No TV

I'm having withdrawals. We have been without out our satellite dish for over 3 weeks now. And, it may be another 3-4 weeks before our receiver is replaced. I can hardly stand it without TV. I am an addict. We have watched every video in our collection again and again.

I've learned how to play Guitar Hero and am getting pretty good at it. I might even get all of the kids' school papers and picture organized this winter. Maybe. But, most of all I have been reading more than usual. Which is ALOT. I, like my sister, love to read. But, I still think she reads way more than I do even though she does have five little ones. I have read the entire Chronicles of Narnia, except for the first one, but that is only because it is missing. I am still waiting for KJ's friend to return the 3rd in her Twilight series of books to finish that series. I'm not happy about that. I devour every magazine that I receive, plus the ones that Mom gets because I am getting all of her junk mail while she is away. And, now one of my coworkers lent me a vampire series by the author, Nora Roberts. I'll be starting those soon.

But, even so, as I am typing this, it is so quiet. We have no kids this week and Brian is sleeping, but there is no background noise from the TV. I don't like it. I can hear my typing, and the space heater running, and, oh, that stupid scanner. It squawks alot. Especially when it is snowing and you can hear all of the police chatter. It's quiet right now, though. Eerily quiet. I keep looking at the Christmas decorations and thinking that I should just put it all away. But, I will wait until after the New Year. I am still enjoying the lights of the trees.

A ROCK

Ok, I think I mentioned a while back that we organized a Secret Santa exchange at work. Maybe I didn't, but anyway. At the beginning of December, we thought it would be fun to do a Secret Santa gift exchange at work. We have done it in the past with good and bad results. Some people were really into it and some not so much. Well this year yielded the same results.

The rules were that it would only be over about a 2 week period. No one was asked to spend a lot of money, just give little random gifts throughout the 2 week period and then a bigger gift on/around Christmas Eve. We asked that no one feel obligated to spend beyond their limits but to just have fun with it. I found some neat little gifts for my Secret Pal and randomly left them at her desk or in her mail box...a little gift box with some cherry cordial Hershey kisses, a handful of hot cocoa creme Hershey kisses left on her desk, a small tube of hand lotion, some Christmas earrings that I actually got free with another purchase, and then for the finale a neat gift box with a pair of Christmas socks, an ornament and some more kisses. Pretty nice, huh? And, I saw some of the neat things that some of the other coworkers received too.

Well, now we get to the not so great stuff. Guys apparently don't get it. Not everyone participated and that was ok, that was their choice. Well, 2 of the guys in the clinic chose to. One had to ask his wife if they could handle the finances of it first. Well, he did buy a gift, one gift, and that was some funny Santa frame thingy, I didn't see it, I just heard about it. Well, he goes up to the person whose name he had and says, "did you like your Secret Santa gift?" She was sort of speechless at this point and says, "well, yeah...." And he says, "Well, I'm your Secret Santa". And just spills it just like that. It wasn't even Christmas yet. Then we come to my Secret Santa. The first couple of days, I thought it was pretty cool. I came back from lunch to find a cookie on my desk, addressed to me. This happened 2 days in a row, the second time there was also a sucker. Well, the handwriting was pretty easy to figure out. It was obviously a guy's handwriting. So, I narrowed it down to the 2 that were participating. Then on the 2nd day, one of the lab techs shared how the xray tech had shared a cookie with her that day. Ding, ding, ding. I figured out right there that it was him!! Duh! So, I figured that from then on maybe I would either keep getting cookies or something else, but nope, nothing. But, that's ok, I guess I shouldn't be greedy. But, I was a little disappointed as I kept seeing my other coworkers keep getting some fun stuff.

Well, I knew that this xray tech was going to be off a few days here and there around the holidays, so I figured that was probably why I didn't see much after that. Then Christmas Eve came around and we realized that we hadn't planned very well how we were going to do the reveal. Many people had that day off. So, the ones who were there, just decided to give their final gifts and the rest could come back on the following Monday to finish up. Well, this xray tech comes up to me on Christmas Eve and says, "hey, I owe you. I couldn't find what I wanted to get you." So, I'm ok with that, I guess I'll let the suspense wait until Monday. I knew that he was working one final day at the clinic until he accepted a new position within the organization and would no longer be with us. So, right away this morning (the monday after Christmas), he hands me a leather Indian-type bag. It's really heavy. And, you know me and my sense of humor. I say, "What did you get me, a ROCK!" So, I unwrap the string around the bag and I pull it out and what do I find?? A ROCK!! He actually gave me a ROCK!!

Ok, so it is kind of pretty and all, not just some rock he dug out of the backyard. I think it is a quartz of some kind. I asked if it was, sort of hoping for an explanation or some hidden meaning, but he just said, "yeah, I think it is a quartz." Boy, did I feel dumb, I had to have shown some sort of disappointment on my face. What do you do in a situation like that? I don't remember telling him that I collected rocks or gave him any indication that type of gift was something I would enjoy. Brian likes it, but he also agrees that it is an odd gift. At least my close coworkers got a chuckle out of it.

I decided I would add some pictures for you to get the real effect.

White Christmas

Of all the things that I wished for for Christmas, this is what I received. A white Christmas. You can see how much we have gotten and actually, I should have taken these yesterday when there was more snow. It started melting this morning and now those lights in front of the house are completely uncovered. After the first snow, they were barely peeking out from under the snow. We have been getting a drizzling mist and fog today. The driveway is almost all clear again. I hope it melts completely before it freezes into a sheet of ice.

As you can see, I also posted pictures of my first try at a gingerbread house. I bought one of those gingerbread kits at WalMart. I thought it would be fun for the girls to put together on Tuesday when they were home from school. Unfortunately, my plans didn't work out. Koree spent the night with a friend the night before and didn't get home until later in the afternoon. Heather and Hallie went early to their mother's for their Christmas there. They didn't get back until after 10 on Christmas Eve. Tyler and Koree didn't get back on Christmas eve afternoon from their dad's until I was almost done with the house and then we needed to get ready for church.

It is not a very good house as I was in a rush and no one was there to help me. I know what I may do different next time if there is a next time.

Teenage angst update

I took Ty over to talk with his dad last night. He was afraid that his dad would just yell at him, so I had to go in with him. I did at least for support. He opened up about the way he was feeling and I am glad of that. I think he tends to hold things in and bottles these things up until he explodes and says things he doesn't really mean out of anger. I hope his dad understands that.

I did put in my own 2 cents in Ty's defense. He had said that every weekend seems to get busied up with doing stuff with his dad's girlfriend's family. I mentioned that maybe he could not have to go to these every time as a compromise. Also, I suggested that maybe his dad could sit down and relax once in a while and play Xbox with him or something else that Ty enjoys doing. He had told his dad that he doesn't really like standing around piddling in the shop.

His dad also mentioned that when Ty's friends come over they like to help themselves to the refrigerator and food, then leave messes all over Ty's room. They do that at my house sometimes too and I am torn on this part. I know it also bothers Brian. But, on one hand I want them to feel at home in my house. I don't want to run them off. On the other hand, I also don't like the messes they leave behind. But, I am not afraid to say, "hey guys! will you please pick up your messes." It's not like they are going to bite me or anything nasty when it is my own home. I think if I didn't say anything, they just plain wouldn't think of it. I don't think they do it out of disrespect. Kids these days are different than they were say when our parents were growing up and they were afraid of grownups.

So, Ty did at least get his phone back. But, he is without his car and Xbox for the week. I thought it was a little harsh that he took away everything. His dad says he will pick him up sometime later this week to open presents at his house. Apparently, they opened presents on Saturday without him. And, it is also so they can all sit down and apologize to each other. Ty to the other kids and those kids to Ty.

Teenage angst

I got a call from my daughter last night asking if her brother was at my house. (the kids are with their Dad this week) Since I wasn't home at the time I told her that I didn't think so, but that we could find out. She went on to tell me that Ty and some of his friends were playing 'king of the mountain' on a snowpile near their father's home. Well, from the way I understood the story, their father's girlfriend's kids wanted to play along. They are quite a bit younger than Ty and his friends, so it sounded like things got rougher than they are used to and the younger ones went home crying. Typical kidstuff if you ask me. KJ says her Dad was mad and that they couldn't find Ty and oh, they got a puppy (i'll get back to that part).

