Favorite Foto Friday

I love this pic of the kids. I wish Brittney was looking at the camera but it is still cute. I love how Braden is holding her hand. Brittney was 4 and in PreK it was the school talent show. I ahve said it before and I will say it a lot more...time flies.

Dog the Bounty Hunter

I consider the Dog The Bounty Hunter show one of my guilty pleasures. I don't watch it all the time but I have to admit I find it enjoyable. I know Dog seems so full of himself and he prays in one breath and cusses in the next but still I think he has good values and does good for community. The more I learn about his recent arrest the more mad I get. How many US residents run to Mexico to be free from US law. Yet the US is going to send Dog, his brother, and son back to Mexico. I realize he "legally" broke the law when he apprehended Andrew Luster...but I for one could care less, he did it thank goodness. Andrew Luster was an awful person who was found guilty. Some sites regarding Dog. Dog is currently out on bond, and is fighting extradition to Mexico.

There is a website where you can get more info, sign a petition, etc.
FREE DOG

Works For Me Wednesday - Coffee Filters

Coffee Filters can be bought pretty cheap and can be used for a lot of different things....I am sure they are more but here are some that work for me!

Serving snacks (popcorn, chips, etc) the filters are disposable and less expensive than paper bowls or plates.

Prevent soil from draining out of flowerpots. When repotting, place a filter at the bottom, over the drainage hole, then add the soil.

(one of my favs) Protect hands from Popsicle drippage. Slide the wooden stick of an ice pop through a coffee filter so your hands stay mess-free.

Clean windows and glass. Coffee filters leave no lint or other residue.

I guess he told me

Tucking Brae into bed tonight.

Me: I am so proud of you. You are learning to read and doing your homeschool so good. I am so proud of you and you are just getting better and better. I am so so proud.
Brae: I am proud of you too Mom you are getting better at the teaching pretty soon you will be good.

Good for now

$2.01 a gallon here...YEAH...so much better than pushing the $3.00 that it was in the summer. They stated it should be about $1.95 this weekend, but will probably go up after November 7 (election).

Is it sad?

I was checking my calendar for the week and I was like what is that on Thursday. I had marked that it was the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy....is that sad? I am so addicted to that show, of course they will make me mad I am sure and I will gripe about it for days.

I am not a big TV watcher I have maybe 5 shows that I watch regularly. I added Dancing With The Stars this season, I talked bad about it in the seasons past thinking why would I watch that. Now I am totally addicted. I watch The Soup on E Channel on Friday nights, Grey's, Dancing, and now I cant think of any others. Hmmmm so 3 must sees. I might watch Desperate Housewives. For news I like Fox and Friends in the morning, and O'Reily in the evenings.

So am I missing any great shows? Let me know and I may try to check them out.

Now I have my week all planned out and I have three evenings booked (Dancing and Grey's).

It will be a busy week so I can think about those shows as my reward!

She is so old

Overheard conversation while kids were playing a video game.

Britt: "Don't worry Brae it's not over till the fat lady sings"
Brae: "What does that mean?"
Britt: "Don't worry about it Brae it is just an old saying I remember from when I was young"

Yard Sale Bargains

I didn't really want to go to yard sales this morning with my mom. It was city wide yardsales. So even with my pounding headache that is still not gone away I was up at out at 6:30.

I did get a closet shelf organizer still in the package unopened for $3.00
For my nephews 2 footed pajamas, 4 pairs of Gap jeans, 2 long sleeve Tshirts $3.00
Brittney 2 pairs of jeans and one was Limited Too which earned me lots of brownie points, 2 shirts $4.00
Brittney 2 pairs of skechers shoes (this was the best deal of the day) that look brand new I paid $2.00 for both pair.
Braden a power Ranger movie that he didnt have $1.00
Me a Christmas TeaPot .75
Amelia Bedelia book and tape $1.00
Science Experiment book .10

So I got a few things and I didn't spend much but I much more enjoyed coming home while my dad still had the kids and taking a nap!

Anticipation with a headache

Hubby and I are having a date night.

My mom is suppose to be here within about 30 minutes to pick the kids up for the night.

Hubby and I have been looking forward to this all week.

So of course since we were looking forward to it I ended up waking up with a terrible headache. I have taken things all day, it is not as bad at least I can walk without feeling like my head is going to explode with each step. But still a headache.

Yuck.

Still looking forward to our date but wish it wasnt with a headache. I just popped two more Excedrin Migraines and rubbed stuff on my head for a migraine and put Bio Freeze on my neck...so hoping for less of a headache soon.

He needed a quarter.

The kids and I went to JCPenny's yesterday. Shopped around a little bit and I said lets have a potty break before we head on.

I take Braden in the women's restroom with me. I was in a stall, Brittney on one side, Braden on the other. He got done first and went to wash his hands.

This conversation starts:
Braden: "Mom, I need a quarter".
Me: What?
Braden: "I need a quarter".
Me: Why?
Braden: "Because it says Napkins Always twenty five cents and I need to dry my hands".
Laughter from other women

I got out of the stall and right beside the sink was the womens personal supplies machine with "Always" on the top then "Napkins" "25 cents".

I showed him the papertowels on the opposite wall.

I didn't make a big deal out of it. The two other women however were "oh how cute"..."how funny".

So I was just thankful that I had something to blog about...LOL

Works for Me Wednesday (Homeade Magic Erasers)

A friend of mine posted to a group this recipe. I tried it and it worked really well.

I love the Magic Erasers for cleaning.

Try this homemade version...

