Stay Summer-Just a While Longer!

August-the Lariope are starting to bloom.  Never a good sign for those of us that love summer.  It is a sign that summer is winding down.  Yes, the lilac shaded blooms are beautiful, but I would rather that they stay green and that it stay summer, all year-round.  Some days I feel as wilted as my poor plants do-but it's summer and I won't complain about the heat.

The kids and I bought school supplies yesterday.  When I could not bear to pick up another glue stick packet, we left the bowels of hell-I mean the school supply section-and headed for the beach chairs and sunscreen.  There are parents out there that think the school year starting is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" as it is sung in the office supply store commercial, but I am not one of them.  I am not wanting my children to leave for another school year simply because I know that it is one year closer to them leaving home and me.

Yes, this is the natural order of the world, but that does not make it any easier to deal with.  I love being with my kids.  Are there days that they drive me crazy?  Of course!  I know there are just as many days that I drive them batty.  In five short years, my oldest will be starting college, my middle graduating from high school, and my youngest starting high school.  They will by then be working during the summers, spending loads of time with friends, and I will(hopefully) be working outside the home again.  I have taken every opportunity to enjoy this summer with them because I know that it might be the last one that I spend at home with them.  Another reason for my wilting-reality bites sometimes.

We have gone to museums, water parks, amusement parks, the movies, the library, on bike rides, to tennis courts, and other fun places.  We have also spent a fair amount of time doing nothing-watching T.V. and playing video games, or in our quiet moments reading alone.  I woke up a few mornings ago to Captain Jack Sparrow and the Pirates of the Caribbean and promptly fixed my coffee and cozied into the couch to watch the movie with my son.  My other two sleepy eyed kids filed in over the next half-hour and we ended up watching all three movies-not bothering to get dressed until well after noon.  I love days like that-you have quite literally a laundry list of things to do and the most important thing you do that day is nothing with the most important people in your life.

I hope everyone has days like this.  Enjoy your life one day at a time.  Realize what you have-embrace it, acknowledge it, knowing that it will not always be.  But also embrace the change that will inevitably come.  There are good things waiting there too.  Hopefully lots of hot summer days.

Summer Reading

Ahhh-the days of summer.  Are there any days that are better?  Even Henry James said:

“Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language”

I whole heartedly agree!  I have a stack of books on my bedside table, the floor, all around my house that I have on my summer reading list.  I am one of those people who read several books at once.  It depends on what kind of mood I am in.  Maybe this constitutes a split personality, but I love to read and they are like my children-they all need my attention!

Right now I am finishing "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" by Stieg Larsson, "The Last Time I Saw You" by Elizabeth Berg, "Bed of Roses" by Nora Roberts, "Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin, and "The Wildwater Walking Club" by Claire Cook.  Quite a diverse grouping but that's what I've got.  I really need to talk with Father Time about adding a few more hours to the day so that I can squeeze in a few more hours of reading time.  My children get out of school tomorrow, so I think I am going to have to set some mandatory reading time during the day-just to keep my sanity.  They are not interested in the pool any longer but there is no way they will be sitting around all summer!  Year round school?  Anyone, anyone?

What are you reading?  Do you have anything you could recommend?  I would love to know what you are reading this summer! 

As they say in the brilliant Barnes and Noble add, "Read Forever"!!

As time goes by...

Where does the time go?  Into a black hole?  Into the deep blue sea?  Down the drain?  I don't know, but I would sure like to find some more of it!  It seems like yesterday that the kids were starting a new school year and now it is close to the end.  My oldest will have one year until high school, my son will be a pro at middle school with a year under his belt, and my youngest will have two years left of elementary school.  When did that happen?!

Some days, the time seems to drag, whether from boredom, exhaustion, life, I am not quite sure.  Other days seem to end before like they have started, if that makes any sense.  But I still want more time!!!

As I am getting older, I find that I am in a stage of transition.  That is a good and necessary thing-I just wish I knew what I was transitioning to!  I think and think and think and feel like someone who had better hurry up and decide what she wants to do when she grows up!  Part of me knows, part of me is unsure if that part of me know what the heck she is doing! 

