Sherri Champagne

Summer is finally here

2009-07-06T21:21:00.001-07:00

We have finally had 3 days in a row where we saw sun and really warm temps. I am loving every minute of it.

My last post makes me chuckle although at the time I think I wanted to knock someone out.

We have only 3 days left until our well deserved trip to Disney. I am getting excited but still have WAY to much to do before I leave. Get Jake to our friends Kim and Wayne's. We have a house sitter coming for the cat's so making sure everything is in order. However, the biggest and most daunting task is packing for everyone. That is so tough. No Internet for 9 days I will update facebook through Twitter but other than that no communication unless you have my cell # than you can text me.

We had my Mom & Dad's 20th wedding anniversary that was such an awesome day. I miss my sister, niece and nephew I really enjoyed them all this visit. We had the most incredible weather and just such an enjoyable day. A big thank you to Rachael who got some amazing photos she just needs to clean a few of them up and I will post them.

Jakers to us and Jake to everyone else will be officially 9mo's on Friday. He has made a definite new home. As much as we all love him, he has made it known that he is Brady's pal. They play together all day. Don't think you will ever touch Brady if Jake is around because he yells at us all the time for touching his pal. If I ever had a doubt whether it was a good idea to have adopted him all I have to do is look at Brady and Jake together.

Okay well I will update more later. I updated more than enough info for one evening.

The person who invented puberty please step forward

2009-06-08T14:40:00.000-07:00

So as you see from my title I have another child beginning puberty. God needs to give me strength to get through this a second time in just over a year. I want to know who in heavens name decided to invent such a horrible, torturous thing called puberty. I would like to put them in front of a firing squad. I know I know you must all be laughing especially my mother. However, this is really not such a funny matter he is fine one second, stomping feet another, sobbing another, screaming at the top of lungs at me as the grand finale.

I swear one of us is not going to make it I am just not sure if it will be him or me yet. Stay tuned for updates into this hellish thing someone decided to call puberty.

We are still in full swing of baseball Austin's team has only 1 win and the rest are sad losses, Colby's team has 1 tie and the rest are very sad losses. So it has been a heartbreaking season for them both. This adds so well to my dilemna of paragraph #1.

Saturday is going to be my mom & dad's 20th wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has been so many years already. AMAZING!!! Time flies

Should have been born blond

2009-05-31T19:37:00.000-07:00

I must have too much on my plate as usual because I had such a blond moment this weekend. Colby's baseball coach must think we are on drugs. Colby was not feeling well on Friday night and woke up on Saturday still pretty sick. So as I got Austin ready for his baseball game. I made Colby call his coach and tell him he was sick and wouldn't be at his game that was at 11:30am. Well I just looked at the schedule and Colby's game wasn't yesterday it was today. Oh my heavens I am losing it.

Well over all it was a nice weekend not really too much going on. My sister and the kids fly in next weekend and as usual we will have 2 weeks of straight chaos.

Can not believe that tomorrow is June 1st and the kids only have 3 weeks left of school. I can not WAIT!!! This school year has been heck and I am soooo looking forward to a break. This mom is on overload and we all need to chill and have some good times. Our Florida trip is 5 weeks and 2 days away. I can't believe how fast it is approaching it is going to be here and gone before we even realize it.

Okay that is it for now.

This has certainly been an interesting month.

2009-05-28T18:50:00.000-07:00

Their are times that occur in my life that I wish I could relive over and over, just so I never forget them. Others I wish would go silently away so I didn't have to ever remember for the rest of my life. This month has had many of both.

SOME OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF MAY 09'

My little guy turned 3. We had amazing weather family and friends that came to celebrate this amazing day. He had a Disney Cars cake that his mommy made for him w/love.
Rachael graduated w/honors from Hesser w/a degree in Graphic Design.
Having some amazing times w/our new puppy dog Jake.
Watching my boys playing baseball.
Watching Colby excel at school this year. With grades as well as meeting some new amazing friends.
Tiffany's graduation from Dental school.

SOME OF THE WORST MOMENTS OF MAY 09'

Having had Jen lose her brother. I feel so sad for her and her family. The pain I just wish I could make go away.
The stress of money has been insane.
Having child #2 beginning to hit puberty. It is truly a test of endurance on my part and trying to maintain being a good mom. Both with which I am constantly in battle with.
The loss of my brothers beloved dog Sebastian.

Brady in many ways manages to keep a smile on my face in the face of uncertainty. Tonight trying not to be cranky decided to cook a really good dinner for the family. I made picante chicken w/red bell peppers, honey roasted red potatoes and steamed veggies.

Brady took one look at his plate and said he was not eating. My response was okay but if you don't eat you won't get the swedish fish he desperately wanted for dessert. So he got up from the table and went into his room comes out with his rolling back pack and states that he is packing his bag and running away. He packs his jacket, blankie and we say what else are you taking he tries to grab the swedish fish bag off the counter. I just burst into laughter. We said where are you going to sleep he says I don't know. The dog is biting at his bag the whole time as he is heading for the door, trying to drag it back. I am just quietly thinking this child is a whole other entity all to his own. My other two never dreamed of the things Brady already has at 3. We say to Brady we will miss you horribly if you leave. He eventually agrees not to leave and we make a compromise on dinner. He ate half his plate and managed to get the fish that caused the uproar in the first place.

Well as this month quickly is coming to a close I am anxious to see what June will hold for us. I am praying for incredible weather and lots of fun times outside, enjoying it all with my family. With a lot more smiles and a lot less crying and screaming. Only time will tell.

Never forget to say I love you.

2009-05-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

This month has so far been insane. We made it through Brian's wedding and I am so thankful it is over and we can put it behind us.

The boys baseball is in full swing. Sadly Austin is 0-1 and Colby's team is 0-2. However, on the bright side Colby had an amazing hit Saturday and I am thrilled to have seen it.

This is the overview of my upcoming week.

Monday I have to pick up Austin at 5pm from school, Colby has a game at 6pm.

Tuesday Colby has to be picked up from School

Wednesday Colby has to be picked up from School, Austin has practice, Colby has a game.

Thursday Austin has to be driven to school, Colby has to be picked up after school and Colby has a game.

Friday get everything ready for Saturday and Sunday. Tiffany graduates from dental school.

Saturday Austin & Colby have games, baseball pictures, Colby has a birthday party at his friend Michaels house and Bradys party here. Jake gets picked up and going to Gina's.

Sunday Rachael's graduation and party. Pick up Jake from Gina's.

I seriously wrote this down so I don't forget anybody or anything this week. My brain is a jumble.

This is also a sad week indeed my poor friend Jen just lost her brother and I am very saddened by this horrible news. I also found out my brother has to put his beloved dog Sebastian down today. It is a week of many highs and the reality that it can all be gone in an instant. Enjoy every moment you have because you never know if it can be your last, never go to bed mad, don't ever say something you can't take back and NEVER forget to say I love you.

I am going to end with this and it makes me stop to realize that no matter how busy I am I never want to forget to say I LOVE YOU!!.

We got a taste of summer.

2009-04-28T15:01:00.001-07:00

Well the kids are on spring break and I am loving them home. I am also thrilled that the weather has been amazing so far for them. We have totally received a glimpse of summer this week. The temps have been in the 90's for the past couple of days and I am loving it. We have totally been enjoying being outside after being trapped inside all winter. Although the winds have now kicked up and I think we are in for a doozy of a rain storm here in a little bit.

We have been so busy with the boys baseball and trying to see friends that I have been literally straight out. We also watched Rachael's kids last Friday to Saturday that was a lot of fun. They are such great kids that I enjoy having them so much. On Sunday we were blessed to go once again to the Shrine Circus compliments of my Uncle and Dad. The kids look forward to this every year and if it wasn't for such great friends this year we almost weren't able to attend. We had to have someone watch Jake and Jen graciously offered to watch him for us. He was a challenge and I hope she knows how appreciated it really was. She Rocks!!!!

Onto my green thumb moment. I have always wanted to plant tulips. Scott and Rachael's dad had some of the most amazing I have seen at their house in Manchester years back. I have never forgotten how beautiful they were and when I spotted bulbs at Christmas Tree Shop last fall I scooped up a bunch all colors and different kinds. Jeff and I got busy planting them in November and I am so thrilled that they came up and have started to bloom today. They are stunning and I am so proud. Here are a few that bloomed today.
Okay well off to eat dinner. Talk to you all later.

Counting the new grays

2009-04-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well this week has been a challenge from the start. Believe it or not it is not the preteen it is the other two. Brady is having issues. He has been potty trained since the end of last July. Which is almost a full year. Suddenly he is having accidents which are more on purpose than accidents. So trying to decipher what is going on with him and causing him to have these accidents. So my new tactic bribery, so far so good he didn't have any accidents yesterday. So we will continue w/the gum bribery and see if continues to work. Then he accidentally gets hit by a swing rips his little nose open and to top it off his kiddie pool which is about 2' deep filled w/water from all the rain yesterday. My little imp thinks it will be a great idea to jump into it w/shoes and all clothing on!!!!

Seriously is it a FULL MOON!!!

Oh I am not even sure if I want to go into details about my middle child. POOR CHOICES!!!! VERY POOR CHOICES!!! That is what I have to say about him. Not one day this week has gone well for that child.

I am seriously sitting here banging my head against the wall and counting the gray hairs as they are appearing before my eyes. As if I didn't have enough as it was.

Did I mention how lack of health insurance sucks too. I have acid reflux so bad now that their is not one single day that I go without it. I went to the store today to get OTC medication to hopefully help because the TUMS don't cut it anymore.

OR

That lack of money is also really a stressful, way to time consuming problem. This economy is really being a damper on my life and making me a wee bit cranky!!!

Okay well enough B*itching for one day. Hope everyone else is fairing better.

Spring has sprung

2009-04-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

The kids have begun baseball w/full force. My tulips are beginning to grow like crazy. The temperatures are beginning to steadily rise. The ground is pretty much dried up now so the kids can play w/out the mud.

Jake got nutered a week ago Wednesday. He is doing great and we qualified for the plan B and it only cost $25. That was an awesome surprise. I also love the vet so I think that will be our vet from now on as well and it is on the same street the kids peditrician is on. Which is only 2 miles from my house another total yeah!!!

Ugh sometimes I hate having to give my kids reality checks. However, in these times being wasteful is not an option. The older kids are old enough now to get it. I don't mean to make them sad but it infuriates me when they don't think and waste stuff that could have lasted us a week. Now mom is sooooo mad but even more soooo sad, that I scolded my kid for doing nothing more than being a kid because of economic situations. This totally sucks!!!!

Lots of new stuff

2009-04-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

The boys had baseball evaluations on March 7th. We found out that Colby may be quite a little star as he got picked for majors. Life as we know it has officially ended. Begining on 18th he will have practice 3 nights a week and then the first week in May he will have a game on average every other day. This is going to become the juggling act because of Brady. Jeff is the coach for Austin's AA team so we have a lot of overlaps and there is no way that Brady will just sit for 2 hrs and nor can I expect him too. So I may try and see if our friends Kim & Wayne will help out and keep an eye on him for Austin's practices since his are only an hr long and their son Tyler is also on Austin's team so that may work for us. We will just have to see.

Last Friday Brady woke up and he looked like had repeatedly slapped him across the face. His cheeks were burning hot. Over the next 24hrs he got a rash down his arms from his shoulders to his fingers and a rash down his leg to his feet. It turns out he has fifths disease and I am almost certain I had it the week before. I thought Austin had it as well but I am thinking that he just had either a 24hr bug or a touch of it that caused a fever and no rash. The rash they say will come and go for the next 2 - 6 weeks. FUN FUN FUN!!!

It seems the stress is setting in. Which it seems to this time every year. Jeff & I have been silently steaming at each other for weeks. He thinks I am ungreatful and mean. I think he is under my skin, unappreciative, and takes me for granted. So we are both very much to blame and it finally came to a head Tuesday night. I think it was quite productive he watched the kids so I could do all my running around yesterday. He cleaned the bathroom and genuinely tried to help out for the first time in months. I tried to acknowledge his help and be kind. So hopefully this will last. It was a much less stressful and actually an enjoyable day.

Jeff left this morning for his annual hockey tournament in Canada. He won't return until Monday. So it will be interesting to see how this goes. I am going to manage to be straight out. Pick up my kids at school, Rachel overnight, dying eggs tonight.
Tomorrow: work, go grocery shopping, do all my baking and cooking for Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday: Get Rachel and Logan at 4 pm, get Megan by 4:30pm, go to Stephs for Jeff's 40th
Sunday: Get Rachel, Logan and Megan home and get everyone ready to go mom's for Easter and then I had to get a sitter for the puppy dog because he has seperation anxiety and goes balistic when we leave.

Okay well I am not sure if I forgot anything or not but need to go do school w/the kids so I got to go.

Big Doin's

2009-03-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

Well now that I am back from being sick for a total of 3 days. I pretty much thought I was dying. I couldn't even move off the couch from Wednesday afternoon until late Saturday morning. Every muscle in my back is so tweaked that I still can't move quite right and other than the fever blisters covering my lips I am back to normal. I managed to lose 7 lbs being sick but know that being well it is probably already back on.

On to my my really exciting news. On Sunday morning I get up and check in on facebook and see that my cousins girlfriend is looking to find a new home for a 5 month old boxer. She was going to foster him until she could find him a new home. He was her Uncles dog and he couldn't care for him so we told her we may be interested. She offered to bring him over so that we could have a overnight w/him and see if we would want him permanently. So Mr. Jake walked in the door and we immediately said he found his new home. I caved, I think he is so handsome and very well mannered. He is a 5 month old boxer w/out the cropped tail. He could give one hoot about the cats although they really aren't so keen on him.

So I am in the market for a new vet. Anybody know any great ones that they recommend. I am willing to hear any raving stories anybody wants to tell.

Oh My

2009-03-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

I had no idea that it had been 10 days since I blogged. I must live a boring life. Haaaa Haaaa Haaaa!!!

Let's see last Thursday I got to see Jen's new digs. It was very cool. I love the color she picked for paint and can't wait to see it all put together. Plus got to hang w/my girlies. Paid the price for it the next day going to bed at 2:30 and up at 7:15 but it was worth it.

Friday night I hired Megan to sit Rachel, Logan & Brady and went to an Avon party w/Steph at Melissa's house. It was so much fun that I lost track of time and almost didn't make it back in time for Scott picking up the girls. Oppsie

Sunday I get a call at 10 am that they are having my Uncles 60th b-day party at 6 pm. I offer to make the cake and Chicken gnocci soup. So I race the Hannaford and start cooking by 11am. I proceeded to cook for the next 5 hrs. I lost count of the amount of dishes I washed after about the 10th sinkful. We all jumped in the car and drove the 45mins to my cousins house. We stayed for about 2 hrs and got back in the car and drove another 45 mins home. I got all the kids ready for bed, got all their paperwork signed for school and sent them to bed. I then did dishes, 3 loads of laundry, cleaned up Brady's toys, swept the floors, broke a glass. It turned out to be another 2:30am bedtime for me w/a 7:15am wake up call.

Today it seems we are all dragging some serious butt. I have never had Brady ask for a nap, he didn't even want lunch just wanted to go to bed and then I put him to bed at 8:30pm tonight and I never heard a peep, it is unheard of. I had to bring Colby to his orthodontist appt. today. They had to do a work up and submit it to the insurance company to see if they will pay for him to have braces. They then inform me it could take up to 4 months before the insurance company will make a decison. ARE YOU JOKING!!!! I hate dealing w/the state.

