Ebay..............

All I've been doing all day is ebay it seems. I've been in a listing frenzy. I have a few things I need to come up with money for.

I saw an ad in the paper today for a full time floral designer at a local flower shop. I wonder if I could do it. It said the requirements were creative and outgoing - I'm both of those! I think I'm going to apply. Like I said, I'm tired of my job.

Tomorrow morning we have a football game, over an hour away. YUCK. It's 2nd to last game so I should not complain. I just am not looking forward to getting the kids all up and around first thing on a Saturday morning.

I'm going to hit the hay. First I need to show the pics I've been wanting to show you. The first one is a wreath I made from Dollar Store items. I had the grapevine wreath, but I glued faux leaves with my hot glue gun. The bow was made from a roll of ribbon from the Dollar Tree too. I think it's cute, it's on my front door.

The second, a super easy dessert I made the other day. I didn't post the after pics though....I went to bed earlier than everyone b/c I was exhausted and noone turned off the crockpot! I didn't wake up until almost morning and there was my beautiful dessert, burned to the crock! Anyway, it's easy. Peel, core, & slice 6-8 apples, toss in crockpot with a little cinn/sugar mix. Evenly pour box of yellow cake mix over the top (I only had white that day). Melt 1 stick of butter and pour over cake mix. Cook on low about 3 hours, or until apples are tender and top is browned nicely on edges. I cooked mine on high for 2 hours, had a little, then it burned up! :) Oh, don't forget to spray the inside of the crock or butter it. It helps with clean up.

Goodnight -

Fall Break

It's fall break for the kiddos & I. We slept in!!! I woke up with a headache though, I guess because I woke at my normal time then went back to bed for a few hours? I don't know. It's gone now though.

Today, I've been cleaning up & they have been watching movies. Karate Kid & Marmaduke. I love Marmaduke!!!! I need to watch the whole movie.

I'm working on ebay & getting some things ready for the shop. I have a sale going on this week in my store 50% off everything. I really hope to get rid of it all. I have a cute little Christmas tree I want to put in there and sell some ornies. I really want to make some stuff to sell but I never have time or space! I'm working on changing that.

It's chilly here! The leaves are blowing all over the place, it's definitely full swing FALL. I love the brisk air & the pretty colors, but I dread what's coming. I don't like winter. I hate being so cold, cleaning off the car, running the furnace, not being able to open windows, all of it. :( I'm sad about it. But, I have a cute idea for two old windows I have, I'll share those if I ever do it.

In celebration of the cool weather, I'm making chicken & dumplings for the second time this month. YUMMMMY, I love it!

Time to read up on some other bloggers, and I'll probably post again later today. I have some pictures to share too.

Spell check. Oops.

Sorry, I'll try to be more responsible with the spell check button before I publish. I keep noticing spelling errors after the fact, because I just realized a spell check was available. From now on.....I promise!

FYI - poor spelling is a pet peeve of mine. I would hate to be a hypocrite. That is one job I think I'd enjoy...editing.

Wasted Wednesday

Today I did very little. I had noooooooooooo driving factor. I was consumed with being annoyed at the school. I wanted to list some items on ebay, and I did, but only a few. I got obsessed with those things. I cleaned a little, but that wasn't appealing. I wanted to make some tasty dinner, but didn't feel like it. It's a blah kinda feeling today. And it's a day that makes me think I need some sort of attention medicine to keep me focused.

Let's see....what did I do? I didn't end up working. The student didn't show up, and has to be rescheduled for Monday, so I have to go Monday as well.

I overdrafted my bank account and am afraid to tell Jamie. He will be so mad. You know why? Many frequent trips to McDonald's that I didn't figure in to my budget. WHY McDonalds? Because Monopoly...duh! I'm obsessed with winning money to get me out of the hole! It's gotta happen to someone - why not be me??? I have won some things this time around though. Fries mostly. An angus wrap. A breakfast sandwhich. A 3 month subscription to Pogo or something. And tons of Coke Reward points on the online portion. :) Nothing big, like that can drive me to work, or provide me a living, or vacation. Not YET. (I have to have faith, right?)

I cooked easy peasy chicken legs for dinner. Frozen corn and canned biscuits. For dessert, I made an apple dessert in the crockpot. It turned out so-so.

Tonight I watched Remember Me. Jeez, I wish I would have known what it was about. It was sad.

I think I'm going to call it a day. My kids are on Fall Break, yay!! No school tomorrow. It's rainy out. I hope it rains tomorrow too so that I can make them clean their rooms. Isn't that mean of me? If I help, it shouldn't take long.

Goodnight!

