Do you ever feel...

Like your life is like an SNL skit called "Deep Thoughts?"

Like no one is listening?

Like you aren't tall enough?

Like you aren't skinny enough?

Like your house will never be simultaneously clean in all areas?

Like God was crazy to bless you with such beautiful kids?

Like you aren't smart enough?

Like no one appreciates what you do?

Like you are missing direction in your life?

Like you are the luckiest person in the world?

Like family is the most amazing thing God created?

Like raising kids is the absolute hardest thing you will ever do in your lifetime?

Like an ATM?

Like a laundress, short order cook, chambermaid and chauffeur?

Like being a kid is so much easier than being a parent? Why didn't I realize that when I was a kid?

Just curious.

Anyone?

Any thoughts on why I have the Kellerman's Resort/Camp theme song in my head from Dirty Dancing? I am picturing baby's big sister singing it with her high squeaky voice. I am also stuck with the scene that her dad is yelling at baby because he thinks that the lead dancer guy got the other dancer chick preggo. I don't even remember the names of these characters but I have that stupid song in my head!

Kellermans we come together

singing all as one

We have shared another seasons

talent, play and fun



Summer days will soon be over,

soonly autumn starts

And tonight our memories visper

softly in our hearts



Join hands and hearts and voices

Voices, hearts and hands

At Kellermans the friendships last long

As the mountains stand



Daytime, nighttime, any hour

whether rain or shine

Games and lectures, talks and music

happily combine



Join hands and hearts and voices

Voices, hearts and hands

At Kellermans the friendships last long

As the mountains stand



Not a stress or strain is found here

for it must be said

Here at Kellerman's you gladened,

stomach, heart and head



So lets join in just one last chorus,

Visitors, staff and guests.

What we've shared won't be forgotten,

Old friends are the best.



Join hands and hearts and voices

Voices, hearts and hands

At Kellermans the friendships last long

As the mountains stand



Join hands and hearts and voices

Voices, hearts and hands

At Kellermans the ...

Verdict...

NOT BROKEN!

We took our first trip to urgent care in TX last night. Nic took a nasty spill on his bike and was complaining of a sore thumb. He didn't have a full range of motion like his other thumb so without even calling my sister or aunt for medical/injury advice I threw him in the care and went to Accute Care for Kids. We were in and out in about 25 minutes and even got a CD with the x-ray results. The films will be reviewed by a radiologist today but the doc didn't see any breaks so we cleaned up a scraped up knee and headed back home for showers and relaxing.

Nic woke up sore today but I gave him an Aleve and will hope that he is feeling better after school. The DI team is supposed to go on a team building adventure to The Zone and play some laser tag. He wouldn't want to miss that on account of a sore thumb.

Receipts

We have always been people who save receipts for many reasons. I am a buy, think about, then return person, (learned from the best, thanks mom). I love to take a receipt in to get a price adjustment and Fred wants to verify amounts with the monthly credit card bills. It's all good.

Well, it is a good thing that we had this receipt habit before the fire because we have to save all receipts for things we are replacing and the process is tedious but quite necessary. Fred and I just worked about 2 hours on receipts and because of our hard work we'll get more insurance money in the next 2-3 weeks. We are also hoping to get our deposit back on the rental house in less than 1 month and should have a little tax refund I hope. January is always a lean month for us. I should remember that, but February perks back up.

I paid bills today, spent a lot of time on the computer and spent some time thinking about stuff... how much we have, how much we don't need, what I think I want surrounding me. The house is coming along but we have a lot of bare walls. We usually have bare walls at places we live. I need to remember that. I really am a less is more person but love the things I love. Here are some examples of things around my house that make me smile. This is stuff I LOVE!

This week has been that lame

Beyond the swearing in of the new President of the United States of America this week has been pretty slow.

Last night was probably the highlight. We went to Middle School Band night. I have never been a band person, only know one VERY short song on the piano. We went with a couple of Nic's friends and they each had a chance to try out instruments, talk to band members and choose and instrument that fits them well to use in band this fall. Nic tried out the clarinet, a french horn, trombone, a saxophone and a flute. He also took a short percussion test that he did not get good feedback from. We settled on saxophone and put our name on the list. I then went to talk to the rental company representative to see what renting a saxophone would run. Well, a pittance at $50/month and of course the school suggests private lessons for people with little or no experience (insert our name here) and that will cost $16/week. So the moral of the evening... I need to find a job!

