Queen of a Disney Castle: King & Princes Included

Never really re-started

2009-04-26T10:04:00.003-04:00

But putting this one on hold because I have something more important to start. Check out my Jake's Journey Blog....

It has been ages....

2009-03-01T16:53:00.002-05:00

It has been a very long time since I have written here. I miss it so I thought I might be able to get started on it again.

So much has happened in our lives to share. New jobs and adventures, a new house, ups and downs along the way as always, but we are all doing well. Adam has his own business now and works from home with Matt which is working out great. I am still working at the hospital and happy there. Looking to venture out on options to possibly go back to school. Something I would love to do but we have to see where it fits into our schedules and finances. The boys are huge now and doing very well.

Nick is 11 now, and full of my fiesty spirirt which annoys me to death most days and causes us to butt heads continually on the smallest of things from homework assignments to cleaning his room. He is doing well in school, but I wish he would put forth more effort to reach his fullest potential there. Right now he is more concerned with rushing through assignments to complete them and getting on to his free time whether at school or at home to do what he wants. I know this comes with his age, but seeing as he is entering middle school next year I would like to make sure he has a good foundation for the tougher work coming his way. It is a constant back and forth between us which generally ends in me annoying him and vice versa. His interests have not changed much - he still loves all things computer related, video games and hanging out in his room. Still the homebody. It is my mission this year to find something outside of the house he will like to get him to stay involved in.

Jacob is 7 (8 in May), and is just doing awesome! Don't get me wrong, he has a ways to go still in everything but he has made such strides. Every accomplishment is a joy to be a part of. He is facing new things daily and actually trying them!!! You have to see him work the internet. Here is a child who has trouble with simple tasks like tying shoes, etc but can work Google Earth and You Tube like nobody's business. He spends his time looking up Disney on Google Earth including Tokyo Disney and other parks and watching You Tube videos related to the parades there and stage shows. Our family loves Disney, but for Jake it has always been his obesession and the things he has a problem enjoying at the park due to his sensory issues (like the stage shows and fireworks) he now can watch and enjoy at his volume and comfort level at home. His vocabulary is expanding and he is trying to talk so much more than before. We are working on color sight words now and some basic addition. He is a joy to everyone who works with him and such a gem to be around. He has an amazing teacher at school who has tons of experience with autistic children (She worked at Eden and is from NJ - what better combo???) and she is just FANTASTIC. I dread the day he will no longer have her. We had her last year, summer school session and this year. I will gladly keep Jake with her for as long as I am able to. He adores her and so do we! "Pillow" is no more (he used to carry this around....loong story!) but we now take a Pluto dog with us everywhere including the bus ride to school.

Alexander is 5 and in Kindergarten. Alex is something special - Jekell and Hyde...he can be the sweetest little thing, be close to angelic with a beautiful halo or he can be this tumultuous little terror complete with horns and this devlish grin. His favorite pastime is annoying the hell out of Nick. He is a ball of energy which he finds hard to control at times and also gets him in trouble alot, both at home and occasionally in school when he has some problems listening or following the wrong kid. He still has his flair for the dramatic and love of all things pink and "girly" but he loves his rough and tumble little boy action as well. He is still in speech which he is doing great with and making real strides in. We are so proud of how smart he is! He does great with Math and Reading and has kept in the 95-100% range on all grade reports. My concern with Alex is his attention span and handwriting issues, which I am sure will come up at his IEP meeting in the next 2 weeks.

Matthew is 2 and testing every limit he can. He is the youngest of four, so he talks like he is a 5 year old complete with correcting you - "Actually....". He is a doll baby in every way but a two year old terror too! :) He loves cars, trucks, school buses, motorcycles, planes, etc - anything that moves with some sort of motor. He is his father's son in that respect and I knew it when we passed an old muscle car (1960-something Mustang) and my two year old darling said "Sweeeeet" from his car seat behind me! He is so very smart and loves to learn things which is just wonderful at this age. Books and Books and Books...he loves to read and then try to reread the story to you by memory and pictures. He has not had to return to the cardiologist for his heart and won't until May to see how the hole is repairing and discuss where we go next, so nothing new there. He has been lucky to be home with Daddy now that Daddy works from home and probably drives him crazy on occasion but does really well with his new day to day care.

