the REASON for the season

Despite the fact that admittedly I have spoiled(luved) my child a whole lot-yes, there is very little that my boy wants for, he has learned the REASON for the holiday season this year.

After trying hard to put away the TON of awesome gifts that he got for his birthday party and that he purchased with birthday $$ while at the Lego Store in Downtown Disney, I realized that he had received a couple of items that he already had or had already outgrown.......

We have talked about the fact that there are children who don't have much, etc etc, but it is inconceivable for my six year old. He lives in a loving home with both parents, yada yada yada.
Well, by golly, he GOT it.
We re-gifted and wrapped up a set of Hot Wheels cars to give to someone that we know who has a little guy who will adore them. Joshua RANNNNN to Aunt Sue's car a couple of weeks ago and the first thing out of his mouth was about how warm his heart felt because he had done this!!

Last night we took two shopping bags of items to the Toys For Tots box at Publix and he proceeded to place each one of the things from the bags into the box and told me again that his heart felt "100% good".

Yes, I admit, he is well luved/spoiled, and I don't deny-indulged, but he is one of the kindest little guys that I know and it makes MY heart feel incredible to know that he now understands the REASON for the season.

Happy Holidays!!

What a difference a couple of months can make!!

Things have really settled into a new routine and "things" are soooo much better, which in turn means, life is a much happier place.

My lil guy has gone from having his fingers having to be pried off the doorframe to go to school to being the October Star Student in his classroom for showing initiative!! I am not certain who is prouder-this Mommy of him, or my lil guy of himself. I KNOW that I could NOT be any prouder.
He is reading now, writing like mad and doing math that makes me know he ain't MY kid. LOL.

Tonite is report card p/u which means a VERY long day for me......I am still recuperating from the Fall Festival at school Friday night. We had perfect weather and an absolutely incredible turn out. The raffle baskets were awesome!! Waiting on the final tally of $$ raised, but I luv being the fundrasing VP for our PTA. It is really "neat" to be involved again with PTA, but as a parent. DH even grilled and sold a gazillion hot dogs with the Dad's Club. This may seem trivial, but 9 years ago, neither one of us would have ever suspected that we would have our own child.

Preparing now for said child's 6th birthday party-how is that possible? YIKES. I swear he grew a FOOT overnight Sunday.
I am going to actually get to scrap this weekend and I can NOT wait.

Off to report card check.

Have a fabulous Tuesday and enjoy this incredible weather.

CRAZY but it's all GOOD

So, thanks to the class size ammendment, I was able to move to a new grade level.

Although, it was a whirlwind, found out for sure on a Weds, packed and moved classrooms(AGAIN!!), unpacked, set up room, got a new partner on Thursday and yet another new partner on Friday and Monday I started teaching reading and writing again.

Hooray to it all. NOT easy to start over on day 25+ of the school year, but I am beyond delighted to have Tammy back and as my partner and to be back in a classroom that I spent many years in.

Everything does truly work out the way it is supposed to!! Sometimes it just requires a "test" or two of our patience. But, it does all work out.

TOday begins the first day of the 2nd nine weeks and although I still feel like I am learning about my new babes, I have 15 third graders, a new/old classroom, a new/old partner and I am one happy camper.
We also got a classroom pet-guinea pig named Field Goal thanks to a grant for pets in the classroom AND my lil guy is on some great meds for his ADHD.

It has been a trial and error getting dosage correct, but so far sooooooooooo much better.

Bring on some Fall weather as our Fall Festival is next Friday and I am ready for it.

Happy Monday!!

Holding Pattern

Life is still in a holding pattern for me. There are some xcting changes in the forefront that I can't share just yet, but it promises to be good.

J started on ADHD meds this week-BOO HISS on them. Did NOT work at all. Changing to med #2 tomorrow and hoping for some ability for him to focus on them with far fewer side effects.

Relaxing weekend with nothing xciting on the agenda. That is a good thing.

Have a great one and storms, please stay away.

Over the MOON

I am so over the moon happy, I can't NOT begin to describe it.........

I can't go into too many details, but things are seriously looking up and I could NOT be happier right now.

I am def. going to have an awesome weekend. HOOOOORAY.

Run Away

SOmetimes, you just gotta get away and I did just that this weekend.
I packed my CLOTHING, scrappy stuff and drove up to the riverhouse in Homasassa and spent the weekend scrapping away with Jan.

We got bunches accomplished and caught up on everything, with the exception of sleep. It was a great get away, but it was also VERY nice to come home. I got the biggest hug from lil Blue Eyes and my batteries are recharged this morning.

I scrapped 12 pages and got a mini album nearly done. Hooray for fantastic weekends.
Jax

Mixed Emotions

I got a phonecall this morning that upset me-NOT because it was before 8am on a holiday, but because it made me very sad.

Apparently, Lil Bay(also known as the Island Princess)-Daddy's puppy(whom he luved dearly and called me 3x's per day for two years to tell me) and now Lorry's dog, has a mass in her abdomen larger than the average person's fist.

There is no telling at this point if it is operable and it is more than likely cancerous :(
Tomorrow morning she will return to the vet in Hollywood for an ultra sound and we will know more then.
Thing is, she is acting perfectly normally, with the exception of becoming a seriously picky eater. She doesn't appear to be in distress or pain(thankfully).

At 9 years old, this puppy has been MORE than luved..........like you would NOT believe, and I am crying for us............but if it is determined that there is NOT anything to be done, as long as she continues to be Baylee, I am okay. Because ultimately, when the time comes, she gets to go to Heaven to be with my Daddy............

How bad can that be????

Because everyone knows, "he luvs HIS puppy"

It is one day closer

Today is Sunday and that is one day closer to Tuesday and the BIG day.

C'mon Sunday, be good to me and let me get thru til Tuesday, pretty please.

LIMBO

Does anyone remember that "game" of sorts? When you shimmy your way under the pole til it gets too low? Isn't LIMBO what that is called?

Well, my entire life seems to be in limbo right now and truthfully, regardless of the outcome, Tuesday can NOT get here soon enough.
It is stressing me out to remain in limbo and the pole is getting lower and lower. YIKES, c'mon Tuesday, get here already.

where has this month gone??

I just realized that I haven't blogged since the very beginning of the month. Oh my. I wonder if anyone else has noticed? Ha.

Back to school time is always a busy time of year for this teacher, but this year has been MUCH more overwhelming than usual. Not only did I move classrooms-heck, I do that EVERY single year, but I changed grade levels AND subjects. So, I am feeling a bit(okay A LOT) more overwhelmed than usual.

Added to all this stress was the fact that it wasn't only back to school for me, but my lil man began Kindergarten on Tuesday!! I managed to stay dry-eyed, although I am not 100% certain how that happened. He was so darn thrilled to be going to MY school and reminds me daily that Bay Crest is now OUR school. He is loving it, but I will say that I was not at all surprised when on the second day of school, he came home with a check mark in his behavior folder. Oy, gonna be a LONG year.

My kiddos this year seem sweet. I have many of the same ones that I had last year and that is a good thing. Surprising to take note that a bunch of them really seem to have "grown" up over the summer!! Unfortunately, I am still not feeling completely comfy with the math/science curriculum, but that will come with time and me doing MY homework and preparation.

Next Tuesday the 31st may actually bring NUMEROUS changes to my assignment so I am not(well trying not to) stress too too much. As we keep saying, "with the class sign ammendment in full enforcement this year, everything is subject to change."
If a certain someone gets a phonecall on Monday or Tuesday, then my assignment may just change significantly as will my group of students, teaching partner and way more than I am willing to mentally deal with at this point. So, for the time being, I am going thru the motions, doing what I need to do and awaiting Monday/Tuesday before I settle in completely.

I am a true believer that everything happens the way that it is supposed to when it supposed to, so I KNOW that worrying/stressing over any of this is not in my best interest, and Tuesday WILL be here soon enough.

