WILL SHE EVER SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT?

I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND THE TIMES THAT RILEY HAS SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT. BEFORE IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE SHE USUALLY ENDS UP IN OUR BED AND EVERETT ENDS UP ON THE DAY BED IN THE LIVING ROOM. THE CHILD NEVER SLEPT MUCH AS A BABY AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET HER ON A SCHEDULE NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED. AND SHE WAS A KID THAT DID NOT LIKE TO RIDE IN A CAR -EVER. IF WE DROVE 45 MIN. SHE CRIED 45 MIN. IF WE DROVE 15MIN. SHE CRIED 15MIN. SHE HAS ONLY BECOME SLIGHTLY MORE PATIENT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. WE WOULD GET 2MIN DOWN THE ROAD AND SHE WOULD ASK IF WE WERE ALMOST THERE. SHE WILL WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT ON JORDANS FLOOR WHEN JORDAN HAS FRIENDS OVER BUT SHE WAKES UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT CRYING. THEN THE NEXT MORNING SHE GETS UPSET WITH ME BECAUSE THATS NOT WHERE SHE IS WAKING UP. SHE SAYS SHE HAS SCARY DREAMS. I HAVE TRIED LAYING WITH HER, LETTING HER CRY IT OUT, AND JUST STANDING THERE COMFORTING HER. NOTHING WORKS. I TALKED WITH A FRIEND AND HE SAID THAT HIS YOUNGEST BOY DID NOT SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT UNTIL HE GOT IN KINDERGARTEN. JORDAN WAS TOTALLY THE OPPOSITE. SHE HAD EAR PROBLEMS FOR THE FIRST 9 MONTHS AND WE WERE TAKING DRIVES 2,3,4 OCLOCK IN THE MORNING. SHE WOULD PRETTY MUCH SLEEP THE REMAINDER IN HER CAR SEAT PLACED RIGHT BESIDE THE BED. AFTER SHE GOT THE TUBES IN SHE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT AND WOULD HAVE A NAP. WHEN SHE WAS ABOUT 1 1/2 SHE STOPPED TAKING A NAP ALTOGETHER BUT WOULD GO TO SLEEP ANYWHERE FROM 5-7 IN THE EVENING AND SLEEP THROUGH UNTIL ABOUT 7 AM. I GUESS RILEY JUST HAS HER OWN WAY OF DOING THINGS. SHE IS THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE CHILD. ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE. IM REALLY NOT COMPLAINING I JUST WISH THAT SHE WASNT SO RESTLESS BECAUSE I WANT HER TO HAVE A GOOD NIGHTS SLEEP. I DONT SLEEP GOOD MOST OF THE TIME AND I WONDER IF SHE GETS THAT FROM ME. OH WELL I GUESS I WILL KEEP TRYING.

THICK GRASS

I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT MOWING GRASS THIS PAST SATURDAY AND THE OLD MAN TALKED ME OUT OF IT AND SAID IT DID NOT LOOK THAT BAD. IT RAINED THAT NIGHT AND AGAIN SUNDAY NIGHT. IT WAS RAINING MONDAY MORNING THEN RAINED AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT. YESTERDAY EVENING I STARTED TO MOW BUT JUST RAN OUT OF TIME AND ONLY GOT A FEW ROUNDS. IT DRIZZLED ON AND OFF TODAY. WITH A LITTLE SUN IN BETWEEN RAINS THE GRASS WAS OUT OF HAND. I LIKE TO WAIT UNTIL IT IS ON THE DRY SIDE BUT IT COULD WAIT NO MORE. I GOT ALL THE HEAVY STUFF CUT AND IT BALLED UP AND KEPT CLOGGING THE MOWER. I SWEAR I COULD PROBABLY BALE IT FOR HAY.

JORDAN WAS SICK TODAY. SHE HAS HAD A SCRATCHY THROAT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS NOW. THIS MORNING SHE WOKE UP WITH IT SORE AND RUNNING A FEVER. I TOOK HER TO THE DR AND THEY TESTED HER BUT THE STREP TEST CAME BACK NEGATIVE. YAY! JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS TO RUN ITS COURSE AND WE JUST TREAT THE SYMPTOMS. SHE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO AUNT VICKIS . SHE WAS VERY RELIEVED THAT SHE WILL BE ABLE TO STILL GO. YOU SEE, AUNT VICKI LIVES IN THE CITY AND SPOILS THE KIDS TO PIECES. WELL RILEY JUST AWOKE AND DUTY CALLS.

NOT MUCH TO SAY TODAY

WELL JUST GOT HOME FROM WORK AND THERE IS NOTHING REALLY MUCH TO SAY. RILEY CHECKED OUT FINE AT THE EYE DR. AND DOES NOT HAVE TO GO AGAIN TIL NEXT YEAR. I REMEMBER WHEN JORDAN FIRST GOT HER GLASSES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND WE WALKED OUTSIDE ONCE SHE GOT THEM AND SHE LOOKED AROUND AND SAID "WOW". AFTER TRYING AND NOT MAKING IT TO THE POST OFFICE-I FINALLY GOT THERE TO SEND OFF THE HAIR FOR LOCKS OF LOVE TODAY. I STARTED AND FINISHED LESLIE'S BLANKET FOR CHRISTMAS. I THINK SO FAR I HAVE GOT 12 MADE AND 3 MORE TO GO. I THINK I HAVE EVERYONE ELSES STUFF MADE EXEPT FOR A COUPLE OF JORDANS FRIENDS. YOU SEE I HAVE MADE THINGS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE ITS CHEAPER AND THEY SEEM TO LIKE IT BETTER. I ALREADY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT WILL BE TO COME NEXT YEAR AS WELL. I WILL GO INTO DETAIL AT ANOTHER TIME. IT WAS BUSY TONIGHT AND I AM TIRED. SO FOR NOW I WILL SAY GOODNIGHT AND POST AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

EAT,EAT,AND EAT SOME MORE

WE WENT OVER TO MOM AND DADS ON SUNDAY TO CELEBRATE BRANDON AND VICKIS BIRTHDAY. MOM OF COURSE WENT ALL OUT WITH FRIED CHICKEN,MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY, BAKED CORN, HOMEMADE NOODLES, COLESLAW, DEVILED EGGS, GREEN BEANS, BAKED BEANS,ROLLS, APPLE SALAD, SOME SORT OF COOL WHIP DESSERT AND SUSETTE BROUGHT CAKE AND OF COURSE MOM HAD A VARIETY OF FOUR DIFFERENT ICE CREAMS. WE ALL ATE SO MUCH AT LUNCH THAT WE DID NOT EVEN EAT SUPPER LATER ON. IT WAS HEAVENLY AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. EVERETT AND BRANDON WENT SQUIRREL HUNTING AND FILLED THE FRIDGE. I WILL BE BAKING SOME FOR SUPPER TONIGHT AND NEXT SUNDAY ON EVERETTS BIRTHDAY WE WILL BE HAVING SQIRREL AND HOMEMADE DUMPLINGS. OF COURSE THE GIRLS WILL BE PICKING OUT CAKE MIX AND FROSTING AND MAKING DAD A CAKE AND WE ALWAYS HAVE ICE CREAM. SO I HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY WEEK. TODAY I CLEANED UNCLE BOBS AND THIS EVENING I HAVE TO TAKE JORDAN TO SOCCER PRACTICE AND GO TO THE STORE AND TO BOB EVANS TO GET MY CHECK. TUES RILEY HAS TO GO TO THE EYE DR. AND I HAVE TO WORK ON GETTING THE YARD MOWED AND TO WORK IN THE EVENING. WEDNESDAY FINISH YARD WORK, DO A HAIRCUT AND HIGHLIGHT FOR NANA, AND WORK AGAIN. THURSDAY PLAY CATCH-UP AROUND HERE-AND HOPEFULLY CLEAN THE LAUNDRY ROOM, WORK AGAIN. FRIDAY CLEAN MA-MA REEDS PLACE, GET JORDAN READY, SOCCER GAME THAT EVENING AND AFTER I WILL BE RIDING WITH SUSETTE TO TAKE HER AND SHANE TO MEET MY SISTER. THEY WILL BE STAYING WITH HER UNTIL SUNDAY. SATURDAY WORK AT THE SHOP. WHEW-WHAT A WEEK IT WILL BE-SO IN OTHER WORDS THE USUAL.

I JUST GOT FINISHED GOING OVER SOME PAPERS JORDAN BROUGHT HOME AND ONE OF THEM WAS A HAND AND SHE HAD TO WRITE ON EACH FINGER THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO HER AND WHY THEY WERE IMPORTANT.

1. MOM-BECAUSE SHE HELPS ME WITH THINGS AND MY HOMEWORK.
2. DAD-BECAUSE HE TEACHES ME HOW TO RIDE DIRT BIKES.
3. MA-MA-BECAUSE SHE MAKES ME FEEL BETTER WHEN TIMES ARE ROUGH.
4. PA-PA-BECAUSE HE TELLS ME ANYTHING I WANT TO KNOW.
5. AUNT VICKI-BECAUSE SHE TEACHES ME HOW TO BE FANCY.

NUMBER 5 REALLY CRACKED ME UP AND I THOUGHT IT WAS TO CUTE NOT TO SHARE. NOT ONLY THAT BUT I KNOW MY SIS AND HER FRIENDS WILL GET A HUGE KICK OUT OF IT.

SOCCER GAMES

THIS MORNING RILEY AND I GOT UP AND WENT TO THE SHOP. AT 9:30 EVERETT CALLS AND ASKS WHERE JORDANS SHIN GUARDS AND SHOES ARE. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FOR PICTURES AT 9:45. WELL THEY DID MAKE IT JUST A FEW MINUTES LATE AFTER FINALLY FINDING THEM. THE FIRST GAME WAS A TIE 1-1 WE HAD JUST OVER A HALF AND HOUR UNTIL THE SECOND GAME SO WE RAN JORDAN TO THE SHOE STORE AND GOT HER A NEW PAIR OF CLEATS. THEY WERE ADDIAS AND WERE OVER HALF OFF ON THE CLEARANCE. $15 YAY! MADE IT BACK FOR HERE TO PLAY THE SECOND GAME, TIED AGAIN 2-2. SHE HAD QUITE THE FAN CLUB THERE TO CHEER HER ON. MOM, DAD, AUNT VICKI, BRANDON,LESLIE, EVERETT,RILEY AND MYSELF. THEY WERE PRETTY TIRED ON THE SECOND GAME SINCE THEY HAD JUST PLAYED NOT TO LONG BEFORE. BUT THEY GOT THROUGH IT AND EVERETT, THE KIDS , AND ME WENT OUT TO EAT AFTER. IT WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 2 MONTHS THAT WE HAVE BEEN OUT TO EAT TOGETHER. FOR LACK OF TIME AND MONEY. PLUS I JUST FIX BIG MEALS HERE. THATS THE ONE THING THAT I MISS THE MOST FROM WORKING EVENINGS IS SITTING DOWN ALL AROUND THE TABLE AT SUPPER TO CATCH UP ON EVERYONES DAY. BUSY DAY TOMORROW SO PROBABLY WONT POST EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT DAY.