While I was talking to KJ, Brian called Ty's cell and he said that it went right to voicemail as if it was off. Well, I happen to have one of his best bud's cell numbers on my phone so I give him a call and he puts Ty on. Ty confirmed his sister's story and says he doesn't want to go back to live with those (expletives) because his Dad is stupid and lets those kids do whatever they want and he never lets him do anything, etc, etc. He says he is staying with his friend tonight and that's it. I told him to go ahead and do that and cool off and he can set things right in the morning.

In the meantime, I'm thinking, ok, I should be getting a call from his dad soon. So, maybe 10-15 minutes later, my cell rings again and yes, it is their father. He is bawling and asking what is going on with our kids. I'm also thinking there may be alcohol involved because from past experience he doesn't bawl like that unless there is. I say that up until this point that I didn't know there was a problem. Ty hadn't really given me any indication that there was a problem other than that he did say once not long ago that he felt that his dad didn't want him to even have a social life. But, he said it so nonchalantly that I didn't really take it too seriously. I guess maybe I should have. Well, apparently after I got off with Ty, his dad caught up with him and tried to forcefully drag him out of his friend's house, tearing his coat. Ty threatened to call the cops on him and must have said some really hurtful things to him. His dad took away his cell phone, car and X-box, his most prized possesions at this point.

So, at this point he is crying, literally, to me that he bends over backwards for him and buys him everything he wants and that he lets Ty do stuff all the time and that he hardly ever helps him cut wood or help him around the house at all. I explain to him that I struggle sometimes with getting Ty to do stuff for me too. But, I also explained to him that he is 16 and he cannot expect him to hang out with Mom and Dad all the time. I had to remind him that I doubted that is what he wanted to do when he was that age. I restrained myself from reminding him that Ty is far better than he was at that age, and I also did NOT remind him of what he was doing at Ty's age and much earlier. Ty is a good kid and I trust and respect him. But, the two of them have no respect for each other. At least, that is the conclusion I have come up with after having a restless night of sleep.

I did call Ty again after talking to his dad to clear up stuff and to be sure that he wasn't just "playing" me. Obviously, I am getting 2 different views of the whole story. He used some very disrespectful terms for his father, which in after thought I should have corrected him on, but I felt he needed to vent and cool off. He said he was on his way to go bowling with his friends. But, he explained again that he was angry at his dad for always sticking up for the other kids and keeping him locked up all the time. I think that there is alot of pent up frustration from years of growing up with his father that I didn't see coming. I explained to him that he needed to cool off and then go talk to his father. He said he didn't really feel like talking to him. He also said he wasn't like his dad and that he wasn't going to go off and do something stupid. I believe him.

My thoughts are that their dad is trying too hard now to be a good dad and keeps trying to buy their affection instead of just hanging out with them and listening to them. I can tell when they come back to my house, how much they miss just being heard. Ty spends much of the first night at my house just talking to me and telling me what is going on his life and just everything. That is something his dad has never been good at. I used to crave it from him and I guess now my kids are too.

What do I do? I really don't want to be in the middle of their disagreement, but as a mother I want to help my son anyway I can. I think inside he is hurting and struggling with growing up and wanting to feel his own independence, but I want him to keep making good choices in his life. Do I interfere in this or do I let them hash it out themselves? I think I know the answer and I pray that it all works out for the best in the long run.

Oh, and back to that puppy thing. I can't believe he turned around and got them a puppy. Still trying to buy the affection I guess. Just last year he didn't want to keep our dog, Eddie, because of his new addition and that he was afraid the dog would poop and pee all over, etc. (He threated to give him away or kill him.) What does he think a new puppy will do?? Besides that, Eddie was always kenneled while everyone was away. He hardly ever has to stay kenneled at my house because Brian works 3rd shift. He can snuggle with him all during the day. And, he doesn't have accidents at our house at all. He is very well trained. Hmmph! Well, I guess the dog is better off too. He is in a home where he is loved.

My own snow day

Well, it has now snowed here at least 12 inches and still counting. I tried my best to make it to work today, but didn't even make it out of the driveway. Since I have a downhill slope out of the driveway, I thought I could at least make it to the road and have slow going to work, but eventually get there. Wrong! I got stuck just before enter the roadway. Luckily, that is where I stayed and not stuck out in the road where my car would get run into and hurt somebody.

Just as I got myself stuck there, my cell phone rings and it is my coworker saying that she hopes I am not trying to venture out in this weather. We both decided that it most likely the clinic will close. Which is rare. I cannot understand why anyone would want to venture out if they don't have to, but when I worked in the pediatric office in Des Moines parents would bring their kids in the worst weather for WELL child checks. I can understand if they are really sick, but WELL. Why come if you don't really have to??

So, as I was saying. I am stuck at home and with no TV. Our satellite receiver went out sometime last week. We have been watching and rewatching some of the DVDs in our collection and that is already starting to get old. They are apparently upgrading and that has put a delay in our getting a new one plus the fact that these orders always seem to get mixed up. And, they don't understand why we feel we shouldn't have to keep paying for service that we are not getting. So, in the end we will get some free stuff (we hope) or we will get totally different service. But, in the meantime, I am going to have to either clean house, bleh, or find some other creative outlet to spend my day. There are lots of things I could do, but how ambitious am I today? :)

Holiday traditions

I've started a weekly newsletter for the clinic where I work. For next week, I've asked my coworkers to submit some of their favorite holiday memories or traditions. This got me to thinking about the things we used to do growing up.

I remember when we were younger, all our aunts, uncles and cousins would gather on Christmas Eve at my mother's parents house. There we would open presents from them. I don't remember if we ate there too. I was pretty small. So, I mostly remember the presents. Knowing Grandma, I'm sure there was good food there too. After that, we would go home and Santa would have come while we were gone, so we would open presents from "Santa" at home on Christmas Eve.

As we got older and my younger brother and sister came along, that tradition changed. Then we as a family would go to Mass on Christmas Eve. While we all loaded in the car to go, mom would mysteriously always seem to take a long time finishing getting ready and take long time coming out to the car. Again, when we returned home, we would find that Santa had been there. Then, opened presents on Christmas Eve. This left Christmas day for visiting relatives or having them to our house for dinner.

I'm sure there were other things that my siblings can remember, but these are the ones that stand out most in my mind. Oh, and I used to love singing Christmas carols on the way to Mass when we were older, too.

I hope my own kids don't mind that we don't have traditional things that we do each year. At least we still get together with family and friends and do fun things. And, I still get to sing Christmas carols. Tomorrow night, for the second year in a row, Brian and I will be going caroling with our church choir. After that, we will head to our neighbor's for fellowship and snacks.

At least I hope we still can go. We are getting a bunch of snow and it is supposed to keep snowing for the next few days. My brother was kind enough plow our drive. I'm sure he will be back again soon as it keeps piling up.

Snow....and lots of it!!

We are in the middle of a winter weather advisory. As the day progressed, we had people cancel appointments for the afternoon and for tomorrow. It was a little of a treacherous ride home. I drove only 35 miles per hour at the most. I felt as if my tires barely touched the pavement. It had started raining around 3:00 pm. I am working early mornings this week, so luckily got to leave at 4 pm. I had to scrape ice from my windows before I left. After getting home, it started snowing on top of the ice. We have at least 2-3 inches since getting home and lots more coming. The weather forecast for tomorrow is 100% chance of snow. The kids' school is already delayed 2 hours for tomorrow. (they got out early today too) I really doubt that they will have school at all.

Brian got home from hunting yesterday not feeling well. Luckily, he had taken the night off, so he spent the night on the couch, and making frequent bathroom trips. When I left for work this morning, he was sporting a 101 temp. I tried to call and check on him throughout the day and he never answered the phone. I'm glad the kids got home early to check on him. He had me worried. I fed him some soup for supper and he seems to be feeling better. I have been encouraging him to stay home from work tonight for two reasons; to get better and to avoid having to drive in this weather. I doubt he will listen to me. Men!

Anyway, I am not looking forward to driving back to work in this stuff. Another good reason for him to stay home is so that I can drive his truck to work tomorrow. Although, I'm sure my car will be okay in the snow too. I'll leave early and just plug along until I get there. It really never has bothered me too much to drive in the snow. I would just rather stay home.