For the time being, I will hang in there and wish only good things for this certain someone, despite the upheaval it may create.

I am MORE than ready for this rainy/crummy weather to be DONE with. We have NOT seen the FLorida sunshine in over a week and although many luv living in Seattle, I NEED me some vitamin D. So, rain rain go away please and while you are at it, Tuesday, would u just hurry up and arrive?

Happy Thursday. Hoping for a sunshine-filled weekend!!

that mini vacation

ya know the one that i said that i needed from the real vacation? well, aunt sue and i were talking bout it and things seems to fall into place, like we were meant to be going to clearwater beach for an overnight.
so, i booked it. nice suite very c heap price........

then comes the clincher. i said I needed a vacation. I needed a break. I needed to get away. and what happens, the boyz decide to join me. AGGGGGGGG.
the lil one has been whiny and I hate whiny. the big one doesn't like the beach unless he can fish, which you can not do on clearwater beach. so he sat looking like he was in pain. yeah, that made me feel good and relaxed. ughhh.

sometimes it is just better to let US go and u stay home. kwim? well apparently you didnt', but I did tell u such when we got home. I am all for family vacations, but c'mon, don't act so flippin miserable. I put on a good front for ELEVEN days with YOUR parents. Suck it up at the beach or stay home next time, k?

Thanks.

Have you ever?????

Seen someone that looked remarkably "different" and automatically passed judgement on what kind of person they are or you assumed they are?

I am quite embarrassed to say, I did just that the other day :(

I was at a training full of other elementary school teachers and about twenty minutes into the training a girl walked into the class. I am usually on-time(or within a few minutes and strive to be and it has always upset me when someone shows up to class late since they get the same number of hours as someone who is on time), but in walks this "teacher".

She is dressed in all black-grunge.....VERY VERY pale and thin with her hair dyed JET black. Automatically, I passed judgement on what kind of person she "must" be. When she turned around after signing in, I noticed the black gothic make-up, jewelry and the front of her hair dyed bright BLUE!!

I continued my "assessment" of her and was not at all disappointed when she choose to sit in the empty seat NOT next to me.

After awhile in our original groups, we were "mixed" up a bit and I ended up sitting at a table with said educator. I couldn't imagine what kind of person would be dressed that way and the bright purple eyeshadow did nothing to help.

However, after the nearly four hours of training that we were seated at the same grouping, I realized how shallow it was of me (and many others, I am sure) to have assumed that this girl was freaky just because she didn't fit the "normal stereotype teacher model" that most of the other participants did.

I hang my head in shame and vow to myself to be less quick to pass judgements on others. PROMISE.

Vacation

Sometimes one needs a vacation from their vacation. I am one of those people and now is one of those times.

We spent an incredible 11 days flying to Denver, staying in Ft. Collins, riding Colorado's Georgetown Loop RR, driving to Wyoming, South Dakota and back to Denver once again. However, after flying cross country(and two time zones), driving over 2,200 miles on our rental car, staying in four different hotels and eating wayyyy more than I ever do, I was sure ready to come home and sleep in my OWN bed.

Vacations with family are wonderful and the memories we created will always be treasured, but I am truly very glad to be back in Tpa.

One More Morning

As my lil man says, one more morning and then we are officially on vacation. True, I have been "on vacation" for nearly a month now, but tomorrow, it REALLY begins.
We fly out to Colorado tomorrow, then drive to Wyoming on Friday, followed by South Dakota on Saturday. I have a packed schedule for us all to follow and we are nearly packed. It should be a nice change of pace if weather.com would just cooperate. I keep checking it and hoping that it will change for the better. Right now it appears that it will be a wet week in Hill City. Fingers crossed that it changes some.

Speaking of changes and I don't like change, so I am both THRILLED and delighted with the fact that there are NO changes on my current MRI. I knew that I was still feeling the same and I am so happy to receive the report from Dr. L. HOORAY. Guessing that the MonSter can read and as I have tatooed on my tush-MS can kiss it!!

Off to run some errands(after some more coffee) and pay some bills. Must stop at the bank as well.

Jax

My Birthday WEEK

In our family, we have a history of celebrating birthday MONTHS. It started with my step-mom whose birthday is the 31st of December. She didn't do dishes in Dec, cause it was her birthday month. LOL.

So, we have a great time celebrating. For me this year, it was for more than a week and I am petrified to get on the scale cause I am telling you I ate my way to and thru 43. It was awesome.

My sister and my niece flew in from Colorado and there was no shortage of opening presents, eating lobster and just having a great time.

Joshy and his cuzin Amanda thoroughly enjoyed each other and I had the BEST birthday in a LONG time.

Now to put all of my goodies away and hope to lose a few lbs.

Enjoying a peacefully quiet moment while my boyz are at Home Depot so trying to catch up on some "stuff'.
Enjoy your SUnday all.

Father's Day

A Happy Father's Day to my hubby....he is a fantastic father and deserves to have a gr-8 day.

Father's Day is typically not the easiest day of the year for me.....but for some reason this year, I am feeling a bit more upbeat. Today I will do my best to stay that way and remember an amazing man who taught me so very much.

Happy Father's Day to my daddy-o, Dennis Stephen Tinsky: Feb 19, 1940-January 27, 2004
I am quite certain that he is smokin' a stogie up there, raising HELL in heaven and eating well thanks to Uncle Bill.

You taught me so many lessons in my 37 years and I hope that although you are not here to see it all, that you realize I learned it all from ya(both the good and the bad) and that I continue to make you proud.

Happy Father's Day to all the daddy's out there. You deserve to be celebrated this fine sunny Sunday afternoon.

wrappin it up

With the walks all complete and the deadline for turning in funds raised for the walks......the complete wrap up has begun.I am thrilled and delighted to share with you some very impt information:My personal goal this year was to raise $5000 and with the help of numerous people, I exceeded that goal.
Goal:$5,000.00Achieved:$5,867.80I
NCREDIBLE.
Not only that, but I am number 3 fundraiser in the Mid-Florida Chapter(23 counties). Hooooray.I could never have achieved and surpassed this goal without you all so a HUGE thanx to each and every one who contributed anything to the cause.

Over 4,600 walkers and more than 400 volunteers registered for the 2010 Walk MS events and raised over $490,000. Funds raised through Walk MS are used to support research helping to find a cure for multiple sclerosis as well as support programs and services that enhance the lives of over 70,000 people affected by multiple sclerosis in Central Florida. It is because of caring, dedicated members of our community, like you, that we are able to continue to fight for a world free of MS. I am so very proud to be a part of all of this.

Being diagnosed over 5 years ago and going for my yearly MRI tomorrow-I have NO symptoms and I feel very enthusiastic that the meds I take are during their job to slow the progression of my form of the disease. However, it is for the thousands of others not so fortunate that I find the energy and passion to continue to do what I do.I am still deciding on the ms crop 4 hope this year. After some of the fall out of last year's event, i am not certain that I have the energy necessary to do it myself, but my tush and then be stabbed in the gut with some of the backlash.When I look at these kinds of totals though and realize how very impt my fundraising efforts are to the Mid-Florida Chapter, how can I really stop doing it? I can't . But, I do need to re-evaluate the process and where and what Iam going to do, cause if you know me. #3 is NOT good enough. Team Durning/Captain Jax will be number one someday soon so that others can benefit.

Scrappy Hugs,
Captain Jax

mean people SUCK

that is pretty much all I have to say today......

I do NOT understand how people can be so darn rude, insensitive and hateful...........

Bottom line: MEAN People SUCK!!

summer colds

well it isn't quite summer just yet, although the thermometer could def. prove otherwise.....it is HOT, humid and the air is damp and oh so heavy. the temps are like those that remind you to be VERY thankful for working air conditioning and thankfully, that is now what we have.

of course, being me, i can NOT just get a cold...oh no. I have been down and out for nearly a week now with two ear infections, sore throat, and a stuffed nose like I am glad to only have a couple of times per year. I took my last antibiotic today so hoping that my ears will start to pop SOON. I can finally swallow and breath although I do resemble a reindeer whose name begins with the letter "R".