So in a nut shell, that's how they have been doing. We have moved from one side of our town to the other this year after Christmas. We love the new house and are happily settled in now. Poor Dozer Dog misses his fenced in yard, but he enjoys his walks now too.

Hopefully this will be my intro back into blogging as time and life allows it for me! It would be great to *see* old blogging friends again and find some new ones too.

Holy Crap!

2007-10-19T15:57:00.000-04:00

What a whirlwind this has been! Adjusting to our new schedules has been a bit difficult around here. UNfortunately I have no time to be on here right now posting regularly, but I am hoping that will change soon. I miss posting and reading everyone else's blogs too!

A quick update - The new job is going great and I really love it. I work with some very nice people, I stay busy and the benefits are great@ Can you believe they actually offer discounted annual passes to Disney World through payroll deductions there????!!!!! :)

The hours are taking some getting used to. I am actually jumping right out of bed when the alarm goes off because I HATE being late for anything, least of all work! I have to be up between 3am-3:15am and leave the house by 4:20am to be at work by 5am. I work until 1:30pm and then stop and get Alex and then Matt on my way home. I am home by 2:30-3 and then the bus comes by 4pm. I am running around cleaning, doing laundry, homework with the kids, getting dinner ready, eating, cleaning up and getting myself and the kids ready for the next day and before I know it the second I sit down I am alseep where I sit with my mouth gaping open. Not a pretty sight I can assure you. By 9-10pm, I am nearly catatonic and Adam has had to bring me into bed more times than I remember the past two weeks because I fell asleep trying to check email, or sitting on the couch, etc.

I am also working part time retail on the weekends for now to help with $$$ for the holidays so I am on 7 days a week, getting little sleep, and not really getting my household schedule adjusted just yet. I'm hoping that will all fall more into place this week now that we'll be starting week 3 of all of this.

Again - I miss reading your blogs and I am sorry mine has not ben updated in a while! I'll try my best to be better again, but bear with me. This is the last thing on my mind these days.

Wordless Wednesday #11: Two peas in a....basket

2007-10-03T09:17:00.000-04:00

Happy Dance With me!

2007-10-01T15:07:00.000-04:00

I GOT THE MEDICAL RECORDS JOB AT THE HOSPITAL!!!!

I start Monday the 8th, but have some things to complete for tomorrow! I'm very excited! Thanks for all of the well wishes on it originally!

More details to come soon!!!

Thursday Thirteen - For Nicholas

2007-09-27T07:27:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Things about my oldest son, Nicholas who turns 10 on Sunday!

1. Nick was born on Sept 30, 1997. It was a Tuesday.

2. Nick weighed 7 pounds and 7ounces when he was born and was 20 1/2 inches long.

3. We named him Nicholas Shaun. Shaun is Adam's middle name and we both really liked the name Nicholas.

4. When he was 13 months old we moved from FL to NJ where we lived for the next 4 years. On the drive to NJ, we stopped to watch John Glenn return to space!

5. Nick was in private kindergarten when we left NJ but was not old enough for kindergarten when we got to FL so he stayed home with me and his brother for one more year.

6. Nicholas has wanted to be a scientist when he grows up since he was about 4 years old. Over the years that has not changed. The only thing that has changed over the years was the things he wants to invent. It has gone from dinners in a gumball to a machine that will allow him not to die.

7. Nick is what you would refer to as an "old soul". He is older than his years in so many ways. I was like that as a child so I guess it is only natural that one of the boys would be that way.

8. Nicholas is one of the most sensitive kids around. He takes things to heart and very seriously. The concepts of life and death are always on his mind. He will ask me constantly about my grandparents who died when he was little and cry when he listens to stories about them.

9. He is forever the thinker! Inquisitive to the point of pestering annoyance sometimes!!! He needs to know everything. "Hey Mom, how do you think this rock was formed? And how might it have gotten here? Do you know mom???" And he must know things most kids might not ask someone.....like in the middle of our family vacation while swimming in the pool with my Dad he decided it would be a great time to bombard Grandpa with some questions, "So, you and Grandma Kathy got divorced. Why??? Do you love her still? How does Granny Morgan (my step-mom) feel about you being divorced?" My poor father was shocked!