Shopping

The guys went hunting this weekend, so I decided that it would be a good time to spend some time with my daughter. So, yesterday I took KJ and her cousin shopping. That was on KJ's list for Christmas. We found some really good bargains and I probably spent too much as usual. But, it felt good to knock off some of my list. Now, Brian and I have to find the time to go before Christmas to get the final things. I think I'll do some more online too and save us a little. There were so many people and now I know why I hate shopping at Christmas time. The one store that we found the best deals on was jam packed with stuff and people. I'm glad we only had to hit a couple of stores. I really kind of like the mall we went to, too. It is much smaller and there is alot less walking around. Plus, the other stores that we needed to go to were in a close vicinity, so we didn't have to drive around all day. There was however, one store that I prefer never to have to go in again. This store was so dimly lit and the music in it was blaring so loud that you could not hear the salespeople or see the sales prices on the tags. Plus, the stuff that was not on sale was way more than I wanted to pay. Trendy stores!! I'll stick to finding that stuff on Ebay.

Friday night we took the girls to the local basketball game. That was fun even though our teams lost. The girls game was close. (the other team is rated) The boys were way ahead in the first half then just kind of gave it up in the second half, but almost pulled it back together, then ended up losing anyway. Seems to be the Valley fate every year. We sat in front of my brother and nephew and were lucky to get a seat. We were late getting there and he called us from inside the gym to say that there were seats available in front of him. Thought we were going to be watching the game from the hall. We ended up sitting right next to the student section, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Oh, yeah, it was "red hot night", so everyone was wearing red, and I think that was partly the reason for the gym being so full, plus the fact that the other girls' team was rated. They are pretty good and their side was just as full as ours. The sad part is that part of their crowd left after the girls' game. Doesn't show much faith in their boys team. Another interesting fact is that both our girls and boys coaches went to school at the opposing school. I bet that made it extra hard to be beat by their home school.

So, now I am exhausted after spending that long day shopping, but still have to get to church soon. Took KJ to Sunday school and dropped off our pies and rolls for the senior holiday dinner. She will be helping to serve at it later, but first she has to acolyte at church. I signed her up for this month and next because she is only here every other Sunday and there are only a few confirmation students this year to divide it up with. Good thing she came to stay with me this weekend to get an extra Sunday in.

I think this afternoon we will be reorganizing her room. The guys finally came and put in the insulation. Now we have to put everything back in its place. But, I definitely need to vacuum first. And, I thought weekends were for relaxing. Yeah, right.

Proof that I am not a Photographer

Funny, these pictures didn't look that blurry in the camera when I took them this morning. But, I thought I would post them anyway, so you could see the stockings that I talked about in my last post. I guess you get the general idea.

Well, I am off today. (working late on Thursday) Sometime today I have to make pies for the community Senior Citizen holiday dinner on Sunday. Then, KJ has a game this afternoon. And, I also volunteered to work the concession stand tonight for the varsity game. The junior class is doing the concession to raise money for prom. And, since Ty is a junior I get to help. I hope that they hit his dad up for it too I have already worked one evening at a volleyball game, after all. Oh, and Ty takes his turn too.

More Christmas

I thought I would add some pictures of our Christmas trees so those of you who aren't here at Christmas time can see them too. As I was trying to play with my camera and capture the pictures in the light that I wanted, I noticed that there is actually a setting on it to capture snow pictures at night. I'll have to try that one with the next snowfall for you. I never really fancied myself a photographer before, but when you have a decent camera it really helps. Although, I still don't think I am that great of a photographer. At least you get the idea. And now that I look at the bigger tree, I see that there is a dark spot in the middle. Guess I didn't quite get the lights spread evenly. :)

It needs a little more something to make it sparkle. Maybe some silver bows. What I really miss is the silver icicles we used to put on when we were kids. That was my favorite part of decorating. But, I sure don't miss the mess they left behind. Kind of like Easter grass from Easter baskets. You end up finding that stuff for months afterwards.

You also cannot see the Santa on a motorcycle sitting under the tree. That was given to Brian last year by his sister. Someone gave it to her as a gift and she thought he would enjoy it more. He thought maybe it would be fun to find a Santa suit, dye his beard white and drive his motorcycle through downtown. Wouldn't that be funny. I would definitely post that picture.


I should also have taken pictures of the dining room. Koree had a great idea to hang the stockings under each of their pictures that are hanging on the dining room wall. Brian hung ours together on another wall with some other decor and we hung Eddie's above his dish. It sure makes the little room look cozy. I found the perfect sign to hang in our dining room too. It says, "Our house may be small, but God knows where we live." Fitting, huh?

First real snow

Well, here is our first snow of the season. We haven't gotten nearly as much as my sister in Colorado, but it will slowly accumulate. The day pictures are from this morning. That snow all melted. But as you can see from the evening pictures it is coming down again and sticking to the ground.

The light pictures turned out a little blurry, but it was my first try taking night pictures with the camera. I like that you can see the snowflakes, though. At least you can the general idea of how it looks. I still think some lights on the roof would be nice. Maybe next year.

Decorating

Today we decorated for Christmas. We have 2 trees; a 6-foot tree and a smaller tree that fits in our bay window. The one in the window has white lights with silver and gold ornaments. The bigger tree has white lights, red wooden-bead chain, and a variety of ornaments, some are homemade by the kids, some handmade and given to me and some figurines. It amazes me each year how much I have accumulated. I love finding new things and adding to my collection. I have some neat pieces that I really love and some that I wonder why I still hang onto.

We were a little disappointed, though, while putting our outside decor up. The snowflakes that we had up last year got destroyed because of all the snow and ice that stuck them up in the eaves trough. And, for some reason our penguin decided not to light. Brian even had it lit in the house before he took it outside, but something went wrong. We still put it out. It still looks good during the day.

Brian's girls had to leave early this morning to go with their mother so Koree helped me do most of the decorating and Brian got the outside lights ready. Ty as usual, played Xbox. So far, he is still home tonight too. I think I will see more of him throughout the winter, because most of his friends are out for basketball, so they are busy. We picked up an application for him to work at the local grocery store. I hope he gets a job soon. He needs one, so I don't have to keep forking over money for gas, concert tickets, etc. Good thing gas is down to $1.67/gallon.

Well, now I am in the mood for the holidays. The lights are all lit and I have scented oil warming with holidays scents. And the first winter weather advisory is now being forecast on the news. I'm glad I convinced Brian to put out those lights today or it would have never gotten done.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

What am I thankful for:

A loving God
My health
a roof over my head
plenty of food on the table
someone who loves me
good kids
a place to work
a car to drive
friends who care
and a close family with lots of nieces and nephews to love
and many other blessings too numerous to mention

Love you all!!!

Mrs. Thomas

Ok, so no, we did not get married. We were waiting as people were filing out of church this morning and an older lady member of the church says to me, "Good morning, Mrs. Thomas!". I guess I just kind of blushed and said good morning back to her. Then, I looked at Brian and he just grins and says, "Did she just say what I think she said?" haha, very funny! Well, I guess it is not the first time that something like that has happened. Another member of the church, who happens to be from Wadena, has know Brian's family for years, and is a neighbor to his parents asked one morning how "the Thomas's" were doing. Brian thinks it is a sign. Maybe it is. I don't know. Time will tell for sure. I am in no hurry to make that leap again. I want everyone in this family to be onboard before we make that commitment. Because, this time around I want to be 100% positive that I am making the right choice because it is supposed to be forever.

Saturday

Well, I was thinking that I don't have quite as well an organized plan ahead as my sister, but as I am organizing my thoughts to post this, I guess maybe I do. :) I also have a spontaneous significant other and my well thought out plans for the day can be subject to change at a moments notice.

First things first though. I wanted to make a post on here and then organize the stuff I am watching or selling on ebay. I have already purchased some Christmas presents/stocking stuffers, so am proud of that. I usually don't start shopping until after Thanksgiving. I do this because I think that I would buy way too much if I started earlier. I would forget what I have already gotten or see something else that I think would be good too.

Then, I will do a few things around the house that I have neglected this week. Probably throw in a load of laundry, wash my bedding, scrub the bathroom, and hopefully also vacuum.