I know I don't want to sit and look at my four walls any longer-it is slightly maddening to me.  There are days when my home feels like a warm blanket that wraps me in its embrace and protects me and shelters me from the world outside.  Other days, it feels like a straight jacket and I am a magician trying to wiggle my way out. 

I do not think I am alone in this feeling-and that makes me feel good.  But I know that the only person who can do anything about my transition is me.  So what time does that make it?  It makes it get up and go time kids!  Its now or never!  Time to kick the tires and light the fires!  But I will be sure to make it a good time....

Oh no! It snowed!!

Run for your lives!  It's the snowpocalypse!!  Only kidding.

It did snow this morning though.  I have had enough quite frankly.  I don't live where we have snow from October through March, but I have enough.  Yes-it is Complain Day.  I decided.   Join in the fun!

I used to love snow.  When I was twelve.  And we had days off from school.  But now, they are not so much fun.  If we had places to go and ski and snowboard it would be one thing.  It is the cooped up inside part that I don't particularly like.

I love to be outside.  In the sun.  Where it is warm.  Preferably near water.  With a cool drink in my hand and someone to fan me when I am hot and...Sorry, I got a little distracted.

It is officially spring.  We had eighty degree weather two weeks ago and now it is 38 degrees outside.  Summer, I need you like never before.    My bathing suits, towels, and sunscreen are ready to go.  Now only if it would stop snowing....

It's in the stacks....

For those book lovers out there, you know that librarians and book sellers refer to shelves of books as "stacks".  I have my own stacks in my house, as I am sure many of you do.  It is comforting and makes me happy.  I have spent many years adding to my collection.  Some books find a place deep in my heart and stay, some are donated to my local library, and others I take to the local used book store.  I love my books.  They are like friends, old and new ready to be discovered or reunited with.

I will admit that some of the books take me longer to read than others.  Some I have had literally for years before I open their covers to read them.  Some books, I read the first paragraph or chapter and put down, never to open again.  I used to make myself feel guilty about that-"finish what you start!" my brain would say to me.  As I have gotten older and I like to think a little bit wiser, I feel like it is a waste of time to read something that I do not enjoy.  There is so much out there too be enjoyed!  So, I put the unfinished book down and walk away-no guilt to speak of.  There are very few books that I read more than once, but I have a few that have made the cut.

I am lucky that my kids love to read too.  I loved reading to them when they were little and am more than pleased that they continue on with reading as they get older.  Books are the greatest escape-taking you out of your life and throwing you into someone else's for a while.  Teaching you things, making you laugh, making you cry.  Making you sit on edge while you impatiently wait for a follow-up book to be released.  I love it when the book is so good you are kind of let down when it ends-so you slow your reading to enjoy it a bit longer. 

I got my husband an e-reader for Christmas.  I have very mixed feelings on this one.  They are great for those technophiles out there, but I like having the book in my hand.  I like going into a bookstore or library and looking.  Sometimes I know exactly the book I want.  Other times, I have no idea what I am in the mood for until it jumps out at me-it is the thrill of the hunt, so to speak.

Yes, I may sound nerdy, but I don't care.  Reading keeps your mind fresh, expands your vocabulary, and adds joy to your life.  If that is the definition of nerdy, then I crown myself Queen of the nerds.  You can find me in the stacks...

Grey, grey-go away

This year, I turn forty.  Forty!  I can't quite believe it.  Don't get me wrong-I will not be sinking into a mid-life crisis or do something crazy like dress like my thirteen year old, but I may make some changes.   I have to concede that, yes, I do have a few grey hairs.  Hard to believe right?!  Last month, when I found my first grey(that's my story and I'm sticking to it), I decided that it had to go.  So I pulled it out.  I thought my hair stylist would throttle me when I told her.

"We are trying to KEEP hair Liz, not loose it!"  Alright, alright, I hear that!  Cue the Clairol bottle.

