanese". The pediatrician had told me not to worry about it, but I can tell he gets frustrated when I can't understand him. The speech therapist told me on the phone that early intervention is key to their success later. UM,,,,can someone not communicate this to the physicians in the area???? Hopefully, we can get him into a program before Thanksgiving.

this movie is not holding the children's attention enough for me to continue this post. Have to get the table covered so we can begin to carve our gigormous pumpkin.

And the perfect way to start our Halloween....PUMPKIN Muffies from Panera! I love my friends!

Fall Pictures

Putting up Halloween/Harvest decorations meant finding the bin with all of last year's clearance holiday gear. Kids went nuts with all their goodies. I think I paid like $1.25 for this hoodie. Love me some clearance sales.

Page has complained nearly EVERY single day that she did not have any clothing that lit up or blinked. She's been begging for these to get washed so she can wear them.

Dressed in their new Halloween shirts on the way to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs with Daddy. the kids loved it. Glad they had fun and super thrilled to have gotten this awesome picture...

did I mention I got a new camera? Yep. A canon elph. It's teal and I pirated it from a wonderful friend who knew I needed one and so I got a screaming deal. It seems to have a quicker snap time. I'm so photographically technical aren't I? Sigh.

Ok, I'm sleepy...thanks for still coming around.

time for my monthly duty. No, not that monthly duty. Time to update my blog. It's becoming more and more of a chore lately. Seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day anymore.
Most people know that I have become a fan of facebook and have been updating there and neglecting my blog. Blah blah blah...on with the news.

I am still totally loving my job. I work about 20 hours a week. It seems like more than that. I don't mean that in a negative way towards the work itself, just more to the fact that the hours seem to cut into my post productive time, so by the time I get the kids home and do dinner, homework and clean up..it's time for baths, stories and bed. I do not know how single women who work full time manage to do anything beyond the basics. I am blessed to have Fridays off and incredible friends who pick up the slack. (thanks Kimmy for doing spelling tests with Page each week)

Page is doing awesome in 2nd grade. Her lowest grade was a 94 and that was in math.. Had one test that didn't go well, but she rebounded after that first pitfall. She is developing my love of reading and is currently reading the Wizard of Oz. She reads to jack and I each night at bedtime. She is still playing softball and threatens each week that she will quit. I tell her if she quits, I sell her computer, her DS and her MP3 player. I'm only slightly kidding. She has a natural ability to play ball and once she is on the field, she loves it. The DQ Cardinals are having a great year. 2 games left in the season. Looking for an undefeated season, but with that said, we are still going to end up as the #1 team in the league. Love watching my girl play ball.

and then there is Jack. sigh. That poor sweet boy. He still loves his ta-tahs. Declared the other day that it was "ta-tah day". Alrighty then. I try not to put much stock into this because I do not want to speak into action what his future may contain! His speech is getting much better, but I think he is so use to me making him repeat stuff that he goes in to automatic repeat when he is saying something. Drives me insane. "mom, I watch power rangers. I watch power rangers. mom, power rangers, I watch power rangers mom"....holy bisquits. But he really is the sweetest, most lovable kid. Just a little on the vocally challenged side.

Should be sleeping. Or planning my trip to Michigan. Can't wait to see my old friends in Michigan. Oh, and my family! Of course I can't wait to see them too. I won't be able to go to Canada this trip cuz I didn't spend the money (or effort) to get passports. gonna suck not going to Auntie Sheryl's house, but I'm sure we can still enjoy our visit. page will be the flower girl in my neice Amber's wedding. Page is thrilled and can't wait to wear her fancy dress again. Guess I need to think about getting it cleaned and ready. Ugh. then I have to pack. I hate packing. And I have to leave nice weather and pack for Michigan. I'm not ready for bulky clothing. But my poor body image rant will be saved for another post.

