John's spontaneous moment...

So, there I was digging weeds (taller than myself) out from around our deck when John comes out. (This was Sunday morning about 9:30.) "What do you think about going to Biltmore?"

I kept digging, "What?"

"I found a place to stay where we can take Rosie. I also found tickets for $10 off and the girls get in free. So? What do you think?"

By 10:30, I had showered, we packed, loaded the car and were officially traveling. I have to admit it was a good trip. Rosie did great, both riding and at the hotel. The girls really enjoyed it, which honestly I was surprised by. Chloe was still talking about the "big house" on the way home.

All is well...

It has been a fun few days with John home. Too many times have we left for a mini-vacation when he's home and this is the second time now, this year, we have stayed home. It has been fun. I bought the girls a BIG blow up pool on Sunday and they got in it Tuesday. I promised them we would set it back up today so they could play some more. John said putting it up and down (I really did the down, he did the up) just made him want a "real" pool so he wouldn't have to keep doing that. lol Oh, well.

The house has remained clean, for the most part, but laundry is really behind. So much for my vow. I'll get it caught up but I'm not going to rush. I'm enjoying John too much to be overly worried about the house or laundry.

I have decided that Rosie is a bit, well, nuts. I keep reminding myself that Maggie was a bit nuts too in the beginning, but somehow I don't think Rosie is going to "outgrow" some things. She bites her own tail; she chews on it for hours! Anyway, fingers still crossed on this one.

Here is a story I didn't post the other day:
One day this week, I was sitting in the living room watching the morning news. I kept hearing a thud at the French door to the deck. Well, we have the curtains that were on the doors in Edgefield there. Yes, both curtains on the door (help the heat/air). There was a gap between the two curtains. I could see the shadow of something when I heard the thud. Now let me stop and tell you this, at night when we turn down the lights to watch TV after the girls go to bed the bugs start knocking on the windows. The bugs in Kershaw are large! They make some of the darndest noises for bugs, so I thought it was some kind of bug hitting the window of the door. I get up and peek out the crack just as a bird dives down with its claws right at my face (glad there was glass there)! The only thing I can figure is somehow he was seeing his reflection in the gap between the curtains and was attacking "the other bird". I would hate to see that coming at me when there is no glass!

Relieved...

John had his procedure done today and everything was fine. He'll go back in five years. I think he felt better knowing for sure everything was okay...I know I did.

Reorganized...

whew! I spent the majority of yesterday standing. I'm not used to that. I reorganized our master bedroom and the kitchen. Our bedroom wasn't so bad, really it was just a good cleaning. I still have yet to figure out why some pieces of furniture get collections of junk on them all the time.

The kitchen was a different story. I had a couple of goals for the kitchen: find a new home for the crock pot (I shouldn't have to lift if off a shelf over my head to use it), the "baking" drawers were impossible to find anything in. So, I set off yesterday after lunch to see what I could do. The "baking" drawers I actually did Friday (I think). They are so organized now; no more searching for me! I finally decided to keep the crock pot on the counter (the last thing I wanted was to add more to the counter tops, but it was the only way). I put the cereal dispenser on the end of the breakfast bar and the crock pot to the left of the sink. The red teapot is now in the new "red corner". John made a shadow box for me a couple of months ago (I just hung it a couple of weeks ago). It has the cookie cutters my Mom used when I was little and they are red. I had bought a red tray for the deck table and my Mickey and Minni cookie jar has some red too. Hence, the "red corner" because everything red is in one corner of the kitchen, now the teapot is there too (it just made sense).

Now, the only thing left is finishing the classroom. I still have to finish grading Jesse's math and send everything off to the association, file, and general "go through stuff". I'm hoping I can finish it this week but I just found out last night John will not home for three days, but he for seven. I'm trying not to think, "there goes my clean house". LOL I'm really hoping by Thursday or Friday the only thing I have to work on is SOTW II (no, I still haven't opened the book yet).

Our busy day...

Yesterday was quite crazy. I left yesterday morning about 8am to go buy a baby shower gift (yes, another shower). Got home just in time for John to leave for his rental (9:15). We packed up all the things we needed then went to his work to spend the morning with him. We left his work about 1:30 to go to Camden's birthday party ("Happy Birthday Camden!"). John was suppose to leave work at 2pm to go home for roughly 2 hrs then return to the rental. Well, he never left. Poor Rosie was stuck in the kennel from 9:40 until about 4:35. To say she was happy to see us would be an understatement. We let her out then packed Rosie and her things then went back to John's work to take him dinner. We finally got back about 8:30pm. What a day!