TODAY WAS GOOD

SO TODAY WAS VERY GOOD. RILEY AWOKE A LOT EARLIER THAN USUAL SO I DID NOT GET AS MANY CHORES DONE AS I USUALLY DO BEFORE SHE AWAKES. BUT ITS FINE BECAUSE IT JUST MEANS THAT MANY MORE HOURS THAT I GET TO SPEND WITH HER. THIS AFTERNOON WE LEFT THE HOUSE EARLY BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE MY TB TEST READ-ITS ALL GOOD WITH THAT. THEN I TOOK THE KIDS TO THE PARK WHERE WE MET UP WITH BRADS MOM. NATALIES MOM DEBBIE MET US AT BOB EVANS AT TEN TIL 5 AND MY KIDS WENT WITH HER FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. SO AFTER THEY HAD LEFT I WENT IN TO GET DRESSED FOR WORK. AFTER CAREFUL PLANNING BEFORE I LEFT THE HOUSE AND PRE-PACKING THE TRUCK WITH MY STUFF AND PURSE AND A BAG FOR THE GIRLS AND EVERYONES BOOKBAGS I THOUGHT I HAD EVERYTHING. BUT AS I PULLED MY CLOTHES OUT TO CHANGE INTO--NO PANTS. NOW GRANTED I PROBABLY COULD HAVE MADE A FORTUNE IN TIPS WAITRESSING IN MY PRETTY PANTIES-------UH NO! LUCKILY ONE OF THE OTHER GIRL I WORK WITH LIVES CLOSE AND RAN TO HER HOUSE TO GET SOME PANTS FOR ME AND I WAS ONLY A FEW MINUTES LATE CLOCKING IN. WHEN I GOT HOME THIS EVENING I WALKED IN THE DOOR AND ASKED WHY IT WAS SO HOT IN THE HOUSE. EVERETT SAID THAT THE AIR KEPT RUNNING SO HE KICKED IT UP SO IT WOULD SHUT OFF. WELL JORDAN , HAD HER WINDOW WIDE OPEN. WELL NO WONDER. ITS FUNNY HOW GUYS ARENT NEAR AS OBSERVANT AS WOMEN WHEN IT COME TO THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE. SO I SHUT THE WINDOW AND THE HOUSE COOLED RIGHT DOWN.

TOMORROW WILL BE A BUSY DAY FULL OF SOCCER GAMES. RILEY IS GOING WITH ME TO THE SHOP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING BECAUSE I HAVE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TO DO FOR A WEDDING. I HAVE TO BE OUT OF THERE NO LATER THAN 10 AM TO MAKE IT DOWN TO THE GAME ON TIME. EVERETT IS TAKING JORDAN UP EARLY BECAUSE SHE HAS TO HAVE PICTURES TAKEN BEFORE THE GAME. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO FILL OUT A FORM OF HOW MANY PICTURES AND ABOUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST. "UUUUHHHHH OOKAAY." WAS THE RESPOSE THAT I GOT WITH A DUMBFOUNDED LOOK ON HIS FACE. SO GOOD LUCK TO HIM ON THAT. AFTER WE ARE TAKING THE KIDS OUT TO EAT AND IF ALL GOES WELL I MAY BE ABLE TO COME HOME AND MOW GRASS. I WILL POST AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AND TELL HOW THE GAMES WENT. GOOOOOOOOOO JORDAN.

MORE MOMENTS OF MADNESS

SO TODAY WAS PRETTY UNEVENTFUL TO START WITH. I GOT UP AND GOT JORDAN OFF TO SCHOOL. EVERETT WATCHED HER GET ON THE BUS AND I LAID DOWN ON THE DAY BED IN THE LIVING ROOM. I DOZED ON AND OFF UNTIL RILEY HOLLERED FOR ME TO COME LAY WITH HER. SO I WENT IN AND SHE SQUIRMED AROUND AND FINALLY WENT BACK TO SLEEP AND SO DID I. I REALLY HAD PLANNED ON GETTING UP AND DONT LIKE TO SLEEP IN. I LIKE TO GET UP AND GET THE MAJORITY OF MY CHORES DONE BEFORE SHE EVER GETS OUT OF BED. SO I FELT LIKE I WAS BEHIND ALL DAY. HER AND I MADE CHOCHOLATE CHIP COOKIES TODAY AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT I DID NOT BURN ANY. USUALLY THERE IS ALWAYS THAT ONE BATCH THAT I LEAVE IN A LITTLE TO LONG- BUT NOT TODAY. YAY! IT WAS LATER THIS EVENING THAT THING GOT A LITTLE CRAZY. WE HAVE THESE MUSHROOM THINGS THAT COME UP IN OUR YARD. THEY ARE NOT THE EDIBLE KIND. AS A MATTER OF FACT I THINK THAT THEY MAY BE POISONOUS. I TELL THE KIDS TO STAY AWAY FROM THEM ALL TOGETHER JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. WELL RILEY AND BRAD CAME IN FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WENT INTO RILEYS ROOM. I POKED MY HEAD IN A FEW MINUTES AFTER THEY CAME IN JUST TO CHECK ON THEM AND RILEYS FACE WAS FILTHY. I ASKED HER HOW SHE GOT HER FACE SO DIRTY AND SHE SAID THAT SHE POWDERED HER FACE WITH THE DUST BALLS THAT THEY FOUND UNDER A TREE. HUH? I HAD THEM SHOW ME AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE OF THESE MUSHROOM THINGS AFTER THEY GET ALL DRIED UP. FREAKED ME OUT. I PUT HER INTO THE SHOWER IMMEDIATELY AND GOT HER ALL CLEANED UP. THAT CHILD HAS ALWAYS BEEN HORRIBLE AT PUTTING THINGS IN HER MOUTH AND ON HER FACE. WHAT DO I DO? I SWEAR IT ABOUT GIVES ME A HEART ATTACK SOMETIMES. WE HAVE BEEN RAISING KIDS SINCE I WAS 17 (NOT ALL OUR OWN BUT MAY AS WELL BEEN)AND HAD TONS OF KIDS IN AND OUT OF THIS HOUSE AND NEVER ONCE DID I HAVE TO CALL POISON CONTROL. I HAVE CALLED THEM 3-4 TIMES WITH RILEY. I TOLD EVERETT AND MOM TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER AND SO FAR SO GOOD. AFTER THAT JORDAN STARTS GRIPING THAT SHE CANT FIND HER SOCCER CLEATS. THEY WERE IN THE CAR WHERE SHE HAD TAKEN THEM OFF IN THE BACK SEAT ON MONDAY. WELL BACK WHEN WE WERE SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES AND SCHOOL AND SIZE 11 WOMENS SHOES WERE NO LONGER BIG ENOUGH--THATS RIGHT MY 11 YR OLD NOW WEARS A SIZE 12 IN WOMENS SHOES--I TOLD HER SHE WOULD PROBABLY NEED NEW SOCCER CLEATS. "NO MOM, MY CLEATS STILL FIT" OK AND WHEN ASKED IF SHE WAS SURE-SHE ASSURED ME THEY DID. SO SHE HAS BEEN WEARING THESE FOR ALMOST A MONTH AND JUST WORE THEM ON MONDAY, SO WHEN SHE PUT THEM ON TODAY SHE KEPT COMPLAINING THAT THEY WERE TO TIGHT. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH THAT THEY JUST FIT ON HER LAST PRACTICE AND SHE TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS LAST WEEK-NO IT WAS MONDAY AND YOUR FOOT DID NOT GROW THAT MUCH IN 2 DAYS. WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON A FEW DIFFERENT ISSUES UNTIL I FINALLY TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DID NOT KEEP HER MOUTH SHUT ABOUT IT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO GET IT. SO WHEN I DROPPED THEM OFF AT MOMS THEY WERE BOTH UPSET WITH ME AND ME WITH THEM. BUT WHEN I GOT HOME THEY MET ME AT THE DOOR AND WE WERE ALL GLAD TO SEE ONE ANOTHER AGAIN. I GOT OFF WORK A LITTLE EARLY THIS EVENING. I HAVE BEEN AIMING TO GO TO WALMART FOR THE PAST 2 NIGHTS BUT WANTED TO GET HOME IN TIME TO TUCK MY BABIES IN. THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY THE POOL HAD A COUPLE OF GREEN SPOTS. YESTERDAY A COUPLE OF MORE. TODAY , YEP, TOTALLY GREEN. I HAD TO GO TONIGHT. I AM HOPING THIS IS THE LAST MONEY I WILL SPEND ON IT THIS YEAR. OUR POOL IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD. BUT WHEN THE NIGHTS GET COOL SO DOES THE POOL. AND WITH THE OLDER KIDS BEING BACK TO SCHOOL-NOBODY HAS SWAM IN IT SINCE SUNDAY. A POOL REALLY NEEDS TO BE SWAM IN TO BE CLEAN. I AM READY TO SHUT IT DOWN BUT WE ARE SURE TO HAVE ONE MORE HOT SPELL THIS YEAR AND THEN IT WILL BE DONE. I HAD TO TURN THE AIR BACK ON TODAY AFTER 3 DAYS WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN AGAIN.BUMMER. WELL FALL WILL BE ON ITS WAY SOON. I CAN ALREADY TELL JUST A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE TREES AND JUST A FEW EXTRA LEAVES FALLING AROUND THE HOUSE. I DEFINATELY PAY A PRICE FOR HAVING BIG TREES. TONS OF LEAVES IN THE FALL. THE UPSIDE IS THAT WE ALWAYS MAKE A BIG HUGE PILE FOR THE KIDS .THEY LOVE IT. AND REALLY SO DO I. I JUST LOVE SEEING THE KIDS HAVE A GOOD TIME AND ANYTHING IS WORTH THAT.

BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY

WELL THE KIDS WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY AND ORIGINALLY THE BUS DRIVER TOLD MY NEICES THAT THEY WOULD BE PICK UP AT 6:15 WHICH MEANT SHE WOULD BE HERE AT 6:20. SO I GOT MY BUTT UP NICE AND EARLY AND HAD JORDAN DOWN THERE AT THE GIVEN TIME. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM GLAD I TOOK HER DOWN IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE BUS DID NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 6:35. OH AND JUST WHEN WE THINK THAT THIS WILL BE THE TIME ,SHE WILL PROBABLY BE HERE 5 MIN EARLIER TOMORROW AND TAKE OFF WITHOUT HER. I HAVE TWO EXTRA KIDS THAT GET OFF OF THE BUS HERE UNTIL THEIR MOMS GET HOME. JORDAN SAID THAT HER FIRST DAY WAS GOOD BUT I REALLY THINK THAT SHE JUST MEANT THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF IT BECAUSE NOT 5MIN AFTER HER AND NATALIE GOT HERE THEY WERE ON THE PHONE WITH FRIENDS. I SIT DOWN THIS MORNING AND WROTE OUT A SCHEDULE OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON AROUND HERE. YOU SEE WE SENT JORDAN TO PRESCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE AND IT HELPED HER A LOT. HER AND I HAVE ALWAYS KINDA BUTTED HEADS AND IT IS HARD FOR ME TO TEACH HER THE SLIGHTEST THINGS. EVEN NOW , SOMETIMES I WILL WAIT UNTIL HER DAD GETS HOME TO EXPLAIN A PROBLEM TO HER IN A WAY THAT I CANT SEEM TO MAKE HER UNDERSTAND. BUT RILEY IS WAY DIFFERENT AND I DECIDED THAT WE CAN WORK ON TEACHING HER SOME OF THE STUFF JORDAN LEARNED IN PRESCHOOL. WE STARTED TODAY AND WE BREAK THINGS UP WORKING ABOUT 30MIN AT A TIME AND ONLY 15MIN ON ONE THING. AFTER ALL SHE JUST TURNED 4 AND HER ATTENTION SPAN IS NIL. SHE TOLD THE KIDS TODAY WHEN THEY GOT HOME THAT SHE IS BEING HOMESCHOOLED. I REALLY HOPE SHE KEEPS THAT FRAME OF MIND AND THINGS WORK OUT THIS YEAR THEN MAYBE I WILL HOMESCHOOL HER AND JORDAN BOTH NEXT YEAR. NEXT YEAR JORDAN WILL BE IN THE 6TH GRADE AND WILL BE IN JR HIGH. AM I WRONG IN THINKING THAT THIS IS TO YOUNG. IT SCARES ME TO BECAUSE JORDAN IS ONLY 11 NOW AND PEOPLE THINK THAT SHE IS 14. I KNOW I CANT STOP THEM FROM GROWING UP BUT MAYBE I CAN SLOW THE PROCESS.
PS I KNOW YOU WILL BE READING THIS TOMORROW AND IT JUST TURNED MIDNIGHT SO IT IS TECHNICALLY TODAY----HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER VICKI!--I LOVE YOU AND I WILL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY AT JORDANS SOCCER GAME.

RUN RUN RUN

TODAY I GOT UP EARLY AND DONE SOME CLEANING, WASHING RUGS, MOPPING FLOORS, AND CLEANING THE BATHROOM ALL BEFORE THE KIDS WOKE UP. THEN JORDAN HAD BEEN THINKING OF GETTING HER HAIR CUT SHORTER. IT WAS OVER HALFWAY DOWN HER BACK. THE CHILD HAS WHAT I CALL PERFECT HAIR. WHEN SHE GETS UP OUT OF BED IT LOOKS GORGEOUS. IT IS THICK BUT NOT TO THICK AND HAS A LITTLE WAVE AND BODY IN IT THAT IT IS JUST SICKENING. SHE DEFINATELY DID NOT GET THAT FROM ME. MINE IS FINE AND THIN AND POKER STRAIGHT. I WEAR MINE SHORT AND WHEN I GET OUT OF THE SHOWER I DONT EVEN COMB OR BRUSH IT. JUST BLOWDRY AND PUT PRODUCT ON IT. IF I DID NOT DO IT THIS WAY IT WOULD STICK FLAT TO MY HEAD. POOR MISS RILEY GOT MY HAIR. SHE HAS BEEN WANTING TO LET HERS GROW LIKE SISSY AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TALK HER INTO CUTTING IT FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE IT JUST GETS A STRINGY TANGLEY MESS THE LONGER IT GETS THE WORSE IT GETS. SO THIS MORNING JORDAN DECIDES SHE WANTS HER HAIR CUT BEFORE SHE GOES BACK TO SCHOOL. WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM HER FRIEND NATALIE, WHO SPENT THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT, WE CUT IT THIS MORNING. WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR HER TO DONATE TO LOCKS OF LOVE. UPON SEEING HER SISTER GET HERS CUT RILEY WAS READY FOR A NEW LOOK TOO. JORDANS IS SHOULDER LENGTH WITH LONG LAYERS AND OF COURSE FABULOUS AND RILEYS IS CUT INTO A REALLY SHORT BOB AND ADORABLE. I WILL HAVE TO POST PICTURES SOON. THEN WITH ALL THE NEW DOS NATALIE GOT HERS CUT AS WELL BUT NOTHING AS DRASTIC AS MY GIRLS. WE THEN HAD LUNCH AND SHOWERS. I HAD TO HAVE A TB TEST DONE FOR WORK. THEY NOW CHARGE A $5 FEE WHERE IT USED TO BE FREE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. GOOD THING I HAD MY CHECKBOOK. THEN WE WENT TO WALMART TO GET SCHOOL SUPPLIES. THEN WE STOPPED BY THE SCHOOL ONLY TO FIND THAT THE LIST THEY HAD THERE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE AT WALMART. SO TOMORROW I WILL HAVE TO GET SOME EXTRA THINGS AFTER I GET OFF OF WORK. THEN WE DROPPED NATALIE OFF AND I TOOK THE KIDS TO MOM AND DADS AND RUSHED HOME WITH A WHOLE 5 MIN TO GET DRESSED FOR WORK. DOES ANYONE ELSE NOTICE A PATTERN OF ME ALWAYS WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO GET OUT OF HERE? WORK WAS STEADY AND NOT SUPER BUSY SO A COUPLE OF THE SERVERS GOT OFF A LITTLE EARLY. WELL THERE WAS A FLOOR CHANGE AND THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK IS THE HOST OR HOSTES SEATS AND COME THROUGH AND SAYS --"3 PEOPLE ON TABLE 10" OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THEY DONT "HAVE" TO. SO I WAS BACK AND FORTH KEEPING AN EYE ON TABLES THAT I ALREADY HAD AND DOING SOME OF MY OUTS, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BEFORE LEAVING, WHEN THEY CAME BACK AND TOLD ME AN OLDER GUY JUST GOT UP AND LEFT OUT OF MY SECTION AND HE WAS MAD. WELL THE HOST APPARANTLY GOT BUSY AT THE REGISTER AND DID NOT COME AND TELL ME I HAD ANYONE. HE SAID THE GUY WAS THERE FOR ABOUT 5MIN AND THE BUSER SAID HE WAS THERE FOR ABOUT 7 OR 8. WELL I REALLY FELT BAD AND COULD NOT BLAME THE GUY FOR BEING UPSET AND LEAVING I MIGHT HAVE DONE THE SAME. BUT I SWEAR I DID NOT SEE THE GUY AND HAD JUST BEEN OUT THERE JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE. WELL NEEDLESS TO SAY THE MANAGER WAS NOT HAPPY WITH ME AT ALL. I APOLOGIZED SINCERELY AND JUST BASICALLY GOT THE SILENT TREATMENT. IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE CRAP. EVEN AFTER WE WERE OFF I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT IT TO COME BACK ON HER. SHE HEARD ME OUT BUT STILL DID NOT SAY ANYTHING. I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH ALL THE WAY HOME. OF COURSE MY HUBBY CAN ALWAYS MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. HE SAID THAT ITS NOT A LIFE OR DEATH MATTER AND IF YOU CANT MAKE A MISTAKE EVERY NOW AND THEN ,SCREW EM. HE TOLD ME THAT I HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AND TALENTS AND ITS NOT RIGHT TO BE MADE FELT CRAPPY OVER A MISTAKE. THANKS BABE. OF COURSE I FEEL A MISTAKE ISNT A MISTAKE IF I CAN LEARN FROM IT AND I WILL JUST HAVE TO LEARN TO KEEP A BETTER EYE OUT. BUT AGAIN THANKS FOR REMINDING ME BABE THAT I DONT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ANYTHING I DONT WANT TO. I LOVE YOU!

BACK TO NORMAL

WELL THAT EERIE THING THAT I CALL SILENCE DID NOT LAST FOR LONG YESTERDAY. NO ONE WAS HERE BUT ME WHEN I POSTED. THEN A FRIEND CALLED AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE COMPUTER AND I GOT SOME THINGS DONE WHILE I TALKED. THEN RILEY CAME HOME. THEN JUST AS I STARTED TO FRY UP THE SQUIRREL BRANDON CALLED AND ASKED ME WHAT I WAS DOING. WHEN I TOLD HIM I HAD JUST PUT THE FIRST SQUIRREL IN THE FRYING PAN HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE OUT IN A WHILE---I BET IT WASNT 10 MINUTES BEFORE HE GOT HERE. BY THE TIME I FINISHED SUPPER THERE WERE 9 OF US THAT SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE. ACTUALLY 8 SIT AT THE DINING TABLE-THATS ALL IT HOLDS AND I SAT AT THE SMALL TABLE IN THE KITCHEN. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DID NOT HAVE MANY LEFTOVERS.

SHANE SPENT THE NIGHT AGAIN LAST NIGHT AND BRADLEY CAME THIS MORNING AND ANOTHER FRIEND OF JORDANS-NATALIE-CAME AT AROUND NOON. THE OTHER DAY I GOT THIS CRAZY IDEA OF WHAT I WOULD DO FOR TRIM IN THE OFFICE. YOU SEE TWO WALLS AND THE CURTAINS ON THE WINDOWS ARE CAMOFLAGE AND TWO OF THE WALLS ARE PAINTED ANTIQUE WHITE WITH HUNTING BORDER AROUND THE TOP. WHEN I FIRST DONE THE ROOM I THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING BRANCHS AROUND THE TOP AS MOLDING BUT FOUND OUT QUICKLY THAT IT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK I KNEW I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND RUSTIC BUT WANTED TO WAIT TILL IT HIT ME--OLD TOBACCO STICKS. YEP I WENT OUT TO THE BARN AND GOT A FEW STRAIGHT ONES AND HOSED THEM OFF A LITTLE AND PUT THEM UP AROUND THE TOP AS MOLDING. SO THE OFFICE IS OFFICIALLY DONE--WELL JUST ONE LITTLE DETAIL. YOU SEE I HAD HUBBY TAKE THEM TO MOM AND DADS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE TABLE SAW IS. THE ONES TO BE CUT WERE ALL MARKED AND TRAVIS WAS HERE AND TOOK THEM OVER IN HIS VEHICLE. WHEN EVERETT CAME BACK HE BROUGHT THE CUT PIECES OVER ON THE MOTORCYCLE AND HE SEEMS TO HAVE LOST ONE LITTLE PIECE THAT I NEED FOR IT TO BE COMPLETED SOMEWHERE BETWEEN HERE AND THERE. SINCE HE DID NOT GET BACK WITH THEM UNTIL I WAS LEAVING TO TAKE JORDAN TO SOCCER AND BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME AT 8 AND HAD A BITE TO EAT AND I GOT ALL THE REST UP-THERE WAS NO DAYLIGHT LEFT TO GO FIND IT. SO I AM ON A MISSION FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