10. Nick is tall like his Dad. He is almost as tall as me. By the end of next year I will be looking up at him yelling at him to clean his room. We wear the same sock and shoe size rght now. His father has a size 13 shoe so I know there will be much larger sizes to come from Nick!

11. He is a geek at heart. Not much athletic ability in him other than his endurance. He loves to be inside the house watching TV, movies, doing art projects, but mostly playing games on his Gameboy, the Wii, his Playstation or online on the computer. He is pretty awesome at them I must admit, but I would love to see him get out more.

12. He really likes bowling! We are trying to get him signed up for a league or something. He also likes checkers and wants to learn to play chess.

13. At 2 1/2 months old.....

And at 9 years old.....

Happy 10th Birthday Nicholas!!!!!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Wordless Wednesday #10 - Our new furniture came! :)

2007-09-26T12:58:00.000-04:00

Thanks Melanie!!! :)

2007-09-25T09:31:00.001-04:00

Melanie over at Our Happy Happenings gave me this award.

The person who created this award says that ".... the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement. Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose ten bloggers: Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you. So, now it is my turn to pass it on"

I now need to pass this on to ten deserving people (which there are many). I would certainly have given Melanie at Our Happy Happenings this too if she had not already gven it to me - Thanks again! I know two of you already have this award, but you are certainly some of my favorites to read, and I couldn't not include you! So here goes:

1. Amy at Happy Momma - She is an awesome mom and has a way with words

2. Amy at Amy's Random Thoughts - She shares her journey through adoption and more with everyone

3. Jesse at For the Love of Peas and Monkeys - Mom and student extraordinaire!

4. DeeDee at It Coulda' Been Worse - She is just a BALL of laughs in almost every single post!

5. Heather at Especially Heather - The epitomy of inspiration in my book

6. The Exhausted Intern at Not Enough Hours - The juggler of all things!

7. Sarge at Sarge Charlie - A true Patriot, outspoken and funny

8. Nancy at The Goat Rodeo - Another Autism Mom and great writer!

9. Michael at Valtool's Box - Down to earth family guy

10. Bridget at And Miles To Go Before We Sleep - Another Autism mom who is just so multi-talented

Yeah, I'm a little nutty like that

2007-09-25T08:52:00.000-04:00

I am sitting here this morning waiting for Rooms To Go to deliver my new sectional and recliner. I love these windows they give you. Never convenient and always show at the wrong time. Anyhow, tomorrow's Wordless Wednesday will be pics of the new furniture. I know you are anxious and bursting with anticipation to see! :)

So, as I made my coffee this morning I laughed at myself catching one of my own OCD habits, which happens quite often I will admit. I am either laughing at myself or about to crybecause someone messed up my special order of something. Anyhow, I filled up the coffee pot to add water to the well of my coffee maker and set it next to the appliance on the counter. I grabbed a few napkins from the holder, opened the top of the water well and wiped all of the condensation from under the lid and all out from the well before dumping my measured four cups of water in. So am I the only one that does this???

Contest over at Amy's --->

2007-09-21T10:13:00.001-04:00

If you have not already, I encourage you to go check out Amy at Amy's Random Thoughts . She is running a contest right now with various prizes just for your comments on her posts as well as those comments you leave at her hubby Michael's blog at Valtool's Box, but she is really worth visiting regardless! Amy is married, going through the process of adopting a baby girl from China, and works as a pediatric nurse. She is a great blogger, fun, funny, and best of all really her down to earth self! Please go stop by and see her!

