veggies!

Last week was a great haul- Peaches, Plums, salad, onions, tomatoes on the vine, and squash and I am sure something else I am forgetting.... oh yeah and little baby limes a bunch of them! we gave them to a lady at work who likes them because they would not get used in our house! the squash and the tomatoes were cut up and put in freezer till later.... the peaches and plums are getting worked on daily This week was not so good but ummm OK- onions, potatoes, more peaches and some nectarines and carrots, broccoli stalks and yeah I am sure I am forgetting something So far this week we are doing a roast with the onions, potatoes and...I don't know what else so far!

Kitchen Timer....

Dinner time gets a little hectic in our household namely because everything happens at the same time- commute home, school, E's football games, Yoga class, etc - Did I mention we are back at 24hr fitness?? YES! Last night was no exception, left the crock pot on during the day with a pork tenderloin cooking away I had headed out Thursday am, thinking everything would be delish when I got home... so not the case! Best laid plans and all that! The pork tenderloin was so burned it was one solid piece, of course DS1, and DS2 had not noticed anything and so didn't act to try and salvage the situation, but I don't think it could have been really. So on to Plan B- Chicken! ok TPC grill pan, my favorite pan, grab that and butter, oh crap we are out of butter... used the little bit we had and grilled the chicken in the pan with TPC Citrus and Basil rub, and some lemon juice. That was awesome, I cut it up and served it with some pasta and veggies we had fixed up the other night... The squash... ew it was bad burned too... between the crock pot and the squash the smoke alarm went off repeatedly and was yelling FIRE, FIRE as it does. We have the new fangled ones that are combo fire/gas detector and speak to you so that you wake up and don't sleep through the alarm. yeah us... at least I have the comfort of knowing that if it does go off in the middle of the night it SHOULD get us up... I hope! In the meantime I will get an actual timer so I don't use the smoke detector to know when dinner is done :) Casey

This weeks recap as it stands!

Crazy week already, ready for it to stop... Don't think it will Monday was Football with E - he took down a big old boy wish I had it on video, was a thing of beauty and I don't consider myself a football fan.But my kid is playing so I will support! Had a go round with one of Blake's teachers- sent an assignment that was due and make up work from Blake being sick 2 wks ago, sent it Monday @ 945 and said it had to be completed within the same day so that I

could help Blake succeed

... wtfe! It went downhill from there with him assuring me that the email had been sent on Friday and that I had opened it, um folks? I live in my email account, there is no way I would have missed an email and it be about the boys and their school work.... No way.! In Furry news- Memphis was bad sick over the weekend so we took a trip to the vet, well two trips to two vets. The first ones were only after money and didn't treat him and then would not release him and it was a mess, and I had dialed 9-1... and was going for that other 1 to get the cops involved when they finally relented and said yes I could indeed take my cat and get him treatment elsewhere! Now mind you, they owed me money, and needed to give me the difference on their deposit and services actually performed. They apparently were after the $355.00that was quoted and they were intent on getting it. Wasn't happening. So now we have a new vet and we love, love, love the staff and the office and the vet himself. Memphis had a fever of 105.3 in the am and the bad place, and then at the other vet it had gone down to 103.00. He was dehydrated, constipated and running fever, they pumped him full of fluids since he hadn't been given any all day and did blood work, and x-rays. Found out booger was way constipated and also has a heart murmur, didn't know that.... So we are dosing twice a day with antibiotics and he seems to be back to his turd self, biting my fingers at 3AM and showering with me in the mornings again. Bubba is doing well, and we have all joined the local gym to get our fitness on! Last night was the first night and we got some in and then went ate salads, I just could not do a burger! Tonight is yoga, which should be comical because Bubba is going to do it with me, and some grilled chicken and not sure what else we are doing with.... OH! and I got a B in History yeah! so GPA is still 3.5 (darn it) and I hope to get it up higher ! Next class starts Friday night and is Psych (oh joy) Sociology is still going on and is exceedingly dull.... but we will persevere!

Crowded in here....

