Pneumonia Sucks!

the energy right out of you. I am finally, really on the mend. Avelox is a wondrous drug. It could, possibly, make you poop your pants. BUT, it will kick out any infection in your bod post haste. Thank God!!

January approaches and we all know what that means…

January is get healthy month. We all know it’s supposed to be a new beginning and it is. But, never long term. I told Jon last night we need to go to the grocery to get all of our fruits and veggies and lean meats. Because January is coming and we have to pretend we are going to change. We can eat healthy for a month then go back to normal in February. Just being a realist here…

Lord Help Me…

What on God’s Green Earth have I gotten myself into now?? Yesterday, I agreed to head up the 4th-6th grade youth group at church. Which is a new group…traditionally youth group is for teenagers. At our church we have a LARGE crop of 10-12 year olds that are extremely interested in participating. In an effort to NOT turn away kids who want to go to church for a couple hours on Sunday night we are expanding. Accommodating. Experiencing growing pains even. It’s going to be a challenge. To say the least. Of course, more than half these kids used to attend childrens church with me every Sunday morning, years ago…which actually is how I know that burn out can happen quickly.

Last night was the Christmas party and the first time I attended a youth group. It made me proud. Sam is turning into a fine young man. Crazy, but true. He had one shining moment…when he yelled at them all to “SHUT UP” but other than that really, he was a leader. Impressive. And to be fair, he told them to listen several times before he turned ugly. He and Austin, at 14, are the 2 oldest…and they will be good influences for the younger set.

I look forward to watching it unfold and would appreciate any and all prayers for patience…

Love you all!

My Maggie Dilemma

The short form of the back story:

1. Maggie has been “friends” with Maura since first grade. In first grade, they were quite close.

2. Since first grade other girls have joined their “friendship”.

3. Last year, much to Maggie’s dismay, Maura started pulling away from Maggie somewhat and connecting more with the other 2 girls.

4. And this little tidbit should have been #1 ~ Maggie is a MAJOR people pleaser of the highest level. It is positively dismaying to me how eager to please and needy she is…it’s pathetic really. I try hard to understand…I know once upon a time I too was a people pleaser…but it was so long ago I can’t remember. I don’t know how she FEELS. I can’t relate to or respect her approach.

So, cut to this week. She asked me if Maura could spend the night. This Saturday we have Blake’s birthday party and this Sunday is Jon and I’s anniversary. So, I told her Maura COULD spend the night, NEXT weekend. She promptly went to school and asked Maura if she’d like to spend the night next weekend, to which Maura replied that she would and she had to ask her mom. The next day Maura told Maggie that yes, indeed, she could spend the night next weekend.

Then yesterday, she came to school and told Mags that she didn’t know if she could because she was going to ask her mom if Hannah and Darcy (the other two) could spend the night at her house. Which naturally broke Maggie’s heart and pissed me off BIG TIME!!
I have tried without success over the past year to convince Maggie that she should just cut those ties. Those 3 girls don’t do anything positive for Maggie or her self-esteem. Over and over they have shown themselves to be inconsiderate and thoughtless…Maggie just doesn’t rate with them…and she expends FAR too much energy trying to.
Sadly, Maggie and I spent most of yesterday evening at odds over this situation. Maggie is scheming, trying to figure out how she can convince Maura to choose her next Friday night. I am appalled that she doesn’t in 4th grade words tell her to go to hell. I have tried and tried to convince Maggie that she is a good friend and she in turn deserves good friends. I really am at a loss right now. I told her last night that I would prefer she have a different friend over, because Maura isn’t very nice. And still this morning she came out and told me what she plans to say to Maura today…which is basically a beggar pitch, please pick me. Then she asked me if she can convince Maura to choose her, and she does indeed spend the night, will I be nice to her. I quite honestly answered, “I won’t be mean, but I won’t be nice by my usual standard Mags. That’s the best I can do.”
Why? What do I do? Dammit, why won’t she listen to me? 38 years I’ve spent learning all these hard lessons and the people I love most refuse to let me help them learn from them. It’s cruel really. Meanwhile, my heart breaks for her. Any advice???

BEST. SUMMER. EVER!

The kids only have 6 days left…the first day of school is looming. School supplies have all been bought. Schedules have been received and double checked. And I, while ready, have been reminiscing. We have been blessed with an INCREDIBLE summer!

We kicked our summer off with a family trip to the beach…

We had a wonderful time, with family, extended family and friends. There was no drama. Just fun, sun, sand, surf and harmony…except for that one minor night…but hey, no hard feelings, right?

