Yay, It’s Friday!!!  I *love* it when that happens! 

Belle finished her school project last night.  I’ll post pics of it, hopefully over the weekend.  She did a really good job on it!

Noah and Ross are doing good ~ totally into going for bike rides every evening after dinner.  I think we’ll head back to the park tomorrow morning and ride the trails some more.  This time I won’t have a string of “cubs” following behind me so hopefully I’ll get a little more of a work-out! 

So the boys were talking about speech class again the other day to one another and here’s how that conversation went…

Ross:  I’m going to speech class tomorrow with Michael (another boy in his class)

Noah:  What teacher are you going with?  That shiny lady??

Ross:  No

Noah: Then which one?

Ross: The white lady

Noah: Oh.  I wonder if she’s nice.

Ross: Yeah, me too.

They’re so fun……J

In further interesting news, guess what I did on my lunch hour today…?  GOT GAS!  Dang, the gas ordeal is freakin’ ridiculous around these parts.  People are going completely nuts over gas.   Gas stations are closed, prices are up, and when you find a place that does have gas, be prepared to wait.  A really, REALLY long time.  That was me today.  I discovered gas at my 5^th stop.  Almost an HOUR later (54 minutes to be exact), I was pulling away with a full tank of gas.  It was insane!  Like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  People lined up in all directions waiting to get to the gas pumps.  And good luck to the daring soul who attempts to cut in line or take another person’s turn at the pump.  There is no doubt in my mind that a riot would ensue should that happen!  People are not playing around when it comes to their gas!!  They had to have attendants walking around the parking lot today to keep the peace and make sure things were operating in an orderly manner.  Many people turned their cars off and back on when the opportunity to inch forward presented itself.  Everyone had their windows down.  I’m sure no one was running their air conditioners!  I made friends with an elderly couple waiting in line next to mine.  They were Alabama fans.  I let them know that they were on BULLDOG territory!  We laughed and joked until it was my turn to fill up.  Quite the gas station experience, I tell ya…

Well, not much else to report here.  Fixin’ to head out for the weekend!  I’m seriously thinking about telling my boss that I’m going to start working 2 days a week at home because of the ridiculous gas crisis.  Really, there’s no reason I can’t work from home so I’m sure it wouldn’t be an issue.  I’ll think more about it over the weekend! 

On the agenda…”Screen on the Green” this evening.  My neighborhood is providing a movie on the soccer field this evening so we’re packing up the kiddos and some food and drinks and going to watch Shrek III.  We have some friends joining us as well, so it’s sure to be a fun time!  Tomorrow morning, I want to take the kiddos to the park and ride bikes on the trails.  Then we have the boys’ game and my game.  No riding lessons for Belle.  Poor thing…  I need to get in touch with her instructor asap and set up lessons for her at another barn!  In fact, I think I’ll call her on my way home from work today!!  Saturday night, we’ll hang out either at home or at my brother’s and watch college football.  GO DAWGS ~ AND NITTANY LIONS!!  Odd, I know, for me to be cheering for such different teams.  But I grew up in Pennsylvania until I was 12 and have remained faithful to Penn State after all these years.  Living in Georgia pretty much qualifies you as a UGA fan, but seeing how I graduated from Georgia ~ makes me a HUGE UGA fan!  Love me some Georgia football!!  Sunday, hopefully we’ll get over to my mother’s for dinner since we missed out last weekend.  We shall see…

Well blogland buddies, I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!  Until next time, these are the days of my life…..

Be great!    

Now accepting gift ideas!!!  I always wait until the last minute to do my Christmas shopping.  Always.  I’m not gonna do it this year though!  Nope.  I actually would like to start my Christmas shopping now.  It would be *so* much nicer to pay that Christmas bill off over the course of three or four months as opposed to one, not to mention I bet it would be nice not having to run to the stores last minute to complete my shopping list.  There is, however, something about waiting ‘til the last minute that just works for me...  I don’t know if it’s the adrenalin rush or the pressure of the challenge to get it done while having to fight the crowds and other last minute shoppers…I don’t quite know.  All I know is that I always wait until the last minute yet I always seem to get everything accomplished that I need to ~ and I kinda like it.  Now that I think about it, that’s how I pretty much roll in everyday life.  If I have a major project to do at work, I don’t put forth full effort until I’m inching near the deadline date.  I work best under pressure.  In everything I do.  Is that a bad thing?  I’m not really sure.  I am sure, however, that I do not intend to be one of those last minute shoppers this year rummaging through the stores on Christmas Eve, hoping against all odds that at the bottom of all the leftovers I will find that *prized-gift* I’ve been searching for….for all of 10 minutes…;)  So, with that said, I need Christmas gift ideas!!!  My shopping list is pretty easy.  H and I gave up trying to buy for everyone years ago.  Christmas just gets ridiculous these days.  There is no need to “gift” every freakin’ Tom, Dick and Harry in your life.  Instead, we stick to the basics.  The kiddos are simple.  No need for ideas on that front.  My Mom is another easy one because my sisters, brother and I always go in together for her gift so we’ve got ideas galore.  H is easy too…  I guess it’s just his side of the family that gives me trouble; mother, father, step-mom, brother (19 yr-old), and grandmothers.  Generally I do the usual stuff ~ framed pictures of the kids, clothes, jewelry…blah, blah, blah…  I’d love to be more original, but for the love of God I cannot think of any creative gift ideas!  So if you’ve got em’, please be a good blog friend and share!!  Thank you very much.  J