I have a multitude of things in my head at any given time but lately it is worse! These are the things I am willing to share... A) E is playing football, and he has to have tie/dress shirt every Monday and he keeps losing everything! ugh! B) Jazzy has turned into Satan cat and has to have "special" shots- meaning extra $$, time, effort C) Lucky is such a lover but I don't think he is all there... just not as quick as the others in the cattery D) Blake is plotting, not sure what but something is ticking and not right E) Somehow I keep "losing" cash in the house - $18 so far, interesting... F) Having to lock all the back gates because someone keeps leaving random trash in my back yard G) Wrote to my GM but haven't had the opportunity to call her, the time zones are always off when I can get to it H) Angie- girl you are on my thoughts I) Kids and cancer/Leukemia this sucks ass... I pray for you two daily J) Why my mother randomly stops talking to me? K) To medicate or not to medicate??? L) Passing math test to be able to take Math classes M) Financial- closing 2 checking accounts and getting everything switched over N) Work- nah that is a 4 letter word and a rant post all of its own that will never be written O) Friends whose names start with J praying for you as well P) Child support BS, Direct deposit ? why does it take 6 mos? and if they have the money why do they sit on it for 6 mos? Q) Fund raiser for E- turned in today Thank god one thing less to deal with R) Homework/school S) Kids homework/School T) Drag racing/Dad's website U) Money money money - always on the mind V) Friends W)Balancing it all, am I paying enough attention to everyone? X)Thanksgiving Y)E's Birthday (yes 13 OMG) Z) Projects? Will they ever get done? Nope probably not.... Of course there is more! but for now that is all I can think of or post, as time allows, and for legal reasons... Happy weekend y'all!

Things are...

Busy, hectic, Chaotic whatever you want to call it. Last weekend of History class, and after being on Dean's list and Honor roll the previous 3 semesters I fear a fall from grace. It is not the professor it was me. Strangely enough if you are all hopped up on Vicodin and take a test don't be surprised to get a 52. Ouch we have 4 grades in that class. E's - firsts this week A) wearing a tie :0 oh my god... he looked so grown up! B) first football type occasion, they had a scrimmage and his team rocked it! I don't remember the score but it was a lot to a little. And he was thrilled, I am good. Blake- Doing great in school! YES! I am so proud of him. and He is heading to Ennis with Dad and the Living Legends group this weekend. Bubba- Bubba is fantastic, and I am so grateful and lucky that he is in my life He is working his tail off, and we are going to be scoping gyms this weekend. :) Other than that the past 2 wks have been a blur and we are rocking along! Report cards come out next week, I can hardly believe it! Oh... fuzzy news Jazz is evil and attacked the vet at shot clinic- yeah! Psycho cat! Belle is fabulous and was a good girl when she got her shots. Memphis is a love bug as usual :), Lucky is well he is just a bit special, and Chance runs outside every second. Plenty to help keep us in line :) Happy weekend to you ! Casey

Fighting sucks...

It happened Friday... Our first fight, it was about something small and petty and yet hurt. Alot. We both ended up confused as to why we felt that way and how to fix it. But we stayed up, past 1 am ( Had to be at school by 9am Saturday this was a big deal!) and we talked, and yelled and explained. And kept Blake up and he came and knocked on our door and told us to shut up. But we didn't and we didn't go to bed angry and didn't let it grow. I hope there won't be many more, there might but I hope we can work them out and continue to talk them through as we did this one.

Veggies week 2

this week we got little baby carrot bags, Roma tomatoes, and plums. Also Poblano peppers and onions and potatoes. More apples, E is in heaven. Last night we had nachos with the peppers, onions. We used the peaches from last week that I thought were apricots and made Jam, will advise on that one. It doesn't look great and takes a wow bunch of sugar. The blueberries I have yet to make jelly out of. We ended up cutting up the peppers that we didn't use last night and freezing and the onions were diced and frozen since we are on overload with them right now thanks to a friends garden and then the Co-op. We are still watching food dyes and such and hoping to really stay away from them, most of the foods we are really not that processed, just have to convince Blake to eat more veggies :) he is a very meat and potatoes kinda man!