When we returned home, it was time for Vacation Bible School. I had not volunteered to help this year, but when I took the Maggie and Liam on Monday, Sam and I were drafted to help out. That too, was a great week.

After VBS, we rested for a few weeks, our only quiet weeks of the summer. Well, rested as much as is possible with 2 boys playing baseball. Liam kicked arse individually this year, but his team did not achieve anything wonderful. Which was a shame, they had a lot of talent. But not such a great coach, so the season amounted to not much. Sam, on the other hand, went ALL THE WAY!

They were the BEST Pony League team in two counties! It was stressful, exciting, exhilarating even!

Two days after Sam’s baseball season was over, we were on our way to spend a week in Buffalo with Jon. After 7 months, we finally had a free enough schedule to spend some time there with him and go to Niagara Falls.

Why on earth we had never gone before, I cannot say. Ignorance, plain and simple…I did not know what I was missing.

It was WOW!!! I was so impressed, in fact…

that we decided we were going back the next week. Then I called Dad and told him that given the fact that he and Anne were coming the following weekend anyway, it would really be to their benefit to come a couple days early and go with us. And what do you know? They did!

Then, we came back and met up the next day with the rest of the clan at The Ohio State Fair!

I’m sure I’ve missed a few things…but all in all, I think you can see that we were blessed with many memories, much family…could not have asked for a better summer.

Now, Jon has started a new contract at Chase, here in Columbus, the kids are headed back to school on Monday next and I am looking forward to some normalcy. Just for a little while.

I love you all!

SCORE!!!

Early last week, we received the kids achievement test results for the 2010-2011 school year.

My children are smartypants!

Sam scored advanced in reading and accelerated in math and science.

Maggie scored advanced in reading (a darn near perfect score) and math as well.

The big story is Liam though. Last year, he did not meet the state standards for the 3rd grade. In the 2009-2010 school year, Liam carried decent grades…but he had to REALLY struggle to get them. We all did, many, many nights of tears and study and frustration to accomplish passing grades. When I received the phone call from the school principal suggesting we hold him back to repeat the third grade I was actually relieved…worried about the social ramifications, but relieved nonetheless. When I received his test results last summer they reflected that struggle. He did not meet the state mandated standards for the 3rd grade.

Liam sailed through the 2010-2011 school year with ease…he was happy, well adjusted, carefree in regards to school for the first time in his life. So I ask you to just imagine my delight when I open his test results to find that he scored ADVANCED in reading and accelerated in math!!! Not proficient…he didn’t just meet the standards…he beat the heck out of them!!

I cannot thank the teachers and staff of Highland Elementary School enough! For the first time, I am looking forward with no reservations to a school year…confident in my children’s chances of success!

That, my friends, is a very nice feeling!

I love you all!

Big Doin's…

We got big doin’s goin’ on in the Garrett household these days. Last Sunday we wrapped up baseball, and promptly packed our bags and went with Jon to spend the week in Buffalo.

We had a great time, spending our days poolside while Jon was at work. Then going out to supper or to sight see when he was home in the evenings. Jon has lived in Buffalo for seven months now, and we FINALLY made it to Niagara Falls…it’s a full 15 minutes from his apartment in Tonawanda. Ridiculous, eh? What can I say, they all seemed like good reasons to put it off at the time…

It was absolutely gorgeous and I felt remiss that we had not dragged the kids there sooner.

We were able to ride the Maid of the Mist…

which was stunning.

And were also able to tour the Cave of the Winds…

which was exhilarating. Or wet…depending on your mood, I suppose.

We enjoyed all of it so much that we’ve decided to do it all again this week.

Tomorrow, my Dad and Anne are driving up from North Carolina and will be joining us on a short trip to Buffalo. We will see the falls and move my hubby back home! Then Friday, it’s time for the Ohio State Fair. Man, I love the fair, second only to Christmas…

But, in recap, because I haven’t posted in so long…

1. Jon got a job in Columbus!!!!! It is a 6-18 month contract and it’s at Chase…that's

2 strikes

and I ain’t lyin’. But, it’s at home, he will be home, we will have him home, EVERY NIGHT! So, we’ll take it and be pretty darn happy!

2. Sam’s baseball team took first place in their league. They had a 2 county Pony League Tournament 2 weeks ago and they won the whole dang thing! It was purty exciting, if I do say so myself.