Ramblings from my Tuesday

So, this is going to be random. Just an overview of the day I guess. I worked. Blah, blah, blah. I'm really, REALLY-REALLY, tired of my job. The students have been bugging me, the fluctuating schedule, just IT in general. Time to change pace.

I opened an ebay store tonight. I sold some items over the last week totalling about $130, so that spurred my motives....

The house I live in is atrocious. We rent. There is a bazillion things that need repair. Tonight, I asked my DH to attach a furnace vent air freshner to the vent, and when he went downstairs, he discovered the water heater is leaking. NICE. No WONDER my freaking water bill was up to almost $67 this month. It used to be $30-$40. Ridiculous!!!!! So, we hauled some junk out to the curb for pick up with tomorrow's trash pick up, and I have to call the Landlord.

That means, I have to skip work tomorrow. I have to! I MUST. I have to get my house in order for strangers to be inside....because if I don't, they'll judge me. Right? I'm an idiot with my realistic fears. So what. They will, and who CARES? I hate worrying about what people think. Like they really think my house is immaculate when I am raising a brood of boys, and we are always on the go. And I work outside the home.

Ummm, lets see. What else? Oh, yeah. I totally was irate and PISSED to the max tonight. My oldest son, who is 13, got an F in gym. An F in gym. A flippidy, effing, freaking, $%^$@$^#^W$ F in GYM. I have monitered all of his grades this entire semester, every single week. He has had an A in there all year. The marking period ended on Friday. THURSDAY, it still said A. Today, his final grade for the record was an FFFFFFFF. For NOT DRESSING. Oh, he still participated when he didn't dress, SIX TIMES, but he didn't dress in his gym uniform. I was livid. LIV-ID. I emailed a nasty note to the gym teacher. To the SUPERINTENDENT. And to the principal. Then the phone rang. It was the gym teacher. The convo went a little like this:

Teacher: "I'm really sorry but Aaron knew his grade dropped an entire letter, each time they don't dress."

Me: "I understand there are rules, but had there been an update on the online grading system, I would have taken care of this on my end, and my son wouldn't have gotten an F!!!! Never once did you notify me, in any way - shape - form."

Teacher: "Well, this rule has been in place for 30 years, and Aaron was well aware of it."

Me: "I don't CARE! The rule is ridiculous. A detention at most would be a satisfactory consequence for a child that doesn't dress for gym. He participated and had all A+'s. Now, he's ineligible for sports!!!!!"

Teacher: "I am sorry but I cannot update my grades online each and every night."

Me: "Well, you updated it weekly, all along. You could very well have put his "non-dress" grade drops in too"

Teacher: "Aaron didn't dress at all LAST WEEK. I didn't enter grades from the week until Friday evening."

Me: (in my head, and not outloud....OMG I'm gonna make my kid wear his uniform to school every day for the rest of his life, that little brat let me yell at the teacher, the principal, the superintendent {where I'm EMPLOYED} and it was his fault and he KNEW IT!!!)

Really, I could use a brown bag to breathe in right now. I'm freaking out all over again. 13 year old boys. Seriously?

I'm blessed. I know that I am, but it doesn't always feel like it.

Good night.

Lazy days...........

Jeez, I miss my family! I like living here sometimes, but I wish I lived near my friends and family. Sure I have friends here, but not my 'old pals' and my family. My sister who lives closest to me (1 hr & 15 minutes away) is the person I see most frequently. Her and I can drive 1/2 way to each other and it ends up being in a town that has everything we could need. ;)

Yesterday, we met for lunch at Papa Vino's. (Her choice, NOT my fave). After lunch, we shopped around, mostly browsed, I didn't buy anything. She got a super cute pair of peep-toe red heels. Next we went to the movies! We saw "Life As We Know It" which was AWESOME in my opinion. I loved it. Some favorites about the movie - 1) it made my die laughing in lots of scenes. 2) the relationship was very realistic 3) awesome soundtrack, Just Breathe by Pearl Jam, in particular 4)there were some hilarrrrious 1-liners. My favorite was shortly after a married guy tells his buddy who's falling in love that he has always lived vicariously through him, he was his last single friend, etc: "Do you know what it's like to be married? Imagine prison. Then, don't change anything!" It was great.

I am procrastination. Right now I should be either packing up ebay stuff, or cleaning the kitchen. Neither are appealing at the moment. I'd rather skim around blogland. Which brings me back to the movie. Apparently, single women who are too old and should be married, must be bloggers. There was a silly reference where he asked the girl, as if it was an insult, "let me guess, you blog too!"

I think bloggers are THE BEST!!!! I've found some really awesome blogs here....it's my favorite past time!