Okay well that would be my life in the past couple of days.

Thinking

2009-03-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

This morning while taking my morning shower. I started to think, I question why I am so overweight. Then little things started creeping back into my memory, such as over the last 8 weeks or so I have made the following.

chocolate chocolate chip cookies
carrot cake w/cream cheese frosting
chocolate cake w/peanut butter frosting
cinnamon sugar pretzels
apple buttermilk custard pie
fried apple pies

Now the problem lies with the only item I did not eat was #5. The cakes were for my dad and Colby's birthdays. I also had my birthday in their as well so add another two cakes that I didn't make onto the list. Thank goodness I will not be celebrating any more birthdays until May. That is a lot of homemade junk!!!!

Okay I decided to have you all share in my horror, no more thinking for me today.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-03-11T06:45:00.001-07:00

Well Colby is now officially 12. He had 3 friends come over for a sleep over on Friday. They truly had a blast. They had pizza. Watched a movie while munching on popcorn. Had chocolate cake w/peanut butter frosting and cookie dough ice cream. They were all really well behaved except for still yelling at them to go to sleep at midnight but that goes with having a sleepover. I also got to meet their awesome parents. James family has kids the same age as mine and have only moved into town a little over a year ago. So we were thrilled to meet each other and I will definately be calling them to try and get together soon.

On Saturday Austin had his playoff game for basketball and they won. It was such a nail biter. They won by 1 basket 24-22. So now they have another playoff game this Saturday and if they win they will have the championship game also on Saturday. Then the basketball season will be officially over.

Spring is truly around the corner and we will be getting ready for baseball season to start. I can't wait for the nicer weather which we keep getting glimpses of here and there. I am itching now that we just had daylight savings.

Just a quick post

2009-03-06T08:44:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was the day from he double hockey sticks. It just was going to go wrong no matter what I did. I got through it and my parents came over for cake and ice cream for my dads birthday. It was a nice but a very quick visit, as my parents had tickets for the Verizon ctr to go see Larry the Cableguy.

Well Brady made me burst out laughing once more. I sit them all down for lunch. This is the conversation that ensued.

Setting the scene: Brady rips his bib off and with a drama filled voice were every syllable is enunciated proceeds:

Brady: Mom, I is full
Me: you are?
Brady: Yes I just can't eat because I had such a rough night!!!

Okay you did!!! Last time I checked you are two and are fed, clothed and play all day. I wonder what he interprets to be "such a rough night" could it be that I dared put him to bed. LOL!!!

Well Colby is having his weekend birthday sleepover. James will be coming home on the bus w/Colby and Conner and Michael will be dropped off. They are eating pizza watching a movie w/popcorn. Having a chocolate cake w/peanut butter icing, Caramael ice cream & cookie dough ice cream. Playing some video games and then I am going to attempt to get them to go to sleep. What do think the odds are this will happen at a reasonable hour? I am guessing slim to none.

Tomorrow: Austin baseball tryouts at 8 am, basketball playoffs at 12:30pm, Colby has his party till 1pm and then baseball tryouts at 2pm. So needless to say CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY day tomorrow will be.

Slipping

2009-03-03T08:20:00.001-08:00

I was really doing so well blogging and I am beginning to slip, time to get back on the ball.

Well Saturday our new entertainment center arrived, I was so excited. So while I got to go out for an amazing girls night w/Tracy, Jeff got to stay home watch the kids and build the new entertainment center.

Tracy and I started out at Fratello's got a yummy raspberry margarita and then had chicken capri for dinner. Totally Yum!! We talked, talked, talked and talked some more about everything and about nothing. We then headed over to T-Bones in Bedford for more cocktails. I had a Tropical Trio oh my gosh how deelish (although Tracy did not think so, she is not a fruity alcohol drinker). We chatted more and our evening ended at my house. I can't speak for Trac but I had such a good time. Adult conversation with such an amazing friend is always a good time

I got home and the entertainment center was built and waiting for me. It looks so great. We switched everything over and now I am spending time w/decorating. We also got the matching bookcase. I am so ecstatic 2 yrs of planning this living room and a year getting it all together. I can say other than some decorative pieces it is finally completed!!!

The boys ended up w/another vacation day due to the snow yesterday. We got about another foot of the white stuff. As much as I love them home I am thinking they are going to be in school until July at this rate.

The older boys are at school, the twins are sick today so they are at home w/mom recuperating, Jeff went out & Benjamin has not arrived yet so it has been a very quiet morning just me and my little guy. Really not so sure what to do w/ourselves it is such an odd occurrence.

Okay well it is lunch time for Brady and he is not so patient so off I go.

Total Slacker

2009-02-27T05:59:00.000-08:00

I can't even believe I have not blogged this entire week. Probably because their just wasn't much to report.

Colby is still at my parents house he will be finally coming home today. I talked to him on Wednesday and asked if we should start forwarding his mail over their, as I was wondering if he ever had any intention of coming home. LOL!!! I think he is relishing in the peace and quiet, something he rarely if ever gets in this house. So I am really glad he enjoyed his vacation. Next week it is back to the grind.

Where has time gone in 3 days it will be March already. Holy cow this year is racing full steam ahead. We are really just around the corner to spring already. I imagine we will start to see temperatures slowly starting to creep up as March turns the corner. As much as spring is not my favorite season, I am itching to go start my outside spring cleaning going. Their will be millions of sticks, leaves and other winter depris that need to get cleaned up and then we can start enjoying hanging out outside.

Okay I am rambling just wanted to do a quick check in.

My birthday weekend is officially over.

2009-02-23T22:01:00.000-08:00

Well this has been an awesome weekend. I went shopping and to dinner w/Jeff and the boys on Saturday. Then they surprised me with a cake & ice cream. I was totally surprised I didn't expect it. So it made it all that much more special.

On Sunday Colby was not feeling well so Jeff stayed home with him. Austin, Brady & I went to mom's I got to see Addison. She is so teeny tiny. At 6 weeks old she still only weighs 6lbs. I got lots of bonding time and can't wait till I get to see her again. My mom made me a great dinner and an amazing cake a 3 layer chocolate cake w/chocolate frosting. Then Holly came home w/us for a sleep over. The kids had a blast with her.

I then drove Colby to my mom's for the week as he was feeling much better today and then went and drove Holly home. I hung out with my favorite cousin for the evening we didn't do much but it is always a fun time.

So I will be going to get my license renewed tomorrow and Jeff is going to take Austin to go see Hotel Dogs tomorrow for some dad & son bonding time. Well it is now 1:30 am so I am off for now. Talk to you all later.

Birthday Weekend

2009-02-20T12:37:00.000-08:00

Well it is almost 4pm which officially kicks off the start to my birthday weekend. I really don't have any magnificent plans but who knows one of the people in my life that love me just may surprise me.

I am going to my parents on Sunday for a little get together. However, I really want to go so I can go see Addison. I only got to see her once when she was born at the hospital. She is already 5 weeks old and I miss her horribly. I want to see how much she has grown and be a part of her life. I finally got a niece that I am close to in distance and really want her to know us and get excited when she hears we are going to come see her. I had planned on going to see her at Sean & Tiff's but my mom intercepted and now it is at her house. I am slightly bummed not that I don't want to see my mom but now I have to share Addison and I did not want to do that. I am sure Kelly & Laurie will be their and it will be the first time they get to meet Addison so I won't be able to be selfish and monopolize all the available time. I do intend to some of it though. (Sorry for the little vent their I didn't intend for that happen, it kind of just slipped out through my fingers).

I am however, soooo looking forward to a night out w/Tracy next weekend. I am like a little kid at Christmas I am sooo excited I can't stand it. It has been way way way to long since just the two of us hung out. So we are going for dinner and drinks and plain old girl time.

Today also kicks off February vacation for the kids. Colby is going to my mom's for the week. Austin & Colby need a break from each other, gosh can those two argue about nothing. So Colby found out when vacation was and called my mom and told her he needed to get away from his brother and could he spend vacation week with her. My mom & I just laughed. She agreed and so he will be heading their on Sunday.

I also have to renew my license next week too. Ugh!!! I hate going to the registry for any reason and am not thrilled about having to go. If solely only for how time consuming it is and also for the astronomical cost of it also. However, the alternative of having no license certainly doesn't appeal to me and doesn't fit so well into my schedule either. So I guess I will have to reluctantly give in and go get it done.

Okay so I guess that is it for now. See ya!!!

Bedford, NH

2009-02-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

I moved to the Town of Bedford, Dec 1, 2001. At that time I had a 3 & 4 yr old. I moved here #1 my sister was moving so it became an opportunity I couldn't turn down & secondly because I vowed that my boys would not attend Manchester schools. We would have sold every worldly possession to have kept them out of the public schools in Manchester.

Since we have moved here the boys have gone through kindergarten through 5th & 6th grade here. I couldn't possibly be so happy with another town. We are large enough so we are not in the boonies but still with a lot of small town charm. I have met so many phenomenal people since living here. Especially since I volunteered at the school and because the boys are so involved in sports and activities through the school. I have seen the towns people rally around and help when a town member needs help. When Lisa Readman was paralyzed from the waist down after a tree fell on her. The town rallied together and helped them sell their current home and find a single floor home in Bedford and then helped modify it so it was wheel chair accessible. The town also then held tons of fundraisers to help with all her medical bills. Another parent in town was on the ball field with his son when he suffered a aneurysm the town rallied to help Julie w/the kids and also raised a ton of money to help w/gas and expenses as her husband was in Dartmouth.

As most of you know the past 4 months have been anything but easy. We were one of the millions of families that have been suffering from layoffs. When I was mentioning to friends on Sunday that my boys would not be able to play baseball this season due to the sheer cost, another mom jumped in and told me to write to the board and explain your situation. So I ate every ounce of pride and wrote to the board and explained our situation and they have graciously informed me that my children would not be turned away and they would do whatever they needed to do on their end to assure that my children also got the opportunity to play this baseball season. Words can not describe how quickly I became humbled. I really didn't think that they would do anything for us and may even turn us away. Instead they reached out and fulfilled the hopes and dreams of two boys, that all they wanted to do was play spring baseball. I am so thankful and appreciative of this town and the opportunity they have given the boys. It will never be forgotten and I hope they understand how thankful this family is and we can not say it enough.

What a great day

2009-02-15T19:16:00.000-08:00

Austin had his basketball skills competition today. He did great although he didn't win any of the events. He worked so hard and came out a winner in my book. They had a blast and were rewarded with ice cream sundae's supplied by Blakes ice cream.

As soon as the skills competition was over we hauled butt into the car to race over to Kim & Wayne's. I had to be their before 1:30pm and it was 1:15pm. Phew!!! we made it. We needed to be their on time because it was a surprise 40th birthday party for Wayne. He would be home at 1:30pm. He was so surprised and it was an awesome time. Wayne & Kim are such great people and we had a blast celebrating w/them.

We got home and I chatted on the phone with Steph for about 45 mins. Then Rachael called and I chatted on the phone with her for over an hour. Who can end the night better than talking with her 2 best friends on the phone. I also accomplished a few loads of laundry and added all the photos to my new photo frame. I then even got Jeff to hang it for me. YEAH!!!

So this is this the wrap up to my great day!!!

My eldest is growing up.

2009-02-13T22:31:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day to me is a day like any other. I never do anything special or get anything special either. Jeff may get me a card if we can afford it but ehhh really it doesn't usually thrill me. However, when Colby got home from school today and Jeff came running in saying "close your eyes, close your eyes. I was thinking it was something silly so I was waving me hands around. Jeff kind of got annoyed and was like no you will wreck it just put your hand out. So I took the gift and opened my eyes to find this beautiful red carnation. He put it in the water bottle at school so it wouldn't die on its way home to me. I really got all teary eyed and even now I can't help but get all weepy. I asked him where he got the money to get the flower and his response is what kills me. I used my own money mom and I kept it a secret nobody knew I was going to buy the flower except me. In the moment I may have officially been the proudest mom in all the world. That he took his own money and spent it on a gift for me, oh wow it blows my mind. My little boy will be turning twelve in 3 weeks and today I realized how grown up he is becoming. I really get on his case about grades, attitude, & especially how he speaks to his brothers and I, but in moments like these I realize what a great, selfless and amazing young man he is becoming.

On a lighter note just so I can stop crying we are finally surprising the boys. We went and got paint today and are secretly painting their room. They are crashing upstairs tonight and are not allowed in until it is finished. We are cleaning it from top to bottom and reorgaizing the entire room. The room is huge so we are going to almost divide it in half. This way they can each have a little more privacy as they get older and aren't so on top of each other all the time. We are doing Austin's half blue for NY Yankees and Colby's red for Red Sox. I will take photos once it is completed. I hope the kids love it and I can't wait for them to see it.

Well okay it is 2 am and I am beat. So talk to you all later.

Sleep over

2009-02-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

Brady is having a sleep over this evening. He has his friends Rachel and Logan sleeping over. He asked me earlier if it was a special treat. So I made them all homemade chicken nuggets, some broccoli cheddar pasta and veggies for dinner. They all got chocolate pudding for dessert. So now they are all stuffed to the gills and are happily sleeping.

I am feeling a lot better tonight. Thank the heavens. Now tomorrow I will need to clean the house. It is amazing what happens when mom is out of commission for a couple of days, nothing gets done & I mean nothing. The sink is full of dishes, the laundry is out of control, the trash is practically overflowing, the counters & tables have not been wiped down. How is it that I am the only one that notices these things. I think the rest of the family walks around w/blinders on. UGH!!

To think that when I was in my twenties I lived so much worse and thought nothing of it. Rachael remember the black socks that could walk away by themselves. EWWWWWWW!!!!!! or how about having your mom come to visit and we had to sit on the floor in the kitchen because their was no other available space. It didn't even occur to us to be embarrassed. Your mom was such a good sport, she didn't even complain. Oh the best were the dishes that would sit their until we didn't have any clean ones (which could be weeks, we were rarely home). Then I would have to brave the nastiness and actually dare to wash them. OH MY GOSH the thought is making me gag.

Today dishes in my sink over night almost puts me over the edge. It drives me nuts. The trash typically is emptied every day if not every other. Laundry is done usually at least a load a day if not several loads a day.

Okay well I was going to wait till tomorrow but my mind is not going to shut down until I go get some of it done tonight. So chat with you all later.

Just a quick check in.

2009-02-09T19:35:00.000-08:00

Brady is so stinkin' funny:

Brady: Momma
Me: yes Brady
Brady: I just did a burp in my undies.

I was hysterical that I couldn't even move. Just one of many of Brady's bradyisums. I really need to start documenting them because they catch me so off guard that they make me just laugh.

The beginning of each year for whatever reason leaves in its wake many deaths. I am finding this especially to be true in the past 2 yrs. This year sadly is no different we lost Bobby Taylor and then I got a call this afternoon that an extremely close family friends mom passed away at 4pm. So it looks like I will be attending another wake, it will be the second one in less than a week. I also think that Rach may have lost her Gram today as well so it seems if the services will be on different days that I potentially could be attending two wakes this week. I can not wait for spring this winter has officially been one of the most challanging and sad winters of my life. I know that it can always be worse but their is an awful lot of harships and sadness all around this winter, that I am so anxious for it to be over.

Okay well I am really really under the weather so I am going to keep this amazingly short. I have a head cold from hell and it is kicking my a** so I will update more tomorrow.