I am actually going to attend substitute orientation for the FISD next week and am hoping to get enough days in this spring to pay for some fun stuff for the kids to do this summer. I hope I can make a good impression at the school so I can be a go to girl in times of need.

Well, for now I need to go wait in the carpool lane for the DI team. We have a meeting today after school. I got to take it slow this morning and just returned from seeing a silly movie with my pal S. We saw Bride Wars and it was silly and laughable and just what I needed today. Now for the fun after school stuff then home to make Pretzel Crusted Chicken (Rachel Ray 365 No Repeats) and Cheddar Garlic Biscuits for din din. The temp is supposed to fall tonight and be pretty cool this weekend so a nice hot fresh tasty dinner should hit the spot!

I cried today, did you?

I have been a little weepy lately. Cried last week at the "Miracle on the Hudson." Got teary eyed at my boys riding away from me with such ease this morning. I cried this afternoon when two men solemnly swore to uphold and protect the Constitution of my United States of America. I don't want to watch my Oprah recording from today, I will probably cry again.

I am feeling optimistic about all that is to come. Call it hope filled if you will. I am excited that it is a new year, a new start in a newish house in a new state. I have to say that the Texas sunshine has done wonders for my attitude. But I still weep tears of joy. I am human after all.

Baker Boys Ride into History

Check out these two amazing bike riders. They hopped on Saturday and by Sunday were getting ready for the BMX tour or maybe the Tour de France. Any way you look at it they are awesome riders and besides the mailbox that jumped in front of Will yesterday there have been few falls and therefore no major injuries. Will got a little road rash on his arm from the mailbox incident but otherwise seems fine.

Just what a Saturday should be...

I got to sleep late today. I got up at 8:30 and fed the dog and ate some cereal and fed a kid and checked some e-mail and then I went back to bed. Love that. When I got up again a little later I was fresh and ready to start the day for real. I jumped in the shower and got myself ready to be seen. I started some laundry and emptied more boxes in the dining room that Fred and I brought from storage yesterday. he dragged me to the storage unit so I could see how much was left. There was a bunch. YIKES. Not sure where it will all go.

After I emptied the boxes I got my list together, grabbed a kid and went to Ikea to look for pillows for his lower bunk/couch and to look for picture frames. We lost a few to water damage and I like to hang the kids' artwork. I needed odd sizes and Ikea did not have what I was looking for. Get ready for this..... we walked out of Ikea with NOTHING!

Then we headed to Sam's Club. We got a late lunch of pizza and wandered through the aisles a bit because I forgot that list I had worked so hard on. Nic did his best to remind me of what he could remember. We did pretty good.

After Sam's we went to get Gas, $1.57/gal at our favorite QT station then a quick cheap car wash next door. We went home, unloaded groceries and Nic went to find a friend to play with. No luck on the friend thing so he ended up back home about 30 mins later. Fred was hanging various things in the garage and I was stashing various things that had been unpacked earlier and was hoping that we could hang a few more things on the walls today. Fred was willing so we went to work on some spots.

We got interrupted by WB who wanted me to pump up the tires on Nic's bike. Nic has had this bike since MI and has never learned to ride. Will wanted to try his hand at it. We finished the task we were working on and Fred went and filled the tires. 5 minutes later WB was riding that bike on Castlebrook Lane. He was having some trouble with the coasting brake so Fred tried to remove it without much success. Nic then joined in the fun and they both has strong showings in the bike riding department. Now Nic is sure he wants to be a BMX star. A decent ride down the sidewalk should be completed before he signs a contract. They are both hopeful that tomorrow will be as mild as today and that they can get some more ride time. Nic assured his brother that if they both successfully learned to ride Nic's bike that he was sure I'd run out and buy him his own tomorrow. Didn't see that coming.

So after the bicycle triumphs we had a nice dinner, lazed around, boys showered and I finally headed upstairs to work on my office/studio space a bit more. It is coming along. At about 9:15 WB talked the family into playing Sequence. Nic beat the rest of us twice. Didn't see that coming either.

