Just when you think kindness is lost

I'm reminded again that there are random acts of kindness still around.

Today is Erynn's Birthday (Happy Birthday baby girl!!) and I took the kids out for a late breakfast. John had to work so it was just the four of us. We went to a small local restaurant (the best kind) that we go to more often than not when / if we go out.

When it was time for us to pay the check and leave our waitress came over and told the kids that SANTA had already come and paid our check! I looked at her, very confused. She said that Santa is always watching and he was SO pleased with how well behaved and sweet my kids were that he bought us all our breakfast.

I nearly burst into tears.

Turns out it was the table next to us. They wished to remain anonymous but I had noticed them whispering to our waitress earlier on. I orginally thought something was wrong with their food, but, when the waitress was telling us that Santa had paid for our meal, I noticed her look over at the table next to us more than once and I put two and two together.

I stood up, gathered up my children and quietly leaned over to say Thank You. One of the women kind of frowned and said we weren't supposed to know it was her. I said please don't be upset, the waitress didn't tell me, I promise. I just wanted to properly thank you for doing something so kind. Merry Chrismas to you all. They all said Merry Christmas and repeated what our waitress had said - how loving, well behaved and sweet my kids were. I told them they were going to make me cry and thanked them again.

That has got to be one of the best compliments I have ever received. It was also good for my soul. This is my favorite time of year and to see random acts of kindness warms my heart.

Has it really been that long???

I guess it has! Time flies when you are having fun I suppose. I'm so far behind on updates. I'll try and be brief although I guess I should have briefed myself and read up on the last few posts before I started, eh? Let's see how I do.

Work:
Awesome. Love it. CRAZY busy and that is why I haven't been able to update lately. I am in the office at 630a and for the past few weeks I haven't been leaving much sooner than 6p. I've recently started supporting the VP........I think I talked about a possible promotion before.........that is why I've been working so much. I'm really really hoping it pays off with a promotion. So, the vice president. CP. She is SO super nice. Really really nice. I guess it really didn't occur to me just what Vice President meant........until I booked her a flight on the company jet. First, it didn't even occur that P&G HAD a company jet. That's my bad. I should have realized that. But that is how I realized just HOW much of a big wig my newest boss is. I say newest b/c I'm still supporting the Marketing Director and Associate Director on the Venus business as well. It's going well, I'm loving what I do and I'm super glad I put myself out there and applied for this new job.

Cheryl:
Hot mess. Still not speaking to her. I got an email out of the blue about a month after what I've dubbed the worst email I have ever received in my life. This new email went on and on about how much she loves me, how much she needs me, how much I mean to her, how important I am in her life. How I'm her rock, the only person she can go to. Wondering if it would be okay that she come home for my birthday. I was completely, 100% flabbergasted. I'm thinking to myself Oh boy! She basically calls me the biggest bag of shit on the planet a month ago. Yes, please do come home and ruin my birthday for me as well. Unreal. I wrote back and said I was not ready. That I couldn't just wipe away everything she'd said. Not now, not this time. She wrote back again........all poor me, pity me. Talking about how I have NO idea how hard it is for her to come visit, that she has to go to court, talk to her lawyer, pay fees, etc. I'm sorry. YOU are living with these restrictions because of decisions YOU made solely on your own. I cannot and WILL not feel sorry for you. I didn't write her back again. I cannot play those games with her and I refuse to do so. So, for now, I'm putting her on the back burner. I just can't let it all go again.

Family:
John is still working. Sort of. He was promised a full time job with full time hours and they are totally not following through. He's working roughly 2, maybe 3 days a week. It's not enough. So he's started looking for new jobs and submitting his resume all over the place. We're still hoping for the power plant as well. That's not off the table yet and I'm praying it ends up coming though. The kids are doing great. Erynn's fourth birthday is tomorrow. I can't even believe it - she's growing up so fast. All three kids are still loving school. Aidan is having a hard time learning to read. He's getting special help in school. I haven't admitted that to anyone because it makes me feel like a horrible Mom. Like I did something wrong. So many people I know are talking about how advanced their kids are......how they do this and that. Admitting Aidan is having trouble is humbling. I think I take reading for granted. I am a HUGE reader and I started reading early. I think I just assumed my kids would be the same way. Not so much. We got him the TAG reading system for his birthday (from Ryan and Erynn) and Santa is bringing him some DS games that are tutoring systems. I'm trying to find what works for him. Right now he gets SO upset and so frustrated. He'll give up before he even really tries. I'm working on this with him and will keep doing so.

Thanksgiving was really good. This year we were going to be on our own until John and I went on a double date with the Trouts. They were going to be alone as well and while we were out we decided that we should do a big thanksgiving together. It went really well. I made a turkey and a roast beef, sweet potato casserole and corn muffins. Cristy brought stuffing, cornbread casserole and green beans. Mike and Brandon both worked. John ended up working too so we did a later dinner. & B stopped by to say Happy Thanksgiving but ended up eating with us because we ate so well. It was really nice.

Funny story about Thanksgiving. John ALWAYS deals with the turkey because touching raw bird completely skeeves me out. So, he said he'd prep the bird for me before he went to work. I got up at 630a on turkey day - I just couldn't sleep. I went downstairs, opened the fridge and there is salmonella everywhere. All over the shelf. Okay, maybe not salmonella. But, there was liquid from the turkey all over the shelf. GROSS. John had taken the bird out of the package, put it on a plate, covered it with a paper towel and put it in the fridge. That was his version of prepping a bird it seems. Good times. I took the bird out and had to clean out my fridge. I laugh about it now. That day? Notsomuch.

Now it's full blown holiday time. I love love love this time of the year. John and I went out on Black Friday and got all of our Christmas shopping DONE for the kids. SO excited. We went out shopping at midnight. I said I'd never do that but it's our third year doing it. Never say never..........Black Friday has a whole new meaning when you have kids. We scored some really good deals and I'm happy we're done. No worrying about getting presents at the last minute, I just need to wrap. I can really fully enjoy the season and I'm happy for that.

I'm going to wrap it up here. Time to bring the kiddos upstairs and put them to bed.

Happy Boo Scare Day!

Happy Halloween!!



Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Tinkerbelle rocked the holiday lol.

Lisa, Ronny, Avery and Shane joined us for ToT this year. We waited a little longer to go out this year because John had to work but we did really. The kids stayed out until the end of ToT for the first time! This is huge. Usually Ryan lasts about a block before he says he is all done. Not this time.

We had a great Halloween, hope you did too!!!

Out with a bang!

Our camping season that is. Oh boy.

We went to Normandy Farms for their Halloween weekend. Just like we always do. We had been getting weather warnings for snow and such......which I promptly ignored. Seriously......it's only Oct for crying out loud. Snow before Halloween? Nah, not going to worry about it.

Have I mentioned my daughter is psychic? She was telling her teachers on Friday that she was going to be camping in the SNOW over the weekend. We laughed and poo-pooed her. Until she was right. Yup, it snowed for our camping trip. ACK!

Friday was okay. Just cold. No big deal, that's what sweatshirts are for. Saturday was kind of crappy. It was pouring rain/sleet/ice. Trick or Treat didn't go very well. The kids got through one row of campers and came back soaked to the bone. Saturday night was awful. The power went out in Foxboro in the middle of the night. No power = no heat in the camper.