Children in our world

Every Sunday morning, I meet my BFF at Walmart for our weekly grocery shopping trip. We have breakfast at McDonalds first then shop, covering the WHOLE store. Today, did the same thing. Checked out. We had driven separately because she has to work today and just incase I needed to stay longer, or whatever, we drove ourselves. On the way home, she's a little ahead of me & calls because she says there is a little boy walking down the road. In his shorts and tee-shirt, with a backpack. Looks to be 8 or 9. This road, is a double lane road, the speed limit is only 40 mph, but there is no sidewalk. I told her to call the police. She does, but keeps going home b/c she has to get to work. I get up there, and see him. It's a little 1st grader I KNOW because I subbed for him a zillion times in Kindergarten. I whip around and stop. I get him out of the road, he was IN the road, not on the grass or anything. I ask him what he's doing, he is teary eyed....doesn't know. Doesn't have a good reason why...I ask where is his family and he says he lost them. Then I ask where he lives, tell him how dangerous it is on this road. Ask what's in the backpack. Books. :( Incase he wanted to read. I ask what teacher he has this year, he tells me he thinks he can get himself back home but he lost his dog. I ask if that's what he was doing, looking for his dog and he said yes. I asked if he was running away and he said no. Poor baby. I hated to tell him the police were going to give him a ride. He asked me to drive him. The police finally showed up....the poor little guy was crying and pitiful. He had to be freezing, it was only like 40 degrees out this morning. I called his teacher. My heart is broken for him. He has a rough life at home, from what it appears.

Seriously! It's Saturday!! :)

I'm so glad it is the weekend. Yesterday, I skipped out on working (at work or at home), and went shopping. Not huge shopping, but this huge wharehouse near here, I can hardly resist. The best deals I got were 10/$1 packs of Hallmark tissue paper. Both Christmas and plain white. I got a ton of Goodies Hair accessories 2/$1. I'm making ghosts with the white tissue paper, and I'm going to sell some of the hair things on ebay. I also bought a rake for $5.

The kids wanted to rake the leaves so bad with the new rake. So I let them ;). They raked piles, buried each other, raked them again, buried each other...it lasted quite a while. I decided we needed to build a scarecrow. Tell me if this is morbid or wrong. I have a box of my late stepdad's old clothes. I have had it for 6 years now, I'm supposed to make a quilt for my mom. Well, he was a contractor so I knew there were jeans and flannels (scarecrow wear) so we used one of his shirts and jeans and stuffed them with leaves. I don't think he would care! But I wonder if my Mom might? I want to send her a picture, but not sure if it's wrong. I can share with you though - I will put one up later today, we still have to make his pumpkin face.

Last night our two oldest boys went to friends houses overnight, our 'middle child' went with a friend to the football game, and DH & I had a nice quiet evening with just the little two. We took them to McD's for a happy meal since they were the only ones home. They were excited!

This morning, we were supposed to go to G's football game, but he woke up sick to his stomach. Probably all the candy & junk he ate at the football game last night, but I'm worried it's the flu. Just 2 short weeks ago, 3 of the other boys and DH had the stomach flu. 2 kids had escaped it....now they both have diarrhea and G thinks he's going to barf. Is this round 2, or the end of the first session? Jeez!

Monthly Menu

I've decided to start cooking hot and homemade meals for my family every night. I don't always do this, I used to just make stuff that was quick and easy...but for over 3 weeks now, I've been cooking, and they love it! Not to mention, I have saved a lot of money on groceries. I actually have always enjoyed cooking but I don't enjoy the mess involved, because I'm the one who gets stuck cleaning it. Most of my recipes come from myself, mommyskitchen.net, Southern Plate, or Pioneer Woman. Items in red mean I've already made them this month. The (*) means I'm planning on making those this week.

Here's my menu for October.

Monterey Chicken

Upside down Supreme Pizza

Fried Porkchops

Beef Stew

Pizza Bread

Baked Spaghetti

Ham, Baked potatoes, glazed apples

Spaghetti & meatballs, salad & toast

Fried Chicken Strips

Ground beef stroganoff

Slow cooker chicken & rice

Pintos & ham w/ cornbread

Easy Peasy chicken legs*

Beef Tips

Friendship Casserole

Salisbury Steak

Pulled BBQ pork sandwiches

Baked Ribs

Quesadillas

Ham & scalloped potato bake

Chicken & dumplings

Hashbrown casserole*

Swiss steak

Potato Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Biscuits & gravy night

Italian Beef sandwiches*

Chili

Lasagna

Goulash

Chicken & Rice casserole

Desserts

Butterscotch cake

Pumpkin bread with struesel topping

Blueberry donuts

Canned biscuits donuts

buckeye brownies

pumpkin carob cookies

Self talk

4Lora is patient, Lora is kind. Lora does not envy, Lora does not boast, Lora is not proud. 5Lora is not rude, Lora is not self-seeking,Lora is not easily angered, Lora keeps no record of wrongs. 6Lora does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7Lora always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

What's been going on............