And finally,

3. Last but MOST IMPORTANT!!!! My baby boy Liam Murphy turned 10 last week!!! How can this be happening?? 10 years old? Please, stop…I want to get off! My baby’s keep getting older…I want off this ride now!

Dang, he is a cutie!!! Just like his Daddy.

I love you all!

Odd Ball Boy

I recently told Liam that he really needs to start sleeping in his own bed.

He is almost 10 years old, after all.

I'm not really sure what the problem is with that boy. He just HATES sleeping alone. He would rather sleep on the floor with a sleeping bag in Sam's room than sleep in his bed alone in his own room. Liam has happily slept nearly everywhere in this house, EXCEPT his room. He has slept in Sam's room, and Maggie's room...while Jon is in Buffalo, he sleeps with me every night. When Jon is in town, he sleeps on the couch or loveseat in the living room.

Last week, I said, "Liam, you are almost 10 years old. It's time to buck up and sleep in your own bed."

To his credit, he didn't argue much. He willingly went to his own bed and said prayers and was asleep in mere minutes.

Then, when I woke the next morning...

 

...he was in Jet's bed on Jon and I's bedroom floor.

I give up.

I love you all...

An Accomplished School Year

The 2010-2011 school year was a good one for the Garrett children. Last week, on the last day of school, I attended Liam and Maggie’s awards assembly. I’ve attended the awards assembly in years past, and left with a sad heart. Sam is so smart, but such a lazy underachiever, that he never received any awards…and he really could not have cared less. Then, last year, Maggie was not eligible for the awards due to the grading system, but Liam was. He was eligible and if there were an award for effort he would have been a shoe-in. Unfortunately, there’s no award for giving an A+ effort and getting C’s and D’s. As I’m sure you all know, Liam repeated the 3rd grade this year. It was an agonizing choice and the source of my most “worried” summer ever. It turned out, thank you Jesus, to be the best thing ever for Liam. And THIS YEAR, he received awards!!

He received a medal and certificate for Merit Roll, all A’s and B’s ALL YEAR!! AND, he got a reading reward!

A HUGE thank you to his teachers, most especially Mrs. Thompson, for the school year he had. Watching him blossom and excel was wonderful. The difference in his confidence level alone has been such a joy to me.

Maggie too, received Merit Roll and reading rewards. Poor Maggie, she wanted the Honor Roll SO BADLY! But, one B in the first quarter stomped on her dreams.

She seems to have recovered…

This year, when I left the assembly, my heart was glad. It was a good year.

I still have my lazy underachiever…who ended up getting one C. The rest were A’s and B’s though, and he accidentally did REALLY well on some test and got a Presidential Academic Achievement Award, for being in the top 10% of test scores in the nation for both Math and English.

I am no longer working, I’m once again at home with my babies…so hopefully, I will do a better job keeping up with the blog now. And with cleaning my house. 8)

I love you all!

The Reward

Sam has been working hard in track...practicing after school every day. And he seems to be doing well so far. This week they have a "relay" meet. Which apparently means something, but is totally beyond me. What I DO know is that this meet is at home. This meet lasts 2 days. 2 of the 3 events Sam is participating in take place on day 2. And most importantly, I can not afford 2 days of concession begging from Maggie and Liam. So we stayed home today and will go watch tomorrow. Consequently, Sam texted me when it was over to come pick him up. Being the awesome Mom that I am, I didn't hear my phone alert. So, I didn't go pick him up. Well, not until he called 10 minutes later and said, "Are you coming to get me?"

When I picked him up, I eagerly asked as he put on his seatbelt, "Well??? How did you do?" Smiling in my most supportiver manner.
He replied, "I got two phone numbers, Austin got 5. But, he was just asking anybody, and I'm PICKY."

That my friends is what track is really all about.

I love you all.

Whoops!

I took Jet to the vet Monday. He and Marley both were due for shots. They both checked out well, except for one little thing. Last week, when we got home from North Carolina, he was a bit overexcited. In his usual over excited fashion, he ran around like an absolute maniac. When he ran back bleeding from his paw, I assumed he had ripped his toenail. Turns out he somehow managed to BREAK his toe! Have you ever even heard of such a thing? 

"I'm injured...don't you feel sorry for me??"

The vet said there's nothing we can do about it...just let it heal. So, he's limping around on 3 legs like a doofus. And, of course, getting lots of sympthy from mama. I love you all!

