since my last post ----

This boy has turned 9. (and yes, I am a completely bad blogger to neglect my own son's bday post.)



His birthday included: triple layer chocolate cake, steak and baked potatoe, taking Tony's Donuts to school for treats, a new watch, cool frisbee/ball, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader board game, and general birthday happiness. Oh, and a big box of Captain Crunch cereal. It's his favorite and he hardly ever gets it, so for that I got a biiiigggg hug!! I think the box was gone after 3 big bowls-full.
I wanted to take some pictures of him and ended up with a couple that I like alot. He's not the easiest to photograph. Always making goofy faces or fake-smiling, which drives me crazy. I have to get him talking about something and get to him to be natural and then I end up with pictures that show all those little looks that are just *him*. Like the one above : I love the way he holds his mouth like that when he's telling me something. That's something about him that hasn't changed a bit since he was teeny-tiny. Doesn't time just fly?? How did he get to be 9??

And then Kate had the idea to sit together for a picture. (are you noticing a theme running through the posts??? Kate always in the pictures???) Well, when you are 9 and your little sister is 4 and wants to be lovey-dovey on the front steps for pictures, you just want it to be over. That's the picture below. Hurry up and take it, mom, cause she's touching me....



And by this one it was time to be done. Isn't that look on his face sooo pathetic??? This could be considered a huge punishment or some inhumane form of torture. And do you not love the fact that she's loving every minute of it???


Here's one with the big layer cake that he wanted. I had to fudge a little and use all different kinds of pans to make them fit right, but he was happy and that's all that matters.


I've been negectful of the blog again, I know. It really isn't on purpose and I hope you are still checking for updates and haven't given up on me completely. Things have been so busy and I'm still adjusting to all the new stuff in our lives -- the biggest being working and having 3 children to keep track of. The last time I worked I only had one and that was hard. This is definitely a challenge. I am enjoying it in so many ways and they haven't seemed to mind and have done well with the changes. It really is just me and my being able to handle it all. I know that I can. It's just learning how. That's what I'm doing, learning....

I won't bore you and update you on all the nitty-gritty of the last week or two. I'll just start from today and try to do better using this place as a way to put it all down and hopefully in perspective. Maybe I need to journal more about my feelings and not so much about the happenings. Maybe some of both?? I'm not sure. We'll see how it happens. It might be nice to just not think and just start typing, kinda like I'm doing right now. ;) Will that be impossible to follow?? My thoughts are awfully wonky and can sometimes be irrational and anxiety ridden. But maybe putting it all out there will help with all of that. Bring some clarity and balance to the swirling tornado in my head most days. We'll see. I hope some of you will hang in there with me. If it's too crazy for ya, I completely understand. I promise to always post pictures and stuff about the kids, though because I know that that is the real reason you all check in. ;)
They are the where the $$ is. No, wait, I don't get paid to blog, do I??? If I did, I bet you all would have a lot more to read on here.

Here's to you, my faithful readers. You're the bees knees.