So the week seems to by flying by.  Gotta love it when that happens!  I had cheer practice Monday and Tuesday and canceled my third practice for the week.  I’m feeling a little burned out with it so I’m sure the girls are too.  They are kicking ASS with their competition routine.  Damn, I’m good…;)  Nah ~ they totally deserve the credit.  I run my practices like a drill sergeant and they never ever complain or slack off.  They are simply the best and deserve whatever reward they receive next Sunday ~ only 11 days away! 

Training is going okay so far…I’ve adjusted to my new bike ~ or should I say my ass has adjusted to my new bike…;)  Have ya seen the seats on those suckers?!  Geez…tell me, who’s teeny-tiny ass actually fits comfortably on one of those?  Apparently, not mine.  Luckily I think I’ve overcome the sore bum-factor though.  I no longer *cringe* when I climb aboard!  I still love my bike and ride it every chance I get.  I love that the kiddos have totally taken to bike riding again ~ really enthusiastically!  They want to go bike riding everyday, which I love.  If nothing else comes of this triathlon training, I’m super happy that I’ve taken up bike riding after all these years.  I just wish I had done it sooner!  And just a note to my new found blog friends out there…I will be lucky to FINISH THE RACE, let alone achieve a decent time or place….;)  So how ‘bout let’s just cheer me on to cross the finish line in one piece ~ what’dya say?!  J

Not much else to report here…the kiddos are doing great.  Isabelle Rose has a project to do at school.  Every year the school does a program called “Reflections” where they give a particular theme and the kids can participate if they want and enter a project in the category of visual arts, language arts, photography, music, and I think this year dance. Belle has done it before and even won at the county level when the theme for the year was “My Hero” and she wrote a piece about a little boy with autism who lives across the street from us.  I think she was in first grade.  It was super sweet…  This year she’s interested in the photography category.  She waited patiently by the hummingbird feeder this weekend and captured a really cool shot of a hummingbird suspended in mid air.  So she has to fill out all of the paperwork for the project and I’m going to help her mount her pictures on a foam-board background and she’ll be good to go!  She’s thinking of doing another project in a different category, but I’m not sure she’ll have time enough to complete another one!  We shall see… 

In closing, I’m going to replay a conversation I had with the boys the other day on our way home from the ball park.  They say the most random things sometimes…..

Mommy: Have you guys gone to your new speech class yet?

Ross:  No, thank God!

Noah:  Yes, I have.

Ross: What teacher did you go with?

Noah:  That shiny lady.

Ross: Oh…the shiny lady??

Noah: Yes, her…

Mommy: How is she shiny?

Noah:  Because she’s just..…like….shiny...

Ross: Yeah, like her face and stuff.

Mommy: Oh, I see.  Is mommy shiny?

Noah: Sometimes you’re shiny.

Ross: But sometimes not really.

Mommy: Well what is mommy then?

Noah: (takes a minute to lean forward and give me a good look-over) You’re tan

Ross: Yeah.  And sometimes yellow.

So there you have it folks.  Just call me the tan lady.  Or yellow.  Or “shiny” ~ but only on special occasions. J  Take your pick!

Until next time, these are the days of my life…

Be great!      

Another busy, but fun weekend!  Friday after work (and cricket-buying), I set out to find a new bike with H and the boys.  I had been looking online and found one that I really liked and was reasonably priced.  I didn’t want to spend tons of money on a top-of-the-line bike only to have it turn into a dust collector in a corner of the garage somewhere…  So I found my bike AND got it for 50% off the original price!  I was psyched!!  I promptly got it home and rode around the neighborhood with the boys following on their bikes.  They got the biggest kick out of me on a bike, too funny…  It was so much fun!  I was worried at first because I haven’t been on a bike in ages…at least 15+ years, so I was a little shaky starting off.  It only took a few minutes for me to feel totally comfortable on it though and I truly did not want to get off!  Considering, however, that it was pitch dark outside by this time I finally gave in and put it up for the night.  We just chilled out for the rest of the evening and I got to hold a baby while he fell asleep in my lap.  There is nothing sweeter in life than holding your babies while they drift off to sleep… 