Now, some might say you were CAMPING, you aren't supposed to have heat. Yes, I absolutely agree. However, we would never have chosen to tent camp in an impending weather storm. So we expected heat. To lose it was not so good. Our friends Tiffany, Jon and the kids came with us. Tiffany does NOT do cold. She was not a happy camper. (no pun intended) To add insult to injury, they came with us last year and we ran out of propane and lost heat in the middle of the night then too. I think Tiff might be the jinx........LMAO. We've never had this happen before!

I always have extra sleeping bags stashed throughout the camper so, truthfully, I wasn't cold at all. BTW, those Coleman sleeping bags ROCK,I highly recommend!!! But Sunday morning, when it was time to go home, proved to be an issue. No power = no juice to make the bump outs come in. NO bueno. John had to drive me and the kiddos home, grab a generator and head back to the campground with Dad. They ended up having to jump the battery to the camper (who knew it even HAD a battery), clean all the snow off of the bump outs and then drive the camper back home. It was a very long day.

In spite of the crappy weather and the loss of power / heat, we still had a GREAT time. It's one of those trips that will be remembered. I'll absolutely be staying next Halloween weekend. The kids had a great time, the adults did as well. So I'm okay with all of it! It's one of those things that happen and you are put out for a while but once you look back you laugh. LML.

Memory like a steel trap

Yep, that's my son. Aidan. I don't know how he remembers the things he does but Lordy, do they knock me for a loop sometimes.

Last night we ran to the store to pick up a few things for our last camping trip this season. We're driving home and Aidan starts waxing poetic about the benefits of milk. How all kinds, chocolate, white, strawberry are ALL good for you and they do good things for your body.

Then the questions begin.

Aidan: "Mom, how do cows make milk? What makes them make it?"
Ummmm, Mama has a headache and can't concentrate so I say "They are just built that way. Like how trees can make leaves and Moms can make babies."
Oh shit. Did I really just bring up the Mom and babies thing? Yes, I did. Why did I say that?!?! Aaaaand therein lies the error of my ways. Oh yes ladies and gentlemen, I walked right into this.
Aidan: "OH YEAH!!! So, Mom, what is that all about anyway?"
I say "Huh? What is what all about?"
Aidan: "When I was a baby, remember you put milk in your belly to feed me?"
"No, you were growing in my belly and didn't need food."
Aidan: "Well what about the milk you gave me from your belly?"
I play stupid and say "What milk from my belly? I gave you bottles"
LOL. Yeah, score one for me............or so I thought. In reality, NOT SO MUCH.
He says, "Well, what about those bottles with the thin tube like straw thing that you would put on your boobs and get milk from?? What was THAT all about???"

I thought John was going to drive the truck off the road he was laughing so hard.

I honestly can't even remember what I answered him with. I was just thinking in my head WHERE did this come from and how did I do this to myself??? How does he remember this stuff? I guess it's from Erynn. I nursed / pumped with her for 8 months. He was 3 yrs old......I suppose he could remember? Either way, I'm impressed. And stunned. ;-)

Fingers crossed!!!

So, today my horoscope says this:

"When you walk into work, you won't expect what's probably about to happen: You'll be pushed into the spotlight, like it or not. The good news is that you're well-suited to it, and that you'll wear it well."

I am crossing my fingers, toes, eyes and anything else I can cross that this rings true!!   I've only been in my new job for about a month and a half but I am hopefully going to get a promotion.  The business I work on just announced a Boston based Vice President coming on board.  Right now we have one in Cincinnati but they have moved him off our business and put a new person on.   Sooo, this means, hopefully I will be her Administrator Executive Assistant.  God willing.  If I were to get this job it would be a two step up promotion for me with a raise.  Which we desperately need.  I know CP is talking to my HR person today........hopefully things fall in my favor.  I'm not expecting it to happen as I know they have a few options on the table (I already support a Director, Associate Director and a team of 20)........but I'm sure as hell hoping for it.

This is just making me realize more and more that this new position was meant to be.  I never would have gotten even this opportunity in my old position.  Even if I don't get the promotion, being considered is a big thing and it's more than anything that's happened for me in my last 11+ yrs with the company.  

I'll keep you posted!

Random Thoughts and Thanks

Yay for it not being Monday!  I absolutely had A MONDAY yesterday.  Very happy it's over.  
Today is a new day and I'm feeeeeeling good.  Aside from a slight headache.  It's trying to bring me down but I won't let it.  
I keep coming across these random sayings lately.  

"What if you only woke up with what you thanked God for yesterday"   So very true and not something I used to think of on a daily basis.  Life is not perfect.  It never will be.   But MY life is pretty damn good.  I try to remember to thank God every day for the things I have. I thank God for my husband, my children, my home.  I thank God for my job.  I thank God for the people in my life.  I even thank God for the people who are no longer in my life because I have learned from them.  I thank God for the lessons I learn.  While things may be rough in several areas of "my" world, things could definitely be much worse.  I am truly thankful.

There have been others that have crossed my path as of late and I have really taken some time to think about them.   (if you are on my FB page you have seen these already b/c I have been reposting there) 

"Some people believe that holding on and hanging in are signs of strength, but there are times in life where it takes much more strength to just let go."

"There is a point in your life where you get tired of trying to fix everything and trying to make everyone happy.  When you finally decide to quit, it's NOT giving up.  It's realizing you don't need certain people and the bullshit they bring to your life."

These have made me stop and really think.  They are so simple yet hold SO much meaning for me lately.   Especially with all that is going on in my family.  With things that have happened, friendships that have shifted, changed, or disappeared.  These little mantras, saying, what have you, have really rung true.  Sometimes there are just some things you cannot do.  You have to just let go and move on.  Sometimes you can't be the only one fighting for things.  It's a two way street and one you shouldn't walk it alone.  

"Sometimes the girl who has been there for everyone else needs someone to be there for her."

This one is absolutely true for me and VERY hard to admit.  It's hard for me to reach out and let people know that I need some support but I'm working on it.  We are human.  We need each other and cannot be expected to do it all.  I need to admit that I CAN'T do it all and if I'm having a bad day, hard time, need someone then I need to just suck it up and admit it.  It's okay.  It's normal.  I've been reaching out to chat with a couple people lately and I cannot thank them enough for being there.  It means the world to me and I hope they know / realize how much I love and appreciate them.  My brother and I are closer than ever.  I'm growing friendships on an even deeper level.  Sometimes your friends are better than your family.  This is very true in my case.  AE - you know who you are - if you read this......xoxoxo.  I so appreciate you!! 

Life is hard.  Life is unexpected.  Life is Good.

Yet another milestone in the Foley household!

John sent me this picture today:

WHERE does the time go?!   HOW is it possible my "baby" is riding a bike with NO training wheels.   She isn't even 4yrs old for another two months!  

I'm not surprised.   She told John that she wanted him to "take these things off {training wheels} because she wants to ride her bike like her "brudders" do.   How stinking cute is she?!

Time is just going by oh-so-quickly!

Two weeks til Halloween.  guess we'd better hurry up and get costumes, eh?!

Just over two months til CHRISTMAS.   OMG.  That is what I can't wrap my head around!   Yes, I know that Thanksgiving falls in the middle there and, I'm really NOT trying to rush time by I swear, but when we have three little ones to shop for I just can't help but concentrate on the quickly approaching Christmas holiday.  

I'm so looking forward to all the wonderful things coming up in the next couple of months!!!

Children - ism's

I put these on Facebook over the weekend but I have to post here so they are saved.  Forever and ever.  I'll need something to come back to when my children get married and I'm obligated to provide the embarassing stories!