This morning was my baby's VPK graduation. The Music Room at Panda Hugs was PACKED. I am pretty darn certain that there was not a seat to be had in there. We were front and center, video cameras, dslr's in hand and tissues in the other. I have NOT cried like that well, since Daddy died and let me tell you, I CRIED.

They say when you have those lil babes to enjoy them while they are young cause it goes by so quickly. Well, it does!!
He will begin summer camp on Monday and Kindergarten in August........my baby will ALWAYS be MY baby, but he never fails to remind me that HIS spray(to make him grow) definitely outworked my spray(to help him to remain little).

I am so very proud of his accomplishments and how much he learned in pre-k this year. Thank you to Ms. Vicky, Ms. Ericka and Ms. Maria for embracing my baby and making him into a little man.

I could have done without all the tears, but I think that I will miss hearing those sweet little voices calling, "Ms. Jackie, Ms. Jackie" as much as he will miss his lil buddies at Panda Hugs!!

re-FOCUS

I chose the word FOCUS as my word of the year and nearly 6 months into the year, I seem to have lost some of my FOCUS.....so this weekend, before we head into the month of June, I have been making great strides to Re-F~O~C~U~S!! and I am proud to say that it feels very good to have accomplished some of it.

I picked up the "One Minute Organizer" book at the Scholastic Book warehouse sale last week and I have been faithfully reading it this weekend. It is a very easy read and it has inspired me to work on getting my sh*t together and pitching/purging the rest of it.

Baby steps-I know. Thus far my make-up has been purged and so has the drawer that contained FAAAAAR too many hair curling/straightening goops, gels and lotions. Ha. I also attempted to organize one of the several junk drawers in the kitchen. It is still FULL of junk, but admittedly, far less junk than yesterday :)

It is nice to have a 3 day weekend to accomplish some of these things. But, it is also very important to FOCUS on the reason that we have this holiday today. So, to all the men and women who have served........a huge THANK you for making this the BEST place in the world to live.

putting it all into perspective

I just posted this on my school email internal account and it felt like it would be a good evening post here on my blog as well...........


I was sitting here this evening feeling very full from a delish meal and started feeling a bit emotional.
Okay, perhaps it is the fact that it is a SAUNA in my house........but as I am feeling overheated as well and somewhat frustrated by the fact that the a/c guy isn't going to be able to install our new unit until tomorrow(maybe) it made me strongly reflect on several things as our year wraps up.
This year we have experienced many things. Several of them come to mind:
*a 28 year old law school graduate who was a parent to one of our third graders have a MAJOR life altering stroke........
*one of our Kindergartner's family's lose absolutely EVERYTHING that they own in a fire in their apartment...
* a first grade student going thru cancer treatments..........first grader!!....
* for me personally, dealing with and learning first hand what it is like to attempt to educate and acclimate an Asberger's child in my classroom
I could go on and on........but I digress for I MUST take a moment to reflect on all that is GOOD.
I work at the BEST school in Hillsborough County........truly. After 17 years here, I would go nowhere else.
We are so very fortunate to have had the School Board make a fantastic decision with our newly appointed principal.
And although it may be hot in my home at the moment, it is a blip compared to some of the MAJOR things that others have had to deal with and continue to deal with personally and professionally.
Sometimes it is truly necessary to just step back and put "things" into perspective.
Thank you ALL for being such an integral part of my "family" and for reading this far!!

oops

This time of year, LIFE really just seems to get in the way.....

We have just a few short weeks left of school and that is truly the BUSIEST time of year with so much to wrap up and complete. Plus(for a change-NOT), I am moving classrooms. That comes as a huge surprise I am sure to anyone who doesn't already know that I have moved more than 20 times in the 17 years that I have been at my school. So, why should this year be any different? It is not.

I have done NOTHING crafty or creative in weeks. Jan did "snatch" me and we went up to her River House several weeks ago. I did accomplish some projects and scrapped some pages, but that didn't put a dent in what I hope to accomplish this summer.

I signed my lil guy up for daycamp today so i will have some ME time.

Nothing else new or really xciting going on. I am trying to pack up my classroom and still trying to embrace my assignment for next year, all the while desperately HOPING that it will change.....

We did get our new principal assigned last week-our AP is now our Big P effective May 31st but she is already parking in the Big P parking spot-lol. Now we just have to wait and see who will apply for and get the Asst. Principal position.......guessing that will be mid-summer before we know.

I got a new vehicle this weekend :) 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe........it is sweet and my lil guy "luvs me 100% cause he gets a/c vents in the back now :) " Sweet.

Hope that everyone will wear ORANGE on Weds. to honor MS Awareness Day.

Jax

the weekend is here

and I could not be more happy. It was a LONG and draining week with dh at a training in Altamonte Springs. The little things that he does around here sure do make me appreciate him being here and are very noticed when he is not(but shhh, don't tell HIM that).

Joshy and I are both glad to have him home. Now, if I could get them BOTH to go somewhere without me today, I would be even happier. I have not had 5 minutes to myself since before Spring Break and I could use a few.

So, yesterday morning I decide to go and buy myself a new DROID cell phone......I found it at Best Buy when I was there the day before having them try to fix my camera. Stacey, if you are reading, it took 45 minutes and a phonecall to Nikon but FINALLY got all that jibberish off the screen. Yeah.
I ran into another store to pick something up and long story short, walk out to the parking lot to put my purchase in the car. My car is parked on the left and I see a Jeep Wrangler backing outta a space on the right. SO what is the issue you ask yourself with your inner voice? Nothing really, cept it keeps backing up and is about to hit another Jeep parked in a space........backing, backing, backing, rolls forward and stops.

I stand on my tip-toes in complete and total disbelief with a newsreel now running inside my head, cause get this-"THERE IS NO ONE DRIVING SAID WRANGLER-NO ONE IN THE CAR AT ALL." I am thinking there is a kid in there somewhere-nope.

Truthfully, one of the strangest things I have witnessed with my own eyes. I went into Michaels, they made an announcement. Not one of their customers but the car that was almost hit was the manager's vehicle.

I walk over to Best Buy and they send me back out with their mobile salesguy. He gets the tag number off the Wrangler that is sitting in the middle of the parking row and calls it into the store and they make an announcement. Out walks a guy with his wall mount for his big screen tv, plops it into the back of the Wrangler and drives away.......

I seriously stood there with my mouth hanging open, so thankful that the Wrangler didn't hit another car and that there were no people in the path of the run-a-way.

Dude, put your parking break on!!

So, out of time to get my new cell.....fiddlesticks. But, i did go back after school and came home with my new DROID. It is so funny cause when I get a text message, it says DROID. I got a great deal and now just need to learn how to use it by playing with it(and perhaps some tutoring sessions from Valley and Theo).

Have a fantastic weekend. I have some crafty projects rolling around in my brain, so just might attempt them.

that ONE person

Most of us have them-that ONE person in their lives that you identify with, look to for guidance and can lean on when you must.

Some of us are fortunate to have more than ONE of those special people.

For me, it was ALWAYS my daddy and even though he is no longer "here" I still lean on him and rely on his guidance. Aunt Sue is my second "ONE". She is my mom and always will be. I am so grateful that although she is still in discomfort, she is most def. on the road to recovery-thankfully.

My second principal is also a "ONE" for me. Mary Lasris is ONE very special person. As a very young educator(22 at the time) she was NOT just my principal or my boss-she was a mentor and I am very proud to say that 20 years later, she still is.

She never micro-managed her staff, yet she was always there(in the SMALLER of the two offices) with the door wide open. If you had a problem, question, whatever, that door remained open and when you sat down to "talk", discuss, or question, she sat NEXT to you, not across the big desk.