BAM!!  Instant highlights at a fraction of the price.  I use my Dad's reasoning "It's blonde, not grey."  I had thought about having my stylist color my hair, since some of those pesky greys I could not seem to cover.  Thankfully, they were hidden underneath my "highlights" so they were only visable to me.  But, at over 100 smackers just for the coloring alone, I had to but the brakes on that idea.  I could color my hair myself at least ten times!  Even more with a coupon!!  It does not really even matter which brand-if it is on sale or I have a coupon, I am all over it!!  Or, it will be all over my hair, in under 25 minutes.

The real kicker came when I found a grey eyebrow hair.  Dun, dun, duhh.   I was mortified.  I am not as attached to those hairs, even though I really don't want to have to draw them on one day, but it was closest to the inside of my brow line, so it had to go.  And wouldn't you know, it grew back, as grey as ever.

Thank goodness for Edline!

Thank you Lord, for Edline.

I know that 2 of my children do not share in this prayer.  For those that don't know what Edline is, it posts your children's grades online.  Fabulous huh?!  I love it-it helps us to keep up with what is being done-and what is not-at school.  Here is a bit of my son's grades in Social Studies:
                                    Score Information
                     Name     Date     Category  Score Max  %   Grd

                     HWRveP.  02/19/11 homework     90  100  90 B+
                     HWRevQ.  02/19/11 homework     85  100  85 B
                     HWSignP. 02/19/11 homework    100  100 100 A+
                     QRev.    02/19/11 quiz         98  100  98 A
                     QAmRev   02/26/11 quiz        100  100 100 A+
                     HWPeople 02/26/11 homework    100  100 100 A+
                     TAmRev   03/03/11 test         98  100  98 A
                     QRev.    03/13/11 quiz         96  100  96 A

Remember when we would get graded papers home? And if they were bad, they didn't always make it home.  Until you got your interim or report card and your parents would look at you with the "What the H*&%# happened to your grades?"  look.  Then the shouting would come, followed by you're grounded for 3,500 years, and don't come out of your room except to eat.  We find out grades almost immediatley and have a list of assignments and tests dates laid out before us, so we don't even believe the line-"I didn't know we were having a test!  They never told us!  We were blinsided Mom! "  Yeah, okay.
                                   
Love it!  Winning!!(I can't believe I just wrote that)

No more excuses kids.  We know A LOT more than you think we do.  Just stick with me on this one.

Edline-this is one time I am thankful for the internet where my kids are concerned.

Thankful

I am so thankful.  For my husband, my kids, my friends and family.  For my health.  For all of the things that I have been blessed with.

Watching the news footage today of the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan, I realize how small and helpless I am and how powerful nature can be.  It was heartbreaking and terrifying and unbelievable to watch. 

I am thankful that the people of Hawaii are safe and more damage was not done there.  I will pray for the man who was swept out to see on the West Coast and I will pray for those in Japan who have lost loved ones and those who have to find a way to pick up the pieces and go on. 

I will go to bed thankful for another day-of health, happiness, and seeing the faces of those that I love the most.  And pray that tomorrow will bring more of the same.

Nine lives

I have a cat.

His name is Jack.

He is a lucky son-of-a-gun.

This is what he did to my vacuum cleaner cord...

My Dyson vacuum cleaner.  That's an expensive cord!!  One life shaved off the nine he was born with-so they say.

He is lucky I found it before he could do any more damage to it.  One life saved.

I guess now he is back up to nine.  He is lucky he is cute.

If only I could teach him how to put the vacuum cleaner away...

Never say never

I used to say never.  I really try not to say it anymore.  Anything can happen-usually when you least expect it.  And when it is something wonderful, even better!

For example, I never thought I would make it to Hawaii.  Too expensive.  Until, you guessed it-I went.  Not once, but twice!!  Ain't life great?!

The first time was to the Big Island of Hawaii.  My husband was selected as part of an employee recognition for excellence-I always knew he was excellent!  They sent us to Hawaii for a week-all expenses paid!  WOOHOO!  It was amazing-we hiked the Waipio Valley, watched Humpback whales, and just soaked it all in!

