Where has the time gone??

I just logged on and realized that I haven't blogged in almost a week. Granted, a VERY busy week. LOL.

I am not able to post everything right now-but I will give highlights.

My 40th birthday was very nice. Best part was receiving my Daddy's ring!! Another highlight was having my sister here with none of her family.........didn't have to share her as Mommy. Just got to be sisters and she really got a chance to get to know her nephew. Even nicer is that two weeks from today, we will be on a plane to Colorado to see them all. WOO HOO

My ScrapBox arrived yesterday. CRANKY CRANKY delivery guy. ICKY. However, my bil Dave and dh spent the better part of 4 hours assembling it and I will post pics soon.

Cause that is another whole ISSUE. My puter CRASHED and I am not a happy camper.

So rather than be cranky at home, I am outta here. Promise to post pics, when I can attempt to recover everything that it appears I have lost. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

I am so xcited!!

So, I haven't blogged for a few days, but I have accomplished quite a bit. I literally could not leave the house for two days as it was way too painful to wear appropriate undergarments. NASTY sunburn.
Thankfully, it IS better. Yeah.

Joshy was an absolute BEAR yesterday!! My day began at the post office picking up my certified mail. Now most people would probably be happy with the contents of that envelope, but I was crying my eyes out in the parking lot. Enclosed were the FINAL documents from Daddy's estate. Yes, it is over, took 3.5 years to settle and all I could do was cry. You see, the money means little to nothing to me and all I would really want is to see my dad again. UGH.

The rest of the day was progressively worse. Like I said, Joshy was ahhhhhhhhh. No words to describe him. He behaved like he hadn' t in weeks and I ended my day in tears as well. I am not typically a mushy, cry baby kinda gal, but he did me in.

Happy to report that today has been a MUCH improved day. He took a NICE nearly three hour nap after we returned home from picking up cousin Mitch at the airport. He brought a bunch of Yankees stuff for us and for the silent auction. Gotta luv having a cousin who works for the team. He showed us a great photo of him in the clubhouse with Pres. Clinton. NEAT. Heck, he is almost a celebrity-NOT. I even got to scrap. WOW.

I got a phonecall a few minutes ago and my scrapbox will be delivered on Friday. Woo Hoo. What a perfect birthday gift. It is even arriving ON my birthday. YEAH.

My sister called to check in as she often does and when we hung up she said, "see you tomorrow". That hit me. WOW, she is flying in tomorrow. I am really xcited bout that too. Even though she lives in Colorado, we have always been close and manage to see each other at least 3-5 times per year. She is coming w/o any of her kiddos so I will be happy to spend some sister time and she will get to really know her nephew. Should be nice. Even nicer is that after she leaves, I know that I will see her and her whole family two weeks later when John, Joshy and I fly out to Denver to spend a week with them in Fort Collins and in South Dakotah.

So, that is my happy news. Glad today has been a better day. Not sure I could have handled another one like yesterday.

okay, so call me STUPID

Here I sit at the computer, knowing full well how many errands I have to run. Our fridge is pretty much down to coffee creamer, milk and condiments. Now, that wouldn't really bother me too much, but the men in this house, they have other ideas.

However(and on to the STUPID part), can't go to the grocery store. Wondering why ??
Well STUPID me is so flipping sunburned that after my shower this morning(maybe it was early afternoon) I can NOT to save my life put a bra on w/o crying. My poor shoulders hurt sooooooooooo badly. The saddest thing, is that I DID have sunscreen on and I DID reapply.

Well, some might say, "just run out without putting a bra on for comfort sake". H**L no. I do NOT leave the driveway w/o one on. So, I am guessing that it will be frozen pizza for dinner or dh will have to run to the store.

In addition, the doorbell rang earlier. I happen to be in the bathroom blowdrying my hair so I got to look and see that it was our mail guy. Didn't go down cause I didn't wanna scare the kid, but he did leave a receipt for a certified letter.

Guessing that from what the family rumor mill has been saying, that the check from my dad's estate must now be waiting for me at the post office.

