I’ve been slammed here lately.  Positively slammed!  But I wanted to put something out here because it’s been way too long since I posted anything, so here’s a quick rundown of the happenings in my world…

Project Overhaul is still in full force!  If you remember from a previous post, I talked about a major home-project that I was undertaking.  Basically, some major cleaning, organizing, and getting rid of all of the unnecessary junk that’s accumulated in my house over the past couple of years.  I think I started this project a little over 2 weeks ago and I have *almost* finished room #1, the kitchen.  Damn!  I didn’t realize how much extra junk I had stored up in my kitchen!!  Ridiculous.  You would not believe the crap I’ve gotten rid of.  I’m talking trash bags full of stuff that I didn’t use or need.  I don’t even know where some of it came from!  I have found the most random junk in drawers and cupboards, in the pantry, and even in the fridge.  Yuck!  But I’ve got it all under control now.  Yay me!!  New contact paper has been laid, everything has been cleaned and organized…everything has been sprayed down with a bleach-cleaner…I’ve gotten rid of so much junk, it’s unbelievable.  I still have to majorly clean my hardwoods in there, but I’ll wait until I’ve knocked out the adjacent sunroom so I can do both floors at the same time.  Anyway, my kitchen looks awesome.  I’m totally still on board with this project and loving it! 

Kiddos…Belle first…  Belle has been having an awesome summer!  She enjoyed her week-long camp so much.  Part of her camp was “horse camp”.  She spent the first part of her days at camp riding.  So funny…she said she already knew everything they were teaching and she could answer every question they asked, my little know-it-all….  Also, apparently she was the only one trained in English riding ~ and they were riding Western.  So she got to ride the *special* English horse for a couple of days, which totally made her think she was hot stuff!  But she loved it.  I’m sure we’ll be back next year.  Right now she’s got swimmers ear, nasty little infection.  I had to take her to the doctor the other day and she should not be swimming for at least 10 days, but I’m gonna let that slide for tomorrow, the 4^th.  We’re planning on spending the day at the pool.  No way I can keep her out of the water!  It might take a little longer for her ear to heal, but such is life when you’re a rambunctious 10-year-old.  Meanwhile, she continues to grow into the most beautiful, amazing little girl.  I swear, sometimes I look at her and tears well up in my eyes because she is *so* beautiful ~ inside and out.  She’s got the most caring heart in the world and I love the person she is becoming.  God, I love that child…  Two years ago she decided she wanted to donate her hair to locks of love.  It is a project for kiddos with cancer who lose their hair.  Hair donations go towards making wigs for these little ones who are going through treatment.  You have to have at least 10 inches to donate, so we cut off all 10+ inches two years ago so she could be part of this awesome project.  Right after she did it, she decided she wanted to grow her hair out again so she could donate to locks of love a second time.  Well…two years later, here we are.  She’s got more than 10 inches ready to be cut off and donated, so we’ll be doing that soon.  Like I said, she’s got such an awesome, caring way about her.  She is my heart…

Noah… Noah started summer school last week and he’s doing AWESOME.  I’m so proud of him.  The boys have had developmental issues since they were babies.  They were under county services since before they were 3.  Speech, occupational therapy, etc…  I held them back in kindergarten, so they should actually be starting 3^rd grade this year instead of 2^nd.  But it was a good decision and they’re pretty much on par with where they need to be.  Noah had a bit of a rough time last school year, which is why he’s in summer school.  But he actually likes it.  And his teacher seems to be really good in working with him.  I wasn’t really pleased with his teacher last year.  I just think there were things she could have been doing with him to increase his academic performance and I really think she just didn’t want to be bothered.  Keep in mind, I have a teaching degree and I’m certified to work with kids with learning disabilities.  Neither of the boys are labeled “learning disabled” anymore, but he’s got a record.  An educational record of being developmentally delayed, that is.  Generally speaking, regular education teachers aren’t fond of having to incorporate these “problem kids” into their typical classrooms, so often times these kids have difficulty keeping up with the curriculum and the class work.  As was the case with Noah last year.  But I’m confident that with this additional schooling, he will be totally prepared and ready for 2^nd grade in the fall.  He’s really enthusiastic about summer school, which is outstanding. 

Ross…  My little love-bug..;)  Ross did a flag football camp last week and LOVED it!!!  He broke his arm in March of last year playing football with a bunch of kids at the ballpark while waiting for his baseball game to start.  It was a very traumatic experience…  The arm was healed in time for fall football and although I did not want him to play, he wanted to play and h agreed to let him.  Wouldn’t you know, the first day of practice in full pads, he broke the same arm again!  Poor fella…  Noah and Ross were the smallest ones on the team.  They played with kids that weigh over 100 pounds ~ at 7 years old!  Insane, I know.  My little guys don’t even weigh 50 pounds soaking wet, and yet they had to hang with these *monsters*.  So Ross was out of football before it even started.  He still enjoys the game, but really he’s too small to play competitively.  Flag football is a great alternative to the regular football organizations, so we’re looking into signing the boys up for flag football in the fall.  Either that or baseball ~ it will be their choice. 

And me…  Well, I’m still trucking along as usual…  Nothing much new on my end ~ other than keeping up with my munchkins!  Nothing new has transpired between H and I.  We’ve had some really deep conversations, both agreeing that we need this divorce to happen, but seeing no end in sight financially.   Things are a bit tight these days.  He works in the real estate industry and things are really, really slow right now.  And me, I still need to land that new job in an effort to increase my salary so that I can decrease the financial burden a bit and move forward with my life on my own.  I’m still trekking forward.  I’m confident that things will end up the way they’re supposed to, in their own time.  Meanwhile, I’m just trying to focus on my kids and make sure that they’re as happy, content, and secure as possible during these tumultuous times… 

Tomorrow is the 4^th (ummm, I think it’s already tomorrow!) and we have plans to hang out at the pool all day with friends.  Our neighborhood has a huge party on the 4^th with a live dj and games for the kids.  It’s always a blast, so we’re very much looking forward to that!  Afterwards, we’re all coming over here for a cook out, and then we’ll head out for fireworks later on in the night.  It will be a fun time, I’m sure!  I hope everyone enjoys their 4^th of July as well ~ and please, stay safe!!

That’s all I have for now.  As always, stay tuned for more…Days of my Life…

Until next time, be great!