NOOOOO.....

I know that I am procrastinating regarding this whole "back to school shopping" thing. I keep putting it off so it is not so real! I don't want the kids to go back... I want summer break to be for forever ... and why do I not just home school. GGGRRR! One reason is for the child in my house that has Anxiety, I pull this child out, and the child may go backwards ... Lord knows I could not handle that. But school is such a battle for us... that summer break is a piece of Heaven. And I am not sure I am up for the fight AGAIN.

But I know that I need to suck it up, get on my big girl panties and get out the door. So I am thinking Thursday is as good a day as any. "Face to the sunshine" ... or as my girlfriend likes to quote Dori "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming". Sad really that we now quote little animated creatures! Really she is smart ... maybe I just don't retain the smart things she says. LOL. Anywho, so I am going to do it. And I am going to do it with the fakest smile I can muster up for my kids.

Then Friday I am visiting with my Mormor (Mom's mom for all who do not speak Danish). That shall be a fun challenge (see positive spin). As their hearing has gone down hill and they speak more Danish the English ... did I mention I speak VERY little danish .... like thanks for the meal is about the best I can pull out. Heck I know more Spanish!

So busy times after having such a wonderful relaxing summer. Now see me fake it till I feel it!

Andrea

Going, Going, Gone...

5 hours, 3 bags of garbage, 4 bags of cloths and we now have 2 bedrooms clean! I can not believe how much junk children collect over the year. Cleaning was almost as long as a triathlon (I may have enjoyed the triathlon more).



I explained to the kids the more they have the more mess they will have to clean. Less means more time to play. Well the youngest one got it and was chucking stuff out left right and centre! Then she went after her brother's room... had him making piles (keep, give away, chuck out). Flylady would be proud of my baby girl! However his room is not completed, so we will finish his room off today and the rest of the house.



I was really blessed the other day. A friend of mine gave me a gift card to a salon ($200) because I took care of her cat for 2 weeks. I could not believe it. I feel it was over the top, so I have asked her to join me in getting our nails or toes done. Hopefully she will take me up on the offer.



My kids and I have really enjoyed the Olympics. But I have to say that the Triathlon really got us. We were so proud to see our Canadian, Whitfield! He was so amazing and we loved cheering for him. Thanks Mr Simon Whitfield for giving us a wonderful family evening!



Andrea

Fresh starts... to the week... to the $$$ ... to the school year...

Well, was my Sunday relaxing or what! My back was so bad I ended up on my girlfriends floor all day (thank u for taking care of me and the creeps). Then toward the end of the day I heard a click, seems my hip was what caused all the pain. Man, I have got to make myself a priority and get this back/hip thing checked out! Still sore today but nothing even close to yesterday. The show must go on.

We are on a cash only budget now , and I have got to say I love it. It is so nice to see what I have for the week and plan from there (funny thing, it is just nice to have $$$). I know I could see if I checked my accounts while using interact ... but actually seeing the cash ... well it seems to make me feel like I have more control. LOL ... tricking the brain I guess. I saw the whole "living on cash" thing on Til Dept Do Us Part (I think that is what it is called) and she made many good points. So I thought with the new job change and financial change, now was a good time for change. However I am meeting a bit of rebelion from Big Daddy... do I have to take all his cards away??? Poor Big Daddy!

Some time this week or next week I am going to do a bit of back to school shopping. First I am going through all the kids clothing cause I feel that I waste too much money on clothing for them and they have loads (and that makes loads of laundry) of clothing. I am embarrassed to admit that my youngest (do to all the hand me downs and new stuff) can't even close her dresser drawers! So I am going to purge, purge, purge ...

Fresh starts all around!

Andrea

Sunday is my Monday...

Looks like the rain is coming to the coast next week! So we better get our swimming in and save the house cleaning for the rainy days.

Big Daddy is leaving Sunday morning ... so next week is starting a day early for me. I have so much to fit in today so I don't have to drag all the creeps with me when I do all my running around. However Big Daddy took the oldest child, and the two of them went tool shopping. It is looking like my window of freedom is getting smaller by the minute! I am not a lover of bringing the kids shopping with me.... so I may be shopping very late today.

Enjoy the day.

Andrea

It's getting hot in here ...

Today is big time pool day! It is gonna be a hot one today and we have 4 adults and 9 kids coming over today ... don't for get to also add my 3 to the pile. Should be one great time. I am sure there will be no water left in the pool, and my grass will not have to been watered til next year (cannon ball city). I love it!

I am going to put up a shade tent for the little ones, move a few things (table with umbrella and extra chairs) toward the back of the yard and get blankets out (picnicking). This is going to be so much fun.

I just saw a show about a young girl (I think 15, if that) had a tummy tuck and breast reduction done ... Um ok. What is going on in this world! She had her chest done cause she thought it made her look fat! Not because her back or shoulders hurt .... is that not .... strange ... WOW!

I have to go and build up my daughters!

Andrea

Who needs friends like that ...

I do not like a few of the people my husband has chosen as so called friends. They do nothing but make fun of him and treat him badly. I am so sick of it and one of them sent me the final straw. Via email this person picked on my husband to me ... like it was funny. Jealousy, that is what their issue is. Plain old jealousy. Big Daddy is such a great guy, he loves to work, we have a great marriage, our kids are crazy great, we have wonderful friendships with other couples ... and well a few of these so called friends ... don't have any of the above.

Why oh why can people just not be happy for others. It just grosses me out!

Ahhhh, ok now I have vented and feeling a bit better. All week we have friends over and we are loving it. The beach day was great... I think we were there over 6 hours. The kids had so much fun and my girlfriend and I spent the entire time laughing. Summer is soooo super fun!

Andrea

Beach baby...

Well, we are off to the lake with friends today. Funny that I live only 10 minutes from the lake ... 10 minutes at most... and I have not been this year at all. Price of gas (a large shiny new truck) and our new pool has kept me home. But I have no regrets. I have saved money and had a wonderful time having friends and family over.

So today we will play Beach baby ... and Wednesday it is back to backyard dwelling!

Andrea