I was so fortunate to have worked with her/for her for so many years and yesterday at Chili's I felt it all renewed.
Thank you Mary Lasris for being my professional "ONE"!

oh what fun we had

we packed up friday morning after dh's conference call and didn't tell our lil guy where we were headed. that lasted til all of umm I-4....ha.

off to O-town to see Mickey and Friends. It was such a nice get-a-way and we had great weather and a perfect long weekend. Did Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, pool, spa, relaxing, too much eating, some s hopping and just plain ole FUN.

Dh is now back in Alt. Springs for a meeting this whole week. Poor guy spends half his life traveling on I-4 and rarely complains. We will miss him this week, but he is so good at his job and training can only make him better right.

Back to school today for me. Thank goodness we had a/c......hooray. Retirement announcement from the Big P and hoping that we find out who we will get BEFORE the transfer period in a few weeks. The "word" is that Little "P" will get the job and she will do great at it, but the school board does NOT always do what may be expected.

So, fingers crossed for a s mooth ending. I will post some photos from our Disney weekend. heck, I even got to scrap at the pool at the hotel while my boys took a nap on Saturday. Could anything be more perfect? I think not.

DONE

our taxes are done and mailed. hooray.

i just finished booking our flights for summer vacation. we are going back to denver/south dakota via wyoming for ten days with dh's parents this summer.
it isn't even 9:40am and already I feel like I have accomplished a bunch. Guess that means that I can go back to bed and relax right? Ha. I wish.

not sure what we are going to do today, but I am happy with what I have gotten done thus far.

Spring Break is going by way too fast, but it has been very nice. The weather couldn't be more perfect. We had a very nice visit with Aunt Sue yesterday and last night walk ms wrap up dinner was awesome. The unofficial totals are phenominal. Wooo Hoooo.

Happy Thursday.

it was a ROUGH week

last week. I went to my neuro on M onday and for the first time in five years reported some tingly feeling.......as she said " I have been solid as a rock" so tingling is normal. That wasn't easy for me to accept, but I did. Truthfully, if that is it, I am NOT complaining.

I will complain about the fact that there was NO a/c in our building the entire week prior to Spring Break and there won't be any when we return cause they are all on Spring Break too. UGH.
Being next to the computer lab puts off about another 100 degrees literally. It was HOT, I was an overcooked piece of spaghetti and I felt iiiickkkyyyy all week.

So bring on Friday. Aunt Sue had her surgery and I went and saw her on my way home. So glad that it went well and she will FINALLY be on the road to recovery. It has been tooooo long with her feeling poorly.

Well, Saturday morning I woke up and my right hand was HUGELY swollen. I mean HUGE. Went back to bed. In fact, I was in bed for days. By Monday morning still had NO energy, my hand was still huge and I admittedly, was a bit frightened. Dh tends to blow it off but when I said I was scared, he promptly took care of me. He called PCP and came home. Also called his parents to come stay with lil guy and called neuro.

PCP felt like it was a flare-not sure I care if it is or isn't just glad it wasn't what I was afraid of. Got an rx for steroids and after taking the first 6 on Monday night, felt 100% better on Tuesday morning-hooray.

Also got a B-12 shot and had some more energy yesterday. Got peer pressured into going to Adventure Island with my gal pals and the kiddos and had a ball. It was a perfect day which ended with dinner at Beef's and I truly enjoyed a marvelous day.

This morning was productive as I got our taxes done-small refund. Just need to sign and mail them off. I never wait til the last minute, but really haven't been myself for over a week.

Day 3 or roids and hope to feel well enough to go see Mickey this weekend with the boys.

KC is doing great, weather is grand and life is GOOD.

Enjoying Spring Break and all it has to offer.

HBD Johnnie Boy

Yesterday was my Froggie's 46th birthday and it was a day full of many of his favorites.

We spent a glorious, perfection FL weather day at the beach in Pass-a-Grille. OMG it was awesome. The sun was shining without a cloud in the sky and it wasn't even remotely hot. He and his father did some fishing, but didn't catch anything. I still haven't figured out how that is FUN, but I guess they wouldn't truthfully find cutting paper any fun either. Ha.

Dinner at the CHinese "Cafe" aka Chinese buffet where we all ate wayyyyyyy tooooo much.

Pictures to follow, but a wonderful celebration of a day.

awesome event

Yesterday was an incredible day!!

They say that there were nearly 1500 people at the zoo for the walk ms event(ran out of parking at one point I heard).
I know from my end, I had over 150 volunteers show up to lend a hand or two or more-lol. Seriously, some of them worked from 2pm until 9pm.

Unoffcial count was over $130,000 raised and counting!!

Of course, my camera battery was dead upon arrival, so I am going to have to rely on photos of others to scrap.

THANKS to all who made it such a HUGE success.

Glorious Day

the sun is shining and in less than one week's time, the temps have gone from 50's to true FL spring weather. Today is supposed to be 80!! I love this time of year.

This afternoon/evening is the Tampa MS Walk at Lowry Park Zoo and although I am usually stressing a bit about now, I am calm and very xcited.

I think I have all the volunteer stuff done and as organized as it is going to be at this point. I KNOW that it will be just fine. I did NOT color code the sign in, which will make some very happy. LOL.

Looking forward to a fantastic and successful event. If you have nothin to do, come on out .......

Happy walk ms Saturday everyone!!

FOCUS

is my word for the year and I am seriously trying to stay that way.

Right now I am going to share what it is that I am trying to stay FOCUSED on:
I am trying desperately to stay focused and EMBRACE the changes that are going on........

Trying.........

It's Weds....

and that means that dh flies home very very late tonite.

I give my friends who are single parents a HATS OFF. It is a TOUGH TOUGH job. I know that I do not always appreciate everything that my hubby does, so I am saying it here. I APPRECIATE the things that you do, Johnnie Boy.

I have to say that I can not ever remember 4 days that my lil man has been SOOOOO incredibly well behaved. I mean that in every sense of the word. We have NOT battled once....he has been helpful and it has def. made life easier this week.

Last night he sat in our Homeowner's Annual Board of Director's meeting for nearly 3 hours and truthfully, you wouldn't have known he was there if you didn't hear his Leapster a couple of times. We didn't get home until almost 10 pm and even I didn't want to be there that long....
I guess he is growing up or typically misbehaving to get me going while Daddy is here. I honestly dunno.

It has been a busy week(maybe that helps too) and is going to be busier as each day passes and gets closer to the MS Walk this Saturday.
I have well over 100 volunteers thanks to the Give a Day/Get a Day promo from Disney World.

I know that I have missed some of the people that signed up but I am doing my best. I am certain that there will be people that are NO shows, so I am NOT at all stressing over it, but my EXCEL spreadsheet is looking like a HUGE cross off-insert kinda mess. I will know what it says but not sure that anyone else will. LOL.

Okay, going to add/delete some volunteers and head out to school.

Happy HUMP day to all.

great visit

with our family from Colorado. It doesn't seem like it had been all that long since we spent time together but my sister's kids seem to have grown up overnight!! Joshy really enjoyed the time we spent with them and he seems to have gotten very close to the boys this time vs Little Amanda(who didn't at all appreciate being called Little Amanda). LOL.

We drove down to Venice Beach and everyone had a blast searching for shark's teeth. It was very windy and almost cold, but that didn't stop the kiddos from getting in the water. Fran was covered in towels and a sweatshirt......yeah, she is from Colorado. LOL.

We stayed in Sarasota and thoroughly e njoyed the heated pool and jacuzzi. We met some very nice people staying at the hightower and I couldn't have liked my sangria from Mi Pueblo anymore if I had tried.

One highlight was walking around the shops in Venice. I always luv doing that. We went upstairs to an art gallery and were delighted to have them accept Brian's blown glass necklace and earrings. That boy is going to be famous some day for his artwork. Perhaps though, not nearly as famous as his younger brother who plays the guitar like no other 15 year old that I have ever heard.
Little Amanda does a mean round-off back handspring too :)

All in all a really nice mini vacation for us all. Going back to school today while dh is off in VA for the week doing some kind of training.