Friday's Feast

2007-09-21T09:37:00.000-04:00

Appetizer
What is your favorite type of art?
What do we mean by art? To take it most literally as in paintings, drawings, sculpting, etc - Not into any specific type really, but I enjoy alot of Italian Renaissance artists. Some of my favorites would be Thomas Kinkade, Michaelangelo, Donatello, DaVinci, Monet, and Bernini. My absolute favorite art of all time would have to be my children's creations. Their personal and private gallery is located in my home but pieces of their work have been sent to relatives all over the US! :)

Soup
When was the last time you got a free lunch (or breakfast or dinner)? Who paid for it?
Sunday August 19th, Bob Evans Brunch. My uncle was visiting and took a large group of family here (there were 13 of us) out to brunch before he left to go back to TN

Salad
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how emotional are you?
I am gonna say a 9. I can cry at the drop of a hat with a sappy movie. I may be emotional but I have great control when I need to!

Main Course
Approximately how long do you spend each day responding to emails?
I check my email a few times a day every day except on the weekends I am lucky to check it once. I respond quickly generally to emails, but I have no idea how long I spend doing it daily. Maybe 30-60 minutes a day???

Dessert
To what temperature do you usually set your home’s thermostat?

We are set at 76 degrees.

2007-09-20T09:23:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Firsts

1. My FIRST born will be 10 years old next week on the 30th! OMG time flies!

2. My FIRST grade in school lower than a B was in 7th grade Home Ec when I received a D mainly for goofing around with friends instead of working and not doing homework. My father saw that D and said "I sure hope that is an oddly shaped 'O' for outstanding and not a 'D'!" Think it made a difference to him that technically it was a D+?

3. Jacob and Matthew's FIRST words were "Mama." Nick and Alex's FIRST words were "Dada."

4. My FIRST kiss was in sixth grade at a party.

5. My FIRST time hearing "I Love You" from Adam is still etched in my memory like it was yesterday.

6. My FIRST trip to Disney World happened in 1986. My mother, father, myself and my sister drove down from NJ along with my uncle, his wife at the time and my cousin. We stayed at Fort Wilderness Cabins. I got a Disney splatter hat and a Figment doll as souvenoirs.

7. I was 17 when I attended my FIRST year of college which had its drawbacks since I was not yet an adult.

8. I got my FIRST (an only right now anyway) tattoo when I turned 18. Its a dolphin on my very low abdomen area below my hip. My Midwife delivering my oldest son joked that "Flipper turned into Shamu" while I was pregnant.

9. I got highlights on my hair for the FIRST time in 2004. It was the first time (and only so far) I ever put any kind of coloring in my hair and I was terrified.

10. My FIRST car was a burgundy 1984 Chrysler Laser Turbo. It was such a piece of junk but I thought I was so cool in my wheels! LOL

11. The FIRST poem I ever had published was in 1991 in a Poetry Annual Contest for teens and I wrote it about the Gulf War. It was called "A Lonely Soldier's Cry".

12. My FIRST time away from my kids longer than 2 nights was a 7 night cruise Adam and I taken in August 2004 for our anniversary. It turned into a 10 night cruise though due to the hurricanes around that time!

13. My FIRST time lying to my parents as a child is something I won't ever forget. I was about 10 and I had told my mother that I had done something she wanted me to do which it was obvious I hadn't done and she was arguing this with me. My father stepped in and said to me that if I say I did it, then there would be no question to it since he and my mother would always believe what I told them 100% without fail because they loved me enough to know that I would be truthful with them. So he would only ask me once and that would be the end of it. Did I complete Mom's assigned task? I started to shake my head yes but couldn't fight back the tears. Then I confessed while bawling my eyes out. To this day I still feel bad thinking of it. And I know I will use it one day on my kids too!

Wordless Wednesday #9 - Matthew and his awful Pacifier Habit- Still cute!

2007-09-19T12:47:00.000-04:00

Interview

2007-09-14T13:53:00.000-04:00

I had my interview at the hospital this morning. It went very well. They have one more interview for the position and then will make their decision and make an offer on Tuesday. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

Thanks! :)

Friday's Feast

2007-09-14T12:46:00.001-04:00

Appetizer ~When was the last time you visited a hospital?

A few hours ago. I had an interview there for a medical records clerk position.

Soup ~ On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?

Overall probably like a 7. It really depends on the subject matter to which I am to be ambitious towards!

Salad ~ Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)

This house is greatly haunted (thigh)

Main Course ~ If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?