Take a bowl and pour in some arm and hammer baking soda then pour a little white vinegar over it -- it will foam up and just make a paste with it = use it on the spots just like magic eraser using a wash cloth. As your paste gets too dry - add a bit more vinegar. WORKS as well as the Magic Erasers that you buy!

I haven't tried this one yet but my friend says it works GREAT....Grease spills in the garage -- sprinkle with lots of baking soda then pour on some vinegar and watch it bubble around then use a brush to lightly scrub it right off!!

Works for Me!

8 Things about me

I couldnt come up with anything to write so I stole this from BarnGoddess

8 things/habits/facts about me.

1. I grew up a military brat, living in Germany then Fort Riley Kansas, and other places until my dad retired to Oklahoma right before I turned 15.
2. I have a VERY good memory, I can recall conversations word for word, books I have read years before, people's names that I have seen just a few times and then see again years later. (This habit is not my hubby's favorite as I tend to use it against him..LOL)
3. I read VERY fast I read a book in about an hour and half depending on the thickness.
4. I keep a journal where I write letters to my kids.
5. I am very picky about how things are done, I like order and I like things organized (Hubby is probably dying to comment on this one...LOL)
6. I pay money to get rid of my curly hair every few months. Some people pay for perms not me....I hate my curly hair...I love it when I get it straightened.
7. I start Christmas shopping in March for the following year.
8. I tend to agree to things so I dont hurt someones feelings. (Which is why I usually end up way over extending myself).

Winding down

One of those days that seemed to go at warp speed with too much to do and not enough time to do it.

Hubby bless his heart is just about to scream over this school board mess. Our school system is such a mess right now. Tonights school board meeting is suppose to be a big one and I know several news crews were suppose to be there. I am just waiting to hear how it goes.

The kids are doing well on their homeschool. I sent in the first of their grades to abeka today for their progress reports. I really like the way it is shaping up. I am enjoying it immensly. Still more I want to do but that is an ongoing thing with me. I can see results and that is making me feel great that it was the right decision for our family.

The kids are laying down watching a movie in their rooms before going to sleep. I have Fox News in the background and waiting for news from the school board room. Basically just enjoying some quiet time. Not that I dont have my never ending to do list that I could be working on but this down time is too nice to pass up.

Remembering 911

September 11, 2001 will always be one of those days people remember where they were.

Myself I was doing a freelance legal job in a town about an hour away. I took the kids to a babysitter for the day and headed to work. It was my last day on this job and so I had certain things I had to do, I remember going over the list in my head. I didn't want to listen to the radio so I was listening to a romance book on cd.

I walked into the office and everyone from the law office was in another office for a finance company. Leslie told me that they were having prayer. I didn't know what was going on. At that time the first plane had hit. We had prayer, thinking it was a terrible accident. The day just got worse. I remember calling hubby and my mom had already called him. I also remember being so thankful that he had flown in from corporate office 2 weeks prior and was not away from us right now.

All day long rumors were around town, people were gathering food, gas, no one really knew what was going to happen. Everyone knew that life was forever changed.

I somehow finished what work I needed to do and headed home. The radio on the entire drive the book on cd that I had listened to on the way there was since forgotten. I came home and glued myself to the television while hubby went and got the kids.

Brittney was not quite 4 and she didn't understand but I remember telling her some bad people hurt a lot of people. She prayed with me on the couch.

Hubby and I kept all the Time magazines and newspaper clippings and put them in a tote in the attic so that in another 5 or 10 years when the kids are doing school reports they would have them.

I have read the book "Let's Roll" by Todd Beamers widow and it will bring tears to your eyes and peace to your heart.

Tommorow during homeschool the kids and I will read a story I found appropriate for their ages regarding 9/11 and talk about this world changing date and most of all we will pray for all those touched by the disaster.

Weekend Fun

Friday afternoon the kids and I headed to Tulsa to visit my aunt. The hospital she works for rented out an amusement park for their company picnic on Saturday. She also lives right on the river so the morning started with a short walk around the river bank. Then to Target before going to Bealls for the picnic.

We had a blast free drinks and food (including lots of cotton candy!).
Braden is my thrill rider (we knew this from Disney). He loves rides. Him and I rode the roller coaster, Brittney is not such a thrill rider her and my aunt opted out of the roller coaster. We got home a little while ago shortly followed by hubby getting home from work and now we are just being bums.

Favorite Foto Friday

This is from two summers ago when Brae played Tball. I love that look on his face (his mean look).

Love Thursday

Brittney giving her brother a welcome home from the hospital kiss a little over 7 years ago.

I'm so mean

Braden is receiving hard punishment tonight. It is awful he cried when he found out. He threw a fit and he knew there would be punishment. He keeps saying mom I promise not to do it again, I wont throw a fit, I love you mom, please don't make me, please, please.

What is it that instills such fear in my son............
...............
...............
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Instead of getting to pick his own movie before bed he has to watch.....
...............
Little House on the Prairie.

He hates it, and he thinks it is the worse punishment, the thing is one night of this will probably give me six to eight weeks with no fits.

Brittney's worse punishment is I let her brother be in charge of her room for one day.

I had to get creative with these two!

3am wake up

I have been so stressed lately. Just on edge. Not sleeping. This morning I woke hubby up at 3am. I just needed to pour it out and talk. He didn't mind at all. Actually he was more aggrivated about the fact that I told him I had often wanted to wake him and up and talk but felt too guilty to wake him up.

None of the issues are really resolved but after my 3am spill session I feel better. Not quite so crazy. Of course hubby may be the crazy one because he puts up with me!