Saturday is walk ms at Lowry Park Zoo. Can't wait.

Have a fantastic Monday!!

Spring Forward

really messes with my internal clock.
I absolutely ADORE this time of year, when the weather isn't truly HOT, the humidity is lower and it stays light later, but I am not a fan of how long it takes this body to adjust to it. LEAVE it alone please.

I got tons accomplished this weekend if getting dressed yesterday doesn't count. I did take a long hot candle lit bubble bath at about 8pm and got into a new pair of pj's, but that is the most that I did to "get ready" other than brush my teeth a couple of times.

However, I was still WIDE awake at nearly 3am, which explains why I completely slept thru my alarm this morning. I heard it but promptly shut it off and contemplated throwing the darn cell phone across the room. Perhaps I should have done that-blamed the time change and then I could have gotten me a new phone. LOL.

We are running about an hour late for VPK, but the sun is shining and I am only working a few days this week, so no biggie right?

Have a great Monday.......still have the sinus headache I have been battling since Friday. I hope it decides to leave SOON-allergy season for sure is here.

nearly done

with reorganizing of the playroom. my lil guy even made his own pile of "things" that can be gotten rid of. i am delighted by that fact because he was turning into his own little version of a hoarder-unable to part with anything.
however, he DID make sure to mention that he was making room for NEW things. Hey, it is a step in the right direction.

Speaking of NEW things. I am so thrilled that we as a family went out last night, just the 3 of us and picked out a new kitchen table. It has a marble top and therefore, I am at least somewhat hopeful that it may not get completely destroyed by art projects, model plane and train building and the like that goes on in this house. The BEST part is that it is rectangular in shape as we have decided that we are NOT fans of the oval table we currently have-for 4 more days anyway. When we originally purchased it, we only planned on using the leaf that made it oval shaped for company. Well, all good intentions, but the round one was just tooooo small. So, come Weds. we get our new kitchen set AND a side bar/wine rack(dust and junk collector) to replace the bakers rack that has also seen MUCH better days.

It will be a great addition to one former student's new apt. when she gets it and then SHE can worry about the oval shape(or take the leaf out and make it a nice sized round).

The weather is spectacular today and although the afternoon is running away from me, I hope to get outside in a bit and enjoy some sunshine and even the wind. GORGEOUS day.

Hope that everyone else is enjoying their Saturday and making it productive.

I also hope to get creative tomorrow and maybe, just maybe, even scrap something. OH MY.

may be down

but def. not out!
I have gotten quite used to my teaching partner calling me Hem and responding to her as Haw(both from the book Who Moved My Cheese), might just bring her a hunk of swiss tomorrow to make her smile. We have all been pretty stressed with FCAT testing this week, so a good laugh won't hurt for sure.

I have basically accepted that my new assignment may or may not change but simply my cheese will. It won't be perfect, for sure not ideal, but I will do what I do for the right reasons.

You see, in the middle of a staffing for my Aspbergers child, the office called to tell me that I had a young man waiting on me. I knew that I would be awhile, so he had left and come back. To my delight, one of my most memorable boys was sitting there waiting for me. Gorby is now 20, all grown up and even way back when, brought a smile to my face with the light in his eyes. What an amazing kid he was back then and I could not be more proud of him today almost grown.
He attends college, plays football and maintains a g.p.a. that anyone would be proud to claim. I have never lost touch with him, yet I hadn't seen him in person in many years. He is home on Spring break and made a plan to wake up in time to get up to school to see me in person and thank me. Thank me........
You see, when I got Gorby in my drop-out prevention class at Bay Crest, he was in 4th grade and had been told by several other teachers that he would never make it to college. Not me. I told Gorby that he could be whatever he wanted to be and most of all, he was a kind and genuine sole......hard to find in a boy his age.
That smile brought tears to my eyes as he just LIT me up today and oh did I need that. I told him in person, with a hug just how proud I am of him and he told me that it was because of ME that he is who is today.

You see, no matter what xactly I will teach-math/science, reading/writing, I hope to do it with the passion and ability to do just what I did for his group of kiddos back in 4th and 5th grade....inspire them to be the BEST that they can be. Those PEP kiddos of mine sure where a special bunch and i still talk to at least five of them on a regular basis. Many of them still speak to each other as well and as Larissa told me today,
We NEED to have a reunion pool party. Let's do it. I am hosting in once again.......heck, make it around my birthday once again.

June 2010-I will pick a date and you all had BETTER be there. Thanks for making my day, Gorby. You will continue to make me proud.

As for my very special neurologist.......she underwent some serious surgery today and I can only hope that the strength that she gives to all of us continues to fuel the fire necessary to beat the heck out of the cancer she has. We all luv YOU Dr. Karla and we are praying for your complete recovery and the strength and attitude to kick it to the curb.

Special people special lives..........we are all truly blessed in so many ways we just sometimes need to stop and remember what they are and embrace them.

baaaaad blogger, so what

Yes, I have been a naughty blogger lately, sorry, but not certain too many actually read it, so what?

Jan./Feb. not great for me personally. LOTS going on and sick, sick sick is all i can say.
My lil guy has been to the pediatrician more times than i care to count. I have been to the clinic at CVS where for the first time in my life, I have felt completely and totally DISCRIMINATED against-walked out in tears.

Sinus infections, ear infections, wet lungs, breathing treatments.....NONE of them fun.

It is now March 5th and the heat is still on in the house. This winter has surely been crazy weather wise in the entire world. It is supposed to be a warmer weekend and I say BRING IT ON.

We registered the lil one for kindergarten yesterday and did the whole Kindergarten Round-Up and tour. I can't believe he is going to be in K. Oh my how quickly it flies.

Walk MS event is right around the corner too. BUSY with scheduling the SLEW of volunteers we have this year, thanks in part to Disney and the day of giving.

I have not even begun my Project Life nor have I finished Project 365. In fact, I haven't scrapped a thing :(

Assignment for next year did not make me happy and I have read and re-read, "Who Moved My Cheese" three times in the last three weeks. I am tryin so desperately to find my new cheese.

We lost a dear scrapper to a battle with bc a few weeks ago. Jean Short, you are already missed.
Found out someone very special to me was just dx with the same evil disease.....sometimes, despite best efforts,, LIFE IS JUST NOT FAIR!!

I am ready for a relaxing weekend........bring it on.

things that I luv day 12

I luv the fact that I can meet new people and gather them together all for a good cause. I can open my home to a sweet young business woman who is kind and generous and numerous friends will flock here as well.

It warms my heart to wear nice things and even toastier when i am helping a friend share her business with others, make lots of sales, get me items for free and half cost and all the while spreading the word about ms and increasing donations to team durning.

thank you laurel and premier jewelry for the opporunity. thanx to all my gal pals and my father in law for doing some shopping for BLING and especially for my lil guy who stayed upstairs for hours til he just couldn't take it anymore and HAD to come down to model the samples and find something sparkly for his valentine Alexa. It was absolutely precious and I luved every minute of it.

things that i luv day #11

I know that this sounds quirky, but I luv the fact that I am able to give myself an injection three times per week that although the cost of said medicine has skyrocketed to $2858 per month, I am so in luv with the fact that it works.
My MRI in five years has been unchanged and that is something to do the happy dance about. I also love the fact that I can still do the happy dance if I so choose to do it, however, being that dancing has never been my "thing" I will more than likely continue to do so in private, but hell, I can do it.

I luv having a medicine available to me that is apparently working. Hooray for Rebif!

things that i luv day #10

One thing that I have discovered that I luv is teaching!!

After 19 years, I still luv going into school each day. Now don't get me wrong, there are vacation days that I luv as well, but I am not sure that I have ever uttered the words, " I have to go to work.". To me, teaching is going to school. It isn't "work". -most days anyway...