I'd probably start a playgroup for special needs children and their siblings to do things in the community like go bowling, have fundraisers, etc and promote awareness. A name??? I am so bad at things like that..... Kids with Faith, Hope and Love.... I don't know.

Dessert ~ What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?

Its like a blue-ish gray in all bedrooms and the living room. Can't wait to rip it up and put down some tile and new carpet

Thursday Thirteen #7

2007-09-13T09:05:00.000-04:00

Thirteen Random Things I am Thinking About Today

1. I have an interview tomorrow for a full time job at the hospital and I am stressing about what to wear to it. I have a gift card to JCPenney's I am wondering if I should use, but then I think it may come in handy if I get the job for actual new work clothes instead.

2. I am also already crunching numbers on what I will be paid there verses what I will pay out to daycare! Oy Vay! That and all the other new added expenses - gas, tolls, lunches, etc

3. I need to buy a child cover for the tower on my desktop so Matthew stops playing with the power button which he is doing right now driving me mad!

4. My wireless keyboard is having some problems with the letter "E" I am noticing as I type this and have to constantly go back and correct it. So excuse any typos please!

5. School fundraisers are out and about and between my children and only two of my neices so far I have spent $100 on this stuff already! I will have two new magazine subscriptions, a Christmas present for Dad, a cookbook, and a container of Cookie dough!

6. Adam reorganized our desk area to set up his new computer for a side home business he is starting. It is a mess that he apparently thought some nice lady would come in and clean up for him!

7. I need to take some pictures of some gently used items to place on Craigslist to sell. I am hoping I can make some money to take advantage of a FL resident rate night at Disney for our family in the next few weeks as a surprise for everyone. :)

8. Adam took down the "Fall Decorations" box for me and now I just need to drag it in from the garage and decorate the house. Maybe I will have it done today

9. The kids are off from school today and tomorrow so I need to find things to do with them to keep them occupied and ME sane. Maybe a craft project and the park.

10. PARP program started at school - the kids love this each year. It is called Parents As Reading Partners and they get to track how many books we read together in a week. A play is put on where the outcome is determined by how many books the kids read and if TV, Video games, etc will win over reading time with Mom and Dad.

11. I bought the kids the book "Flat Stanley" and we are going to make our own Flat Stanley and send him along with a throw away camera to some relatives around the country so the kids can see how the project works. I am very excited to do this with them and I know they will get a kick out of it!

12. Halloween is coming and my boys are already trying to think about costumes. Alex has asked to be a ballerina, a princess, or a pokemon. Yes, I know he is a boy but he seems to have a flare for girl stuff. I am working on locating a Pokemon costume obviously. I voted for a family themed year (like being the Wizard of Oz characters or something) but I was shot down. Maybe next year

13. I have tons of cleaning to do today since Mom will be coming tomorrow to watch the boys while I go to my interview and Lord knows I can not have my mother in my house when it is not spotless enough to eat off the floors.

Wordless Wednesday #8 - I miss living up north in the fall

2007-09-12T09:19:00.001-04:00

Masker's Orchard, New York

Remembering 9/11

2007-09-11T11:36:00.000-04:00

Do you remember where you were this day 6 years ago? I am sure it is a day none of us will ever forget! I lived in NJ at the time close enough to the city that we could see the smoke coming out of the skyline across the river. We wound up knowing too many people whose lives were touched through loss that day.

Pray for them.

We took a bunch of pictures at Ground Zero a few months after 9/11. I picked a few to share with you today ....

Sniffle....Swallow...Sniffle

2007-09-11T11:19:00.000-04:00

School is certainly back in session which for me means germs!

My shopping receipt from the Publix Supermarket this morning:

Gallon Publix Orange Juice
Gallon Publix Orange Juice
KLNX Tissue
Benedryl Chewables
Little Ones MultiCold
SueBee Honey Bear (they were buy one get one)
SueBee Honey Bear
Lipton Noodle Soup
Lipton Tea Bags
Halls Honey Lemon Drops

My throat hurts, but so far it is Matthew, Alex and Adam that have the sniffly, stuffy head colds accompanied by a small cough. This only means that once they are over it Jake and Nick will get it and then I will get it again, if it ever goes away at all to begin with!

Things coming back to normal....