I am feeling awfully BLAHHHHHHHHH today. Think I will go lay down and try to get the kid to do the same.

Hope it gets to be a more upbeat kinda day. ALOE, here I come.

What a nice weekend

I hope that everyone enjoyed their father's day as much as we did here. It had a few weepy moments for me(not my favorite day of the year by far) but a wonderful family day for JD3 nonetheless.



We enjoyed a lovely brunch at Aunt Sue's of bagels and salmon. YUM. Then we were off to John's favorite place, Fort Desoto. Truly perfection(cept for the sunburn).



We enjoyed a wonderful dinner of grilled filet mignon after swimming in the pool all afternoon.



I am telling you, it doesn't get much better.



I will post some pics too. My guys had a wonderful day and Aunt Sue and I enjoyed a nice quiet time "heart to heart talking" while Johnnie fished and Joshy napped on the beach.



Today will be a lazy kind of relaxing day as I am BEAT and BURNED to a crisp.

Pretty late for me...

I am NOT a night owl by any means and here I sit at the puter typing away at 1:45 AM, knowing full well, that my lil guy will be up sooner than later. UGH.

I had a very nice time at the crop at WSD tonite. Met some nice ladies and even got something, although not much, accomplished. I am liking my little zoo paper bag album so far.

So, what started as a crummy day, feeling blah, ended up nicely, especially with some EIGHT boxes of donations and goodies on my doorstep this afternoon. That UPS man is hating me, I am certain.

Okay, off to bed while I have a chance.

Thanks Dee and WSD for hosting a nice crop-do something about the a/c when you can. wink wink.

LIFE.....it just isn't fair sometimes........

For some bizarre reason, life def. is NOT fair. It is a lesson that my Daddy taught all of us early on, but I still don't "get" it.

A fellow scrapper had ALL of her scrapping supplies stolen out of her car. Now, what on earth makes it okay for someone to break into a car to begin with and violate someone else's stuff.?? Who do people truly think that they are?!

Why are some helpless little babies born only to be murdered 3 years later by their MOTHER?
Why are there childless couples.....??? Why are there helpless babies born so unable to do anything on their own, and be subjected to open heart surgery the first week of their life? Is there truly someone "up there" that allows someone so tiny to have to fight sooooooo hard so early on?

Why are there beautiful human beings afflicted not once, but more with horrendous diseases? I just don't get it sometimes.

Why do some people have to go thru way more than their "share" of tragedies for no apparent reason.??

Why do truly awful people get away with the "things" that they do?

I am sorry for the losses and wish there were something more that I could do.
Daddy, if you are listening......

IT ISN'T FAIR!!!

I WILL NEVER.......

10 things I will NEVER.......

1. I will never live without a dog(5 at the moment)

2. I will never take one minute of my life for granted

3. I will never stop educating about Multiple Sclerosis

4. I will never turn my back on a friend

5. I will never see my Daddy's eyes when he looks at Joshy

6. I will never take my husband for granted(okay, I will try not to)

7. I will never eat peas

8. I will never NOT cringe at the sight of someone else eating peas

9. I will never stop calling John Winter my boyfriend or miss his morning weathercasts

10. I will never get to drink a Wallaby Darned again :(

People Come into your Life for a Reason

PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON
I am posting this here to each and everyone of you to see how many actually read my blog.
Your response will be interesting. Pay attention to what you read. After you havefinished reading it, you will know the reason it was sent to you.
Here goes:
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When youknow which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someoneis in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you haveexpressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide youwith guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally orspiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there forthe reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part orat an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring therelationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize isthat our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. Theprayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on. !
Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come toshare, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make youlaugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually giveyou an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for aseason.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must buildupon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to acceptthe lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in allother relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blindbut friendship is clairvoyant .
Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.
Send this to every friend that you have on-line, including the person who sent
it to you.
0 Replies - you may need to work on your "people skills" 2 Replies - you are nice but probably need to be more outgoing 4 Replies - you have picked your friends well 6 Replies - you are downright popular 8 Replies or More - you are totally awesome (and that's probably why you're on MY list)
I wonder what mine will be.