The Real food fight

2009-02-07T15:20:00.000-08:00

Have you just had one of those days. It seems like yesterday was just one of those days. I got a call from Rach and she invited me over. I brought the tequilla and chocolate chocolate chip cookies. She offered the dinner and the mango rum. Well what started out as Rach and Brady having a amusing banter back and forth of stealing each others dinner suddenly took a different turn. All of a sudden Brady & Rach are tossing pasta (plain of course, no sauce) at one another. Well I think we all resorted back to our childhoods and I informed my boys that this was a once in a life time opportunity and enjoy it before I regained my sanity. It turned into a full blown each man for himself food fight. Their was pasta flying EVERYWHERE and from every direction. You see their were 6 kids and 2 adults. I have to say I know that it was technically wrong and as an adult I should have acted like it but sometimes man you have to let loose and have fun. I had more fun in those 15mins then I have had in a can't tell you how long. The kids were laughing, I was hysterically laughing and it eliminated every possible bit of stress that you can imagine. WHAT A FRICKIN' BLAST!!!! Thank goodness she has a dog that was right behind us cleaning up every bit of the pasta.

Rachael kept my kids overnight because Jeff and I had to go to the memorial mass for Bobby Taylor this morning in Laconia. Now I just LOVE the invention of GPS except when it is wrong and today was one of those days it gave us directions 20 mins out our way and THEY WERE WRONG!!! So we wave down a cop and ask for directions and realize we are really not close to were we are supposed to be and the service starts in 5 mins. Yup you guessed it we were officially late. Oh well we got there saw most of the memorial service and then went down stairs for the meal. It was really beautiful and they did a wonderful job!!!

We then hopped back in the car and rushed back to pick up the boys from Rachael's to get Austin to his Basketball game which I did. We get to the school and I find out I messed up and his game wasn't at 3pm but it was at 1pm. Oh well he was only 2 hrs late. BAAAHAAAAA!!! Oh what the heck I have only spent 3 hrs in the car today.

So we are finally home, I made the kids homemade chicken nuggets & baby carrots w/ranch dip for dinner and we have plopped ourselves in front of the TV to eat. Something I rarely let the kids do so they are loving it. I have no intentions of doing a thing for the rest of the night aside from picking up the remote and pushing the buttons to change the channel of course. LOL!! So I will talk to you all later.

My eye hurts

2009-02-06T06:04:00.000-08:00

My eye has been bothering me for the last couple of days. It was just amazingly sore so I am not sure what I thought it was but figured I bumped it or something. However, I woke up this morning to find that it was very swollen and so sore it hurts to blink. I am now under the assumption it is probably conjunctivitis or pink eye. Luckily we had drops left over from Jeff for a problem that he had a ways back. So I do a search for Gentamicin sulfate and find out it is a antibiotic to clear up conjunctivitis. So I am going to do this 3x's a day and hopefully this will clear up in the next couple of days.

I have working out regularly for the last few days. I know that it is working because my muscles have been feeling like they are on fire for the past couple of days. I am not a fan of working out in front of anyone. So I have been trying to work out when Jeff runs out to do errands or is out of the house. This has not been an easy task. He thinks I look fine and loves me the way I am, so it doesn't mean to make me feel badly but jokes about me working out and it makes me all that more self conscious. I am really working hard to stick to my goal of at least 20lbs. I hope to lose this much by May when I have a wedding to attend and will be in a lot of photos. So now that I have the goal I have been really working hard to stick to accomplishing it. It feels good to be a little sore and knowing that it is because I have been working hard.

The kids have a dentist appt. this afternoon. Then I have to color my hair tonight for the memorial service tomorrow. Hopefully will get Austin to his basketball game tomorrow too. So as always busy busy busy.

Okay I need to go clean for a little bit talk to you all later.

I am turning into June Cleaver

2009-02-04T18:29:00.001-08:00

I think I am turning into Miss Suzy homemaker. I am not sure what is up. I spent over an hour cleaning up and dusting every nook and cranny of my desk today. Went and washed down all my bedroom walls and dusted all of the pictures and decorations on it. Can I tell you that was an adventure. NASTY.....

I then cooked dinner, cleaned up from that and proceeded to bake 6 dozen chocolate chocolate chip cookies for Colby. He needed them for some whatever at school tomorrow. Now mind you he walks in the door at 4pm and informs me he needs the cookies for school tomorrow. UGH!!! He tells me they asked for volunteers and Colby volunteered my services without asking me first of course. A whole entire other sink full of dishes to wash. Ssshhh if you really want to know a secret I really didn't mind, it was kind of fun. I won't be telling my son this of course.

Now if I could get my family to stop being such clutter freaks I may possibly be the happiest person on earth. However, until this happens it seems that I will be on their butts. I think the kitchen will be the venture for tomorrow. My counter top clutter is OUT OF CONTROL!!! and mind you when I say mine I actually mean the other numerous members of this family.

Okay well my little guy just asked me to go snuggle with him and this mom just can't turn down such a sweet request such as this so I will talk to you all tomorrow.

It is groundhog day

2009-02-02T15:00:00.001-08:00

Today would be the awaited day for all kids to see if their will be six more weeks of winter. The anticipation will he see his shadow or won't he......well the little rodent should wear a blind fold so he can't see his shadow. The little rodent didn't disappoint and gave the little hooligans what they wanted 6 more weeks of winter.

This is one mommy that can not wait for spring. This might possibly be the longest winter of my whole life.

Today has been a good day. I know they have been rare lately. Nothing good bad or indifferent happened today but I am in good spirits. I got the kids report cards today. Ehhh not a shining moment but improvement had been made in certain areas so I will give them a reprieve. I have very high expectations for this quarter. Why is it you just don't see the importance of school until you are an adult and then you wish you had put the hard work in and done better. I wish I could get them to see that now. Not that they don't do well but that is only because I ride them about it constantly. I wish they would do it because it will really make or break what kind of college you can get accepted too. Not to mention it surely helps for those little things called scholorships. Someday they will realize I am not talking like the teacher on Charlie Brown and real words that are in their best interest are leaving my lips.

This is going to be a busy week Austin has basketball practice tonight, Colby has to be driven to school tomorrow, Thursday Austin has chorus and basketball, Saturday we have to drop kids off at Rachaels and go to a memorial service up in Laconia, hopefuelly be back in time to bring Austin to his basketball game. Crazy week!!!

This afternoon has been better...

2009-02-01T19:05:00.000-08:00

Well as not to disappoint this morning was a day in hell so I cleaned and scrubbed the house this morning. This is how I got out all my frustrations it seemed to work at least for a while.

So I managed to get my butt in gear and I did take the kids sledding at the Bedford sledding hill. I got some great photos of them. We then came back and we started yummy dinner and some snacks for the super bowl. We managed to watch maybe half and then I started the clean up from dinner. I just couldn't get into the game. Jeff & Nate also gave up watching the game and played WII. They would flip back and forth just to check the score and watch the last minute or so of the game. So not much else going need to go finish up on laundry so talk to you all later.

Blah!!

2009-01-31T19:27:00.000-08:00

Austin had another basketball game today and it was another win. I am so proud of his team. GO TEAM!!!

Aaarrrggg okay another irritation I got an e-mail today stating today was the last day to register the boys for little league for the 2009 season. HELLO people it is still January!!! Besides that I go and look at the price it is a whooping $95 a kid. Okay their is just no way that I can possibly pull this money off the money tree this week, it has been sucked dry. So sadly I may have to inform the kids they can not play this spring. I am so sad.......

We managed to scrape together the money to pay January's rent and ran over and payed that today. So this did make me feel some what better.

I have been suffering from headaches, heartburn and lack of sleep for most of this week. I am a mess. Not to mention I am officially just in a funk. I am just blah all the way around. So needless to say I am really trying to work on shaking this but it may be around for a while longer.

Well I have managed to already blog for 19 days out of this crazy month. I only blogged 34 times in all of 2008. So I have already blogged more than half of what I blogged, for all of 2008. This was one of my goals for 2009 to blog more and comment more on my friends blogs, so far I have successfully followed through with this goal. Yeah me!!! Yes I watch too much Disney channel w/the boys.

Tomorrow should finally be a bit warmer so I am planning on taking the kids sledding if I can get off my big fat ass and actually get them their. It is another thing on my to do list for 2009 that I really want to accomplish. Plus the kids deserve a little bit of fun. So this is my plan and then come back here and watch the superbowl w/Jeff & Nate.

So I guess that is it for now talk to you all later.

Month of Change

2009-01-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

Well any of my regular blog readers which by the way I am finding their are more lurkers, who read my blog but don't comment then I realized. Which I am thankful for as I really thought the only one who ever read my blog was Rachael. LOL!!! Oh yeah back to what I was saying, as this seems to be the year of change for better or worse. I decided that I would change and update my blogs layout so it has been updated and looks all new and pretty.

I have a couple of people by the way that I wanted to include in this post that have become important in my life and I am not sure they are even aware. I have been acquaintances w/Jen Pettingill since college, I met Jen in 1990 through an old friend. She also got to be great friends w/Rachael through the same old friend. Now I have seen Jen pretty consistently over the last 10 years or so. We have always been friendly enough but somehow something began to change in the last year or so. I now regularly read her blog and try and keep updated on any new news going on in her life. I really look forward to knowing that she is coming up to visit and she has 2 of the sweetest little girls. She made the most heart felt and caring comment on my blog the other day and I wanted her to know how much it meant, to know someone is going through what we are at the moment. We have felt very isolated in this and have kept most of it quiet, I talked to few people about it all of which were my core friends of course but having someone understand and reach out made a huge difference in this week. It made me and my family not seem so low. So thank you Jen it might have been a little gesture on your part but was huge to us.

Someone else that for what ever reason has taken a silent seat is my friend Lesley. She is another friend I met through Rachael. Lesley has a rare and much appreciated humor. Even when things seem to be at their bleakest she can tell it in such a hysterical way, that you can't help but smile. I have some great memories of Lesley of a few past New Years parties that involved yoga and funny words on walls that still crack me up. Although she doesn't see it, she also may be one of the most creative people I know. From her quilts, to altering of items, her homemade hot cocoa. She is simply an amazing all around person that I have ever had the privilege of calling my friend. I am really hoping that this year will be the year of finding the time to spend more time w/her and her gorgeous daughter Kelsey.

It is funny, I know I have been overly sappy in a lot of my blogs this year. However, I am really going back and appreciating the small things. Really my over-all sense of any type of security in my life is slowly crumbling around me, So I have really tried to concentrate on what I do have that I truly call secure. That is certainly not a job, the house I live in, or even my car or anything material. Suddenly what has become important more than anything else that I am fiercely hanging onto w/every ounce of strength I have are #1 my family & #2 are my friends. I have always known deep down that these two things were important but for whatever reason this year, I am trying to let everyone know that they are important in my life and not just assuming they already know. See I can raise my family in any house, I can drive any car as long as I have my family and friends by my side.

Okay I think I need to stop writing my blogs at 1:30am I am way to emotional and sappy but I do love you all so oh well.

Trying to smile through the storm called my life

2009-01-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

I am really trying to put on a happy face and let loose with the kids. Kids really are a great distraction. Snow days really can be a lot of work when you think of all the shoveling and snow blowing that is soon to follow. However, watching the kids jump for joy at having a snow day still makes me smile at the memories of my childhood those feelings of joy for those snow days are still very vivid. Then daddy gave the boys an offer they couldn't refuse. He offered to go outside and help them build the ultimate of all snow forts. So using the picnic table as a base they built an awesome snow fort. They were out their for about 2 hrs. They are prouder than proud.

Here are the photos from Colby's first time skiing at Pat's Peak I am positive we finally found a sport that we will continue for him. So as you can see they taught him to ski w/no poles which I thought was odd. He took a few spills which Jeff almost missed on getting on camera as he was laughing to hard. I am so thrilled that we finally found a sport that he thoroughly loves. I will get him into a ski program next winter so that he can ski often.

When things get a little stressful I love to give the kids an extra treat or two. Gets all of our minds on the yummy item we are baking. So I decided to make a pan of pecan, chocolate chip brownies from scratch. No box mixes allowed through this door. Brady was a wonderful helper and whisked all the batter up and got to lick the whisk at the end as a reward. P.S. I know I am fat but I really am not this fat. Austin took a terribly angled picture that makes me look like Attila the Hun but I am sucking up my vainness and including it anyways.

Well it seems if I had a lot of photos to include today. Jeff goes for the dreaded meeting w/health and human services tomorrow. I am praying that it will be all good. Other than that it looks to be a fairly quiet weekend although I would really prefer it to be summer. So I could have an excuse to have a summer drinking party. I could really use one after this week. I am happy to see it drawing to a close. Things can only go up from here so that is how I am thinking right now.

Alright updated most of the pictures tonight a few more still to come but those can wait for another day.

When it rains it pours

2009-01-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Well I suppose let it all come down at once. Oh by the way screw the I am thinking positive about everything lately. I officially give it up for lent. Phew!!!! I am also thinking I may take up alcoholism for my birthday. It may not make reality better but it sure in hell will make it seem better in my head. Evidently I am being punished for something I did that was really bad, I just wish I knew what it was.

Okay so on to the story you are all waiting to hear. Donna comes to pick up Christopher today and informs me that next week is my last week. As they need to put him in a special preschool and because I live in Bedford the bus will not pick him up or drop him off here. Okay I understand this completely I am all for getting him into a preschool that will help him out. My beef lies with the fact that evidently Chris has been looking for another daycare in Manchester for Christopher since he first started coming here!!!!!!!!!! Nobody bothered to tell me this in the last month. So now I get blind sided and if things were not bad enough now I am out another $400 dollars a week. OH MY GOSH!!! I Knew that I was losing money but until this very second hadn't actually done the math as to how much money I would be losing a month. Okay so this is almost half my rent payment. If you have read my previous post, you would see that that really is an option either.

Jeff ate every ounce of pride today and went down to health and human services to able for food stamps and any other possible free service we qualify for today. It was probably our most degrading moment when we finally realized we had no other options. We have an appt. for fuel assistance Feb 13th but not sure how we are supposed to get through the next 2 weeks until that meeting.

Okay well I can't even think about this anymore. So I will hopefully be better and keep you all updated more tomorrow.

In a bit of a panic

2009-01-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

Jeff being out of work really wasn't to bad in October, November & most of December as he was working for his buddy Jim. However, now he hasn't worked at all since the end of December. We had to make some tough decisions on Friday as to pay rent or buy food. We decided we really needed to feed the kids so we went grocery shopping. Now the furnace just shut off and we went to check the oil. Yeah that is a major problem as it shut down because it was warning us we are so low on oil. So now we are going to buy a minimal amount of oil to try and get us through for a few days anyways. Now I don't think we are going to be able to pay rent this week either and February's rent will be due in only 2 weeks. Not to mention I am waiting for the disconnect notices for the electric, cable and phone here probably within the next week. I feel like I am on a sinking ship and I am not sure how much time we have till it is completely submerged. I am praying we get the W2 from unemployment so that we can file taxes and survive for a little while longer till Jeff can find employment.

Okay I am going to go have some more coffee and try and trick myself into thinking it is alcohol. I would drink the real stuff if I didn't have to get up at 7 am.

This has been a see saw kind of week.

2009-01-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

My meaning is it had a lot of ups and downs.

First I got the most gut wrenching phone call from Rachael saying her mammogram did not come out well and they were calling her back in for more pictures. I was so nervous as to the outcome. Thankfully it all turned out fine and it was normal. Phew!!!

Second my mom calls to tell me their friend Bobby Taylor finally succumbed to Leukemia on Tuesday evening. He left this world the same day he entered it, as he past away on his 66th birthday. We are all so saddened he was one of the most jubilant and wonderful men that ever I was blessed to have known.