2007-09-10T14:21:00.000-04:00

It has been a whirlwind around here lately.

Our anniversary was quite the dud to say the least after Adam's uncle passed away and our trip was cancelled. We have been so very busy running around. During the days before and days of the viewing and service we were back and forth to the airport more times than I like to count. We spent lots of money feeding everyone! lol

The service was nice and casual. Just the way he would have liked. They even managed to get his Harley into the funeral home next to his casket! It is now parked in our garage where it will remain in Adam's care. I have only seen Adam cry a few times in our 12+ years together as both a couple and friends and this was so very hard on him. It was very sad. But it is overwith now and everyone is trying to move on. There is lots to deal with in the aftermath of it all - his home, finances, etc. Grandma and Grandpa need to be checked in on often and Adam's mother will be spending more time here.

It was nice to attempt to take part of our trip after the services and go away for the night and have the day together. God knows we needed it after the weekend we had. The room was great with a GORGEOUS view and we loved staying concierge! We had a beautiful romantic (and grownup!) dinner together (with wine!!!). I wish we had the whole time we planned but it worked out okay for what it was.

I have been so busy trying to help out his family and getting all back into the swing of things around here that I have had no time - or desire- to be online! Our updates:
We ordered a new sectional sofa with a queen sofa bed and two recliners. We added an extra recliner to complete the package!! It comes on Sept 25th!
I have an interview (FINALLY) for a full time position this week at the hospital for a clerical position. The pay is awful (over $1 less per hour then I make as a part time cashier!) but the benefits are great, it is full time days, no weekends and no holidays plus an on-site discounted employee daycare. So we'll see how that turns out.
Adam's job is doing lay-offs and he was asked to take a paycut. Sucks to be in any part of the housing market right now. So we are really watching the pennies. I may even keep the part time cashier job on the weekends up to Christmas if I get the hospital job just to build up our savings account again. I would love anyone's budgeting tips - always could use some new ones since we are a family of 6!!!!
Kids are doing good in school - they have two days off this week which my dear Nicholas is looking forward to so that he can play on the Wii all day (which he is sorely mistaken to think that way when he has mutiplication to practice and 2 chapter books left to read for AR) and Alex is quite upset about it since he will not be able to play with his new little friend "Abigail" in the school kitchen center. Jake could care less one way or the other. He has fun at school playing or at home. Matthew is cranky today and getting a cough and stuffy nose which he is so graciously also passing on to me and Adam!

That's all here in a nutshell! Off to visit those of you I certainly missed reading about!

Ugh

2007-08-31T05:31:00.000-04:00

These past few days have been long. Adam has been off from work, as have I to help around his grandparents' house after the death of his uncle. We were supposed to be leaving this afternoon for our anniversary trip, but unfortunately that won't be happening until after the funeral service on Sunday. Our trip has been cut from almost 5 days to about 2 (well maybe 1 1/2 depending on what time we actually make it there). It really sucks and I hate feeling selfish worrying about our anniversary trip right now, but it is our 10th anniversary and we really were looking forward to the time away together for awhile.

Today and this weekend are going to be extremely busy shopping, helping family, and going to the viewing and service. Adam's mom and grandparents are utter wrecks right now and the only thing helping them deal is a whole lot of happy pills unfortunately. Please pray for them that they can get through this weekend and know that Larry is not in pain or sick anymore and with those who love him! They will really need the extra love and thoughts and I would appreciate it greatly.

I probably will not have time to get on here again before we leave for our mini-trip, so wishing everyone a nice Labor Day holiday. Will be back posting probably on Wednesday!

Wordless Wednesday #7 -Happy and Sad day!

2007-08-29T14:15:00.000-04:00

Not completely Wordless this week but necessarily so!

Today is our 10 year Wedding Anniversary!

We received sad news early this morning that Adam's uncle passed away.

My turn... Tag I'm It!

2007-08-28T09:11:00.000-04:00

I've been tagged for the "8 Random Facts About Me" meme by the Exhausted Intern

First, the Rules:
Post these rules before you give your facts
List 8 random facts about yourself
At the end of your post, choose (tag) 8 people and list their names, linking to them
Leave a comment on their blog, letting them know they’ve been tagged.