Saturday I was getting ready with the kids for a playdate.  I'm in the master bath and the three kids are in my bedroom.  (Truth be told they were sitting on my bed because I had put them on time out) I overhear the following conversation:

Aidan - "Uh oh, Mommy's hair is stuck to my shirt!"
Erynn - "That's MY hair Aidan!"
Aidann - "Nope, it's Mommy's hair, see how long it is??"
Ryan - "Mommy has long hair because she is a princess.  She is a beautiful princess!"
Aidan - "No, Mommy is the QUEEN Ryan.  Mommy is the beautiful Queen of this house!"
Ryan - "Ohhhhh."

I was quietly cracking up and thinking to myself, "Yup, that's right Aidan.  Smart boy!"

Sunday we went to a Baptism.  We were sitting in the church and my children aren't used to church at all.  Yes, I am a bad Catholic and I fully recognize this.   We were in the pew and the Deacon was giving his talk after the Gospel was read.   Aidan wanted to know if God was almost done talking.   I said "Honey, that isn't God, that is the priest."  Aidan says, "Is he the one in charge of God's house??"  *sob*

I let them look at the prayer books to keep entertained and Aidan was telling Ryan that if he wasn't careful and tore God's books that God would be very mad at him.   Ahhhh, love the way their minds work.

After the church we drove to the reception.   The Black Eyed Peas song "Just Can't Get Enough" came on the radio.  All three kids start bobbing their heads and rocking out.   I focus in on Ryan because he is singing along with the song.   Or so I thought.   Ryan was actually singing "I just can't get it up"   OMG.   I started laughing hysterically.   I told Ryan they were actually saying I just can't get enough!   He said "ohhhhh! Thank you Mommy! I thought they were saying I just can't get it up!"  I said nope and then told him 10 years from now he would understand why Mommy was laughing like a crazy person at what he was singing. 

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

Brotherly love........yup, we're all good!

I still haven't talked to my sister.   But, honestly, I am okay with that.   The thing that bothered me the most about this whole situation was my brother.  I was more upset about not speaking to him than anything. 

That all changed on Friday.   He called me and we finally got to chat.   My brother was in no way involved in the horrible email my sister sent.   She BCC'd him on it when she sent it to me and she forwarded my reply to him.  So, while he was caught up on the entire situation, he had nothing to do with it.  M & B were horrified to read that C had included them in the original email and they had no idea she was going to do that.  Email me OR include them in on it.   M told me the reason he hadn't called me back was because he was afraid that I was angry with him and he wanted to give me time to cool off.   I get it.  I told him I wasn't angry with him persay, but that I definitely wanted to discuss with him the two specific things C mentioned with regards to him.  That was it.  I am not a fool, I understand the email came from C.  I know who she is, I know how she does things.  I know she changes things, makes things up, puts words in peoples mouths.   Just because I stand by my sister and I stick up for her does not mean I am oblivious to who she is.   But, at the end of the day, she is family and I have always stood by my family.  

Moving on.   M came over to my house Friday afternoon and we were able to talk in person.  Of course me, being the extremely emotional person that people know don't really know me to be, cried the second he walked in the door.  He came over and gave me a big hug and told me that he loved me.  Always.  That he had nothing to do with it but that he and I were still on the same page when it comes to our sister.  That he and B were absolutely pissed off and horrified to be thrown into the whole thing.   That they did NOT feel the way C portrayed them to feel.   That they never said the things she mentioned.   My relationship with my brother is secure.  That is the most important thing to me. 

So, I have not spoken with my sister in any way since I replied to her scathing tirade over 2 weeks ago and I am okay with that.  My view on our relationship has not changed.  I do not think we will ever go back to the way things were.  I'm not sure she realizes that but, she will.   She made her bed, she can now lie in it.  I don't hate her.  I don't wish her ill will.  I just do not think things can or will ever go back to the way they were.  Everything happens for a reason. 

Compliment of the Century

So, I was just working on a project with one of the girls on my team. We're at my desk putting together one of every.single. Venus and Shave Prep item that we manufacture. We finish up, she goes to walk away and does a double take. She walks back and says "Are these YOUR kids?!" pointing to a 3-picture photo frame I have on my desk. I said yeeeeeees........like huh? Why did you say it like that??

She said I look WAY too young to have 3 kids.

Hallelujah!!! The skies have just opened up. LMAO.

She said she thought I was in my mid to late 20's.

I asked if she wanted to be my new best friend. HA.

Daily Thought

I get these emails every day from Real Simple and it's called the Daily Thought.

Today's daily thought:

Fear not those who argue, but those who dodge.

Amen.

Mid week weekend update

Ha. I crack myself up.

It's Wednesday. This has been a rough week but it's going by pretty quickly so I'm handling it.

We had a great camping trip last weekend. Our annual jaunt up to New Hampshire to stay at Pine Acres. (The good one - not the one in Oakham, MA that we'll never go back to) I love love love Fall camping. Except that last weekend didn't really turn out to be much of fall camping. It was hot and muggy. Rained at night. But at least it rained at NIGHT and didn't spoil our days! We arrived on Friday night. Left the house at 3p and it took us over 3 hours to get up there with traffic and such. The ride was just fine though. Kids were great and I got to catch up on some of "my" magazines. They aren't really mine........a perk of the new job is magazines. They get every kind of magazine under the sun here and a lot of them come for people who are no longer on the team so I get the leftovers. I get every magazine I have ever wanted a subscription to and then some. Yahoo!

Anyway. Saturday we took the kids apple picking and we had SO much fun. Applecrest really is a fantastic orchard. My only complaint was the weather. It was hot and muggy. Christen and I were dying. Next year I think I'll wait a week or two to go up the NH. Let it cool down just a little bit. I just hope we can still get the good apples. The kids loved riding the tractor out to the orchard and back. We grabbed some lunch, got the kids some ice cream, walked around the farmers market. It really was just a great day. Of course I had my camera with me............

The four kids

The kiddos picking their apples

Family shot. I hate pictures of myself these days but I'm working on it.

We came home on Sunday and I spent the day doing laundry, catching up on some DVR and preparing for the week ahead. I never did get my clothes switched over but I'll work on that this weekend. We don't have much planned. The Sheriff's Dept is doing their annual fall thing so we'll be hitting that on Saturday. Can't wait for that. I looooove decorating the house for Fall. Mums, pumkins, scarecrows, hay, cornstalks. The whole nine. I'm very excited! I love Fall!

In pieces

What happens when a relationship goes bad? One you thought you were guaranteed to have for your entire life?

I've blogged about my sister before. I blogged about her trip up here in August. I believe I blogged about how horrible it was. We hadn't spoken since. Until Monday. Until I got to work, checked my email and found that I had received the most horrible email I have ever gotten from anyone in my life. I've never been spoken to that way. I've never been talked about that way. And it was from my own sister.

I'm broken. Crushed. Devastated. There is no coming back from this. At all. Not for me.

The worst part is, she sees nothing wrong with what she has said. Says she treated me respectfully, with love, just had to get things off her chest. What she said can never be taken back. Ever. I will never forget what was said. Ever. I really think our relationship is over and, if it's not, it will never EVER be the way that it was again.