The Compromise

Maggie was a bit of a surprise, if you know what I mean. She was life lesson #12734, You CAN get pregnant when you’re nursing.
She is the only girl, which means she has an unimaginable amount of clothes. And shoes…good Lord, so many shoes. But, she’s always gotten hand-me-down furniture. She totally lucked into a lovely daybed, from her Grandma…but has been, since birth, using her brother Liam’s cast off dresser. His very SMALL cast off dresser. (Life lesson # 17682, an unimaginable amount of clothes do not fit in a very small cast off dresser. )
So, I promised her at the beginning of March, we would buy her a new dresser in April.  And she rubbed her little hands together and giggled maniacally and plotted and picked out this…

And the arguments began. I said, no, absolutely not. That dresser will NOT work. And she cried and moaned and ripped her clothes from her chest. Well, ok, that’s a slight exaggeration, but you get the idea.
For a full month, we bickered and fought and I held firm. I was not going to allow her to pick out a dresser that she would hate in 5 years…because Jon and I are NOT going to buy her another new dresser in 5 years.
I was having nothing but that she was getting a solid white dresser. She hated me. HATED ME!!!
But, as we wandered through the dressers at American Freight I had a “Mommy Moment” . That is right, a stroke of GENIUS!! For just a moment, I turned into my mother… and I made a promise to Mags.
If she would agree to the solid white dresser, we would go to Wal-Mart and let her pick out wall stickers to use to “decorate” the dresser. Stickers that would PEEL RIGHT OFF when she got tired of them. And the girl was happy.
This is what she ended up with…

…the compromise.
I love you all!

My Girl

 Ahh, my girl. Things are changing so quickly with her these days. In addition to the all drama, all the time…she’s turning into a giggly socialite. She has taken to receiving phone calls in the evening. She takes the cordless phone and disappears into her bedroom. Occasionally, she will come out to get a drink or something from her locker…talking and giggling all the while. It’s so funny to me. I can vividly remember doing the same thing…in the 3rd grade, no less. The 3rd grade must be the magical year of the phone call. It was a bit different, I confess. There was no such thing as “cordless phones” when I was her age. So, I had to lurk in the kitchen.

She has started begging me for a cell phone. That is NOT going to happen. I worry she has enough privacy to get herself in trouble with the cordless. I may have disliked having to be in the thick of the family when I had my pre-pubescent gab and giggle fests…but it certainly served as a form of accountability. By God, if she’s gabbing and giggling about boys I want to know it. Now that I’m thinking this whole thing thru, I think I may need to go buy a corded phone for the kitchen, just for her use. What do you think??

 

I love you all!

Who'd A'Thunk It???

I confess, I was expecting the worst...my awkward, gangly, 6ft tall boy was participating in his first ever track meet yesterday. I went expecting to see a live version of America's Funniest Videos. That was NOT what I got!

To help you understand my position, I give you exhibit A...

This is what Sam usually looks like to me...now the setting changes, but the posture does not. He's my "gamer". NOT my runner.

But, he blew me away and was actually pretty good! I'm completely new to the "Field and Track" world. I was totally lost initially, on what in the WORLD was going on. So much chaos, so many things happening all at once. So MANY kids!! Highland has 78 kids on their track team. I think yesterday was an invite...so there were also 3 other schools there: Centerburg, Marion Grant and Mt Gilead Christian.

Amazingly, Sam took 1st place in the long jump. His jump was 13'8"...which he said, "sucked". He was sure he wouldn't win that one early on. His longest jump so far was 15'2" and he felt pretty confident that yesterdays jump would get trumped easily, but what do you know? It DIDN'T!

He also took 2nd place in the 100 meter Hurdles...

...by .2 of a second... and i'm guessin' that's about all he won 1st place in the 200 meter Hurdles by...

It was a close finish. It shouldn't have been...

He started out really well.

Then on the second hurdle, he landed wrong and stumbled. Scraped up his hands pretty good, but he didn't go down, he recovered.

And he prevailed...he did great. Jon and I are both SO PROUD if him...he's GOOD at this! GO SAM!!!

I will keep you posted on how he does! I love you all!

Undesirable Job

Our neighbors are getting new windows in their old farmhouse…

You’d like to think that it’s safe to schedule something like this undertaking to be done at the end of March. But, this is Ohio people.

You’re never safe…not from the dreaded white death.

This guy right here…you could not pay me enough money to do his job…

For real…craziness.

I love you all!