Not going to do that again

On our way back from Tulsa I wasn't feeling too well. I had taken some excedrin but I was feeling like maybe I had a fever I didn't have any tylenol, but I thought I had some Jr. Tylenol for the kids in my little carry case. I popped them in my mouth and the moment I popped them in I thought wait when I was getting them out of the counter I couldnt find the Jr. Tylenol so I grabbed Motrin just in case the kids needed some.

I am VERY allergic to Ibuprofen. I immediately spit them out. Hubby is looking at me odd and I was like I dont think those are Tylenol. I looked in the case and sure enough it said MO 60...oops. I told hubby no big deal they just barely touched my tounge.

3 minutes later my tounge was filling up my mouth it was swelling, and I could barely talk. Luckily my throat wasnt closing up. We were miles and miles away from a hospital. I immediately started popping Benedryl. Luckily the Benedryl was enough to sit off the reaction. It was nuts for about 20 minutes. Hubby said I scared him. I scared myself.

Last time I had Ibuprofen I spent 3 days in the hospital. Luckily I thought about it before I actually swallowed them. I told hubby no more carrying Motrin even for the kiddos.

Other than that we had a good time in Tulsa. Just that little snag on the way home. I am feeling much better now once the Benedryl made the swelling go down and the hazziness went away from the Benedryl.

If hubby ever wants to off me I guess he can just slip me some Motrin or Advil....I better not five him any ideas...LOL...of course his policy on my isn't as good as mine on him so that should keep me safe...HAHAHAHAHA.

From now on it's hubbys job

Hubby was working today so the kids and I went out for breakfast and next stop was WalMart.

I knew the car needed an oil change, we are going to Tulsa tommorow and again next Saturday. I thought I would do it so hubby wouldnt have to worry about getting it done this week. I figured WalMart would be easier than a quick lube place because the kids and I could shop. I pulled in I was the 4th car....not too bad.

2 hours later......

I finally got my car back. No more oil changes for me, from now on hubby's job.

Of course the kids were so good for so long I rewarded them so that upped the bill, plus spending two hours in WalMart I found so many things we "needed"....so in honesty it will be cheaper on hubby to just take it next time.

Favorite Foto Friday

The kids and hubby when we visited Grand Canyon. We were on our way home from the doctor in Arizona we had been in Pheonix and had to buy Tshirts, then in the Grand Canyon their was snow and we were FREEZING.

Cutie pie?

Braden came in my room last night to tell me good night.

He gave me a hug and said "Mom you are a cutie pie"

Me: I am?

Braden: Yes, even though I don't know what a cutie pie is, you call me that and I look like you so you must be a cutie pie too.

It was cute. He is such a sweetie.

Love Thursday

OwlHaven had this up today and I thought I would add my picture for Love Thursday. This is one of the many that I had hubby scan for me from when I was going through pics. This is Brittney when she was my little baby. Time flies

Works for me Wedensday

I am pretty one tracked on my taste in music. However I want to introduce my kids to all kinds including classical music. Trouble was I couldn't see myself listening to classical music much less the kids. A fellow mom told me about some great cd's.
They are called Classical Kids. There are many different ones. We have listened to two so far. You can find them on homeschooling sites such as sonlight, ebay, or amazon. They are more than music they are a story to listen too and just happen to have classical music in them along with a story about the composer. The stories are interesting and my kids didn't want me to stop the car until they found out what would happen, and they were introduced to classical music. Works for me!

I dont like to share

A friend borrowed my computer to do a paper for college. She was here at the house most of the day working on it. So I was without a computer. I did get some pictures looked through and have hubby scanning them. I will be doing some flashback favorite foto Fridays for a while. Some I wanted to get scanned in for scrapbook pages, etc. So did get that done.

All I know is I don't like to share my computer. Good thing hubby got my friends laptop running for her.

Gettin ready for the week

Weekend flew by. Hubby had to work this weekend so the kids and I were on our own. We had a good weekend. Got errands ran yesterday and went to a birthday party.

Today Sunday School and then home. The kids played games while I prepared lesson plans it is still taking me quite sometime to get my lesson plans done for the week, but I am still learning what I like and don't so I change them up a little each week. Add that to the fact that I am a perfectionist and it makes it a long process.

Menu is done for the week, calendar is plotted, to do lists are ready.....so I guess Monday here we come...ready or not.

Good news is family drama seems to be on the downslide or it at least seems that way to me (could be that I have become better at ignoring my cell phone)!

Favorite Foto Friday

Loooong Week

It is probably just me but this week has dragged by. Of course my wonderful schedule got flipped around but it was due to something uncontrollable with my friends brother in law dying. So trying to help them out. I doubled up on homeschool one day to allow one day for me to babysit my friends kids.

It has just been a drawn out week it seems, I was beginning to think Friday would never arrive.

This weekend will be busy, of course if I had one that wasn't I might not know what to do with myself.

Okay so all this post is about is how this week has dragged by and even with it dragging I still didn't fit in all the things I needed to get done and will still be busy this weekend. I know the weekend wont drag it will fly by just like it always seems to.

Works for Me Wednesday

Entertaining my kids (7 and 8) while waiting at a resteraunt is easy and a teaching experience. I carry lots of change. On purpose. We take our seat and my son can't wait to be able to count money. Both of them love it. We make up math games, change the amounts of the coins. Coins is something you almost always have, kids love to play with money, and they are learning without knowing it. A very simple thing if you remember it and use it once, the kids will ask to do it the next time.

Works for me!

Is it bad?

It is bad that with homeschooling the 3rd grade I am having to double check myself with the teacher's manual?....oh boy...I am going to learn a lot as the years go by.