Doin the Happy Dance

Okay, so I am not actually dancing persay (only cause my body is wayyy too tired right now) but I am THRILLED, ecstatic, happy, words can NOT even begin to describe.

I ordered my scrapbox today. 5-7 days until it arrives and I am just .........WOW. soooo super excited.

Took Joshy to the Florida Aquarium today. Our sole purpose was to go to the water park part and that is all that we did. He had soooooo much fun. That lil guy is surely my child as I luv water just as much. The best part is that it is totally FREE. yeah. I get in free as a teacher, Aunt Sue still has her id and Joshy gets in Free for his age. WOO HOO.

The weather was gorgeous and we have had TWO totally great, fantastic behavior, not acting like a TERRIBLE two's kinda days. YEAH.

I have a wkshp tomorrow and Thursday to go to for school. It will be nice to be a grown up for a couple of days.

Off to finish up cooking dinner.

Did I mention how thrilled I am. Now to find a home for the stuff that is currently in my scraproom. YEAH YEAH YEAH....

Ever so FRUSTRATING

Okay, so this post is going to so much more than a post but one HUGE vent and I warn you in advance. However, I have to get it out or I will go NUTS.

So, dh(not dear at this point in time) has been working at this new job for weeks now. He has stepped backwards into his obsessive compulsive everything has to be perfect kind of way and i am going to LOSE it. Feel better already.
New cell phone-in the car. Called Verizon to change voicemail and password-NO time
worked at home til 11pm. didn't spend two minutes with us at all last night.
booked anything for my birthday? no time
unlocked the safe for the cc to order my scrapbox? umm nope, forgot.
later, unlocked it.........cc in there? ummm NOOOOOOOOOOOO
he knows he put it somewhere safe when he activated it. can't remember where. DUMB ASS.

His dingy blonde ways drive me absolutely out of my head sometimes....................
I know, Helen, "he isn't doing it to be malicious, he is just John "but heck, it is FRUSTRATING the heck outta me.

Sweet Smiles

There are nothing better........well huggles as we like to call them. And, Joshy is FINALLY at the stage where he will not only give them(the best ones), he still likes getting them. I know, I know, enjoy it while I can and believe me, I do.

Found a new and somewhat interesting beach yesterday. Joshy enjoyed the playground, but said the beach was YUCKY and can't say that I disagree. However, it was a fabulous photo opportunity.

Got asked severl times yestday what I want for my birthday. I am thinking TIME. Babysit someone and let me have some MUCH needed and deserved ME time. I miss that BIG TIME.

what a day on Saturday

Wow. Despite my clear lack of organization & complete a total overpacking, the day was unreal.
I had the car loaded up Friday night and was actually ready when Michelle arrived at my house bright and early. We headed out to the Expo. I am so NOT a fan of driving downtown, but felt fairly confident going to the Convention Center, esp. since I had just been there in late April for the 4th graders Battle of the Books.
Made it down in record time, only to find that the parking garage was TOTALLY full. Couldn't even pull in there as it was all baracaded off. Oh well. Around the block a few times and got a nice shady spot by a meter. Got a butt load of quarters and fed that sucker til it wouldn't take any more(good thing cause time was xpired when I got back).

It was a fairly long haul-okay, who my kidding.......that rolling tote was a PITA even with the other totes piled on them. I learned later in the day that there is a "drop off". Live and learn and remember that for next year. Heck, someone remind me if I should happen to forget.

Stood in the will call line to get my tickets. Girl behind the counter knew me(Tpa Mom's group) and that is how the day started. I saw soooo many familiar faces, caught up with NUMEROUS ole scrappin buddies and left the Expo, thoroughly exhausted, but with more "new" contacts/friends than I can even begin to count or mention by name.

I picked up donations(not the ones that I was supposed to get but other ones), passed out TONS of business letters requesting donations, spoke to some of the nicest people, secured numerous future donations, shopped, cropped and yes, nearly DROPPED. LOL.