Third Jeff had a wonderful job interview on Friday. It is not guaranteed because it is all determinate if they fire another employee. I know it is horrible to want to have someone else fired but we are getting pretty dire financially and it is our time to finally get out of this. Jeff has now been unemployed for the past 3 months.

Fourth the kids have had a stomach bug on and off all week. One day they are vomiting w/diarrhea the next they seem to be better. Then the following day they are sick again. I had kids home sick from school 3 out of the 5 days. Although I have been dealing with this darn bug for the past 8 days. Please please let it be over with.

Fifth Colby went skiing for the first time ever this past Saturday. I have photos which I will post tomorrow. Then I got to go over Rachael's house for a few YUMMY drinks. One of which we did not get to ingest because it had a very sad demise. LOL!!! Then she offered to keep Austin for the night. What a ROCKIN' day

I also got to finally see one of Dylan's basketball games. Although they did not win, he is a great player. He got two baskets and I loved to be their to cheer him on. Which all in itself was quite the quandary as they were playing Bedford oops. Oh well still sat in the Auburn section and cheered them on.

As I said my emotions have been all over the map this week. Hence why I called it the see saw kind of week.

Okay so bedtime for the boys so going to wrap this up and talk to you all tomorrow.

P.S. Thanks Rach!!! I DID IT.....DID YOU NOTICE!!!

A day in history

2009-01-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

Well I watched bits and pieces of the inauguration today of our 44th president. I just could not watch it in its entirety. I just can't help but be very tentative as to what the next 4 yrs will entail. It has nothing to do about race or ethnicity it simply has to do with who are president is as a person. I also think that Michelle Obama is obnoxious. She puts on a nicey nicey face but she is anything but. *Sigh* I only hope this turns out better than I my sinking heart feels it will.

Hubby really needs to find employment. Things are definitely getting tight financially and unemployment just doesn't pay enough. Not to mention I love having him home BUT he throws off the kids & I's daily schedule. So he is actively looking and hopefully something will open up soon. Really crossing my fingers.

Well fighting a headache so I am going to cut this short and will write more tomorrow when I can think a little clearer.

Talk to you all tomorrow.

New Leaf

2009-01-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

I had considered complaining about some superficial things in my life. Then I began to think a little more and realized I have very little to complain about. One of the things that I am determined to do this year of 2009 is see what I have instead of nit picking the silly little things that are not as perfect as I would like in my life.

So here we go........ We live in beautiful New England. With that comes moist springs w/the most gorgeous tulips & daffodils that make there appearance officially ending winter.

We have hot summers w/cooler nights one of my favorite seasons. I love the beach, the sun setting later and the kids being out of school. I love all the get togethers and the fun that comes with the summer months.

We have gorgeous autumns w/the changing of the leaves in every breath taking colors imaginable. I love to be able to wear jeans and a sweatshirt and be comfy and not to hot or cold. I love to rake up the leaves and watch the kids jump in them and the fun of watching it through my kids eyes.

We have amazing winters w/the freshly fallen snows. I love Christmas and the magic the holiday holds. The memories past that bring smiles to my face and warm feelings in my heart. I love to see the look of childhood innocence on the kids faces. I love to curl up on the couch and watch the snow gently fall. I have to say I love the family snowblowing and shoveling days also. We come together and get the work done and then end usually w/a snowball fight and then hot cocoa when we come back in. I love ice skating, sledding, & snow forts.

We truly live in the best part of the country and I wouldn't want to ever change it. Sometimes it is forgotten when the spring is muddy, the summer is too hot, the autumn brings lots of raking, the winter brings frigid temps. However, if you sit back and look at the bigger picture it can just be amazing. Mother nature is so natural and stunningly beautiful. She has the ability to give us so many activities that don't cost a thing. She is not looking for money, she is looking to make the world beautiful and share it with every one of us. Just take a moment and look at it through your kids eyes and you will be opened to a whole new world.

Tracy Day

2009-01-17T21:43:00.000-08:00

Tracy came up today. We did our Christmas with the kids. All the kids got everything they wanted and more. As Always Auntie goes overboard. She also started this amazing tradition of buying them a new ornament every year. So each of them have a new ornament each and every year of there lives that is dated and personalized with their names. Here is a photo of the newest ones.

Then after Christmas was over we headed over to Austin's basketball game they won another 25-19. As always a nail biter. Austin is playing so much better this year. I think he finally is gaining confidence in his abilities and is going with it. Tracy headed home after this. We had a wonderful visit but I wish it hadn't been so short. We really need to make more time for each other.

After dinner we treated the kids to a visit to Friendly's for ice cream. They enjoyed this very rare treat. I thought Brady might actually lick the bowl. All in all I very nice day.

Long Day

2009-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

Well I get up at 7 am waiting for Christopher my daycare child. At 7:30am the phone rings Chris is not going to work so he is keeping him home today. Okay so I cat nap on the couch until the twins arrive. I am told when Logan is dropped off that he was sick last night. Threw up all over the place. GREAT!!! I usually know when one gets it we are sure to have it make it's way through all the kids. Day went without a hitch other than due to the frigid temps the kids are stuck indoors and they are bouncing off the walls to get outside.

So Jeff calls me around 5 ish and asks if we should go out for dinner. Okay feel kind of crappy because I received my monthly enemy, but I agree. We head over to Chili's, all is going well. Jeff & I order a margarita in these funky glasses. We order good food, waitress is awesome. So all is going well. Food is delivered well this is were our night went down hill very quickly. Brady takes one bite of his food and suddenly I am watching everything come back up and he had ordered a blue freezy drink. I leap up and grab him and run for the bathroom. Jeff grabs every napkin off the table and cleans everything up. Thank goodness he has running pants on so they were easy to clean and I had to just take his fleece off and let him wear his turtle neck. I go back to the table were I tell the older boys to hurry and finish there dinner which they do in record time. I get a brain freeze drinking my margarita because I am damned if I am wasting a $7.50 margarita. I take my food to go and pick up my coat. You guessed it he nailed my whole coat too. So now I am stuck walking quite a distance in 2 degree weather w/no coat and now car is not warmed up. I think I got hypothermia on the 10 min car ride home. So in the process of washing all the clothing and going to bed. The night is finally over and I could not be happier.

Truly a New England Winter

2009-01-15T06:50:00.000-08:00

We are definitely in the coldest part of winter for the next 4 weeks at least. When Colby went out to the bus stop this morning it was 6 degrees. YIKES!!! He reminded me of an eskimo with his hoodie hat on that covers his neck, nose and head. All you could see were his eyes. I remember all to clearly those days as a kid. Waiting for the bus and sobbing by the time I got to school because my hands hurt so badly. We didn't have the insulated gloves they have these days we had those cotton mittens that you would layer and pray they didn't get wet because they would absorb every ounce of moisture. I am pretty certain our coats were not as warm either. I also didn't have the benefit of catching the bus across the street. I had to walk up our 500' driveway and down to the end of the street. We were the last house on the entire street so it wasn't close that is for sure. We also didn't have the benefit of getting an automated phone call if school was cancelled or delayed like they do now. So some of those mornings I would walk down to the bus and wait for an hour and a half before I realized the bus wasn't coming. Covered with those snowballs that would collect on us from our cotton mittens and hats.

Well before this winter is over I plan on taking the kids sledding. Maybe this Sunday if tempertures are not to frigid. My goal is to treck up the hill and go on at least one run w/the kids. I was a lazy lump last year and although I took them I stayed at the bottom and video taped the kids instead of participating. Something I intend to change this year. Not only do I need the exercise but I need to participate with the kids so they don't only think daddy is the fun one. I will bring some hot cocoa and let the kids be true kids for a few hours. Rachael do you possibly want to join us if the weather is not too bad???

I have been an exercising nut and truly enjoying it since last Friday I have only missed two days of exercising. I do a program called Cardioke and it is a blast. I am hoping that I will see some results soon. I am so motivated this year to not slack and keep going to try and make a healthier me.

Okay well it is school time for kids so need to go teach some little minds.

Addison Lynn Waters

2009-01-14T08:12:00.000-08:00

Well the niece that I have been anxiously awaiting finally made her entrance into the world yesterday at 12:02pm. Her name is Addison Lynn Waters, weighing 5lbs 12 ozs and 18 1/2" long. She is just the teeniest tiniest thing I have ever seen. Beautiful in every way. She is certainly an instant hit with her cousins. We went up last night to visit as you see and then went out for dinner with Sean. It was so wonderful to see him beaming and just trying to take it all in. I can't wait to go visit her again soon.

Well I am neglecting cleaning and need to go to a lot of it. So I will talk to you all later.

Hmmmmmm

2009-01-13T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well it has come to my attention that my friends aren't all feeling so much equal in my life. First let me start by saying that secondly too my family, my friends are my life. I never had a ton of friends as a kid but the ones I did have were loyal and die hard to the end. As I have grown those friends have changed but the ones that are in my life are friends that would do anything for me and me anything for them. I have done a lot of housecleaning in the last year and removed ties from a lot of people that were manipulative and fairweather friends. The friends that are still apart of my life are here for a reason. Some I don't see as often as I would like but they hold a piece of my heart always. So I decided that maybe a little blurb about my friends and why I love them so may bring some joy and a smile to some days.

My Core friends are:

Rachael: Known her 15 yrs. She is my BFF I love her to death. I can talk to her about anything we have been through it all together. My life would be so empty without her and I can't imagine her not a part of it. She knows all my deepest darkest secrets, I wasn't always the angel I am now. BAAHAAAAA. She is usually my rock and manages to hold me together when I am ready to fall apart. She is a barrell of laughs to hang out with and I love to go over and gossip and talk about nothing for hours, I am surprised we can even fit time in for a breath.

Tracy: That is Tracy without the E. I have known her for what is coming up to be 13 yrs. She was one of the two great things that happened from meeting her brother. I have fond memories of being able to steal or should I say borrow all her clothes. She is not my BFF but more like a sister, yes we are friends but our friendship goes so much deeper than that. She is probably the most mature out of all my friends, has her head on straight and will not hesitate to tell you how it is. She does not have a poker face. She picked me and my family to be part of hers and didn't walk away when things got tough. I brought her much joy and a lot of hardship. However, she stuck by my side and never once did she falter.

Stephanie: I have known her for the past almost 5 yrs. She has given me two wonderful children 1 niece and 1 nephew. I love her to pieces. She can make me laugh and is my funniest and goofiest friend. I can talk to her about nothing for hours and I know she is always there. She loves to pick on me and I love to do it back.

Jen Purdy: Oh Jen well I have known her for the past 10 yrs but we really only became great friends this past summer. I have learned to appreciate and love her. She would give anything she had if it was to help a friend. I love her kind nature and loyalty.

Laurie: Laurie is technically family she is my first cousin and has known me since I was born. Yes she is older. hee hee hee. I love her so much. We do so much together. Our children are close in age and we have a lot of the same hobbies. We may not talk as much as we should but we try and hang out as much as time allows. She can make me laugh like no other person on this earth. She has a sense of humor that I long for. I love my cousin and friend.

I love you all my heart holds a great piece of you where ever I go. You guys all help me to be a better person everyday and my life has been filled with joy for having you in it. I am not always great at letting people know what they mean to me. However, over the past year I realize how important it really is to let them know here and now. Because we all know tomorrow may be too late. So I am letting you all know how important you are in my life and I will always love you.

I have been tagged.

2009-01-12T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by http://rachaelgiallongo.com (Rachael)

6 Uninteresting things about me.

I prefer my soda can opened for awhile so it is not so carbonated and reaches room temperture before I drink it.
I am quite addicted to buying clothes for my kids and OCD about how they are dressed always.
I snore when I sleep.
I will only drink coffee out of 1 of 3 mugs. If it is anyother mug I will go without the coffee.
My babies birth weights went from smallest-largest. My oldest was my smallest at 6lbs 8 ozs, then my middle son at 7lbs 13 ozs and then my youngest at 8lbs 5ozs.
I have a tattoo of a carousel horse on my right hip.

I am tagging Jen, Lesley, Pam, Jeff & Sarah

Goals for 2009

2009-01-11T20:19:00.001-08:00

Here are somethings that I would like to accomplish in 2009. Some may happen, some may not but I need to have something to strive for, to make me a happier, healthier me!!

Lose 20 lbs or hopefully even more but at least 20.
Quit smoking
Exercise on average 4 days a week.
Be more consistent with my blogging.
Get back to scrapbooking and try accomplish a minimum of 50 pages.
Go snowmobiling
Finally decide once and for all if we want more children or if we are officially done.
Get basement cleaned and organized so I am not embarrassed to have people see it.
Go to Disney World
Take kids sledding.
Ice Skate outdoors.
Get my bedroom painted and get new curtains.
Try and find a way to help kids organize there room so it will help them keep it cleaner.

Okay that is it for now more to follow as I think of them.

THINGS ARE CRAZY!!!

2009-01-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

Well I have been trying to work out like crazy did 1/2 hr on Friday and missed yesterday because took time for myself by going to Rachael's. I did another 1/2 hr workout today. I am hoping to average 4 days a wk. I completely let myself go over the holidays and I was never thin but now I really may be tipping the scales as a beached whale.

My computer began to really act up and I decided it needed to see the doctor. I sent it with Jeff to his friend Jarad's house. This man is a computer genius his entire house can be run by his computer. So he managed to fix it. I initially had a minor meltdown when my e-mail program was missing and we couldn't get it to come up and all of my 62 messages in my inbox, my address book pretty much my life was missing. Jeff brought it back this morning and all is fixed. Thank the heavens and I am still married. Although death of my husband was certainly a viable option last night.

I received a pretty messed up phone call this past Friday. I am not quite willing to have it posted on the Internet but needless to say, it made for one hell of a long stressful weekend. Thanks Rach for letting me come chill and get my head time to relax for a night.

We got another 9" of snow last night. I actually went out today and we had family shovel, snow blow day. This one didn't seem nearly as bad it was light and fluffy or maybe we are just used to it by now. Who knows anything is better than all that ice!!

Brady & I then got ready and we went to Christopher's 3rd b-day party. It was the first time that Brady had ever been to Chuckie Cheese which he amusingly called Chuckie Cheezit. He was so amazed by everything it was fun to be with him their even though I personally can't stand the place. By the way not sure if you can read the cake but it reads Happy Birthday DUDE....

Brady

2009-01-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

Somedays that boy just cracks me up. Here is the conversation we had this morning. The odd request of our 2 yr old.

Brady: Mommy I don't have any long johns
Mommy: No you don't have any
Brady: My daddy has long johns, I want my daddy go buy me some long johns.
Mommy: You want daddy to buy you long johns?
Brady: Yes that way daddy & I can be the same.
Brady: Daddy, wake up I want you buy me long johns
Daddy: You want me to buy you what?

Okay you get the jist. He has not given up his request this has been going for an hour. If Jeff leaves the room and comes back in "Daddy you bought me my long johns now". I will give him persistance if nothing else. Brady batted those big blue eyes enough and had the sweet little drawl going on. Jeff caved he will be leaving in a little bit to go find long johns for the boy. That way they can be the same. What daddy can resist his son looking up at him and wanting to be the same as his hero.

Another beautiful day in January

2009-01-07T06:41:00.000-08:00

Well it has turned in to be a very unexpected snow day for the kids. They of course were tickled pink to be home and sleep in. They seem to be back on track for school, they were really struggling those last few weeks before vacation. I will be very anxious to get report cards at the end of this month.

