When "HAHA" turns into "Ah-Ha"

A neighbor has been on hard times lately. Leaving his verbally abusive wife but then getting laid off from a job that made him come back to work almost immediately after a major heart attack, forced to live on the property with her, etc. I've tried to be here for him to talk to, borrow money, give an odd job here and there, whatever.

So, he calls me tonight to tell me something going good and asks to borrow some money. He comes over and we are talking on the front porch and he tells me how he thinks if he had a child around he feels it would calm things down for him. I laughed, told him it's not like a pet, which is reported to lower your blood pressure just by petting it. I told him the 3 kids wind me up, not calm me down.

Had to laugh, but at the same time I feel bad for him. He is missing out, and unfortunately he knows first hand, being estranged from an older son and losing a baby, he knows.

Sometimes I think things happen for a reason. I rarely have money on me, but because JJ's daycare wouldn't take the extra $ I give her for being late, I had the cash on me. I think I needed the lesson, to literally look in my front door at the boys, to appreciate what they bring to my life, and be thankful, for I am blessed.

What's Your Beef Wednesday

The only thing that really got my goat this week was watching a mom, who while holding her wheezing child smoked a cigarette.

Yes, I smoke, but not when the kids are outside with me or in the vehicle. I go outside and to a side of the house where no windows would be open. Smoking is my choice, albeit a bad one, but it's not theirs.

Treat Yourself Tuesday

I saw this somewhere and figured you can't lose doing something for yourself, no matter how small, to make yourself feel better. Face it, we think of the small things for our SOs and kids, sometimes you need to do the same for yourself.

Ice cream for lunch, a latte for breakfast, 30 minutes to watch a fav show, deep moisturizing your tootsies then going around in socks, mani or pedi, 10 minutes carved away to do your fav hobby, etc. The little things add up, even for ourselves.

So, I did little online shopping tonight. I admit I had already picked out what I wanted in the catalog, but I got this for John's graduation:
http://www.bodyc.com/products/paisley-print-kimono-sleeve-dress/?F_All=Y
Now, just to find some over the knee boots, but I'll shop in GA or FL for those. I also got this shirt so we can go out, our 1st adult-free weekend in 5 years:
http://www.bodyc.com/products/ruched-autumn-print-sublimation-top/?F_All=Y

Also while at the store and picking up milk and baby food I got a tub of berry sherbet and a trash magazine. I'll moisturize my hands and wear some gloves in a few after trimming my too long nails.

I admit I got a jump on things, last night after Meer fell asleep I did a paper scap page. Really relaxing before bed!

Meer's 11th Month

This is a quickpage, I take absolutely NO credit for it other than throwing Meer's photos in it from Last month. But I still had to share. I wish I had more time to do more original digital and paper pages. I plan on doing some today, fingers crossed for me!

A song to share!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLjwczYafVE

He's thinking ahead....

John's already planning on what we will do for our 10 year anniversary, in 2012. He says cruise, who am I to complain? Gonna let him go with this one, he can choose place and all.

Pleasant surprise.....

I've had a rather hectic day with doctor appointments and meetings for the kids. Not quite a day "off." To be expected, I'm a mom. But when I went to pick JJ up his daycare provider had fixed us dinner. For someone who feels like she's doing for everyone by herself, it is SO appreciated! I don't even know if I will be able to put into words in the thank you card to her!

Fall Is In The Air

Ok, the outfit can be a little girlie, but cute all the same.

My own Cookie Monsters

Ok, I love Cookie Monster and the boys always get a laugh when I do my best impression of him. I'm getting such joy out of seeing these "baby" clothes again. So what, I need a little weird joy considering John went back to GA way too quickly and I then got sick.

And Ginny, I will be posting another of these pics soon of 1 of Aaron's outfits, would be nice if you had a pic of Aaron in it, the burgundy cord overalls with Simba on the front?

24 hours!

Picking my man up tomorrow night! Can't sum it all up in a blog post, but you all can figure that out! YIPPEE!

To be thankful for....

Things have been building up and finally hit the brick wall, so, instead of dwelling on something that brings tears to my eyes, I will instead look on today's bright side.

- I'm thankful I got to see my God-baby on ultrasound, even if they couldn't tell gender (I swear its a girl!)
- I'm thankful a great friend came over with her 2 boys tonight just to talk.
- I'm thankful my boss trusts me enough to continually train new employees and cross-train current employees.
- I'm thankful for a noisy house.
- I'm thankful to have spent the 8+ hours with great friends (yes, my coworkers.)
- I'm thankful I can speak another language, even though sometimes people don't always like what I have to say.
- I'm thankful no weird stuff happened at work, though sometimes it is what gets me through the day.
- I'm thankful I can look up the blogs I follow here and still find laughter in life.
- I'm thankful for the internet so I can keep up with family and friends spread all over the world!

Absent

I've been rather absent lately.
Meer has had yet another head cold, and he's just miserable. Poor boy, I hope he doesn't have this his whole life! But, he is starting to take a few steps before falling on his behind, it's adorable.
JJ is impatiently waiting for his birthday because he tells me he will get to go to school then, not just class. I feel so bad for him, he really is so ready, stupid state laws. But that's ok, he will just be ahead when he starts kindergarten next year. He is asking for a swing set, which I've had to tell him will have to wait until we move, but John's looking for a cheap one that we can leave here.
Day is slacking some, we had a meeting last night and maybe I got through a little but. It seems a little gets through each time, he has changed so much, it just seems frustrating some when you see so much potential that might go to waste.
I'm managing to muddle through. Physically it has been easier than I thought doing it on my own, but emotionally both John and myself are not made to be apart for long stretches. I think this has been good for our relationship though, I've seen a side of John I've never seen before since he's had some time to reflect on our family. But, we may have to go through this once again, seems a guy who runs NSA K9 wants him to transfer over to their department, which would mean training in TX or AL. I'd be quite happy with TX, I could go see my brother at the same time! Next month I will be leaving the kids, 1st time ever away from JJ, and flying down to GA for John's graduation, by myself, so I can ride back with him. We need the time together, and I need the time to myself while he's in class. Day's grades have been fluctuating so there was no way I was going to take him out of school, and I'm not going to take the other kids and not him, so this alternative works for us. And I don't have to feel guilty for going to FL and not visiting my dad.
I haven't had time to do any of my favorite hobbies. No jewelry, no scrapping, nothing. I really need the time to myself. What a change for me, to go from being raised an only child, use to time to myself, now having none.