Well, let's see. I've been so extremely busy with life. I haven't posted much except to vent about my frustrations.



August 7th my 2 older sisters and their families drove up from North Carolina and we all put on a big party for our parents. It was our parents 60th birthdays as well as their 30th anniversary. We held the party at their home in Michigan. Us girls and our children camped out, we had a huge bonfire, food, friends, family. It was wonderful. I will post pics at a later time, I am at work right now. ;)



August 30th, my 'real' Mom came to visit from New Mexico. (My dad has been married to my 'step-mom' for 30 years - just to clarify.) My younger sister picked her up from the airport and drove to my house, they all stayed for 2 nights, then Mom went to my sisters house for another day, then back. Very short trip. It was fantastic, getting to see her.



School started for my kids on August 17th. All five kids are in school all day this year!!! I can't believe it. I thought it was going to be an amazing amount of stress relief, having days to myself, but I don't! I started a new job a while back, I've been insanely busy all the time.



The kids are so busy - Aaron is in Cross Country right now. Dylan has Spell Bowl. Gavin JUST finished up baseball and began football. It even doubled up for a weekend. Jaden & Landon don't do any extracurricular activities yet besides Awana. I don't know how people do it. I know all these moms who say they are taxi's, and I can't believe how much I'm in my car. How much gas we use. Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth. It's nuts! Not to mention, we are a one vehicle family, so I'm also transporting DH to work and meetings, and whatever else.



My birthday was yesterday. I turned 35.



Blueberry Festival was last week. It's the biggest fest in the mid-west, right in my hometown. It's fun, but very exhausting. This was the first year we were actually able to be part of it daily. Usually we just do the fireworks and parade because it's EXPENSIVE!!! This year, DH got his retention bonus at work, and we were able to purchase mega-passes for the two older boys, and pay-one-price bands for the younger 3. That means, the older two were at the festival when school got out on Thursday, until Labor Day Monday at 6. Pretty much. The little 3 and I spent the entire day Friday at the rides. They were open 12-10 for the POP bracelet, so we took full advantage. Saturday we had baseball games, Sunday bb games, fireworks, then Monday, we skipped the parade.

Gotta run - working. I'll finish up later.

Does sanity exist?

I feel like I'm being pulled from every direction. Ever feel like that? I wish my husband was my "go to man" rather than a puller.

If I played the lottery, and won...the first thing I would do is hire a nanny. I would love someone to clean my floors, keep the kids rooms up and the laundry, and always cook our meals. Those things fly by the wayside. I don't hate to cook, but I do hate the thought of making a huge mess, for the kids to inhale, feed the pets, or shove around their plates and complain about.

If I had a nanny, I could do more fun stuff with the kids, instead of all the 'dirty work'. It's no fair!!! I don't have a happy light burning bright, for all the world to see. I have both ends burning and I'm exhausted, overwhelmed and even depressed....and all I want to do is QUIT. I'm so sick of myself.

Who is this gross, deprived woman with all these issues? I used to be something besides the crazy woman who's kids are loud & wild & obnoxious, who is always late & frazzled. I had substance and a heart! I cared, enjoyed, dreamed....lately all I do is try to make it through and then cry because my life is flying by unlived.

The next thing I'd do if I won the lotto would be a vacation. I have ideas of tropical paradise...or brisk, salty breezes of the New England states....or anywhere beautiful and tranquil. I need rest for my soul.

What would you do if you had the money???

What is sanity, and how do you grab ahold of it?

Where do you find rest?




Lora

Creativity Quiz Results

Take the quiz here to find out your creative style. Dont forget to post results!

http://www.psychologies.co.uk/personality-tests/whats-your-creative-style/

You feel that creativity provides insight into your own being. In fact, it is like therapy for you, enabling you to get to know yourself better. You seem to be looking for a way into the mysteries of the subconscious. It’s not really self-expression you are seeking, but rather the tools of self-expression: discovering what your creation will reveal about yourself. Art helps you reflect on, analyse and expand your personality. You long to be creative, and it’s not just because you need to deal with your emotions. It’s the tension between contradictions, and the need to resolve doubt that drives you to be creative. Painting pictures, decorating rooms, arranging shells in the sand — these are all creative processes that allow your introspection to roam. You can trace your life through the different ways you have exercised your creativity. For you, art is there to make sense of life. You are more attracted to artistic activities that demand reflection, planning and solitude, and the personal discoveries you make often provide answers for others, too. • To find out about how to tap into your creative side, see our feature in the August issue out now.