Our plans for the day are to drop off the cookie dough that people ordered from Heather. We got most of it delivered last night, but 3, we didn't catch at home. We are hoping to take care of that today. Then on to do some Christmas shopping/browsing. And, of course, get some groceries before the kids come back next week. I've been keeping things pretty well stocked lately, so we don't really need alot of things, just staples mostly. We have found that we go through about 6-8 gallons of milk on the weeks that they are here. Luckily, we have a grocery store in town and we frequent that at least once a week for those kinds of things-bread, milk, sometimes meat too. Their meat dept. isn't too bad. But, I wouldn't want to buy my bulk of groceries there (much too expensive).

We will need to get back by 6:00 pm too. We got a call last night from friends inviting us out for supper. It is funny how life can come around full circle sometimes. We have started socializing with my best bud from high school and her husband more lately. We kind of drifted apart when I was married, despite the fact that she is married to my ex-husband's first cousin. Well, now that he and I are no longer together, we have started spending time together again. She and her husband ride with us and we have gone out to eat with them a couple times now. Besides that, anytime she and I have seen each other we have always been able to talk on and on.

Well, on to ebay. I keep getting interrupted in this post by emails from a buyer that is asking questions about one of my listings. I hope she buys. It is good to find a home for all this inventory that I have had. I'm glad someone can use it.

Our Thanksgiving Plans

I'm not copying my sister, really. I was originally planning on posting my Thanksgiving plans, but she beat me too it. Sister-in-law, Peggy, asked a couple weeks ago what our plans were and I said we would have to get back to her. as I didn't know for sure what the kids' other families were planning. Our other sis-in-law had said they were going to be out of town, so it would just be our two families. We went ahead and asked his Mom if it would be ok to ask Matt and Peggy's family to their house for dinner. Then, we thought we could head over to their house to watch football games. In the meantime, Tony and Amy's plans changed. (imagine that)



So, the plan is that on Thursday, we will head to Brian's parents for dinner. His mom cooks everything. She makes awesome homemade buns. Everyone hangs around when she takes them out of the oven and then we eat 2 or 3 while they are still warm and the butter is melting out of them. She makes her own yummy beans too. They are light in color, maybe white or navy beans, have a sweet sauce on them and she crumbles bacon in them. She also makes mac-n-cheese. I think my brother-in-law would like that. There will, of course, be the usual turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy. She also usually makes a coleslaw or some kind of salad to go with it. And the pies....she make awesome pies and a pumpkin dessert. Even picky KJ loves her apple pie. She even shared the recipe and I made a couple once. They were gone in no time. I think she ate at least 3 pieces of it.



Then we will head to Tony and Amy's later in the afternoon to play cards and eat supper. I know we will be stuffed, but I'm sure we can make room for more. I'm glad it turned out this way, because I do like to cook for everyone. I too, will most likely make "the beans". My kids like corn casserole and I will make these awesome sausage stuffing balls that I got out of Kraft Foods magazine. Peggy got the turkey and I'm sure Amy will do the rest. I like that we do it like a potluck, so no one gets bogged down with everything. I think Brian's mom enjoys doing it all herself.

I am glad to see that I did not lose this post. The power went out as I was proofing it. I would have hated to try to type it all again. Thank goodness for the autosave feature.

Well, I was going to type that I'm not sure yet what my kids will do for the day. They are with us next week and their Dad will be going to his girlfriend's family's for dinner. His mom will have theirs on the Sunday following. So, I will let them choose. I know they will want to come along to Uncle Tony's place. And, I will let them go with their dad on Sunday. Brian's girls will most likely come with us to their grandparents, they love her food. We won't know until the last minute what their mother plans for them.. Another one of the frustrating things about her. She usually has to see what suits her best at the moment. (Jules, I think you could probably come up with some actual psychological diagnosis for her) Usually she picks them up after they eat and takes them to her sister's house. Sometimes, they barely get to eat before she shows up and it is too bad, because they really don't like going to her family's place. Hallie would rather play with Tony and Matt's kids. She loves playing with Jayde. But, I guess we need to give her time too. I prefer to let the kids choose.

Mom you should be getting pics of the kids in the next couple of days. We sent them yesterday.

Rerun

Yet, another busy week ahead. It is becoming a rerun, playing the same over and over. I worked yesterday. Am off today, but KJ has a basketball game this evening. First we have to go to the dentist. And, somewhere in there, I have to get the ingredients and make snacks for her confirmation class which is tomorrow after school. That should be fairly easy. Then choir practice in the evening, and work until 8 on Thursday night. Then the weekend begins. Sound familiar? Do your lives ever feel like reruns playing over and over again? I'm sure sometimes they do. Same boring life, same scene playing again and again. I like change and look forward to something that breaks up the humdrum of everyday.

I was just telling Brian last night, how I can't believe that I have been working at the clinic for 4 1/2 years now. I made it past the first 1-2 years without thinking it was time to move on and find something new. That is a record for me. I can't even believe that we have been living in this same house for 2 years. I don't think I have lived in any one spot for much more than that. I still like to look at the local real estate web sites and see if they have anything that I would like. Am always thinking of my dream house. I do love the location where we are at though and maybe someday.........we can build a dream house here. Or.....do like Brian thinks and wait for the neighbors to die and try to buy theirs. heheheheh! Just kidding.

He and I have been together about 2 1/2 year too. But, we keep having the same reoccuring nightmare. Just when we think things are going well with the kids, something happens to screw it up. And, it always seems to have something to do with his ex and his kids. I pray for guidance with this alot. You all know how I love kids. I love mine deeply. I love all my nieces and nephews as if they were my own, but I am finding it very hard to love his children. Maybe it is just the resentment I have toward their mother. Or maybe it is just that they seem to me to have more of her traits than their fathers. I don't know!!! It drives me crazy. I love him, but somedays I hate his children.

Right now the problem is Heather. She is 14. She is failing 3 out of 4 of her classes. Last year she was doing fine, mostly B's and not below that. I asked KJ what she thought was the problem, she said it was like she just didn't care about anything. I can tell that in the way she likes to keep her portion of her room and the way that she likes to shirk her duties when her father asks her to do dishes or other things to help out around the house. It frustrates me. We took away her phone for the week or at least until she gets her grades up. And that is a constant battle, because her mother calls one night saying how Heather has got to call her boyfriend, because he is going nuts not being able to talk to her. Who is the parent here?? So, Brian lets her and supposedly she broke up with him. I sure hope so. Then the one night when KJ and I were gone to one of her games, Brian made supper. There was a huge pile of dishes in the sink and they were still there when I got home. I find him on the couch and her on the computer. Are you kidding me?? So, of course I do the dishes and then ask him why she couldn't have done the dishes while he was making supper. Apparently, he asked her twice and she just ignored him. He yelled at her for being on the computer too. Right now, as I type this it sounds like nothing, but at the time, I am furious.

Then on Sunday morning he gets a message from his ex that Heather needs a new winter coat and proceeds to tell how Heather is afraid to ask, she had to buy Hallie one and she bought Heather's shoes and blah, blah, blah. Always so negative and defensive. No wonder I can't stand her. Anyway. Hallie really didn't need a new coat, she has one here that still fits her and is still good. Plus, Brian still pays her child support, so technically, she isn't really paying for those things, he is. Duh!

Sound familiar, yet another rerun. Please pray for me, for them, or wherever you think it is needed. I have tried praying for guidance in dealing with this, but I'm not having any luck.

Concert update

Ty had a great time. He made it home safe and behaved himself. Our prayers worked. The ding-dongs did stay in Cedar Rapids with the brother of one of his friends (at his dorm/apartment). The concert was in Cedar Falls!! They might as well have just come home. Duh!

Rock concert

Today Ty is going to his first rock concert. He asked me about a month ago if he would be able to go. Well, other than the ghost riding episode, he is basically a really good kid. Sometimes he makes lapses in judgment, but he could be so much worse. I said yes. I think at first he thought I would absolutely say no, because he made the excuse of how KJ had already gotten to go to a concert. I laughed, because after all, it was only Hilary Duff. I don't consider that a real concert, like the one he is embarking on. I told him that didn't really count. Besides, she went with her cousin and their friends, with their friends' mother and grandmother. Ty's will be a bunch of teenagers, mostly boys at a real rock concert. And, most of us know what goes on at rock concerts. Sex?, drugs, rock and roll!! But, with him I am not really too concerned. And, he assured me that someone else would be driving this time. Which, brings me to another worry.....someone else is driving. Aaahhh!! What if they are not a good driver? What if they get reckless with a car load of other boy teenagers and besides that it is snowing today. So far, at least it is not a heavy snow, just spitting a little. But, the pavement is still wet.

