Crazy Swamped

So life has been right on track with keeping me busy as hell.

Sometimes I think God just thinks things are getting a little boring so he looks down, plucks my little snow globe up off his shelf and shakes it like crazy. 

Not that it is always a bad thing, it just keeps me hopping.

A week ago last Sunday, the 20th, my oldest dropped the bomb that she was moving out. Her father and I were excited for her to begin her next life adventure but she was pretty difficult on the negotiations to leave her son, our grandson, at home with us. That was a toughie.....but we are working it out.....they still eat and do laundry at our house. Oh yeah, didn't I tell you? she gave us ONE WEEK notice. That was a big adjustment for mom and dad's hearts. 

On Saturday, the 27th, we worked like dogs and got her all moved into her great new place. It really is a nice apartment and perfect for her and Jaden. 

Last week at work I spent my time juggling interviews for potential new writers to assist my staff, a deadline for a Fall Harvest section and deadlines for the weekly paper and daily website. Add that to regular meetings and it is no wonder my work weeks are well over the traditional 40 hours.  

Yes, in a very sick world, I am living my dream. 

My youngest daughter had her Junior Homecoming on Saturday...we had to work that into the crazy moving day. That didn't bode well for Becca, the ride, 'All About Me,' broke down a few times. But with a firm bag 'o tricks, the world was righted with a quick maneuver or two and we were off again. She wore a beautiful tea-length black dress and Meg cut, colored and styled her hair....she was gorgeous....she left for the dance from a friend's house where the girls readied for the dance.....I was a little disappointed, usually all the girls gather at our house for the readying of these events, but it was a little crazy with the move. I am still waiting on pictures. My threat is that she has to dress up again for recreated pics if I don't get them soon...that should light a fire because she HATES to get al dressy, dressy.

At about 1 a.m Sat. morn, I had enough. Meg and Jaden were moved, beds were put up and that was good enough for me. Stephen and I headed home and proceeded to drop dead asleep. I guess Rob, Becca and Aaron weren't far behind us, about 30-40 mins, but I didn't hear them enter the castle.  Sunday we finished the move with final touches of groceries, odds and ends and by Sunday night, Jaden was happy to head to his new home because he was exhausted! And, I was broke!

Meg learned that one can cook Hot Pockets in a real oven.....you don't have to have a microwave and that those old fashioned hot boxes called ovens really do perform a useful function.

Really, she is a good cook and knows how to use the oven, she was just used to having a microwave and now she doesn't have one at her new apt. I got the text about 10:30 p.m. Sunday saying, "I was just thinking, I got hot pockets and no microwave. lol. "

Received a gift in the mail from a friend on Friday....that made my day since the week was kinda tough emotionally....was nice to get something that made me smile. Thanks Rita!

My sons both received a go cart this weekend, it was used and Rob found it at a sale for $50. The boys loved it and are having a great time playing with it. It works, the couple's own kids had grown and they were getting rid of it. So, after helping move their sister in a whirlwind weekend, it was a small reward and they are having a blast.

Hope your last week was as blessed as mine. Talk to you all soon.

GIrls night out! Well, maybe.

Well, so much for girls night out to the Royals game. ...

 

First,  I get these killer tickets to the  game - club level - six of them. Rob is playing cards with his buddies on the same Friday so  instead of family outing - it gets to be girls night......YEAH! (Can you tell I don't get as many of those as I would like.) 

Sooooo, I round up the girls. Beer, hotdogs, ball at the park....I can't wait. Really. Next to Hawks basketball, its golden.

 We plan all week. We'll hit a restaurant in Liberty on the way then its off to park. It's Fireworks Friday too!

Well, one by one the mighty fell. Work, Family, Family event, illness - the reasons start to roll in Wednesday and

 continue to flow until I am left all alone. Dumped. Sigh. Well - I guess I could clone myself and have one hell of a time. 

Nah.....too much me. ~Shiver~that was scary. 