The second time, my husband went on a business trip to the island of O'ahu.  I went there too!  His trip was for two weeks, so I paid for my airfare and followed him out for the last few days of his trip.  It too was amazing.  The air there is alive and the beauty of the islands can not be accurately described in words.

So just when you think "I will never(insert your thought)...." just remember anything can happen.  And the results can be life changing and beautiful.

Not sorry for you Charlie

I really did not intend to mention Charlie Sheen in my posts-EVER-but after seeing his rant, I felt, will to put it lightly-PO'd.

Okay, so let me get this straight.  You are special, so you say, a genius, again according to you, a friggin' rock star and are tired of people not knowing how special you are.  Hmmm.  And you don't make enough money.  Please tell me how making $2 million+ a week is not enough.  You should really check with your accountant.

Let me tell you who is special-the men and women who have been deployed to keep YOUR sorry ass safe.  Some more than once.  Many did not come home.  They had to leave their families for long periods of time.  The teachers who have received paycuts because there is no money in the budget to pay them.  The firefighters and policemen-some who have lost their pensions-to help you when you need it.  My friends who go to work everyday, who travel away from their families and will probably never see $3 million in their lifetimes.  And they don't complain.  My husband who works so hard for us, so that I can stay home to care for our home and children.  They are all special.

Somebody please slap this guy for me.  I take that back-your energy is better used elsewhere. 

Done, enough said.  I will never write about him again.  Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I will go on with my day, even though I don't make $2 million a week.  I'm pretty sure I can do it.

I want it done, yesterday!

I have heard that patience is a virtue.  I keep telling myself this is a virtue worth having.  It would cut down on stress, stress, and, well, stress.  Just when I think I have it, my impatient self seems to win the battle.  Like now.

I have made it my goal this year to clean out every drawer, closet, cubby, basket, cabinet, and shelf in our house.  This is no small task I know, but I have given myself a year to do it.  I even thought I would have a yard sale and make some money on the stuff that needed to go.  My patient self apparently did not get the memo-impatient self won that one.  I could not stand the pile of yard sale stuff in my dining room and off it went to Goodwill. 

This week, I tackled my son's room.  Not too bad.  I got his closet done, his dresser cleaned out, and his night stand done.  His desk, however, was another story.  Half of the drawers I opened and promptly closed-I just could not deal with the contents.  I didn't have the patience.  I know, it is a process.

Next is my youngest daughter's room.  Yikes-I may need a day or two to mentally prepare.  To pray for the patience it will take to clean it all out and get it livable.  With organizing, it always gets worse before it gets better.  Patience!

Meanwhile, my bedroom has become the dumping ground for clothes that don't fit, kid's old artwork and papers to go through, and I am getting a new dresser so I have to clean out my old one.  I think I am a glutton for punishment.  And I want it all to be done!! Ohm-patience Lizzy, patience.

It will all eventually get done-I gave myself a year.  But yesterday would have been better.

Magazines....

Hi.

My name is Elizabeth.

I have a magazine problem.

It is serious.

It all started about thirty years ago when I picked up my first People magazine.  I was hooked.  I think I have spent around $985,643.52 on magazines in my lifetime.  I just can't seem to get enough.

I mostly read decorating magazines now-and they are the pricey ones.  Here's my hand-you can smack it.

I still need my rag-mags.  You know, the gossipy ones, the ones everyone says they wouldn't be caught dead reading.  They are lying.  I know-I used to be one of those people.  I can freely and openly say that yes, I do read the rag-mags that talk about who's wearing what, who's going out with whom, who just dumped who, and who just had plastic surgery-in Hollywood, I would hazard a guess and say that that list would be too long to name.  I know, I'm mean.

But back to the decorating magazines.  I. LOVE. THEM.  more than my luggage.(Guess what movie that is from!)

I think I love them because they are pretty, they are informative, and they give me hope that one day, my house will look like that.  *Sigh*

I have entered a twelve step magazine program.  I will let you know how it goes.  But I have a feeling, it just won't work for me.