Well let's see in looks like we will certainly be going to Florida this July. I can't wait to go to Disney again. I haven't been since I was 10 yrs old. The older boys are the perfect ages. This will be something they remember for the rest of their lives. Brady will be three and even though he probably won't remember it, getting to see the magic of it through his eyes will be pure bliss. It looks like we will be following Rachael's lead and taking the train, instead of flying. It adds a day both ways to traveling, but it is saving us somewhere around $1,000 or more. It seems so far away but I know that when the time arrives I will think it goes by way to fast.

Baby Waters will be here in a matter of days I am so excited and I just can't wait to meet this little person. I can't wait to see my brother as a dad and for him to get to experience all the love and amazement that comes with that role.

Well I know it is only January but their is a lot of hope for this year 2009 and I love that it is starting on such a positive note w/so many wonderful things to look forward too.

IT IS 2009

2009-01-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

Well it was certainly an interesting year w/lots of changes positive & negative. We got to ring in the new year at Rachael's annual New Years Eve extravaganza. We had mixed drinks, many many laughs, a lot of Rock Band and great friends to share it all with.

I am looking forward to this coming year I have exciting things to look forward too. The birth of my new niece or nephew is probably a week or so away. Rachael will be graduating in May w/her Assoc. in Graphic Design, how proud I am of that girl I can't even express into words. Melissa will have her baby this year. Lesley is officially cancer free. We are finally planning our family vacation to Disney. It will almost certainly happen this summer, the plans are currently in the works. My parents 20th wedding anniversary is this June. Jeff's 40th will be this November.

I am anxious to see what the year will hold. It seems to be one of questions on everyone's mind and their seems to be a lot of anticipation and excitement over the presence of the year 2009. I will be excited to report all of the new events good or bad next year. For now I am content to let the newness of a brand new year and a clean slate for a better tomorrow. Let everyone I know have a wonderful 2009 filled with much happiness and love.

Lots of updates

2008-11-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

Let's see

Jeff got laid off at the end of October from Ideal Disposal. He is working with his friend Jim right now a million hours because he can't find work. Kids are going on healthy kids because we also have no insurance.

I had Rachael's kids for the past three days as she went to Florida for school. We had so much fun. We took them ice skating and did a lot of horsing around. I got the house back to normal last night.

My mom bought Brady a big boy bed for Christmas from my friend Cathy. We set this up yesterday and will be painting his room this weekend. I just love the new set up of his room. It really looks great.

I was trying to look in the mirror in the bathroom on Saturday and went to get down stool slipped. I went flying and nailed my head on the shelving attached to the wall giving myself a concussion. I can finally open my jaw today and I am less irratable so I think I am finally on the mend.

We are going to mom & dad's for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to have the family together for the holiday. I am so looking forward to this Christmas. I have not looked forward to the past couple. For some reason though I am such in the Christmas spirit this year.

I went and picked up Brady's pictures today and got the cars inspected.

The boy's are getting ready for their Christmas concerts: Colby for Sax and Austin for chorus.

Stealing this one from Rachael

2008-11-14T12:25:00.000-08:00

Rachael peaked my curiosity about whom the Town of Beford voted for in the presidential elections that were just held.

Well since I can't seem to copy and paste it. I am proud to say

For Obama: 5,115
For McCain: 7,442

I am very curious as to how the other towns in NH voted. So far that is 2 for 2 for McCain.

Well I will be back later I have a ton to update you all on. So much has happened in a month. But no time right this second.

Not much going on

2008-10-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

Well things have relatively quiet. Never a bad thing. We are getting ready for Sean and Tiffanys baby shower coming up in a couple of weeks. That should be fun.

The kids are anxiously awaiting halloween. However, I think we will not be buying costumes this year. The older boys are getting old enough to become creative. I am thinking they can go as baseball players. I am also pretty sure one of the costumes that Brady got last year and didn't wear will fit him this year. So that is turning a new leaf for myself. I always in the past have spent quite a bit on their costumes but the times have changed. I thought last year things were tight money wise well it turns out this year is even tighter financially.

Things have been a little less stressing and I am not so wound up so that is a good thing. So I guess that is it for now. Talk to you all later.

Interesting week

2008-10-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Well what a week it has been. First I get a call from Rachael in the late evening and I knew it couldn't be good. It turns out Chris Purdy passed away from a heartattack at the age of 37. I feel so badly for Shayna what a horrible loss. What a shock and I feel for them so much.
Then we have some kind of random stomach bug, running rampid through this house.

Austin was sick Monday night into Tuesday. Brady was sick Wednesday night into Thursday. I was sick Thursday night into Friday. Then Austin was sick again last night and is still recouperating.

Then Rachael currently is celebrating her 35th birthday as we speak. We through a surprise party for her at Tammy's Friday night. The gang was all there and she was quite surprised.

Rough Week

2008-09-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

As much as I love me family more than myself most days. They have all been stressing me out. 1st Colby's sax, then the attitude, then his grades started to slip. Austin lost his spelling book that we now need to replace, his attitude, the sheer laziness. Brady just his 2 yr old antics.

This week has been a test of my will not to beat them all. I feel all I do lately is yell and fight with them. I am not sure when we crossed the line from loving to have them around and missing them so much while they were at school to dreading 4 pm because I know I will hear the bus any second. Everything has become a fight of colossal proportions. From dinner, to homework, to cleaning there own messes and room. They are nasty to each other and everyone else around them. I know this is par for the course but I am running on reserve power and I feel like it is about to shut down.

I think Jeff knows that I am hanging on by a thread so he offered to take the two older boys tonight and go do something with them so I can go out with my girls. I am not sure if they realize how much they have been the glue that is holding me together lately. Jen helped so much last week by rocking Brady to sleep as he was on my last nerve and she did it not even knowing how much she helped advert a potential snapping moment. Liz she has been the humor in my life lately that I have seemed to have lost and boy do I appreciate it. Tammy is the respect in my life that somehow no one in this house can seem to muster. Rachael where do I even begin she is the silent wall that I have been leaning against to hold me up and get me through these trying days. She doesn't need to say a word but I always know she is a phone call away if I were to need her to lean against. Never in all my days did I realize in my life that I could be so blessed to have friends that are as incredible as the girls I have in my life. I must have done something right somewhere along the line because I have been sooo blessed and they are the glimmers of light that have been getting me through.

So you all have done such minor things that have made such a major impact and all it required was all of you being yourselves. You are all amazing and I am incredibly honored to have you all as my friends.

Who Knew

2008-09-22T19:50:00.000-07:00

Who knew that one child's mistake could be so costly and time consuming. Colby accidently set his saxophone down at the bus stop last Tuesday and forgot to grab it when he got on the bus. Well someone pulled up and stole his saxophone. We have been desperately searching to buy a replacement. I finally gave up after searching for almost a week with no saxophone even within financial reach for us. I finally realized our only option was going to have to be to rent one. We went over to Hebert's Music on Elm St. and they do a credit check. They wanted $500 down in order to RENT ONE!!!! Yeah not happening so I went on line and got almost the same deal slightly more expensive but without the credit check and the only difference is when he is finished we have to send it back for $20 shipping. But at $42 a month when we owned his other one outright is insanity. I am pissed at the kid please don't get me wrong. However, the person who stole his other one when his name, address and phone # were right on the front and all they had to do was walk it across the street makes me sick. Karma will get them I know it deep down in my heart.

On a lighter note we had . What a blast as always. Here are a few photos.

I hope this turns into maybe a monthly or bi-monthly event. I know speaking for myself as a mother it realives so much stress and makes me a better mother and wife. Just to get away and have a blast with my girls makes it all better, even if only for a little while.

Sick:-(

2008-09-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well I finally came down with the bug the Rachel & Colby had. I couldn't even work yesterday I was so ill. I am finally better but have fever blisters on both corners of my mouth. UGH!!

Colby lost his Saxaphone. He left it at the bus stop yesterday morning and someone took it. He has always been my most reasponsible kid, yeah well not lately. Reminds me of a totally different kid. Not one I am overly proud of I might add. Hopefully this phase goes away extremly quickly.

Getting ready for girls night at Rachael's on Friday. Should be fun. Also Rachael just sold us 80 gallons of home heating oil for a $1 a gallon. That totally rocks that should get us through half the winter. Oh yes what a total blessing. Now to figure out how to get it from her tank to ours.

What a month

2008-09-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

Things have been wonderfully crazy lately. I had Friday night at Rachael's 2 weeks ago.

Then we had an end of the year BBQ at Rachael's a week ago Sunday. Rachael, Jen and Scott were the gracious hosts.

Then we had Austin's B-day party from 1-4pm then turned it into audlt Margarita night at my house this past Saturday. Oh my gosh what a blast. These are some wonderful memories with my frieds. I also had the pleasure of meeting a great new gal Liz. She is so cool.

So then I guess Rachael we figured we needed one more to go out with a bang this summer. So we are having another this coming Friday. So more pictures to follow.

Wow is really already September

2008-09-05T06:35:00.001-07:00

When I was little my mom always said enjoy the time you have now because it will fly by and you will miss it when you are older. I gwafed at such a thought and prayed to be older. Well my prayers where answered and wouldn't you know my mother was oh but to right as usual. The time is flying by way to fast and I am at a loss as to how to slow it down. I want to savour the days and enjoy the kids youth. However, I blink my eyes and it seems gone in an instant. Years seem to flash by in seconds. Wish I could go back to when the kids were younger and not be in such a rush for them to walk, talk and be older and appreciate the days a little bit more. I am trying very hard to absorb every moment I have and just enjoy it because I am afraid if I blink once again it will be a distant memory.

Well the kids summer is already gone. It was a whirlwind of a summer and I wish it didn't have to be that way. Colby started 6th grade and Austin 5th. They really seem to be enjoying it as much as you can enjoy school at that age anyway. I am seeing a bit more maturity in Colby this year, if I could only get rid of that occasional chip on his shoulder I would be much happier. Austin is going to be 10 in another week and I am telling you it is another age that is not my favorite. He is challenging and oh so difficult, as he tries to find the delicate balance of exerting his independence while still obeying his parents. He will figure it out I am sure, just the sooner the better.

We are getting ready to say goodbye to the last of the warmer weather with a few big parties. Sunday we will be having a party at Rachael's hosted by Jen & Rach. Then a big b-day party for Austin on the 13th. Then we are turning it into an adult margarita party afterwards. This will probably be the biggest party we have ever hosted. I am just praying that everyone has a great time and it doesn't rain.

We have to go help my parents tomorrow stack a cord of wood they just purchased for the winter. So I am praying it doesn't rain all day and maybe just a few showers here and there.

So for the next few weekends I am just going to enjoy every moment I have with family and friends. Relish every second I have with them all and be thankful I have such an amazing family and some of the best friends a girl could ever ask for.

Wish I had photos to share.

2008-08-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

I got the most unexpected phone call last night around 6:30ish. It was Rachael asking me if I wanted to go with them to get the boys ears pierced and Megan's belly button pierced. The tried to convince Colby and I to get piercing's as well since Austin already had his ear pierced. They wanted Colby to get his ear pierced and me my belly button. Yeah we were not convinced. However, we did decide to attend for moral support. It was a hoot. They all went through with it and they look amazing, especially Megan. That girl is growing up way to fast. Rachael also got a new belly button ring it was for breast cancer awareness (very cool).

Then after our unexpected outing we came back here and had a few drinks and just hung for a few hours. It was rather amusing and even Jeff joined us. It ended up being a long evening as it was 11pm when Rach left and Brady was still up. Then the older ones (I kept Rach's kids) didn't settle down until around 1 am. Boy it was hard getting up this morning but SOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it.

These moments are far to rare in our hectic lives that sometimes you just have to make the time for. If you don't when you die you don't want to be known only for working so hard. These rare moments are something that will remain with us in our memories forever.

My only regret is that I don't have a camera that works so although Rach has a ton of pictures I was unable to take any. So sorry for no pictures of my unexpected awesome evening.

Vacation

2008-08-13T07:39:00.001-07:00

we just returned from camping on Sunday other than the torrential downpours as you can see here these where all taken by our tent, during one of the last storms Friday night. Shortly after these were taken my camera couldn't handle the moisture anymore and died.

However, there were certainly moments of sheer fun with the kids. Here are a few photos.

However, somehow I think I need a vaca from my vaca. I have been so tired since we have returned home. My house is trashed and I am just trying to get a handle on all of it. Oh well the price you pay for playing hard.

Talk to you all later.

Nice Break

2008-07-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

Well I got a nice break from the boys yesterday afternoon. Rachael took or should I say got coerced into taking Colby & Austin for the afternoon. They had a great afternoon of swimming and playing pool. I on the otherhand got a wonderful afternoon of peace and quiet. The little ones were all down for nap and I got sometime getting some cleaning done and just sometime with myself.

These times are rare and far between so I enjoyed the time. It may have only been for 4 hours but sometimes that is all you need.

I picked up the boys and then headed to Jeff's softball game at Derryfield. I always love going the boys amuse themselves and I just get to hang out with friends. Steph and Nancy met me their to pick up the twins and hang out for awhile. They have a way of making me laugh.

So all in all a pretty good day.

Summer is flying by

2008-07-17T10:55:00.001-07:00

Wow I can't believe it is the middle almost end of July already. Where has the summer gone. Just give me more time, more time.

Well we went camping last weekend. Other than being a little muggy we had beautiful weather. We also went camping with some fun people which always makes the time a lot more enjoyable. We are planning to go again the first week in August. However, we will have to see about money.

We will have to see about money because abruptly Tuesday night I got a call from Heather saying that she was on maternity leave effective immediately so I would no longer have Kaleb any longer. I am saddened by this since I never even got to say good bye. Plus with no notice given to me I had to preparation in preparing for the financial loss weekly. The only good thing is I will no longer have to deal with the Heather and Shane. No animosity here.

Also managing to get over lovely posion ivy that my husband decided to not so nicely share with me. Ugh I have never had this before in my life and I don't ever want it again.

Okay well that's it for now.

What a weekend!!!

2008-07-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

Wow what an incredible few days. Thursday I took Austin, Tyler, Brady, Rachael & Logan to the town pool. Colby sadly was unable to attend due to his behavior. So as Rachael can attest to he threw quite the crying hysterical fit. Oh well hopefully he learned a very valuable lesson.

Friday we attended the Wall family 4th of July extravaganza. What an incredible party and time. The kids as well as Jeff and I had a BLAST!!! They even lit off an amazing display of fireworks that I have seen. I also finally ordered some 4th of July scrapbooking items so I looked forward to all the photo opp's. Here are a few as mine are already out being developed.

Saturday we went down to Plymouth MA to my cousin Terry's for a lobster and clam bake. She lives about 3 miles from Cape Cod. Her house overlooks Cape Cod Bay. Yeah can we say gorgeous. We had an awesome time but whew what a ride 2 hrs one way. So we stopped at our friend Brian's on the way back to let the kids have a break and go swimming. Then we were almost home literally pulled onto our street and my dear child Austin who notoriously gets car sick throws up all over Colby and I mean all over his head. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! I emptied the car and Jeff took it too the car wash where he vacuumed, washed and fragrances the whole car.

Then on Sunday we got up and headed to Clough State Park. We had amazing weather and such a great time. We don't usually get family days like these often. We managed to soak up every available moment. However, my less than brilliant husband gave the woman a $20 to get in, it cost $10 and only got $2 change and didn't notice she shorted us $8 change until after we had left.

Well as you can see it has been a whirlwind of a few days but we have made some wonderful memories and I wish we could have more long weekends like this one. So awesome. Hope all of yours were equally as good.

Not a nerd are you?

