*{sigh}*

I've been (and still am) pouting. My last baby graduated from preschool.  Don't get me wrong, I am SUPER proud of her and all the things she has accomplished in the last year but I am just not ready to move on yet.  My plan for this summer is that it is going to be different...the adventures, memories, amount of electronics, and fighting is going to change (for all of us)!! Next year she will be gone all day every day and I'll have one in junior high, who I'm sure won't want to spend near the amount of time that he is willing to at the moment. This is kind of like my New Years Resolution, because its generally the same every year and it never lasts. But I'm thinking this might be nearing the end of my opportunity for all 3 at the same time so I'm going to try extra hard this year ;) School has kept me busy, busy and I haven't been very good at keeping up or organizing things the way I usually would. So thats going to be one of our first projects that will hopefully get a few things in order and maybe they will learn a thing or two& have a little fun along the way.

5/8/01 @ 4:16 pm

My life was forever changed at this moment. It was (& still is) absolutely the BEST thing ever...I became a mommy for the first time. But I can't figure out how that was 13 years ago???!!! Its like I just blinked and here we are, with a teenager in the house.  He makes me proud every.single.day. He is growing into such a sweet, kind, compassionate, caring young man.  Don't get me wrong, we have the attitude to go with it ;) but there are SO many more good days than there are challenging ones. I love him, love him, love him.

HAPPY 13th BIRTHDAY sweet boy!

73 & counting

I can keep up with all the other "goings on" but fail miserably at keeping up with ours!  I guess thats ok though, maybe that just means we really are fairly boring and nothing too exciting happens around here :) Our latest event was a cast that we acquired over spring break from a fall while snowboarding. It wasn't even a big crazy crash, just a "topple over" with a wrong landing. He was a trooper though, the Dr. wanted to do conscious sedation to set it with a closed reduction but he didn't want to go to sleep so he opted for the local and mom's hand...never even shed a single tear! The next day he traded in his board for skis and was ready to go.  Skiing is hard work and with kids its even harder, then again,  maybe I'm just old! Sis didn't want to get cold so she stayed with my mom and got to be the only child for a while. She probably had just as much fun.

once again...

I am playing catch up :) but thats about the normal around here and its better than nothing, because if I don't write it down, I WILL forget!
*The holidays were good, but hard. We all missed Papa. I think it helped having everything here instead of at their house like we usually did. New memories...
*I was able to be off with the kids for the whole break
*We got to go to TX the day after Christmas and see everyone there.  The cancer has spread to his liver and two new tumors in the brain.
*My brother is leaving today to go back to Germany. I think we are all a little sad. It was nice to have him here and we don't know when he will be back.
*I am still off work because I fell down the steps in our garage and messed up my right ankle. The pain is getting better but the swelling is not and I can't go far without the moon boot, so no work yet.
*I started back to school this week and have already had 2 tests, but A's on both so not too bad yet.
*duck season is wrapping up. 2 more weekends of regular season then the youth hunt and its all over, not sure how I feel about that.
*Sis turned 5!!! WHAT??? yes I know, but I am in total denial.

Hmmm...

Not sure where to start, life is busy but really fairly boring, so nothing terribly interesting to post.  Working backward...

*The ice/snow & 5 days at home:  We had snowball fights, football games, and sledding races (without major injury, although sis looks a little rough) and a house full of kids and laughter! 

*Me & school: I'm out for about 6 weeks and managed a 4.0 this semester and a scholarship for the spring!

*Family: my MIL & I had a LONG overdue conversation (by about 10 years or so) strange but necessary and working its way to improving

*my grandpa is still with us and we are thankful, but he is in more pain everyday and I don't want him to suffer, but we're not ready to say goodbye

*my grandma is "leveling out" and doing better on most days

*his grandma scraped her leg on a plastic box and ended up in the ER with a staph infection after being stuck in the house for 4 days and unable to see the real damage. she is legally blind so she only knew it hurt...

*we got to spend Thanksgiving in TX with my papa and meet a new cousin

*my brother moved to Germany last week but he will be here next week and get to stay for a whole month!

*Hubby went to New Mexico and got his 10th elk, yay, I guess

*we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary, sort of, with sick kids ;)

* I went on my first hunting expedition with the boys and we saw 2 does but couldn't get a shot, and I got in trouble for taking pictures 

I'm sure there is more, but those are the high points. I so wish I was better at this and more creative.  Maybe, just maybe, one of these days...

this time of year

some things I love...the pumpkin EVERYTHING, the great weather, & football.
some things I could do without...getting dark earlier and the germs that seem to appear!
sis had it last weekend, hubby during the week and both boys today. good grief :/
at least I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home and take care of everybody, right?! At 3 am on of the boys said "mom, you know you're next, right? who is going to take care of you?" yes buddy, I know...so, we wait to see how long it takes ;)

1 down 3 to go

Well, as of 3:00 today everyone (including me) will have made it through the first month of school. Whew! and WOW, a month, already??? Sis is doing really well this year, only a few tears and now shes a big girl.  She has gotten the best listener award 3 times. Although I hear she is still the "helper" (boss) on most days. Thats ok by her daddy, he says it just means shes a strong leader. They have a date tonight. She says she is taking him to dinner and for dessert, a.k.a. Olive Garden & Cherry Berry :)

Little man is loving school.  He adores his teacher and of course getting to play with his friends every day.  He is still getting up and ready without any trouble.  We are having to remind him the importance of thinking before he speaks.  He has a kind of "brick wall" personality that isn't exactly compassionate & he doesn't understand that everyone isn't like that. We're working on it but overall he's made great strides so far this year.  His first football game was a little surprising.  He was kind of timid of the other team & didn't really want to tackle. Its strange because in practice he takes them out. Maybe tomorrow will be different. He's having fun though, and thats all that matters.

My big guy...he isn't loving school.  In fact we've had the counselor involved and we (I) do LOTS of talking.  He doesn't say much.  He's so unhappy. I hate it for him. His grades are good but other things are changing.  This too shall pass, but it breaks a momma's heart watching it.   He did make the basketball team so that is his bright spot. He says its why he gets up to go to school

Knock on wood, I'm a little scared to admit it, but this semester for me hasn't been near as bad as I thought it would be. I actually have days that I get, dare I say it...bored...when sis is at school.  Don't get me wrong, there is always laundry to be done and something to clean but nothing pressing that HAS to be done right then.  We are enjoying lots of evening walks/bike rides and time at the park.  The boys are busy on opposite nights so it gives us a little more one on two time ;)

Its been almost 2 months since my Papa passed away  &  I think I am surprised at how much more I miss him now.  Its almost like its getting harder the longer it is.  I go to the cemetary often & just sit in my car.  I don't want to get out & go "there" but I need to see where he is.  Sis still asks lots of questions and makes lots of 4 year old comments so we get to smile about it almost everyday. 

Life is busy but good. We are blessed.