How does this happen? How? How is it that she sees things one way and it is SO different from the way things really are? How does she claim to have a relationship with me when, for the past TEN years, she has come home just once a year? You can't know someone by seeing them once a year. Not REALLY know them. How can she pretend to know what my life is like when she hasn't been around it in over ten years?? The only time I heard from her is when she needs me. She's had a seizure, is having a panic attack. Is in the hospital and needs me to fly down to Florida. Which I did more times than I could count. If she is doing just fine - I have always been the one to initiate the email, the phone call, do the reaching out. Always. It's like I'm not even a thought unless she needs something from me. But, for me, she is always on my mind. I worry about her. Worry about her health, if she is having seizures, how she is doing. But - no more. She is a grown woman and needs to be responsible for herself. I will no longer be the one she runs to. I can't be. Especially not after what was said. Like I said before, things will never be the same again.

On the one hand, it's not a super big loss for me. I see her once a year. I only talked to her when she needed me. I've never been completely 100% honest with her because I was always afraid of what would happen. What kind of relationship is that?? It's not a very good one. I have always gone to her defense when anyone has ever talked about her, always made excuses for her. Friends, family, her ex girlfriends, I have always, no matter what, stuck by her side. She has NO idea. Why would I tell her? It's just something I did because she was my sister. No explanation needed.

On the other hand she is my SISTER. My blood. Someone I should have been able to count on. Talk to when I needed to. Said anything to without fear of judgement. I should have been able to be 100% honest with her on anything, when I needed to. But it wasn't like that. I have friends who are much closer to me than she is. Who I can talk to, who I can say anything to. Who think it's OKAY if we don't share the same opinion and they don't condemn me for it. Isn't that what life is all about? We are supposed to be individuals. Our life is OUR life - no one elses.

I wonder if one day she'll ever regret what she said, the damage she has caused. I wonder if one day she'll ever see it wasn't ME. I doubt it. It breaks my heart. My family is so messed up as it is. I have always envied people that have had those tight knit families that I haven't had since my grandmother passed away when I was 13. Now it's grown even smaller.

In spite of all of this.........I know I am blessed. I have an amazing husband and three fantastic kids. I know I have a good life. I know I am a good person (contrary to what C thinks of me.....apparently I am a cold, bitter and evil person) and I know that I'm doing things right. I would do anything for anyone and I think people know that about me. The only thing I can do is be happy with myself and my life. It's for ME to live and not anyone else. Especially people who are only part of my life on a part time basis. It angers me that I even feel the need to stick up for myself. It angers me that she thinks she can just cut me to shreds but then say she did so in a respectful manner. If there was any ounce of respect she would never have been able to talk to me like that. Her older sister. Whom SHE has stuck in a "Mother" role (when I did NOT ask for it) for a very long time now. She would never have sent that email. She would have had a grown up conversation, face to face with me, like I asked her to while she was here. But, instead, she ran out of my house like a child.

There is nothing I can do about it. Everything happens for a reason and I will hold on to that with both hands. Even with a broken heart.

Random

So I have a bowl of Dove chocolates on my desk for visitors. I really don't touch it for the most part. However, I have a few calories to spare today so I decided to take one. On the inside of the wrapper Dove has these little diddies for people to read. Mine says:

You know what? You look good in red.

I think this is hysterical. I was JUST talking about (and posting to Pinterest last night, honest to God) about how I'm trying to incorporate more Red into my wardrobe. I really love the color and I do think it looks good on me. I just bought a pair of red ballet flats two weeks ago for a pop of color and I am absolutely loving them.

It just makes me stop and think sometimes when things like this happen. Someone says something, a horoscope is right, that kind of thing. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.

Hellooooo, is anyone there?

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just writing to myself. If anyone is reading say hello! ;o)

Things are going pretty well in the Foley Family.

School is underway.

John is fully back to work and we've gotten into a pretty decent schedule.

I'm getting more and more comfortable in my new position here at P&G and I'm ready to dive even deeper. I need to be BUSY. I do find the days are going by pretty quickly. There are days where I don't even have time to get on MSII or check FB more than once in the morning. In my old role I always had time for this! I'm liking it though and I think it's a good thing.

I've started on another TBLC with the girls on the board and I am very happy to say that I am doing really well! Granted, we are only a couple of weeks in but this is a big deal for me. I'm finally putting actions behind my words and I'm proud of myself for it. I've been seeing consistent loss and I'm happy to report that I am not at the back of the pack this go around. I plan on keeping it that way!

We had a good weekend. Low key for the most part which is not the norm in our little world. Usually the weekends are busy,busy, busy. The only thing I had planned was a 31 Gifts party and I did really well there. I got over $200 worth of FREE product! I literally didn't spend a dime. Thanks to everyone that placed an order!! Saturday night I spent the night tagging for a consignment sale I am doing this weekend with Lisa. She came over with Ronny and the kids for an impromtu playdate and she helped me get situated. Then we went through 2 of her one million boxes and got that done. We were tagging and entering online until 11:30p! But at least it's done. For the most part.

Yesterday I saw a movie with Susan. "I Don't Know How She Does It" with Sarah Jessica Parker. I would be lying if I said it didn't remind me of my life some days. Very cute movie, I liked it a lot. The only downfall would be that I broke a tooth while there. On a french fry. I only had a couple of them but look what it gets me - a broken tooth. Thank goodness I already had a dentist appt scheduled for tomorrow night! The inside of my cheek is shredded from this tooth. It's that bad!

When I got home it was time to do some reorganizing. Fall has set in around here so I wanted to go through all of the kids clothes, shoes, closets, drawers and get everything switched over. HUGE sense of accomplishment here because we were able to get it all done. It warms my little Type A heart when I get all organized and set up. I'll do my stuff next Sunday after we get home from camping.

Yup. Big camping trip this weekend. I cannot wait. I'm really looking forward to the cooler weather, going apple picking, sitting by the campfire and just relaxing. I'm super excited that Christen et al are coming with. We used to spend so much time camping together before marriage, before kids. I love being able to continue the tradition with our little (or not so little lol) families! I'll try and remember to post pictures when we get home. I know I've been really bad with pictures on this blog.

Weekly update?

It's been a week so I've got catching up to do. Sorry, I've been busy!

Last weekend was great. Camping at Normandy Farms. I just *heart* NF. It really is a wonderful campground and they have a LOT to offer. Christen and Ronan came on Saturday and spent the night. The kids have SO much fun playing together and I love spending time with my old friend again. (no, she's not old, I'm sure she'd LOVE hearing that, I just mean we've been friends for 15 yrs!!)

We have booked THE official Fall camping trip. I refer to it this way because we're heading up to New Hampshire and we'll be going apple picking. That makes it officially fall for me lol. We're heading up to Pine Acres on the 23rd. Different from the PA we went to last month in Oakham. I scored a SWEET deal on the trip - because we stayed there last year I got the whole weekend for $72. YUP. SCORE!!! Christen, Mike and Ronan are coming up with us so that's $36 a family. For the whole weekend!! Pretty damn sweet. All the kids are free. I'm happy to say that this Pine Acres revised their prices and the sites include a whole family - not just 2 people and then you pay for the kiddos. VERY smart, we'll definitely be return campers. (again)

We're headed to APPLECREST for the apple picking. I personally think this is the best Orchard I've ever been to. They have SO much for the kids to do, aside from the apple picking. We can really make a day out of it. It's almost like a mini festival when you are there. You come onto the property and they have a farm stand, band, food, homemade ice cream, a farmers market with all kinds of veggies, fruits, homemade jams, baked goods and other things. They also have face painting, a petting zoo and a hayride. Across the street is the Orchard and they drive you right on out. It's such a wonderful time. Combining it with camping is just the icing on the cake for us.