Hoss Make Tracks ~Big Sam

I’ve done a really lousy job keeping you all up on what’s going on in our lives lately. Mostly, because it’s such a drudgery…day in, day out…work, school, house…sleep, clean, eat…nothing exciting. But all that is about to change. Liam’s baseball coach called me this afternoon to schedule his first practice…which isn’t until April 18th! Seems like forever away still. However, Sam is already busy. He decided to take part in Field and Track this year. On the one hand, I can’t think of anything less exciting to watch, unless perhaps one of my children takes up golf. On the other hand, many of you HAVE seen Sam run. There is a glimmer of a promise of entertainment there. At risk of his embarrassment. I mean lets be honest, he isn’t exactly graceful like a gazelle. He’s kinda gangly and awkward and God love him, he looks a tiny bit funny when he runs. Like he’s uncomfortable or something. Oddly though, he seems to be doing well in practice. He is participating in several activities…the 200 meter dash, the hurdles, the long jump and a relay, because he had one of the fastest run times in the 8th grade. So, we shall see, eh? His first meet is tomorrow in Marion. Don’t you worry, I’ll take my camera. It’s going to be bitchin’ cold, but sunny, so I should be able to use my telephoto lens. :0)

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Yay Spring!

In honor of impending Spring, yesterday, we had a little cookout. We invited Bobby and Blake (and Krisi, of course, ceptin’ she was not in town this weekend) over for good ole burgers and dogs.

Jon, Bobby and the kids played catch and with the airsoft guns.

Then we ate…

cookout style!

And it was GOOD!!

And this fella here will take care of anyone who says otherwise.

And to that, Bobby says,

“Bring it…”

Then, when everyone was full close to bursting and tired from an unaccustomed dose of fresh air, the guys cozied down with the xBox.

The only thing that would have made the day any better is if all our family could’ve been here. We miss you all.

Love you all!!

…

For Real? 20 Years????

I had a stunning realization this morning. I was commenting on a former classmates update on facebook.  I remarked that it was humorous to me that he had not changed in … then I did the math. 2011 – 1991, no.

It cannot be.

Surely not, it’s just not possible.

20 YEARS!?!?!?

What?

Where?

When?

How can this be???

How can 20 years be gone so quickly. Don’t get me wrong, it does not seem like “just yesterday”. But, it sure as heck doesn’t seem like 20 years ago? That’s a LONG TIME!!

I don’t feel 20 years older…well, maybe I do some days. But not right now. Time is a crazy, crazy thing. Make the most of it!!

Love you all!!

What’s For Breakfast?

My honey surprised me with a new mini scone pan yesterday… so this morning I made Strawberry-Lemon Scones with a lemon glaze.

Oh My…they were SO yummy!!

Things here are pretty quiet. Jon is home for the weekend. We got both of the boys signed up for baseball this week. I am really looking forward to baseball, or perhaps just baseball weather. But not so looking forward to how ridiculously busy I will be spending another baseball season with my hubby out of town while I shuttle 2 boys all over the county for ball games.

We are still trying to plan a trip south…we’re having a lot of trouble coming up with a date we can both get off work though. We won’t give up, but at this point I’m despairing of it being any time soon.

I love and miss you all!

Out Like A Lion? More Like a SeaLion.

I demand a recount of days. Surely, this madness should count for March coming in like a Lion.

We have lived in this house for 9 and a half years now, and in that time I have never seen anything like last night. Yesterday, we got oddly warm for Ohio. Great, right? Well, maybe not so much. At first, I thought it was great. It was 59 degrees...that's balmy here, so I opened the kitchen window and turned off the heat. The sun was out here and there, and the snow was melting. Wretched stuff...begone.

Then it got dark. And it stayed warm. And it started raining. And it started lightening. And my kids begged to sleep on the couch. And the weather service issued tornade warnings. And flood warnings. And flash flood warnings. And it would NOT STOP RAINING. And, and, and...

You get the picture.

With Jon in NY, I get paranoid about things I would normally never give a second thought to. Things like the sump pump. When I have my big, strong man here, I don't think about the sump pump. I think about planting flowers and making cupcakes. When my big, strong man is here my most unpleasant thought is about scrubbing the toilet...I simply don't worry my pretty little head about things like basements flooding. Thats what big, strong men are for, right?

Well, currently my big, strong man is in NY working so we can pay for that basement...SO, guess who was worried about the sump pump last night. And thank God I did...

