Random thoughts on a rainy Thursday

It's raining. Again. I miss the sun. I'm sitting at work with not a whole heck of a lot to do. I decided to pop on here and talk about some of the things floating through my head today. I feel like I'm a little all over the place lately and I figure talking it out may help? I could be nuts, this might just confirm the fact that I've got too much going on lol.

1. It's Thursday. It's been a pretty decent week. I've been very busy at work, which is a good thing, b/c I'd rather not have to sit here twiddling my thumbs. But that brings me to today. I've caught up on all of my work and I now have nothing to do. But hey, at least I have time to catch up here right?

2. Tomorrow is Friday. (duh) I'm *really* looking forward to tomorrow night. Last week my gf's Sue and Liz came out with me. We had SUCH a good time! We hit a place called "Hanabi" and none of us had ever been. Well, it was exactly what we were looking for. They had a band playing (not so great, but could have been worse) and in between sets there was a DJ. PERFECT. We got to dance which is what I've been missing lately. In my past life (pre-mommy) I'd go out dancing every week with my gf's to a local club. The same club, incidentally, where I met my husband. *gasp* Anyway, we had just been talking about how we miss that and then we try this new place. We all had such a good time we're going back tomorrow night. Hence my looking forward to tomorrow night.

3. John has been doing "in service" for the Sheriff's Dept all week. Yes, the SD, where he hasn't worked AT ALL for the last 4 yrs. But in order for him to stay active with the dept (you know, in case he should ever be able to go back to work in this lifetime) he has to take this class once a year. It's every night from 7-10p for a week and all day on Saturday. I hate his being gone b/c it takes away our time together. We don't see each other enough as it is. But, you do what you have to do and it's probably good for him to get out of the house.

4. Because John has in service I've been on my own at night with the kids. John has to leave at 615p in order to get there in time and he doesn't get home until 1030p. Hello?! Me, myself and I doing bath and bedtime for all 3 kids??? I will admit I was not looking forward to it at.all. However.....I'm doing it! I'm doing it just fine and on top of that I'm liking it! Don't get me wrong, it's not something I'll kick my husband out of the house to do.....but I can totally handle it and I like knowing that. It's been 3 nights and we're into a routine. Erynn likes to go to bed early. She is typically in bed at 630p. This week I've been cheating. I take her upstairs at about 545p and give her a bath so John is still home to keep an eye on the boys playing outside. Bath, lotion, pj's and she's ready. She toddles over to the light, shuts it off herself and says "night, night mama!" So sweet. Once she's down, she's down for the night. John leaves when I come downstairs. I then let the boys play outside until 7p or so. They come inside, same routine........bath, lotion, pj's. But then I let them come back downstairs for some quality time. We cuddle together on the couch and watch one episode of Handy Manny or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Then it's back upstairs and tucked into bed. I do let them watch a movie as long as they stay in their beds. That's about it. Then I go back downstairs and clean up the kitchen from dinner. Load dishwasher, that kind of thing. I certainly don't leave it all lying about but I don't finish until after bedtime. I'm not that good. Then it's upstairs for me, wash face, lay out clothes for work the next day and in bed with a tv show or a book.

5. Speaking of books. I'm reading the Sookie Stackhouse series. Yep, I'm officially sucked in. I'd heard so much about it that I went and bought all 9 books in one fell swoop. I like to be able to read everything at once instead of waiting. I started them last week and I'm on the 5th book already. I love them!!!

6. Father's Day is Sunday. Of course it's going to rain. Ugh. I just got an email yesterday for a restaurant that we all like. Not Your Average Joe's. They have a FD special.........Appetizer, NY Sirloin, side and dessert. All for $24.99. Sweet deal! I'm going to make a reservation for us. I think John will like that. He deserves it and I know we'll have a good time. I was going to try and get a sitter but Sunday is all about being a Dad so I want the kids there.

7. Date night. It doesn't exist for us anymore. I need to get back into this. Its a vicious cycle though. We don't have money for a sitter. We don't have money for a lot of things. I could get my FIL to sit for us, for free, but he knows our situation so I hate to ask him to sit so we can go out and spend money when we shouldn't be spending anything at all right now. Soooo, no date night. I think I need to just get over it. I bet FIL wouldn't even think about it if we asked him to sit so we could go out. Or would he??