Here is a sample of some of Britt's thrid grade spelling words through abeka. She has 28 words a week and 3 vocabulary.
refrigerator
manufacture
respect
apologize
calculator
discussion
mosquitoes
thunderstorm
lemonade

I am really enjoying the homeschool, both kids are too, I can really see how much they are learning and retaining. It is harder than what Britt is used to. Braden not so much yet since I retained him, but I know it will get harder. I keep seeing little things that show this was the right path for us.

I figure if they can do good using this abeka curriculium they should be doing good. Now I better spell check this post because I am not as advanced yet...LOL

Side effect

I have realized one bad side effect of me homeschooling the kids....

baking...

both kids love to do it.....

I love to do it....

we make it part of our time together....

the problem is I am going to gain 100 pounds...

But these are hot out of the oven and who can resist.

Weekend Wrap Up

Friday evening was a nice relaxing evening in we played Trouble with the kids. We also watched Hoot which is a cute movie. We all enjoyed it.

Saturday Hubby had the kids all day while I attended a Homeschool Moms Retreat day. I really got a lot out of the retreat and enjoyed it. I came home and ordered several things off the internet that I had heard about. Hubby and the kids had a good time he took them to the library, out to lunch, to the movie to see Barnyard which they all liked. Saturday evening we met at Logan's for dinner and to celebrate my friends 35th birthday.

This morning we went to church and this afternoon I got so much paralegal work done. I had been putting things off and off and further off but I finally sit down and did quite a bit today. Not caught up yet but I got quite a bit done and so that makes me feel better. Did lesson plans for the week got papers ready. Hubby cleaned out the freezer which was nice. We have two freezers he got one of them done, even cooked off some chicken for me. We had bought one of those foodsavers and he used it to repackage things.

So at least we got some stuff accomplished this weekend. Now to get the rest of my chore charts and menus done for the week.

I think only I could do this

I joke that if it is something klutzy or a small percentage it will happen then it will happen to me.

This morning at WalMart picked up a six pack of Sunny D, I guess I grabed it wrong because I dropped it. It hit my right wrist as I was trying to grab it. All of a sudden it hurt, I mean really hurt, by the time I got home it was swollen and about a 3 inch length bruise. Hubby wanted me to go get it xrayed (I have a history of breaking bones in the weirdest ways). I instead put ice on it and took some pain reliever. The swelling is down, I have a nice pretty bruise, but I don't think it is broken.

Ugh, so I have spent the day trying to do things with one arm, because it still hurts like heck.

Of course I am at this moment using one of the recalled Dell laptops on battery power maybe it wont burst into flames as I sit here of course with my luck I better turn it off now.

It Works For Me

We have set items for breakfast and lunch. No arguing through the week. The kids helped pick the menu so they know on Monday morning when they wake up it is cereal, Tuesday it is frozen waffles, Wednesday is scrambled eggs, Thursday is pancakes or toaster strudle, Friday is cereal. We don't do this for the weekends but it is so nice during the week. Same with lunch Monday's spagethi o's, Tuesday corn dogs, Wednesday sandwhiches, Thursday soup, Friday make our own english muffin pizzas.

It takes away the arguing and meal planning for those two meals which makes it much easier on me...It Works For Me!

Falling into a pattern

I think we are starting to get the hang of the homeschool. Of course still tons to learn and I am still not as organized as I want to be, but all in all it is falling together.

I am so thankful that we decided to do this. Things in our small school system are getting worse there are now several lawsuits against the school. People are lashing out at the wrong people. It is a mess and I am so thankful my kids are not there and that I do not have to deal with those teachers daily.

Today we are heading out for a homeschool group skate. Should be fun.

I have tons of paralegal work to catch up on and that is on my agenda for tonight...that is not fun but I must must make myself do it and get caught up. I know I will feel better when I am caught back up but making myself do it is not easy.

17 hours

That is how many hours I stayed in bed with a migraine. Yuck. It has been so long since I have had that bad of migraine.

I had a headahce yesterday morning, but I was still functioning. I even talked to a friend whose husband was suffering from a migraine, but I was still functioning. About 3:00 and I was no longer functioning and boom it hit. I had taken some Excedrin Tension Headache but no luck. I was out of my Zomig. I ended up taking two phenergans, 3 Melotonin (to help me sleep it off), 2 Alieve. Finally the nausea got kicked about 7 pm. I went back to sleep and when I woke up at 2 am the headache was gone. Now I am just dragging and feeling drained.

Of course this is on a day that I have lots to get done. Of course I have lots to do everyday.

Oops I forgot

Brae walked into the office this morning all excited he had gotten dressed without being prompted (or threatening of getting beat like I normally have to do to him.

Brae: Look Mom I got dressed

Me: Wow and without me asking thanks (looking a little closer)

Me: Brae did you forget to take your pajamas off first.

Brae: oops I forgot (running away to fix it)

Revamping the system and a free night

It is the end of our first week of homeschool. Kids are not doing school today because I need to revamp. I can already tell somethings that are working and some aspeccts that are not going to work. So I will redo lesson plans, do some supplementing and things like that today.

My parents want the kids tonight. They called saying they hadn't seen their babies all week. So of course I packed the fastest bag in history and had the kids on the curb by the end of the phone call.

So now hubby and I have a free evening. Hubby is on call so we cant go far from his computer. Still will be nice. I think I will get dinner and bring home this evening and if it is not scorching hot (yesterday 107 without heat index) we may eat then enjoy the backyard and the pool.

Exciting news for our house!