WHEN WE GOT HOME FROM TOWN AND AFTER SUPPER I HELPED JORDAN CLEAN UP HER ROOM WHICH WAS JUST CLEAN LAST NIGHT BUT SHE HAS A BAD HABIT OF LEAVING ANYTHING SHE TAKES OFF ALL OVER THE PLACE. HER PJS THEN HER SWIMSUIT AND 2 WET TOWELS THEN THE CLOTHES SHE CHANGED OUT OF TO PUT ON HER SOCCER CLOTHES THEN THOSE AND MORE WET TOWELS WHERE THEY HAD JUMPED IN THE POOL THIS EVENING GEES THAT WAS A CHORE JUST TO WRITE LET ALONE PICK UP AND WASH. OF COURSE I GOT ONTO HER. HER ROOM DOES NOT HAVE TO BE SPOTLESS BUT SHE NEEDS TO MAKE AN EFFORT WITHOUT BEING TOLD. I TOLD HER IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THAT SHE WILL BE WASHING THEM ALL HERSELF. I KNOW WHAT YOUR THINKING -AND YES WE HAVE TRIED A HAMPER IN HER ROOM-BASICALLY IT JUST TAKES UP SPACE AND I STILL HAVE TO TELL HER TO PUT HER DIRTY CLOTHES IN IT INSTEAD OF THE FLOOR. I JUST KNOW THAT IT WILL SINK IN ONE DAY BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER MY MOM AND DAD TELLING ME THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AND WONDERING IF IT WOULD EVER SINK IN. WELL IT DID JUST NOT IN ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THEIR LIFE ANY EASIER WHILE I WAS GROWING UP. PAYBACKS I GUESS. SO MUCH FOR GETTING THINGS DONE. I WOULD STILL LIKE TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN CLEAN HOUSE GOOD ONE DAY AND IT BE A TOTAL DISASTER THE NEXT. CLEANING THE SAME THINGS OVER AGAIN AND THINKING "I KNOW I JUST CLEANED THIS YESTERDAY AND YET IT LOOKS LIKE ITS BEEN A MONTH" ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM?

BREAKING THE NEWS

SO I BROKE THE NEWS TO THE KIDS THIS MORNING AND THEY TOOK IT PRETTY HARD. BUT A LITTLE WHILE LATER THEY ASKED ME IF THEY COULD GET ANOTHER DOG. UH-NO. I TOLD THEM THAT WE ARE GOING TO WAIT A WHILE BEFORE WE GET ANOTHER ONE. WE LIKE BEAGLES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO TOLERANT OF THE KIDS. BELIEVE ME WE HAVE HAD ALMOST EVERY BREED OF DOG THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE ONLY FOR THEM ALL TO MEET WITH THE SAME FATE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME JUST DISSAPEARED. OTHERS GOT SICK AND OTHERS GOT RAN OVER. I HONESTLY DO NOT THINK THAT I CAN COUNT JUST HOW MANY DOGS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE 15 YEARS THAT WE HAVE LIVED HERE --YEAH, THAT MANY.

THIS AFTERNOON JORDAN WENT TO A FRIENDS TO PLAY FOR THE DAY AND RILEY WENT WITH MOM, DAD, MICHELLE,ALLYSON,AND ASHLEY TO THE MOVIES TO SEE BARNYARD. EVERETT AND SHANE WENT SQUIRREL HUNTING THIS MORNING AND BROUGHT BACK 2. WE ADDED THOSE TO THE ONES BRANDON GOT YESTERDAY. THE GUYS JUST LEFT TO BACK INTO THE WOODS SO FOR THE TIME BEING I AM LEFT ALONE. EERIE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING AROUND HERE ALL DAY SWEEPING THE PORCH AND SHELTER, DOING LAUNDRY AND HANGING IT OUT, LUNCH. THEN AFTER RILEY LEFT I USED THE WEED EATER FOR A WHILE. ITS WEIRD THAT INSTEAD OF RELAXING WHILE MY KIDS ARE GONE, I WORK LIKE A FREAK TO GET AS MUCH DONE AS I CAN WHILE THEY ARE GONE TO HAVE THAT MUCH MORE TIME I CAN SPEND WITH THEM. I HAD TO SIT FOR A MINUTE AFTER I GOT A SHOWER SO I THOUGHT I WOULD POST WHILE I RESTED. NOW I AM GOING TO GET SOME OTHER THINGS DONE BEFORE I FRY UP SQUIRREL AND FRIED POTATOES AND SCAB GRAVY (NO IT IS NOT MADE FROM SCABS THAT JUST WHAT WE HILLBILLIES CALL IT WHEN YOU MAKE GRAVY IN THE SAME PAN YOU FRIED YOUR MEAT IN AND SOME OF THE BREADING COMES OFF) FOR SUPPER. YUM!

TODAY WAS UNEVENTFUL TO START

TODAY WAS PRETTY UNEVENTFUL--WHICH IS THE WAY I LIKE IT. I DID NOT HAVE TO BE TO THE SHOP TIL 9 AM. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A WEDDING PARTY OF ABOUT 5 PEOPLE WHO DID NOT SHOW UP, SO THAT DID STINK JUST A BIT. LAST SATURDAY WAS SLAMMIN AND WE COULD NOT GET THEM IN AND OUT FAST ENOUGH. TODAY WAS PRETTY SLOW SO I LEFT EARLY AND GOT GROCERIES. I BROUGHT THEM HOME AND UNLOADED AND HUBBY PUT THEM AWAY WHILE I JETTED DOWN THE STREET AND PICK UP THE GIRLS AND SHANEY BOB AT NANAS HOUSE. THE KIDS SWAM FOR A WHILE AND MY FRIEND CARROL WHO ALSO WORKS AT THE SHOP CALLED. SHE DID NOT WORK TODAY AND WE HAD SOME CATCHING UP TO DO. IN THE MEAN TIME THE KIDS AND EVERETT ATE PIZZA. AFTER HUBBY DECIDED TO GO FOR A SHORT MOTORCYCLE RIDE. REAL SHORT BECAUSE HE WAS BACK IN A FEW MINUTES. TURNS OUT OUR BEAGLE DOG THAT THE KIDS GOT FOR CHRISTMAS WAS HIT ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE HORRIBLE LUCK WITH DOGS. AS A MATTER OF FACT FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A NEW DOG AT CHRISTMAS ONLY TO BE LATER KILLED IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. MY MOM GOT MY HUSBAND A CINNAMON COLORED BEAGLE FOR CHRISTMAS ONE YEAR AND THE NEXT SUMMER IT GOT HIT ON THE HIGHWAY. YOU SEE WE DONT CHAIN THEM UP AND BEAGLES DONT LIKE TO BE IN THE HOUSE. THE HIGHWAY IS CLOSE TO A MILE AWAY. THEN TWO YEARS AGO WE GOT THE GIRLS WHAT IS CALLED A PATCH COLORED BEAGLE. WE NAMED HIM WHAT ELSE PATCH. HE WAS A GOOD DOG AND WE GOT VERY ATTATCHED IN A SHORT AMOUT OF TIME. IF WE WERE NOT OUTSIDE THE DOG WOULD GO TO MOM AND DADS AND DAD WOULD PLAY WITH HIM. HE FOLLOWED MY DAD EVERYWHERE. IF DAD WAS ON THE TRACTOR CUTTING HAY OR JUST CUTTING THE PASTURE THE DOG WOULD FOLLOW HIM BACK AND FORTH. IT WAS A RUNNING JOKE AROUND HERE WHEN DAD CAME OVER FOR ANY REASON AND WOULD GO TO LEAVE HE WOULD SAY"WELL IM GOING TO TAKE MY DOG AND GO HOME" ONE DAY HE WAS OUT CUTTING HAY AND DID NOT SEE PATCH AND RAN OVER HIM---MY DAD WAS JUST AS HEARTBROKEN AS THE REST OF US. THIS PAST CHRISMAS WE GOT THE GIRLS A LEMON COLORED BEAGLE. WELL GIVEN OUR LUCK WITH DOGS WE NAMED HIM LUCKY--SHORT FOR HE WILL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. WELL I HAVENT TOLD THE KIDS AND DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL IN THE MORNING. IT DOES NOT BREAK MY HEART AS MUCH OVER THE DOG AS IT BREAKS MY HEART TO TELL THE KIDS THAT THE DOG IS GONE NEVER TO RETURN. I HATE-YES HATE IS A STRONG WORD--BUT I HATE TO TELL THEM AND SEE THEIR HEART BREAK OVER LOSING YET ANOTHER ANIMAL. I DONT CRY OVER LOSING THE DOG ONLY FOR THE KIDS PAIN OVER THEIR LOSING THE DOG. DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? SO WE ARE DOWN TO ONE DOG AND 3 CATS. WE ARE NOT REALLY EVEN CAT PEOPLE, YET THEY SEEM TO OUTNUMBER AT THIS TIME.

MY BRAIN ISNT WORKING

SO YESTERDAY I DID NOT POST. I FINALLY GOT THE YARD FINISHED MOWING AND SOME OF THE TRIMMING DONE BUT WILL HAVE TO WORK ON THE REST TODAY. SO YESTERDAY I WAS THINKING THAT I WAS GOING TO GIVE MYSELF PLENTY OF TIME TO HAVE A LONG SHOWER AND NOT RUSH AROUND BEFORE I WENT TO WORK. WELL I WAS ROUNDING THINGS UP TO TAKE MY SHOWER WHEN I NOTICE ONE OF THE VENTS WAS NOT BLOWING COOL AIR. SO I HAD TO GO TO THE BASEMENT TO REATTACH THE DUCTWORK TO THE VENT. OF COURSE I WOULD NOT JUST GO ON THERE. AND IT WAS KILLING ME TO BE DOWN SO LOW WITH MY HANDS OVER MY HEAD SO I HAD THE KIDS BRING ME A STOOL. WHEN I FIGURED OUT IT WASNT GOING TO GO I SAID THE HECK WITH IT AND GOT THE DUCK TAPE. GOOD AS NEW! THEN I DECIDED WHILE I WAS DOWN THERE TO CHECK THE FILTER ON THE UNIT--DIRTY--SO I HAD THE KIDS GO IN SEARCH OF ANOTHER. I COULD NOT JUST LET EVERYTHING GO BECAUSE THE HEAT RETURNED YESTERDAY. WE HAVE VERY BIG OLD TREES ALL AROUND THE HOUSE SO THE SUN DOES NOT REALLY SHINE DIRECTLY ON THE HOUSE UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON-EVENING. I CLOSED ALL THE WINDOWS UP WHILE IT WAS STILL COOL AND THE AIR DID NOT EVEN KICK ON TILL-3:30. SO ONCE AGAIN IT WAS WELL AFTER 4 BEFORE I GOT IN THE SHOWER AND I WAS LATE BY 2 MIN. I SWEAR I COULD TRY TO GET READY TO GO 2 HOURS BEFORE AND STILL BE RUSHING AROUND TILL THE LAST MINUTE. AND IT ONLY TAKES ME ABOUT 20 MINUTES START TO FINISH TO GET READY-AND THATS BEING LEISURELY. RUSHING I CAN BE FROM SHOWER TO SHOES IN JUST A LITTLE OVER 10 MINUTES. BUT I REALLY DONT LIKE TO RUSH YET I FIND MYSELF DOING JUST THAT EVERY DAY IT SEEMS.