Decisions, and more decisions

Since March of this year I have been on a medical roller coaster ride, that ride lasted until June and then I just gave up. Quick recap for those that forgot or didn't know- Got strep from a lovely co-worker, subsequent side effects, yeast infections, than UTI, than sever back pain in kidneys, then could not drink anything unclear for eons. Enter Sonograms, CT Scan, find out claustrophobic - great! Then Bladder scope, I highly do not recommend this. $2K later of copay, and dr's visits and meds they have no idea what is wrong with me. July and August were OK, hectic but OK, minor headaches here and there until the one on Aug 29th. Holy Mary Mother of God, it was bad, I was in tears, I woke up Bubba when it woke me up at 12 AM I took double the dose of my headache meds, no relief, ice packs, no relief. Could not find a position that was comfortable, wanted to severely throw up. Finally after 2 AM was able to pass out, Bubba insisted I stay home, rest. OK. Not thrilled about it but OK. Was able to get some rest in and felt somewhat better, on Tuesday back to work. Tuesday of that week I called my Dr and asked for some meds that would make me less stupid and would still get rid of the headache, they called in something and recommended Vicodin. Well I had Vicodin at home, don't like taking stuff like that but ok, I will take it if necessary. The whole purpose of getting different meds is because I was walking around in a fog, could not remember from one thing to the next what I had done. Not good. Can't function that way. The new meds made no difference, Thursday of same week we went to Care Now to get a shot, instead of going to ER. Maybe should have gone to ER but I wanted to be in and out thought they would give me a shot and I would go home and be good. No... No change, Friday work/ school, Saturday back to ER with the lovely Spinal Tap, I will spare the pictures it was bad, my back is bad, they missed it sucked, back still hurts. So lets take inventory head hurts, neck hurts, back hurts in 2 spots, and hips hurt from the shots. Great! ok The Attila the Hun DR at the ER referred me to a neurologist. And said take drugs go to bed, come back if you aren't any better in 24 hrs etc. Well... not any better and we are on Thursday of this week and yesterday I took no meds. No pain meds at all. And.... I had energy! I was able to help around the house and interact, holy moly my head is still pounding but I am not all fuzzy and disoriented, and not knowing what is going on. So, I informed the children and Bubba that I had made a decision. No more pain med, unless it gets completely out of control, and even though I have a headache, back still hurts, hips are good now, I am just going to deal. The reasoning is this - no I am not trying to be a martyr but at some point if the meds aren't working, and you aren't getting any better than what is the point? My Dr referred me to a neurologist as well. I think I am going to wait. I have spoken to too many people in t he last few weeks that have had serious migraines/ headaches and they cannot get rid of them and no one knows why. They are all having drugs and tests thrown at them as well. I don't want to do that! My kid is playing football, I want to be able to go to his games, my older son will be working and driving soon, and I want to be able to be there to support him and not be cracked out. On top of that those three Bubba, B and E make up my family and I want to be able to talk to them, see them and have dinner with them without drooling all over my plate. Working on meds is also not really a good thing, I had several people tell me I was slurring my words last week and wanted to know if I was drunk, ok those are just the ones who felt comfortable to say something!. Now note- if I hadn't had the head CT and the Spinal Tap and they had not come back clear I would be going on the new Doctor but... they did come back clear so for now, I am just going to muddle through and see what happens, next week I might be cursing my decision but for today... this is good. C

Sauteed squash and Zuchhini

2 each large yellow squash/ zucchini
1 med yellow onion
1 med tomato (optional)
3 cloves garlic (sliced)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tst onion powder
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp butter

dice squash, zucchini, onion and tomato
place in bowl and mix together

in 10/12" skillet add oil, med heat when shimmery add sliced garlic to peel http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=26447&catId=123&parentCatId=123&outletSubCat= and http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=26433&catId=123&parentCatId=123&outletSubCat= to slice

when garlic begins to brown in oil add 1/2 of the diced veggies
then add butter, and seasonings

add rest of the veggies after 2-3 min on med heat when all is toasty and onions are clear - transfer to serving dish and enjoy