8. This is turning into a very long blog. Sheesh.

9. I miss Alice Anne. We go to see her in 5 wks and I just can't WAIT. I hate that we live so far away and I truly feel like she'd be my best friend if we were closer. Friendship is so important. Sure, I have lots of friends.........but it's only the *true* friends who count. I know who my true friends are and even though AA might not have the "years" that other friends have..........she is a true friend. I like to think she always will be.

10. Movies. I LOVE them. There are quite a few I'd like to see lately. Well, out now and coming out soon. I wish I had more time to go to the movies...........Up, The Proposal, The Ugly Truth, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, My Life in Ruins, My Sisters Keeper, Harry Potter, Julie and Julia, The Accidental Husband. I could go on and on. Clearly I'll be netflixing a lot of these........if not all of them!

11. This list is out of control. I'm going to end it now by saying that I am grateful for all that I have. Things are very tough right now but I just keep telling myself it can always be worse. I am trying to have as much faith as I possibly can and hold on to the thought that "everything happens for a reason." Even if we don't immediately know what that reason is...........it's there.

Has it really been 18 months?!

Honestly? My baby girl is 18 months today. Some days it feels like it's been years since I've had her, probably b/c of all the life changes I've had in just the past 18 months. Other days it feels like she should still be just a tiny baby. However, I assure you, she is NOT.

I am well aware that every.single.mother tells you that her baby is amazing. I know this, I do not dispute this. But Erynn really just lights up my life. She is so many things all wrapped up in one. Loving, sweet, independant, fresh (lol) easy, diva, you name it. She is, by far, the easiest baby of my three. When girlfriend wants bed, she.wants.bed. And it's really as *simple* as that. Seriously, I give her a bath, put on the lotion, pj's, give her a quick hug and a kiss, give her the nuk (she will ONLY take it when she's sleeping which is great.....she's not quite ready to give it up yet though) hand over "bunny" and she's done. I put her down wide awake and that's all there is to it. It's a double edged sword though b/c there are some nights where "Momma" would LOVE to just sit and have a cuddle with my baby girl but, no sireee, she's not having it. Oh well. She is very loving - all hugs and kisses - at all times......except for bed. She wants her bed and that is that.

I know life isn't always going to be this easy with Erynn, I'm no fool. I will relish and enjoy all of this simplicity as long as I can. I'm fully aware that I'll probably want to toss her on her patootie when she is a teenager. I'll be ready for that when the time comes. For now, I'm going to enjoy my baby girl.

The past 18 months has been such a wonderful journey. I can't wait for more.

Happy 18 months my sweet baby girl.

Here we go again - playing catch up!

So, I figure I'll try and give this blogging thing a shot. Originally it was just a way for me to keep posts that I'd been putting up on a message board for the last 5 or so years. But, I think maybe this could be a great way to keep a "diary" so to speak. I can't guarantee that I'll be faithful, or even very interesting, but hey, it's worth a shot.

We've had SO much going on in the last couple of weeks. My best friend, Rich, got married to a GREAT girl (woman?!) named Michele. I LOVE them together - they are as cute as a button and really make one another happy. It's nice to have my best friend back. Here is just one picture I took of them at their wedding.................

After their wedding we had Ryan's THIRD birthday. I have no idea how it's even possible that my youngest son is three years old. Time has gone so quickly!!! We had a backyard bbq / party for him. Jack, my FIL, bought Ryan a Mickey Mouse bouncy house (God help me!) for his birthday present so fun was had by all the kids. The weather was gorgeous and the party went really well.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party............

My three year old son and I!

We had our Relay for Life walk as well - all benefits went to the American Cancer Society. This was our 4th year walking, 3rd year doing it in Memory of my Mother in Law, Bobbi. We were THE TOP TEAM in our town this year!! I am SO proud and excited! We will have our names engraved on the trophy and it will be housed at my home for the next year. I plan on keeping it longer than that but we'll have to see what happens next year.

The weather was crappy this year - it rained all afternoon, through the night and the next morning. I didn't mind the rain though -it's all for a greater cause. The kids call it "The MeMe for Life Walk" and they get SO excited for this event. I'm so glad this will be a part of their lives. They have lost both grandmothers and we do as much as we can to keep them a part of their lives. A few pictures from this years event........................

Our Team

The kids:

The TOP TEAM!! YAHOOO!! Here is a picture of some of the Team with our trophy.