SO IT WAS REALLY DEAD LAST NIGHT AND I DID NOT DO VERY WELL IN TIPS --NOBODY DID. BUT I GOT A TABLE JUST BEFORE 9 SO WAS A LITTLE LATER GETTING OUT OF THERE THAN I WANTED. IT HAS BEEN SLOW FOR THE LAST 2 NIGHTS. WE WILL PROBABLY GET SLAMMED TONIGHT. THERE ARE A LIST OF PEOPLE ON THE OFFICE DOOR WHO HAVE TO HAVE TB TESTS BY SEPTEMBER-YOU GUESSED IT I AM ONE OF THEM. NEEDLES DONT BOTHER ME AND THE TEST DOES NOT HURT--ITS JUST HAVING TO TAKE THE TIME OUT TO GET IT DONE THAT STINKS.

SO BY THE TIME I GOT DONE WORKING AND I HAD TO GO TO WALMART TO GET POOL STUFF AND A PROMISED BAG OF SUCKERS FOR THE KIDS IT WAS A LITTLE AFTER 10 BEFORE I GOT HOME. SO AFTER TALKING A LITTLE WITH EACH AND EVERYONE AND JUST SPENDING TIME--THE KIDS HAD 2 SUCKERS EACH AND THEN OFF TO BED THEY WENT. AFTER PUTTING RILEY TO BED I CAME IN TO CHECK MY E-MAIL AND WAS GOING TO POST WHILE HUBBY WAS IN THE SHOWER BUT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IT WHILE RILEY IS AWAKE. I CHECK AND RESPONDED TO MY E-MAIL AND CHECKED A COUPLE OF SITES WHICH TOOK ALL OF 5 MIN. AND SHE WAS HOLLERING FOR ME TO COME LAY WITH HER THE WHOLE TIME. AND AFTER THAT I JUST DID NOT GET BACK ON THE COMPUTER. I SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SLEEP LAST NIGHT AT ALL. I TURNED THE TV OFF AT 1 BUT I TOSSED AND TURNED UNTIL ABOUT 2:30-3. I DID GO AHEAD AND GET UP THIS MORNING AT A DECENT HOUR BECAUSE WITH GOING INTO THE SHOP EARLY ON SAT. I CANT DO THAT AGAIN TONIGHT. SO HERE I SIT ON MY 3RD CUP OF COFFEE AND RILEY UP AND JORDAN RISING AND I COULD NOT THINK UP A TITLE FOR THIS POST. BRAIN FART. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE!

A VERY TIRING DAY

I STARTED OUT THE DAY AS USUAL WHEN JORDAN SAYS SHE WANTS TO CHANGE HER ROOM AROUND. OK. BUT IF YOU KNOW ME YOU HAVE TO DO THE OVERHAULIN. THIS MEANS VACUUMING UNDER THINGS BEFORE YOU MOVE IT TO ITS DESTINATION AND WHEN YOU MOVE IT YOU HAVE TO SWEEP THERE TOO. OF COURSE YOU FIND THINGS SHOVED HERE AND THERE. MAINLY CLOTHES WITH JORDAN. SO WHILE WE WERE INTO CLOTHES-WE WENT THROUGH AND ORGANIZED HER DRESSER AND HER CLOSET. GOT RID OF THINGS AND GAVE SOME THINGS A NEW HOME. BY THE TIME EVERYTHING (BUT THE WINDOWS) WAS SAID AND DONE IT WAS 1:30. THE KIDS DID TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH BEFORE THEN BUT I JUST GRABBED AND GRUBBED. I HAD HALF A PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH-WHICH WAS WHAT RILEY WAS HAVING-AND A CORN DOG-WHICH IS WHAT JORDAN WAS HAVING. AND THE PROBLEM WITH WORKING THE HOURS THAT I DO IS THAT WHEN I LEAVE IT IS TO EARLY TO EAT SUPPER AND WHEN I GET HOME I DONT FEEL LIKE EATING ANYTHING HEAVY. I HAD A YEAST ROLL AT WORK AND A BAG OF MICROWAVE POPCORN JUST NOW. YES I AM REALLY TELLING YOU WHAT I ATE TODAY BUT I FIGURE WRITING IT OUT LIKE THIS WILL REMIND ME THAT I NEED TO EAT A LITTLE HEALTHIER. YEAH RIGHT SOUNDS GOOD ON PAPER.
ANYWAY AFTER WE GOT DONE IN JORDANS ROOM I HAD TO DO LAUNDRY AND HANG IT OUT BECAUSE I NEEDED MY WORK CLOTHES TO BE READY. I ONLY HAVE ONE SHIRT AND ONE PAIR OF PANTS-I REFUSE TO BUY MORE BECAUSE ITS NOT PERMANENT- BESIDES ITS NOT LIKE IM NOT DOING LAUNDRY ANYWAY. THEN LESLIE AND HANNAH CAME OUT AND SHE WATCHED THE KIDS SWIM WHILE I TRIED TO FINISH UP MOWING. I STOPPED TO GET THE GIRLS READY BECAUSE THEY STAYED WITH HER WHILE I WORKED, SHE JUST TOOK THEM FROM HERE. SO I JUMPED BACK ON THE MOWER AND THOUGHT I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO FINISH. WHEN I WAS DONE WITH ALL BUT THE FRONT AROUND THE SWING AND TRAMPOLINE I THOUGHT I HAD BETTER CHECK THE TIME. YEP 4:25. CRAP. I HAD TO BE AT WORK AT 5 AND IT TAKES ALMOST 20 MIN TO GET THERE. I JUMPED IN THE SHOWER AND MADE IT IN TIME TO CLOCK IN RIGHT ON THE DOT. AND I DIDNT EVEN SPEED. MUCH.
THE FIRST HALF OF THE EVENING WAS DEAD I ONLY HAD 2 TABLES FROM 5- 6:30. THEN ONE OF THE GUYS CAME BACK AND TOLD ME I HAD 2 PEOPLE ON TABLE 17. HE SAID THAT I HAD TO BE EXTRA NICE TO THEM. TURNS OUT IT WAS LESLIE AND LITTLE MISS RILEY. BRANDON WAS PUTTING IN A NEW DRYER AND LESLIE AND RILEY HAD WENT TO LOWES TO GET A HOSE FOR THE BACK AND RILEY TOLD HER THAT SHE WANTED ICE CREAM. SO LESLIE HAD JUST PLANNED ON GOING THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH SOMEPLACE WHEN RILEY TOLD HER SHE WANTED TO GO TO BOB EVANS FOR ICE CREAM. I WAS SO GLAD THAT THEY DID. SO RILEY COLORED AND ATE HER SUNDAE AND JIBBER-JABBERED AT SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE TAKING THERE BREAKS-ALL OF THOSE AT THE SAME TIME-SHES A MULTI-TASKER.
OH AND GOOD NEWS----I THINK THAT I MAY HAVE FOUND SOMEONE TO WORK THOSE FRIDAYS THAT WE HAVE SOCCER GAMES.YES! BUT I WILL HAVE TO GO IN ON SAT NIGHT AFTER WORKING AT THE SHOP.BOO! OH WELL IT WILL ALL WORK OUT. GOTTA HAVE FAITH.
AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING THROUGH THE SCORCHING HEAT--A STORM MOVED THROUGH THE OTHER NIGHT AND THIS IS NIGHT #2 WE ARE SLEEPING WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN. IT GOT A LITTLE WARM IN HERE TODAY BUT THE HUMIDITY WAS LOW SO I AM GOING TO ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS! IT WONT BE LONG AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT --SNOW. IF IT COULD BE THE WAY IT HAS BEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS FOR A WHILE ILL TAKE IT. I COULD NOT HANDLE LIVING WHERE THERE IN NO CHANGE OF SEASONS. I LOVE ALL SEASONS BUT BY THE END OF THEM IM OVER IT. ILL SAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER POST THOUGH. Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD ONE.

NO CRY FEST TODAY

I DID NOT METION THAT ON FRIDAY AT LUNCH TIME I HAD TOLD RILEY THAT I HAD TO WORK THAT NIGHT. SHE STARTED TO CRY THAT SHE DID NOT WANT ME TO GO. THEN JORDAN STARTED CRYING AND THEN I STARTED TO CRY. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT IT WILL NOT BE FOREVER BUT IT WAS STILL VERY EMOTIONAL FOR ME AS MUCH AS THEM. JUST WHEN I WAS THINKING THAT THEY MAY BE GETTING USED TO IT. HA! IT MAKES ME NOT LIKE BEING THERE THAT MUCH MORE. I TOLD LESLIE THAT I COULD NOT STAND THE PLACE AND SHE ASKED ME WHAT WOULD MAKE ME LIKE IT BETTER. I TOLD HER IF IT WAS IN MY HOME I WOULD LOVE IT. I TOLD HER THIS IS MY JOB AND MY LIFE-WHERE MY HEART IS AND JUST WHAT I LOVE TO DO ---TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY-MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED-A CLEAN HOME-A NICE YARD-CLEAN LAUNDRY-A HOME COOKED MEAL- AND OF COURSE LOVE. I MEAN RIGHT NOW IT JUST HAS TO BE , BUT THE SECOND THAT IT DOESNT--LATER BOB EVANS MY FAMILY NEEDS ME! EVERETT DID TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT LATER AND TOLD THEM THAT I DID NOT SIT AROUND AND WHINE AND CRY WHEN THEY WENT SOMEWHERE AND THAT THEY SHOULD NOT MAKE ME FEEL BAD. HE TRYS TO REASSURE ME BY SAYING THAT IT IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US FOR A LITTLE WHILE. ITS CRAZY AND PRIDE WOULD NOT LET ME DO IT BUT SOMEDAYS I THINK WELFARE HERE I COME! BUT AS LONG AS I AM AN ABLE BODY TO WORK- THATS WHAT I'LL DO.
SO I TOLD THE MANAGER ABOUT THE SOCCER SCHEDULE AND JUST AS I PREDICTED-TUESDAYS WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM BUT FRIDAY WILL BE--I TOLD HER TO DO WHAT SHE CAN FOR ME AND I WILL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN IT COMES.