Now the boys are building Legos with Daddy and it is just about time to shoo them off to bed. They will not be happy but they will oblige eventually. Tomorrow includes bike riding, a trip to Michael's for frames and church. We'll probably go out for dinner too. I have a gift card for Boston Market in my wallet that we could use and keep it fairly cheap. I love cheap. Especially if I have to buy a bike tomorrow.

Time to put on a sweater or two or three

Yep, we got a gas/electric bill today. YIKES! Now this one was for the period in December that the house was under control of the reconstruction company so this bill will be paid by the insurance company but I guess I feel like I have been warned. Fred was complaining about the coldness of the house just a day or two ago. I much prefer to put on a sweater or fleece than to turn up the thermostat, especially when I am home alone during the day. If no one complains then the thermostat may stay low. He complained, I pumped it up 2 degrees and snuggled. When I got the bill I took it down 2 degrees and put on a fleece sweatshirt. The good news, or maybe it's the bad news, my neighbors bill was very similar. I think it would be good to program those thermostats so we have more "regular" swings in the temperature. I feel a little guilty typing about the cold weather when many people I know and love are in areas suffering through temperatures well below freezing. I suppose cold is all relative huh?

OK, a slight addendum to my lamenting. As I was typing this and looking over my bill I see that there is a $65 reconnect fee and a $150 System Benefit Charge on the gas portion of the bill. I guess when the coop gets a new customer they get a benefit in the amount of $150. Lucky them.

I DID today!

The boys got out the door in a timely manner today and I let my momentum take me once I got all three of them on their way.

The dishwasher needed to get broken in, there was laundry to be done and I was expecting a guy to come by about some carpet issues around 11. Well, three loads of laundry later, I had emptied a lone box in the kitchen, hung some things on the walls upstairs and down, washed the boys sheets, watched Desperate Housewives from Sunday and an episode of Ellen. I ate lunch, met with two carpet guys, ran to school to take something to Nic, got worried when my kids came home later than expected, chatted with BFF Denise while she was so close, at the DFW airport, yet so far away, behind security lines. I vacuumed, talked to my dad, changed the vacuum bag, defrosted chicken for dinner, and Will helped me cook. We had 4 neighbor boys over to play simultaneously, and Nic ran to school to practice locking up his scooter. I made arrangements for the kids' furniture delivery to be made on Friday and I up-dated my contact info for MOMS group at our church. In addition we each put 5 ideas for family fun night in a jar. We had a tough time agreeing this past weekend so I came up with the idea that we throw our best ideas in a jar and whatever gets picked is what we do. No arguing, negotiating or whining. There are a couple of things that are weather permitting and some things that I am not real keen on, Laser Tag anyone? But we'll deal and I can always take a book, but that kinda defeats the family fun part huh? Maybe I'll be good at Laser Tag? Maybe not.

OK, I just decided that I was worn out from my day. I am going to go put a few more things away in my office, it is still rather ignored, and help the boys clean up a bit before it is time to read, kiss and tuck. No school on Friday here so spelling tests are tomorrow. Gotta run through those words just one more time!

Things that make you go huh?

So I have been working with the kids' Dr office for about 2 months on a $20 copay charged when I took the boys in for well child checks last November. Will had a $0 balance but Nic kept getting billed $20. So I called again today and the billing lady said that basically we were charged an office visit when I brought up a potential that Nic may have some allergies. These "allergies" make him uncomfortable when he tries to go to sleep all congested so I talked to the new DR and was looking for a suggestion. He shared that if we tried over-the-counter allergy meds regularly for a month then go off of them we'd know if he had an allergy that was treatable OTC and would not need to follow-up in the office.

Well, apparently that cost me $20 and who knows how much Blue Cross Blue Shield was charged. I am just shaking my head and trying to understand how bringing up this topic at an overall well-child check constitutes another additional charge. Any thoughts?

Is it over yet?

I am ready to move beyond Monday. The good news... I got my microwave and dishwasher today. The bad news, I also have ANTS! Yuk! I suppose it is like ants in IN in the summer but since it never gets REALLY cold here they have ants all year round. I dislike ants almost as much as I dislike the hot. Maybe TX isn't really the place for me?!