Thankful for quiet

There are some days that I am thankful to have an open schedule-a day where I can do what I please.  For a few hours anyway.  I need it so I will not lose my mind or unleash my wrath on those I love the most.  Please know that I say this in the most loving way possible! 

This has been a week of work, sick children, and a long must-do list.  By must-do list I mean "I must make my way through these two hampers of laundry before I give up and just buy new clothes" or "I must pay these bills so we can cook our food and I can wash those clothes" or "I must vacuum upstairs and down because I have not done it in-well, a while."  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

So when blessed Friday rolled around, I still did have a small must-do list, but I tacked on a few fun things to do when I had finished.  I went to the library-one of my favorite things to do.  Please support your local libraries-use them, donate books to them-we need them!  I then made my way to one of my favorite local shops and did my best to support the local economy.  After that trip, I made my way to a local antique shop and made my way up and down the aisles, checking out what great bargins they had that day.  I bought myself lunch from Jimmy Johns and enjoyed a movie.  In case you are wondering, it was "The Queen" with Helen Mirren.  Fantastic movie, one of my favorites.

I had a great day-just me, myself, and I.  I adore my sweet husband and my kiddos, but I do love my time to myself.  I need it, I must have it, or I can get terribly cranky.  Just ask them-they are all for me having my "me" time.  If it sounds selfish, like there are a lot of references to "me" in this entry-yes there are, but I think everyone should have time like this.


You have to have time for yourself, in whatever way you choose to spend it.  You can not be all things to all people if you leave nothing for you-including time for quiet.

Smell the roses

My daughter is sick today.  Thankfully, she is not flu or strep-throat sick, but a nasty cold and cough.  She has soccer team try-outs coming up, so I thought I had better find out for sure.  We did, and she is fine, but oh how fun the trip to the doctor's office was.  I had forgotten!

Since my kids are all over the age of five, gone are the days of sometimes weekly trips to the doctor's office.  I know we have all been there that have kids-the ear infections, the flu, strep-throat, and all of the other interesting things that children pick up that we have never even heard of.  Foot and mouth disease?  I thought that was something that cows got-how did my two year old get it?!  Fifths Disease-what the heck is that anyway?  When that went through the house, the doctor who checked my oldest said she wished she had had a camera, because it was one of the worst she had seen!  Eeks!!  But again, I have gotten a little off topic.

My trips to the doctor for the kids now are mostly just well check-ups, and believe me I am very thankful for the fact that they are healthy.  But today, I was reminded of the times when they were toddlers and we would sit for at least an hour in the petrie dish of the sick waiting area.  Yuck-you need a hose down from the haz-mat team when you leave.  As I sat with my quiet fourteen year-old, my heart went out to the parents who sat with fussy toddlers who seemed to want to climb all over me instead of their parents.  It was annoying at first I will admit, but I quickly remembered that it was not so long ago that that had been me.  I gave my quiet daughter a big kiss and a thank you for behaving-to which she looked at me like I had two heads.

Yes, time with teenagers is scary and difficult, but today, I was thankful for that quiet child sitting next to me-instead of having one climbing all over me, fussing because they wanted to run all over the office, or were hungry, tired, etc, etc, etc.  Even at the doctor's office, you have to take time to smell the roses.

Happy Love Day!

Howdy all and a Happy Valentine's Day to ya!  It has been a quiet day around the house-everyone at school or work, but love is in the air and soon there will be Valentine's passed around to my four Valentines.  I do love them all like crazy!!

Here they are:

I am the one with the green sweatshirt.  We were at the beach...ahh, I wish I was there now...Okay, back to reality.

All I needed today was four smiles from my four favorite people.  I got them in spades.  Happy Valentine's Day to one and all.  I hope you got a smile today-or two.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!

No, this post is not about Gomer Pyle, but feel free to channel him as you read the title!  No, today I received an early Valentine's Day surprise from my sweet husband.  Since the kiddos have school, he has to go to work, and Valentine's Day is not a federal holiday, it has turned into just another busy Monday.  Enter Valentine's Eve and a surprise lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, P.F.Changs!