Anyway, guess I'll just hang my head and either go alone, or call some more friends (to tell them about these last minute tickets I picked up) and hope they don’t throw my out of the car on the side of the highway because they find out I didn’t call them first!

Go Royals! Hope I’m there to see you tonight.

Hello..... Again

So I discovered I had this long forgotten blogspot page since about 2006. I stumbled across it while following a couple of friend’s and some family and realized I had forgotten all about it. Story of my life.... getting lost in the aftermath of chaos never to be found again (well, or to be tripped over at a much later date). I must have thought at one  time I had something  profound to say. We all see where that one went. 

Anyway, I thought what the heck...I’ll try it again. I still don’t have anything of importance to

 say but hey, If you’ll listen, I’ll talk. 

My life is crazy; I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am a 40-year old mother of four great kids (Okay-you caught me on a good day) and my husband and I have been married for about 22 years.  I am a writer - yes, someone actually pays me to babble like this - and this last year I became a grandma ~~shiver~~ If I didn’t love that baby so damn much I’d crack in half at the thought of the word. 

Am I that old? 

We are a family of 7 and the grass does not grow under anyone’s feet in our house. 

I work full time, rule 4 kids, hold positions on 4 different boards, volunteer for six community programs and I'm sure there  is more I have forgotten but I'm sure I'll remember about the time I am due for a meeting! You can hear about it then. 

My husband, well, if he would ever come down off of that cloud he’s been on since his grandson

 was born, has finally slowed down enough to enjoy the family and simple pleasures of fishing, 

camping and just hanging out with his family. He spent many years working hard to take care of us all while the kids were little and I went to college. He deserves some well-earned take-it-

easy-and-relax-time. 

I do believe next to the birth of his own children, this was the happiest day of Rob’s life...

Watch closely, you’ll se a reoccurring theme here. 

Meg, my oldest, is a cosmetologist and mother of the cutest grandbaby in the world. She's got a chair at a great salon here in town. We’ve told her that if she ever moves out.....Jaden has to stay. I really have to say that she is a great mom. I am pretty proud of her - she does a good job.

 

My baby and the boy of her dreams.

Becca, she’s my youngest daughter and quite the songbird. Don’t let that innocent smile trick you though.....

she can be a stinker. Despite her incredible God given talent to be a drama queen, she has got a killer voice. 

She’d rather be singing than anything else. This last year she traveled to NY to perform at Carnegie Hall with her Jazz Choir. When she’s not making me pull my hair out, she really is quite loveable. Yes, Becca - I said it.

Blessed with the gift of gab and love of attention - she is always the star.

 

Stephen, now you know the commercial where the parents go on vacation to capture the teenager’s smile? Well, that is what I have to do to get a picture of my oldest son. Computers, FFA  and the outdoors make this kid tick.

However, getting the boy and a camera to go together is like forcing the positive sides of two magnets together. But, I  manage to get a click or two in here and there. 

See, he wasn’t looking!

He is probably smarter than many adults I encounter. I swear he’ll be the next Bill Gates.

Too damn smart for his own good, Stephan is at his happiest when armed with a fishing pole and his tackle box. 

Aaron, my youngest, is the musician of the family. That gift came from his daddy. Try as I might, animals everywhere plot my demise when I touch an instrument. Much like his father, Aaron has taken up the trumpet. He is the youngest, and only non-high school student ever asked to play with the HS Pep band. He has been awarded the Director’s award every year he has participated in band. 

It isn’t hard to find him....just listen for the music. 

When he isn’t playing the role of student, musician or 13 year old kid....you’ll find him working on our friend’s farm. He loves it and is already making plans for the future. 

Then there is the greatest baby in the world. He needs no explanation. 

And here is with grandpa...

 

and again...

See the theme yet?

Well, there you have it. The basics. I guess you’ll get to know me if you hang around and I decide to talk. Feel free to drop me a line -  love to meet new people. That is one of the best things about my job.

 

So, here’s to the new ‘old’ site. Let’s have fun with it.

 

D