After the appliance guys, the reconstruction guy and the insurance adjuster left today I ran out the door and did my running for the day. First stop was at the vacation home to take pics before I turned in the keys. After the photos I ran to city hall where I paid bills, arrange shut off the H2O at the vacation home, returned books to the library and hit the planning and zoning office looking for building codes to support the upgrades that the city of Frisco required before we could get a certificate of occupancy. I hope to have the documents in my hand tomorrow to support all of that stuff.

After city hall I ran to Old navy to try to find some cool clothes for my kids on the cheap. Mission accomplished. Then I went to Best Buy to make a return then to the bank and Kroger. I had 3 things on my Kroger list but somehow walked out with $89 worth of groceries! How does that happen? Since I bough ice cream sandwiches at Kroger I headed straight home and nuked myself a YUMSY panini and zipped through Brothers and Sisters. I should have been cleaning up my house but I opted to sit on my butt instead.

Finally I could not put it off any longer, I had to get to school to pick-up the DI team for a meeting after school. The kids are so wired and they made NO progress today. I wish I could quit for them but instead I must be strong, try to get them on a course and encourage encourage encourage. When the team left I had to rush the boys through homework, some free time, a lousy dinner then off to Faith Formation. But right around the lousy dinner part I found ants all over my kitchen counter. Ok, not really all over but YUK! I called Fred then my neighbor to get the number for her exterminator. He is coming tomorrow and Fred bought ant traps and this goo in a syringe that should get us through the night.

Well, it was my night to drive so I got the kids together and zipped to church. Dropped them at their respective classes and headed to Target with a shopping list of 2 items. $39 later and about 20 items I got out of there and went to read while I waited for the boys and the neighbor kid. We got home pretty quickly and found Fred working on the ant mess. Will had homework yet to do and they all wanted ice cream. It was a hectic night that then got worse when I went upstairs to kiss and tuck to find my boys, who by the way know how to read a clock, playing PS2 in the game room instead of brushing their teeth and reading. I went OFF on them and feel only a little sad. They are both really taking advantage of me and this house and I am so tired of it. I must apologize to my mother right now. I know that in my life I have been this way. I am sorry. Paybacks suck! Guess it's my burden.

Well, tomorrow is a new day with the same expectations as always let's see if we can make it all happen. There are plenty of piles and tasks around here to keep me busy. I have errands to run but I think I'll stay home and keep it cheap tomorrow. I have plenty to choose from for lunch;) I told the boys that when they got home there would be many things to keep them busy and away from all electronic stuff. There have got to be consequences right? It was so much easier when they were cute and 2 or 3 or 4. This pre-teen stuff is tough. I suppose it isn't going to get any easier right? Say a prayer please, for me and them. We could all use a little divine intervention about now.

Saturday Stuff

Yesterday was a bit of a blur. School, then waiting for the floor, blind and appliance people to take over the house around 9:00. Well the floor guys showed up at 8:15, before I was truly presentable, the reconstruction guy made his office on my porch around 8:45 and the appliance guy called the reconstruction guy at 9:15 to tell him they weren't coming. They found that the dishwasher that they had ordered had a dent in it and they needed to drive to KY and get another one. I was less than pleased, said good-bye to Joe and waited for the blind guy to show up. He got here a little before 10 and left a little after 12. So the appliance people are coming on Monday at 9:00 and the floor guy had to come back this AM to get some spots that they didn't get yesterday that I didn't know they were supposed to take care of. That is why Joe was supposed to be here when they were. That and the fact that he speaks a little Spanish.

Once I get all of the visitors taken care of I quickly baked some cookies and showered in time to get to Friday Live at school. I like to go just to go but especially when the boys are getting an award or when their class is doing a skit. I thought I was just going to go but Will actually won an award so that was cool. Except the part that I didn't bring my camera. Oh well, next time his class is doing the skit so I'll go prepared.

After school the DI kids walked home with us and we met until 5:00. The meeting was quite chaotic and less productive than Monday's meeting but thems the breaks. The boys and girls have homework to tend to before we meet again on Monday. Let's hope they make progress, lots of progress.