Braden started speech therapy before he turned 3 because of his severe apraxia issues. Speech therapy is about 20-25 minutes to get there, 30 minute session, and then 20-25 back home. So it takes a chunk of time.

He started out going 5 days a week,
About 2 years ago went to 4 days a week,
A year ago went to 3 days a week.....

today she said he is doing SO good and if we keep practicing and correcting she feels comfortable with him only coming...

2 days a week...

to some this may not seem like a big deal but going from 5 days a week to 2 is a big deal and just going from 3 to 2 is going to help so much not having to go into town as often is a big thing.

The biggest thing is the boost of confidence this has given Brae. I made him call his nana and papa and share the news. He is so excited he said "I am just getting great at talking"....he has worked so hard to overcome so many things and this speech has been so hard and he is getting there and he has worked on it, we practice he takes instructions...(Can you tell I am excited...LOL)!

Finding more and more available

When we first thought about homeschooling it was almost out of desperation of our current situation. I didn't know much about it, we had thought about it when we lived in Pennsylvania and had we stayed there probably would have learned more and done that. That didn't happen since we moved when Brittney was a year old. I knew a lot of people in Pennsylvania in our church who homeschooled. But here, I just hadnt.

Well the more I looekd into it and researched after we made the decision to do it. I found lots of people.

Today we went to a fun activity. A Homeschool Network group had rented out the entire water park. It was posted on the homeschool group website that we belong too. I assumed there would be a lot from our group. Only two that I knew were there. The others all from other groups and there were lots of them there.

I just never knew how much was available. I was glad I went to the group today they have a renissaince fair, and lots of activities. Plus our group that we joined has lots. Also learned of another group. If I am not careful I will have us too overscheduled and that is not the point of doing things the way we have chose. So I will be careful of what activities I sign us up for, but next week we are going to look at joining Choir, because both my kids love to sing and I would love them to learn properly (not from their tone deaf mother singing to High School Musical soundtrack in the van). Also have a skate lined up for next week. It is nice to know there are so many around here that do homeschool and that there are so many things to do it really lessens the feeling of overwhleming for me. Sorta that not alone so okay I can do this thing.

Not exactly what I pictured but it will work

Okay first my excuses....
I did it in between teaching the kids, while planning to have 15 kids over for a Brownie back to school party this afternoon, between housecleaning, and I really needed another cake mix and didn't have one...so with all my excuses in place...

It's not that it is bad it's just not what I wanted it to be...I was going to do vanilla wafers with kids faces on them but without more cake there was just no way to make it big enough...

okay no more excuses here is the back to school cake............................
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It is a Brownie Back to School Bash...4 of the kids (my 2 included) are homeschooled but I think the school bus means back to school to everyone.

Changes

I am trying to update my profile and my little blurb at the top of the blog and it got me to thinking about all the changes since I started blogging.

I did my first entry in June of 2004. We had returned from vacation with Anne and her family (wow Anne it's been too long we need to do another vacation).

At the time Braden had been through 4 surgeries on his brain and would have to have more. Braden's speech was unintelligible, we were in constant watch for signs of an upcoming convulsion seizure. I was involved in school, PTA president, I was working to grow my homebased paralegal business.

Now Hubby and I have celebrated 11 years of marriage, Braden has been convulsion seizure free for almost a year, no more surgeries are scheduled, his speech has improved SO much. He is very intelligible to anyone around him for any length of time.

Brittney has continued to grow and just surprise me wiht her wit and intelleigence.

I am now a homeschool mom, I have recently cut down my homebased paralegal business so that it would be more managable.

For someone who likes order, organization and loathes major changes, I have to say these changes are good!

Doesnt look to unhappy about it

Brittney was all excited to show hubby and I what she had done to her brother why he was watching TV in her room. By the expression when hubby grabbed the camera and took the pic Braden didn't mind it too much.

Five Things Meme

Following Manababies and Anne, here is my Five Things Meme

Five things in my freezer:
Box of Corn Dogs
Frozen Veggies
Popscicles
Waffles
Ice Packs for booboos (one with sharks, one with cats and one bob the builder)

Five things in my closet:
Clothes-that don't fit
Shoes - and more shoes and more shoes
Books - hubby built me great book shelves in my closet and I use them!
Purses - lots of purses, not as many as shoes but still quite a lot
Iron and spray startch

Five things in my car:
Empty water bottles
Trash from fast food places
Paper from straws (brittney and I try to blow the paper off at each other)
Wet wipes
Phone car charger

Five things in my purse:
Planner calendar
Wallet
Spoon (I picked it up out of the car to bring in and it hasnt made it to the kitchen yet)
Old To do lists
receipts waiting to be deducted from the checkbook

Five things in my wallet:
Credit cards
Lots of change (Because it keeps Braden entertained at resteraunts counting coins)
Coupons for eating places
Pictures
Free bowling passes that are about to expire

Trying to remember to chill

I have a very bad habit, I want things just so, I want things perfect. Most things I have come to realize aren't going to perfect. I can't control everyone else and so I just have things as organized as possible and go on about things.

With this decision to homeschool, I have been in freakout mode for the past week. Bringing on a major headache.

I ordered the abeka dvd curriculium months ago it is great from what I have seen. But I also want to do extra stuff....well the getting the extra stuff organized, plus the new incentives, plus trying to do some budget cutting, get my home based business organzied to do more in less time, and on and on.

Well I have come to an important realization. It is not going to happen all at once in perfect order. So I have decided to go ahead and start with homeschool on Monday using the abeka and an abbreviated schedule. We will do this and get used to this until at least September then I will integrate the extra stuff in.