Now it is time to watch some comedy on DVR and post some pics.

ciao

Changes

Hey everyone. I am going to be making some changes to my blog. I will continue to post and live my life online as if you were all right here, but I am putting limits on who can read and who can post. It's not very complicated. Shoot me an email with your address if you would like to be added to the list of people who can post. If you do not have my email, you can contact me via another method or thru the blog that sent you to me.

I apologize for having to put restrictions on such an entertaining portion of so many lives, but sometimes one annoying dorkwad can ruin it for everyone.

so...let me know and to the annoying dorkwad who felt it necessary to spend their time being a negative source of energy...get a freaking life and perhaps a good support system. I'm so over trying to ignore why someone would be such a coward by posting as an annoymous user.

And to everyone else...peace, love, recycle!

My Birthday Month

So, if you've known me for any length of time, you probably, already know that I like to celebrate birthdays. More importantly, MY BIRTHDAY. Well, that tradition started when I was 22 and had my magical birthday. I think this year may have ended my love for my birthday. Not because I turned 38...omg, am I really 2 years shy of 40? wow. but more so because I realize that I allow my happiness to be put into the hands of others for the entire month. My sole purpose in each day is to see how the people in my life have chosen to spoil me. OK, wait a second...what was I saying about ending my love for my birthday. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????????????????

I'm still getting presents and I am loving it! My awesome, terrific, got your back even if you are a dumbass-friends all came over and celebrated my birthday with me at my house on the 22nd. It was suppose to be a poolside margarita bash, but it turned into a standing around my kitchen drinking Blackberry Long Islands and laughing till we nearly puke party. We did manage to spend some time outside later in the evening, but the party was cut short by the arrival of Julie's mom coming to pick her up. I can not even begin to tell this story without laughing. I'll probably have to post it at another time. Trying to get use to blogging again.

The kids have finished dinner and are now happily vegged out in front of the tv. It's been a busy week. Page had softball games Monday and Tuesday. Cardinal's won both games AND she got the game ball at the last game. Her team won 19-10. She is playing with several of the girls from the previous years and so it makes for a fun time for me on the bleachers. The parents are mostly use to my unique way of cheering. Apparently, I have a reputation for being the loudest in the ball park. Not on the team, but the entire park. Nice. Can't help it. I have a "whoo hoo hoo" thing that I do that carries well. Sometimes I wish we played in the hendersonville league so I could get rowdy with Tonya and her crew!

Page is playing coach pitch softball in the 7-8 Pee Wee league. Three strikes, no T. Just like last fall. She is so much fun to watch playing. She is so intune with the game. Most times. :) She does get distracted in the outfield. In Tball, no one ever hit to the outfield, so she never played there. Now, in this league, girls are bigger and the players get moved around a bit more. She had to back up a play and realized that EVERY position was an important one. She's been hitting like a champ. The night she got the game ball she got on base all 4 times at bat and threw someone out from 2nd to first. (she was playing 2nd base) She has been kinda whiney about playing before each game, but once she gets there, she puts her game face on and tears it up! I love it. Her dad and her coaches have said she is a natural athlete. All I know is that I love watching her play and if she wants to continue to have toys and a pretty room, she will continue to play ball!

jack and I at the Virginia State Fair, Aug 2009.
and just a sweet shot of my sweet boy. I think he looks a lot like my brother Dave in this picture. Anyone agree?

Jack is registered for 2 Mother's Day Out programs. One is where he went last year and the other is the one where Page went before she started school. Why 2 you ask? Well, it's because I got a job!!!! yep, a real job. complete with business cards and I love it! I work for Jenni Bowlin Studios and according to my cards, I am the Administrative Supervisor! All I know is that I work with amazing people and I look forward to going there everyday. Of course, I also look forward to going to pick up my kiddos, but if I have to go back to work, that is the way to go.

