He Has His Moments

Most of the time, Arion is very annoying. He yells and makes loud noises. He wakes up at 4:00 am and goes down the stairs like a 3 ton elephant. He pokes, licks and generally pushes my buttons on purpose. But he has his moments. This morning we went outside to while Shannon smoked a cancer stick and Baby Danny decided that she wanted to play chalk. Arion, without any prompting, started playing chalk with the baby. It was so cute. Of course we probably got on the neighbors nerves because it was about 7:00 am and he wasn't exactly being quite. It was really cute.

Slap The Monkey

On Sunday Brandon came up to me and wanted to "talk for me". Yeah, we're still working on that. I put him on my lap and asked what he wanted. Wait, let me set the scene. I am with a neighbor, who had come over for our barbecue. Brandon says "Can I play, slap the monkey". Well, we all just about spit our drinks across the room. I was a little embarrassed. Jim asked him where he learned to play that and he said at the little boys house down the street. That saved face a little. Jim started to think and said that his mom lets him play on a web site with lots of games. Yesterday, Jim was on a quest to find the game. Brandon really wanted to play and Jim wanted to see if it really existed. It Does. When I got home Brandon was playing it. Not what you think. You move a hand to hit a monkey doll and it tells you how fast you were going. The funny part was the monkey looked just like a monkey Brandon had brought home from school during his last week. By the way, the website is addictivegames.com.

Strawberry Picking

Today we had a full day with Aunt Shannon, Emory and Baby Danny. In the morning we went to the local orchard and picked strawberries. Even Aunt Karen and kids showed up. When we came home we all had lunch and started making strawberry jam. Karen and kids couldn't stay too long so Shannon and I finished up. One problem. We forgot that when you use fresh strawberries that you need to compensate for the extra juice. So what we ended up with was strawberry syrup. No problem really. It tastes great on ice cream and angle food cake. Besides, the kids had a great time picking. Danny kept yelling "Found One" and then she would smush them in her hand. Notice the shirt.

More Graduation Pictures

Last night Mary came over and gave the pictures off her camera from Arion's Graduation. They were great. Our favorate wasn't even of Arion. Brandon was playing with Larry's hair and making faces. By the way, Larry is Arion's Dad.

Ablation - Not for the Men Out There

Sorry for not blogging lately, I've been really busy and in a pissy mood. On Thursday morning I had my gyno appointment. Nothing like starting your day with a pap test. We ended up with two main topics of discussion: Sleep study and Ablation. Both things she wants me to try. First the sleep study. You see I sleep walk. Well . . . I don't usually leave the bed, but I sit up and say things (mostly nasty mean things to Jim). I rarely get out of bed, but it has been known to happen. This topic came up because I am so tried. I had told her it could be from Brandon having nightmares again, or Jim caught me sleep walking again. She was concerned about it. To me, I always have, no big deal. She said that I was using up energy doing it and that could be a big reason for being so tried. She wants me to see my regular doctor and get the study done. The thing is, even if I do the sleep study, I not comfortable with taking sleeping pills. Who will hear Brandon when he has a nightmare. The other night he was screaming for me and if I had taken pills I wouldn't have heard him. Jim sleeps like a log so he hears nothing.

Next was the ablation. You see the next topic of discussion was the menopause. I had to stop taking the pill so things are all out of wak again. By the way, I wasn't taking the pill for birth control, I had my tubes done after Brandon. They were keeping thing regular. Well at 42, the side effects start to increase. Stroke, heart attack, so on and so on. Thus the ablation. For those that don't know (I was one till I did some research), an ablation is when they hit your uterus with a burst of energy (laser I think) and fry it out so it can't produce anymore. Fun right. It's an out patient thing, and I would only be out of work for a couple of days. In 50% of the women it ends all bleeding and in 40% of the women it's reduced to only light spotting. 10% don't get anything or get worst. If I don't get it done she thinks I could have about 10 more years of menstrual cycles that come whenever and flow like a river. Fun right. I have one month to make my choice.

Decisions, Decisions

Yesterday morning changed everything I had planned for the hall bath. The neighborhood had a yard sale and Jim found a sink that would fit our sink for $25.00. I went over and it wasn't bad. Brand new in the box, so we bought it. Now here is the problem. It doesn't go with the color scheme I planned on. Not to big a problem, because we really hadn't bought anything yet. I had floor samples and paint cards. We were going to just get a plain white sink again and this one is sort of a speckled black, gray and white. We were going to use a cream and brick paint color, but it just wouldn't work now. So I went to the hardware store and grabbed more paint swatches. Jim and I stood in the bath with the sink in place spreading out the paint swatches and I think we have made a choice. It's a seafoam green. I got out the floor samples and I think I found another that works. Next was the shower tile. Should we stay with white or change. This turned into a 2 hour trip to several places. We did find a cool black metallic tile that would be a great accent, but it's $4.19 per tile. Ouch. That adds about $125.00 just for an accent. I did decide on a 6x6 tile instead of the 4x4 I used in the master bath. I may just use the black metallic rope tile for an accent. We also are considering white wains coat or tile for around the walls of the room. It may be too much in a small space. I think I will paint, do the floor, and then make my decision.