Unfun Medical crap

So we are on day 8 and counting of worst headache ever. Woke up with it last Sunday night @ 12am and ice packs, drugs finally kicked in around 2 am to get some sleep, Bubba made me stay home that Monday to get some rest and get better. Headache continued all week, Thursday night we went to CareNow and got checked out they were baffled and gave me two shots one on each hip. No relief, back to work again on Friday, School Friday night for exam, and then Saturday school. CareNow called to check on my Saturday, told them wasn't any improvement but my hips hurt from the shots, thanks very much! They advised go to ER. Since I was without vehicle since I am on pain meds for headache Bubba took me to school Saturday. We went that evening to ER. While there I had a head CT, and a wonderful nurse and a horrible PA who insisted I have a Spinal Tap. 45 minutes later, when I had been stuck 8 times, and they hadn't gotten it the DR finally stepped in and got it, because Bubba was in the hallway most un-pleased, and I could not feel my right leg. So recap- went in with a headache, now have sore hips (Thursday), left arm hurts from IV, drugs not working, back hurts from Spinal Tap and right leg is tingling. Awesome. After ST was finished finally and I am in tears, and shivering, was told to lay flat for 45 min, they would be back that was 12 am, by 1:45 AM they still hadn't been back in. Bubba went to go find someone, found a wonderful nurse who told me to continue to lay flat, and they were working on my discharge. By 3 AM I had been discharged, found out from discharge nurse that I have another UTI so we are back on that round of loveliness, and I have to see a neurologist. Today back hurts from various pokes from needles from lovely ST, and right shoulder blade is knotted up, which is most wonderful since I am right handed. Calling my DR as soon as their office opens to get in.

Veggies!!!

Several years ago when we still lived in Wylie, I had joined a Veggie Co-op, to call it simply that is well - just not all inclusive. The wonderful lady that runs our Co-op does it on a weekly basis, and there are fruits and veggies, at times cheese and other times eggs. Since we still participate in Angel Food, the fresh veggies really would supplement what we were buying and save me big time moolah at the grocery store. Enter hectic busy stupid life, working two jobs, dating a man and veggie co-op got to be something else to DEAL with.... Fast forward 2.5 years and we are looking for creative ways to get veggies (fresh frozen etc) into the house at a decent price. We love our local Plano Farmers Market (75& Parker) but... don't always have the time to go. Or! go and spend a TON of money and half of it goes to waste! That is no bueno! So... I recontacted some of the wonderful ladies who had told me of this co-op to begin with and found out if Veggie Lady was still making her weekly rounds. She wasn't but.... wanted to start up again! YES! So every Wednesday I get to go and pick up my bag ( I get 2) of veggies! Yesterday we got 6 cucumbers (just the right size to make pickles with) about 8 apples, 2 containers of yellow cherry tomatoes, 3 heads of lettuce, 2 doz eggs, 2 containers blue berries ( going to make jelly with those if they don't get inhaled) and a classic batter bowl full of Apricots, so... yes! I get to make Jams, jellies in the freezer! Too excited! So if anyone needs pickles we have a recipe for Garlic pickles we make in the fridge that are yummy! and I have like 8 jars, come take some :) I saw the neatest thing from Ball the other day they are plastic 'jars' which is fabulous because I wasn't too keen on putting glass in the freezer to make my freezer jam/jelly which my friend A swears is easy! 3 day weekend of which I get 2 days of so we will see :)

I really don't thrive on chaos....

I know the first week of school is supposed to be hectic; but COME ON! This first week has been horrid and it is only Thursday!

With the exception of Blake everyone else school has been a fiasco. With the whole switching schools drama, not being able to purchase the school supplies in a package, and having to hunt for a football uniform for practices for Elijah.

I have never had to drop a class before but I have to, Bubba and I are taking Spanish together and we have to drop. I have NEVER dropped before I have no choice! Taking this class will torpedo my GPA, and since I am currently on honor roll, and made dean's list I am not letting that happen. The class is Spanish, and it is intro to Spanish, but we have yet to speak Spanish! The professor cannot work the computer, cannot navigate Word, we have spent the class period on Monday trying to log into the campus website, and then to the Centro website, for our tests, and quizzes. Same thing last night so far we have had 4 hours of class time, and have yet to crack the book, learn a single Spanish word.

I HAVE to drop. It irritates me to no end, it has to be done in person, before 6 pm and not on Fridays after 3 pm, I am so switching schools by the time we move.

Poking the tiger in the Cage

Elijah loves to do this first thing in the morning on the way to football practice. Today's awesome question was about death and what happens after it. I think he is just being mean since I haven't had my coffee yet

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Customer Service is dead!

Maybe because I am in customer service? Maybe because I am forced to go out into public?

Not sure, but I loathe dealing with the 18 or below child behind the counter who could not give two shits about being there, because Mommy and Daddy said get a job to pay for your trombone lessons, dating that girl, or to teach responsibility etc.