...BECAUSE I was worried about it, I didn't sleep much, but I DID check on the sump pump at least once an hour. So when the basement started flooding I caught it really early. Immediately even. It wasn't the sump pump we had a problem with though, ironically. The storm drain at the bottom of our outside stairwell clogged up...so water was coming in under the basement door. I tried messing around with it...I even plunged the damn thing...like I said, toilets are more my speed. To no avail. The water was pounding out of the sky, no relief in sight and some of it was in my basement. 

My kids reacted admirably. Sam leapt to action using towels to sop up the water and ringing it out outside, then putting them in the dryer. Over, and over, and over again. He tried using towels and boards to stop the water from coming in. Maggie sat on the couch and wrote a letter to Jesus, asking him to please make the rain stop. Liam slept through part of the madness, but quickly joined Sam in his damming efforts when he woke up.

While I, like the pathetically helpless female I apparently am, called my brother Bobby crying. Well, I wasn't that bad, I mean I tried plunging the darn thing...I was trying but nothing I did was helping, so I did, really, call Bobby crying.

Within the hour, Bobby was here, snaking the drain pipe. He got it mostly cleared...it still needs cleaned out some, which my big, strong man will take care of for me this weekend. But, it's fixed enough that I don't have water coming in anymore. Fixed enough that when it gets down to 20 degrees tonight that pipe won't freeze and burst. Yea, 20 degrees, only in Ohio, people.

In hindsight, I would like to thank the academy...

not really, but I would like to thank:

My kids, they handled themselves beautifully and were really helpful, when I really needed them to be.

My big, strong man, for talking me through the panic and calming me down. And telling me to call Bobby. That was good thinkin' when I was completely incapable of any good thinkin' that didn't consist of blubbering gibberish.

Bobby, for the obvious. LOL ~ Thank you for fielding the hysterical sister call, then charging to the rescue. And while I did attempt to feed you, out of thankfulness, I realized in hindsight that I never offered you a cup of coffee. Dadgum, I'm sorry about that. What a shitty sister.  

Krisi, thanks for lending me YOUR big, strong man.

Steve, thanks for nuttin'...sorry, Bobbys my favorite brother now. Not sure how you will ever redeem yourself after this one. Ha ha ha.

I love you all.

Spring Fever

I have arrived. At that place I arrive every year. In late February. That sick of snow state of mind. Enough is enough already. It didn't help this year that I kinda started the winter out still sick of snow. A winter hangover, if you will. Last weekend we had a couple of days that were just gorgeous. It was cruel really. We took full advantage of it though. Jon was, of course, home for the weekend so we went to the zoo. Sam chose not to go with us. I don't think I like him being a teenager. I don't know who this kid is...this kid who doesn't want to go to the zoo. I know it's a phase...he will outgrow it. I just don't know how soon. I mean, really, how many ADULTS do you know who wouldn't want to go to the zoo if Mom and Dad are paying?

In Asia Quest

Jon's coat is unnecessary, you'll just have to trust me on that. I wore a hooded sweatshirt and was perfectly comfortable. The snow was all melted. The sun was out. The birds were singing. And the animals were sunbathing.

Which just makes it worse that Monday afternoon into evening, we received a nice thick coat of ice with a few inches of snow on top of it. And now, all the weatherman are freaking out about another snow headed our way Thursday night. I'm SO DONE WITH SNOW!!!!!
Aside from snow, I apologize for doing the crappiest job ever at keeping up with a blog. Well, the second crappiest job ever, Steve has me beat on that score. I have had so much going on lately, it's really hard to convince myself the blog is a priority. Working and trying to keep up with everything at the house with Jon gone is no party, I will say that. I am still working...I had originally thought to only work 3 or 4 days a week once Jon was in Buffalo. That is not panning out too well. Work has been ridiculously busy and unfortunately, they need me more than that. So, last week and this week I have worked everyday. The house is a little less orderly than I'd like. The yard looks like crap. The closets are poised to attack everytime we open them. If I worked anywhere else, I would give my 2 weeks and be done with it. However, I adore my manager. I can't abandon her...she has a tough enough time when she does have my help. I guess the good news, hidden in there, would be that jobs are picking up. For a very long time, there were no jobs to be had in Mt Vernon. Lately, we have jobs come in every day. The problem is finding people who actually want to work. But, that is a whole nother story.
So, Jon and I have been discussing a trip south. We unfortunately, are not going to make it down for Easter this year. Which we both are bummed about, as that has become our happy bunny tradition. He is not able to get that weekend off though, so we are rearranging and making other plans. I think we have decided to come down for a long weekend sometime in March. We are figuring out pay days and cut offs and how many days he will  miss and as soon as we know, you all will. But, let me tell you, I definitely have Carolina on my Mind.
I will make some concentrated effort to keep up more on here...I'm sorry it's been so hit or miss lately. I love you all.