Saturday morning we were up and out by 8:30am.  We headed over to a local park for the boys’ first Cub Scout meeting!  Aside from the total chaos that was the meeting, the boys participated in a bike-safety course before going for a 30 minute ride.  This earned them their first “belt loop!”  Since I was one of the only parents (and the only mom) who brought their bike, I was put in charge of a small group of “Cubs” for the bike ride.  So it didn’t end up being quite the training session that I had hoped for, but it was still so much fun!  My group of boys was awesome!!  Sure, we had our moments…like a pedal that fell off about 3 minutes into our ride…and the times we had to stop because some poor little biker-fella couldn’t quite make it up a hill…or the hundred water-breaks we had to stop for...;)  They did a good job off staying together in the group and not racing ahead and being respectful when someone needed to rest.  We rode 4 ½ miles in about 35 minutes.  Not too bad considering all the stops!  The boys had a fantastic time and they are totally excited about the upcoming activities that we have to look forward to.  I’m pretty sure they’re gonna like this Cub Scout thing… 

After our bike outing, we did our usual balancing act of baseball, riding lessons and my football game with my cheerleaders.  By the time we got home, it was 5 or 6 in the evening and H’s mom showed up to pick up the kiddos for the night.  We got them packed and out the door and then got ourselves ready for our night out.  We went to a local sports bar to watch the Georgia game with my bestie, Val and one of her girlfriends and also one of H’s friends.  We had a really fun time watching the game and decided we’d continue our fun at another bar where we could listen to a local band and dance.  I think I got in bed around 2:30-3 in the morning!  Luckily, we didn’t have the kiddos in the morning so H and I took full advantage and slept in.  Later in the afternoon, we headed to H’s uncle’s house for a party for his mom’s birthday.  It was so nice to see so many friends and family members turn out for her birthday; this the first without H’s step father.  The kiddos got to swim and ride around the property on a golf cart and hang out in the hot tub so they were in their glory.  There was a ton of food and beverages ~ overall, just a really nice time for his mom.  We got home at about 7pm, got the kiddos settled in in their jammies, had some down time reading, and then chilled out until bed time.  I was also in bed early because I had to be up early today to start off my week!

I got up at about 5:45am and ran this morning.  I think I’ll run again tonight!  Oh…but I also want to ride my bike…decisions, decisions…  I am such a goofball ~ a few times a day I visit my bike and touch all of its parts and maybe put the kick-stand up and roll it around.  I *love* this bike!  How did I ever live without one?!  I’ve also been looking online at biking events.  Thinking about a 28-mile ride in a few weeks.  We’ll see. 

For the rest of the week ~ I’ve got cheer practice 3 times this week and a project that I need to help Belle with…and I have to go buy the boys’ scout’s uniforms (I cannot WAIT to see them in their little shirts with that scarf tied around their neck…so cute!) and lots of working out to do…and I think that’s about it.  I have cheer practice tonight and the boys have ball practice so H and Belle are taking “Grandma” out to dinner since today is her actual birthday.  We’re giving her a spa-day at a really nice local spa, and the kiddos have all made cards for her.  I’m sure she’ll love it all! 

Cute story…When we met up with H’s mom at the party yesterday afternoon she was telling us everything she did with the kiddos including taking them to the nearby dam.  She said that afterwards they went to a store called the “Dam Store”.  She warned us that was the actual name of the store so if/when the boys started talking about the “Dam Store,” it was really ligit.  Ha ~ I couldn’t wait to hear all about it…  On the drive home from the party we were talking to the kids about what they did with Grandma and one of the boys spoke up immediately talking about visiting the DAM.  You could tell he was pleased as punch to be using the word DAM…dam this, dam that, dam, dam, dam…  H and I were trying not to laugh.  Then Noah spoke up and said, “Yeah, and then we went to the DAM STORE.”  He told us a little bit about the store and then he said, “And it had a sign in the window that said, DAM GOOD FOOD INSIDE.”  H and I busted out laughing at that point, couldn’t help it.  Lord, that child is a handful…

And that’s all I got, folks.  Got me a DAM good bike, had a DAM good time with some DAM good friends, and ate some DAM good food…;)  Looking forward to another DAM busy week ahead…  I will check back in when I have something DAM interesting to share. 

So until next DAM time, these are the days of my life.

Be great!

I Have A Secret…  I am in the process of training for a triathlon, which takes place at the end of October!  I’ve been throwing around the idea of a triathlon for over a year now.  I have a good friend in Denver who’s done a few of them and she’s been trying to convince me to train for one.  I guess the time just wasn’t ever right up until now. Well, I take that back.  The time still isn’t right…as if I’m not absolutely slammed with five million things to do on a daily basis…  I don’t know, I just got a wild hair up my ass and got online and found a triathlon that I liked the sounds of and decided I was going to do it!  I also talked my sister into training for it with me!!  We don’t actually train together ~ we’re 45 minutes away from each other, but we have a training program that we’re following…er, somewhat following, with a few modifications here and there…and we touch base everyday on how things are progressing.  The particular race that I want to sign up for consists of a quarter of a mile swim (500 yards), a 16 mile bike and a 3.2 mile run.  That is almost 20 miles of travel ~ can you imagine?!  I’m so psyched!!  My sister warns that she’ll be cheering me on from the sidelines, but I don’t believe her.  She’s in better shape than she gives herself credit for!  At any rate, I will keep you posted on how things progress on the triathlon front!  Wish me luck!!