Lora

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. - Oliver Holmes

These are a few of my favorite things....

Beach days
Bonfires w/ friends
Shopping
Road trips
Walking on piers & lighthouses
Watching sunsets
Feeding the ducks
Quiet kids
Smiling kids
Painting
Garage sale shopping
Movie theatre movies
Drive in movies
Eating out at restaurants
Visiting friends
Vacation
Having friends & family visit
Spa days

Ever have days where you feel like a lone fish in the entire ocean?

My mom lives 2 days away. My sisters are all out of state. My dad is dealing with cancer treatment, and lives almost 2 hours away. My kids hate me, and if they don't, they act like it. My husband is soooo distant, it feels like he's not even here.

I know things could be horribly worse. I'm down. I am really down.

I went to the Oncology Center today and into the chemo room to see my Dad. He looked good. He smiled, cracked jokes, and ate food....but all around him, and I mean right around him, were others. Many others, jam packed in one room, all there for the same reason. It was tightly packed, like a classroom with recliners. People everywhere, some sitting and talking to their person who came with. Some watching TV. Some just staring off. Some gray and many bald. Some vomiting. All together in a room, all trying to fight for their life.


Lora

So much for being entertaining!! :)

I have some high aspirations for this blog, but I have been having a difficult time making the thoughts come to life on here. The past two days, I have snapped no pics. Not a one. I'll give you another recap of life in 'Lora-land' as my husband sometimes calls it. Then, I'll attempt to do a better job of making this more of a creative and fun site, than just my blurbage that pours from my brain.

The job is going well. The second teacher who I complained about has totally surprised me. He's proven to be very bright, well-spoken, and informative. He seems genuinely empathetic and concerned about the future of the students. I think he just might work out in adult ed.

Tonight my kid had a baseball game after 2 weeks of no practice. They won, and I'm so proud. It's so enjoyable watching c-league play. They use the pitching machine and it is really exciting. Who knew, that I was a sports aficionado. I didn't. Anyway, it helps, that my sons team is 8-1 so far this season. Very exciting.

I'm having a yardsale next Friday with my bff and one of her friends. Extra cash is always good, simplifying my life of clutter is always good. I hate having a yardsale though. I love shopping at them, I hate running them. SOOOO much work, for pocket change. It is nice when the change adds up though. I'm thinking of going through my house room by room, and doing like "Clean Sweep" does on HGTV. A pile for garbage, a pile for selling, donation, and keep. Do they have 4 piles? My house is crazy cluttered right now.

My booth at the store up town has now been a mount of a mess for a week now. I can't believe I haven't went and taken care of it yet, I haven't had the time. A lot of the junk needs packed up and put in the yardsale.

I'm throwing a party for my parents on the 7th. It's beginning to feel very stressful because my stepmom is retired and has a lot of time on her hands lately, and feels the need to orchestrate everything. She is quite a perfectionist, as well as the complete opposite of procrastinator. I on the other hand, am the worlds biggest procrastinator, and I work it!!!! :) haha. Anyway, the party is a 60th birthday party for them both/30th wedding anniversary.

My Dad is going through chemo right now. He was diagnosed around Easter with Lymphoma. He has always been a strong, healthy, (invincible) man in my eyes. Never sick. Never complaining. Never anything. Always a hard worker, laid back, just a good guy. It sucks, watching him have to deal with this, and the fear involved. He has an excellent attitude. The tumors that popped up a few months ago, have shrunk and disappeared with the chemo, but Tuesday he goes for his appointment with his Dr., who will tell him whether or not the chemo is helping.

My Mom, who lives in Albuquerque might be coming to visit in early September. I really hope she is. I miss her.

I feel like I'm forgetting another big portion of my life, but I'm sure I'll think of it later. Goodnight - have an excellent weekend!!!!

Tiring Tuesday

Sooooo sleepy. I had a long day. One of my little ones is going to summer school for 2 weeks. Poor kid struggles with reading and spelling. He is the 4th child, and none of the others have had any issues. It's okay, he's getting help he needs and he is the type that becomes very frustrated with me helping him. Anyway, short story long, I've been getting up earlier than usual for that.