2008-06-06T23:32:00.001-07:00

UGGGHH!! You won't believe this one!!!

2008-06-06T23:01:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here it is around 11pm and all of a sudden, I hear a noise and notice the bushes move outside. The cats have jumped a mile. I run to the window and their are 3 girls outside EGGING MY HOUSE!!! Now I had to have the windows replaced in November because they broke my windows doing this. My bedroom window was egged around aprilish. Now I am sitting right here and they are brazen enough to do it just about in front of me. The previous 2x's we believe we were not at home. I had the windows open and all the lights on. COME ON PEOPLE!!! They were wearing white hoodies.

So Jeff jumps out of bed as I yell for him and runs out the door in search of them. I call the police and have them come out. They take a report and without 100% positive ID they really couldn't do much. However, they did search about and promised to do repeated patrols up and down the street tonight. We went over to Mobil and they said 3 girls in sweartshirts came in about 10mins before my house was egged buying a dozen eggs. They have them on survaillence. So I call the police back and give them this information. However, they can't really do much because Mobil in technically in Manchester and out of their juristiction. Come on why does this juristiction thing always effect me when a crime occurs against me. Some of you may recall approx 8 1/2 yrs ago when we got scammed in the Machester appt. scandel. We also got screwed because of juristiction issues. We are about 90% postitive it is the two girls down the street.

Now I know this is really just teenage pranks but this is just not funny anymore and frankly I am pretty f*ckin pissed off about this. Jeff and I are intending to go speak to their parents tomorrow. I will update you all as to how this goes.

DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA!!! This is what my life consists of.

Nice but busy weekend

2008-05-13T05:38:00.000-07:00

It was really such a nice weekend. The wedding was more fun then I had had in a long time. Your DJ really makes your wedding and I will tell you this lady was so funny. I had never laughed so hard.

Sunday I got to go out to breakfast with my mom. What a nice time, we rarely get time just the two of us and I really enjoyed the time. I only wish it could have been longer.

I then went to Canobie Lake Park for my Mother's Day. It was a beautiful day and kids had a great time. I met up with Rachael and her family their. It was nice although it is interesting as all the kids get older. They want to go off with their friends and parents aren't quite as needed. It is interesting trying to find your role in their lives as they begin to grow up and exert their independence. I realize how much older they are all getting and what great kids they really are becoming.

The day really wore them all out Brady fell asleep in the car and woke up at 8:30am the next morning, Austin fell asleep on the couch at about quarter of 7 and woke up for school the next morning. Guess they all had as busy of a weekend as I did.

Okay well day is in full swing so I will talk to you all later.

So irratated!!

2008-05-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Go to drop Colby off at baseball practice and I notice their are no kids from his team their. So we ask nope no more practices just games. Great was his idiotic coach going to e-mail us this? This was after racing to get him from band practice, rush home do homework and dinner and back out the door only to find out it was for nothing.

On a positive note. Colby has had two games so far and they have won both. Go Pizza Mia!!

Austin will have his first game this Saturday and sadly will miss it because I have a wedding to go to and he will be with Nana and Papa.

Sunday is Mother's Day and I am going to breakfast with mom and then picking up the boys and we are going to Canobie Lake Park for the day. We will be meeting up with Rachael and her family their.

We have Brady's birthday party next Saturday. Wow where did the time go!! I have yet to plan anything out. Next thing on the agenda to do.

Friday night is my brother's rehearsal dinner.

Then the following Saturday is my brother's wedding wow that came up amazingly fast. I can't wait because my sister Kim will be coming up with my brother in law and little nephew. I really miss them so can't wait.

So needless to say may not be around much in the next few weeks. Will try and stay in touch though.

Talk to you all later.

Well been a way for a while again

2008-05-01T06:29:00.000-07:00

I think I haven't written for a bit because things have been sad in my circle of closest friends.

My friend Lesley found out she had breast cancer. So far things are going well but we will see how she does once chemo and radiation begin.

Another close friend is having difficulties with teenagers. Rachael is having difficulties with paying for schooling and I am just heartbroken over this possibility.

Then Colby and Austin are going back and forth about not doing what they are suppose to in school. Their schedules are getting more hectic by the second. I have a toddler that is out of control.

Colby has band, baseball practice and 2 games a week.
Austin has baseball practice and a game each week. Jeff is also the coach for his team.
Then don't forget homework and school everyday. Plus we have been taking Colby to the ear specialist so I have our meeting with them next week to see how this goes.

Brady oh where do I start with this one. Colors on my new $1,000 furniture, slices my new window screens with scissors, starts the microwave with random things that he found to put in it, broke my cell phone, ripped down my blinds, ran away and almost had to call 911 because I couldn't find him, managed to get a children's tylenol bottle open and luckily decided to fill it with water rather than drink it. These are just the things that I can think of for the moment I am pretty sure there may be about a thousand other interesting things he has managed to do. Now mind you this is not me not watching him this is me trying to do dishes, wash laundry or cook dinner. So my housework is having to now wait until late in the evening after he goes to bed or while he is napping. If not what I do manage to accomplish pales in comparison to what he has managed to destroy in those few moments. This child is certainly an entity all to his own.

Stephanie had a hysterectomy and had 25 staples. So I had Rachel and Logan for 2 weeks sometimes overnight, or I would bring them home around 7-7:30pm, So needless to say this was interesting. I suddenly became a family of 7 overnight. Wow not ready for that.

My friend Rachael and Tracy have both had deaths in their families this year.

Tracy's brother was in a life threatening accident. He broke his pelvis, arm and knee. This is so crazy.

I feel that everyones life is spiraling out of control and I am not sure how to stop it all from happening. Usually one of us will have an issue and we get through it relatively okay. This year though I don't know everyone is having major things happen and I am at a loss as to how to fix, help or make things better. Not to mention I am having a mommy meltdown and need a break from my own kids. I haven't been away from them since last October for my friend Tracy's wedding.

In the next month I have 2 weddings and 2 birthday parties.

Okay I am going to go I am making myself crazy thinking of all this stuff.

I know I know I know

2008-04-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

Somehow I always do great the first few months and then I plumet as far as updates. I think it has something to do with the fact that finally spring has sprung. We have been outside as much as humanly possibly after the absurd winter we had. Jeff, I and the boys have already completed all the yard work already. We were all so desperate for the outdoors that we raced to get out their. We have never ever been done this early before.

It also may have something to do with the fact that my so called best friend Rachael had the gall to invite me to join this little so called site called Facebook. Little did I know that it was more addicting than nicotine. I wake up in the morning and race to turn on the computer. I struggle all day long to get any housework accomplished instead of being on the computer. Then to top it all off I was always a poor sleeper but now I can't kick myself off at night and the lack of any sleep is catching up very very quickly. I have managed to fall 4x's in a little over a week. I came slamming down on Rachael's kitchen floor and fell on my front steps both last Saturday. On Friday fell down my kitchen stairs and then fell again on the stupid kitchen stairs tonight. Ugh!!

As far as the whole falling thing. I know that I am joking about being tired but I am slightly becoming concerned. I am really thinking of calling the doctor and getting checked out. I never had a great sense of balance to begin with but even this is over the top for me. I don't feel funny but I seem to be really losing my footing a lot lately when their is really no reason too.

Colby started baseball. His first practice was this evening. This should be interesting. I hope the team improves by about 100% they are all pretty bad. They only thing that stinks is Austin and Colby are on two seperate teams and I don't even know yet which team Austin is even on.

My close friend Stephanie goes in tomorrow morning for surgery. I will have her kids for a few days until she gets out of the hospital. All my thoughts and prayers are with her as she recoups.

Brady's 2nd birthday is right around the corner. I can't believe my baby is turning 2 already. Where in heavens name did the time go.

Okay well talk to you all later.

Sick & Tired of kids being sick

2008-03-31T06:26:00.001-07:00

Well we have now had the last of the latest battle. It is officially over as long as Jeff & I don't get it. A stomach bug went through and one by one the boys contracted it.

Since Feb one or more have been perpetually ill. Now mind you I am not a dirty person. I have cleaned and disinfected the bathroom, kitchen. Have washed all floors on my hands and knees. Have washed all sheets and blankets numerous times in hot water. Have made sure no towel is used more than once so there is no cross contamination. Have lysoled every available area and toy in this house. However, somehow this is not enough. Also because I do daycare all of those kids have had the stomach bugs, viruses and colds also. Actually one of them also had an ear infection. So it seems magnified because I am adding 4 more kids into the mix.

We have had:

ear infections
walking pneumonia
stomach bugs
colds
nasty virus with fever and body aches that lasted a good week per person(I also got this one)

Here was my life from the Thursday before Easter until Easter evening.

Thurs night basement flooded. Jeff had already left for Canada and I hence was left to rip up rugs, wet and dry vac

Sat on my way out the door to getting Colby down to Tracy and Dave's so they could take him to Museum of Science twins mom calls to say her Jeff's check bounced to me. (Should have know right their this was going to be a rough day.) Realize Austin needs to go to Dtr call in rte. to Tracy's house and have to race back to Bedford for 10:30 am appt. It is 10 am now and I am in Salem, NH. Then off to the drug store to fill all the prescriptions. (This has been the 3rd appt in 2 wks). Race home get Austin settled put Brady in for nap go grocery shopping. Brady gets up and drops a dzn eggs on my floor. (Thank you so much to Tracy for getting me more.) Have to dye eggs with the boys and try and bake for mom's on Sun.

Sun Easter at mom's Colby has massive asthma attack to the pt almost had to call 911. We finally get him settled and Brady starts throwing up all over the place because of all the candy. Get that taken care of and again he is sick all over himself and my mom's. So much for all the money I just spent on suits.
Leave mom's think I forget my wallet go all the way back to mom's and realize nope it is in the diaper bag and I finally get home around 7:30 pm.
I go to get Brady out of the car and Brady has gotten sick all over the car. So now have to clean the entire car.
I get in the house and kids are like okay mom we need to have dinner now. I just pick up the phone and call Rachael so I can have a good cry. I was so utterly frazzled and spent. I know Jeff doesn't do much but what he does help me out with, certainly helps and I needed him so desperately by Monday it wasn't even funny.

This has been my life lately. FRAZZLED IN BEDFORD!!!

Then Jeff's van is down. It is having transmission issues and that leaves us with one vehicle.

So needless to say this is why I haven't updated in a while plus feel a little guilty with Lesley going through everything she is going through I feel I shouldn't complain. I am so blessed with the things I have but somehow can't help complaining just a little. By the way my kids have been so absolutely wonderful through all this. They have been really a joy other than getting sick all the time it seems.

Rough begining to the year

2008-03-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

It is starting off to be a rough begining to the year. I by chance called Tracy to inform her Austin made play off's for basketball. Well she said you didn't get my e-mail I said no I didn't. Friends of the family who have lived next to her mom and have been friends with her mom for the last 45 years. Well they were out walking there dog and Red kept saying I don't feel good. Well they got back and he said I really don't feel good call 911. Bev turned around to grab the phone and Red hit the floor. His left ventricle blew out of his heart and he died before he hit the floor. He was only 60.

So we had to attend yet another wake last night. It was very sad. The line was out the door and inside. It weaved itself in and out of the other rooms because he was so well known in the city of Methuen. It was crazy.

On a better note we seem to be finally hitting the end of this nasty nasty virus that attacked this family. Colby had to get picked up at school on Friday with an ear infection. I started feeling human yesterday 6 days after coming down with this. You would think you were doing better and the next day you were down for the count again. It was one of the worst and nastiest virus's I have seen probably ever. Glad it's over.

Okay that's it for now.

Another week down in this crazy month

2008-03-09T08:25:00.001-07:00

Okay well between the weather and just my crazy life. This has been one busy month. We had the family party at my parents last weekend. Sadly Colby couldn't attend because he was sick, the next day Austin gets this nasty virus. Low grade fever, funny nose, cough. However, it lasts for a good 5-7 days.

This past Thursday I get sick. I am still really sick. Friday night was Colby's real birthday so we took him out to eat. Saturday Austin had his play off game for basketball. YEAH THEY WON!!! Now they have one more next week and if they win this game they play immediately in the Championship game. Then Jeff ran him over to his friend Skylar's house. Colby had 4 of his friends come over for a guitar hero party. They made their own pizza's and played video games for the afternoon. They were all wonderfully behaved it was a great day. Other than the fact I really wanted to be in my bed.

We started taking in water last night due to all the rain so needless to say another 3 am night for me and with the time change it led to another 3 1/2 hr night of sleep. This is not helping in my recovery at all.

Austin managed to rope his friend Skylar's mom into letting him sleep over so I need to drag myself to go get ready to go get him.

Talk to you all soon.

Crazy Week

2008-02-28T20:18:00.001-08:00

Well it is officially vacation week for all the kids. Not only do I have the kids home but the snow just won't quit.

We have had a busy week with the kids being on vacation. I also get Julia Ben's sister and I had Rachael's boys on Tues and Thurs. So a couple days I had up to 8 kids. I am not complaining this week has flown by. I can't believe it is Friday tomorrow already.

Colby got a fun day. On Tuesday he got to go snow tubing at Pat's Peak with Julia, Stephanie and Rich. They were so great to offer to take him. Austin had the opportunity to go as well but opted to stay home and hang with his buddies Dane and Dylan. I was really impressed with him. Although I think he had more fun without his brother here to argue with.

Saturday I have to go to my Mom's for all the Feb and March birthday's since their are a ton of them. Here goes the list mine Feb 21, My sister and brother in law in Florida Feb 24, and Feb 25, My dad's March 1, Colby's March 8, Kelly March 19 and My uncle's March 22. Whew!!! Guess we all like this time of year. No one wanted to spread out. Just hope we can end up making it since we are supposed to get 3-6+ inches of snow not suppose to end until around noon time. Yeah that will be a nice commute. NOT!!! The weather just said possibly up to 9" of snow. UGH!!!!

Then on Saturday evening I am having Rachel and Logan over for a sleep over. I offered to give Stephanie a break. She is really stressed so time to give her a night out without having to worry about the kids.

All my friends are stressing me out too. Rachael with her blood pressure not under control. I am so worried about her that I am even dreaming at night about her because I am so nervous that something will happen that I can't get her out of my thoughts. Stephanie will be going in for surgery soon for a hysterectomy because she has fibroids so badly that their is no other alternative. But because she had had several surgeries in the past they can not go vaginally they will have to cut her open pretty good. The recuperation time will be a minimum of 4 weeks possibly 6 weeks. YIKES!!!! Her husband is not being very supportive either. He is acting like it will just be another day not that she is going in for major surgery. SMACK!!! MEN!!

Okay need to go to bed.

Talk to you all later.

Not such a good nights sleep

2008-02-27T13:14:00.000-08:00

Well okay it is now Febuary and I am totally over the snow thing already. Not only did we get another storm last night but are do for more today and more on Friday.

We get home from dinner and Jeff snowblows our driveway and the neighbors hence the intro to my story. The boys and I sit down and play a game. Jeff works again on his laptop that keeps acting stupid and shutting down my conection with Comcast. Jeff goes to bed, the boys and I go back out and shovel around 9:30pm until about 10 pm. I finally get my computer back up and running and get enthralled on the computer until 1:30 am.

Next thing I know I here Jeff talking to himself and pacing back and forth. I look at the clock it is 4:30am. I ask him what is the matter? He says I lost my keys I have already been up and down the street. He looked at our neighbors, his car the house. GONE!!! When he was snowblowing last night we believe they fell out of his sweatshirt and are now either buried under the snow or the snowplow took it when they plowed the street all night.