OH AND I DO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS. THE BEAUTY SHOP THAT I WORK AT HAD A RODENT PROBLEM. YEP A RAT UNDER THE STAIRS. SO I TOOK A BIG STEEL TRAP UP AND SET IT AND THE GIRLS CALLED AND SAID THAT THEY GOT IT. YAY! ONE OF THEIR HUSBANDS WAS GOING TO COME AND DISPOSE OF IT. I TOLD THEM WE BETTER RESET THE TRAP JUST IN CASE.

WE WENT TO MY GRANDMAS TODAY AND I CUT HER HAIR. WE TRIED TO TALK HER INTO GOING AND STAYING AT HER SISTERS FOR A WEEK BECAUSE SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT BEING LONELY. WELL YOU KNOW THE COWS MIGHT GET OUT AND SHE JUST CANT TAKE OFF FOR THAT LONG. WHEN I SUGGESTED THAT SHE JUST CLOSE THE GATE TO THE DRIVE SO IF THE COWS GOT OUT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM GETTING OFF OF THE FARM, SHE JUST SAID"YEAH, AND IF I CLOSED THE GATE THEN EVERYBODY AROUND WOULD KNOW THAT I AM NOT HERE." PAP-PA HAS DEFINATELY RUBBED OFF ON HER MORE THAN WE THOUGHT OVER THE YEARS. SHE ALSO SAID A FRIEND INVITED HER DOWN TO SPEND THE DAY AND SHE RAISED THE QUESTION TO MOM AND I "WELL WHAT WOULD I DO THERE ALL DAY?" UH VISIT WAS OUR ANSWER. IT SEEMS LIKE NOW THAT MY GRANDFATHER IS GONE SHE IS GETTING JUST AS HARD TO GET OFF OF THE PLACE AS HE WAS. SHE JUST PLAIN MISSES HIM AND I JUST CANT BLAME HER. ME TOO.

P.S. ALSO I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO LYNNE AND FAMILY IN FLORIDA! HEY Y'ALL!

SOCCER

WELL WE GOT JORDANS SOCCER SCHEDULE TODAY AND ALL HER GAMES ARE ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHTS. EVEN THOUGH I WORK BOTH NIGHTS, THERE AINT NO WAY I AM MISSING ANY OF THOSE GAMES. SINCE MONDAY IS MY DAY OFF IT SHOULD NOT BE ANY PROBLEM GETTING SOMEONE TO SWITCH WITH ME SO I CAN HAVE TUESDAY OFF INSTEAD. THE PROBLEM WILL BE GETTING SOMEONE TO WORK ON FRIDAY NIGHTS FOR ME. I MAKE MY MOST TIPS ON FRIDAY SO I WOULD LIKE TO WORK A WEEKEND NIGHT. I WONT WORK SUNDAYS SO MY ONLY OTHER OPTION IS TO SEE IF DURING SOCCER SOMEONE WILL SWITCH WITH ME SO I CAN CAN WORK SAT. EVENINGS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT I GO INTO THE SHOP AND START DOING HAIR AT 7:30. WHAT A LONG DAY THAT WOULD BE. ANOTHER PROBLEM I THAT I DONT THINK I COULD HANDLE BEING AWAY FROM THE KIDS THAT LONG. ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FINISH THIS WE ARE HAVING ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS OF MADNESS AND ITS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD! HA HA! I DECIDED TO POST A LITTLE EARLY BECAUSE THE SATELLITE WAS OUT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEY WERE WATCHING A MOVIE. HALFWAY THROUGH THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALMOST DONE POSTING I LOST EVERYTHING THAT I WROTE. THE SATELLITE JUST CAME BACK ON ABOUT 5 MIN AGO....HENCE THE MOMENT OF MADNESS. WELL I JUST GOT AN ATTACHMENT TO MY BACK NAMED RILEY SO DUTY CALLS.

RETURN OF THE KITTY

WELL LAST NIGHT EVERETT SAID THAT HE THOUGHT HE SAW ONE OF THE GRAY KITTENS. THEN THIS MORNING WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE HE HEARD A MEOW SO I WENT OUT TO THE BARN AND THE CALICO KITTEN WAS UP IN THE RAFTERS. NOT SURE HOW IT GOT THERE BUT I GOT IT DOWN AND THE POOR THING ACTED LIKE IT WAS SKITTISH AND GLAD TO SEE ME. NOW WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS THE OTHER GRAY KITTEN THAT EVERETT SAW LAST NIGHT OR THIS ONE I DONT REALLY KNOW, BUT SO FAR ALL I HAVE SEEN TODAY WAS JUST THE ONE. WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP TO THE HOUSE FROM THE BARN, RILEY ACTED LIKE IT HAD NEVER BEEN MISSING TO START WITH. SHE SAID "HOW ARE YOU TODAY LITTLE BUDDY?"

WELL WE WENT TO MOM AND DADS FOR LUNCH TODAY AND AFTER I HELPED HER DO DISHES WE BROUGHT ALL OF THE GIRLS OVER TO SWIM. MICHELLE DID NOT GET IN THE POOL--ME, MOM,DAD, AND HER PLAYED A COUPLE OF GAMES OF AGGREVATION. DAD WON THE FIRST GAME AND MICHELLE WON THE SECOND. I CAME IN LAST ON BOTH. OH WELL WE HAD A BLAST PLAYING. I HAVE AN AGGREVATION BOARD ON THE PICNIC TABLE IN THE SHELTER--IT IS ONE THAT MY DAD MADE WHEN WE WERE JUST KIDS. HE DUG IT UP A WHILE BACK AND WE BROUGHT IT HERE---WE USED TO PLAY FOR HOURS WHEN WE WERE KIDS. OUR KIDS DONT KNOW HOW LUCKY THEY ARE TO HAVE CARTOONS ON 24-7. WE HAD CARTOONS ON SAT. MORNING AND THAT WAS IT. NOT THAT I ALLOW THEM TO WATCH THAT MUCH TV OR THAT THEY WANT TO---BUT AT LEAST THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO WATCH WHEN THEY ARE READY. WE HAD TO WATCH ON SAT MORNINGS OR WE DID NOT GET TO SEE THEM UNTIL THE NEXT SAT. AS I GOT A LITTLE OLDER THEY STARTED TO RUN SOME AFTERNOON CARTOONS BUT THEY ONLY CAME IN CLEAR PART OF THE TIME. I SAY WHAT I JUST SAID BUT KNOW THAT IT DID NOT HURT US ONE BIT. WE FOUND OTHER WAYS TO OCCUPY OUR TIME. JUST NOW RILEY SIT DOWN AND A COMMERCIAL SAID THAT LITTLE BEAR WAS NEXT(SHE HAS NOT WATCHED ANYTHING ALL DAY) SHE SAID"YAY, I LOVE LITTLE BEAR" ABOUT 5 MIN INTO IT SHE WAS RIGHT BACK OUTSIDE. WELL NOW SHE IS COMING BACK IN AND I NEED TO GO. BRANDON IS HERE AND LESLIE IS ON HER WAY AND I AM FIXING SPAGHETTI AND TEXAS TOAST FOR SUPPER.(MUCH TO HUBBY'S DELIGHT!) HA!HA!. OH AND VIC I WILL BE THINKING OF YOU BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU DO LOVE SPAGHETTI. LOL

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE

WE HAD 2 CATS MUFFIN JORDANS CAT IS A GIRL AND MITSY RILEYS CAT IS A BOY. WELL ABOUT 10 WEEK AGO MUFFIN HAD 4 KITTENS. TWO WERE GRAY AND ONE CALICO AND ONE WAS A LIGHT YELLOW. WELL RILEY TOOK TO THE LIGHT YELLOW ONE RIGHT OFF THE BAT AND NAMED IT SHOCKS.(I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THAT CAME FROM) WELL ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO EARLY ONE SATURDAY MORNING WHILE I WAS WORKING-MY HUSBAND GOT UP EARLY TO GET SOME THINGS DONE OUTSIDE WHILE THE KIDS WERE STILL ASLEEP. HE THEN DECIDED TO ROLL HIS MOTORCYCLE OUT OF THE SHELTER AND INTO THE YARD TO WASH IT. WELL SHOCKS WAS ON TOP OF THE BACK TIRE UNDER THE FENDER AND HE DID NOT KNOW IT AND YES HE ROLLED RIGHT OVER TOP OF IT. HE THEN BURIED THE CAT. HE DID NOT TELL RILEY WHAT HAPPENED TO IT BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW RILEY SHE NEVER FORGETS ANYTHING AND WOULD HAVE NEVER FORGAVE HIM FOR IT. HE TOLD ME HE HAS NEVER FELT SO BAD OVER A DEAD CAT BEFORE IN HIS LIFE. WELL IT WAS ONE OF THOSE BLAZING HOT DAYS THAT DAY AND HIM AND RILEY WALKED AROUND THE PASTURE LOOKING FOR SHOCKS FOR 3 HOURS. TO ME THATS A GREAT DAD TO DO THAT KNOWING WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. WELL THE OTHER 3 WERE STILL AROUND. YESTERDAY A FRIEND CAME OVER TO GET HER HAIR CUT. THEN HER SON CAME UP IN A DIFFERENT CAR. BY THE TIME THEY LEFT I GOT READY FOR WORK AND LEFT TOO. A STORM HAD ROLLED THROUGH AND I DID NOT THINK ANYTHING ABOUT NOT SEEING THE KITTENS. WELL WHEN I CAME IN LAST NIGHT I SAW WHAT AT THE TIME I THOUGHT WAS A DEAD RABBIT IN THE DRIVEWAY. FOUND OUT TODAY THAT IT WAS ONE OF THE KITTENS. THE OTHER 2 ARE ALSO MISSING. MY GUESS IS THAT THEY WERE ALL UNDER ONE OF OUR CARS. RILEY IS HEARTBROKEN. I TRIED TO EXPLAIN TO HER THAT THEY PROBABLY RODE OFF UNDER ANY OF OUR CARS AND HAVE A NEW HOME. IT HELPED TO TELL HER THAT MUFFIN WILL HAVE BABIES AGAIN SOMEDAY. SO NOW WE ARE BACK DOWN TO THE 2 CATS THAT WE STARTED WITH INSTEAD OF SIX. IN A WAY I FEEL GUILTY FOR LIKING IT JUST FINE THAT WAY BECAUSE WE REALLY ARE NOT CAT PEOPLE AND ONLY HAVE THE ONES WE DO BECAUSE OF THE GIRLS. BUT MY HEART BREAKS FOR THE KIDS. BUT JUST LIKE MOST THINGS THIS TO SHALL PASS.

HOW DO YOU RETURN SOMEONES FAITH?