It was lovely, and delicious, and the company was(of course) top knotch!  It was great to have some adult conversation without having someone ask for more milk or if I can cut up their meat or to ask children  please not to talk with their mouths full of food!  This is not a barn!!  But, I digress.

My hubby and I don't get the chance to go out just the two of us all that often and Valentine's Day is a special day for us-we were engaged on February 14th don't-cha-know!  So I was a wee bit disappointed when the stars did not line up on the national day of love.  Enter, my surprise lunch.  I love my hubby-he puts up with a lot(wink wink).  Most days I am angelic, but there are times when the halo slips just a little bit.  Okay, sometimes I can't seem to find it.  And he loves me anyway.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  Spend it with someone you love. <3

Up the stairs and back down again

A while back, I had a wild hair to pull the carpeting off of my stairs, since I had discovered that there were nice hard woods underneath.  Brilliant idea! It wasn't until after taking off the carpet and ripping out about a million carpet tacks that I realized how hard a job it would be to actually stain them myself.  I know-whoa.  It would be quite an undertaking.  And I have three kids, two dogs, and two cats.  How in the name of all that is holy would I be able to keep them off of those steps for days on end?(Cue the nail biting.)

So, my clever idea was put on the back burner until one week I found my husband out-of-town and my children at their grandparent's for a week, along with the larger of my two dogs.  So, with just myself,my cats, and my 20-pound pooch here, I decided that enough was enough.  I was finishing those steps.  And voila-

The finished product!! Ain't it a thing of beauty?!  And the best part is, it only took me six hours!  Well, two years and six hours if you count the time in-between.  Even better, it was only $68!  That's right folks!  Just carpet off the bolt from Lowe's and all of the paint and primer I already had handy.  Oh, and some heavy-duty staples, so add another $2.50.  If I can do it, so can you kids!

But today is such a gloriously beautiful day, I will be spending it outside-and so should you.  Inhale that fresh air and warmer weather in early February.  It does the mind good!

A Mighty smart Mind

I have a nine-year old daughter.  She is sweet, sassy, and well, way smarter than I am.  She is a complete and total carnivore-and I love her to the moon and back.  I make her scrambled eggs and sausage for breakefast.  Every morning.  Cereal?  No way.  Bagels and cream cheese?  Bleck.  She wants her protein-and the spicier the better.

She loves her eggs with Old Bay, garlic, onions, salt and pepper.  She calls it "Emma Stuff".  She wants to be a chef one day and own a restaurant.  She wants to name the restaurant, you guessed it, "Emma Stuff".  She also wants to live on a farm and own about a hundred horses.  She also suggested this morning that we invent a ham dispenser, so we would always have Smithfield ham in the fridge.  I love that girl.  She is brilliant.

Her school play is today.  It's called "Mighty Minds"  and all about standardized tests.  Interesting.  I never would have thought that would be a fun topic for a school play, but what do I know?  I can't wait to see it.  She has a line in it and I know she will do great.  She is the leader of the pack and I already got her off to a good start with her protein-laden breakfast.  Time to go see me some "Emma Stuff".

Happy Friday and go do something fun and smart to boost your "Mighty Mind".

Trying to be anything but sluggish

It's February.  It's cold.  Spring is thirty-eight days away.  I am trying not to be a slug.  I am trying not to cozy up on the couch every second and read.  My get-up and go self is yelling at my sit-down and veg self.  "Come on you!  Paint the living room!  Clean out the attic before it is a million and one degrees up there!  De-clutter everything!" 

Some times my veg-self is very compliant and does what it is told.  Other days, it is quite cranky and just tells get-up and go to shut-it!

Ugh-dilemmas.

Most of the time, a happy medium is reached.  Things that absolutely need to get done are done, along with an adequate dose of sluggishness.

I still feel guilty.  And I am not even catholic.

I was up at 6 a.m., fixed coffee, two breakfasts, packed three lunches, gave a lecture on study habits, sent two kiddos off to middle school, woke up a nine year old from a deep, warm slumber, kissed a husband as he went off to work and let out and fed two dogs.  All before 7:30 a.m.

I think I will go read.