Yesterday I had lunch with my two best girlfriends, V and N.  Our Texas friend K also joined us.  He was supposed to be hanging around through the weekend, but decided instead to head north to visit his father for a few days.  He will be driving back through Atlanta so we’ll catch up with him again when he returns.  Like I mentioned earlier, he is a good friend from my past.  He and V were actually like best friends way back when, and since I ran around with V, K and I were kind of forced to run around together as well.  It’s been so neat catching back up with him the past week or so!  He’s such a great guy and we had a really cool connection with each other.  Looking forward to seeing him again when he returns!

For the weekend…I have some running around to do tonight.  I need to buy a new bike for training – and for the actual race, so I’m going to do a little bike shopping tonight.  I also have to stop on my way home from work and buy crickets for Belle’s lizard.  How gross is that?!  I can’t believe I actually do it for her!  It totally grosses me out…those little suckers jumping all around in that clear plastic bag…eeeewwwww!!!  Belle is spending the night out with a friend, so I’ll be hanging out with the boys tonight.  Tomorrow morning we have our first Cub Scout Meeting.  It’s a bike and hike at a local park ~ perfect for my training!  Very much looking forward to it.  I’m anxious to see what the boys will think about these Cub Scout activities.  Aside from Scouts tomorrow morning, we also have the usual ~ baseball game, riding lessons and my cheerleading.  We were supposed to be having a party for Texas K tomorrow, but since he’s out of town, we’ll likely head to a sports bar somewhere and watch some college football instead ~ GO DAWGS!  We have already made arrangements for the kiddos, so we have a free night to do whatever.  I’m looking forward to a fun night hanging out with friends!  Sunday…probably doing dinner at Mother’s, as usual.  Once again, I have a very busy weekend in store for me! 

Well, I think I will close this out now.  Hoping everyone has a super fantastic weekend!  And until next time, these are the days of my life…

Be great!    

Running short on time (what else is new?!) but I wanted to post a quick update on the days of my life…

• The kids are doing great!  We’re staying busy with school, baseball games and practices, and horseback riding lessons.  Speaking of which, the decision was made to look elsewhere for riding lessons for Belle.  Financially, we could not agree to purchase or lease Chester.  Belle was really sad about this, but hopefully she understands.  I think once she gets settled into her new barn with her new instructors, she’ll be just fine.  Oh yeah, since we don’t have enough on our plate already (hear the sarcasm?), I decided to sign the boys up for Cub Scouts!  They really, REALLY wanted to do it, which surprised me, so I obliged.  I think it’ll be good for them.  Meetings are only 2-4 times a month and are not mandatory.  They said that the kids could balance a sport and Cub Scout events, so I signed them up.  They’re thrilled!  We have our first meeting Saturday morning.  It’s a hike-and-bike event at a local park.  Oh yeah, H was not happy with my decision to sign them up for Cub Scouts so he has declared that he will NOT be a part of any of the meetings and/or events.  Nice, I know.  Therefore, I have vowed to be the “Cub Scout Mom in Charge” so I will be responsible for trekking them to and from all of their activities...  This should be interesting… J

• More kid info…  Noah continues to maintain perfect E’s on all of his progress reports in conduct and work habits!  Academically, he’s doing great as well.  This is such a huge blessing, which is why I feel the need to write about it often.  He’s had a rough go of it in years past and I’m just so incredibly proud and happy for him.  When kids actually enjoy school and are comfortable in their school surroundings with teachers who just freakin’ rock, they perform better, as is the case with Noah this year.  Good boy…

• More kid info, part II…  This blog is such a true glimpse into my crazy life.  The kiddos are my number one priority and I love telling their stories…  But back to kid info part II ~ the boys are back in speech.  Again.  We’ve been doing speech since they were two!  They have tested out of the program several times only to be put back in the following school year.  It’s a bit frustrating for them, but hopefully this will be the last round of speech for them!  On the flip side, I just hate the thought of them losing their cute little speech quirks…like the way Noah lisps…and how Rossy makes the “d” sound when pronouncing “th” words…and how both of them have trouble with the “ar” sound, instead pronouncing it as “ow” ~ like car sounds more like “cow” and Marlins sounds more like “Mowlins”…so freakin’ CUTE!  But I know they’ll be so much more confident when their speech improves.  They definitely know they’re not up to par with it so we’re hoping to knock it all out this year!