Nic had a friend spend the night last night and we were all up and moving pretty early considering how late we all stayed up. We took A home around 11:30 and take advantage of his mom having a carpet shampooer and borrowed hers instead of renting a rug doctor. Fred had fun working with the cleaning equivalent of a power tool and took care of the two areas that needed cleaned. We turn in keys on Monday so let's hope we did enough.

After we cleaned for a few hours I came home and crashed. I got up and made frozen pizza for dinner. I am still on strike from making too much REAL food until I get my microwave. I paid bills, not fun, and have been trying to reduce some paper piles around the house. It all takes time. Tomorrow is pretty open for all of us. Nic has his DI meeting from 1-3 but other than that we can take some time hanging pictures around the house and getting the pile out of the living room. It looks like an art gallery storage room. Well, probably not really, we don't have that much "art."

OK, off to veg in front of the TV for a bit. Boys are upstairs so I can control the remote!!! YEAH!

I am a slacker who stands corrected.

Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on
by Regina Brett
Sunday May 28, 2006, 10:13 AM
To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolls over to 50 this week, so here's an update:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. You can get through anything if you stay put in today.
18. A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Overprepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
36. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
38. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
42. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
43. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
44. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
45. The best is yet to come.
46. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
47. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
48. If you don't ask, you don't get.
49. Yield.
50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
To reach this Plain Dealer columnist:
rbrett@plaind.com, 216-999-6328

I'm a slacker

Stole this from an e-mail a friend from IA sent. Thanks Andrea, good reminders for all of us! I especially like # 21 - the lingere and should have #26 tatooed to my forearm, especially on days like yesterday! I am so looking forward to #42! Peace out!

45 Lessons in Life
The below listed 45 lessons were written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, Of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio.
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here goes:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. Love your parents because they will be gone before you know it.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no
one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a
Special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.
Stay in touch.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Whew!

It has been a VERY long day around these part. I spent the majority of my hours today at the vacation house. It seemed so simple, I was going down to clean and wait for the rental furniture people to come pick up their goods. I got a call yesterday that put their window of arrival between 12 and 4 PM. Seemed like a big enough window but I was told by the temporary housing folks that they could give me an hours notice so I didn't have to sit around and wait. Well, guess what, I sat around and waited.

I started on the cleaning a little before noon and soon realized that I had not left all of the proper instruments or concoctions to get the job done well. I headed to Target nearby and picked up some reinforcements. I got back to the house around 12:30 and got straight to work. I had plenty to do and tried to multitask a bit. I let the CLR work on the shower while I tried to clean some high traffic carpet spots with Resolve. I cleaned mirrors, swept wood and tile floors and generally dusted. Well, all of that took nearly three hours. So at 3:15 when I had not heard from the housing people with the 1 hour call ahead I called them. I sat on hold, at my request, while they called the furniture people. When they got back to me the bad news was the the window was now adjusted to 4:30-5:30.

They still promised to call 1 hour before and even offered that I could leave a key under the doormat. I did not feel like the latter was an option at all so I called the boys, who had arrived home from school by this point, to check in. They were doing well on their own and so I decided to stay and continue the cleaning tasks while I waited. Well, 4:50 showed up on the clock and I decided that rather than call the housing people I would call Cort myself. Lucky for me it's phone book season in TX and I had four varieties that would hopefully hold the rental furniture listing that I needed. I hit the jackpot on the second volume and called Cort. Of course I had gotten the retail end and needed delivery. A very nice lady gave me the number slowly enough for me to quickly memorize it. I had not a pen in the place. I called and spoke to someone who basically said I needed to just wait. I told him that I was not satisfied with that answer. He said he'd have his manager call me. About 5 minutes later I got a call from the Manager of Operation who said he was sending a fresh crew out the door to me right away. He said it would take them 30 mins to get to me. Well, it was 5:00 so his estimate was off by 30 minutes. The guys showed up at 5:56 and were done emptying the house in about 45 minutes. By this time I had called a neighbor and sent the boys across the street for some supervision. They in turn let the dog out in the yard and failed to bring him in before they left. He had fun in the back yard for 2 hours. He was barking up a storm when I got home.