What else. Haven't spoken to my brother or my sister since the weekend C&J came to visit. It's hurts a lot but what can I do? I'm not going to be the one to keep putting in all of the effort. It feels like they only care when THEY want something. They reach out when they need something. It breaks my heart that there is no sense of "family" in my family. I have my nuclear family and that is pretty much it. I know that is a lot, I get that, but I am HURT by the rest of my family. Those are my feelings, I'm entitled to them. I wish I had what others had. I wish I had aunts and uncles that were a part of my life. I have no mother. I have no father. I have none of the foundation that others take for granted and count on. Yes, I'm jealous. I am jealous of close families. Close siblings. I wish I could be a part of something like that. That's just me being honest.

On to happier news. JOHN GOT A JOB!!!!!! The interview I mentioned in my last blog, they hired him on the spot. Said they'd be "foolish to let you walk away with the multitude of experience you have!" YAY!!! Finally someone who APPRECIATES his qualifications and doesn't hold them against him!! I'm so proud of him and I'm so happy that we can begin the journey to get back on our feet. His schedule is Mon - Fri 7a to 3p. It makes for a LOT of preparation and planning but we're getting into a routine and we're making it work. :)
(We are still hoping for the Power Plant. He is still pursuing that. He likes what he is doing now, but he'd love to get back there. It really was a great job for him. So, we'll take what we can get for now but hopefully the Plant pulls through.)

I'm in my new role fully now - unpacked my crates and moved my things into my new desk - so that must make it official, right? I have had NO training though. I'm pretty frustrated but I'm going to give K the benefit of the doubt and hope that she's going to step up soon and help me out. Most of my Team is in Cincinnati right now for a big meeting so I'm actually working on stuff for my old team this week. I need to stay busy. I'm doing monthly reports and I've set up some training time for people that will be taking over things until they get a permanent replacement for me.

The kids are all back to school and they are all loving it. I'm so happy! Their teachers seem really nice and I love being back into a regular routine. When I come home they are so eager to tell me about their days and show me their projects. Melts my heart. I just love them to pieces.

Before I go on forever, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to myself and John! We've been married for 10 years today. We've had SO much happen over the last 10 years. Kids being born, losing both of our Moms, buying a house, selling a house, building a house, getting jobs, losing jobs, on and on. But I wouldn't change a thing about our marriage. (I'd change a few life things, for sure, but not anything about US) He is my rock and I love him more and more every single day. I've been told many times that he is the perfect husband for me and I couldn't agree more. <3

It's been a while

If you are currently hearing Stained playing in your head right now, my apologies. But it's a good song so it's okay, right?! If you don't know what the hell I'm talking about you can listen HERE.

Anyway, I'm a bit behind. I'll try to catch up in one swoop...........can't promise it won't read like an instruction manuel and go on for days. But I'll try to control myself.

Where to start. My sister's visit. It.Went.Horribly. To be fair, the whole trip didn't suck, but about 50% of it did. Her flight was delayed on Thurs. They didn't arrive until very very early Fri morning. Fri they went into Boston with M&B. I cooked a big roast beef dinner for everyone and we all had dinner. Great. Sat am. C&J wanted to take the kids to Dunks for breakfast. Fine, no problem. They say they'll be over at 830a. They show up after 1030a. Now, if you have kids, you know how hard it is to hold them off. They were STARVING. And very upset. I was ticked but I let it go. Friday afternoon C, J, B and myself go to the movies. (One Day, I was very disappointed) That went fine. Sat night they did their own thing but C told me they wanted to do the Dunks thing again Sun morning. Totally fine. Sun am turns out to be Hurricane Irene day and I don't want the kids going out in that so I say I'll head to DD with them and we'll bring it back. Easy. Well, we're at D's. C causes a scene with the barista. Gets an attitude. There is a line forming behind us. Other patrons are getting irritated. I'm on the phone with my brother. I am embarrassed b/c C is causing a scene. I tell my brother she is causing a scene. She hears me. She gets pissed. (she doesn't TELL me this, she tells my brother who told me later) She takes off like a bat out of hell from my house after we get back. We were supposed to have plans Sunday night. She bails. She wanted to take me to breakfast (just me, her and J) on Monday morning and I text her Sun night (after she bailed on our plans) "thank you but I'm going to pass." I'm upset. I'm hurt. I don't want to deal with her behaviour. (Clearly there is more to this story but I'm not going to get into every tiny detail) I don't talk to her or hear from her again until she shows up at my house at 1p on her way to the airport. She is there to take pictures. Am I going to come out and take some with them? Wait, what?! Hi, I haven't talked to you in over a day and I cancelled plans with you but smile for the camera. What. The. Hell. I took all of two pictures with her. I did not smile and I had tears in my eyes. I was just SO upset with the way the weekend turned out. How could she act normal? How could she expect ME to act normal? But she did. She took pics of my kids. She took "family" pics. Gave me a hug and left. I haven't talked to her since.

The moral of this story. I need to realize that my siblings don't care for me as much as I for them. If I am upset, I have a grown up conversation. I do not leave the room and flee from the house. We are GROWN. ASS. WOMEN. Time to act like it. I am going to sit it out. I am going to wait for one of them to contact me. I'm not going to be the one that is always trying to get together. I am not going to be the one who coddles. It's time for them to put some stock into our relationship and stop treating me like a doormat. I do any/everything I can for my siblings and they just don't care enough to do it for me. Sad, but true.

Moving on.

Aidan started FIRST GRADE on Tuesday (8/30). How is this possible?! I can't even believe that he is in first grade already. He's only two days into it but he is very happy and very excited. I'm so proud of my "baby" boy. Ryan and Erynn start school next Tuesday (9/6) and I can't hardly believe that either. Kindergarten and Preschool. It is going by far too quickly for my liking. I love that they are excited and looking forward to learning, I just wish sometimes that I could press the "pause" button for a few minutes.

Update on John. He did not get the Fox Hill job. Two out of three directors wanted him, assumed he'd be a shoe in. Unfortunately the third was afraid he couldn't afford John b/c he is overqualified and offered it to a not-so-qualified person while Directors A & B were on vacation. Apparently it was not meant to be. However. He was called and asked to interview for another company. A security/bodyguard company. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about this to be quite honest. On one hand, it's pretty badass that my hubby could be a bodyguard. On the other, the role would entail a lot of travel. Think England, Ireland, Spain. Not Boston, Plymouth, Worcestor. I'm not so keen on that part. He went on one interview, was shuttled into a second interview on the spot and is currently driving to his third interview with the same company as I type. We'll wait to see what the hours, pay, bene's, etc look like to see what the final decision will be. IF he is offered the position of course. We also might have another prospect.........back at the Nuclear Power Plant he used to work at. A friend of his works there now. Says that if John was cleared to go back to work he should have been rehired quite a while ago. They have put in two classes and had new hires coming out of those classes but John should have been hired back before any new hire. So we're working on that right now. John liked the power plant and that really worked for our schedule so, if I'm being honest, I'm hoping he gets his old job back. Fingers crossed regardless.

I started MY new job this week as well. Tuesday am was my first day sitting at my new desk. It's going. It's not awful but I haven't had any training. I'm super excited to be doing some new stuff, I just wish I knew WHAT I was doing and was more involved. I'm ready to get cracking.........just not sure what I should be cracking AT right now. I think this is going to end up being a really wonderful move for me and I'm very happy I did it.