All in all, it was a VERY productive day that left me with a spark that made it incredibly difficult to fall asleep despite my lack of nourishment(yes, I forgot to eat anything all day cept for the snickers bar I was given at the crop). that counts as a meal or two right? LOL. I think that I finally passed out at about 1am, but not before I went into the garage and got the tape measure. Now, I do NOT normally go into the garage as it is a very scary place in the Palatial Durning Estate..........but this was of extreme importance. Because one of the very first people that I spoke with at the Expo was a gentleman selling my new very favorite thing in the ENTIRE world & there was NO possible way that I would have ever gone to sleep w/o measuring my scrap room.

You see, after seeing Jules' scraproom done last week, I was in SCRAPROOM envy, like you would not believe. So, I had Randy come measure for built in's in here. I knew that getting John to agree to this was going to take a little bit of prodding. Hell, twisting his arm might have been easier. BUT, there is very little that I "want" that I can't figure out how to justify to him......however, I was having a bit of a problem justifying it to myself. Actually, the biggest "issue" that I was having, was not the cost factor at all, but rather the permanence.

I am quite certain that someday in the not so distant future, Joshy will ultimately outgrow his bedroom as it is clearly the smallest of the four that we have. So, that means, more than likely, we will have to switch rooms. The guestroom is NOT an option, although bigger, it has the bigger than HUMONGOUS piece of furniture from Daddy's house that will NEVER be able to be moved and might as well be built in.

So, having my scraproom designed and redone was going to be a fleeting idea and passing fancy until yesterday..........................

This is going to be the solution to my "problem" as it is on WHEELS and completely portable. GENIOUS actually. WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOO.

Okay, having "issues" w/the photo. Lemme go and figure it out. Sorry to leave ya hanging. LOL.

So much for being organized..........

I am so NOT organized, nor am I ready for the crop or the Expo tomorrow.
I have tried for weeks to get things where they belong and from the looks of it, on the surface, it appears that I have.
However, ya know the saying about how looks can be deceiving? Well, here to tell ya, THEY ARE.
I spent the better part of an entire day today searching for one flipping envelope of photos that I had in my hot lil hand the other day..........did I find them?? N-O!! Still haven't. So, move on you say. Go to another pile and put together a page kit or SOMETHING. Ya see, I can't. I will OBSESS non~stop until that little blue envelope from Wal-Mart surfaces and I find those flipping photos.
Ridiculous I KNOW. But it must run in the family, cause Aunt Sue is the VERY same way. Oy.

Oh well. I am going to try to get something packed in my tote so I can at least try to accomplish scrapping something tomorrow. However, the Wally World envie of doggie pics will forever be on my mind.
Let it go Jackie. Let it go Jackie. Let it go Jackie.

I CAN'T!! Until I find them(in the xact spot that I put them so that I would know xactly where they were when I needed them!!)

Nite nite.

Finally Friday

Although to 100% honest with you, I find it extremely difficult to keep track of the actual "days of the week" when I am not at school writing the date on the whiteboard. I know, kinda pathetic. I can probably attribute it to the fact that I am creeping up way too quickly on the ripe ole age of 40!! Although I seem to talk about it alot lately, it hasn't really sunk in completely.

Today is my "lil cousin" Mitch's birthday. Somehow, the tiny child Aunt Sue brought home from Colombia has managed to turn 27 years old. It seems highly unlikely that this is even possible. Hmmm, how can it be?

Tomorrow is the Expo-well, it begins today, but I am not going to head over there til Sat. I am quite excited and hope NOT to spend too much of my last paycheck that I just discovered in my credit union account. Now, how likely that will be remains to be seen. Okay, for those that know me, NOT likely at all, but we can remain hopeful.

I have some work to do to get organized for the crop tom. Happy Friday.

Daddy's Home

Okay, so I have always admired single parents, but after the last three days I have a TOTALLY new respect for you all.
I am exhausted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It isn't even 8:45pm and I could easily go to sleep for the night RIGHT now( and Joshy is still bouncing on the bed). LOL.