Then he also proceeded to tell me that they may not come home tonight. They may stay with someone in the city in which they are going. Again, I am torn. It would be safer, because it will be late, but where will they be staying? It might be at someone's dorm room. Will there be a party there? Will they get into trouble? Again, at least they will be in one spot and not on the road. So, many things to worry about. So, I will say my prayers again and wish for him to make good choices and stay safe. I hope you all will too.

Mom

I couldn't title this one 'Grandma' like the last one, 'cause I know that would confuse you. My memories growing up with Mom.....how can I keep this short and pay due tribute. Obviously, I was with her the longest of the 4 of us. But, because I had a brother born so shortly after me, I didn't get much of her to just myself. :)

I remember that she worked alot and worked hard to provide for us. Don't be offended Mom, but I feel like we kind of grew up together, a little, because you were so young when you had us. I remember the first time, as a young teenager, when you told me how I came to be, and just how young you were. I think I did something to make you mad. Probably some teenage attitude. And, you let me have it. I think that was the beginning of us being closer and how I came to share almost everything with you. I think I have gotten to that point with my daughter too, and I hope to continue that friendship.

I remember Dad being gone alot on "stayaway". Once you got us up to either say goodbye to him or to wake us up to see him when he got home. I don't remember which it was. But, I do remember being in my pajamas and being sleepy and it was dark out. Before the younger 2 were born you used to get everything ready for us to go camping on the weekends. Did you know back then that you would be doing it all the time??

I guess at the oldest, I remember things alot different than Juli, because she was the youngest. I remember you being at work and me doing alot of the chores around the house to help out. Oh, how I remember those lists. Now that I am a mom too, I realize just how much those lists had to help you out. And, I feel guilty that I didn't put more effort into it. I didn't know!!! I appreciate it so much when I can delegate jobs and can relax when I know I don't have to do it all.

So, anyway, MOM, Happy Birthday! You really did teach me alot by setting the examples that you did. I love you!

Grandma

Had our company employee appreciation party on Saturday night. It was fun, we hardly ever get to do it because it is so hard to get that big of a place to agree on what they want to do. We usually end up spending the alotted money on pizza at lunchtime toward the end of the year. Those of us that were interested decided it was time to take over and plan something. We decided to go local and go bowling. So, we had a big pizza and bowling party. Unfortunately, only 25 of about 50 employees showed with spouses and significant others. But, that just made it more fun. Who wants to have a bunch of party-poopooers there anyway.

So, let me get to the reason for my title for this blog. One of the employees ended up bringing his little girl along with his wife. She really had alot of fun and I enjoyed watching her. On a previous night, I got to enjoy talking with another friends' grandkids. I suddenly got that motherly twinge that some women get with kids. Or may it is just me, because I can relate to kids so much better than adults. Probably because they don't intimidate me the way some adults do. I just love the way their little faces light up when I talk to them and treat them like they are important, because of course, they are. I have decided this twinge is different than the one I used to get when I was younger and considered having another child, because I decided along time ago that I wasn't going to be having anymore children. At least not biologically. No, this was a maternal instinct of another kind. For years now I have enjoyed the company of my nieces and nephews and loving them as if they are my own. Now I think that I am ready to advance to a different level, as grandmother. But, don't get excited, I am not going to be or planning on being one anytime soon. I just am ready for when the time comes. I am looking forward to the time when I can look into the face of another newborn and know that I was and will be a part of that little person's growth and love. And, I can spoil them and then send them back to their parents and not be tied down to them 24/7. :)

And, maybe that time will be sooner than I think, at least as a step-grandmother. As Brian and I advance in our own relationship, I could possibly be step-granny to one of his grandchildren in a nearer future than my children will be procreating. And, that I can handle better than I have been handling being stepmom to his children. Probably because this time I will be starting out with them as newborns and that to me is easier to grow into, rather than starting out with them half grown.

Crazy Days

I can't think of anything to write. That is why I haven't blogged all week. My life this week has been fairly boring. Unless you call the crazy work week I have had unboring. The last couple of days have just been the kind of days where you just have to laugh, wondering what else can happen. These usually are reserved for full moon days. I know that is probably a myth.

So, anyway, the last 'how many' Fridays we have had a shortage of doctors, at the clinic that I work. For some reason, none of them seem to want to work Fridays and then we end up with about 2 out of 9 providers working. Well, of course, that makes our jobs as nurses and receptionists that much harder. How are these 2 doctors supposed to see every patient that wants to come in. We do the best we can, but then you end up with the ones who don't make appointments ahead and just come in and expect someone to fit them in or treat them without being seen. This makes for some really ornery nurses some days, because they are the ones that have to triage them and decide which ones we will work in now and which ones can wait until later at urgent care. Then there are the ones that seem to show up just when you think you have worked to capacity and have a laceration or fracture and you know they definitely have to be seen. And, not just one will show up most times, there are usually 2 or 3. It's really bizarre. Then you add the babies who decide to be born at the most inconvenient times. That leaves you trying to work in the patients from one doctor to another doctor, because the original one has to go deliver that baby. Then to top things off, after you have turned people away because the schedules are full, someone has the nerve to not show up for an appointment. Now isn't that frustrating, you could have seen someone else in that time frame. I guess I could go on and on with the stories.

But, don't get me wrong, not everyday is like that. There are days that go smoothly where everyone that needs to be seen, is seen, and everyone shows for their appointments. And, we really do like to put the patient first. It is just those inconsiderate ones that make your day frustrating. Especially the ones that are in the frame of mind that they are the only patient that a doctor has and that they are the only ones that have serious health issues. I don't want to belittle their ills, but they should realize that there just may be someone else sicker than they are and those patients made appointments ahead of time. And, the doctor or nurses are not just sitting around waiting for them to call or come in.

Well, that is enough of my venting. I guess I had someone to talk about after all.

Silent sideline coach I am not

Ah, have I mentioned how hard it is being the mom of teenagers?? I think so, many times. Today, was one of those days, but in a different way than usual. Koree had her first basketball game for the 8th grade season. I really do enjoy watching them learn and grow and play. But, the first game or two can be so frustrating as they relearn the ropes. Well, her team has about 20 girls on it, so of course, not everyone can see most or all of the playing time. Luckily, the coaches she has had realize that they all need to play to learn their potential. Well, she did get some time in, but it is hard to watch her making what I feel are airheaded mistakes. I think though that once she is comfortable again, she will do fine. Just as she did in volleyball. Did I mention that she got voted "Miss Endless Effort" again by her volleyball teammates?

As I was saying, it can be very frustrating as a parent seeing the mistakes that they are making and not being able to really do anything about it, other than wringing your hands and pulling your hair out. So, for now I will be a silent sideline coach and I hope that their real coach sees that these girls really really need to start shooting practice and ballhandling and a little less running killers. I remember the days when I was playing and shooting and shooting and shooting. But, the good news is, the other team was an equal match. We won, by 2 points in double overtime. So, the torture lasted longer than usual. Oh, the agony. I know just how my own mother must have felt all those years ago.

November 1

So, after an interesting Halloween......wow. On, Thursday night, I worked late and Ty wanted to go to a haunted house with 2 carloads of his teenage male friends. Scary, huh? He stopped by and got some money from me and I proceeded to tell him to drive extra careful and be home early, all the usual mom stuff. After all, he has only had his license back less than a week. Around 10:30 that night, as I lay awake worrying, I decided to call him to be sure he made it back to town safely. They were on their way. Then I get a call from Brian around 11:30 as he is on his way to work. Apparently, he heard it on his scanner that someone was following 2 carloads of boys with their "hands" hanging out the window. He tried to call Ty, but he didn't answer, so I called him twice. Luckily, he calls me back, because he knew that I and/or Brian would be calling him. Meanwhile, I had been praying constantly, waiting to hear from him and worrying that he would lose his license until he turns 18. He states that they had passed a car, that apparently did not like it and that person(s) proceeded to follow them closely with their bright lights on. The boys apparently were getting angered by this and threw one of their POP cans out at them. Well, the person decided they needed to call this in and reported that they were following a car load of boys who were throwing BEER cans out the window. The boys were in luck though, because they were familiar with the deputy on duty and he followed them to the house they were staying at and they told their story and he said everything was ok. Good, I am thinking that maybe my prayers were answered. So, that is the beginning to my story.