Maybe I've rambled on just a scotch (not scotch as in the booze, skotch - can you hear what I'm trying to say?!) but I've gotten it all out there. I think. For now. If I forgot anything I'll be back. It's like a notebook. Just one I type in. HA.

Just like old times..........

this weekend gave me a look back into old times.........with a modern twist. IE: sleepovers that I used to have as an "adult" that now turned into a sleepover with old friend and her son.

So cool.

Friday Christen, whom I've known for 15 years, came over with her son Ronan. We had scheduled a playdate. Well, the playdate turned into an impromptu sleepover. The kids were having so much fun playing and the boys kept asking "can Ronan have a sleepover Mom???" So cute!

Why the heck not?

So, at 8p on Friday night Christen and I took a drive to West Bridgewater to grab the things they'd need to spend the night. I don't remember what time the kids went to bed but the adults stayed up talking until about 2am.

Holy hell. I can't hang anymore. Seriously. No alcohol involved and we were draaagging. ASS. all day on Saturday. How is this possible? How did we get so old?

Back in the day Christen, along with many other friends, and I would stay up all damn night talking (probably drinking lol) and just hanging out. Go to sleep for a couple of hours and get on with the next day. Now? Not so much. Are we really this old??

Saturday was more of the same - the kids spending time playing together. Chris and I went up to Target to get some back to school stuff (really?! already?!) for the kids and then we took them to a paint your own pottery place that afternoon. Christen and Ronan stayed for dinner and then they had to head out.

All the kids have been asking when we'll have another sleepover. I *heart* that they love hanging out so much. Christen and I have been very close friends for a long time and I love that it looks like our kids will follow in our footsteps.

This morning felt like

FALL!!!

I won't lie, I loved it. Fall is, hands down, my favorite season.

The colors. The changing leaves.

The crisp, fresh air.

The decorations - pumpkins, scarecrows, cornstalks, mums.

Apple picking.

Cozy sweaters, boots, jeans.

Right up my alley.

I like summer. I love the pool, love getting my tan on. But nothing tops Fall and I am ready to welcome it!

I'm going to look into a camping trip up to NH at the end of September. We took the kids apple picking when we stayed up at Pine Acres last year and the farm was amazing. Hayrides, petting zoo, bakery, face painting, apple picking, ice cream, it was a mini fair. We loved the place and I can't wait to do it again. This is where we went last year: APPLECREST.

So, don't hate, don't cuss me out but I can't WAIT FOR FALL!!!!

WHAT is up?!

Today is definitely a "day" for me. I'm not sure I can explain but I am all.over.the.place. today. My emotions are up, down, over and around. I can't seem keep my mind focused on anything.

I find myself thinking a lot about my Mom lately and how much I miss her. I wish I could just have one, two, three, a thousand more conversations with her. It's been tough over the last few weeks especially. Wondering what is going to happen. Wondering how I'm going to pull my family through what, I am finally realizing, just may be a crisis. Or pretty damn close to one, as close as I've ever come anyway.

I consider myself to be a very strong person. I usually have a lot on my plate. No pity, I'm not crying, that's just the way things are. Truthfully, the way things have always been for me. That's okay. I was raised very well by my Mom and I can just keep on trucking. But lately, if I'm being honest, I feel like my truck is running out of gas. I have too many pit stops to make along the way and not sure I have enough gas to get there. (pit stops, bills, gas, money, whatever. Same difference, right?)

I'm trying to remain objective, calm and sensible. But I really just want to hit the panic button and scream my bloody head off. I don't talk about this with people. I seem to cycle through the same pattern. I'm good, I can manage, I'm drowning, I think of doing drastic things (um, before you call in the guys with the white coats I do NOT mean to myself or my family.......not that kind of drastic! I'm talking like borrowing from 401K or trying to see if we have anything we can sell to help out.) and then I talk myself out of them. Get back to rational. Get back to level headed. Get back to doing what I have been doing for the past four (plus!) years since John has had a job. Surviving.

They say God doesn't give you more than you can handle. Well, I say I wish he would stop thinking I was She-Ra because I'm certainly not. (although, hello, I wouldn't mind the body.......that'd be nice) I would love to hit a break. Just for a few minutes okay, months. I'd love to not have to worry about Peter, Paul, or that guy named Bill that comes every month wanting my dinero. We used to have that luxury. Oh how I wish I hadn't taken it for granted. Hindsight is 20/20 my friends and it's a tough lesson to learn.

I find myself wishing a lot.

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller.

Wait, no, that's not it.

I wish for some slack.
I wish for no stress when it comes to some things. I can handle some stress, I'd just like some of the financial stress to fade a bit.
I wish for John to get a job.
I wish for strength to get me through.
I wish I could stop wishing. I am not delusional. I know there are MANY people going through very similar things. I do. I'm sorry for them and praying things turn around on their end as well. But I still can't help but wish for my little nuclear family just a tad more. I think that's to be expected. That's normal.

I see many similarities between my Mom and myself. I wish more than ever that she were here so I could ask her HOW the hell she managed to do it on her own. Single mom, working, raising three kids, no child support from my deadbeat Dad. All by herself. I'm not single. I have a wonderful husband who is an amazing Dad. I could not wish for another partner and I wouldn't trade him in for the world. Yes, my running joke is "when I marry for the second time it's going to be for money b/c this love shit gets you nowhere" but John knows this is a joke and he laughs right along with me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm with my partner. I'm happy in my marriage and in my family. I could not ask for more emotionally.

That's not to say he doesn't irritate the hell out of me. Trust. I am not perfect, nor do I pretend to be. Neither is he. I know for damn sure I irritate him as well. But we've never gone to bed angry and we've only had one big, blowout fight in over 11 years. Communication is key my dears and that we have in spades. I like to think we always will. We're very similar in that regard. We both feel it's important and we put an effort into making sure to keep it.

See, all over the place. Lordy someone put a muzzle on me. Or shut my brain off. Not really because that would be awful but let's just slow it down a tad for now, shall we? Yeah, I know that's unlikely.

Add to the above that there is a meeting at my office today and that just makes it worse. They are planning to do my "offboard" today. Kind of like a roast but a proper goodbye as well. People talk about what they'll miss about you, what you've done, etc. I am 99.9% sure that I'll be shedding some tears. I don't do recognition well. I don't like to show weakness so you will rarely (if ever) see me cry. But I'm pretty sure after being a member of this team for over 10 years I'm going to walk out away with at least a tear or two.

Here's to hoping I'm not a blubbering idiot.

Here's to hoping that I (we) can pull through the current state of our life and move on to better times.

Third time is the charm.........I hope.

John is on his way to his third interview at Fox Hill as I type.

He is meeting with the Director of the entire facility today and I'm praying as hard as I can that he receives an offer. Four years with no job is a bit much and I'm ready to enter a new phase! Here's hoping that this will be the END and we can move up and out of this valley in our lives.

Update - another 30 min interview. He met with the Director of Fox Hill and the Director of HR (again). Interview went really well, they said he'd hear within a few days.

*fingers crossed*

It's that time again.....

Monday morning. AKA as the morning every week where I do NOT want to work, I've slept like crap the night before and I am doing whatever I can do postpone the work for the day. So, I'll recap the weekend.

Friday we had another playdate with the Trout family. This time Cristy invited our entire family over. Aidan, Ryan and Tim are all so close in age and Erynn is less than a year older than her daughter, Emma so she thought it would be great for them all to get together. John came so he could get to know Cristy as well. Again, we had SUCH a great time! We were there from 11a - 430p. We ordered pizza, the kids went swimming and the three adults had a wonderful time just talking and hanging out. The next month is busy with plans and getting ready for school but we did get Sept 16th on the calendar - the Trout family will be coming to our house for a little cookout and drinks on the deck. Can't wait!