It Is Done

From the day we moved into this house, ten years ago, my goal for this oddly shaped little alcove in our living room has been to have a cozy little nook for reading. Reading has always been near and dear to my heart. I've never been able to comprehend not loving reading. It's escapism in it's finest form. Who could possibly not enjoy vicariously journeying with Bilbo to slay a dragon? Or win a Quidditch match with Harry, Fred and George? Or even accompany David as he brings down Goliath with a rock and God?
I've arranged and rearranged in vain. No one, including myself, has ever gone back there to read. Possibly because the quaint rocking chair I had back there was terribly uncomfortable. And before that, because you had to risk life and limb to climb into the papasan.
But now...now that I have my new chair... my goal is attained. I insisted on the chair and half and, once home, quickly came to the realization that it was THE READING CHAIR. And once I had it arranged, Maggie quickly realized the same thing. It really is the coziest little set up you ever snuggled into. I am at peace.
I love you all.

Sick Sucks

After 4 days of running a fever with no other symptoms, on Saturday evening, we took Liam to Childrens Close to Home Urgent Care. UC was a madhouse, no 2 ways about it. They were overcrowded, overworked, overwhelmed. Still, the nurse who admitted Liam really ticked my tock. She acted like I was an idiot for bringing him in with nothing but a fever. All but rolling her eyes at us, she failed to get a throat culture, despite the fact that I told her strep was epidemic at his school right now, and had us shown to a room. After seeing him and checking his throat and ears, the Dr. said he looked ok, but given the prevalence of strep coming into the office, she still wanted to get him a strep test. Thank God. Liam didn't exactly take the strep "tickle" like a champ, but he took it. After she left the room, he turned to us and said with astonishment, "She touched my uvula." It was hilarious. His strep test came back positive and he is now taking amoxicillin and on the mend.
I have been fighting a cold since around Christmas, and last night started feeling like rather than battling it back I was beginning to succumb to it, getting worse. So this morning I promptly called my drs office and got in to see the nurse practitioner. Let me just say, that at my drs office anyhow, the nurse practitioner cannot be beat. While the Dr's there are nearly impossible to get into on short notice and even more impossible to get any real attention from, NP Linda Ambrose is wonderful. She is usually easy to get in to see, and she treats me like a patient. A patient she remembers from visit to visit. She does not make me feel like a timeslot. She makes me feel like me getting better is just as important to her as it is to me. I adore her. After checking me out she diagnosed a double ear infection and possible strep. She opted not to do a strep test, I can only assume because she was prescribing antibiotics already. She also upped the dosage of my Advair and gave me a months supply of the higher dose. Just until I get well, at which point she said I can go back down to the lower dosage I was taking now. Then she got me a shot in the ass. So, Liam and I are both on the mend. And I say, being sick SUCKS!
Love you all!

Work = Lazy

As many of you already know, since last May I have been working fulltime, while Jon has held down the frontlines at home. I confess, I did not enjoy this set of circumstances. I did not like working fulltime, but more significantly, I did not like Jon doing my job at home. Doing my job, and not doing it exactly like I did it. I know, that's a whole seperate issue. However, I yesterday came to a startling realization. Working has made me LAZY!! You just don't really know how completely and utterly inactive a deskjob is until you get winded scrubbing your childrens bathroom. I don't like it. I have vowed to get back into some sort of reasonable good health. It's positively shameful that scrubbing a bathroom at 37 years of age should make one tired. I'm going to start really light...I think I will make myself spend 15-20 minutes on the treadmill after the kids leave this morning. I need to do something...before I go sit at a desk all day again today. And to all of you, try to do the same, don't let your job keep you down! Love you all!

Keys and Towels and Library Books

Can anyone tell me why boys are so cavalierly irresponsible? Anyone? Please?

My boys are driving me crazy. I'm observing a big difference between boys and girls this week and I've decided to share it and open the floor for comment.