•  As for me, work remains the same ~ ho hum…  I’ve not actively been looking for the new job of my dreams, but hopefully when cheerleading season is over, I’ll get back on it.  I’m truly ready for a change!  Cheerleading competition is 2 ½ weeks away.  Holy cow!  I just shocked myself!!  Eeeeeks!  The girls will learn the very last part of their routine tonight at practice, praise God, so we’ll be able to critique from here on out.  What else…things on the home-front have been…a little sticky here lately.  I won’t go into details, but suffice it to say it’s definitely not been a cakewalk.  Obviously I wasn’t expecting perfect harmony from here until forever, but damn, I wish things were going a little more smoothly than they are.  We shall see…

• Weekend fun ~ had another busy weekend, what else is new right?  Friday night we went out to dinner, and Belle and I prepared for the next day’s activities which included a pet parade!  The neighborhood hosted a pet-show/parade so the kids took Angel Snowball Twinkle Star (good dog), Tiffany Suzanne (devil/million dollar dog), and Mohawk (albino lepard gecko).  It was a trip!  We had so much fun with it!!  Angel won for “best dressed” and Mohawk won for “most unusual”.  Poor Tiffy didn’t get an award, but there were lots of pets there and we were happy with the two medals we did win.  I will include pics at the end of this post.  Enjoy!  Saturday also included games, riding lessons and cheerleading.  Later that night, I went out with friends and had a fantastic time!  Sunday...dinner at my Mothers where I got to hang out with the crazy fam...

• Long Lost Friends ~ an old time friend of mine and my bestie V recently got in touch with several of our old “running buddies” from when we were about 19 – 22 years old.  He came into town from Texas and V, K (Tx friend), and I went out Saturday night.  We had the best time!!  We went for Mexican and margaritas and talked and talked and talked about what each of us has been up to for the past 15 years ~ that’s how long it’s been since we’ve seen him.  It was really fun and so cool to hook back up with someone from the past.  Last night I hosted a cookout at my house for him and V and her kiddos came over as did our good friend T and her crew.  Again, it was a really fun time.  We’ll probably all get together this weekend as well.  Plans are kind of up in the air right now, but we’ll see. 

I think that’s it!  Geez, what happened to my “quick update”?  Oh well!  I hope everyone is doing great out in blogland and until next time, these are the days of my life….

Be great!

Angel Snowball Twinkle Star ~ aka "Patriotic Pup"    

Tiffany Suzanne in her pink party dress...;)

Belle and Mohawk

Belle and Angel ~ aren't they sweet?!

Ross and Tiffy

Belle getting ready to show Angel

Rossy waiting for his turn with Tiffy...

A crowd gathering around Mohawk after he was crowned "most unusual"

The Pet Show Gang!

The evening had been planned in advance.  It was sure to be a fun time, and a time for “reconnecting” after a two year lapse in our fourteen year relationship.  It’s these simple moments and experiences that will serve as our saving grace in the end, provided that we make it that far.  These outings and social events are both necessary and vital to our happily-ever-after. Yet we don’t regard them as such.  Perhaps we should…

Our night out went even better than anticipated!  We had *so* much fun at the Brave’s game with friends; enjoying incredible seats, a few drinks, and lots of laughs.  I was excited beyond words, the kind of excitement that only a child can experience sincerely, to learn that there was a FIREWORKS SHOW after the game!!!  Who doesn’t absolutely LOVE the magic of fireworks?!  We settle in as the first booming light-explosions take place and I am glued to the excitement, my eyes fixated at the sky above, my mouth giving into the biggest, goofiest grin ever…  And then it hits me.  I feel like I’ve been blind-sided by a train.  Out of no where and like a ton of bricks, it hits me…  For some reason he enters my mind.  A thousand thoughts go through my head totally invading the current time, place, and events of my life and they won’t stop.  Even though I try desperately to will them away, they won’t stop…and so I give into them… 

I wish he was here.  I wish he was sitting next to me…with his arm wrapped around my shoulder and his hand on my knee.  I wish he could see what I’m seeing and feel what I am experiencing..  I want this fireworks show to be a celebration of “us”.  I wish I could turn my head and kiss him…and breathe him in…that scent that used to be so familiar to me…that scent that is “him”.  I wish I could hold his hand and pull him even closer to me; my protector.  I see him in my mind…he would be wearing jeans if he was here, and a t-shirt.  Not a Brave’s shirt, just a regular old t-shirt ~ and tennis shoes, but no baseball hat.  I’ve never seen him wear a hat...?!  I wonder if he ever does and what he looks like in one…  And so I picture him wearing a baseball hat and he looks cute beyond words in it…cute in his handsome-way-cute, of course…  I want to lean into him and rest my head on his shoulder.  I want to enjoy this simple moment with him by my side…  I wonder where he is tonight.  I wonder if he ever thinks this way about me.  I wonder if thoughts of me make his heart ache the way thoughts of him make mine.  Then I remember.  And as I do, clarity slowly overtakes the place of this “invasion”…  Clarity reminds me where I’m at, how I got here, and why…

We never got to experience fun, simple things like this.  We didn’t share a life together or even a real relationship.  We didn’t get to enjoy these kinds of outings together.  We didn’t get Braves games, or nights out with friends...or fireworks... I don’t even know if he wears baseball hats, for Christ sakes!  Maybe he would have dressed in a Braves shirt if he was here tonight, and shorts ~ not the jeans and generic t-shirt as I predicted.  How would I know anyway?  I can’t just turn my head and kiss him, and "breathe him in" as I did once upon a time.  I don’t even remember what that feels like anymore…  I do remember the heartache and the pain of him though.  I do remember why things ended between us and why I chose to pursue my current path…."Keep remembering,” I tell myself, “Keep remembering.”…    

My girlfriend sitting next to me turns to look at me, probably to see if I’m still alive seeing how my non-stop chatter and excitement has suddenly been replaced with calmness and silence.  If she only knew…  I look down to fidget with my camera so I don’t have to meet her gaze.  The tears have spilled over and I need to find a way to erase them and all signs that they ever existed.  A few swipes of my cheeks and a deep breath later, I regain my composure and enter back into the here and now.  The sky continues to boom and flash and I focus my eyes on the display above and my mind on the present, not the past.  What matters is what is right here in front of me.  What I left behind is there for a reason. 