Saturday wasn't so hot. I woke up with a migraine and I just couldn't kick it. I spent the day doing laundry and cleaning house. On the upside, it's nice to start off a week with no laundry in the house to be done. Go me. On the downside, Tim's birthday party was Saturday afternoon at 4p and I just couldn't make it. It was hot and muggy outside and would have made my migraine so much worse. John ended up having to take the kids by himself. He was okay with it but I felt bad. The kids had a fantastic time - they didn't even get home until 930pm. Clearly they went right to bed for the night. Unfortunately I didn't have the same luck. I don't know why but I just could NOT sleep on Saturday night. Thank goodness I had a ton of DVR to catch up on because obviously I would much rather watch tv than sleep. *rolling my eyes in case you can't sense the total sarcasm* Finally at 430a I was able to drift off.

Sunday morning I woke up at 8a exhausted but at least my migraine was downgraded to just a dull headache. I had plans to see a movie with Susan so I got up and got ready for that. The kids slept until 930a so we were all able to sit and have breakfast together which was nice. Susan and I made plans last week to go to the movies and had picked out the show, time etc. But when we got to the theater the movie times were different than what had been listed on the site. (this has happened before and it's annoying as hell!) We were over an hour early. So, instead of seeing Crazy, Stupid Love we ended seeing The Help. We really loved this movie! Definitely brought up a lot of emotions. Sadness, anger, frustration, shock. We both cried. I definitely recommend seeing this movie. So good. I still want to see Crazy, Stupid Love and hope to get my butt back to the theater before it's gone.

After the movies I hit the grocery store. Got home, did some more cleaning around the house and then made a Creamy Italian Chicken for dinner. I forgot what a big hit this is. You can find the recipe HERE! (Just search Creamy Italian Chicken) The kids all ate big platefuls with no complaints. I'm going to have to get this back into our rotation. (This and tacos are a sure fire winner) The kids had watermelon for dessert and soon after it was off to bed. I spent the rest of the night making my lunch for work, getting my clothes ready for the week and watching True Blood. Oh yes, that's right, I am a total fangbanger. Not ashamed at all I love love love this show and I look forward to it every week. I've read all of the books too. Good stuff. There, another secret is out. ;oP

Why slavery ended from a 6 yr old perspective....

A: "Mom, who was that guy that ended slavery?"
M: (to myself.......how the HELL do you even know about this at 6 yrs old kid?!) "Ahh, that was Abe Lincoln Aidan."
A: "Do you know WHY he ended slavery Mom?"
M: "Why don't you tell me."
A: "Because Mom! Slavery was mean and rude and fresh!! So Abe Lincoln made it go away because he is a good guy."

Well said Aidan, well said.

THIRD interview!

John got a phone call yesterday........3rd interview for Fox Hill next Monday at 10a.

I am praying as hard as I can and keeping everything crossed in hopes that he get the position. I'm remaining very optimistic. In my mind they wouldn't have him come back a third time if they weren't thinking of hiring him.

Hopefully he gets a job offer on the spot!

Feelings don't suck as bad today...

You know what? I'm going to move on and get over it. My feelings are still a bit hurt but whatever.

I should look at it as a blessing. Now if I want to watch tv or read a book while they are visiting I don't have to deal with C getting pissy at me. (yes, this really happened last time she came.)

I won't have to feel like I have to be "on" and entertain for four days. I won't feel like I need to keep them busy at all times or worry about what they want to do.

I found out today they are renting a car. YAY! No taxi driver profession in my future. No worries about what store she wants to shop at, what mall she wants to visit, etc etc. Again, no worries about what they want to do - they can go and do it on their own now.

Things are looking a bit rosier a day later.

Feelings suck.

I might not come off as the most sensitive person in the world - I have a hard time showing my feelings - but I am very, very sensitive. If I'm being honest I'm probably a little lot too sensitive. I just try not to show it. But I really am.

Case in point. My sister and her fiance are coming up for a visit at the end of the month. It's been planned for months. We're all very excited, can't wait for them to come. I haven't talked to my sister in a week or so which is pretty unusual but she's had a lot going on. Today I sent her an email saying hello and just checking in. I hear back and in come the hurt feelings. Seems that she and my brother have planned that when C&J come up at the end of the month she'll be staying with him and his husband. Yep, my feelings are hurt. They always stay with us. Always. She's positioning it like they didn't want to put any of the kids out since they just got back into their own rooms from M&B moving out but that is NOT the case. It can't be. M&B know that the boys are still sharing a room and that Erynn moved into the room they were staying in. We now have a playroom upstairs and I thought it would be PERFECT for when C comes to visit b/c she'd have her own room with a locked door and everyone would be all set. When we found out M&B were getting their own place it was very important to me that we get this room finished just so they would have their own little space. I am 99.5% positive I'd even mentioned this to her in the past but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt on this one.

I think what hurts isn't just that they aren't staying here. I think that it's the fact that they'd make these plans without even trying to include me or discuss with me. Like my input wasn't needed or necessary. Maybe I'm being silly. Probably being overly sensitive but I can't help it. My feelings are definitely hurt.

I understand that M&C don't have kids so they probably wouldn't even think of this aspect but my kids have been VERY excited about their aunts coming and staying with us. Now I'll have to tell them that they aren't staying with us after all and it just sucks. They still ask when M&B are going to come home for crying out loud - they don't fully understand that stuff, you know? So they will be disappointed as well and I HATE it when my kids are let down. Again, none of them have kids so they clearly wouldn't think of it from this angle but I do.

In total truth I'm a bit irritated too. C&J are coming up for 4 days. M only has ONE of those days off from work and he told me he couldn't take any vaca time. M&B only have one car. So this means if I am going to spend time with my sister and her fiance *I* am the one who is going to be driving back and forth all the time to pick them up and drop them off. Since I'm around for her entire trip it would be a hell of a lot easier (and cheaper) if they were staying here. I just don't get it. I probably never will.

I have GOT to develop thicker skin. I really do.

Changes are a'comin!

I can't believe we're already into August! In three weeks we have the open house at school for the kids to meet their teachers. How did this happen?!

It's been a great summer. Lots of camping, lots of family time. I've enjoyed it immensely and, while it's not over yet, I can definitely see the end looming on the horizon and I just can't believe it's so close.

Soon we'll be back-to-school shopping. Clothes, shoes, supplies. (as soon as I can get those lists from the school of course!) We'll be getting back into our more normal routine. No more staying up late on some special nights. We still have three more camping trips on the calendar to look forward to but the October trips are going to feel a lot different from our Summer trips.

I haven't really strayed too far from our "regular" school routine. Bedtimes between 7-7:30p have remained pretty constant unless we are camping. I honestly just didn't want to have a big upheaval when school starts with our nighttime routine. I figure having all three kids in school will be a big enough change in itself. Aidan and Ryan will both be attending full day classes rather than the half days of last year and Erynn starts PreK. She'll be going to school 5 days a week now from 11:30a - 2:20p. No more two days a week at daycare.

