This is it!

This is post number 20!  This is the end for my English assignment.  I never was into journaling or keeping a diary.  But I really do enjoy posting these blogs.  I love reading other people's blogs but I just don't think that I have what it takes to make it make sense.  Does that make sense? :)  I do plan on keeping up with these posts.  It is nice to have a place to get out all the thoughts racing through this bi polar head.  This is going to sound crazy but, I like having a place I can let go without having to worry about getting judged.  Yes I know that the internet is all about being judgmental but I just don't care I guess. I didn't realize that I needed this outlet until I had the opportunity.  So shout out to Mr. Foster for making me do this assignment.  I have learned a lot about about myself that I didn't know I was missing out on.

Oops

Today I think I made a HUGE mistake!  I decided it would be a great idea to take all four boys to the grocery store with me.  I usually take one at a time just for my own sanity.  But I figured if people can take six or seven at a time whats my four right?  I broke down the rules before we ever got out the car. Don't touch anything, don't walk away from the cart, don't ask for anything.  Break these rules we turn around, walk out, go home and you won't come back until you can act like a gentleman in public.  I just knew we would be going home with no groceries.  But my boys really surprised me.  I mean sure my normal 45 minute shopping trip turned into almost two hours, but they were really patient and well behaved for those two hours.  The man behind us in line told them that he had seen them throughout the store and was really impressed by the way the behaved and wanted to buy them each a treat at the checkout.  Now they want to go as a group every week.  I don't know if I can handle that! They did great and it is a life lesson to learn to behave in public with or without a reward.  They know my rule no treats for doing what you're supposed to do.

Saying goodbye is hard to do

It is that time of year again where I get down and start reflecting on my life.  Ten years ago I lost my best friend to a horrible accident involving a truck driver on I-40.  It really hits home for me not just because it was my best friend who died, but because my dad, my husband, and my brother-in-law are all truck drivers and I worry for them every day.  I get sad and start missing her a lot but especially this time of year since it is the anniversary of her death.  I also think a lot about her in February too.  She and my second born share a birthday of February 27th.  So it really makes me reflect on her.  With the new Fast and the Furious movie that just came out after Paul Walker passed in a tragic accident, there is a song in the movie that really makes me miss my Mandy.  I hear it on the radio at least five times a day and it really makes me thankful for what I do have and the thought that she is here with me helping me through life.  The name of the song is See You Again and it is worth a listen.

Remodel is hard work

I have now redone five of the nine rooms of my house and I love the way it is shaping up.  The living room has gone from dark and sad to bright and inviting.  The walls are now a gorgeous light grey color and I bought some teal colored slip covers for the sofas.  The paneling and wallpaper are gone from the kitchen and it is now a bright and lovely shade of orange.  Without all the stuff on the walls it seems twice as big.  The only projects I have left in there is replacing the cabinets and replacing the outdated linoleum.  The dining room has gone from an underwater nightmare to an inviting oasis.  It is a gorgeous bright red color and it is so cozy and warm.  The hallway is now a simple white.  The master bedroom is a dark grey haven of serenity.  I still need to do the boys rooms and the bathrooms but that is a project for another day!

Time for a makeover

When we moved in to this house a little over two years ago I knew there was a lot to be done.  The living room was an army greenish brownish color with brown leather sofas.  The dining room and hallway were an unnatural bluish green color.  The kitchen had paneling on the bottom half of the walls and the top half was covered in yellow wallpaper with green flowers and butterflies all over it.  The bathrooms had marblish looking wallpaper and good old 70's green tile.  I vowed that I would make over every room.  And slowly but surely I am doing just that.

Back to the grind

We finally made it home from our road trip to the mountains and we are slowly readjusting back to reality.  The hubs has gone back to work and the boys have gone back to their regularly scheduled programming of school work.  We have gotten a lot accomplished with school in less than a month and I am so very proud of these boys!  My rising Kindergartener has managed to recite and write all of his letters both capital and lowercase.  We are currently working on reading basic words and he is doing fantastic.  My rising second grader is doing work on his own without me having to hover and that is huge!!!!  He also is working on doing his math with out counters.  My rising third grader has gone up a reading level since the beginning of summer and he is reading everything from food labels to billboards.  The three year old can count to 20 and write the first two letters of his name.  I couldn't be more proud of all my babies!!!

The road less traveled

So after getting everyone up and loaded up in the car we set off for a quick road trip.  Well two hours later we ended up in Blowing Rock where we got to Tweetsie Railroad.  I don't know what led us there but it was a great idea!  The boys have never seen a train up close let alone be inside one.  We went for the ride on the train, got taken over by robbers and watched the cowboys fight them off all before lunch.  We also visited Ghost Town in the Sky and met the native americans and the cancan girls.  I'm not sure if the boys liked the town or riding up the mountain on the chair lift more.  I know I was glad when everyone got off safely at the top and again at the bottom.  Those things are a mother's nightmare!  It was a nice little day trip and now we are headed back down the mountain towards home.

Shhh its a secret

After the holiday the hubby had a little extra time off work so we decided to make an impromptu road trip.  I say impromptu but how could anything be with a family of six?!?  I spent a day packing and gathering toothbrushes.  I felt like a spy with the way I was sneaking around the kids.  I was able to pack for six and get it all loaded into the car before anyone noticed.  We woke them up at about six in the morning and loaded them into the car amidst many protests and sleepy complaints.  Here we are on the road with no plans other than breakfast in our near future.  It is kinda exhilarating and reminds me of my early twenties.

dunt dunt dunt da daaaa

It's shark week!!!! I look forward to this almost as much as christmas.  I have a huge framed movie poster from Jaws and it could very well be my top movie of all time.  I get so excited when I hear my kids walking through the house singing the theme song.  But.... I am headed to the beach in a few weeks and I'm a little freaked out.   There have been so many shark attacks this year right around the beach I am going to.  As if that wasn't bad enough there was an eleven foot alligator found on the same exact beach that I am going to.  I feel like we are living Jaws now.  I'm a little anxious to take my kids into the water.

Happy Birthday America!

My family has a very standard tradition for independence day! Much like other americans we have a huge cookout with our close friends and family.  There are the usual foods: burgers, hot dogs, chicken, ribs and brats.  We buy a ton of sparklers and there are a few to many beers.  We end the night going to the waterpark to watch the fireworks.  It was nice that the rain held on so we could enjoy these things since it had rained everyday for a week.  We go to Old Navy and pay a ridiculous amount for 6 t shirts we will only wear once.  We spend all day downtown with almost a million other people enjoying the parade and the food and the atmosphere.  Independence day is a huge deal around our since I am a Navy Veteran.  But unlike a lot of families when it comes to firework time there are very differently roles.  Mommy is hunkered down with the 7 year old autistic kid and the intimidated 3 year old while daddy is oohing and ahhing with the excited 9 and 5 year olds.