The problem is there is not any accountability with these kids, if they get fired, they go somewhere else, it wasn't my fault, the manager was mean to me, I didn't like that job, I don't want to work fast food etc.

As the mother of a child who is going to be entering the workplace soon (hint! Hint! Blake!) it really bothers me that someone could encounter my child at his "job" and that they will have the same negative reactions that I do with these kids.

Now keep in mind it is not just kids, it is also 20 somethings who have to be 8 hrs a day and it might as well be there. Hell I work with people like that and they are in their 30's 40's and up, and don't get me started on the lazy so and so's that work with Bubba.

But a perfect example presented itself last night for exactly what I am talking about: Went to buy shoes for E, cleats and daily shoes- his dress shoes are still nice/ fit from last year. They didn't have the right size at the Famous Footwear in Mckinney, so we asked them to check another store. This is after we had been in the store for over an hour, the kid working in the stacks had been avoiding eye contact with me, and Bubba pretty much had to shout across the store to get his attention because he was busy avoiding everyone. Now comes the great part! The questions began as this- Do you have any more of this shoe anywhere else ? This was because E HAD to have those shoes, could not bear to not only those would work! OMG... No all of their stock is out on the floor, ok great thanks. Hey can you call another store that is close and ask them for me? At this point I was still being nice, patience was thin but I was NICE...

Get this! They are not allowed to call other stores for stock checks because the other stores are too busy, but we were more than welcome to call ourselves which Bubba did, or... we could just drive over there... hmm

OK - since when did not taking care of the customer, you know the one that buys stuff in your store to keep your doors open become OK?

Apparently everywhere, because although this is a fine example I could go on and on... But I won't :)

Except to say we recently figured out that if we eat anywhere else besides Mexican restaurants the service SUCKS! so I guess we will just eat Mexican out from now on.

Back to school and all things fun!

Just when I think I am done with getting all 4 of us back to school, I remember something else I haven't gotten. This year so far the only thing that was impossible to find was non girly looking, doesn't have Justin Bieber on it pencil pouches that go in the binder. Because since they can't carry their backpacks around they have to have somewhere to keep the pens/ pencils, crayons etc.

School clothes shopping for E started earlier this month I was trying to minimize the impact that being among the masses would have on my cheery disposition. yeah right?

Didn't have the large expense of buying Blake's shoes this semester but I am thinking by October he will be due. But that was ok because with Elijah playing football this year (yeah) he made up for it by having to have cleats!

Now that the drama of the schools changing, the shot records missing has all been solved I am feeling better about him moving schools, and just ready to get this year started.

Bubba is taking my Spanish class with me, and I am totally excited about that, as I will have someone to help with homework and carry my books for me :) I tried to talk him into some other classes but he wasn't biting.

So for now we will see how crazy life gets. Hopefully not to much I still want to be able to cook with him for the boys, and make ice cream, freezer jams and pickles too :)

Lazy Sunday - Sure... Right...

Well it is a lazy Sunday of sorts, we haven't left the house yet, except for Bubba and E to go to O'Reilly's to swap out a bad part they SWEAR never goes, bad, but... sigh ok I guess we will swap out for you... Seriously? Really don't make me go back to Auto Zone guys, I hate AZ!

Laundry is going, E has a ton since he hasn't been home all summer except when I take him to get tortured at the Dr's office :)

I have been doing laundry; sporadically cleaning the kitchen, baths, and bedroom, and not doing a whole lot else...

Bubba is power-washing the front of the house, my truck and whatever else he feels like doing... I am... gonna let him

I did get our I tunes crap mostly straight which means I probably erased all his music thinking it was dupes... oh yeah.

4 day week y'all be jealous this week and next! We are running away to HOU for the weekend for his birthday and plan on doing jack nothing with a drink in hand... but he doesn't know where we are going :)


Later after a mad hour of running errands we are going to make some more ice cream maybe chocolate this time since the peanut butter didn't do so hot, and some plum freezer jam. And at some point might even cook dinner :O


So reason #1649461 or so why I love this man: Lucky and Chance joined the cattery last night (is cattery a word???) pictures to come later :)

Off to the Market!

Lately I have been unimpressed with the array of fruits and veggies at our local grocery store, and by that I mean the one I am able to shop at since they closed the rest down in our area. My local Aldi has the main things, potatoes, onions etc but... sometimes I am looking for something different and it gets picked over pretty quick, small store, small produce/ veggie area.

