How'd He know ???

If you have read my blog at all, you have likely figured out that I believe in "signs".... In the hidden meaning in things....

On Monday afternoon I attended a Marketing Workshop held by a local journal broadcasting group- - - and entered my business card for the door prize drawing. I secretly smiled to myself as i did- only because I have been on a tear of wins lately- typically if i have entered, I have won. A picture frame, set of stone coasters, a book, a free night at a local hotel...... It has been an impressive streak :)

Not knowing what the prize been drawn for, I was not surprised when i walked away with it- only slightly unsure how soon it would get used- and what the hidden meaning of me winning it was.

And so, as I leave the event(bottle of wine) in my hands- laughing that I was walking away with the raffled prize- some random stranger says as he passes by " Dont drink it all at once- dont want to fall down the stairs....."

Ok - i wasnt sure why he felt the need to just randomly say that BUT>>>>>>

Several hours later(HAVING NEVER opened or drinking the wine)

I managed to fall down our stairs at home :(

I have a sprained wrist and a concussion to show for my fall- - -

HMMMMM- - - I wonder- How'd he know I was going to fall......

Reflection

I have a tendency to over analyze, pick apart, and obsess about just about any situation- It is one of the things that I dislike MOST about myself..... I am always looking for the meaning in things, and the HIDDEN meaning. I know this is a bad habit to get into and that it really can be destructive to relationships- and yet I do it ..... ALOT.

This has been a LONG week. I have been picking apart and obsessing about things for days.

And then tonight, about the time I stopped concentrating on all of the things that could be "wrong" and lurking just below the surface- I was surprised with the most wonderful, simple, and peaceful evening I can remember in a long time... For once my mind is racing about absolutely nothing. I am relaxed, I am at peace, I am happy :)

You might wonder what specatcular, amazing, things put me in this blissful place....

A hand in hand walk after work with my man, a very sweet(laid back) conversation, A slushee from Sonic, 2 slices of thincrust pepperoni pizza, and a nice hot bath......

It really is the simple things in life that recharge me, make me feel connected and reaffirm what I always know but forget sometimes to remember- Life is good and I am a lucky girl :)

We are dropping like flies :(

5 out of the 7 people in my house are down with, injured, or afflicted to the point of being in bed and needing medical attention for SOMETHING......

I am among the healthy(so far)

I guess it is a good thing- Someone has to be nurse right??

Ack- We need to start triaging in the living room :(

Sure hope this doesnt last for long

What must the neighbors think???

It occurred to me this morning the possible reason why we havent met any of our new neighbors.......

Let's take this weekend for example:

Saturday, in the middle of the snow and the ice and the wind- 3/5 of our children in various stages of dress were scavaging the neighborhood in search of our escaped 1 year old Jack Russell Terrier(Darwin)

We werent quiet about it....

Yesterday, while Jeremy attempted to break into the locked car in our driveway using a coat hanger, the dog was outside barking herhead off and the kids were outside"helping" him, a realtor showed the house that is for sale across the street....... They had a birds eye view of the chaos.... Betcha they wont ask for a second showing!

Our own version of March Madness

So here we are 2/3 of the way through March(ugh)



Where is all the time going(and more importantly WHY do I all of a sudden sound like my parents?)



Ok, time to take a quick check----



Basketball is over at our house(Except for Ethan who is about to start another league)



Softball season is already underway(practices) games begin in a little more than a week.....



Kenzie graduates from highschool in 2 months and 2 days, and I havent even started to plan :(



Her 18th birthdday is in 15 days (how the hell did we get here so fast?)



The washing machine is still broken :(



Although the repair man is coming today- I must admit there was something nice to doing it at



the laundry mat all at once- However probably not a realistic to do on a weekly basis....



Easter is sneaking up on us- How old is too old to not get a visit from the Easter Bunny anyway??

Please Let Me know you were here :)

I have heard back from a few friends that they were reading- but unable to leave comments :(

What a HUGE bummer... I am so sorry. I think the problem is fixed- so if you are out there and reading and havent been able to comment in the past, PLEASE try again!!

Thanks :)

Anybody have a wire hanger?

ARGH
ARGH ARGH
ARGH ARGH ARGH

I have said it before, and I know that I will say it again.... But around here, it truly is ALWAYS something. . . . Today, Jeremy and I managed to escape the house and the kids and go out on a "date".... It was great :)

We enjoyed our time, had lunch and went to IMAX, talked a little about the necessary stuff when running a house and raising kids- primarily the always challenging budget. . . . We are about to sail right into birthday season 5 of the 6 kids plus Jeremy and I have our birthdays in the next 3 1/2 months. Plus Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, One highschool graduation and subsequent get ready for college- - - A second teenage driver, summer clothes, plus all of the stuff we still want to get for the new house....

Somehow- we managed to discuss this, keep in in perspective and come home feeling refreshed and with a renewed energy and sense of humor for what is coming our way- - -

ITS A DAMN GOOD THING TOO!!

I swear to you we were home for MAYBE ten minutes and Kenzie and Sawyer come rushing into our room, hands over their mouths looking quite guilty- and proceeded to sheepishly explain that they ACCIDENTALLY locked the only set of keys we have in "their" car. . .

I look at Jeremy and I can see the dollar signs flashing in his eyes-
To his credit though, he remained incredibly calm and quite insistent that he would take care of this. . . and about 2 hours later- Wire coat hanger in hand , he did just that.