I am going to have to just chill out and for those that know me even a little bit that is one of the hardest things for me to do...I am such a type A personality. But just picking a starting point has helped and we will do the little things I want in place (menus, semi schedule, and incentives for reading) but the rest will wait....or at least I am saying that now...LOL.

Tidbits of the day

I took the kids to a waterpark about an hour away today to meet up with some friends that we don't get to see very often.

I made a point get a water camera to take, I was so set on taking the camera I even forgot my sunscreen. Which I had to stop and buy. I even commented at least I have my camera. My goal was to take lots of pics and then take the film to WalMart to be put on a cd.

I ended up with the camera in my locker, and never remembered to get it out again. Oops. So taking it did me lots of good.

Tommorow I have lots of local errands and shopping to get done.

I have been on a search I am so addicted to Excedrin Migrain Quick Tabs (they dissolve) apparently they have quit manufacturing them...they are selling them on ebay for up to $40 a box...ugh...I don't think I am that addicted...but oh man I will miss them because they help so much.

I am still feeling a little overwhelmed over homeschool and other upcoming projects but I am hoping to get myself a little more together tommorow and this weekend.

Overwhelmed

When we made the decision to homeschool it was not an easy decision to make. We weighed the pros and cons. In the end we felt it was the best decision for us and the kids.

I have been really excited about it, but now....

I am starting to get overwhelmed.

I had planned to start homeschool mid next week, and honestly I am not ready. We are doing the abeka dvd curriculium and I thought that would be easier set out for me, but still feeling the overwhelming of what I have taken on.

I am still excited, just having to tamper down this overwhelming feeling.

Hubby is taking kids to church tonight so I can have some time. I am looking forward to that, I think once I get started with it then all will fall into place, but untill then I promise to be a stressed out mess.

My son....

We were in JCPennys today exchanging somethings and using a gift card.

I was looking around. Braden says "Mom I really need this shirt".

I look at it and say Braden do you even know what it says? I didn't think he could read it...I was wrong.

He replies "Yes mom it says: I'm NOT lazy I just don't care". He says "It is perfect for me".

Ugh...I am going to get such gray hair from him.

My Living Room

Owl Haven did a tour of her house on her blog and I thought it was so neat. I have been meaning to post pics of my living room ever since we redid it the beginning of the summer. Finally we about done...two more things that I am looking for are new tv trays, and a new fireplace screen but other than that it is done. I love the furniture that we bought and the new paint colors. I am too lazy to dig out pics of the before but it had white walls and blue couch and loveseat. I love the large ottamon because it is a great storage. The fabric of the furniture is easy to clean and get pet hair off of as well....both pluses in this house. Weird spots showed up on some of the pics of the walls but those spots aren't really on the walls so must have just been a flash or something.

Being Lazy

Kids are with my parents.

Matt and his dad took his brother out for dinner for his birthday.

I have the house to myself.

I have a to do list two pages long.

What am I doing?

Absolutely nothing....

Well that isn't true I have done the following: Watched meaningless TV, Ate a bowl of ice cream, laid on the couch (while watching meaning less TV), took a shower....none of those were on the to do list...so I guess I could sum it all up with being lazy, but at this moment I don't care. I never just lounge and do nothing. It is kinda nice...and now I can add being on the computer while lounging on the couch watching meaningless TV to what I have done.

Sleep?

Amazingly there was sleep to be had even though this was the scene in my living room floor....



Kids were good, I actually love having sleepovers for the kids because I get to do crafts and play too!

Tennis Anyone?

Braden has decided he is going to be a professional tennis player when he grows up....but only if he doesn't have to get hot or sweat....That's my boy!

Here are some pics from tennis camp they are getting to take it with our friends from Fort Worth and our other good friends (new to blogging BriNoahsDad). All six of them get along so well. I made them pose after tennis for me. I tried to use my stolen idea from Heather but it didn't look as good when I did it.

This is how bad I really am..

I have blogged before about my inability to say no to people when they ask me something, well here is an example from last night.

It is about 7:30 and I get a call on my cell phone I don't recognize the number but I pick it up:

Me: Hello
Caller: Kel, can we come over and swim?
Me: Sure that would be okay.
Caller: Okay bye.

hang up...Matt is sitting beside me and sees me looking perplexed. I tell him someone may be coming over for swimming. He asked me who. I had no clue. Don't know who had called, but I had still said yes, because to say no would have been rude...LOL.

Anyway, my "friend" never showed up to swim and I still have no clue who it was. If they hadn't said my name I would have thought it was a wrong number.

But the point of the story is that I hate saying no to people when they ask me things that apparently I will even invite strangers over to swim.

See I told you I need to work on my inability to say no.

Made it home!

We left the Dallas area about 30 minutes before they shut down a portion of I20 because of a kidnapping of a semi. So after we heard that news we were glad we got out of there when we did.

It took a while to get home we were following our friend and the kids switched off, and then I rode with her awhile and hubby got to drive by himself and listen to his cd's.

This week will be a busy one. Kids have tennis camp every morning bright and early (before the heat gets unbearable), our friends from Fort Worth will be here so we have lots planned to do with them and our other friends that have kids the same ages. The six kids get along so well together so it will be fun but busy week.

Wonderful!!!!

Last night our friends kept the kids and we got to go out in Fort Worth to celebrate our anniversary. Since the actual day of our anniversary Matt had to work 16 hours, and I had a terrible cold and had no voice it was nice to actually get out and celebrate last night.