September isn't just about the kids' changes....I'll be starting my new job on 9/1 so I'll be making some adjustments of my own. I'll be working Mon - Thurs from 6:30a to 4:30p and working from home 8-10a on Friday mornings. I know I'll enjoy getting home sooner at night......having more family time before bed and I'm totally okay having two hours of work on a Friday morning as well. I don't really think that will interfere with anything. As long as I can still volunteer at school I'm happy. With Erynn going to PreK in the afternoons I don't see it being an issue. I'm eager to find out what volunteering will look like for the boys. I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to do it. Last year I could only volunteer in Aidan's class once. They had certain activities in the afternoon that just weren't conducive to my volunteering. Hopefully I'll be able to do more this year.

Even though we have a lot of changes coming up I'm very excited to see what is in store for this family of five!!

Catching up

It's been a busy week!

I only worked on Monday.

Jury Duty on Tuesday.

Camping Wed - Sun. We went to Pine Acres Resort in Oakham, MA. Up until we booked I'd never even heard of Oakham.

The campground was nice BUT I will admit we probably won't go back. It was a 2+ hour drive and not worth the gas money. I was disappointed because the place pretty much shut down at 7p for kids! What the heck?! The (one) pool they have didn't open up until 11am. Which, by the way, was grossly misrepresented in the photos online and in the brochure. The picture they posted looked HUGE. In person, not so much. It closed at 7p for kids and had adults only swim from 7-9p. They had mini golf but that closed at 7p. So what am I supposed to do with the kids? We did take them for ice cream every night. But still. I was definitely disappointed. Normandy definitely has a lot more going on. One friend mentioned that we did go for two weeknights. But, I didn't find that to be a valid argument b/c at least at Normandy the kids can still swim at night. There was literally nothing for them to do but sit at the camper at Pine Acres.

They did have a pond with a small beach which was nice. We spent two days there because the pond was warmer than the POOL. Not sure how exactly that is possible but that's how it panned out so we spent more time there.

Tiffany and her kids joined us for this trip. Jon U brought the kids up on Wed with him and Tiff joined thurs night after work. Jon left when she got there - they are having problems - but I was just happy to not be involved. We always have a good time when they camp with us and it was nice having them there.

Janet, Jenny and Michael were on the site next to us. The kids were great. My kids loved having their cousins to play with. Jenny and Erynn were inseparable which was a nice surprise considering the 9 yr age difference. We just weren't expecting what went on. That's all I have to say about that to be honest.

Next camping trip is Labor Day weekend. Fri - Mon. We might be going this one alone.....or Tiff and kids might join. Either way we are back at Normandy Farms and more than happy to be there!

Busy beavers

This was one hell of a weekend at the Foley house!

All kinds of projects going on!

We painted two rooms.

Moved Erynn from her old room to her new room. Now that M&B have moved out she went into their room.

Made Erynn's old room into a playroom for the kids. Got alll the toys, books, movies from the family room moved to the upstairs. YAY!

We also got a deck!!

My Father in Law, aka Dad, scored some kind of deal on a pop up and furniture. He grabbed them and told John and I that they were for our anniversary. (10 yrs next month) We didn't have a back deck but in two days we had one! John and Dad started it on Friday and finished it yesterday morning. Thank God for handy men! I'm so excited and completely in love. The deck is roughly 12' x 12' and we have a "gazebo" that is 10 x 10 on it. So the whole thing is covered.

Now, let me explain. I'm not sure what most people think when they hear gazebo but I can tell you THIS is what I thought of:

Quite honestly i said what the heck am I going to do with that? I don't need a gazebo! HOWEVER, what Dad really found was this:

Um, totally different things lol. So, now that we have that straightened out.

John and Dad built a deck in two days. They are amazing! Here is our anniversary gift lol:



I am 100% in love. We sat there all afternoon with my gf and her kids and it was SO nice. John is already telling anyone who has seen it that I'll be spending a lot of time out there reading. Yeah, I'm sure he's right!!

Operation "First Playdate" Complete!

We had our very first "official" playdate on Saturday.

I say first official because, while we've had lots of gtg's with friends and such, this was the first playdate we had with a classmate from school. I had only met the Mom, Cristy, once in the pkg lot while picking Ryan up one day.

I had NO idea what to expect at all. Should I bring something? Should I plan on being there for 30 min? An hour? Longer? What to do?! I was very nervous because I didn't know Cristy. I know I don't come across this way but I am shy around people I don't know. I am self concious and I get really anxious. Silly, but true.

Ryan and I got there at 10am. We brought a box of munchkins because I don't like going anywhere empty handed and that is what Ryan wanted to bring. Hope they like donuts! (I was second guessing this because what if they have allergies? What if they don't allow the kids to eat donuts? What should I do - GAH you can go crazy overthinking this stuff!) Tim was waiting on the porch when we pulled in along with his little sister Emma. So cute.

We got in and the boys started playing right away. Cristy and I sat down at the kitchen table. We really clicked! We have so much in common. The kids went outside to swim about 11:15am or so. They swam and then wanted to go back inside. Cristy asked Ryan what he would like for lunch. I wasn't expecting to stay for lunch! I asked her if she was sure that she was up for that and she insisted we stay. Well, okay then.

We were there until 3:30pm!!! 5.5 hours for our first playdate ever! I had never expected to stay that long but we had such a great time. Cristy and I chatted like we'd known each other for years. Ryan didn't want to leave at all. I told him we had to get going because I needed to go to the grocery store to get something for dinner. Before we could leave Cristy put another playdate on the books lol. This time she wants me to bring all three kids! Emma is only 6 mon younger than Erynn and she would love for them to play. Aidan is so close in age to Tim and Ryan that she'd love for him to come too. Okay then!

Second official playdate is August 12th. I am totally looking forward to it!

Interview update

John's job interview went really well! He met with the Dir of HR for 20 min, the Dir of Security for 40 min and has already been asked if he would come back for a 2nd interview with the Dir of the entire establishment! He took the drug test yesterday as well. They gave him more details than I think they'd give to just anyone. I'm taking this as a positive sign and that they are really considering him! There are three applicants in total. One had been interviewed already and they told John he didn't have 1/4 of the experience John has. The other was being interviewed after John yesterday.

This job would make all the difference - it's been so long since he worked. I'm praying as hard as I can that this is it for him!

Do you want some cheese with that whine??

Yes, this is me today.

I woke up with a migraine.
I have a raging toothache.
I'm tired.

Whine, whine, whine. I just can't help it. I'm going to try and steer clear of people so I don't infect everyone else but I'm clearly just having a day. I can't get into the dentist until Thursday. It's my own damn fault for waiting so long. I've had the toothache for almost two weeks but it just turned really unbearable in the last couple of days. To the point where I can't chew on the right side of my mouth and I have to take Tylenol with Codeine just to function. Yeah, that's pretty bad. I bet that isn't helping my migraine either.

Why do we, as mothers, let things get to this point? Why do we put ourselves last? I knew I was going to need to go to the dentist but there was always just one.more.thing that needed to be done. I didn't have time to get in and see someone. My own damn fault. Maybe this will teach me a lesson. Eh, probably not. Who am I kidding?

Silver lining (because I do always try to find at least one) John has an interview today. YES! At least he got to the interview point - he's submitted resumes for everything under the sun and hasn't gotten any calls back before now. Just more stalling - we're sorting through the applications, we're doing the background checks, we'll let you know. I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying as hard as I can that he gets this job. We really really need this. Yes, there are a lot of people in our situation and I get that. But he hasn't had a full time job in FOUR years. I think we're on the extreme end of the unemployment range. Hopefully this will work out and we can get ourselves back on track.

Update to follow.