Back to Jack: He loves school. Well, he likes to go. I'm not sure he has gained much so far, but I'm working with him. His speech is still a little like Jackanese, but it's getting better. I think. Maybe my translating is getting better. He can now count to 10 and he knows all the songs and choreography from Vacation Bible School. Working on the alphabet, but he just isn't that interested in learning. So unlike his brainiac freakshow older sister at that age. But I am not comparing them. Cuz everyone knows girls are just naturally smarter than boys! Jack is my sweet one. He is such a charmer. Page. more of a diva attitude. My great friend, Geana, calls Page "the Pitbull" cuz once Page latches on to an idea (like getting an MP3 or taking dance lessons) she will.not.let.it.go. Holy! She can wear me out!

It's still light enough and I need to go brush the pool. Never did fill the pool boy position this year. Had a few decent applications, but nothing panned out. Maybe next year!

Coming soon....

Page and Jack on the way out for Page's first day of school. Pictures taken and in the truck by 7:08. Yep, I took a picture of the clock in the truck.

Close up of her smilin' eyes and big girl teeth. sigh.

Standing in front of the Mary statue at school.

Jack and Mitchell reunite after almost 2 weeks of not seeing each other. So nice to have a good buddy!

Ya know how sometimes you didn't realize how much you missed something until it was gone? Well, my Facebook addiction made me realize how much I missed my blog! I have decided to start posting again. (and the crowds go wild, I know, all what, is there even one person who still checks this besides crazy hockey, stalker guy????)

BUT...for now, I am getting my 2nd grader off to school....be back shortly! I've missed my typo-therapy! Ok, that's funny.

Birthday blabberings

Happy Belated Birthday!

so, here's the deal. Today is June 12th. I know, it's in the corner of my computer screen. Wednesday was the 10th. When I woke up at 6ish on the 10th I remembered that it was my brother Tim's birthday in California. Then I remembered that the last time I called him just to chat I had left a message at like 5am his time! so, I figured I would just call him later...

Well, I had 6 kids at my house playing that day and then we went to a softball game (Sweet little Samantha who's sister plays on Page's team asked me to go to her game and watch her play. I think it is because people think I'm a loud cheerer or something...:) anyhow, we went to the crushing game (Pirates lost...broke my heart. I wanted to hug every single girl on that team and tell them how great they were. Then I wanted to kick the butt of the other coach who wasn't as supportive as the Pirates coach (page's old coach)...ok, focus...then we had batting practice with some of the Cardinals. Janet and I really need to find a league to play on. We would have so much fun. FO-CUS....

by the time we got home and got the kids to bed...I had completely forgotten to call and wish Tim a Happy Birthday!

Then Thursday, well, I hate doing something where it involves me having to admit that I forgot to do something important like telling my oldest brother Happy Birthday and that I love him and that I cherish the goofy memories we shared before he moved away from Michigan. LIKE:
*When Tim was a snowman in a school play and his line was "do you know what I did last summer" (sic) and little Poinsie (I had the most horrible glasses and my brother called me Poinsie McGreggor from the Felix the Cat show cuz of the glasses and cuz I was a super genius child...yeah, mostly cuz of the genious part. OK. so Tim asks about what he did that summer and I reply...."NO! What?" from the lap of my mom in the audience. Apparently that was the highlight of the play. And so began the fondness that Tim and I share for the theatre.
*which brings me to Mame. To Mrs. Mame Dennis Burnside, Raffles Hotel Singapore. I think I was in elementary school when Tim starred in the Theatre Guild production of Mame, but it didn't stop me from learning all the lines and most of the choreography. Thanks Tim for letting me be a part of such a fabulous life on stage.
*Then there's George and Martha. I'm not sure how those 2 characters came into existance, (not the HBO series with Nathan Lane, btw, but I love nathan lane)
*then there's the Chris story where she devours an apple...
and tons of other happy memories...and a few annoying ones, but that's what being family is all about.
Love you Tim and I know from reading your updates that you celebrate your birthday all year long, so I'm hoping this just made today that much more special!
(and to my sisters...yeah, I pretty much got bumped up in the favorite sister slot...lol)