We went to the most wonderful resteraunt. http://www.texasdebrazil.com It was so different and neat. Definetly one of the fancier resteraunts this country girl has been too! I will say it was very expensive but definetly worth it for a special occasion. The food was so amazing and the atmosphere was great as well.

Tonight is payback though and we are spending the night at our friends house and watching their kids while they attend a military dining out and stay overnight. Tommorow we will head back home.

Disappeared

This morning we left from Enid to head to Fort Worth.

I have not been sleeping well and had a terrible night Wednesday night, so this morning I just grabbed my makeup/travel bag and threw it in the front seat so that I could get ready later.

The problem...

Later....

My bag was gone, I dont know if I kicked it out at McDonalds or what happened to it. I can't believe I did that and didn't notice, or if I put it on top of the van or what. But bottom line every bit of make up I owned, all my travel stuff gone gone gone....I spent $60 at Super Target and still didn't get everything replaced. But no way no way was I spending the next several days with no makeup including our date night tommorow night.

So plus side is I got some new makeup which I hardly ever buy because it is so expensive.

Downside is besides the cost of replacing everything is the fact that where that bag went is going to drive me crazy!

Checkin In

We are still in Enid, we will head out to Fort Worth tommorow and then home on Sunday. I think I am finally finally getting over this summer cold. It has been a rough one it just keeps hanging on.

Hubby has been working hard on the computer system at the hospital here in Enid. I think he is ready to actually have a few days away from work and all in Fort Worth. I know we are both looking forward to Friday night to go out to dinner and a nigh without kiddos to celebrate our anniversary. I have been entertaining kids and trying to get over this cold.

We are having our kitchen painted while we are out of town by a good friend so I am excited to see what it will look like. I have finally found an end table I like for my living room very reasonable priced while we were here so will be hauling it back too then I can finally take pics of my made over living room. Kitchen will take awhile but at least the paint will be done.

Here are a few pics from the park and children's museum. We have also had lots of playtime in the pool. Been a nice break. The one of Braden and the puppet was at the children's musuem they were suppose to be putting on a puppet show for me but Braden wouldnt stay behind the curtain he was having more fun attacking his sister's puppet.

Only works 9 months out of the year

A conversation with Braden and his Nana:

Nana: Braden can you count to 100?

Braden: I can when I am in school but I dont count in the summer, my brain is on a break.

11 years

11 years ago today....man do we look young....Happy 11th Anniversary Honey! I would do it again in a heartbeat and never regret, I love you so much and as corny as it sounds I wouldn't be complete without you.

Happy Anniversary!!!

What a day! *updated

The last few days Britt has been complaining at times about not feeling well. First said that her eye was blurry, then just not feeling well. Then she would bounce back.

I was on the verge of thinking maybe she just needed some special time with me. So bright and early this morning we get up and head to WalMart to get donuts and do a girls day out. She about passes out in the store, gets very dizzy goes down to her knees. Scared the crap out of me! So to ER we went. She starts feeling better after we get checked in. The doc does a full work up on her chest Xray, ears, etc. Doc isn't sure what is going on but since she feels better he says we can go. He says to keep in the back of my mind MS....talk about scaring the crap out of me again. So I leave ER she is feeling better so we stop by my office, and Brittney proceeds to throw up.

We head home she sleeps a few hours, wakes up no fever but throwing up. So I call and get her into the pediatrician (we are in between pediatricians right now)that was on call. He said not to let what the doc said about MS scare me. By this time Brittney is running a fever. He did a complete nuero work up and while he said that the eye thing has him befuddled he does think the rest is just a virus. He said to keep the MS comment way way in the back of my mind and that if she continues to have weird episodes then we will check more into it.

She has some phenergan and is now holding down sprite and a few crackers. Hopefully it will pass soon and the weird dizzy spells will go away as well and it will all be chalked up to a virus.

But oh what a day!

* Brittney is still asleep but she has quit running fever and last night did drink a large Sprite, eat some crackers, then have some water before bed. So I am hoping we are on the up side of whatever this was.

Hacked

Yesterday evening and this morning in between my deathbed coughing and snottin I was trying to change passwords and account names.

I was hacked...or more specific my ebay account was.

Because anyone who knows me knows I have a slick little Nissan sports car for sale for $55...ugh...that is what I saw that I was selling on my ebay yesterday. I was like what? Had to get online and fix the selling fees and all of that. Change everything.

Ugh now it is done so I can go back to this summer cold that is threatening to be the end of me.....I just thought I was getting better....ugh....

Almost over it...

I slept basically all day yesterday. I was suppose to watch a total of six kids as favors to friends, but luckily they all understood when I backed out. I was so glad I had backed out because I was really feeling lousy yesterday.

Better today...but now I am heading off for a day of appointments and errands with the kids so who knows how I will feel after all of that.

We leave Sunday for a week away four days in Enid Oklahoma while hubby works on a new computer system at the hospital and 3 in Fort Worth for fun!

Hopefully no one else will get this junk that I have had. Of course always is the luck that someone gets sick right before or during a trip.

Not even the right season for this

Stuffy, coughy, achy, sneezy, yucky all over....yep summer cold.

Summer...that is the key word, not suppose to have a cold in the summer.

But boy oh boy do I ever have one. I am so miserable.

I went to bed at 6:30 which of course made me wake up at 11:00. I have now taken more supposed make me better medicine and will hopefully fall back out soon.

At least in the winter I feel like I can snuggle under the covers, it is overcast skies more, now bright sunshine outside and the last thing I want to do is snuggle under the covers. Yet here I am snottin and coughin and all over yuckin.

Day 1 down

Okay I have decided I have to do some excercising have to have to have to.