I have been at the same school for 17 years and I can proudly say that i still talk to MANY of my former students and parents.

One thing that I luv for sure is teaching. I made a great choice when I picked this career and I am truthfully certain that there isn't anything else I would want to do!!

things i luv day #9

I luv knowing that the FCAT writing test for my fourth graders is OVER.......the last few weeks have been so stressful for them and that makes me so sad. I want them to LUV writing as much as I do and therefore, i do NOT teach the test. I LUV watching their vocabularies grow and seeing the light in their eyes when they get to write whatever it is they want to write........not just sticking, staying and stretching.

So, I LUV that all of my 23 lil buggers have completed their writing tests. Hope that I luv their scores, but I am personally, very proud of their progress, regardless of what the person in T scores them.

things that I luv #8

Well one thing that I do NOT luv is having a sick child........so one thing that I discovered that I do luv is having a fantastic pediatric office........in 5 years, not a single complaint that I can think of.

We have seen nearly every doctor in the practice and they are all phenominal. I am thrilled that this particular practice, with after hours right up the street was rec. to us when I was pregnant. I never got to go and do the pediatrician interviews that I had scheduled because I was put on strict bedrest, so it was truly a "crapshoot" and I am delighted with the outcome.

So after nearly a two hour appt. at said doctor's office, leaving with a nebeulizer that will quickly become a good friend of said 5 year old, prescriptions emailed directly to the pharmacy AND a star wars sticker, I truly love our pediatrician's office!!

things i luv day #7

I discovered that I truly love a relaxing kinda stay in your pj's day every now and then.......I actually never left the house other than to bring in my scrap bags from the car and put everything away where it belonged.

I did eventually take a shower and get dressed although I didn't really "need" to.

I really do luv a relaxing kinda stay in your pj's day every now and then!

Cupid Crop

I arrived early on Friday afternoon for the Cupid Crop at WSD in the pouring rain. OMG it was like a monsoon on the Howard Frankland Bridge and of course, there was no way into the store without getting drenched. A BIG thank u to the lady from REgions Bank. VERY glad she wasn't an axe murderer.

My dear friend, Jan was there waiting for me-and despite the numerous scary phonecalls that morning I was beyond THRILLED and delighted to see her sitting there scrapping away at our table and NOT what the alternative could have been.

My boys came over around dinner time and picked me up to have dinner, which was a nice stretching break and good to get to see them. I stayed til closing of the crop at midnight and although I didn't get too too much scrapped, I did get to play with the ENTIRE line of SMOOCH inks, including the new colors, that Jan had surprised me with!! THey were great for embellishing the farm animals that I needed to finish my layout.

Helen did a bunch of photo sorting and we spent about 5 hours chatting and catching up. It is still weird NOT to see each other every day after teaching 2 gether for 15 years. But by midnight, her pics were sorted and we were officially caught up :)

Saturday I was back at the store at 10-ish thanx to sleeping on mil's couch a few blocks away. That was perfect. I did scrap a bunch, played some fun fun games, didn't win a door prize, but I DID win an entire set of Simple Scrapbook(luved that publication) idea magazines!! I can NOT wait to delve into them and the Cupid Cash was so much fun.

I realized that although I am NOT a movie go-er, I can play a pretty mean game of Pyramid and give decent clues even if I have NO idea who starred in the movies and I never saw them. I also did pretty well on the couples matching game. Jen outdid herself -as usual- with the cute games and great food...........I hope a certain someone enjoyed my dinner last night.

It was a fun, relaxing, fantastic weekend crop and today I feel like staying in my pj's all day, but I think my boys probably have other ideas.

I am thrilled and delighted NOT to live anywhere but FL right now as it is tooooo darn cold and snowy in toooo many other places.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday and I hope that everyone enjoys and stays safe 2 night.

things i LUV day #6

I luv spending time scrapping with the best of friends!! You know the kind that will be there in the DROP of a hat. ....those kinda friends.

I have had many people come and go in my lifetime that I thought were my friends-we all have I think and although I have felt the confusion and loss of those said "friends" there is nothing like the ones that are tried and true.

I luv that I do have some very dear ones of them and I KNOW that they know who they are.

things i luv day #5

I luv having good friends who care........and worry about me and our other friends.

Thanks for the phonecall this morning friend and an even BIGGER thanx for Jan really being named Janice and NOT Janet.

My sympathy goes out to the other family who eerily lives in the same town and and lost someone they luv in a motorcycle accident. I also luv the fact that my dear friends Bill and Jan do NOT luv motorcycles at this moment.

I am now able to breath!!
and I am off to get my haircut and spend the weekend scrapping which are two things that I also luv!!

things that I LUV Day #4

I luv spending a girls night out at a quarter auction knowing that the money that was raised went to a good cause-cystic fybrosis.

I also luv knowing that someone that I know who lost his 30 year old wife to this disease last week will know that Deanna meant a whole lot to others and that i could do something, no matter how little to honor her and help others who have this.

I tell my students OFTEN, how it makes my heart feel good to give to others and they seem to "get it" cause they have purchased a goat for two families this year, raised $25 for the Red Cross and are learning a valuable lesson about others who may be less fortunate than they are.

So, I luv being able to do something good......and I especially LUV winning FOUR of the quarter auctions in a row. Nice.

Dh esp. luvs that I won a table runner for our kitchen table that he discovered was probably NOT the very best place to attempt to put together a model airplane the other night when there was a very tired although anxious 5 year old wanting to "help". You see airplane model glue and said wooden kitchen table do NOT go well together and I had just gotten used to the varnish being ON that table.

So, luckily for him, the LOVE table runner that I won from At Home America is the perfect color combination for my kitchen and will save him from buying me a new table at least thru Valentine's Day!!

So, basically, on day #4, I luv doing things for others that include winning nice prizes and spending valuable time with a great group of girlfriends!!

Things that I luv day #3

I luv good quotes and this one especially made me smile because it makes me think of someone very special and I couldn't agree with it more.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” ― Anonymous

toss ten Tuesday

Good-bye huge bag of way more than 10 pairs of unmentionables that fit me when I wore a MUCH bigger size!!

I am tired of pulling you outta the drawer only to throw u back in. You were dear friends for a LONG time(way too long) and although I fluctuate, there ain't NO WAY you will ever fit me again, so off to the trash pile in the sky you shall go.

Hmm, guessing that I will be purchasing some new ones soon-or maybe Cupid will bring me some in the appropriate size!!

Things that I LUV day #2

I moved to Tampa in June of 1985 and ever since I got here, I have been a WFLA kinda gal. I can NOT go to sleep without channel 8 on tv. I can NOT wake up without channel 8 on tv......

I luv channel 8 WFLA. Now over the years, I have seen sportscasters become anchor persons and anchor persons come and go, but the worst of it was when my "boyfriend" took his own life in April almost two years ago. OMG my heart still breaks.

I got "used" to the new line up and truly came to enjoy watching Bill and the girls. Then Bill retired and it was just the "girls". Come the end of Feb. there will be big changes once again. After 16 years, Gayle is leaving and I woke up this morning to find out that Jen is leaving too.

I luv WFLA channel 8, but will I luv the new morning line up? We can only hope........

Things that I LUV day #1

I luv that at 8:51am on a dreary, rainy, Monday morning, I can sit at the computer still in my pj's and drink my second cup of coffee.

I am very fortunate to have a cooperative and helpful(most of the time) hubby who recongizes that I took my shot too late last night and had a very bad night of sleep. So, he was more than willing to take the lil guy to VPK as I am not moving too quickly today.

So, off I go to get ready for school.

I do so LUV that I have a great dh!!- and that I don't have to be at work til 11 am.

Hellloooo February

Bring it on. Already into the second month of the new decade and I couldn't be happier about it.