I actually will begin with the library book. Maggie left a library book on the table when she went to school Wednesday. Being a type A personality, this untidiness was not ok with me. After she left it was dealt with swiftly. Swiftly, and apparently mindlessly. When she got home Wednesday, there was a flurry of panicked chaos. She immediately noticed it was gone and started scouring the house for it. All the while adamant that it was on the table when she left. All the while, I was adamant that it was NOT on the table after she left. She went to bed completely stressed out that night and woke the next morn still upset. Devastated that she would be awarded a dreaded "Strike" for not having her library book. It was not until I pulled her bookbag out of her locker to hand it to her on her way out the door, that I remembered putting the book in the purse she also left on the table. At which point I saved the day and handed her the library book. Her  relief was palpable. So was my guilt.

Cut to this morning. When I told Sam to make sure he had his house keys. Again, this prompted a flurry of panicked activity. Note: the panic was all on my end. Please keep in mind that I have a key rack hanging right inside the door. He flipped through his locker and meandered to his bedroom. No keys. I am a person who likes for everything to have a place. And I want those said things to be IN their places. So, while he looked for his keys, I railed. I railed about the keys, and the key rack and his need to be more responsible at 14 years of age. In the midst of my railing, I grounded him from his new Playstation 3. Initially, for the evening...but as we progressed into 10 minutes of looking and no keys, I railed " No Playstation 3 until you FIND those keys!" Thinking "That'll show him! I mean business! " He left for school, with no keys in hand. I refused to hand over mine to him. The last thing we need is for him to lose my set of keys too! So, I told him on his way out the door that I love him and he might want to grab a hat, cause it would be pretty damn cold outside when he gets home and has to wait 45 minutes for me  to arrive. After he left, I went to his room and within 5 minutes I had unearthed the keys. At which point I texted him " Found keys. They will be where I hid them before. This had better not happen again.I U" His response? Well, of course, it was "Thanks Mom, You're the greatest".
Bwaaaaaa hhhaaaa haaaaaa haaaaa.
Sike, it was actually, "am i still grounded" . To which I replied, "Yes, you still lost them. You really need to be more responsible."

 Ugh!!!

As I sent this last text, Liam screamed at me from the bathroom, "I need my towel!" I screamed back at him, "Well, then get it off the back of the door!!" Needless to say, it was not hanging on the back of the door. I had to go find it on his bedroom floor and take it to him. In hindsight, perhaps I should have made him run cold and naked to find it. Seriously, how hard is it to hang your towel back up when you're done with it? For that matter, I should have hung Sam's keys on the key rack in the house and let him freeze for three quarters of an hour.

The most frustrating part for me is their attitude. They are so unaffected. There is no emotion visible. No guilt, no remorse, nothing. Not so, Maggie. She is in a positive tissy when something of hers goes missing.

Why is that? Why is my 8 year old daughter more responsible than my 14 and 9 year old boys?? I don't understand?

I love you all!

A Second Residence

The Garrett family has a new vacation home. I know, it’s very gaudy and ostentacious of us, but there you have it. We’ve signed a six month lease on our home away from home.

Where, you ask? Why, the beach of course. Well, not really the beach. It’s more like a Great Lake. Well, not really on a Great Lake, but near a Great Lake. Ok, FINE, it’s in Buffalo, NY. Are you happy now? Have you ever been to Buffalo?

What can I say? Except possibly don’t waste your time. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure there are advantages to visiting Buffalo. I just haven’t come across any yet. Actually, that is totally untrue. The one advantage: PIZZA! To be fair, Buffalo is near a Great Lake….and it is winter. I’m sure it will be much more appealing in the spring.

All joking aside, we plan to make the most of our sentence. Jon’s new apartment is only like 15 minutes from Niagara Falls. That is a commendation, all on it’s own. He plans on coming home most weekends, however, we do want to spend at least one weekend a month up there with him. Seeing the sights, visiting Canada, Niagara Falls, all that good touristy stuff.

The vacation home, ahem, apartment is small. But I was able to at least make it cozy.

The kitchen leaves a bit to be desired… A bit…like a decent fridge, some cabinets that aren’t 40 years old,

and, ummm, ANY other stove/oven.

I am really digging this brick wall in the dining area though.

The bathroom is likewise old…but it does have good water pressure to commend it.

And I absolutely love this shower curtain!

The living area is ho-hum. Can’t say I care a bit for the rental furniture…but I have seen worse.

  So, the kids and I went up with Jon on Monday, so he could get everything up there without renting a truck and because I needed to nest.

Add my little touches…

If you wanna check out Buffalo, and you aren’t afraid of a little snow, well, ok, a whole helluva lotta snow, come on up and pay a visit!

Love you all!