Wow. Just wow.

Where has the time gone? Well, I can tell you that we are officially moved into our house. I can't tell you that every box has been unpacked. Because that would be a lie. I also can't tell you that some of the windows don't still have paper coverings. We haven't quite gotten around to hanging the window coverings yet.

But, we're here and it's home and we're loving it.

I'm on day 5 of spring break and I'm willing time to slow down. So far, it's not working. So much unpacking to do, so little time.

I shall return. This time it won't take me two months to come back.

I'm still here. Time just seems to get away from me lately.

We're ready for the house to be finished. I think all of us are ready. It's been fun, but now it's time for some normalcy. I can't believe it's been six months already, though. The time has really flown.

I'm trying to make it home earlier every day so I can spend some more time with my boys. Sigh. I REALLY miss my boys.

I'm here! We've had a rough month with illness, building the house, etc. I do have some pictures to post for my mom, though! I'll be back with those.

Owen turned five on November 13 and he wanted to celebrate his birthday at our favorite Japanese restaurant. For the first time, it was just our family only at his little birthday party. I asked him where he wanted to have his party and the Japanese restaurant was his answer. He doesn't realize how much money he saved his mom and dad ;)

All of our decorations and trees are packed in boxes, so we purchased a little 6 foot tree and decorated it a few weekends ago. I let the kids do all the decorating and I've tried not to move ornaments every time I walk by the tree. It's a struggle for me wanting everything just perfect. I'm working on it.

My kindergarteners are certainly aware that we only have two more weeks of school. That, coupled with the full moon recently makes them a little more chatty than normal. We've been making holiday decorations and I have more planned for the next two weeks. Only ten more school days left, but who's counting?

I'm still alive. Setting up a kindergarten class is a little exhausting! One night I was at the school until 11:30 PM. We have an excellent principal who allows us to stay and work in our rooms. I've been so blessed throughout my career with fantastic principals. Each one remembered what it was like to be in the classroom and that is refreshing.

I'm going with my mom and sister to a scrapbook class today. We'll be making an acrylic recipe book. I'd promise pictures, but I'd probably not make good on that promise any time soon. ;)

Life at the beach is good. It's so surreal leaving the beach to go to work. Waking up to the ocean at your back door can put anyone in a great mood. The boys love building sand castles, playing in the water, and fishing. I just wish we were able to enjoy it more, but we're hardly ever there.

We still haven't packed all of our stuff from our house. The renters want to move in on October 1st, so we have a little over a month to get ALL of our stuff out. I think we're going to need all that time.

We went today to look at a "condo" on the beach to rent while we are building. What is the difference between a condo and an apartment? Nothing really. Does the word condo just sound ritzier than apartment?

All kidding aside, it does seem like the perfect place for us. Plus, the boys will love being on the beach! We also like the fact that we don't have to bring a lot of stuff since it's furnished. We can pack everything at the house a little slower over the next few weeks.

Right now, my biggest worry is getting my classroom ready for my students. The first day for the students is the 24th of August, so I have a little while.

How do I feel? Nervous.

Things are changing around here...

We're moving back home to Pensacola. It will be so nice to be closer to everyone we love. I've decided to return to teaching and I start next Wednesday! I'm thrilled that I'll be back teaching, and I'm ecstatic that the boys will be staying with their grandparents who love them. That makes going back to work just a little easier. A little.

I'm tired and my head is spinning. I'm not sure how we are going to get everything completed that needs to be within the next few weeks.

What I'm loving right now
Other than my family, of course. We're talking about inanimate objects here.

1) Gingher Knife Edge Craft Scissors--I will never buy another type of scissor again. In fact, I'm asking for the pinking shears and embroidery scissors for my birthday. I can't say enough great things about these little scissors.




2) Turbo Kick classes at my local gym. A fun and strenuous work out! We're currently on Round 36, but I love the fact that we can go back to the earlier routines when the "new" one gets boring. I feel like a slug if I don't attend at least twice a week.




3) 48 Hours, Hard Evidence- I love this show! It's not a terribly great idea to watch right before I go to bed at night, though. It can really make for some strange dreams. Inevitably, the DVR cuts off the last few seconds when Maureen Maher is explaining any important updates to the cases since filming, though.

4) E85 Flex Fuel-About seventy cents cheaper per gallon that regular gasoline. The only problem? There's only one gas station in our city that carries it.

It's been a while. Hello internet.

Since I know my mother is going to be checking this blog, I need to be better about updating! I know she's going to check because I set up a desktop shortcut on her computer. So, Hi, Mom! Don't forget to check your e-mail.

I've been sewing like a crazy woman for the last week. I have some projects due for some swaps in the next couple of days. Like always, I wait until the absolute last minute. But, I do have a very good excuse this time. Our family has suffered a great loss and it just doesn't seem the same at family gatherings, either.

I'll be back with a happier post soon.

I'm tired
Tommy took Owen to the race with him this weekend, so I've just had Jack-Jack. He's really not a lot of trouble at all, I'm just tired for some reason.

