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We (mom, Tammy and I) just spent the weekend in TX with my nieces. Lindsay as in the Miss Texas Teen pageant...and WON!! We were so excited and SO, SO glad to be there!!

I love my nieces so much and really, really miss them. We had a wonderful time and spent a lot of time laughing. They really just crack me up. Since my maturity level is around, oh, 16 years old...I find them very entertaining. My mom, (who is 60) not so much, LOL. She got tired of all the loudness and laughing after a while.

We did all have fun talking about girl stuff. Clothes and boys and sex. They are WAY too young to be thinking about HAVING sex...but we had some very informative discussions about safe sex in a fun way and I was so glad they feel like they can talk openly about that stuff with me. I have always had that with my mom and sister--and am glad they have it too. My mother was even a willing participant in some of our conversations--and actually gave some very funny input about sexy lingerie--which brought up something to do with a crotchless panty "wear-er" that mom knew...which brought peals of laughter and "GRANDMA!!!' from the girls! ROFL it was really, really fun.

Good to have girl time when I am surrounded by boys. Even Shelbea is a tom-boy. I swear, I can't win. I can't wait to see "my girls" again!

Life is Short

Mom and I went to lunch and out shopping today and while we were at lunch we were discussing my sisters MIL and the fact that since her husband has died she quit working. Mom asked why she quit and I explained to her that she no longer NEEDS to work..with his pension and her SS starting in 2 months and all the money they have in IRA's etc and his life insurance. She's pretty set and doesn't want to work in a factory anymore...who can blame her..she's old.

Mom said she hoped that I would learn from that and start thinking about retirement so when I am her age I can be "set". That conversation led to "HA! I can barely afford to live..much less save!" But I know she is right. Something else we need is life insurance. I have it..but K doesn't...he had it with his job...but since he no longer has that..... Maybe I will check into Globe Insurance or something like that. I know that if he dies I'd like to have money to bury him...can't keep him in my freezer or bury him in the backyard!

Ratatouille

I took a half day off work yesterday and went to see Ratatouille with my mom, brother, 2 nieces, and my boys. It was a really cute movie. I don't think I am ever taking my kids to the full price movie again though. It's so expensive, I just about needed to take out a payday loan to pay for it!! Then, Logan ended up climbing on the chairs in front of us...I had to repeatedly tell him to sit down, Dylan kept asking to go home...it was very annoying.

I'm toying with the idea of taking them to the drive in this weekend....but I'm not sure if I want to deal with their nonsense in a car. The drive-in is definitely cheaper...It'll be $15 for all of us...and we can see two movies! I don't know...we'll see.

1 mile

My mom has been begging me to walk with her. I really hate walking..unless it has a purpose..you know like to get me from point a to point b. And even then, it's not the greatest...we went to the flea market yesterday and I told Kyle I wish I could de-tach my feet and give them a rest!

So, I told mom I would rather walk in my house with my trusty walk away the pounds videos. So, she finally came down this morning and we did it. 1 mile in under 20 minutes. I hate to exercise, but always feel proud of myself once it's done.

Now, I am going to go eat a donut.

Moving Day

Larry came with the moving truck yesterday, so we headed over to their house about 1 and helped unload the track and unpack a few boxes. There were a few other people there too..so it wasn't too bad. It's still moving though...YUCK!! But at least it is done now..and hopefully, we won't have to do that again for awhile!

Dad came over to help and Tammy and I were talking about the only t-shirts he wears are harley davidson tees from different cities. Tammy said she is going to get him one from TX when we are down there later this month, for his Christmas gift! What a great gift! I was bummed I didn't think of it. I guess I will get him some motorcycle sunglasses
or something. who knows? Christmas is like what??? 5 1/2 months away?!? LOL

So, anyway we hung around Tammy's for awhile and waited for Chelsea to get there. It was SO good to see her. We left shortly after that though as we were exhausted!

Mom came by later and asked me to go with her to pick up some clothes she was buying from some lady on Craigslist. Mom has lost over 40 pounds...and is in desperate need of clothes that FIT! on the way home we stopped by Tammy's..just cause we could. LOL

Chel-a-see visit!!

Seems almost all my blog entries lately have something to do with my sister and this one is no exception!

