Happy Holidays

Wishing you all a safe and happy, New year.

Sarah with new puppy Bailey

Twas a long tiring day...

So much for a relaxing Saturday.
The day started at 8 am when Sarah woke me up. Sarah and I worked on our Gingerbread house. Afterwards, I went shopping. I got a few major things on my list so it was an accomplishment.
Then my Grandson came over. Now the plan was for him to stay over, then we were going to see Santa tomorrow, but well, he just did NOT want to sleep! At 9:30 I decided it was best to take him home. I think he missed his own bed.
Speaking of bed......I need to go now....
Here is a couple pics of my youngest daughter and our Gingerbread house, and another of Aunt Sarah and Kaiden(my Grandson).

Cheers to school being in!

Here is a pic of Sarah I took yesterday while she played in the snow for a bit.
I am having a lot of fun using these scrap kits I am finding. This photo template is by "Shabby Miss Jenn Designs"
Today was Sarah's first day back this week at school after being off all week due to bad weather. So I was finally able to get a bit more Christmas shopping done. My goal is to be done by or before next Friday.

Snowy Day Pic

Template by Crystals Creations

Christmas Tree and Snowstorm

My tree is up! Very unusual as I like to wait as long as possible. My Christmas tree looks different this year then any year before. The colors are turquoise and silver, with white lights. Trees of past, were quite ugly with a mish mash of colors, and colored lights. Could it be that's why I got the tree up as late as I could and as early as I cold? Not sure how I feel about this tree, I almost feel like I am cheating by breaking out of my normal tradition. Yes, ugly and boring.








On a bad note, we are in the process of a nasty snowstorm, the first of this season. It started Sunday night (I am writing this in the wee hours of Weds), and it is still going strong. Yes with snow comes school closures of course. Today made 5 days in a row, Sarah has been home with me.(Friday she was sick. Isn't it funny how kids never get sick on a snow day? Sarah has been keeping me entertained with many things. The girl loves to sing, unfortunately for me, she sometimes has a singing voice like Edith Bunker. To anyone old enough to remember (lol) the 70's, you may remember Archie Bunker. Remember now? The opening song, "Those were the Days".
I really need to get myself a pair of earplugs, to have on hand, for the next snow days.

Another Thanksgiving has gone...

It was a small gathering for me, my 3 youngest kids, and my grandson. We had our dinner on Sunday, as I usually do, as do others.
I notice a lot of people have ham for Thanksgiving. I wonder if that's because they don't like turkey? I cannot imagine Thanksgiving without turkey.
I have ham many times throughout the year, so eating ham, is just not special to me, lol
I usually have turkey twice a year, Thanksgiving, and at Christmas.
Speaking of Christmas, its' only a couple months away. I am looking forward to it also.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving, btw.

Baby Walking....

well almost. Kaiden now pulls himself up to a standing position, from sitting down. No holding onto anything. He does take a few steps too before falling, lol
Here are some pics I took a couple of days ago. He just turned 9 months old.

I love Autumn!

I've always loved Autumn. The changing colors of the leaves on the trees, shorter days, and cold nights. And there's nothing better, then cooking/baking fall-time food.
Dad brought my bag of apples over today, and I am in my glory! lol
The lingering smells of cinnamon and apples have been what my house smells like today.
I made apple-crisp, for dessert tonight, first time this year, and have just finished making applesauce. Autumn is much too short of a season.

My favorate lunch...

I have decided to share with you my new favorite lunch!
Toasted tomato, and cheese sandwich, with tea.
I could eat this everyday for lunch, and I almost do! haha

My Cute Grandson, Kaiden, 9 months old.

Growing older, and the Pursuit of Happiness

I've often wondered the meaning of life .
Isn't it funny how when growing up, we want to be older then we are? I remember when I turned 4 yrs old, how old I felt. Then came the thrill of being 2 digits old, the big 10! Then a "teenager" at 13. 16, 19. I think all through my 20's I was more absorbed with raising small children(I had my 3rd at 27 yrs old).
I was appalled when I realized my 30th birthday was approaching. I would no longer be in my 20's! This was a hard time for me.
Shortly after turning 30, I left my childrens' father. I knew at this point there was something huge missing from my life. I wasn't having a life. I was existing with another person, who was probably as miserable as I was. I was strong enough to end it though.
A short few years later, I found myself in the same place. Another child, and a man who drove me insane. In fact a worse situation then before.
Now here I am, at 41 years old, ready once again to find not only the meaning of life, but to pursue my own happiness..
I cannot regret my life or choices, I've made, bad or good. I look at it as a learning experience.
What I've learned is this.
No other person can make you happy. It's up to yourself. Be happy in the choices you make for you. Live for YOU. All else will fall into place if you do this. Your children will be happier also.
I have a feeling the next 10 years will be great!

2 more weeks until I move..

I am so excited about moving.
Some of you know how often I have moved the last 8 months and why.
In Dec I moved to a small town. What a nightmare.
On Christmas Day, the furnace in the rented house died. After constantly being put off by the landlord, finally after 6 weeks, I called the township to report it. Within a week, we had our furnace.
So decided in the meantime to find a new place to live.
Ended up moving across town, to the only apt available in town I’m sure. Ok, enough, I guess for young people to live in. Not me though. No storage at all, tiny cupboards, just terrible. And only 2 b rooms!
Aside from that, my 14 yr old son, and my soon to be(in 2 weeks) :) ex, fight constantly. I have to say my son is the more mature out of the 2.
So my son has taken to spending most of his time at his friends’ house. I feel so bad. No child should feel so uncomfortable in their own home.
I now truly understand how much I have let my kids down, by allowing this whole situation to even happen. And yes, I do blame myself. I could say I should have done something about this long ago. I had tried a few times to change things. But how soon we forget…
So since April, shortly after moving here, I’ve been working with some people, to help me find a new place to start over. Just me and my kids.
Found out a few weeks ago, we had a place! I went to see and I love it!
Its’ huge, 3 bedrooms, tons of storage, 2 bathrooms(imagine 2 bathrooms for 3 people)! And dishwasher, that I know I will be making good use of!
We will be near shopping, grocery stores, movie theater, schools, everything you could want. Plus the beach is very closeby! Oh how I have missed seeing water. lol
I have big plans for once we move. But I think the best thing I am looking forward to, is having a place, where all of my 4 kids(and other halfs too), and my Grandson, can live/visit without the stress of feeling the need to walk on eggshells.

New Year, New Baby, New Blog....

Yes, I have done it again.
New blog. I have/am only moving over a few blog posts from the old blog.

Well the baby is here. Kaiden Daniel James, was born c-section on Dec 29/09.
7lb 13 ounces. He is so cute.