1. I am ambidextrous. I can print using both my left and right hand but I can only write in cursive with my right hand

2. I am a closet reality TV fan of goofy shows like Scott Baio is 45 and Single - God did I really admit that I watch that????

3. I was 17 when I joined a sorority my freshamn year of college. This did not deter me from hitting the local bars of course using an ID that was not mine.

4. I have practically all of my pictures from the last 4 years on CD or external hard drive and maybe only 100 of out thousands from those years actually printed.

5. I am a huge tea drinker! I have a tea cabinet. I love any kind of green tea, white tea, chai, etc, etc, etc. I even have my hubby hooked on it and he has his own stash of teas at work that I send him with!

6. I have a taped interview of my grandparents a few years before they died done for a Library of Congress project of growing up in Paterson area of NJ during the depression, war, etc. I love listening to their voices and their stories of childhood, how they first met, and the early stories of my father, aunts and uncle as kids. I miss them so much and I treasure these tapes.

7. I am a pack rat from hell! I keep EVERYTHING. I have such a hard time throwing anything away. I have movie ticket stubs, drawings from every child over flowing every box I can throw them in, programs, fliers, anything related to a vacation we have taken, etc.

8. After Jacob was born I wanted my tubes to be tied but my OB/GYN at the time told me I was too young and refused to do it (I was 24). I had only wanted two children, but fortunately God had other plans for our family with Aelx and Matthew yet to come. It is difficult to have 4 kids but of course I would not have it any other way.

Now who to tag??? I will cheat a little and tag a few people who may do it if they have an ounce of time - Melanie, Jesse, Amy, Amy the Happy Momma, and anyone else who wants to do this! If you do it please leave me a comment so I can come read yours! :)

It Never Fails!!!

2007-08-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

Every single time we get ready to go on a trip, vacation, or even when we are on one something always happens with one of the vehicles we own. We leave Friday for our anniversary trip away - alone! So, of course, yesterday the minivan stalled on me the entire way to get Alex from school and the entire way home. Adam played with it when he came home last night and thinks it is some sort of fuel injection issue. He wants to try changing the fuel filter before bringing it somewhere so he will try that tonight. I am hoping that is all it is but it never is just something simple. The Minivan is old now - a 1999 Windstar - and has reached over the 100K mile mark now.
Luckily we are taking Adam's car on our trip, but I need the van to work to get the boys back and forth all over town. So today at least, Alex will miss PreK. Tomorrow I can drive Adam to work and use his car for the day since I don't have to work at night, (Adam works 1 hour away from our house so taking him to work and getting him when I have to work at night does not work out- at least one of us or both of us are very late!), but then Thrusday I will need to figure something out if we can't get it fixed by then.

Ugh!!!! I have enough to do this week to prep to leave 4 kids with my single sister for 5 days!!!

2007-08-27T09:09:00.000-04:00

Second week of school and so far we are doing good.

Today was the boys first day on the bus. Nick used to ride the bus for the first two years of school but did not ride last year since I could not get Jake on the bus. This year with Alex in PreK at the same time as the boys start school it is easier on me, our gas budget, and good to have for when I finally find a full time job again to have the bus in place for both of them. Nick was luckily able to be assigned to the same bus as Jake and was happy to be able to go on it with him to help him out. Jake had a minor outburst at the bus stop this morning, but after a few minutes let me walk him onto the bus and got in his seat by Nick. The aide and driver are a nice older couple.

I of course was having a heart attack this morning after putting him on the bus remembering every news story of kids left on the bus or dropped off at the wrong stop. That's why I am soooo very happy Nick is riding with him. Not to mention, Jake wears a shoe tag ID for kids with Autism and I thoroughly marked all his info in his bookbag. Just in case it is needed.

Jake's teacher called just moments before I got home from bringing Alex to school and left me a message that he did good on the ride to school. Now hopefully this afternoon goes just as smooth. Fingers crossed and prayers please! This is a big deal for Jake to do this!

Now I need to go fill out the emergency paper for the bus driver and dig out a school picture of Jake from last year from the photo box in my closet to attach to it.