Chelsea is coming to visit! She (and her 2 sisters) live in TX still, with their dad. She and my sister have had their differences lately and she hasn't been a very nice daughter. So, she called Tammy the other day and told her how much she misses her and how she wants to see her, and apologized for being so mean, etc etc. Tammy said she was SO sweet and it was SO nice to hear from her.

Anyway, Chelsea asked if she could ride out here with Larry at the end of this week when he brings the moving truck and stay for a couple weeks. Tammy told her that was fine. So Chelsea hung up with her...and immediately called her back and said that her dad said it was fine and that she called work and took time off, BUT that her dad wouldn't let her come unless Tammy could show him the receipt for the plane ticket FIRST! *rolleyes* So, Tammy was trying to figure all that out since you know, she is in the middle of a move and just started a new job and Chelsea is supposed to come at the end of this week..etc, etc. Long story short (ha!) My mom purchased Chelsea's ticket tonight and she is coming to stay for 12 days! YAY! I think I will take a couple half days off while she is here so we can do some fun stuff.

Updates

I haven't posted anything interesting lately. I cheated and stuck a "happy birthday dylan" entry in today because I didn't post it last week like a "good mommy" would have! ;-)

So, Tammy came in town last week and Shelbea tried out for the Select Soccer team...she made it and got on the "A" team, which is apparently a much better team than the "B" team. She was very excited...and we were all excited for her. Tammy had a couple interviews and was offered a job that same day. They have friends in the property management business and were able to put a deposit down on a nice house in the suburbs, in a good school district. So, the move is on...Tammy and Shelbea will be here Friday with mattresses to sleep on and their clothes. Tammy will start her new job on Monday..and Larry and his brother, Rob will be here next week with the rest of the furnishings. I guess Shelbea will be hanging out with us while Tammy works, until school starts. My kids will love that...Kyle not so much, I imagine!

We had Dylan's b-day party last Tuesday night...Tammy, Larry, and Shelbea were here, as well as Dad, Lola, Amelia, mom and Tony. We ordered pizza and had cake and ice cream. It was really a nice time and Dylan enjoyed it.

Wednesday night, I couldn't leave work fast enough..I was so excited to have the next few days OFF! Mom and I went for pedicures and I got the cutest flower on my big toes. CUTE!!

On Thursday...Dylan's actual b-day, we headed down to GA for my cousins wedding. Dylan and I went with dad, Lola, and Amelia. Amelia stayed in our hotel room and it was actually a nice time. The wedding was beautiful and it was very nice seeing my family that I haven't seen in several years. I was close enough to Cindy, that she came and picked Dylan and I up and took us to her house for a few hours for a nice visit. It was so good to see her and I am glad we squeezed in a visit...I told her that it would just be stupid to be in GA and NOT see each other! LOL We headed home on Sunday and I had Monday off..it was so nice not having to work...I'm glad I thought to take it off.

Monday, we took the kids to Clifton Gorge to walk the nature trail and then to Youngs Dairy for lunch and to feed the goats. When we got home, we walked down to moms house and Kyle cleaned out her gutters. BLECK!

Tuesday was back to work for me..as much as I hated to go. Tuesday night we went to Tony's work for the final American Idol night. He placed 3rd and as a prize..is going to the American Idol concert when it comes to Colombus in August. Afterwards, we went to Friendlys for ice cream. My kids were NUTSO and I couldn't WAIT to get them home and in bed. I felt like I had run a marathon after dealing with them. They can be SUCH PAINS sometimes!!

Ok..I think that gets me caught up...so I can feel like less of a slacker. Of course I have pics I need to post..and I'll get to it at some point. Hopefully, sooner rather than later!!

Mother's Day Video

yeah, just in time for Father's Day!! :-)

Once again...

I'm feeling the need to diet.

Yes, I know..I talk about it..I follow through for a few weeks and then I quit. I know..I KNOW!

It's just so hard. I really like to eat too. The desperation of wanting to lose weight..has me considering taking diet pills and looking into the lap band surgery. Things I know I won't do...but I can't say they don't creep into my mind on occasion...usually on the days I feel fatter than usual.