Next day after getting home from work, I decide to connect with the kids and get an itinerary for the evening. Ty is planning on spooking kids at a haunted house put on by another high school student. This sounds like fun, but I encourage him to let someone else drive for a change. I don't need anymore worried nights and really don't want him to have anymore temptations to get into trouble. As I am on the phone, I am looking out the window and notice that someone has driven through our yard, making some deep ruts that I can see from the house. So, of course, I question him about this, thinking he may know something about it. He says no, and I think nothing of it.

The weather turns out to be beautiful and I got off work a little early, so Brian and I decide to take the motorcycle out for a little spin to enjoy the weather before trick-or-treating. We head out of town going past the portion of the yard that has been driven through and realize that whoever went through the yard had slid going up it, nearly missing the utility pole in the yard and that some front end damage and alot of grass has to be stuck in or around the tires. We decide that we will do some more investigating when we get back. There are some college boys that live just down the street behind us, so we decide to go by there and check out their cars. Only one is home and that is clean. As we head back down the street to go home, we see that our neighbor lady is out sweeping her porch and we get another view of the yard. We realize that whoever went up the ditch had to be going quite fast and has not only dug in the yard, but has ramped it landing about 10 feet further in the yard, then swerving into the neighboring yard and narrowly missing their house and just inches from taking out their deck. In fact, some of our sod was laying on their sidewalk. Now we are really curious and the neighbor guy gets home about this time and he isn't too happy about the fact that someone narrowly missed hitting his house. He works at a car repair shop and inspects the damage to our yard and figures that whoever did it must have some front end damage.

We take Hallie to the town Halloween party and she hooks up with a friend to go trick-or-treating so we decide to do some investigating, still not so sure that it wasn't one of Ty's friends who thought they were being funny. We checked all their cars and don't see any sign of damage or grass. After, I finally hear back again from Ty, he comes to the same conclusion that we have that it has to be the college kids next door. He also informs us that they like to have parties at a house in the country down the road from us.

Well, today we had big plans to rake up leaves and also to burn the pile of branches and twigs that have accumulated in the back yard. Had a big bonfire. While we were out there, Brian did some more looking around and sees that whoever did the damage must have actually fallen asleep because they started out across the street at another neighbor, went off the road there, swerved and just missed our mailbox across the street and then entered the ditch in our yard. Scary, huh? Hopefully, we or the sheriff's department can figure out who did it. (we did notify them)

So, anyway, we got the yardwork done, peeled potatoes for tomorrow's Norwegian meatball dinner at church, and are now just being lazy. The weather is turning cold and we are watching Iowa get beat by Illinois. KJ has gone to help Kal babysit their little cousins. Ty and his friend Schori are here waiting for me to get off the computer so they can get back to Xbox. Brian is sleeping and his girls went to a wedding with their mother. Oh, and I did make a big pot of chili and some beer bread to go with it. YUM-O. I think I will go back to reading my book and curling up by the spaceheater.

Grey hair

As I was getting myself ready for the day, I noticed a bright white hair showing in my copper colored ones. I know they are there, but I really don't like that they stand out so much more than they used to. I showed it to Brian and asked how I could miss such a stand out hair in all the red. Well, of course he has to point out that there is about 10 of them there. What!?!? Of course, he was kidding, but there were a few more than the one that so strikingly stood out to me. And of course, I had to investigate further to see if there really was more than the one. Mostly I found blonde or lighter red hairs mixed in there, but yes indeed, there were more white ones than I like to think about. I don't know if it is just because of my age or not, but I seem to notice alot more of them in the 2 years since my illness. I think that may have contributed to some of it, but I know that my genetics have something to do with it also. Grandpa John was white for as long as I can remember and I think mom's would be too if not for some help in covering it up.

Not so long ago, I had an elderly lady come up to me in WalMart to compliment my hair color. I've kind of become accustomed to it as it happens often. She asked if it was natural and proceeded to tell me how hers was that color once. And, it was obvious that the color in her hair was not a natural red. :) My great aunt Pat once told me that hers was my color too and that it just went white/grey overnight. Oh, joy! just what I wanted to look forward to.

I guess aging is inevitable, but after so many years I have become accustomed to having a beautiful shade of red. This, despite the fact that I hated it as a child. I guess the other kids were just jealous and felt they had to call me names to take the focus off themselves. I know that now as an adult, but it hurt as a child. I guess now I can look forward to experimenting with other colors, but I would really love to keep the color I have, cause only God could have done such a great job of getting the color just right. And, there are so few of us redheads that I have to remind other little redheads of how special they are.

I lived

Funny how we stress over having company and worrying about making sure things go ok. Only to find it was not that bad. Everyone enjoyed each others company and Bridget's boyfriend said the food was awesome.

I was pretty proud of myself with the food. I cooked a turkey myself and then made turkey/dressing sandwiches with it. A coworker gave me the recipe and it was really easy. I had looked up the recipe online, but the one I found was really complicated. I didn't use as many of the ingredients as she did though, because her recipe called for a 16-20 lb. turkey and mine was only about 11.5 lbs. Besides, I have plenty of leftovers with what I had. I also made baked beans, which I never have gone wrong with. Guess I get that from my mother, she always made great baked beans. Throw in some chips and Kay's cake and it was a good meal. Plus, there is lots of cake leftover. I've had a couple pieces already and there is still enough for the kids to have some when they come back tomorrow.

Brian's ex even let us have the girls over for lunch without a hassle. I noticed a little tension between his sister-in-law and sister at first, but then things seemed to ease as we all joined the conversation. So glad to have everyone there together again. Since the death of Brian's nephew, the family has had some troubles and I hope today some fences were mended.

So, now my house is still clean after having company and I can relax for a few days before I have to start over again.

Cleaning

I've decided that I need to entertain more. I've been cleaning all morning and making food for tomorrow. (Heather is getting confirmed) I've always thought my house was fairly clean, but boy when I know that someone is coming over, I have looked really closely in the corners, etc. and I have some killer dust bunnies growing. Yuck! So I have come to the conclusion that if I entertain more, I will clean better. Then maybe I won't be as stressed when I have people over, I will become accustom to it. It is also a good thing that I did a lot of cleaning last week. I don't feel that I have to pack it all in today. Plus, when Brian wakes up (he worked last night) he will help me. I'm assigning him the entryway. He can clean around all those deer antlers, they are his after all.

I suppose, now that I have eaten and refueled, I should get back to work on the next project.

Mom and Dad

Thanks to my sister for posting on her blog and reminding me that it was Mom and Dad's anniversary today. I remembered to call her this evening to wish them a happy day. Sounds like Dad is gonna make them some beer butt chicken. You'd think I'd remember that they have been together 39 years considering I will be turning 39 next spring, Ugh! One year closer to the big 40. Yes, Jules, that means you will soon be 30. Ha! I would love to go back to 30, I didn't mind turning 30 at all. Maybe I will say that about 40 when I turn 50, and 50 when I turn 60. :) My good friend Ruthie, who just turned 70, reminded me that it isn't so bad, cause you know more when you get older and you can sit back and just watch people and just know stuff. Does that make sense?

I have the news on as I type this and am amazed. A couple weeks ago when we went on our last trip for the season, we went through a little town called Balltown, where there was a big line of people waiting to enter a restaurant there. A couple nights after that we learned that this place was kind of famous in that the previous building had burned down and had just recently opened after being rebuilt. They also said how good the food was there and I have heard some other people since then talk about how good it was. So, just yesterday, I was telling my good friend Tracy and her husband that we should think about going there to eat some night. Well, she emails me this morning and says the place burned down again!! Can you believe it? Sure enough, I have the news on and that is what they said. Guess someone doesn't want them to be in business. One of the ladies I was talking about said they had just been there on Tuesday of this week and there was a long line to eat there then. It must have been good, too bad we may have to wait to get to try it out, if we get to at all.

Well, Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. I love you.

I tried to add a picture from their wedding day, but I can't seem to figure out how to transfer it from my scanner program to my post.

Death and Affirmation of Faith

Not sure how to title this one. Maybe I should start doing that after I have written my post. As I look back, my posts seem very long. Maybe because I don't write everyday.