I am also thrilled that Randy came to check out my scraproom to allow me(maybe) to mimic Jules' new room(on a much less xpensive scale I hope). We shall see.

In addition, Shop NBC purchase arrived today. I got TWO OTT Lites(one desk lamp and one standing floor lamp) for $89 on three value pays. I am sooooo thrilled. YEAH.

Can't wait til Saturday.
I also got some reservations for the CFH today AND 3 cooooool packages of door prizes. It is like Christmas every day. YEAH.

Happy Happy

I had a really nice almost relaxing couple of days -NICE.
Johnnie has been in Maitland for three days, but we are surviving. Joshy misses his Daddy(as do I) but it has been a nice break.

Amanda came over from Orlando and spent the night. We didn't get around to scrapping-hard to do with a two year old who demands my attention. Amanda is figuring that out.......ha ha.
But, we did go down to St. Pete yesterday and spend the afternoon at the new Whims. She was in heaven. I cleaned out their sale room of a TON of paper and cardstock 10 for $1. I am always the bargain shopper. Ha ha.

We also did some "planning" for the MS Crop for Hope and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived home to a HUGE box from Chatterbox. They were VERY generous.

Looking forward to the Expo this weekend and hoping to make some new "friends" and see some old ones.

Have a fabulous Thursday and for those of you reading this far.........Baby Trevor is having surgery today. Say an XTRA prayer for the Bergs.
Thanks.

so thankful

I have always tried to remain a very positive person. Ya know the get lemons, make lemonaide thing.
Get sick, no pity party here-EDUCATE. That is my mission as to how to deal with this insidious disease they call the MonSter.

A friend of mine, our boys are nearly the same age, had a brand new baby boy last week.
Sadly, Trevor was born with a horrific heart defect that will require MAJOR MAJOR surgery this week. MY heart is breaking knowing that this precious lil guy is fighting for his life and his family is helpless.

So, when life seems just awful for the fleating moment, KNOW that it could always be worse and for others ......it is.

Say an xtra prayer for baby Trevor and the Berg family and hug your lil ones a bit tighter today.

Let's cook.....

In the process of cleaning and organizing my scraproom yesterday still, I have made a bigger mess than I had originally, but it will get there eventually, I am guessing..



It was actually kind of sad as I came across NUMEROUS old photos of my dad. He is gone almost 3.5 years and I miss him as if it were yesterday. Whoever said that time makes it easier was LYING. My heart breaks some days I miss him sooooooo much. There are very few people in this world that can even comprehend the closeness that I felt to him and xactly how his NOT being here hurts.



On the lighter side, there is NOTHING in this world that Daddy enjoyed more than cooking and as you can clearly see, my lil guy surely takes after his grandpa that he will only know thru me , Johnnie and stories.



I MISS YOU DADDY!!

Real sunshine

So, after a blah gray day of much needed rain, Mr. Sun is shining upon us once again. This is why, that despite the heat and humidity that often make me feel like an overcooked piece of spaghetti, I continue to live in Florida.
I can't imagine living up north anymore where it is gloomy for months on end. I will stay put, thank you very much.

After viewing photos of Jules' new scraproom, I was so incredibly green with envy, I figured that the ONLY way that I will ever get any scrapping accomplished was to get myself organized. Quite a project. I have a bigger mess at the moment than I started with-isn't that always the case when you are straightening? ugh. But, I have managed to get the majority of the walk in closet in the scraproom back in order. That frees up some space on my table.

I would think that I had died and gone to heaven with a built in like she has, however, for now, I think I will just get my "stuff" piled in neater piles that are high enough for Jr Mint to keep his hands off of. HA.

12 LONG weeks

since we have seen ONE droplet of rain and I am sooooooooooooooo happy to say, that liquid sunshine is falling on us right now.
Mind you, it will do NOTHING to save my poor grass, but we have been so drought ridden, any droplet will surely help.

YEAH for rain!! May it continue to fall..........