I have pictures to post from Project 365. I haven't forgotten. I can't believe I've remembered to take a picture a day for almost three months now. I'm 1/4 of the way done! Wow!

Registration for the mini workshops at inspired began last week and I'm so excited! I signed up for probably way too many, but I'm going to fit in as much creative time as I can! I'm not even quite sure I left myself any time to eat, either. But, nevermind that, I'll be making mini albums, jewelry, quilting, etc. all weekend long and I CAN NOT WAIT!

For now, I'm going by myself and Tommy will be staying home with the kids, but that's subject to change if they decide to come with me. We'll see. I'll miss them for four whole days. It's the weekend of Mother's Day...so Mom, I love you, but I'll be in North Carolina! My room is booked and I wish it was tomorrow.

Project 365 (Day 38)

Actually took the time today to get IN FRONT of the camera with the boys. Not the best picture, no make-up, crazy hair, and headed to the gym. But I needed this picture with these two. Especially today.


And another picture with the most willing participant.


Project 365 for yesterday (Day 37) is a scan of my passing test scores for the first part of the teacher certification test. The test that I took on the day that I left the calculator IN THE CAR. I have to admit to worrying about the results of that test for the last month, just because I had to work all the math out in a hurry to get finished. Thank goodness I passed. I could have gotten a much better score, but I'm trying not to let that bother me and thanking God for small favors.

I can't believe I have actually kept up with taking a picture a day for 25 days, so far. The album is coming together and the process is fairly simple. Putting the pictures on my blog really helps when I have the hard copies back and the journaling is already there. I just have to copy it.

Project 365 (Day 25)

I am addicted to magazines and the mail carrier can attest to this fact. The magazines pictured are just the ones I currently subscribe to, not the ones I purchase at the store. My all time favorite is Paper Crafts. My new favorites are the Scrapbook Trends magazines. I always have to have some gossip magazines in the rotation for good measure, as well.


Not pictured: Martha Stewart Living, Craft, and the boys' magazines (Highlights Hidden Pictures, Animal Baby, and Your Big Backyard).

In the new year. Some things I'll be working on...


I want to be so much greater than I am. I struggle with this daily. Fear of failure is huge on my list of inadequacies and probably keeps me from actually following through on 90% of the ideas that run through my head.

I worry too much. About everything. Especially my children.

I'm a control freak. If parts are missing from a toy/puzzle/etc. I can not rest until the part is found. Messes give me the shakes. I need to let go and live in the moment a little more...okay a lot more.



On a lighter note...
Project 365 (Day 6)


Owen had a surprise for me and brought me out of bed at around midnight. His daddy was supposed to be watching him in the living room, but I found him sound asleep in the chair. My surprise? Owen had decorated the fireplace with his colored Mickey Mouse pictures he had attached with stickers. He asked me if I was going to leave them up. Definitely. I just can't say for how long. ;)

Less than 2 weeks until Christmas

I lost a few days because we were all sick with some cough/cold/fever/flu mess. Owen and I seemed to get the worst of it, or maybe Tommy & Jack just bounce back faster than us. We're wimpy.

Somewhere in those lost days, my sister had another birthday. She's still nine years older than me, though. So Happy Belated Birthday, sister.

I also tried to catch up on missed workouts at the gym. Especially since I'm participating in the aerobics challenge this month. The things I'll do for a long sleeve t-shirt!

Tonight, the boys are going to Parents' Night Out at the church. They'll have fun visiting with Santa, climbing the rock wall, and watching a movie. I'm not sure what we are going to do in those four hours. I'd love to go see Twilight, but I'm not sure if we have time for movie and dinner. The latter being the most important.

I've been on a reading kick lately! I love to read, I mean really LOVE to read. I attribute it to the fact that my sister read a lot when I was growing up. She would actually go to the library and bring books home for me. I would spend my allowance on books at Waldenbooks instead of lip gloss or other things girls my age would purchase with allowance money.

Of course, my mother and father read, as well. My father always had the newspaper and two sets of encyclopedias at the ready. I was so happy that before he passed away, he was able to experience the Internet, but it kind of made me sad in a way that his beloved encyclopedias were no longer necessary or useful.

My sister brought my first Christopher Pike book from the library many years ago. For as long as I can remember, I have loved horror movies and books. As I grew out of the Christopher Pike "young adult" series, I moved on to Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul.

Bringing us to the present and my new obsession with reading all books written by Richard Laymon. It happened quite by accident when I picked up one of his books (The Beast House) at our local library. When I arrived home I realized that it was part of a trilogy. Always playing by the rules, I had to track down the other two books so I could read the series in order.

Laymon passed away in 2001 so the series will never be completely finished. Are any ever, though?

Laymon's books are definitely not books to read if you want to come away with a nice, glowy feeling after reading a book. They often take you to a dark place and remind you of the horrors of the world in which we live and just what people are capable of doing. You know, things you try not to think about. But, for a horror writer, I would rank him right up there with King, Saul, and Koontz.

Change
I don't do well with change. I'm a creature of habit and crave consistency and normalcy. I'm sure there is some deep seeded reason why I am this way, but that's a post for another day...or not.