Oh crap now what do we do. Well what we do is Jeff calls work let's them know and we call a locksmith. Well that's a no go because they need the pass key code from Ford. It will be $30 for a key with the code or $175 without the code. Okay well Ford won't give it to us without proof of ownership. But we can't get their because Jeff's van is blocking my van. Well here comes Jeff Wall to the rescue once again. He drives Jeff to the Ford Dealership and they cut him two keys for $20.

He calls back work and they don't need him. Great another unpaid day off. *sigh* This turned out to be an expensive mental health day.

Furniture

2008-02-26T06:54:00.000-08:00

Okay well Thursday was my birthday let's just say it was interesting at best. We bought the new furniture. It is gorgeous. However, whoever built this house is stupid. You can't fit anything in with the narrow angles of the doorways. So we take out our brand new window in the livingroom to try and fit it in. Guess what it doesn't fit!!!! Okay this is getting bad Jeff is swearing and kicking anything and everything across our lawn. So I get on the phone and try and find anyone that can help. Finally Jeff Wall comes over and they take a saw to the casings of the window and cut them out. Okay we have now been at this for many hours the window came out at 6:30 pm and it is the middle of winter. It was a balmy 54 degrees in here.

Oh did I mention that I had an extremely sick child in all this mix and he won't let me even set him down. The poor thing was running a 103 degree fever and was pure misery. This is the day my darling husband decides to get this new furniture.

Well my birthday may have gotton shot and I may have had a sick child. However, it was worth it once the furniture was in and my house was put back together. It is gorgeous and perfect. It matches everything so perfectly.

Now if I could only find an entertainment center we could afford it would all be complete.

Okay I am off it is school vacation week so I have a few more kids than normal. Colby the lucky duck got to go snow tubing today so I am a little jealous.

Well rough weekend

2008-02-18T05:23:00.000-08:00

Okay so we get the new tables. Let's just say they look beautiful but for what we paid for them they are crap. I will not buy furniture from Target again. Just glad they don't look like they are CRAP!!!

Then Austin misplaced his game shirt. We searched for HOURS!!!! So he refused to go to his skills competition because he didn't have his shirt. I wish he didn't care what everyone else thought about him so much. *sigh* I just hope he stands up for himself when it really counts.

Brady and I have come down with a slight headcold. So that makes it a rough day.

The older boys room finally came to a head and their was way to much drama and tears over the cleaning of this room. It is not completed but it is way better. It needs to be completed by Sunday at 3 pm or Jeff and I go down with trashbags. Hope they take us seriously.

Okay talk to you all later

Not much to report

2008-02-16T19:48:00.000-08:00

Not a whole lot to report. We bought our end tables for the livingroom last night. Jeff will build them sometime tomorrow. Here is a sneak peak as to what they look like. I just love them.

Hmmmm well we also bought a chest freezer. Buying for a family of 5 and only having 1 fridge just wasn't cutting it for us. We were constantly cramming stuff in their and praying it could hold just one more item. Then we took our life in our hands trying to get something out. So we decided to break down and buy the freezer. It is nice because now we can buy in bulk. We went to BJ's today and it was awesome. Now we will only have to go to the grocery store for the basics. we spent only about $50 more than we would have at the store and got so much it will last at least 2 weeks worth of items.

Colby had his tryouts for baseball today. From what I heard it went pretty well. We will hear more about were they placed in the next few weeks. Anxious to see what our schedules will be like. Also anxious to see who their coaches are.

Tomorrow Austin has his basketball skills competition so that will be a few hours in the early afternoon. That seems to be about it for the weekend other than putting the house back together.

Okay guess that is it for now.

It is a good Friday

2008-02-15T20:02:00.000-08:00

Well this Friday goes down as a really good Friday.

Our taxes hit this morning so finally we can finish up our livingroom. I am itching to finish it all and call it complete. We bought the end tables this evening, just one more thing to check off the list.

Then we finally got digital cable, phone and internet. So no more dial up for me. Yee Haa.

Brady climbed out of his crib for the first time today. Oh great!!! I am really hoping that it was a one time event. At least for a little longer. I hear a huge thud and then out comes Brady with blankie and all. All I need is for this child to get any more bumps and bruises. This is from his collision with the wall in December. He still has slight swelling to this day. He hit it so hard. As you see from the smile this was several hours after the accident.

Okay hope everyone else had a great Friday.

Talk to you all later.

Snow snow and more stinkin' snow

2008-02-13T06:11:00.000-08:00

Okay I really loved the snow in December and didn't mind it in January. February rolled around and getting very very tired of it. It is messy and dangerous with the ice. Spring has to be around the corner RIGHT??

Well my brother's wedding is turning into a fiasco. You just got to love disorganized people. We found out yesterday the shower is in 3 weeks. The wedding is in May and they don't even have a church yet. This is getting ridiculous. The reception was more important than the wedding and they planned that before securing a church. Love him to death but really would love to dope slap him. Plus he has put all his emphasis on his friends and all the family is just a guest. We have no part in the planning part of this wedding or are included in this wedding at all. Never thought my brother would be like this.

Last Saturday we went to Kaleb's birthday and they had Max their from the Monarchs as you can see from Brady's face he wasn't so thrilled. But at least he didn't howl like Rachel.

Austin had baseball tryouts last Saturday and this Saturday Colby has his tryouts. Austin also has his first playoff game for basketball this Saturday and the skills competition for basketball this Sunday. Another on the go weekend.

Things never turned out as planned

2008-02-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

Well okay I think my luck may be slightly jinxed. We get to Rachael's for what I anticipate to be a really fun evening. Well it started off that way but shortly after we arrived Austin started looking a little funny and started to complain his stomach hurt. UGH!! Okay well he didn't want to leave so I kind of forgot and went on with my night. When all of a sudden Rachael starts not looking so good. Well off to the bathroom she goes. Then Austin states we need to leave and he is really looking bad. So my awesome evening was cut short and off I went with a sick kid in tow. He is on the couch finally sleeping with a fever. I have already called him in to school for tomorrow.

OHHHHH and to top it all off the Patriots lose with only 39 seconds left on the clock. WHAT KIND OF SH*T IS THIS!!!! Hats off to the Giants they earned it. Patriots just didn't bring their game. Still love them just sad they lost.

On a brighter note my livingroom walls are completely painted. They look amazing and all my new black outlet covers and light switches are stunning. The trim and ceiling are not yet completed. I simply can't wait for it all to be finished. Then for an added bonus. My dad built an end table in high school. I was given this table by my grandmother when I moved into my first apt. It meant so much since my dad died when I was 14. Well it was never finished and since we were doing all the accent pieces in the room black. I didn't want to leave it out and wanted to incorporate it into the room somehow. Well I went back and forth wether I wanted to paint it or not. I decided we should paint it black to match everything. It looks incredible. I love it!!! It looks like we bought it new from the store. YEAH!!!!

Okay well getting late talk to you all later.

Wow what a month

2008-02-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Well if anyone read Rachael's post New Year's Eve didn't quite turn out as planned. Rachael's dad past away and it turned out to be a very sad day indeed. Our thoughts and prayers are still with them in this very trying and difficult time.

Rachael's new school schedule has led to more time with her as she now, spends a couple of hours hanging with me on Tuesday's and Thursday's inbetween classes. This works adult conversation is always a rare event in this house.

Austin's basketball team is now 5-2 they are now tied for 1st place. GO AUSTIN!!! Next week is the last game of the regular season and then start playoff's.

Report cards came home. Let's just say it was not my kid's shining moment. Not horrible but certainly not their best. So my kid waiting for Christmas feeling came crashing down. UGH!! Well they still have two quarters to get butts in high gear.

Okay well we are going to try for a superbowl party at Rachael's tonight. I am imagining this will be a nail biter for sure. 19-0 and 1 more to go!!!!! GO PATS!!!!

OH!!! Almost forgot the renovations are now underway the major undertaking of the living room has begun. Let me just have the strength to get through it all.

Okay well talk to you later.

Rain Rain

2008-01-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

Okay well not much to report. We have had some amazing weather. A January heat wave so we have been enjoying the warm weather. However, what comes with the warm weather is rain. Wow did it rain today. Total bummer on a Friday.

Well grades for the boys close next week with report cards coming out on the 25th. I can not wait. I am like a kid waiting for Christmas.

Tomorrow Austin has a basketball game and then we head over to Rachael's house for our New Year's Eve. I can't wait should be a total blast.

Okay well talk to you later.

Hello

2008-01-09T18:13:00.000-08:00

Okay well let's see. This year we are just enjoying having a true New England winter with loads of snow. We have taken the boys sledding numerious times. They are taking every available opportunity to sled as often as possible since who knows when we will have another winter like this one. The baby is just loving it as well. We took him to the sledding hill and he couldn't get enough sledding with his daddy and big brothers. I stayed at the bottom and video taped them all. It was so fun to watch.

Colby this quarter in school is just excelling. I am so proud as a mother for him. As well he is equally as proud. GO COLBY!!!

Austin on the other hand is going through quite the cycle at the moment. He is challanging Jeff and I at every turn. He doesn't get his way and he throws crying, storming off fits. He thinks they give him to much work at school and I feel doesn't try his best. This has to end soon right????

Brady is a clever, smart little boy. I have to watch him every second of every day because he watchs and mimics everything we do. Example: put on the oven mit tonight and tried to open the hot oven door. Because mommy and daddy do it. Is very interested in the potty at the moment and wants to sit on it all the time. He doesn't do anything yet but hey can't hurt to sit him on it and get him used to it. Still is my ham and loves to make everyone laugh.

We had a rough spell their for a while with our vehicles. My alternater went then a few days later Jeff's battery died. It was such an inconvience and expense.

I am hoping we have turned a corner and things will be wonderful from here. I can't wait until taxes come back so I can redo our livingroom. The only thing I plan on keeping in here is the blinds, and electronics. I plan on doing the walls Autumn Terracotta, cream trim and all black accents such as black computer desk, entertainment center, end tables, and curtain rods etc. The furniture I plan on getting are sofa and loveseat that are cranberry. OH I am so excited and I can't wait.

Well we are finally going to have our New Years Eve this Saturday at Rach's since ours got cancelled due to the snow. So I will be back soon.

Long needed update

2007-12-11T06:55:00.000-08:00

Okay no I didn't disappear off the face of the earth. We lost our computer. So I am back to update on all the events in our life since October.

We had our Thanksgiving here this year with my mom and dad, brother and fiancee'. We had a wonderful day and it was over before we knew it.

We have all our outside decorated this year. Bigger than last with lights on the side lawn as well as the front.

We have already had a few snow storms this year. It is quite crazy to see snow before Thanksgiving. I can't even remember the last time we had snow on the ground for Christmas. As a child I can't remember a Christmas without snow on the ground. Now it is so not the norm.

Okay what else Colby decided it was time for him to leave karate after 6 years. He decided it was time to try other things. That is what he is doing head on. Austin started basketball so far they are 1-1. Nail biters that is for sure.

I have been seeing more of Rachael and the kids lately that has been really nice. Maybe not so much for her since it is after work. But nice just the same.

All my Christmas shopping minus a couple of things is DONE!! Whoo hoo!!! We had the kids pictures done for the holidays. They came out great as always.

We finally broke down and bought a brand new computer and all in 1 printer. Loving all of it. So nice to be able to work like I should be able too.

Hopefully will post a photo of the boys soon. For those who wanted to see them.

Okay gotta go for now.

What a week

2007-10-21T16:31:00.000-07:00

Okay well Julie is back home, the wedding is OVER!!!!

Tracy and I are back to normal. Which I knew would happen once the stinkin wedding was over and done with.

Austin woke up last week in the middle of the night throwing and then Colby came home early from school Thursday sick, then Thursday night at 11:30 pm I woke up sick. Which I certainly did not recoup as fast as the kids. I was down and out. Me in bed before 8:30 pm two nights in a row. Yeah must have been on my death bed. I finally started to feel human yesterday. Which is when Brady came down with this bug. Okay now I think it has made its rounds through everyone we better be done now.

We made homemade glazed doughnuts today and boys carved their pumpkins. The boys went to their very first haunted house last night. They really liked it but it really scared them out of their wits. It was in Barrington, NH, it was a hike but I highly recommend it.

Last weekend we went to Elwood Farms and went through the 4 1/2 acre corn maze and pumpkin picking. Where we also got to go on an awesome hay ride. We then decided to splurge and go to the 99 for lunch.

We have had some really awesome family time lately. Just love this time of year. So many opportunities for inexpensive fun family activities.

Julie is finally here!!!

2007-10-01T19:28:00.000-07:00

YEAH!!! My friend Julie finally arrived Saturday night. Brady and I picked her up from the airport at 11:30 pm. It was so awesome to see her. I really missed her. Things worked out better than I expected as far as the time schedule. We stayed up until 2:30 am talking and didn't get up until 9:45 am the next morning even the baby slept in since he went to bed so late. She went to breakfast with Tracy but then came back here and hung out with me until 4 pm when her dad came and got her.

She will be back here Friday to go to the rehearsal dinner with us and spend the night. So I can't wait.

I have decided to be the bigger person with the whole Tracy nonsense. Here is my feeling about this whole thing. She has been my very close friend for 11 years. She has always stood by me and even at one point chose me over her family. So do I allow 11 years to of friendship to go over a few moments of stupity because she is being a bridezilla. No I will see how things go after the wedding and I imagine that things will go back to normal after the fact. I think she got way to concerned with the little details and forgot to look at the big picture and what this wedding is really about. However, it is her wedding and she can have it any way she wants just can't wait for this fiasco to be over so I can just put this behind us. Sadly I will have to think twice before I ever agree to be in anyones wedding again because of this one. I can't believe the nonsense that this monster has become.

Okay well I am going to wrap this up. As I am still getting over this cold. Friday I was up till 3 am and up at 8 am, Saturday picked up my dress, Colby had karate, We went to the Deerfield fair got home around 9:30pm and then went to the airport and picked up Julie and then got to bed at 2:30 am. So it is catching up with me and I am exhausted. I think it may be why this cold is lingering also.

Uh oh Mom's sick

2007-09-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

You just know that things are bad when mom goes down for the count. I started to feel kind of bad on Wednesday when I woke up but figured it may just be allergies. Well when I woke up on Thursday a full blown cold. I haven't been this sick in a very long time. Head pounding, so very hot, faucet for a nose and still five little ones running around to care for can we say NOT EASY!!!

Kids were on there own for dinner last night. Then at 7 pm I realize I am supposed to be at Austin's school for open house. UGH!!! I throw some clothes on and run out the door with Brady in his jammies and slippers and Austin. We get there and I realize Jeff has my car which has Brady's stroller in it. Now I have to carry Brady around when I am struggling enough just to stand upright. Okay I stay an hour and can't get out of there fast enough.

I seem to be feeling somewhat better today. I can at least function although, I am still feeling a little under the weather.

Although I did find out that my neighbors dad past away. Oh my heavens I am so sad for them. The wake was yesterday and small family service was today. I will send them a sympathy card tomorrow and possibly call sometime in the next few weeks.

A boy finds extracurricular activities

2007-09-26T04:55:00.000-07:00

Okay so our crazy schedule evidently wasn't crazy enough. Colby comes home yesterday with a 4 pg. paper of extracurricular activities that are now being offered at his level. He is so excited and wants to participate so badly. So we carefully balance our already balancing schedule. This is what it now looks like:]

Monday - School, Karate
Tuesday - Ulitimate Frisbee this is before school, School, Saxaphone, TSA (a leadership group that works on graphic design, computer applications, structural engineering challenges and bridge building).
Wednesday School, Karate
Thursday Ultimate Frisbee before school, School, Art Club
Friday NOTHING AND NOR WILL THEIR BE SO HELP ME!!!!