So... we have started going to the farmers market for all of our veggies. I love this, would love to find a CSA in my area too...

Go vote for the Mckinney Farmers Market !

Quick and Dirty Summer Recap

We got an above ground pool and didn't spend near enough time in it, but are trying to make up for that daily. Memphis is now old enough to get fixed and get his shots (today as we speak). Bubba and I are officially shacked up :). Kids are good, Blake is not driving yet, but hoping to be shortly as soon as Drivers Ed is finished... Elijah- I am pretty sure he is good saw him the week of Vacation, and.... yeah that is about it but I have spoken to him, and I know he is in good hands.

I am finally well. It took $2500.00 since March, a new bed, and 3 new doctors... nothing short of a miracle right? Oh yeah and the amazing support of my family!

Our family lost a member this summer also, my Uncle on Dad's side succumbed to cancer, and is at peace now.

Vacation week- 6 flags, Hawaiian Falls, Celebration Station, lots of food, lots of fun, and HOT, and some movies thrown in there to cool off with.

Sold a car, sold a truck, bought a truck... we are back to a two truck household thankfully!

The repairs on the house continue and I am still dealing with contractors... loads of fun...

Throw in one class, setting up Fall school schedule, and working and that sums up the rest of it :)

Belle goes Shopping

It is rare to catch Belle doing anything, especially funny but I managed it tonight, of course



Memphis tagged right along because he is the little one; and that is what they do!











So here is Memphis with his mouse that he took from Belle!

Favoritism

We all do it. You know it is true.

There is the cashier you go to instead of the OTHER ONE, the parent you call over the other, the sibling you speak to more than the rest. It feels OK sometimes to be on the giving end of that.... but on the receiving end of it ummm not so much.

Lately I have noticed others that show extreme favoritism towards my children. My parents, my friends, sister yes they all do it. The funny thing is they don't all show it towards the same child. It is pretty much split down the middle.

I know certain people connect more with people most like themselves. However I find I am more on the defense and take offense when I get well meaning comments directed at only one of my kids.

I love my children madly, deeply and whole heartedly, without question they are the best things I have ever done in my life. But I don't love them the same. How can I ? they are so extremely different.

Blake is so much like me, he is witty, shy, sarcastic, and opinionated. see the connection? Elijah is the opposite, he is outgoing, bubbly, not afraid to show his intelligence and use big words. They are at opposite ends of the spectrum, I have always referred to them as night and day and it has become more obvious as time has gone by and they have gotten older.

I wish sometimes they would meet more in the middle and find some common ground, but it might never happen. If it never does that will have to be OK E will be seeing gray and Blake will see things in black and white.

April showers and May Flowers right?

Well they say March blows in like a lion and out like a lamb I have always felt that it applied more to April in my house. We start the month of April with Blake’s birthday and finish it off with Dad’s, it is very fitting that they are 50 years apart and born in the same month as they are carbon copies of each other. Blake’s birthday this year included a quick and dirty trip to Austin, TX for the round up. Since he turned 16 this year (Omigod) I loosened the strings a bit more and let him fire up a top fuel dragster, see video. He enjoyed it; I wasn’t too wild about the no gas mask part but…

The trip was fast and fun, we drove down early Saturday morning had breakfast with the rest of the Living Legends crew, then got back into the truck and drove the rest of the way to Austin and the fairgrounds. I was so wrapped up with our cars and our group that I never got to wander and see the rest of the cars, which after I saw the pictures was a real shame; there was some beauties. I did take E over to the practice arena and watch the Mini Bike races; they were intriguing to say the least grown men on souped up mini bikes, racing each other, by the end they were getting down right ornery with each other. It is much better in the retelling than the actual watching but E enjoyed it.

We ended up crawling back into bed at home around midnight that Saturday night and being bums the rest of the weekend. I did take the boys out to eat that Sunday night and for ice cream at Marble Slab. Pretty sure I didn’t cook at all that weekend which is not a bad thing, except to my wallet!

The rest of the month has been spent getting adjusted to our new baby Memphis, who has declared himself the new ruler of the house! Jazz is of course not pleased with this, and they actually get along unless Memphis is picking on him. I was really worried at the beginning of this month having been sick with strep that I thought would never go away but we seem to be on the mend now.