By the way, I am feeling better today. I guess we are going to chalk it up to menopause.

What To Do About Me

The last couple of days have not been good. I haven't been feeling right. Mainly tried, cranky and achy. I've had a headache for 4 days, 5 if it comes back today. The week long headache is nothing new for me, I've had them all my life, but this one seems stronger. More painful. I seem to be snapping at everyone. I haven't decided if it is due to the menopause or if its depression seeping in. I tried to call both of my doctors and I have an appointment with the one next week. I plan to ask for some meds I used to take when the PMDD got bad. It's probably just the stress of the last couple of weeks. I've got to get it together. I'm messing up stuff for the kids. I got my days mixed up for Brandon's field day and then didn't fully read a note stating that he needed a picnic lunch for another day. It doesn't help that Jim never reads anything and leaves it all to me. I could really use the help right now.

Can't Wait Till School is Over

Lately Brandon has been having trouble with the fact that he is still in school and Arion and Lauren are done. Every morning he tells me he doesn't have school today. Every night he tells me he has no more school and should have to go to bed. Last night it almost went into a full blown tantrum, but I made a deal with him. I told him if the bus came he had to go but if the bus didn't come, he could stay home. He fell for it, but still wouldn't really talk to me. At this point I can't wait till it is over. Of course both Lauren and Brandon will be in summer school for the month of July. It will be crazy, because they will have to catch the bus at the Dawn's house (our daycare), so we'll probably have to get going even earlier than usual. GREAT.

Walls Are Up

Progress continues to happen in the hall bath. The green board is up and the floor patch is done. I now am working on patching the walls so we can start painting. In another day I will put the second coat on the new walls and then get the tile. I also need to install the new light. I might try to do that tonight. If I can just do a little bit each day/week, I will get this done.

Arion's Graduation

Last night was Arion's Graduation. I was stressed out of my gourd. They had said that if it rained that we could only take 3 people. We were supposed to get a big thunderstorm, but the questions was when. Then I counted up the outdoor tickets and we were short. I ended up going to the school and getting more outdoor tickets and the weather held off till after the ceremony. So my baby is done High School. We had a big party and it was lots of fun. The high light was when Aunt Ruth convinced Arion that he had to kiss the cake for good luck and then smashed his face in it. Here are some of the pictures. There will be more to come. Of course the top one was his kindergarten graduation.

Tears in My Pool

Last night I took Lauren and Arion to the YMCA while Jim stayed home with the plumber. Lauren and I had made a deal. If she jumped off the diving block, she would get to wear my opal earrings for a week. I thought because it had worked last week that it would be no big deal this week. WRONG. Her normal teacher was not there this week. She stood on the block for at least 10 minutes and really worked herself into a fit. I yelled to the teacher that she didn't have to do it and she got down. Unfortunately, she cried through the rest of the lesson and half way through the shower. She was so upset that she hadn't jumped and now couldn't wear the earrings. So I told her for trying she could wear them for 2 days. I know. I gave in. My head said I should make her stick to the goal, but my heart couldn't take how upset she was.

Demo is Done

Last night we finished the last of the demo (well except for the light). I am going to pick up the wood to patch the floor today and the plumber is due tonight. I need to finish patching the walls and get the green board hung behind the shower. Then I need to pick up the paint for this weekend.

Good Start To Renovations

I made good progress on the hall bath this weekend. I got most of the demo done. The cabinet, mirror, towel bars, floor and toilet are out. The sink is disconnected and waiting for some strong man to get that out too. I have some work to do on the floor around the toilet. The sub-floor will have to be patched. The leak in the toilet has caused some riot, but I expected that. I hope to get some more done tonight. The plumber is due tomorrow to hook up the new tub. I am hoping to talk Jim and Arion into taking it up tonight. I am so excited that things are starting to move.

Demo to Start Today

Today I start the demo on the hall bath. I spoke to the plumber and he is coming out on Tuesday. I figure I will rip everything out and start the floor before he gets here for the tub. Here is the pictures I am going to use as my "before" picture. It was taken when we first bought the house. Jim has the camera in Mexico so I can't take any new ones. The tub is already out. This will be the end of the Harvest Gold. Thank God.

More Pictures of Graduation

I promised more pictures of Justin's Graduation. I am so proud of the boys. It's hard to believe that they are so grown. It's hard to believe that I have a child that has graduated from high school.

Who's Going To Know When I Go Nuts

I was reading a blog this morning (big surprise). It was someone else thinking they were nuts because she was thinking about what she wanted when she died. Got me to thinking, not about what I want, I know that. But would anyone notice if I went nuts. I am a little crazy to begin with. Not your normal verity Mom, not in my house. Got to be able to go with the flow, change plans on a dime and deal with total chaos. But because I am generally mouthy, who is going to know when I really lose it. What will happen. Will I because more normal?? Or will I totally go off the deep end. Time will tell.

By the way, when I die, there is to be NO processing around the town. There is to be a QUICK memorial service, NO viewing. Please have balloons, yes I said balloons, I want a happy occasion (Shannon and Mary-this ones on you, Jim won't do it), and flowers. Then walk me up and put me in the ground somewhere near my Mom's end of the cemetery.