Started my new job today. I was very impressed with the first teacher. He jumped right in, really related well with the students, and I think we will work well together. Next guy, my age, easy on the eyes, but snoozefest! He was overwhelmed, frustrated, and was very professional, but not quite sure if he's a good fit for Adult Ed. I know his grand-mother-in-law and ADORE her. She is a retired teacher who also teaches GED for us now. I'm rambling. Basically, I don't think this guy has ever been dealt any tough issues, and adult ed students are usually from the school of hard-knocks.

After work, I took the kids to the gym for some rock-climbing and swimming pool fun. (I do not rock climb). We did have a good time but my eyes are burning. They like to splash.

Tuesday nights Losing With Jillian is on so I went to my BFF's house and we watched it together and made a sensible dinner. We made bruschetta with fresh veggies from her garden. Then we made homemade hummus and pita chips, with iced green tea. Yummm! After hearing Jillian brutally whip the tv family into shape, we went out and attempted to do the c2k program. I downloaded the app but have yet to complete it. I'm not a runner but I wish that I was. We mostly walked, though we did do a few jogging intervals.

Never did I snap one photo today except the one of my kid heading to the bus. Do much for my pictorial recap. Maybe I'll shoot for pics tomorrow, on "whirlwind Wednesday". Like that? :)

Goodnight!


Lora

Manic Monday

I didn't take a single picture today! I totally forgot. I am in a bit of a funk lately and have lots to do....I haven't been very productive though. Procrastination is not my friend.

I start a new job tomorrow. I used to do marketing for our adult education program and was the workforce development facilitator for our district but that ended due to all of the state level changes. Our local program, however, grew like crazy. They were approved to add a bunch more classes and I'm going to just be a teachers aide. That starts tomorrow, I'm looking forward to getting out of the house a little, (on my own).

Tried putting the kids to bed at 8:30 tonight to have some down tome with the hubby, but I now have to end my blogging to go ask why it sounds like my oldest son is rearranging his room! Grrrr, its now 11:09 pm!!!! Needless to say, DH has been sleeping since about 8:31.

Goodnight! I think tomorrow, I'll shoot for a recap with pics, like manic Monday. In the mean time, I'll try to think of a clever name for it.


Lora

TFIF I think

Omg, what a crappy day. Week. As I was cooking breakfast this morning, again, the boys started misbehaving, picking on each other, fighting over who sat where, what's on TV, who had the kitten first, etc. Instead of going to the fair (attemp #2 this week) and beach, we stayed at home and I made this!!



It's not quite done. I couldn't find my roll of magnet to put on the back, so for now, I'm using regular ones. Everyone starts the day with their clip on the white start. They move up if they get warnings or earn consequences, but if they go an entire day of being helpful, staying on white, being nice to their brothers, etc, they get on the blue-green plate. That's big!! Rewards are involved.

I also decided to finally laminate their chore charts, put a laundry day schedule into place, and put a menu chart on my fridge. Here is the laundry chart....very simply made- nothing special.



And I got this adorable little menu printable from the blog, Ucreate. I'm new to blogging and don't know how to make that a link from my iPhone, but I follow that blog and it can be found over to the right.



I shrunk mine to 1/2 page and I laminated it. I don't have a laminator, but bought a package of the sticky kind at Walmart a long time ago.

Other than that, today was very stressful. Had a big event with a kitten, which led to involvement with the neighbor who hates my children....thank God it's fine!!! (I will blog about that some other day) And my husband and I -our marriage- could use prayer bc it feels like the rocks we were on, just started sinking out from under us. That's the best way I can describe without being too "colorful".

I sold something for the first time on craigslist today though. That was cool. Wanna see what it was? Okay, I thought so. It was a mini pocket bike. The guy we bought it from thinking it was a fun kid toy, called it a "chainsaw on wheels". We only let the kids ride it a few times, but we didn't really have a place for this.



Goodnight. Have a great weekend.

Lora

Anger & resentment are festering here.

I wrote this huge anger vent session, but I didn't post it because it's inappropriate, and written with an angry and heavy heart. I thought I could just post it and mark it private, but I don't know how. I'd be embarrassed for anyone to see how mad I am and what I'm mad about. Not that is not cause worthy, it is, and very much so (DH!!!). But I'll leave it at that. Sorry, that's all you get. Anger fuels anger, and I'm sorry for being angry at all. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Twice in one week??

I actually stole time away alone today. The second time this week. It wasn't my intentions though. DH had the day off work and was sleeping in. I got up and made "enormous pancakes" for breakfast. I was getting the kids ready to go to the 4-H fair to see the animals and the exhibits but while I was cooking, they started bickering and fighting. After many attempts to settle them, I decided I wasn't spending my day, in the hot sun smelling farm animals, with disobedient children. So I left. Writing that down makes me feel like a bad mom...but I couldn't do it today.
I fed them all, put my swimsuit on, grabbed a towel, informed DH I was going, and I went!!! :). One of my friends has a pool and I drove there, climbed in, and I laid on a float for 3 hours. It was perfectly relaxing, refreshing, and though you may think I abandoned my duties, I deserved it.