We ate cold but yummy pizza that I had ordered too early, and got back onto the homework track that had been abandoned earlier without my supervision. They got through it and I went to draw a bath to soak my aching body. I tried out the whirlpool tub that I had not used before the fire and I give it a definite thumbs up. My shoulder and thumb are achy still but I think I just aggravated an old injury and injured my thumb while trying to disassemble a headboard to move the movers along. It helped a little but not enough to justify the bum thumb.

So, the boys are in bed, I have taken my Aleve and have big plans to veg in bed and watch mindless Wednesday night television. I sure hope there is something mindless on.

Tomorrow I am supposed to volunteer at school. I should be fine to copy but can not imagine any cutting task. No scissors would fit my thumb. Maybe I could use the paper cutter guillotine thing? Off to rest.

A new era...

It was supposed to start yesterday, due to the BAD weather we had it starts today. My boys are officially walkers. They really didnn't want me tagging along so I made sure they were together and sent them off. I think this afternoon I'll meet them on their way home...

Snaggin a good idea

I could probably come up with something to write about today but I think instead I will snag this good idea from another blog that I frequent.
Right Now:

Out of my window: It is a rainy cold day here in TX. The boys so wanted to walk to and from school today but it was raining this AM and will still be raining when it's time to come home.

I am wearing: It's sweater weather so I am wearing my softest brown V-neck and some comfortable jeans. I still have my shoes on because I just got home from a Kroger run!

I am hearing: I can hear the dog behind me snoring and the sounds of animal planet on the TV in the LR. When I went to Kroger I left the TV on for dear Pete. It keeps him from howling at any little noise he hears while we are away.

I am thinking: About whether I should brown the ground beef for tacos now or after the DI meeting. About what snack I feed these DI kids and how hard is homework going to be tonight. Also thinking about getting some insurance work done with Fred before he vacates for the week. There are only so many hours in the day so we'll see what gets accomplished tonight.

I am thankful for: Being back in this house. Even though we were only here for 2 weeks before it does feel like home. Can't wait to get pictures hung on the walls this weekend and get some more goodies from the storage unit.

I am creating: Nothing today:(

I am going: to pick up the boys from school in about 40 minutes and then will hopefully not leave the rest of the day.

I am hoping: That the DI team works well this afternoon and gets some progress made on their script for the competition that is only about 50 days away!

I am reading: Enemy Within by ??? I found this paperback when I was unpacking over the weekend. I think it was made into a movie last year and maybe my mom gave me the book. No matter, it is holding my attention for now.

Around the house: You will find some messes, mostly in the boys' areas, and some piles. Overall things are moving along and items are finding their ways to homes throughout the house or in the donate pile.

One of my favorite things: Lately my shower has turned into one of my favorite things. Usually when we move we install this cheapo little shower head that we have had for many moves that we both like in our master shower. This time the shower is more than acceptable. This is REALLY a great thing because I think we lost that trusty old shower head in the fire.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Getting back into the routine of school is high on my list. The boys did fairly well today, let's hope that continues. We need to find our rhythm in this house and the best process to get the kids out the door in good time. We are also having the rental furniture picked up from the vacation home on Wednesday and Thursday is another Chick-Fil-A fundraiser night. I love those days!

I think that wraps up my right now. I think I should go ahead and brown the ground beef for tacos and I have time to do that before I pick up the boys. Take care all and stay warm!

OLW

So I haven't updated the blog yet in 2009 because I had not settled on my OLW. I am not totally sure about the word that I have chosen but I am hopeful it will grow on me. Drum roll please....

My 2009 OLW is... DO!

Yep, a very little OLW that should keep me focused and moving toward all of the goals in my life. I just need to DO it. I need to DO things with purpose, DO things to simplify, DO things that create hope. DO some creating, DO some nesting and DO somethings that I believe in. The key is that I should not choose to DO nothing!

I need to create some art around the word but I need to DO some unpacking first. Fred took a big load of debris to the dump nearby then ran through our storage unit and picked up a truck-load of stuff. A bunch of inefficiently packed china and misc. other stuff. Fred commented that we had not used or needed the stuff in the last 6 months and he wondered how much we really need any of it. I may be a bit more discerning as I unpack about what goes back into service. I am absolutely certain that some stuff can just be re-boxed and donated.