I thought it would be easier if i involved the kids. So I signed all of us up for a fun run/walk at the zoo in October. I thought this would be a good goal to work towards.

This morning the kids and I head out for our workout. Brittney wanted to do her scooter (which is much easier and faster than poor Braden and I). Braden bless his heart ran the whole way while I power walked. He has to sit towards the end because he said his legs were stinging off! We then got in the pool to cool off and work out some more.

Anyway I can now say I did day one, Braden has already informed me that I could do tommorow without him. Brittney said she would do the pool part with me.

I am going to try to really do this but as of this evening I am already thinking I could sleep in a little extra tommorow and switch the walking part till the evening (which I know will then become oversheduled and forgotten).

Ugh am I sure being healthier is all it is cracked up to be?

Simple Fun

I found a book of make your own paper airplanes in the party favor section of Target. It had 12 papers, stickers and directions.

Tonight we had the family airplane races...sad to say I didn't win (darn hubby). But we all had fun and the kids are still at it racing their planes down the hall. I like the times when they are having fun with something they did, something that didn't cost the bank to buy, something we could all do. Of course the arguing just started and I will now have to go hang them both by their toes...(a threat that always guarantees to have them laugh but at least it makes them quit).

Still stinks

I learned a lesson last night...Act II is not right on how long it takes to cook a mini bag of popcorn in my microwave.

I sat it by the directions...3 minutes.

Left the kitchen to do a few things while it was cooking. Walked back in when it had about 30 seconds left, smoke was billowing out of the microwave, the bag was smoldering, and it stunk so awful.

I had to use a knife to stab the bag and remove it from the microwave. We turned on the exhaust fan over the stove, the ceiling fan, opened windows all to keep the smoke alarms from going off.

This morning even after the trash has been taken out and microwave cleaned it still smells like burnt popcorn.

The correct time for a mini bag in our microwave is 1 minute 50 seconds, but after I learned that and got Brittney's popped I was so sick of the stinch I couldn't enjoy popcorn.

Yard Sale Success

Yard sale is over I made almost $500.00. Which is great, but if you add in all the hours I spent preparing, the labor of putting it out, sitting out with it, loading the leftovers, etc...I don't know if I made minimum wage. But it is all out of here now, we donated the leftovers to a church for their youth yard sale. Now I need sleep.

A lift in my day

Today has been so busy, the kids and I started errands at 8am. I have been breaking my back getting yard sale stuff out to the garage, arranged, priced, etc. Several friends of mine are bringing stuff over we always have yard sales together at my house because of my location. It is also much more fun when a group of us do it.

I have been looking for an outfit to wear out for when hubby and I go out for our anniversary. We are doing it a week later than our actual anniversary so that we can have fun in Fort Worth and some friends of ours live there and will babysit (for the whole night...yippee)...anyway I have looked at JCPennys, Kohls, TJMaxx, nothing. Today I thought well I will run through WalMart but thought chances of finding an outfit fancy enough for the resteraunt and occassion were slim. I thought wrong I found the perfect outfit it is dressy but so comfortable, something I will actually wear again, and the bonus actually looks decent on so that made me happy.

Of course the 3 hours since then that I have spent on yard sale stuff not so happy.

4th Fun

We had about 20 people here for the 4th.

The 5 youngest kids got to play in the pool and the oldest (my dad) got in with them as well. I imagine he will be sore as he had each kid on his shoulder a few times.

We got some rain, but we just played games inside. Gestures was funny to have everyone play (kind of like charades). The rain let up in time for fireworks, it was actually great temp not too hot. The neighbors also did some huge fireworks so we watched those too.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!

Matt and his dad are playing Uno with the kids. My parents are due any minute and all the other guests in about an hour and half. Food is prepared, pies are chilling, ice is cooling the drinks, shade tent is up in the back yard, toys are in the pool, decorations are up. We are ready...here are a few pics I snapped. The kids and I had so much fun with those window crayola markers. They wash right off we decorated both storm doors. We will have to do that for all the holidays from now on. More pics of the bbq later.

Stylin!

We all went in for haircuts today. Brittney got about 5 inches cut off, it is the shortest she has ever had it. Braden's looks cute too.

Needing a little tender loving care

Britt is very kind hearted. She loves animals, will give away her last dollar, cry at the slightest hurting of feelings, etc.

Saturday she was at the garden center with her nana. She said a flower wasn't getting watered and the guy said it was just going to die. She started begging her nana for it. The garden center lady gave it to her for 50 cents. Brittney is trying to nurse it back to health, she has even been talking to it. It is suppose to be an azeala that blooms in Fall and Spring.

I will be going to buy fertilizer for it tommorow.

She said it was sad and the garden center lady put it in a sack so she named it "Sack of Sad".

Hot!

Temp 97.9 with 37% humidity = a hot and muggy day

We got the yard work done. I have to get my 4th decorations up tommorow evening for the cookout on Tuesday. I have also been working on yard sale stuff.

Hubby kids and I all jumped in the pool...which was nice.

I figure between the heat, the work we did, and the pool play we should all be tired and sleep good!

Not techy enough to figure it out

I tried for over an hour last night to load a video on youtube so I could put it on the blog. I had used my digital camera to record the kids at vacation bible school program last night. I just couldn't get it done. I have them on my computer but can't get them turned over to the youtube.

The kids were both cute singing, but I had about 15 people come up and comment on Braden. It was super cute he was singing VERY loudly...cute...with his verbal apraxia you would think that he would be shy with public speaking, but not Braden he puts it all out there.

I will keep trying to figure it out, or better yet make hubby figure it out.