Lora

Manic Monday

Here is my manic Monday pictures for a recap of my day.

Tried out a little water pad park about 12 miles away, had lots of fun. Friends met us there.









The boys played some video games to wind down after their park fun.



Buster, our cockapoo....looks like a dust mop. He's a sweetie.


Heading north to meet up with my sister for pedicures....stopped for mcdonald's sweet tea.


Kristy, my sister, and I were taking crappy pics of each other waiting for our toes to dry.


Stopped at the super nice Martins for some goodies....


And then my scenic route home past the campus of University of Notre Dame.





AT&T building on the way, just for props. Love my iPhone!


No crafts today. Happy Marvin Monday... I will blog about that later.

Lora

Flies or bees?

Mom! Are those flies or bees?



From the mouth of babes.

Lora

More things I want to make...

sorry to take up blog space but I have to write this down or I'll forget. I keeps seeing more & more awesome ideas I want to try.

Purchase:
Crayola fabric markers
yarn
fabric paint
freezer paper

Make:
dyed pasta necklaces
personalized pillowcases
popsicle stick harmonica
paint our own shirts

I also want to research more about decorating suitcases...and I have a really cool idea for my 3 elementary aged boys pencil boxes. That will be my original craft post, rather than always copying. :) Cant wait.

Broken bones

Lora

Dylan and birthdays

Poor Dylan! First of all, when he was born, it coincided with my Aunts death. AND, it's 2 days following the 4th of July. For some unknown reason, we are always broker than hell at this time of year. Actually now, then Labor day weekend. Blueberry festival is during Labor Day weekend (whole other story) & we are always broke for that too.

Dylan always gets the shaft on his birthday. This year, it was worse than ever!!! He broke his foot, at VBS last Thursday. So, that not only put a damper on things for him for the 4th of July, but his birthday too, and the rest of the SUMMER vacation, for that matter! Poor kid. I will update with pictures after this post, but they are on my iPhone and I am on the laptop, I am sure there is probably some easy way to get them here in the midst of my words, but I don't now how to do it.

Anyway, this is the week we have had. We have had financial issues lately. The kids, oh my gawwwd, they eat everything in sight. We were running out of food...payday was TODAY, and it couldn't come soon enough. The phone, cable, and internet all got behind. My bank got overdrafted. AND THEN. The freaking washing machine decided to croak out. Then Dyl's birthday. Poor kid.

Today, he went to McD's for breakfast. Then home on the couch. I wanted to take them to the beach, but he didn't want to get sand in his splint. (He gets his 'real' cast tomorrow). THEN we were gonna go to the waterpad park in a little town down the road, but I got sidetracked. More on that in a minute. I wanted to take them to the city pool, Dylan didn't want to take his splint off. He couldn't get ahold of his buddy who was supposed to come with him today. DH had to work 10-8:30 today, so that kind of sucked. Had all the other boys home....and they argued over video games. The dog was indoors (too hot outside), the kittens were running all over, meowing their heads off. It was delightful. NOT. Took Dyl to DQ for a kidcone after lunch. FINALLY found his friend and he got to come over and play....MORE VIDEO GAMES!!! Had late dinner on the grill once hubby got home, and THEN cake and ice cream. Not til 9:30!!! Had another family show up though, with gifts for Dylan. Cool things, like a journal, and paint projects. Stuff he can do with a broken foot.

I forgot to mention it was in the hot 90's today, all humid and sticky. I love it, but I love it better near water. The kids would go outside in small doses then rush back in for water and a/c.

Dylan seemed happier after his guests were here, and he got cake. I sent the kids to bed and went to clean kitchen, and noticed, yet again, Dyl got the bumwrap. There on the kitchen counter were the candles he was supposed to blow out and make wishes with. Well, guess we'll have day 2 continued of a bummy birthday tomorrow. He'll blow out candles. Get his gifts. See his movie. Get a cast right smack dab in the middle of all the other excitement. Then maybe spend his bday money.

I love this kid. He is such a sweetie. Maybe I need to start a 'Dylan's birthday week savings fund' so we aren't in the same predicament next year.

Okay - the tangents I almost veered off on.