Found out this week, that one of our former PE teachers and long time coach passed away. I think anyone that attended Valley in the 30 years that he was there can relate to all of the games that he taught us and Mr Mack's rules of play. Mostly the rules that he made up for good sportsmanship during class. Like, never throwing the volleyball over the net to the opposing team when it was their turn to serve. Brian and I are going to attend the visitation tonight. I feel obligated and so does he since we went to school with his children and now our kids go to school with his grandkids. Also, we have grown accustomed to seeing him and his wife at every one of the grandkids' sporting events. And, joking with them when we disagree with a call made by the referee.

We decided last night that we will host a gathering of his family after Heather's confirmation on Sunday. Ugh! Nothing like making last minute plans. We have been going back and forth on whether we would do it or not because her mother couldn't make up her mind. And, she is known for waiting until the last minute. So, I guess I will be spending the next couple of days stressing and straightening the house for company. He reminded me that it wasn't that bad. But, you know how it goes when you have different company over and you just think you need everything perfect. Luckily, I had done a major cleaning last weekend, so I don't have to do so much, just the things that I didn't get done like the front entry. That is one that I put off because it seem so be such a big project. I think I will enlist Brian's help with that because most of the problem is dusting around his deer antlers. Yuck. I already have most of the shoes put away or arranged anyway. But, will need to vacuum. Then, there is always the bathroom and picking up the little clutter piles that I put off until they bother me too much to stand any longer.

Well, I better find something productive to do here at work. Some afternoons are kinda quiet, so I can get away with this. :)

Spending the day with my kids

Ok, so I haven't been on in a while either. Too many distractions at home sometimes. Actually, it's hard to get on the computer when Ty is connected online with his Xbox. He would play all day if I let him. I did get him off long enough to help Brian to mow the yard and rake up the leaves on Sunday afternoon. And, he helped me move the couch. I got a wild ambition to rearrange the living room. I like it, it seems a little cozier. I hope I can leave it that way for the holidays too. Will just have to find a new place for my tree.

Well, yesterday I took my kids shopping. I figured that Brian would be sleeping most of the day and he already had planned to take his daughter to get her haircut. I won't even go into the pain that turned out to be. But, shopping with my kids was actually pretty fun. We all kind of share the same sense of humor and they didn't even pick on each other as badly as they have in the past.

KJ needed basketball shoes and that is the main reason that we went. Of course, there were other things that I had to battle her against getting, because after all, she is my daughter and she enjoys shopping and getting new girlie things. Luckily, I held her off. Ty is the one who I thought needed things, but he said he had enough jeans to wear. I thought he might need some sweatshirts for the cooler weather, but he said that all he really needs is one, as long as, that one is clean. I did end up buying him one. Gotta love him. He is so easy to buy for.

We tried to stop by to get his license reinstated, but unfortunately, his dad hadn't gotten the SR-22 insurance filed soon enough, so he will have to go back and try later this week or wait until next week, when they are off for parent teacher conferences. I did have a chat about their report cards over lunch. They both said that they were doing well, even in the ones that I was a little worried about. I guess we will see for sure when I retrieve them. I'm glad that I don't really have to speak with their teachers much. They are basically good students. KJ struggles a little with organization and it usually takes one night of sitting out a game for her to get back on track. She doesn't like that much. And, neither do I.

Like I said, I really enjoyed the day with my kids. We laughed together, talked, and just all around had a good day. I have to enjoy them as much as I can before they are grown and moved away from me. I sometimes wonder if they talk with their dad as much as they talk with me. It seems they are starved for my attention when they come each week. Some days, when I get home from work, I can hardly break away to go to the bathroom, without them stopping me to share what they did the previous week. But, I wouldn't change it for the world. I love them and I have really enjoyed watching them grow into adolescents. They test my nerves sometimes, but I don't think I could ask for much better kids.

I was complaining about Brian's ex to them as we got home and of course, I was just blowing off steam. Ty looked at me and asked if I would like him and his friends to egg her house!! HA! I almost agreed to it if he wouldn't get caught, but of course, he said he was just kidding and I would never actually let him do that no matter how mad she would make me. That wouldn't be very Christian of me, would it. He just laughed. I hated to take them back to their dad after such a great day, but at least I got to spend the day with them rather than sending them off to school and me going off to work in the morning. That means the week without them will be that much shorter. Besides, they usually have to come back to my house for something anyway. Like, KJ's cell phone charger which is sitting on my dining room table waiting for her right now.

I suppose I had better wind things down here at work for the evening before I go home. It hasn't been too busy, I've only been interrupted in my typing a few times. :)

Teenagers, ugh.

I'm writing this on a chilly Saturday morning. Was tempted to stay in bed, but then the bedframe broke as I rolled over to give Brian a kiss. So much for sleeping in. Actually, I had been awake for awhile, engrossed in a book that my daughter loaned to me, "Twilight". I think her grandmother bought the series of books for her on her trip to Colorado to visit her aunt and cousins. I also finally acquired the Chronicles of Narnia series back that her aunt bought for the kids awhile ago. I'll have plenty of reading material for winter.

Brian, who is known for sleeping in on Saturday, because in his excuse 'I'm a third shift worker', ended up having to get up to fix the bedframe. While he did that, I made my usual Saturday morning breakfast pizza. It turned out good, as usual, even though I cooked the second one a little long. We were engrossed in one of the movies that we rented last night. We/I only made it through 2 of the 3. His girls went upstairs and he fell asleep during the 2nd movie, "Iron Man". That is what they are watching at this time. Ty went off to work with his dad this morning and KJ is sleeping off her short night. She went to a Luther League lock-in at UNI last night and she said she didn't get to sleep until 6/6:30 this morning. Then, they left to come home around 8. She fell asleep almost immediately when she got home. Right now, she is in the middle of the living room floor as the others watch the movie. Hal is coloring quietly by herself. Which, if you listen closely you would wonder if she is actually by herself, because she is usually talking to herself.

Heather is watching the movie, but I think she is secretly seething due to her current exile into grounding. Early yesterday morning, around 3:30 am, her mother left a voice mail on her father's phone stating that someone had left an anonymous message on her home phone. The message said that Heather and another girl or girls had been out drinking at her last sleepover and was getting drunk. She stated that we shouldn't let her spend the night with a friend that she was planning to stay with on Friday night and that we didn't need to have a daughter that was getting drunk and getting hurt or raped or whatever. Kind of ironic, considering the older 2 have already done all of these things, with maybe the exception of getting raped. Or at least, I don't know if they have ever been raped, I do know, however, that they have been sexually active for quite some time. Heather, is only 14, and I was just telling Brian the night before that I felt that we were making progress with her and that she was so far, making some good choices in her life. Well, anyway, her mother also took away the new phone that she had bought her last weekend. As we were watching the movie last night, I noticed that she was holding her old phone, which I didn't think probably worked. I pointed it out to Brian. Soon after, she retired upstairs to her room and her sister followed. Then Hal came back and I asked what Heather was doing. She said she was talking on her phone. I said where and she pointed upstairs. I had Brian, go up to take it away from her and come to find out, she had taken his phone since hers did not work and was talking to her boyfriend on that!! Can you believe that? What nerve. In checking, she had been on there about 10 minutes before he took it away from her.

I seriously, do not like being the mother of teenagers. I don't think my nerves can take it. I don't even want to think what Ty has done when he is out. I don't think he has been drinking, but I most likely may be wrong. He has had plenty of opportunity, but I pray that he has made the right choices and has abstained for now. He basically has a pretty good class that is not prone to partying and drinking, but we all know that can change. And, he does have it in his genes. I have preached to both children how I feel that if it is a choice they choose to make, that they at least wait until they are adults and are able to deal with the consequences that can arise from making bad choices. This also applies to sex. And, he is a teenage boy and I do know that the opposite sex is on his mind quite often lately. Heaven help me. For some reason people keep bringing it up that I should be cautious that he may get himself into trouble in that way too. Once again, I hope he waits until he is an adult and can deal with the consequences that can arise from that subject too.

Well, it is after 12:00 and I still have not taken a shower. I have lots of stuff I want to get done this weekend, to prepare for winter around the house, and since I have seen this movie already, I should get going on some of it. Luckily, I am off on Monday, so that gives me an extra day to do things. I did spend some time on Thursday night doing some vacuuming and scrubbing of floors, so that helped some. But, I'm sure I'll take another break when the next movie starts. I'll probably be done showering by then.

Love to all.