This month I have also been back into touch with old friends from high school that I hadn’t seen in years! It was great to be able to see them again, and I am hoping another decade doesn’t go by without seeing them again! Of course seeing friends reminds me of the ones that live close that we can never get our schedules to line up to see, and we will be making an effort to do that! With seeing old friends comes meeting new friends and I have made some fabulous new friends and am enjoying spending time with them as well.

School marches on for all of us in our house I will be done two weeks before the boys but will start up again for summer classes, so it is not but a two week break. I was hoping for more of a break to be able to really get out there and get the yard under some sort of control and get some more flowers planted but I will just have to do it as time allows. Both boys are looking forward to summer vacation, Blake so he can finish drivers’ education and Elijah so that he can go and spend long weekends with his partners in crime in Wylie.

Dad’s birthday is this Saturday and I will be cooking dinner for him and making a cake and we will be hanging out, very excited for this! Ready for some grilling and hanging out time!

I hope May doesn’t fly by like April did, but I know the boys will be ready to be out of school!

the reason for chocolate cake

I get great news today! I made the honor roll! 3.5 GPA, I am stoked! I let a friend know asap as soon as I read the email, and of course got a smart ass remark. I don't know why I am surprised? I really don't .

So in order to alleviate the smart ass remark, I just have to rethink how and to whom I deliver my good news. Getting that remark on the heels of my announcement really took away some of the shine.

I have never EVER made honor roll. Not because I couldn't while in grade school but because I was LAZY! The remark really hurt me, and I think next time I will just choose my words a little more carefully.

I don't get many opportunities to brag on my achievements. I am a Mom first and foremost, than work, than school. To pull off a GPA of 3.5 this semester and last is to me stupendous with all that has been going on. Like I said I have never been dumb, just lazy or had better things to do. Sounds like most people. Now that I have the opportunity to go to school and get a career instead of just a job I am all over it.

Needless to say since I am doing this with virtually no help from anyone in my family and few of my friends I was in shock for about 45 minutes today after receiving the notification.

But to my friends and the limited family that hasn't disowned me: Next time just say great! Less is more...

Meet Memphis!

I have never had a fuzzy so rockem' sockem' raring to go and any and all times! He is so sweet and adorable and at other times a holy terror! We received him from a friend of ours who had the litter, and the siblings from the litter before. He is 8 wks old now and as cute as a button, until he is not!

I lost him last night and the other two fuzzies were crashed in the living room keeping tabs on me (they don't like to share at all!) and he was no where to be found. The boys doors were closed so I went to look into my room and he was sprawled on my bed!

Of course Jazzy and Belle are less than enthused about the little fart but they will grow into him!

D-I-V-O-R-C-E

I am by no means the authority on divorce, and actually don't recommend it; even though I am currently divorced. I love listening to the people who like to talk about kids coming from broken homes. My home was broken, I fixed it. That simple. YES! there are serious side effects we know this. Every decision that is made there is an equal and opposite reaction. We know this. Not a news flash.

In class tonight we had to create thesis statements and a group had one for divorce; and everyone of their topic sentences was how horrid divorce was and how hard it was. How the kids are going to be all warped and go out and become mass murderers and drug addicts, etc. Not so. Life is what you get out of it.

Yeah divorce sucks, at times single parenting sucks. The times that I have found it really bites? When my kids do something so awesome, and so great and I can't turn to their dad and say "did you see that? " Believe me no one sets out to be a single parent. It happens. Occasionally someone will come along and be terrific enough to become part of the family and to help with things, the good and the bad. Not always but sometimes.

This class tonight made me realize a few things

a) Japan has a 2% divorce rate, that is incredible.
b) Americans have a 50% divorce rate

Are the Japanese on to something? or is divorce just to easy in America? Like I said I don't recommend it. It hurts it is expensive and will leave emotional scars on kids and adults alike. Family members are effected. It doesn't just happen to you and to your immediate family, friends are effected and are sometimes included in the marital assets.

I know several women who will read this and realize that they are my inspiration and when I get whiny and bitchy and don't want to do it anymore! Because it is just to freaking tough and I don't want to be a grown up anymore! I want to be the footloose and fancy free one. Us moms are are the ones that get all of it, and today that is enough!