Mom has been cutting sugar out of her diet since whe was in the hospital in early march and she has lost some weight and looks really good. I'm proud of her and want it for me. I'm heading that way...just not there yet. *sigh*

Not Lucky...Blessed

My mom and I were out the other night. We went to see my brother--he is mentally handicapped and works at a workshop..at the workshop they were having American Idol--Tony was in the top 12 so we went to vote for him. It was a lot of fun and he did a great job..I will post the video soon.

Anyway, on the way there, mom and I were talking about my cousin going off on some kind of drunken binge..no one has seen him in days and he has charged a LOT of money on my aunts credt card.

My mom is a recovering alcoholic (as is my dad). My mom was in an alcohol treatment center for 30 days while I was in 3rd grade. It was a really rough time...but I am so thankful she was able to get the help she needed when she needed it most.

So, I told my mom, that she was so lucky that none of her children got "messed up" with drugs and alcohol..that it would have been so easy for that to happen considering the alcoholism gene that runs in our veins.

And she said: "I'm not lucky...I am blessed."

The sweetest thing

My mom is in the hospital. She was VERY sick for about 3 weeks with the "the BIG D" and got dehydrated, her electrolytes were all out of whack..and her potassium was low...and she had a heart rate of about 40. So, they admitted her and are giving her fluids and potassium and she is feeling better. She had a stress test this morning...hopefully she will get to home this evening.

So..I said ALL that to say....

last night I was visitng her and we were talking to the nurse and all of the sudden I heard "rock a bye baby" playing..I looked around for a cell phone and didn't see anything. I looked around for a music box. nothing. then I looked at mom and the nurse and they are conversing..not looking around..so I wonder if the music is in my head..you know, like the voices. *wink*

Just when I was getting used to the idea of having music accompany me everywhere I went...mom asked what it was. The nurse then explained that a baby was just born...everytime a baby is born they play "rock a bye baby" over the speakers through the whole hospital. Isn't that the SWEETEST thing? I almost cried. really.

and for a split second I wanted to get PG, BE PG for 9 months..and deliver what would probably be a 14 lb. baby, just so I could deliver at that hospital and have the music played for my baby. Seriously.

Will work for Cell Phone

My cousin lives in Indiana but his mom lives here in Ohio, he is always going back and forth from his house to her house (which is also my grandma's house) to help take care of her and my grandma. He was at my mom's house yesterday hanging a ceiling fan for them and told my mom he would come every 2 weeks and clean her house for her if she would get him a cell phone and pay for it. (my mom and her husband are both "disabled" and can't do things like sweeping, mopping, etc) She said that was fine. I asked her what kind of phone or service she had agreed to pay for and she said she didn't know..she need to look around. I took it upon myself to do some looking for her and I really want her to check out wirefly. It has some great info and search features...allowing you to search by carrier, phone, or service plan by simply inputting your zip code. They also have a pre-paid tab with all their pre-paid plans--which I definitely think is the way she should go in this instance. That way she doesn't end up with a HUGE bill if he should go over his minutes--and can cut him off he doesn't keep his end of the deal! ;)

Change of Plans

My mom got sick..so our trip got cancelled. :( I am so sad and Rita is sad. Kyle and I are going to go down with the boys next month for a few days and I will spend some time with Rita and her babies then. I'm still bummed. :( Since I had already made arrangements at work to take half of the day off..I stuck with that and spent the day with my boys. We watched TV and played hours of the Wii..it was really nice and they were SO excited when I told them I was done working for the day. LOL I think we are going to try to figure out something fun to do today and go to Applebees for dinner (we have a GC). I would REALLY like to go to Cincy and go to the http://www.newportaquarium.com/...Dylan keeps asking to go and they are having a special where kids get in free right now..BUT, it's still $36 for K and I to get in..and we can't really afford that right now. ( have I told you guys I get paid once a month?? I really need to get better at managing it so it lasts longer). So, I'm not sure what we will end up doing...maybe we will go the Museum since our membership expires on the 29th..and it's free. LOL I'd really like to see the Otter feeding one time. Every time we have gone they have been cleaning the cage/home thingie. We'll see.

Reading on the Road

So mom and I are on our way to the great state of TN (this afternoon) and I was thinking that I wish I had thought ahead and gotten us some books on tape. When I was younger and we would travel together I would read to her. Now, in her old age *wink* she isn't such a great driver..so I will be driving and she can't read in the car because she gets car sick. So having an audio book or two would have been smart. Oh well...next time.