The week ahead

Well, here it is Monday again and we have another busy week ahead. Tonight is pretty quiet, although we are a little disappointed that tonight was the for the concert that Heather needed the dress for. If we had know about it, we would have attended.

Tomorrow night the girls both have volleyball games. KJ is away and it is her last. She was a little disapointed that I said we wouldn't be there, but Heather's game is home and it is Parent's night. Brian and I are hoping that only the senior parents have to walk out on the court as we do not want to have to deal with his ex for that. As she said in one of her many rants, I don't want to talk to her because I can't deal with it. And, yes she is right, because I shouldn't have to. If she was agreeable and not so defensive all the time I wouldn't have to.

Wednesday night the kids have a cookie sales kick off for their fundraising for the Luther League convention in July of next year. For those of you that I have not informed, the 3 oldest are going to the Luther League convention in New Orleans next summer. Until then they have to raise the money for the trip by doing fundraising events throughout the year. So, if anyone is interested, they will be selling cookie dough. I'll fill you in on the details when I find out more after Wednesday.

I don't think anything is going on Thursday because it is the end of the volleyball season. Koree just reminded me that she is going to need basketball shoes and they should be starting practice already later this week. Time flies, huh.

Then it will be the weekend and who knows what we will do. I know I have to start getting this place ready for the winter. The camper needs to be winterized and there is plenty of other stuff to do. For now, I'm going to bed.

Full Moon Psychosis?

I said in an earlier post that I would sometimes post to rant about exes and today I have a rant. On Friday, Heather had asked her Dad if he would pay for half of a dress that she apparently needs for choir and also half of a new cell phone that she thinks she needs. Her phone still works it just broke a spring in the hinge. Well, recently Brian had asked her mother to pay for half of the down payment on a Luther League trip to New Orleans that will take place next summer. He also asked if she would pay half of the cost of a t-shirt and some other things that she wanted to be part of the volleyball team. Both times she refused. He also pays her child support and is also responsible for all of their school expenses.

Well, today she called again to ask if he would pay for half of the dress. He told her no, that he had paid for these other things and her mom would not pay half so he didn't feel obligated to pay half of these things. Well, of course he could hear her mother making threats in the background. He didn't feel that Heather should be put in the middle so he hung up.

Well, of course her mother calls back and leaves a voice mail, which states that he is a coward for hanging up the phone and not talking. Since he didn't answer that message she calls again. I answer it and am very angry at this point and tell her how she is the coward for not speaking to us when she saw us face to face the night before and also for putting Heather in the middle then hung up. Brian turned off his phone and she proceeds to leave 3 messages on his phone and one on mine. (We do have a home phone, but she never even calls that one). Each message she leaves is more psychotic and frenzied. I'm not an expert, but I swear we go through this about once a month or so, whether it has to do with the moon phases or just her manic phases. I don't know.

She went on to say what a bad father he is because he doesn't spend time with his children and that I must wear the pants in the family and tell him what to do, etc. What a nut! Oh, and she thinks she is the one that pays for everything, and that she is going to have his paychecks reviewed and try to get more child support because he makes more money than she does. I am hoping and praying that it backfires on her. I hope that a judge will see that she could make more money by getting a better paying job and working more hours and that he is paying more than enough considering that he has shared custody. They split like I do with my kids every other week. So, in a sense, he is paying for them to live here and at her house. Who is paying for everything here? Besides she signed a paper agreeing to accept the amount specified for child support and she has promised in the past to drop it if she and her current boyfriend got a house together. Well, they have since done that. I hope it doesn't come down to us having to get a lawyer, but we may have to fight to drop the child support all together or get full custody.

I am just so frustrated with it all and hope that by writing this I can express some of my anger in a more creative way rather than doing or saying something that I may regret.

Perfect Fall Day

Stopping at Barney's.





The view just past Osborne, we had to stop and wait for some road construction.




A bluff overlooking Guttenburg. The picture doesn't do justice to the colors.

Yesterday was the perfect day for a ride. We have done this ride in the past it is an emergency services ride that benefits St. Judes. This is their 3rd annual ride and each year it gets bigger. They couldn't have picked a better day for the ride. The leaves were at their peak of color. Unfortunately, I couldn't get pictures of the best colors because we were moving down the road. We found a new route that we will definitely do again. I can't believe we haven't done this route before on our own. We have been pretty much everywhere around NE Iowa. This route showed some beautiful scenery and then ran along a bluff overlooking the Mississippi river valley. It was awesome. There were tons of bikes out. It is a thrill to pass others and wave knowing they were enjoying the ride as much as we were.

Living with teenagers

I have been wanting to get on here and get another post done, but it has been another long busy week. I have had to come into work early every day too. We have started opening the clinic early for fasting bloodwork and this week was my turn to come in early and open up. So, my usual evening hours for being online have been cut short because I am too tired by then to think of anything to post. Right now I am sitting here at work, posting while I wait for the first patient to come in. So, it will be short.

KJ had another volleyball game last night and also one on Tuesday night. I just love watching her play. She has really gotten good and it makes me proud to watch her. You can tell that she loves it. And, Brian also loves to go and watch her play. Both girls had away games last night and he and I chose to go and watch KJ. Not that Heather isn't pretty good too, but KJ is so much more fun to watch (at least in my opinion). Heather has a good serve but she doesn't get as much action as KJ. I can't wait until they are all in high school and we can watch them all play. I think they will be very good by then.

I so enjoy watching the kids grow up even though their teen years are and will be trying, but they could be so much worse. Reassures me that I did do something right in raising them. KJ is still defining herself as a person, figuring out where she fits in, and which classmates and friends suit her best. Ty has moved on to different friends than he had when he was younger, some choices I am not so sure about, but I know that he knows what is right and trust that God will lead him to making the right decisions. He didn't even fight me this past Sunday about going to church. The last few he has argued with me about not wanting to go and wanting to sleep in, but this time he got right up. I guess it helps that church is at 10:30 now instead of 8:30. :) I wonder about his faith sometimes, but I guess time will tell.

Well, I better get to work and will probably post this evening and definitely soon after our ride tomorrow. The leaves have really changed colors and I hope to get some beautiful pictures along the river. Maybe I can get a friend to take our picture together with the bike too.

Beautiful Fall Day

Our ride yesterday was beautiful, but cool. We made sure to dress very warm as you can see from the pictures. Tracy had to stop at Dollar General, to get some warmer gloves to put under her thin leather ones and also a stocking hat for her head. I wore the nice camouflaged one that my mother knitted for me. It worked great. I also have a warm headband that can be used in different ways, yesterday I chose to wear it as a neckwarmer.

We were a little disappointed as our trip did not yield much for color. The leaves have not quite turned except on some of the north facing slopes. We hope our ride that is planned for next week will be prettier. The forecast also says that it will be cold. Around the 50's. Last year, on this same ride we were wearing short sleeves and it turned out to be 90 by the end of the day. Yesterday was in the mid-60's. Our faces were cold, by late afternoon it wasn't too bad.

I took a picture of the view from the side of our yard, where you can see that some of the leaves in town have changed, but the ones on the far hillside have not. Also, a couple of the pictures show that we indeed have leaves falling and will soon be raking. I've got one pumpkin in the yard as you can see, but need to get a couple more to add to my decor. If you look closely in the one picture with Brian's truck, you can see that we made a corn shock, from our sweet corn stalks, around the utility pole at the bottom of the driveway. I don't dare put any pumpkins near the end of the driveway though. I'm sure they would disappear and end up smashed on a roadway somewhere. The ones we grew last year, never did. Some people said they would but I think we are far enough back from the road that no one would dare try to get that close to the house.

I also added a nice picture of our motorcycle. It sits there so nice and shiny in our friends driveway. If you look in the background of that one, you will see pine branches laying on the ground. Their back door neighbor was at the top of that tree cutting them off. By the time we got back from our ride, he had the whole tree cut down. It was a very tall old pine tree. Our friends son said that his room would be alot brighter now without the shade of that tree there.

After our long ride we came home exhausted. Today, is cold and rainy. After church and Sunday school it will be a long lazy day inside watching movies with the kids. Ty, I'm sure will be back on the Xbox after I am finished posting this. They just finished off the leftovers in the fridge for lunch. I have a roast in the crockpot for supper and will probably also cook up the squash that I got from Brian's parents' garden. Will probably also have to make something else, as I don't think the kids like squash, except maybe Ty.