THERE IS THIS LADY THAT I WORK WITH AND SHE HAS LEAD A VERY ROUGH LIFE. I AM NOT SURE HOW HER CHILDHOOD WAS BUT ADULTHOOD HAD NOT BEEN KIND. I WILL START WITH WHAT I KNOW YEARS AGO 2 DAYS AFTER SHE FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH HER FIRST CHILD WHO IS NOW 19 SHE WAS SHOT IN THE BACK. LUCKILY SHE DID NOT LOSE HER BABY. SHE HAD TO HAVE SURGERY TO REMOVE THE BULLET 2 MO. AFTER IT HAPPENED. SHE WENT ON TO HAVE 3 CHILDREN. THEN IN BETWEEN HER 3RD AND 4TH CHILD SHE MISCARRIED 8 TIMES, TWO OF WHICH SHE WAS 5 AND A HALF MONTHS. AFTER HER FOURTH CHILD SHE FOUND OUT SHE HAD CERVICAL CANCER AND HAD TO HAVE A HYSTERECTOMY. HER YOUNGEST CHILD IS NINE YEARS OLD AND HAS TERMINAL CANCER. 2 MONTHS AGO HER 17 YEAR OLD SON WAS FOUND DEAD BY A CREEK. AND OVER THE YEARS HER FIRST HUSBAND BEAT HER , CHOKED HER AND PULLED A GUN ON HER, NOT TO METION WAS MEAN TO THE KIDS. SHE DID GET OUT OF THAT MARRIAGE AND DID REMARRY. THEY ARE SEPARATED BUT TRYING TO WORK THINGS OUT. SHE TOLD ME TONIGHT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD HER THAT "GOD WILL NOT PUT ANYTHING MORE ON YOU THAN YOU CAN HANDLE" AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE JUST CAN NOT HANDLE WHAT IS HAPPENING LET ALONE ANYMORE. I HAVE TO TELL YOU FOLKS IF I WAS IN HER SHOES I AM NOT SURE THAT I WOULD HAVE ANY FAITH LEFT EITHER. ALL I KNOW TO DO IS JUST TO PRAY FOR HER. SHE DID SAY THAT THE ONLY THING REASONABLE (BECAUSE SHE CANT BRING BACK HER SON AND CANT STOP THE OTHER FROM DYING) THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO HAPPEN IN HER LIFE WAS TO MEET SOMEONE WHO WOULD TREAT HER AND HER KIDS RIGHT. I KNOW WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BUT IT DOES MAKE YOU WONDER WHY HAS ALL OF THIS BEEN BESTOWED UPON HER? YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT HEARING HER STORY MAKES ALL OF THOSE LITTLE PROBLEMS NOTHING. SO TONIGHT I WILL PRAY FOR HER AND HER FAMILY AND PROBABLY EVERY NIGHT THERE AFTER.

ISNT LIFE FUNNY

I WENT TO CLEAN FOR MY GRANDMA TODAY AND ISNT IT FUNNY HOW WE USED TO GET ON TO MY GRANDPA FOR COMING IN WITH MUD CAKED ON HIS SHOES AND TRACKING THROUGH THE HOUSE AFTER WE HAD JUST MOPPED AND WAXED THE FLOOR AND NOW I REALLY MISS CLEANING THAT MUD UP. EVERYTIME I WOULD GO UP EITHER TO CLEAN OR TO VISIT IT SEEMS THAT I CLEANED UP A MUDDY TRAIL LEADING FROM THE BASEMENT TO HIS CHAIR AND TO THE FRONT DOOR. I HAVE ALWAYS TOLD MAM-MA THAT THE CLEANEST SPOT IN THE HOUSE WAS THE FLOOR ON HER SIDE OF THE BED. IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE HE DID NOT GO. SHE HAS BEEN GETTING SOME OF HIS STUFF TOGETHER AND WASHING IT AND DONATING IT. SHE SEEMS LONELY. NOT THE KIND OF LONELY THAT IF THERE IS NO ONE AROUND, JUST LONELY FOR HIM. SHE SAYS SHE MISSES HIM MOST WHEN SHE GOES TO BED. I COULD NOT IMAGINE EVERETT NOT BEING THERE AND WE HAVE ONLY BEEN MARRIED FOR 15 YEARS. COULD YOU IMAGINE HOW IT WOULD FEEL AFTER 69? AS A JOKE AFTER WE CELEBRATED THEIR 69 TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY EARLIER THIS YEAR, I TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT "I SAID FOREVER BUT I DID NOT MEAN THAT DARN LONG". JUST JOKING BABE YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU. BUT SERIOUSLY FOLKS---MANY DONT LIVE TO SEE MUCH PAST 69YEARS OLD--JUST IMAGINE BEING MARRIED THAT LONG.

MOMENTS OF MADNESS

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN THEN I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO HAVE THOSE LITTLE MOMENTS OF MADNESS IN YOUR HOUSE TOO. MINE ARE ALWAYS WHEN I GET ON THE PHONE, IN THE BATHROOM, IN THE SHOWER WHEN IT IS JUST ME AND THE KIDS HERE, OR AS IT WAS TODAY WHEN I SIT DOWN TO EAT. I GOT UP EARLY THIS MORNING TO CLEAN AND DO LAUNDRY ETC... THE KIDS HAD BEEN WELL BEHAVED AND HAD A LATE BREAKFAST. WELL I DO NOT EAT BREAKFAST AND GETTING UP EARLY AS I DID WAS HUNGRY AT 11:30. I WAS AT A STOPPING POINT FOR THE MOMENT AND NEEDED A BREAK AND DECIDED TO SIT DOWN AND EAT A BOLOGNA SANDWICH AND SOME PRINGLES. A TASK THAT WOULD ONLY TAKE ME 5-10 MINUTES. I WAS UP AND DOWN ABOUT A MILLION TIMES IN THAT TIME FRAME AND I DO GET A LITTLE AGGRAVATED. KIDS WILL BE KIDS AND THAT IS FINE BUT IT IS LIKE THEY HAVE THIS RADAR WHEN THEY CAN PUSH YOUR BUTTONS AND IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE AT THE MOST INCONVIENT TIMES. I AM GLAD TO DO MOST ANYTHING FOR MY CHILDREN FROM GETTING DRINKS OR GETTING ON TO THEM WHEN THEY NEED IT. IS IT TO MUCH TO ASK TO HAVE 5 MINUTES ABOUT 3 TIMES A DAY TO TAKE CARE OF A LITTLE BUSINESS? OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THAT IS ALWAYS WHEN THOSE MOMENTS OF MADNESS OCCUR.

OH HOW I LOVE THEE BUT YOU DRIVE ME CRAZY

I KNOW THIS IS THE SECOND POST OF THE DAY AND TODAY WENT PRETTY SMOOTH UNTIL WE TOOK JORDAN TO SOCCER PRACTICE. YOU SEE RILEY FELL ASLEEP IN THE CAR JUST BEFORE WE GOT THERE. SHE SLEPT UNTIL WE GOT TO BOB EVANS. IN OTHER WORDS SHE HAD A TEN MINUTE POWER NAP. WE DO NOT USUALLY LET RILEY HAVE A NAP AT ALL BECAUSE SHE WILL STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT-1AM. AS IT IS SHE USUALLY STAYS UP UNTIL 10:30-11. OH YEAH SHE USUALLY GETS UP EARLY TOO. ANYWAY AFTER HER POWER NAP WE WENT TO WALMART AND OF COURSE SHE HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AND ENDED UP IN THE CART RIGHT AWAY. WE WENT TO WATCH JORDAN FINISH PRACTICE AND SHE HAD TO PEE AGAIN AS SOON AS WE GOT THERE. IN THE MEAN TIME SHE TALKED 100 MILE AN HOUR NON-STOP FROM THE TIME SHE WOKE UP UNTIL WELL SHE IS STILL GOING. SHE FELL OFF A BENCH AND THE BLEACHERS AFTER ME TELLING HER SHE BETTER NOT STAND ON THERE OR SHE WAS GOING TO FALL. DONT WORRY SHE WAS FINE AND DID NOT FALL HARD OR EVEN CRY BUT IT WAS THE FACT THAT SHE DID NOT LISTEN TO ME. AFTER PRACTICE WE HAD TO GO FINISH OUR SHOPPING AT ALDIS AND SHE JUMPED AROUND AND AS I CALL IT FIDDLE-FARTED AROUND UNTIL SHE GOT HERSELF A SWAT IN THE SECOND ISLE. ALL WHILE TALKING NON-STOP. WE MADE IT THROUGH THERE AND ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS GET HOME. WELL HALF-WAY HOME WITH RILEY TALKING AND JORDAN TRYING TO GET A WORD IN WE CREAMED A BABY DEER. WE KEPT RIGHT ON GOING AND ONLY BROKE OUT A RUNNING LIGHT. IT WAS THE QUIETEST FIVE MINUTES OF THE DAY. WE GOT HOME AND PUT AWAY GROCERIES AND ME, EVERETT, AND RILEY GOT IN THE POOL. TALKING AND SWIMMING DO NOT MIX. RILEY FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY AND GOT A MOUTHFULL AND CHOKED AND GAGGED UNTIL SHE THREW UP. DID NOT STOP HER FROM GOING ON CHIT CHAT CHIT CHAT. I LOVE HER SO MUCH BUT I SWEAR WHEN SHE FINALLY STOPS TONIGHT I WILL BREATH A SIGH OF RELIEF. SOME DAYS SHE DOES NOT EVEN STOP TO CHEW HER FOOD. I LIKE TO TALK A LOT TOO. SHE DOES COME BY IT HONEST, BUT EVEN I STOP TO EAT.

A STRANGE DAY

WELL YESTERDAY WAS A STRANGE DAY. I SAY THAT BECAUSE WE HAD MORE ADULTS HERE THAN KIDS AND THAT IS UNUSUAL. AND WE NEVER HAVE QUITE AS MUCH COMPANY JUST STOP BY AS WE DID YESTERDAY. MY HUSBANDS AUNT AND UNCLE AND THEIR SON CAME OVER AND WHILE THEY WERE HERE OUR NEPHEW AND HIS GIRLFRIEND CAME. THEN HIS OTHER UNCLE, HIS SON IN LAW, AND HIS STEP SON ALL RODE THERE MOTORCYCLES OUT. THEN LATER ON A GUY THAT HE USED TO WORK WITH RODE HIS BIKE OUT. THEN HIS COUSIN AND HER HUSBAND RODE THEIR BIKE OUT. AND ALL THIS TIME THERE WERE ONLY JORDAN, RILEY, AND DYLAN IN THE POOL. THINGS GOT BACK TO NORMAL TODAY FOR A WHILE WITH MOM, DAD, AND I AND 5 KIDS IN THE POOL. THIS IS MORE THE WAY THE ODDS RUN AROUND HERE.