January was a BUSY month for us and I am not sorry to see it go. I have already begun making some simple cards for Valentine's Day and thinking of a birthday gift for sister in law. I have several events scheduled this month and we are in FULL planning and preparing mode for both FCAT at school and walk ms at the end of March.

I am even attending a weekend long crop this week at WSD. I can NOT wait to actually accomplish something creative. It has been wayyyy toooooo long and I miss that feeling.

Next week we will all go out to celebrate what would have been Daddy's 70th birthday.

It is going to be a FANTASTIC month FOCUSING on things that I LUV..........

Dear Daddy,

Six years ago today, my world as I knew it ENDED for good. When Johnnie and his mother showed up at Bay Crest to tell me that you "were gone", I just knew that they were lying. In fact, that is exactly what I said to him that morning. There was NO way that YOU of all people could be gone.

The minutes, hours, days and weeks that immediately followed are a hazy blurr at this point and no clearer than they were six years ago.
I miss you every day and although i do find comfort in knowing that you look down upon us and although i can still hear you on a daily basis, I MISS YOU.

It has been six years........lots of things I want to get your advice about. One absolutely precious little boy that lives with a special part of you inside him. Your name STILL in my cell phone cause I just can NOT bring myself to change it. And the longing to be able to hear you say, "I luv my puppy" just one more time.

I KNOW that you would be proud of me. I make good choices(most of the time), my cholesterol is still too high, I have lost a TON of weight and I WILL eat chocolate in your honor tonite :)

You were right about LOTS of things(as I continue to be) and although a Durning, "I will ALWAYS be a TINSKY-proudly, I might add".

And she IS truly a "magnificent beast~!"

Dear Daddy,
I MISS YOU........
Luv,
JT

sometimes it is just plain irony....

I got a FB message today from someone that I went to sleep-away camp with some 30 years ago. Crazy how FB allows us to reconnect with so many and share some hideous photos all at the same time............

Well this message was to tell me of one of our fellow campers father's passing away. In the same message about the death of the father, it reads about the untimely death of our fellow camper two years ago at the age of 39. Are you freaking kidding me? I had NO idea that he had died. Jon and I had reconnected on FB just a few months before .........he had told me about his wife and his kids, including a newborn little boy. He even shared photos with me.

Life gets busy and u check FB messages and wonder why you never see people online? Sometimes it is because you have been unfriended, sometimes because there is a glitch and although u weren't unfriended, u must refriend and sometimes you find out that an amazing kid you grew up with in Ft. Lee, NJ and went to summer camp with in Honesdale, PA has left this planet wayyy tooooo young. And you feel like it must have happened just yesterday because you just never knew.

It brings a smile to your face with the tears streaming to remember the gawky kid in the Astro's shirt........making you laugh and always sharing a hug. Then you google his name and find that some nearly 30 years later he wasn't quite so gawky but certainly touched many a life.

I am sorry for his mother, who has now lost both of her boys, but heaven sure does have some great angels up there.

And the true irony in it all is that I find this out on the eve of the sixth anniversary of losing my own Daddy. Sometimes it is ironic and ya know what, sometimes it is just plain sad. Right now, I am just feeling the sadness part.

word of the year

I chose the word F~O~C~U~S for the year 2010 and although we are only 25 days into this new decade, I am really trying to stick to my word.

This weekend we were able to have some grown up time-and most of you know that does NOT happen very often. John and I were able to have an entire conversation without hearing "Mommy, Daddy, Daddy, Mommy" and as much as I missed those two words, it was very nice to FOCUS on being grown ups!!

Also spent time this weekend focusing on some tasks in the house that have been screaming to be attended to but often get pushed aside when there are two little hands wanting to "help".

Due to my focus on decluttering, we were able to hoist all of the Christmas/Hanukkah totes up into the attic and some still had room in them because we threw so many decorations away that we just don't use or put out.

Toss Ten Tuesday has been working miracles(thanks Jen). I have another pile to take to the Goodwill this week. I swear that guy is going to know me by name. Ha.

I realized when I wrote the date on a check this morning that I am missing my daddy a whole BUNCH and now I know why. I miss him alllllll the time but I took a moment to focus on the fact that Weds. will be SIX years since he left me. Gosh, that just does not seem possible.

So, for now I am going to focus on preparing a nice, healthy meal for my boys and give KC his medicine and special dinner too. He is 7 months and 8 days into his six month to one year prognosis and although he is getting a bit porky from a combo of prednisone and good food, he is doing GR-8.

So, what is your focus this week??? Take time to think about it and for g*d sake, would someone PLEASE comment?????????? PLEASE.

Holy WOW

That was some rain that blew thru here early this morning. I was WIDE awake just after 3am and despite my best efforts, could not fall back to sleep. So, I was flipping channels when one heck of a storm blew thru here.

I haven't heard the wind howl like that in some time. There was even a tornado warning for just northeast of here(exactly where many scrappers were over the weekend).

Hope that everyone is safe, no one incurred any severe damage during the storm and now we can look forward to it cooling off a bit today.

We enjoyed a very quiet and relaxing weekend while our lil guy spent some much needed time with AS. Of course, he came home with his arms loaded down with new Star Wars Lego sets of various sizes and all of the money I had sent him with. NO AS NO. that word can come outta your mouth..........lol.
She was pleased that he apparently did inherrit the Tinsky gene and was comparing prices at all the stores on said Lego sets. For the record, Wal Mart is the cheapest but their shelves the emptiest.

Hoping for a great Monday for everyone........

Why does it seem

that short weeks are longer than regular ones?

I am beat. We had off on Monday for MLK day and then off on Tuesday as well. So that means cramming 5 days of work into just three days. If you add in the xtra curricular stuff, that equals one tired tadpole.

Tuesday I spend the better part of the day with one of my favorite people-my sil and magician of a beautician getting my hair straightened. Under penalty of death from Mitch, it was NOT cut-not one strand......lol. I also got to spend a nice part of the afternoon catching up with him and Aunt Sue. We don't get to do that enough anymore.
I also filled out the school CHOICE forms and mailed them in for my lil guy to attend school with me next year. Now, if I could just figure out how I am going to get him there?? Well, we DO have time for that.

Last night we went to dinner at Sonny's for Bay Crest night-good turn out. Today was ELP and running back and forth from Carrollwood to TNC, to Odessa, to Carrollwood, back to TNC and finally home again.

NICE NICE surprise was coming home to Lil Man's bedroom and his new loft bed completely put together-go dh. I now just have to tweak where everything will go and turn his choo choo room into his Star Wars room by accessorizing. He wants his Thomas clock made into a SW one etc. By the end of the weekend it will be close to done. How quickly they grow up.

I am enjoying the Project Life album or at least taking the pics thus far. I have yet to take it out of the box but plan to do that this weekend too.

Hey, if anyone has any pull around here, can we have a week or so of just weekends to catch up and then go back to the regularly scheduled work week/weekend thing? Thanks. I am certain that there are numerous people who would be equally appreciative.

There is nothing so sad

As your BABY screaming in the horrible anticipation of getting two shots and three people having to hold him down :(
When it was all said and done, I am not sure who was crying more-me or him. If you are not a parent, you will not understand this pain...........

Thank goodness that is over for another year.
On a good note, he is healthy as a horse and built like "Mike Alstott" according to Dr. G. He is in the 60% for height and 97% for weight. He def. does need speech therapy and his blue and gold forms are all filled out for Kindergarten registration when that comes around.

From 6lbs 3 ounces and 19.5 inches to 43.75 inches and 55 lbs. in what feels like 5 seconds flat!! Make that FIVE years.

Off to enjoy the rest of our day off together.
Happy MLK day!

LONG LONG weekend

As I sit here on Sunday night, it feels great NOT to think about going back to school tomorrow. Now, do not get me wrong, I LUV what I do but I am really looking forward to a couple of xtra days off this week.