Washer - found one on the side of the road today for sale $50. Snatched that up, got it in the van, couldn't get it out by myself and up the steps of the porch. Therefore, I'm packed in the house with 6 kids, but short a van seat in the van. I also tried to 'diy' the whole moving out the old, moving in the new washer to surprise hubby, but ended up ripping a piece of the kitchen flooring. :( NOT GOOD. But YAY, we have a working washer. (Doesn't matter the old is on the front porch at the moment, does it? Thank god tomorrow is trash pick up day). It is horrifying, trying to go without laundry in a 7 person household with pets.

P.S. Dylan needs a trombone for band. I signed him up, he has no horn. Prayers that an inexpensive one falls into our laps!

I almost forgot, most importantly, Dylan, I love you! Happy Birthday. (As IF he reads this).

New crayons

I had picked up a big box of used crayons at a preschool yardsale for 50 cents.

My kids lose crayons like they're going out of style so this was quite a steal! Then I saw a cute kids craft on another bloggers page (I'm sorry but I don't recall which one).

Here is what we did:
1. Peel the labels off the old crayons and separate by color into an old cupcake pan.






2. Melt in oven that is warmed to 200 degrees. Once melted thoroughly, approx. 10-15 minutes, remove from oven and let cool.



3. After cooled, place in freezer to easily remove from pan! They'll simply come right out after being in freezer.



4. Enjoy your new crayons!! These large crayons are great for small hands to color with.

Happy 4th of July!!

Lora

Goals

My marriage sucks right now.
Our finances are all screwed up.
I swear my DH & I gain a pound everyday, and I think it's all the stress.

I'm going to start the c2k program in the morning. No matter what, I have to now, since I wrote it down.

My first priority needs to be my marriage, but I feel like avoiding that issue. :( I need to work at it. I'd rather do anything else but that.

Happy 4th.


Lora

Sllllllllllacker

Here is a little something that I'd like to share. Slacker radio. LOVE it. I also loved Pandora, but this is much better because if you subscribe, you get unlimited skips, and it also shows the bio of the band, AND.....lyrics. You can create your own stations or choose from their 'ready made' stations and genre's. It is amazing.

Rewire me, Oh Lord

I don't know why, but all these thoughts of things I need to do, make me procrastinate even more. I see some stuff, I know some important things I need to do: like make appointments for my kids shots, physicals, dentist.....what the heck is my deal???? I need a personal assistent. Or something.

Here I sit. I better get on the ball or I'll never get anything accomplished. I know for sure that today I want to clean out my van and load up the stuff for my little shop. I know for sure that tomorrow, when my kids are at VBS, I need to move to a smaller booth at my little shop so I can boost my potential of making a bigger profit than $3, like this month! Booooooooo.

Prioritize Lora. Focus. GET your a$$ off the computer and hop to it. Busta move!

Bye for now.

To do, to do, to do.

I have so many things I want and need to do, I had better get going on them. I am a queen of procrastination, and I swear I have undiagnosed ADD because my thoughts are constantly running and I forget what I'm doing or what I intended on doing. I ramble a lot. I lose focus fast because I'm easily sidetracked. I interrupt. I don't mean to be rude, but I tend to say things when I think of them, because I'll forget if I have to wait! Isn't that horrible?

Crafty things I want to do:
pedestal cake trays
souvenier handbags
pin-on buttons for holidays
gothic dolls
upcycled crafting: bows, beads, & more
paint on glass
birdhouses

I love to paint!

pre-made scrapbook pages
painters cap crafts
decopauge something
learn to sew--- I think I have a fab designer living inside me, I just dont know how to put it into works....I'm gonna do it.
felted wool soap
freezer paper stencils

I know there is more that I am forgetting.

Crafts to do with the kids:
I have 5 children, and I have a good friend with 5 children that are exactly the same ages as mine. I have invited her over for a once a week craft day with all the kids.

Hot Rocks
icecube painting
play with picnik and make a favorite picture
decorate a photoframe for said picture
garden rocks
fingerprint keychains
painted washer crafts

That's enough for now. I should be doing a list of things that need done around the house....I have such a strong desire for crafting. But then I get frustrated with the mess it entails....

Baseball

Today I took my five boys to play ball with friends of our who also have 5 kids. The ten of them hit the ball and then moved on to basketball. I love having friends that are the same age as mine, but not when mine act up.

First ever for this mama

Just trying out the blogging world. I am completely addicted to many other momblogs, so I thought I'd try my own. That is, if I can fit in time. At the current moment, I am on summer vacation with my five sons, and there is not enough time in the day to keep up. I love to indulge online reading blogs and all the great stories, ideas, tips & tricks...but really need to put them to use, and share my own.

I'm excited to have a place to store all of my favorite stuff....and what's inside my head.