John called this morning at almost 7am to say they just finished cleaning after the rental (it was over a little after 2am). He said it was the worst one he's ever done and he'll never do another one. They started cleaning, I think, about 2:30am and didn't finish until 7am and that was eight people! I can only imagine, but honestly I choose not to (I've seen some...scary!). He finally got to sleep about 8am this morning. I'm hoping to keep the house quiet, but around here that can be difficult...As I return from downstairs to let Chloe know I hear her upstairs. GEEZ. I'll do my best but I don't think his Father's Day is going as he planned. :(

Questions you may, or may not, thought of asking...

Our new dishwasher. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. First (and most important), you are so quiet. I can watch TV and totally forget you are just a few feet away washing my dishes. Second, your stainless steel interior stays radiantly clean. Third, you completely turn off with no vampiring. Oh, how I do love thee? (sigh)

Homemade laundry soap...are we still using it? Does it work well? Yes, we are still making our own laundry soap and yes it works wonderfully. In fact, the last time a batch was needed I made it all by myself (including the power tools!) and it is soo simple! I love it! Now, I'm trying to find a really good replacement for bleach for a variety of things. If you have any ideas, throw 'em at me!

Puppy training...well, she is still only about four months old so we'll give her more time. It took Maggie about a year to be completely trained so I'm not worried. She is potty trained for the most part, so long as John doesn't yell (or another dog come after her in her own yard...but that is a different story). But that has only happened once. What we are working on is: sitting, speaking (when asked), not jumping, not licking (she's a licker!). I'm hoping by the birthday party things will be better. Fingers crossed.

First week of summer...

but you wouldn't know it. There has not been any relaxing on Tuesday or Wednesday. Nothing but errands all day Wednesday and Tuesday was filled with laundry and cleaning. Today? Today, not much different, still more laundry and cleaning.

The girls are going to a birthday party on Saturday and it is the talk of the household. They haven't talked much about anything else. I think they are looking forward to it.

I'm hoping to start SOTW II notes tomorrow; I'm not going to kill myself to start today. And John is working on Saturday, so I'm hoping that morning I'll have a chance to work on notes too.

I was suppose to go see the doctor at the beginning of the month to retest my cholesterol, but I haven't been yet...haven't made the appointment yet either. After we found out John had to go in (next week), I've put myself on the back burner until he is done just so we don't have any conflicts with anything. I'm not exactly sure if he'll have to go back for a follow-up or not, so I'll wait just a bit longer.

The girls are looking forward to art projects. I promised while they are out of school we'd do a bunch. So far, they are coming up with some themselves, but I do have a few I want to do with them I just want to get a couple of small projects done first. They keep asking what my ideas are, they are adorable. I won't tell them because I know if they knew they would drive me nuts.

My birthday...

As you know, we went to my parent's house over the weekend. It was the first time I had seen them since my birthday. My gift...cash. So, I've done a little shopping over the past couple of days and wanted to share what I "got for my birthday".

Two pair of pjs, two Dolly CDs, and a package of three bamboo cutting boards! Yes, I'm happy!

"Thanks Dad and Mom!"

Tired...

Our really big thing this past week was to get ready for a yard sale at my Mom's yesterday. I have vowed never to do it again. I never really make any money, nor do I really enjoy it. So there. My parents did well and sold a few large items that were taking up a lot of space. Aunt Dian sold her patio furniture, which was her big thing taking up space. We didn't really have a big thing, just a lot of little things. The girls came out and helped sale too...they did a good job. I also got to see, and talk to some, some people from the neighborhood.

I find it interesting how time plays with my mind. I saw a woman I went to school with and I know I should know her but she knew I couldn't come up with anything. She remembered me, my name and that my hair should be darker (thanks). When she saw Jesse, she was shocked, "that's you!" I still love that reaction. My response, "Yep, just a lot taller." And it's true. I'm going to pull out the year book and look her up, that usually helps though not all the time. :)

I'm looking forward to getting some things done this week while school is out, but honestly I need to make a list of what I want to get done (yes, SOTW will have to bee on the list). The girls are excited about doing art for the next few weeks and I have a few really good things in mind for them. I think they are going to have a great time. I also want to look into the free movies at the movie theater. I have the list of movies but I want to make sure they are still going to separate the daycares from the families (the daycares usually fill up the place so the families can't get in). So, we'll see. I haven't mentioned it to the girls yet so hopefully I'll get to that before they read this. :)

Not much going on...