Now mind you this does not include Austin yet who will be starting Basketball soon so that will be sandwiched in on Wednesday's. Because if it stays the same as last year it was practice on Wednesday's and games on Saturday's.

Now to recap their is 1 of me. I work 5 days a week. will have to pick up or drop off Colby 4 days a week. Pick up or drop off Austin 2 days a week. All this and still fit in dinner, homework and just family life in general.

Okay wore myself out time to go to work now.

Frustrated/Hurt

2007-09-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

Okay well a quick update I have reason to believe that my neighbor past away his daughter and son have been absent from school all week. As we speak I am doing a quick search through the Union Leader Obits.

Can I just say it amazes me at times how the people we think are closest and dearest to our hearts, can also be the cruelest at times. My friend Julie will be flying in this Saturday. She is flying in for Tracy's wedding on Oct. 6th. Well this is the kicker Tracy who only invited Julie because Julie so insisted she wanted to come. So Tracy decides that on Sunday we will all go for breakfast. Well Jeff won't be here so when I e-mail her and tell her I will need to bring the kids along, she e-mails this back to me:
"Hi,
Ok then. After REALLY thinking about it and has much as I love spending time
with my pumpkins if it's good with you then Julie & I will just go. I'll
pick her up at 10am."

Okay so now I get penalized for having children!!!!!!! Go frigin pound sand. When all along I have been the one that has stayed in touch with Julie. Okay can I tell you I feel like spitting teeth. Now after spending $800+ dollars Jeff and I have spent for her wedding in a week from Saturday. I feel like calling her and telling her Jeff and I will no longer be in her stupid wedding.

UGH!!! I can't wait for this stupid wedding to be over so I will have NO reason to speak to her. I am so mad, so hurt and genuinely wondering what the HELL!!! Thought it would make me feel better to vent but NOPE. This is the second time during this whole wedding planning fiasco that she has said something very inappropriate because I have kids. I don't often get so mad but life is just too short for this crap.

Well I can't find anything in the obit's but I wonder if their will be any. I will just keep looking.

It's Monday

2007-09-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

Okay the weekend was busy as ever. We went out to dinner Friday night, then Jeff and I ran to the grocery store to get ready for Jeff's end of year softball blowout. Yes that we are hostessing. Okay Saturday we spend all day cooking and getting ready. We probably ended up with at least 30 people here. The final people didn't leave until around 11:30 ish. I was simply exhausted.

However, the amount of food these people all came with probably could have feed a small country. Then everyone left all the food behind for us, along with all their alcohol. Well needless to say invited Steph and the kids over for a cookout tomorrow night to try and get here to help us eat all of this before it spoils.

Sunday night Jeff realizes that his eyeglasses are missing. He NEVER loses his glasses. Oh good lord, this is such an expense right now that we certainly do not need. $200 is about the amount a new eye exam and replacement pair is going to cost. So that is where Jeff is headed to now. UGH!!

Austin has a field trip and open house this week. I have one of my part time daycare kids full time this week. So this adds to the romper room feel. I have to go pick up my dress for the wedding on Saturday at 12 pm, Have my friend Marie pick up Colby for Karate and then grab him from there at 1 pm and then pick up my friend Julie from the airport and 11:32 pm. CRAZY DAY/WEEK.

Okay well need to quickly start dinner because then we are out of here for karate. So talk to you all soon.

A 9 yr olds poor/hurtful choices

2007-09-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

I know very weird for two posts in one day. However, needed to vent so here it goes. Okay guess I need to start by giving you a little intro before my story. Our neighbors that live one street over from us have four children the oldest Brittany is 9 and in Austins grade the youngest is in preschool and is 4. Well their dad has been really really sick. He has cancer. I guess this summer he became even worse to the point where he is days away from passing away. So that was the intro to my wanting to crawl in a hole and hide. This afternoon I get a call from Austin's principal telling me that my darling son while not understanding the full severity of their dad, proceeds to go to Brittany and say "SO DID YOUR DAD DIE YET"!!!! Okay what in heavens name do I say to his principal other than MY SON SAID WHAAAAAT!!!! These poor poor people are hanging on by a shoe string and my son has the audacity to say such a mean hateful thing. I will see these people and I have to admit I am related to this fool. I tell her to please tell this family that I am soooooooooo sorry and I will speak to him about this and deal with it.

He walks through the door and I am waiting for him. I explain to him that for all the trouble Colby has been in in his whole life that never was it as serious as the one comment that came out of Austin's mouth. I said to him that what he said was worse than taking a board and slamming her over the head. Because what he did was hurt her heart and that can not be fixed by a simple sorry. I said how would you feel if your dad was dying and someone said that to you. Knowing that you would never see your dad again. Not only did he embarrass himself but our entire family because you know she went home and told her family, friends at school etc. So I can just picture the stares and whispers the next time we are seen out or at the school. The punishment was loss of TV, video games, a very sincere apology letter to the entire family and hopefully just a better understanding of the severity of the hurtfulness words can cause. But I am praying to God that he thinks before he opens his mouth the next time.

Any thoughts of anything else I should say to my boy or do for this poor family.

One can only imagine what I am in for once they are teenagers.

Trying to be better

2007-09-17T07:42:00.000-07:00

Okay well since Jeff's accident he is having a bit of trouble with his siatic (sp?)nerve. The pain goes from his butt check to his foot. We finally came to the agonizing decision to sue the gentlemen's insurance company as we just don't know if this could be a forever pain. He has to go make an appt. today to the Neuro spinal institute in Bedford. We will see what they say and hopefully I will be able to update everyone further by the end of the week.

Well as soon as the boys get home the rat race will begin. Monday's are hectic as we need to race to get homework completed, make dinner and get Colby to karate.

Okay well I think that is all that I forgot to update about yesterday.

Sherri

This ones for you Rach :-)

2007-09-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well let's see my life seems to running in about 3,000 directions. I want to be able to add a few more hours to each day. This way I may be able to complete everything that needs to be done.

We had Austin's party last weekend it turned out to be wonderful. Although it was a little weird without Rach. On Sunday the kids, myself, Laurie, Holly and my Uncle went down to Plimoth Plantation (No not spelt wrong) and the Mayflower. It was AWESOME!!! Even though it was a two hour drive each way. Whew!!! what an exausting weekend.

I took on another daycare child. He is also 2 so that is now 4 2yr olds. So needless to say in the words of Rachael it is romper room over here on a daily basis.

I decided I needed some more jeans so yesterday I ran to Wal-Mart and picked up a size 12. They are huge and I will have to return for the 10. Can you say estatic. I can't remember fitting into a 10 for how many years. Although the brand tends to run really big so I am sure that is a huge part of it. Still made me feel really good.

I went for my dress fitting yesterday. We had company last night. We have another cookout next weekend. I am just not sure when things will slow down. I will say though I am missing some of the old crew. I love all my friends but miss seeing some of my old, friends to the end friends. Rach, Michelle etc. I kind of feel we are growing apart and losing contact other than between blogs or e-mails. Hoping this can change real soon.

Brady is growing leaps and bounds. He is hysterically funny. I often say we don't need entertainment we have Brady. He is such an entity all his own. He demands the spotlight. Where Colby and Austin shy away from it. However, Brady seems to have always been the spotlight. He counts to 3, Can climb up and down stairs, just loves animals, goes in circles till he falls down dizzy, dances quite literally at the sound of any music, he is such a music lover to the core of his being. Watches the bidies at the bird feeder till mommy has had enough holding him.

Okay well this really summarizes our lifes at the moment. I hope everyone is well and is enjoying life.

Talk to you all soon.

Sherri

Migrane from Hell

2007-09-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday around 5am I woke up sick to my stomach and a headache that wouldn't quit. Well it kept getting worse all day to the point it was a full blown migraine and then I was down for the count. Ugh!!! what a waste of a day.

Well it looks like Colby will be playing the Saxaphone this year. Who knew!!! I really hope he likes it. He also wants to look into taking a cooking and sewing class. Wow he is really packing the schedule. I am just so happy that he is really liking school this year. Here's to hoping it continues.

Sign up for basketball started this week so I will be doing that for Austin. Wow it is looking like my schedule this school year will be just insane, with both the boys so busy this year.

Austin's birthday party will be next weekend and he also wants a seperate kids party this year. So needless to say my weekends will not be getting any easier for at least the next 6 weeks or so.

We just had the bridal shower for Tracy last weekend. The wedding is only a month away. YEAH!!!

Badly needed update

2007-08-31T06:03:00.000-07:00

Well the boys have started back to school and somehow we made it through. The boys are going to two seperate schools this year. They both love it. Colby is just loving his new school and all the new kids. He is coming home happy everyday. Yeah!!

Austin got his ear pierced. That was what he wanted and I think he looks very handsome.

On Wednesday, I got a call at 11am that Jeff was in a head on collision on Rte. 28 I man in a truck, with a trailor carrying a backhoe lost control and hit him head on. He took off Jeff's tire careening him across the roadway into a 12' oak tree which landed on his truck. He was removed by the window because it was the only way to get him out. They were originally calling medflight because they didn't think anyone could have survived the crash but Jeff screamed that he was fine and they cancelled it. He walked away with a sprained ankle, and muscle strains in his back and neck. He had an angel watching over him, keeping him safe.

Okay I will write more later. I will talk to you all later.

Today

2007-06-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well we buried my grandmother today. The rain never came and it was almost like she held it off because she hated it so. It was quite lovely but I have to say I am glad to it is over. This way the healing can begin. I have been battling headaches all week from the stress so I am hoping things will become a little bit more even keel around here for a bit.

We all went out for lunch/dinner afterwards and it was really nice to have everyone there and see what an amazing family we have. We really should treasure these moments as we just don't know how many we will have. Life changes in an instant.

This weekend is going to be so crazy and not looking forward to it. So off I go.

What a sad, very sad weekend.

2007-06-03T20:21:00.000-07:00

Well my Saturday started as any other but quickly changed as I got a call from my mom. She said my grandmother was dying and I needed to get to the nursing home as soon as possible. So I dropped Austin off at a birthday party and she offered to keep Colby as well. So I spoke to Jeff and he said he would pick up the boys. So Brady and I headed down to Brentwood to say our good-bye's. We walked in and they had just put her on morphine. She was very frail but knew who we all were and that we were their. She kept saying Brady Brady Brady. Quite slurred and not really with it. But enough to tell us she knew he was there. After Jeff picked up the boys he headed down as well so the boys could also say their good-bye's. One thing that I am all about is being real with my kids and death is a part of life and I think it is important for them to be apart of this as well and not sheltered from it. I think they were greatly for that too.

Anyways she passed away not more than 10 mins after we all left. She waited for the entire family to arrive to say good bye and the minute we left she knew it was time to go. We will not be having a wake as she did not want one. So we will be having a small burial on Tuesday afternoon with only the immediate family as that is the way she would have wanted it.

I am not crying sad as she lived an amazing life and had all her faculties with her until the very end. She lived to see all my boys, my wedding and me grow up to adult hood. She lived before their were cars or electricity. She drove until she was 90 and lived alone until she was 94. Wow what a life she has had. But part of me can't help be a little selfish and say how much I will miss her. She was my favorite of all my grandparents and the one I was the closest too. I am a little lost without her here. I will treasure the amazing memories she has given me over my life and smile whenever I think of her.

I love you Grammy.

A little crazy

2007-05-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well we are completely in the throughs of getting ready for Brady's first Birthday Party. Of course we are expecting an insane amount of rain. Oh well we will have fun anyway with all of our family and friends to help us celebrate. Yes it has finally arrived my baby is one.

Milestones: He is off the bottle
No more formula
He can crawl/walk
He has 11 teeth(at least that is all I could count before I lost any fingers)
He is 31" tall and weighs 23lbs 11oz's.

What an amazing year. Not a moment am I sorry to have had.

Well mother's day was quiet we bought a brand new grill so I guess that was my gift. Then I headed off to my brother's for a cookout with my mom. Which was very nice.

Of course the minute we spent $200 on a new grill the next day my washer dies. So now we have to save for a new one. I think the flooding from last year finally took it's toll and the drum completely detached from the washer. Onwards and upwards.

Well off I go since the party is no longer outside the inside will need an extra bit of cleaning so off I go.

Weather

2007-04-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

Wow okay I feel like I am in a replay of last Mother's Day weekend with all this rain, minus the pregnant belly. We are getting a little water in the basement but so far very minor and very manageable. This weather is more than a little disturbing. Our weather pattern over the last year has definitely warranted a wake up call to global warming. If not we may all be in major trouble in a very short amount of time. We are monitoring the water levels and saying a silent prayer that our water problem doesn't get any worse if not we could be in a heap of trouble with the boys room down their.

Well I hope everyone else is fairing as well.

Not a baby anymore

2007-04-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

Well this year has just flown by, it seems just like I just had Brady. Not that he is just around the corner to being a year old. I started the weaning off the bottle today and so far so good. Should be completely off by the end of the week and we are on the last can of formula he will ever have either. Will start introducing whole milk probably next week. Wow what happened to my little newborn. He officially started crawling today today well his form of it. Kind of looks like a contortionist but he is now all over the place and the official babyproofing begins. As he sweetly sleeps at night I quietly whisper stay little just a little longer my baby. Don't be in such a hurry there will be plently of time to be big but only such a short time to be small. As I type this he was playing in his room and I look and there he is peeking around the corner at me laughing that he made it all the way back into the livingroom. Okay well time to go think I am going to go put up the child gate so we don't have any baby accidents.

Talk to you all later.

Stress case

2007-04-06T21:08:00.000-07:00

I don't exactly know what is going on lately but normally I think I am pretty even key. However, lately I am such a stress case. My family is driving me insane and my friends are irratating me. I am starting to wonder if it is them or if I am being overly sensitive to something that may or may not be there. I kind of feel like I am being pulled in 1,000 directions and there is only one of me and then I have the other extreme where I feel they don't give a hoot. On top of this my stinkin computer is TICKING me off. Nothing is going the way it is supposed to be going. AARRGGHH!!!

I think I need to just go before I flip out on this computer. It is throughly irrating me this evening.

Okay well talk to you all later

Ewwww Can you say bats

2007-04-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

I so forgot to fill you guys all in on this disgusting story. On Saturday we decided with the rainy spring approaching we should fix a leaky cement footing in the basement to avoid any further flooding. So as we are rearranging our mounds of crap that was stored in the basement, Jeff lifts an old TV and finds a bat!! Yes I said bat. It was very much alive and screaming at us. A noise I will probably never forget so we capture it and quickly dispose of it. However as we open the bulked (sp?) door and look up their is another bat perched above the door on the inside. Now we have quite the dilemma how in heavens name do we get it out. We call animal control the don't deal with bats only dogs they tell us. They give us a # for animal critter call them they want $70 for the call and $89 for the removal of the bat. NO WAY!! So Jeff decides to squirt it with the hose to try and get it out. Doesn't work we try and get out the pool pole and net and scoop it out. Nope doesn't work it is attacking anything we go near and with. It is also screaming this sound I have never heard before in my life. I am such a chicken sh*t. We say what do we do now I know lets call Colby. So Colby comes out and as Jeff and I are standing on the deck shaking like leafs. Colby goes in slams the bat and sadly but inevitably what has to happen kills the bat. YEAH COLBY!!! Ewww I have never before had a bat problem and I hope never ever to have this problem again in my life.