I ask H to put his arm around me and he does and we watch the fireworks, together…

The memories are sure to flood my mind again at some point.  Obviously, I’m not as far past him as I thought I was.  He remains stuck ~ somewhere in my head and in my heart.  But when these “invasions” of him take place and I find myself questioning my decisions and my current path and destination, I simply need to remind myself why I am here and he is not.

We were never meant to be.  And that is why we never got to experience the simple, but important things, like Braves games, and outings with friends...and the magic...of fireworks.

No decisions on Chester yet.  H and I haven’t really had an opportunity to discuss it at length.  I’m thinking it’s not gonna happen though.  It’s just not a really wise financial decision for us at this time, unfortunately.  Looking on the bright side though ~ we can follow the recommendation of our current riding instructor and get Belle signed up for lessons at another barn where I’m sure she’ll be very happy.  Also, I’m 100% certain that the minute Belle meets her new little “riding buddy” she will fall in love all over again.  I imagine we’ll still be able to visit Chester too, so all is not lost.  We’ll make it work no matter what… J

Friday night after work, H and I went to the Atlanta Braves game with friends.  We had the BEST time ever!  We had outstanding seats a few rows up from behind home plate, service from our seats, free food and drinks ~ it was awesome.  And surprise, the Braves won ~ yay!  And we got to enjoy a fireworks show afterwards.  Aside from getting stuck in some mad traffic on our way home, it was a really great night. 

So yesterday we spent the day at the pool and I am FRIED!  I did such a good job of protecting my skin this summer ~ better than I’ve ever done, I think.  So what do I do…I wait until our very last “pool day” to just fry myself silly.  It is ridiculous that I was so careless.  I honestly don’t know what I was thinking ~ obviously I wasn’t.  I made sure the kiddos were taken care of.  I just didn’t pay attention to myself and neglected to reapply my sunscreen after getting into the pool a few times.  So I am now a lovely shade of…reds and pinks, all splotchy and blotchy, complete with the raccoon eyes and a red hot nose that is sure to peel any day now.  Most attractive, I know.  I’m bummed that I did this!  I look a hot mess and my skin is on fire ~ ouch!  Hopefully, I’ve learned my lesson…ugh…

Not much else to report on.  I have this weird thing going on with my right ear…surely I don’t have a freaking ear infection?!  I never EVER get sick (knock on wood) and I refuse to go to the doctor for something frivolous, but something is seriously going on with my ear…and like the whole right side of my head.  Lord have mercy, I’ll wait and see what happens with it… 

I’ve got cheer practice 3 days this week plus a cheer meeting Wednesday night and of course the game on Saturday.  I’m almost done with the new routine, thank goodness.  We’re less than 4 weeks out from our big competition so I will be busting some serious little rockstar-cheerleading behind these next few weeks!!  I’m psyched that I have a late game this week because I’ll be able to catch the boys’ baseball game beforehand!  Stinks because I’ll miss some very important college football (go DAWGS!), but nothing beats sitting on the sidelines of my boys’ baseball games so I’m cool with that. J

And with that I will be signing off for today!  As always, be great!!      