Change is inevitable and just a part of life, though. So, I'm just going to have to put on my big girl pants and get on with it.

It looks like Tommy is going to start traveling for work. Jack is going to have a VERY hard time with this. I swear the first thing he asks me when he wakes up in the morning is where his daddy is, "Daddy, home?" He asks several times throughout the day, as well.

Both boys have really been spoiled with him being able to take them to work with him on occassion. I loved the fact that he could come home when needed since his schedule was so flexible. Now, it doesn't look like that is going to continue.

But, this new job could very well be a good thing. I'm going to try to learn to embrace change. I'll let you know how that's working for me, stay tuned. ;)

A few notes!

I finally joined the gym last week and we've gone pretty much every day. Owen enjoys the daycare there and Jack had a hard time adjusting. Today, he only cried a few minutes after I dropped them off. Progress! I decided I needed some variation from my normal workout routine at home...which usually includes jumping on my Nordic Trac (LOVE that thing) for 45 minutes while I watch television or read a book. I've had my NT about 14 years and it's staying with me until it croaks.

Tomorrow is my birthday. 34. My mother wrote me an e-mail today letting me know that today is my last day to be 33 so enjoy it. Thanks, Mom! ;)

Our house is officially up for sale. I really don't want to go through the process of moving again. We're not in any great hurry to sell, but it would be nice to live out of a neighborhood again. Now that the boys are getting older, Tommy thinks it is so important for them to have acreage to roam around on. Like I would let them go roaming all over without me or something?

That's about it! Nothing too exciting happening around here. I did purchase the materials to create a Halloween Countdown Calendar and I'm looking forward to starting that.

A - Age: 33 (for 22 more days)
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: cleaning toilets
D - Dessert you love: Mexican Wedding Cookies
E - Essential start your day item: Caffeine Free Coke
F - Favorite actor(s): Matthew Lillard, Jennifer Garner, John Malkovich
G - Gold or Silver: Silver
H- Height: 5'2"
I - Instruments you play: absolutely none
J- Job title: SAHM, former elementary teacher
K - Kid(s): 2 fantastic boys (one almost 4, one just turned two)
L - Living arrangements: just the four of us
M - Mom's name: Mom...duh?
N - Nicknames: Chris (but only by my mother, sister, nieces, and sister-in-law)
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: none
P- Phobia or fear: something happening to one of my children
Q. Favorite quote: "There's never been a problem worry solved" Wish I could put that into practice!
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 sister (nine years my senior)
T- Time of day you get up- the later the better...sometimes around 9 or 10 AM!
U - Unique habit: I tend to talk to myself when I'm in a rush or stressed out
V - Vegetable you hate: English Peas
W - Worst habit: buying too many books/magazines
X - X-rays you've had: dental, nose, shoulder, neck
Y - Yummy food you make: Chicken Marsala, Red Velvet Cake
Z- Zodiac Sign- Virgo

We're Back!


Okay, well we've been back for what? 10 days now! And I was doing so well blogging. I'm going to back date this post for my own sanity.

We had a great time on vacation! Both boys were able to get their hair cut at the Main Street Barber Shop in Disney World. Owen hasn't had a haircut since our last Disney trip when he was 11 months old and had his first haircut at Disney.

Of course, my camera battery died and I left the spare battery and the charger at home. My mother-in-law took hundreds of pictures and the Disney photographers were able to catch all the great shots, as well. So, I was safe. The picture above isn't the best one, but it's one I do have on my memory card.

We tried not to rush around and just enjoy the time we had. Next time, I'd like to stay 7 nights. Maybe 5 days at the parks and the other time just around the resort and shopping in Downtown Disney.

Just when I was doing so well with remembering to blog, it's time to leave on our Disney World vacation!

I've been running around crazy these past couple of days trying to get all the Christmas decorations out and up so we can come back to a decorated house. I had a little help with the tree.

You can barely see the little stinker in the corner.  He brought the stroller over so his partner in crime could reach higher.

 

It's kind of hard to get mad at them for just wanting to help.

We'll be back on the 7th! We're taking the motor home up . However, we'll be parking it once we arrive because we are staying at Coronado Springs. I've stayed at Port Orleans twice and never anywhere else, so I hope it compares. I'm going to miss taking the boat to Downtown Disney from Port Orleans, though. :(

As soon as we return, I have to get busy since I'm hosting my first cookie exchange on the 9th. Also, we're having the Bake-A-Thon on the 15th. This will be the fourth year!

Heather-I wrote you an e-mail, I hope you received it! :)

Two posts in two days? What has gotten in to me? I have been on a grand search for the last few weeks for the perfect advent tree or calendar for our house. I was looking for some way for the boys to count down the days until Christmas. I've scoured the Internet for boxes, wall charts, trees, etc. for days on end.

Sure, I could make one, but that might mean I'd have to get creative and we wouldn't want that.

Today, while shopping at the Bombay Company (which is a whole other story I won't go into here) I found the perfect metal advent tree. Bombay Company is closing their doors and the store personnel are taking it out on the customers, but I still purchased this beauty.

It's for the boys, of course. ;)