Saturday we had yet another Chuck E. Cheese birthday party. This time for Alex in St. Pete. Joshy and Alex have known each other since before they were born when Laura and I met on theknot.com and then thenest.com on Baby Talk Bio. Wow, that was ions ago.
Last night it was relaxing at home kinda night as we listened to the thunder and rain come pouring down. it was actually a very welcomed sound around here. Between the COLD snap and the lack of rain, everything around here is hay-like and brown, so hoping that some of the wet stuff last night and the sunshine today will green things up a bit.

Boy oh boy was today a busy one. It was non-stop really. Jan and Bill called this morning on their way down from their riverhouse. She needed to drop in and pick up her new Project Life kit that I had ordered for her as her holiday gift. We figured it would be a pit stop and go but thankfully, they stayed for a couple of hours and we sat around the kitchen table drinking coffee, chatting and laughing. It was such a nice, impromptu visit.
On their way out, Laurel, my Premier Jewelry rep. came by to drop off my hostess packet as I am hosting a show for her on Feb. 11th. I am very xcited as I luv their stuff, she is adorable and is generously donating 25% of her sales that evening to the NMSS via TEAM DURNING.

After Laurel left, we hopped into the car and headed over to St. Pete(for the third day in a row) to check out a loft bed that I found on Craigslist. We called Nanny and solicited her truck to help us get the loft to it's new home. It is currently sitting at the bottom of our steps in Tpa and as soon as the "boys" stop playing video games, Johnnie can dismantle Joshy's current bed and bedframe and we can attempt to put the new one together.

We got a GR-8 deal on it and I have already gotten everything out of his room(cept the bed) and cleaned his floors and am very excited to put it all together in his new room.

We have 5 yr. check up tomorrow morning. I can't wait to hear his height and weight, but could do without the shots as I am sure he can too. It breaks my heart to hear him cry and despite my telling him the shots will keep him healthy, who truly likes needles? Not me and I just gave myself my usual Sunday night injection.

It also saddens me to know that at his appt. tomorrow, I will get his blue and gold papers signed so that he can officially be signed up for KINDERGARTEN come August. I know that it is early to even be thinking that, but hoping that we won't have to return to the pediatrician between now and then so best to get it all taken care of. He will attend school with me next year so I also have to begin his Special Assignment paperwork and teacher requests........

How did time fly so darn quickly that my lil munchkin....okay, don't get me started.

Tuesday he has VPK so that means a day off entirely to myself. I can not wait as I have an appt to get my hair done and I will so enjoy being slightly pampered and spending several hours with one of my most favorite people.

In the meantime, I am off to do some work on the volunteer assignments for walk ms in Tpa as that will be here in a matter of just two months. YIKES.

Happy Sunday evening to all and I hope that your team wins.

birthday party, birthday party and BRRRR

BUSY BUSY weekend. Why don't the work weeks seem to pass as quickly?
Saturday we had a birthday party at Gator Freds. I had never been there before and it was nice, not to mention a stone's throw from where we live. Joshy had fun with his school friends playing NON stop. Then the Theo's came over for matzo ball soup(cause I was tired of hearing Stacy whine about not getting any last week. I also made two pots of pasta fagiol(sp) and that was yummy. We enjoyed their company and were so happy to see the JETS win so we didn't have to deal with a disappointed Theo.

This morning we were off to birthday party number two for the weekend. Jan. sure is a busy month.......Chuck E. Cheeses on a Sunday at 10am. I am NOT a fan of being anywhere on a Sunday at 10am, (can u tell that church and I would never get along if I weren't a Jew?) It was brisk out when we arrived and would you believe they had the AIR CONDITIONING on inside?? CRAZY cold. Many thanks to Anna's sister for the cup of coffee.

Johnnie spent the better part of the weekend putting both Christmas and Hanukkah away inside and out. Now to get the tubs back up into the attic. What a chore, but he does it all w/o complaining. I like looking at the pretty lites, but boy oh boy. Well, put away til next year when we long to see it all again.

Okay, so there are MANY reasons why I moved from NJ to FL not only to attend college, but cause I am not a fan of frigid weather.
I am also not the only FL resident who complains when the humidity is 100% and it is nearly 100 degrees for MONTHS on end.

BUT(and u knew that there would be a BUT), this record cold is getting a bit ridiculous. OMG, 28 degrees when we wake up tomorrow? YIKES.
I am def. going to search for the gloves that are somewhere in this house from our last NJ trip during winter.

I can't seem to warm up and for the first time since we bought this house 6 years ago, I am wishing for my old house with the fireplace.(That sentiment will pass quickly or as soon as the thermometer reads over 50 degrees again for any length of time.)

At this moment, I have my thermostat way higher than it should be(rec. 68 are they kidding?), i am wearing cuddle duds, a sweater, jeans, TWO pairs of socks, boots and I am still freeeeeeezing.

I think the only thing that I can do at this point, is get in my flannel jammies and underneath the down comforter and hope that my gloves turn up cause the steering wheel is gonna be chilly.

Stay warm and hope everyone has a wonderful week. I KNOW I will -wink wink

project life is in the house

to my surprise and delight, my project life kits arrived today......how very xciting. i can't wait to have five minutes of peace to open it up and check it all out.

not tonite though as i am just plain exhausted. i actually caught myself falling asleep in the chair while getting my nails done this afternoon. pretty much the only thing that kept me awake was the fact that i was FREEZING......it warmed up pretty much this afternoon if you were in the sun, but with a high of less than 50(yes that IS cold for those of us who have lived in FL for going on 30 years) the fans that they had blowing on my hands kept me awake.

So, it will be an early night for us as we hunker down under the down comforters as the low in the am will be in the 20's. I have my 3 month follow up appt. tomorrow EARLY with my neuro, so think good thoughts for me please.

Thankfully, I am feeling good so other than some RX refills to start the new year, it should be pretty quick and relatively painless. Good friend of mine and I were talking last week about how much we don't mind going to see Dr. Karla cause she is the only doctor that we get to go to that doesn't weigh us. LOL. Of course, being a prof. ballerina in addition to being a fabulous neurologist, anyone would feel "fat" standing next to her :)

KC got a good report from the holistic vet last night. He tolerated the accupunture like a champ...he is such a great pup.

Okay, some things to do before hitting the sack-laundry calling my name.

Stay warm everyone.

Toss Ten Tuesday

So my friend, Jen has taken on a new challenge for this year and she has gotten many others on her bandwagon. In the spirit of the show Hoarders, she is challenging herself to Toss Ten items on the first Tuesday of each month.

Well, I have never considered myself to be a Hoarder, but I am the first one to admit that I get attached to STUFF. It actually stems back to first grade I discovered. When I lived on Dorchester Drive in River Vale, New Jersey, my house burned down. It didnt' burn down to the ground, but whatever survived the fire(which wasn't a whole lot) was destroyed by the smoke and the water. My persian kitty perished and pretty much every single thing that I owned back then. It took about 30 years and lots of therapy for me to come to this realization.......after losing every toy, book and piece of clothing that I owned at age 6, STUFF became a BIG deal to me.

So, it is with much pride that I join Miss Jen's challenge of Toss Ten Tuesday. I spent MUCH of my two week winter break TOSSING much more than TEN and oh did it ever feel good. Our garbage has had garbage for the last two trash days. I brought numerous bags to Goodwill over the last 10 days and I did bring a large back to school today for a teacher friend with a younger son than mine.

It feels VERY good and I plan to def. keep this up.
Ta Ta to my trash. May you someday be someone else's treasure.

So, who else tossed what today?????? Do share.

Happy 2010

I can not believe that the new year is here. 2009 was a tough year for many folks and I am certain there are numerous people who were not sad to see it go.

I am thankful that I am able to say that it was a good year for us!! I am hopeful that this new year and new decade will be even better, if that is possible.

I look forward to all that it has to offer. Many blessings for all is my hope.

Bring it on!!