Last week, Belle got a letter from her horseback riding instructor informing us that the barn we’ve been with for almost a year would no longer be providing lessons ~ unless you owned or leased a horse that boarded at their facility; a financial decision, I’m sure.  We also learned that the pony Belle has been riding in her lessons since we started there is up for sale, or lease.  Needless to say, we were heartbroken to learn of this.  “Chester” is an absolute love.  Belle positively adores him.  He’s a 10-year-old rescue pony, chesnut red in color, with a beautiful fluffy mane and “afro” bangs as we like to describe him, just Belle’s size…  So I spoke with Belle’s riding instructor today after her lesson.  She explained to me that she (the instructor, not the owner of the barn) teaches at a local high school and coaches their girl’s softball team as well.  On top of that, she does riding lessons throughout the week.  She told me that she’s currently working about 80 hours a week and she is just overloaded and exhausted.  Therefore, she is unable to continue with her current schedule and must give up some of her lessons…  The barn owner simply cannot afford the upkeep of her lesson ponies and horses (she does a lot of rescue work) without the extra income coming in from the lessons, so they’ve put several of them up for sale and/or lease.  We are relatively new to this whole “horse” thing.  Neither H nor I have any experience with horses whatsoever.  Meanwhile, Belle is extremely passionate about horses and riding and therefore we intend to do what we need to do to keep her in lessons.  As we have already had experience with 2 other barns prior to ending up where we are now, I hate to have to move her again.  The people here are incredible and her instructor is just the best.  She told me that Isabelle is too good of a rider to not continue her lessons and that she would help place her in another highly respected barn if we’d like her to do so.  But we don’t want to lose Chester, or our instructor!  So I talked to her today about the leasing option for him.  To lease him, we’d be required to pay a $400 boarding fee per month plus $35 per lesson for Belle, which is once a week.  This would mean roughly $540 per month for Chester and Belle’s lessons.  The good thing about it is that we would essentially be Chester’s owners.  The barn would cover all of his boarding fees including his feedings and medical care.  We would be paying the flat $400 fee per month to have him designated as “ours” ~ yet not be the actual responsible owners.  Belle’s instructor told me today that Belle is totally competent to be a horse owner.  I was shocked by this!  Owning a horse is HUGE…  She told me that generally, she would NEVER make the recommendation that a 10-year old become a horse owner.  But she said that Belle is absolutely ready for the responsibility ~ that she totally and completely cares for Chester on her lesson days, including feeding him, cleaning out his stall, “tacking” him (?), cleaning his feet, brushing, etc…untacking him, washing him, and everything else that’s required to care for a pony.  Isabelle is completely aware of the latest turn of events.  She knows that her barn will no longer be providing lessons by the end of the month, but that Chester is available for sale or lease and that if he is hers, then she can continue her lessons at her barn.  Belle and I correspond back and forth in email.  So cute and a great way, in my opinion, to stay well in touch with your kiddos.  Sometimes it’s easier to write things down (that would be me in a nutshell) rather than having to be more confrontational and state your opinions, feelings, etc…up front in words.  So today Belle wrote this to me in email…copy and pasted in its exact form…  To preface it, we stopped at the pet store today after her riding lessons, which we always do, to buy crickets for her lizard (gross, I know) and a new goldfish for her since her last one croaked last week.  When I was getting the fishbowl ready for new fishy, Belle started talking about Chester and at one point she walked away from me ~ obviously very upset…  My heart was breaking for her, but I thought it best to let her get her emotions out on her own.  I did ask her several times if she was okay and if there was anything she needed to talk to me about.  That was when she proceeded up to the “computer room” to write me this message in email…

 Dear mom,

Will you please buy or lease Chester?  You're proboply going to say no but here are some reasons you should get him because I've wanted one since I was like 5, and if you don't, then I'll have to switch barns again and I really don't want to do that because I've not been at S_____ R___ stables for very long.  When I walked off when you were cleaning out the fish bowl today, that was what was wrong with me. [I was crying].  I've been really upset ever since we got that letter.  If I had to choose between Chester or have all my friends move into a neighborhood together and we'd get to live in 8 story houses

I’d choose Chester still, because even though that would be awesome, I wouldn’t get to ride Chester anymore.  And if you did buy him I'd be so happy that I'd melt. If this hasn't made up your mind then please think about it.  If you say no then I'll be so sad that there aren't words to explain it.  PLEASE DON'T SAY NO.

Love,

Belle

Oh dear God…she melts my heart…  I would love for nothing more than to be able to lease (purchasing is absolutely out of the question) that pony for her.  But it is so financially wrong for us at the present time.  Money is tight as it is ~ with H being in the mortgage industry and him pretty much bringing in nothing these days…we struggle like we’ve never struggled before to stay on top of things…  Then again, we’ve gotten a little bit of a lift off our load as well.  Remember me writing about our piece of crap mini-van that was falling apart at the seams…???  We’ve owned the thing for over 8 years and it’s totally time to trade that sucker in for a new vehicle.  We like to keep it at one car payment at a time ~ and believe it or not, we’ve been able to do so for as long as I can remember.  My car will be paid off any day now.  We were completely ready to get rid of the van and get a new vehicle, aka, another car payment…  But when H’s step-father passed away in July, his mother graciously gifted us with a new vehicle!  His mom and step-dad owned 3 vehicles (all paid for); his mother’s little convertible (she’s driven convertibles since I’ve known her), “Grandad’s” truck, and then their Lexus SUV that they pretty much drove together…  Well, a few days after we lost Grandad, H’s mother told us that she wanted to give us the Lexus.  She, of course, was met with great resistance ~ afterall, we’re not at all about hand outs and we’ve never sought our families for such.  But at the same time we understood that H’s mother was nowhere near ready to sell that vehicle, and that Grandad would love to see his grandkids being hauled around in that awesome vehicle…  They’d been on us for some time to get rid of the van and buy a new vehicle because they worried about the kids’ safety…;)  That damn van was a great car and never ever gave us an ounce of trouble.  It did/does need some repair and they were always concerned about us driving their grandbabies around in that thing…;)  So we ended up accepting the new vehicle and it has been an awesome new car for us.  The kids are positively thrilled with it, and it is nice knowing that you’re driving around in a good sound, safe vehicle.   My point is ~ we’d be paying in new car expenses what we’d be paying for pony.  I don’t know, it’s still a stretch.  It’s a very difficult decision and one I still need to discuss with H.  We will see what happens…