WELL MY HUSBAND IS NO LONGER EMPLOYED AS OF TODAY. HE IS OVER THERE RIGHT NOW PICKING UP HIS TOOL BOX AND TOOLS. I AM GLAD HE IS OUT OF THERE AND HE IS ALREADY LINING THINGS UP TO DO. I THINK MOM IS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT FINANCES, BUT SHE DID NOT HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE CRAP THAT HE DID. HERE LATELY HE COULD HAVE BEEN MAKING MORE MONEY IF HE WERE WORKING AT MCDONALDS. WITHOUT A DOUBT ANYTHING HAS TO BE BETTER THAN WHERE HE WAS WORKING. SO NOW THAT WE HAVE SOME OTHER INCOME COMING IN HE CAN DO SOMETHING BETTER. WELL ITS THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND DUTY CALLS. I HAVE A LOT TO DO BEFORE TAKING JORDAN TO SOCCER TODAY. WHILE SHE IS THERE I HAVE TO GO GET MY CHECK AND GET A FEW THINGS AT THE STORE. WHICH I REALLY DONT LIKE TO GO TO THE STORE, BUT ALAS IT IS PART OF LIFE.

OH SO TIRED

WELL AFTER GETTING HOME AT AROUND 10:30 LAST NIGHT AND GETTING RILEY SETTLED IN BED AND MYSELF CLEANED UP AND CHANGED AND OF COURSE HAVING A LITTLE CONVERSATION WITH MY HUSBAND, IT WAS AROUND MIDNIGHT BEFORE I SIT DOWN. AND OF COURSE I AM ONE WHO HAS TO WIND DOWN A LITTLE BIT SO I WATCHED ABOUT AN HOUR OF TV. OF COURSE I NEVER CAN GO RIGHT TO SLEEP-TOSS AND TURN. SO I AM GUESSING IT WAS AROUND 2AM BEFORE I GOT ANY REAL SLEEP. I HAVE TO BE AT THE SHOP WHICH IS 35 MIN. AWAY AT 7:30 ON SATURDAYS. AS I WAS TAKING MY SHOWER THIS MORNING I HEARD MY HUSBAND SAY "SHE IS IN THE SHOWER" SO I KNEW IT WAS LITTLE MISS RILEY AWAKE. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE SHOWER SHE WANTED ME TO COME IN AND LAY WITH HER. I TOLD HER I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO THE SHOP AND WORK AND THAT HER AND JORDAN WOULD BE GOING WITH AUNT VICKI {WHO WAS IN FROM INDY FOR THE WEEKEND} TO MA-MA REEDS HOUSE. WELL SHE WANTED TO GO WITH ME TO THE SHOP. NORMALLY IF I KNOW AHEAD OF TIME I WILL TAKE A SMALL TV AND DVD PLAYER IF THE KIDS ARE GOING WITH ME. I EXPLAINED TO HER THAT I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND THAT IF SHE WANTED TO GO SHE HAD TO BE VERY GOOD. SHE AGREED---DONT THEY ALWAYS--ANYWAY OFF WE WENT TO THE SHOP. WE GOT THERE AND WOULDNT YOU KNOW THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANYONE UNTIL 9AM. SO WE WENT AND GOT BREAKFAST AND AFTER WE FINISHED EATING RILEY GOT HER HAIR WASHED AND FINGERNAILS PAINTED AND TOENAILS PAINTED. I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER BEHAVED CHILD ALL DAY. WE STAYED UNTIL AFTER 2 AND I TOLD THE GIRLS THAT I WILL TAKE APPOINTMENTS AT 7:30 BUT IF NOBODY BOOKS AT THAT TIME TO CALL ME AND TELL ME ON FRIDAY NIGHTS WHEN MY FIRST ONE IS ON SAT. I USUALLY STAY LATER THAN THAT BUT I WAS TIRED. BESIDES, THOUGHT I BETTER NOT PUSH MY LUCK TO MUCH WITH RILEY. I THINK I NEED TO START PACING MYSELF A LITTLE MORE ON THE DAYS THAT I HAVE TO WORK. I RUN AROUND HERE AND HARDLY SIT AND TAKE A BREAK ON WEEKDAYS TRYING TO PUSH AND GET WHAT I CAN DONE. THEN I GO INTO BOB EVANS AT 5 AND AM ON MY FEET ALL EVENING. WE WERE BUSY THERE LAST NIGHT AND MY FEET AND LEGS HURT TODAY. SO I JUST HAD TO JUST SIT FOR A FEW BEFORE I START SUPPER. WELL BREAKS OVER.

SWEET RELIEF

WE FINALLY GOT SOME RAIN LAST NIGHT. OF COURSE NOT NEAR ENOUGH AND NOT NEAR AS MUCH AS THEY DID IN TOWN. YOU SEE WE LIVE RIGHT ABOVE THIS LITTLE BEND IN THE RIVER AND ANY TIME A STORM MOVES ACROSS IN A STRAIGHT LINE IT GETS TO OUR LITTLE BEND, IT SPLITS, GOES AROUND US THEN COMES BACK TOGETHER IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON THE OTHER SIDE. BUT USUALLY WHEN WE GET IT WE GET IT GOOD. LAST NIGHT WAS JUST THE TAIL END. THE GOOD THING IS IT COOLED US OFF A FEW DEGREES. I WAS WORKING OUTSIDE AND HAD TO WORK UP A SWEAT INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING IN THE SHADE AND SWEATING. I AM GLAD BECAUSE I HAVE TO FINISH THE MOWING. I THINK THE HIGH TODAY IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE 90 YEAH! WELL RILEY IS DONE EATING SO DUTY CALLS.

OH WHY DONT PARENTS CARE

MY NEPHEW AND HIS GIRLFRIEND LIVE DOWNTOWN AND SHE KEPT THE KIDS FOR ME TONIGHT WHILE I WORKED. I SET DOWN THERE AND TALKED FOR A WHILE AFER I GOT OFF WORK SO WHEN I LEFT IT WAS AFTER 10:30. WHEN WE LEFT THERE WERE ABOUT 5 KIDS AROUND 7 OR 8 YRS OLD PLAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION WITH NO ADULTS IN SIGHT. GRANTED IT IS A SIDE STREET, BUT THERE IS A 10 O CLOCK CURFEW. TO ME THE THOUGHT IS JUST SO SCARY AND I AM JUST IMAGINING THE NUMBER OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN. WHATS SCARIER IS THAT I WAS PROBABLY MORE WORRIED ABOUT THOSE BOYS THAN THEIR PARENTS. I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO DONT CARE WHAT HAPPENS OR COULD HAPPEN TO THEIR CHILDREN.

SOCCER

WELL STARTING TOMORROW JORDAN STARTS SOCCER PRACTICE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TWO TIMES A WEEK. I AM NOT ONE FOR GETTING MY KIDS INVOLVED AND NOT BEING THE ONE WHO TAKES THEM TO AND FROM PRACTICE. SHE WILL BE PRACTICING ON MONDAY AND THURSDAY. MONDAY I AM OFF SO IT WORKS OUT GREAT. THURSDAY IT WILL WORK OUT TO WHERE I CAN TAKE HER AND ONLY NEED SOMEONE TO PICK HER UP. HER COACH THIS YEAR IS THE COACH WHOS TEAM WAS SO TOUGH LAST YEAR AND THEY WON IT ALL. SOCCER TEAMS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE RANDOMLY PICKED AND EVERY TEAM THAT WE PLAYED HAD PARENTS JUST LIKE US. THIS GUYS TEAM WAS MADE UP OF ALL OF THE DR. AND LAWYERS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS WHICH SEEMS AWFULLY SUSPICIOUS TO ME{AFTER ALL THIS IS MADISON}. ANYHOW OUR TEAM WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT GAVE THEM A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY AND THEY DID NOT SCORE NEAR AS MANY POINTS WHEN THEY PLAYED US. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN A SOCCER GAME--IT IS A ROUGH SPORT. JORDAN PLAYS DEFENSE AND IS VERY GOOD AT IT. ANY HOW I THINK SHE IS GOOD ENOUGH THAT SHE WAS HAND-PICKED FOR THIS TEAM SHE WILL BE ON.
RILEY WANTS TO BE ON A SOCCER TEAM TOO. BUT AT HER AGE ALL THEY OFFER IS T-SHIRTS AND SCRIMAGE AND SEPARATED INTO TEAMS AS THEY SHOW UP. RILEY WOULD NOT BE SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT BIG SIS IS DOING. SHE WANTS A TEAM WITH A UNIFORM AND THE SAME KIDS EVERY TIME YOU PLAY. THEREFORE SHE WILL WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR TO PLAY. THEN I PLAN ON NOT WORKING AND CAN RUN THEM BOTH BACK AND FORTH. ITS FUNNY THAT I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY TRIED STAYING HOME FOR A LITTLE BIT BUT COULD NOT STAND IT AND HAD TO GO BACK TO WORK. ME I AM TRYING TO WORK FOR A LITTLE BIT AND I CANT STAND IT AND WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO STAYING HOME. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS FOR EVERETT TO GET HIS SHOP UP AND RUNNING OUT HERE AND THEN ALL OF US CAN BE HERE TOGETHER. SOON SOON SOON.

WHAT A DAY

SO I GOT UP THIS MORNING AND DONE THE USUAL TONS OF LAUNDRY. TODAY WAS THE DAY THAT I HAD TO DO THE THREE GIRLS HAIR THAT HAD LICE LAST WEEK. JORDAN GOT INVITED TO GO WITH A VERY CLOSE FRIEND TO THE POOL AND TO HER HOUSE AFTER{YEAH I KNOW I SAID NO EXTRA KIDS BUT IT IS HARD TO SAY NO WHEN WE LIVE WAY OUT HERE-AND I TRUST THESE PEOPLE AND NATALIES MOM CHECKS HER HAIR ON A REGULAR BASIS} AND I MADE PLANS WITH MOM TO HAVE RILEY SO THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BE AROUND THEM. GOOD THING BECAUSE I GOT THERE AT 12:15 AND 2 OUT OF THE 3 HAD MOVING BUGS. SO I HAD TO TREAT THEM ALL BEFORE I DONE THEIR HAIR. ALL GOT CUTS AND 2 GOT HIGHLIGHTS. I WENT AHEAD AND TREATED MY HEAD BEFORE I LEFT THERE BECAUSE I HAD BEEN KNEE DEEP IN IT FOR HOURS. I LEFT THERE AT 4:15 AND HAD TO STILL GET MY SHOWER AND GET READY FOR WORK TO BE THERE AT 5. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS 5 MINUTES LATE FOR WORK. THE BUMMER WAS THAT I WAS PLANNING ON BEING DONE BY 2-2:30 AND BE ABLE TO SPEND A COUPLE OF HOURS 1 ON 1 WITH RILEY AND I DID NOT GET TO SEE HER UNTIL I GOT HOME FROM WORK. GOOD THING MY KIDS STAY UP LATE. TONIGHT I GOT TO BRING HOME ANY LEFTOVERS THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ORDERED WRONG SO EVERETT GOT TO EAT A HOMEMADE POT PIE AND I BROUGHT HOME BICUITS AND ROLLS. I CAN NOT STAND SEEING IT GO TO WASTE AND JUST THROWN AWAY. WE DO NOT WASTE ANYTHING AROUND HERE.