I can't believe it is Wednesday already...the week went where?? lol So, much has happened this week, but nothing really exciting. We will finally finish school for the year on Friday and get our longest break yet. Yes, three whole weeks! lol I know it doesn't seem long, and it isn't, but when you factor in that we are out of school whenever John is off (every other Monday) then you start to see why our year takes so long. That too is why my planning for the next school year starts in January and the last things are purchased about now. It would cost way too much for me to get everything at once and since I buy from several different sources it works out on shipping. Anyway, I've bored half of you!

TKD was good last night. Wendy and the boys are finally back after an unwanted break. It was awesome to finally have someone in class stick up for me rather than (me being the only woman) getting bashed by all the guys. So, Wendy, "Glad to have ya back!"

What else? Well (I posted on FB-Facebook, for those who don't know) about Rosie yesterday. She scared the snot out of me yesterday morning while we were having class. She had been trying to bite the girls' chairs then I saw her chewing on something. I looked expecting to see a piece of black (from the chairs) but saw something shiny. She had a push pin in her mouth!! I told the girls what was going on in my panicked voice. Jesse, without thinking, reached down grabbed Rosie's upper jaw and lifted it up. The pin got in between her teeth and skin of her jaw so I had a hard time getting it out without injuring her. We finally got it out and she was fine, but I did redo the classroom bulletin board so hopefully we won't have that problem again. Hopefully.

I am going to a wedding shower tomorrow. One of the ladies in John's office is getting married soon and her shower is tomorrow. I'll go to the shower while the girls visit with "Dad". Should be interesting.

There have been a lot of things going on that I won't talk about; like waking up at 1 am to find one of the girls up and not well. The enormous size of bugs in Kershaw county. The fact that I still have done nothing with SOTW II.

Tonight's dinner...

Tonight's dinner was kind of a surprise for John. We had a Thanksgiving feast, including a homemade pecan pie. I even made a homemade crust (my very first). It was delicious! I impressed myself...and that ain't easy!! lol

It's official...

Tyler is no longer a high school student. We didn't make it to graduation because of the uncertainty of the weather, but we did go out to dinner with everyone Saturday night. Tyler won an award, I think it was the Alpha Award (not positive). He had the third highest SAT score in the district. He'll be starting USC-Aiken in the fall. I know I'm proud.

Now, you have to remember we don't see John's family often. Lawson is getting so big and nothing but muscle! He'll be starting 4th grade next year. And Morgan (she hit the "Maleah grew up" stage this year), will soon be twelve and a cheerleader next year. Where does time go? I won't get started on that one. Scott, I didn't get to talk to, but looking at him across the room you can tell he is changing too, taller and more confident it seemed to me.

It seems that journeys constantly stop and start in life. You stop one journey only to begin another. Sometimes the journey is just what you expected, but most of the time it seems life goes down a winding path so you just don't know what is around the bend until you get there. Then the journey is nothing like you expected because you never thought of it. But that is how life is...unpredictable and exhilarating if you let it.

I hope everyone's journey is lived to its fullest (and safest).

Better than oil...

John and the girls came back from the grocery store, not with oil, but with a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing and double churned vanilla (no sugar added) ice cream. Mmmm. Now, if you know me at all you know I love very few things more than I love chocolate and peanut butter. I feel better now.

I should have stayed in bed...

Yes, that was my thought this morning after quite a few pitfalls. I tried to take the recycling, but I forgot it was Wednesday (the day they are closed). I went to Target to get John some razor blades after seeing the Commissary doesn't carry a five pack like he requested; neither does Target and they were out of the ten pack. Also wanted to get heavy whipping cream to make ice cream (the Commissary didn't have any larger than 1/2 a pint and all of Target's were dated today). So much for ice cream. We were suppose to celebrate my birthday tonight since we are going to Tyler's graduation (unless it rains). I was going to make cupcakes and realized I didn't have enough time to bake then decorate. I bought a brownie mix this morning but didn't remember we were out of oil (and applesauce). So, the girls and John are out now buying oil...I wonder if I'm still going to have to make my own brownies? Hmm. I also tried to pick up a gift for John for Father's Day and of course, par for the course, the store I was at didn't have it in stock. The point is I was thinking this morning I just should have stayed in bed since nothing was accomplished anyway. Then, the girls brought in the mail. I received two birthday cards from the Reels...made my day a lot better. Thanks guys!

Condo in Ballentine (NC)...

I am posting this on FB and emailing practically everyone. I am trying to remember who I told about a condo in Ballentine (NC). I didn't have the info and finally saw the lady who has it for sale today. Now, I can not remember who I told about the condo. If you know, or have any clue, who I may have been speaking with (it could have been anyone), please let me know so I can pass on the information if it is still wanted. Thanks!