SO, our weekend has been busy as usual!  The boys lost their first regular season game, though they both did okay today.  I went from riding lessons to my football game (with my cheerleaders) and back again to riding lessons to get Belle.  H went out with friends tonight to watch college football, and I of course, have 2 extra kiddos spending the night tonight.  Tomorrow we plan on spending the day at the pool.  The pool-party that I thought was taking place last weekend, is actually taking place tomorrow ~ so we have plans to hang out there all day tomorrow with friends.  It’s sure to be a very fun time for all! 

And with that, I will be signing off.  I hope everyone is having a super fantastic weekend, and until next time ~ these are the days of my life…

Be great!

Ps ~ any input on our “pony dilemma” would be greatly appreciated!

Belle came home from school this week with an urgent request.  Please Mom…Pleeeeeease!!!  This one has them and that one has them...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! 

Guess what the kid wants.  New shoes!  I kid you not.  And I am totally prepared to buy them for her.  We have issues around here…

Have a fantastic weekend ~ Be great!

Happy Friday everybody!  H and I have plans to go to the Braves game tonight with friends.  The husband of this couple got the tickets through his work and apparently we have some really kick-ass seats behind home plate, complete with “meal tickets” and food and beverage service.  How exciting is that?!  Speaking of which, I think I’ll use my “meal ticket” for beverages instead…nothing like a Braves game and a cold beer…or two…;)

Last weekend was totally busy!  Friday night we went out to dinner with all 5 kiddos in tow; my 3 plus the extra 2 we had all weekend long.  Then when we got home, we made a bonfire and let the kids play outside ‘til all hours of the night.  They love that!  Saturday we did the usual ~ juggled ball practice, riding lessons and my football game during the day.  Saturday night I got together with 3 of my cheer-moms (my assistant coach and 2 team moms) for a “girls’ night out”.  What was supposed to be a casual outing with drinks and appetizers turned out to be a 6-hour affair that ended in all of us needing to call for rides home from the restaurant!  Apparently we don’t get out enough, what can I say…;)  Sunday we were up and out early heading to my sister’s for a family get together.  We always have so much fun at our family gatherings.  My mother and sisters are dear to me beyond words and the kiddos love running around with their cousins.  It was a super fun time and we got home really late Sunday night.  But that didn’t stop us!  We were up and out again bright and early the next day also, heading to the lake to spend the day with H’s dad and step-mother.  We put in a full day of fishing, swimming, and riding wave runners.  Needless to say, we were all completely exhausted as we crashed into bed Monday night…

The kids’ school held curriculum night last week so I got to go meet their teachers and learn about their classroom policies and what to expect throughout the school year.  I am so happy to report that I positively adore all 3 of their teachers!  It is such a good feeling to know that your child is in good hands at school.  A good teacher makes all the difference ~ I have witnessed this first hand.  With that said, Noah has continued to maintain all E’s on his weekly reports in both behavior and work-habits.  This in and of itself is a HUGE accomplishment for him.  This is the first time in his little elementary school career that he is actually enthusiastic about school.  It is awesome…  Belle is sailing along as usual, and Ross has stepped up his game and has been earning E’s too after seeing Noah’s progress report after that first week of school.  So we’re off to a really great school year so far! 

At Noah’s curriculum night, his teacher had a folder full of important classroom information.  Included in the folder was this little piece that I found so very touching…

The teacher

said to the students:

“Come to the edge.”

They replied: “We might fall.”

The teacher again said:

“Come to the edge.”

and they responded:

“It’s too high.”

“Come to the edge.”

The teacher demanded!

And they came

and the teacher pushed them

and they

flew.

  I don’t know about you, but it made me tear up.  Maybe it’s my teaching background…maybe it’s the fact that I feel that education is SO important…maybe it’s because I know that a teacher can change the life of a child…  Anyway, I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!

On the agenda for this weekend ~ of course the Braves game tonight, the boys’ first baseball game, Belle’s riding lesson, and my football game tomorrow.  If we have anything planned for Saturday night, I can’t think of it at the moment.  There’s sure to be something, though!  Sunday ~ dinner with the family, as usual.  Oh, I also need to finish choreographing the competition routine for my little rockstar cheerleaders.  This is quite a task, let me tell you…  This is my 3^rd year coaching with this particular organization and I’ve had most of my girls since that first year.  We’ve won both cheer-off competitions in 3^rd and 4^th grade so these parents are expecting great things from me!  Oh hell, *I’m* expecting great things from me too, who am I kidding?!  But year after year it gets harder and harder to put these routines together.  I don’t know…I’m a 37 year old mother trying to stay in the cheerleading loop and it ain’t so easy anymore…ugh!  Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

With that I suppose I will be signing off.  I hope everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekend and until next time…these are the days of my life…

Be great!