What a good man!!
I love my baby- love my kids- and even though it can be trying I have to admit- I love the insanity that comes with raising our family :)

All Grown UP (well almost)

Just when I think that maybe my kids are growing up too fast, their childhoods fading away in front of me, I am reminded in some undeniable way that they are indeed still CHILDREN :)

Once again, while sitting at work, my cell phone rings and Sawyer's name flashes on my screen. I pause for a moment and wonder what possible dilemma could be prompting her call this time(She only calls incase of serious emergency***) For proof of this, see my previous post about her forgetting her sports bra for a basketball game......

Shaking my head(in advance) and holding my breath- I answer tenatively....."Yes?"

"Mommy"

Ok there's my first clue

"Mommy, we are at the field(softball) waiting for practice to begin and I really need to use the bathroom- Kenzie says she wont drive me to a bathroom and i have to use the port-a-potty..."

"Mommy- PLLLLLEASSSSEEE make her drive me to a REAL bathroom.... There is other people's poop in there......"

I have to laugh out loud- between the use of "Mommy" and the pathetic whine in her voice I am indeed reminded that no matter how much she protests otherwise- she is not YET all grown-up.

The Kiddos :)

Language Barrier???

The costs associated with running a household the size of ours can make your heart race and almost always it enduces waves of nauseau.....


Jeremy and I have had the "stomach flu" since late last week and over this weekend...It takes a little introspection to determine if what we are feeling is truly stomach flu or just the physical symptoms of our "crazy" home life...... NOPE this time, we are REALLY sick.

Luckily for us it seems that when one of us is really feeling bad, the other is at a decent place and can "man the ship".......

Sunday afternoon, the weather was very inviting and after days of being cooped up sick in bed, we wandered down together, hand in sick hand, in our pajama pants and hooded sweatshirts, and sat outside on our back deck. The trip outside was two-fold 1) to enjoy some fresh air
2) to make sure we werent hallucenating.....

You see, from our upstairs bedroom window we thought we saw what looked like a hired yard crew cleaning up our yard. ....Confused, we went down to investigate.

Upon closer inspection we find that it is indeed a yard crew- and as we finally agreed, a hired one at that.... It just so happens that they also live here, do their homework here, complain about life not being fair here and constantly try to renegotiate everything from bedtime to curfew to what should be constituted as an accepatable grade ......

The Kids Kenzie(18) we renamed her Consuela
Sawyer(17) Guadalupe
Bennett(12) Maria
Ian (12) Carlos
Ethan (11) Juan

Were in various stages of yanking, pulling, twisting, raking and bagging leaves..... To say they were happy about it would be a lie- to say that they were organized a bigger lie--- but they were actually having fun..... Darwin and Oliver were out there chasing eachother around, and at one point Oliver spread himself out on the diving board.

Towards the end- the kids(i mean workers) started to complain and ask if they got paid for this...... We calmly reminded them what we pay in cell phones and allowances and realized that we could have professional help inside and out........ Consuela, Guadalupe, Maria, Carlos and Juan got really quitet very very quickly...... No habla english????

All that Matters

Senior Night is a rite of passage for student atheletes to be honored for their accomplishments on and off the court. MacKenzie has watched years of Senior nights waiting her her own to arrive one day..... Throughout those years of waiting, our life took many twists and turns. Her biological father becaame very removed from her life..... Her step-father who she truly loved and worshiped as her dad, let her down in a very real way. A way that ultimately led to their being no communication between them.

The days grew shorter and the time had finally arrived and Senior Night was here. I had always assumed that it would just be Kenzie and I walking the stage for Senior night, arm in arm. Kenzie had other ideas, The night before the event she approached Jeremy and said..." i know it has been fast but we have really bonded...all of us.... you and the boys are my family......." She put her arm around his shoulder and said i know you aren't my dad, but you are MY Jeremy and I would really like it if you would accompany my mom and I...........

And so the evening arrived, just after the end of the last girls home game, and the parents lined up under the bleachers and waited to meet with their student......

It was very interesting.... Some students had both of their parents(obviously still married)
other students had both of their parents(obviously divorced)
some students had asked a teacher or an administrator to walk with them so they wouldnt be alone.... MacKenzie had Jeremy and I.....

For me, these moments right now are like the culmination of 18 years of uncertainty and worry and guilt.... I had MacKenzie when I was 17 and I left school shortly there after. And to return 18 years later with a Varsity Athelete in 2 sports, a peer mentor, a Honor Roll Student, I couldnt be any more proud.
When Kenzie found me in line before we walked the stage, she was already crying and as I wrapped my arms around her i joined in her tears...... When it was our turn to walk we stop and look at Jeremy and he too is crying. Told her that he is honored to be escorting us out.....


and so we walked, and it wasnt Kenzie and her mom and dad, or kenzie and her mom and step dad, but according to Kenzie- it was her Mom and her Jeremy- the ones that give her a family----and she and I agree- that is ALL that matters :)

Getting her wings

A few Saturday evenings ago, We(all of us), Jeremy and I, Kenzie, Bennett, Ian. Ethan, Ya-ya and Opah got dressed up and attended a formal ROTC dinner with our guest of honor- SAWYER :)
Sawyer is truly a beautiful girl and I have always been very proud of her numerous accomplishments with school and sports... she is an amazing kid. But there was definitely something special about this evening. Seeing Sawyer, my beautiful sixteen year old daughter, usually a bit of a rebel, dressed in her ROTC dress uniform- I was taken back.

She looked older somehow, wiser, more mature. She very much looked the part. Sawyer is only a junior in highschool, but she has some pretty serious intentions of following this into the next phase of her life. Either by trying to gain admittance to the AirForce Accademy or enlisting.

I must admit, the idea of this becoming a reality absolutely terriffies me and at the same time I would be ONE AMAZINGLY PROUD MOM!!!!!