gone

but not forgotten - wow, life is BUSY!!!

finally it is FRIDAY!!

I am so happy it is Friday I could do a little dance ... maybe not, but TGIF!!!!  I am working in the office at the kid's school today and am really looking forward to getting out of the house for the day. The days seem to be dragging lately, but I think that is because of a major procrastination jag I am on.  There is a ton of paperwork that needs to be done, and day after day, I find ways to avoid it.  AVOIDANCE just sucks ... and nothing (I really mean nothing) gets done while more work just keeps piling up.

I am not complaining - this is not an uncommon occurrence in my life, just one that usually takes me a week to overcome about 3 times a year.  Once I beat it this time, the procrastination bug won't get me again for another quarter .. .but it is a bear when I am in the middle of it.  Age has helped me realize that although unproductive, I am working my way through whatever issues need to be dealt with and I will be fine on the other side.  I don't say, I WON'T LET THIS HAPPEN ANYMORE ... because I know that it is ridiculous of me to think I won't fall in this valley again ... it used to take me months to get out, not weeks.  So, accepting and working my way through is the best way to go.

This has turned into a depressing post, but I am not in a sad place ... the kids are still loving school, beachboy has the day off today (I accepted this day of work before I knew his schedule, but he will be super-happy spending the day with a great friend) and the other two are just happy I will be in school with them  The early start time isn't making anyone happy, but it will be a great day!!

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time keeps on slippin'

WOW, it has been over a MONTH since I last posted! Guess there is no chance of getting the "regular poster" award ...

The new school year has started out beautifully - I couldn't ask for a better group of teachers for the kids and all three seem very happy with their schools and their classes. Beachboy started middle school this year and is going to a new school that not many of his classmates are going to. Fortunately, there was a good sized group of boys last year who went to this school so he has plenty of friends and allies who are showing him the ropes. As nervous as he was about the workload, he seems to be handling it right now - we will see how things go when swimming starts.

Beachgirl is the "big girl on campus" this year as she prepares for Middle School next year. Even though we have a fairly small school, she didn't really have any friends in her homeroom this year. I don't believe in asking for (and the principal doesn't believe in agreeing to) her moving out of her homeroom ... but what a joy watching her make new friends and deal with a "Mr. teacher" for the first time. She is having a great time and taking homework very, very seriously (help me!!)

Beachkid is about a head and a half taller than anyone else in his class, but is having a great time ... he is definitely "in his element" and his teacher is just wonderful in dealing with his little personality quirks! She has already given him a little folder of extra work so that he doesn't have much down time - down time is BAD for the little guy!!

We are still waiting, praying, begging, etc. for my job opportunity to come through next month. I can't talk much about it, but if this comes through - things will be so much better financially for us, mentally I might return to sanity (I love being a Mom, but I have been home for WAAAAAYYYY too long), our family life will go through some serious changes - but I will make sure those changes are for the "good"!! Say a prayer for us!!!

dental drama ...

I was a very bad mama and due to some financial "issues" I did not take the kids to the dentist last year.  The guilt was awful and I made a vow that even though our financial situation is not any better, I could not go another 6 months without getting the kids checked out by the dentist.  For the last month one-by-one they all had dentist appointments, and thank goodness, all was GREAT except for one cavity in beachgirl's 6 year old molar.

AND HERE IS THE ISSUE ... when beachgirl was 5 1/2 I spent $200 to have sealants put on those blessed molars.  When she was almost 6 I was told that one of the sealants had come off and it was going to cost another $65 to have another put back on that one tooth.  At the age of 7 1/2 the dentist told me that she had her first cavity (not a feat I was proud of...) and it was UNDER that sealant!  Well, at this appointment they let me know she had ANOTHER CAVITY UNDER THAT SEALANT!!!  I was not happy, but what is one to do?

Yesterday, I took beachkid (now 6) for his checkup and beachgirl for her filling.  $450 later, the hygienist AND the dentist came out to "let me know" that beachkid's 6 year molars are all in and they had time right then to go ahead and put on the sealants for a mere $250 so that I didn't need to schedule and come back another time.  Wasn't that nice of them...to be so considerate of my time?

I laughed and left ... I know eventually I will have to do the sealants, but who are we kidding?  NOT TODAY, the dentist has gotten the only $1000 from me he is getting this month!

I will learn ...

to not let my husband take my camera (yes, the one he bought for me) with the really special lens without making him take a blood oath that he will return it to me WITH THE CARD IN THE CAMERA!!

Here's the story ... I woke the kids up early this morning so that beachboy could go skim boarding before the beach gets crowded. Aside from the insidious flies, it was a beautiful morning ... smooth ocean, beautiful sun reflecting off the beautiful smooth ocean ... the sand was gleaming as the water broke gently along the shore break. Beachboy was skimming skillfully (well as skillfully as he can - he is still learning) and then he took a break to try to teach beachkid just how to get on his board. Precious heads working out the details on the gleaming sand in front of the beautiful smooth ocean reflecting the beautiful sun ... can't you see it?!?

I hope YOU CAN because I tried to get a picture of this wonderful scene ... MY CAMERA DIDN"T HAVE A MEMORY CARD ... it is still in my husband's laptop.

you just never know ...

So many times "life" gets in the way of making sure we actually live our daily existence to the fullest. Finances, overscheduling, weight issues, keeping up with everything that "should" get done ... EVERYTHING seems to demand so much of our time and energy. I stumbled upon a blog the other day that reminded that all of the piddly little things that I do everyday pale in comparison to the "important" things in life ... and that is making sure that the people you love know that you love them.

This story comes from www.priorfatgirl.com .... a blog that I came across through a blog of a blog of a blog that I had been reading while I continue searching for inspiration as I continue to lose 40 pounds since my stroke last June. I loved reading Jen's blog - loved her style, her commitment ... the fact that she had DONE IT ... and the support that she obviously had from so many around her. Two days after I read many many of her posts I logged in to find out that her mother had been suddenly killed in an accident while she was out walking her grandson in his stroller. My heart stopped beating for a minute and my breath wouldn't come.


I know that seems dramatic, but 27 years ago my mother lost her mom (my Mom-mom) in a sudden car accident when SHE was going to pick up her grandson for a weekend at the farm. I finally worked up the nerve this morning to comment on Jen's website just to reach out and let her know that, I don't know, maybe I just wanted to let her know that although the pain is unbearable now, and she doesn't want it to ever be less unbearable, she will survive. There are STILL days, even 27 years later that the pain is so acute for my mother that you would think the accident happened yesterday ... but often during those periods we can all look back and see how Mom-mom was helping us get through something difficult, painful or necessary.

SO, the length of our time here on earth is not promised. Live, love and give ... get the chores done in-between these three most important jobs. My heart, prayers and tears have gone to Jen for the last week and will continue to do so - her pain and sorrow will ebb and flow, but she will always have an angel on her shoulder.

bear with me ...

... while I figure out this new platform!! I have had a self-hosted blog for the last couple of years and have decided to go the hosted (nee FREE) route for the time being. I am getting used to the bells and whistles as well as the limitations and changes ... and while it is not going very well at the moment ... no doubt I WILL figure this out!

My blog is very simply about our little family and the trouble we can get into. I grew up in a small beach resort town and two years after our eldest was born, we returned to that same small beach town to raise our little (but expanding) family. We have been "home" now for 9 years, life has had its ups and downs, but all in all we are a happy little group in a great little area!

Enjoy.