Vacation is all I ever wanted

Vacation's having to get away...

One of the things I insist upon is taking a family vacation once a year. Between the children's escapades, Mr. HW's (Hard Worker) work schedule (sometimes up to 7 days a week) and when you add my work schedule into the mix doesn't give us much quality family time together. So, it's important to me (as well as my rule) that we take time off and get away. Going away enables us to do that, no distractions, just us.

Because I insist on the vacation, many years ago Mr. HW and I bought into the Disney time share. It allows us the flexibility to "get away" and our vacation is already paid for. We only have to pay for travel and food. It works for us. Since it is a flexible plan, we can go to Disney World or go somewhere else. This year we have reservations on property, however we are not going into the parks. Instead we will visit friends and possibly go to Sea World. Why aren't we planning to go into Disney parks? Between August, 2007 and August, 2008, we "did" the parks 3 times. Yes, three times. So, one could say both my husband and I are "Disneyed out". We could only accomplish this because we have the time share. However, it's been an entire year since we've had a family vacation, so it's time. Both my husband and I decided we wanted to see our friends, so we're driving to Florida.

Whoo-hoo! I can hardly wait.

The Last Day

Today was our last day of school. Somehow we (well, specifically Computer Boy) made it! He and the Mayor brought flowers and homemade cards to their teachers today. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the cards but they were sweet and typical of my children. The Mayor made hearts and told her teacher, Mrs. W, "I will tremendously miss you". She had a good year. Except for 2 B+'s, she got all A's. (One of the B's was for physical education.) CB's card had a picture of his teacher and him. The Kindergarten report card is not based on the typical A-D system. Rather it is based on Satisfactory, Progressing Satisfactorily and Not Progressing. He received mostly S's and a few PS's. I'm happy with how well they both did.

In our district, the children receive their assignments for September on the last day of school. So, suffice it to say, the phone was ringing off the hook today. Everyone was calling to who was in which class. I'm so happy to say that CB's BFF is in his class next year. That information made my day. It may just help him transition into first grade a bit easier in September.

So, now our summer officially begins. Let's hope the weather catches up with us. It has been raining for what seems like an eternity. Plus, it's darn cold. I want the sun and warmer weather. Mother Nature, did you hear me?

Where does the time go?

OMG! It's June already!

What happened to the year? I'm specifically referring to the school year, but I could say the same for the calendar year. In another 25 days half of the year will be over. Around here, school ends on June 26th.


My little boy, CB, has grown up so much this year. Come the end of the month, he's no longer a kindergartner, but a first grader. Learning more responsibility as well as the typical reading, writing and arithmetic. *Sniff Sniff* When did this happen? The worst part is that it happened right in front of my eyes.

Then, of course, there's the Mayor. She successfully navigated her way through second grade and all that goes with it. It's not unusual for relationships to change during the second and third grade years. So, I'm a little nervous f.or her, but hopeful that most of the girls in her grade won't "change" too much. Since they were together from Pre-K, many of these girls have always been polite, accepting of others and cheered one another on. But, third grade is different and only time will tell.

Monkey Girl grows everyday. Make it stop! Oh, it's not that CB and Mayor aren't growing, they are. It's just that MG is our last baby and I'm sad to see her grow up. It's bad enough that she's in a big girl bed and not in her crib anymore. Btw, that was not my idea, but hers. As an aside, my husband and I bought the girls bunk beds and MG decided she should sleep in her new bed (the bottom bunk). Naturally, she wanted the top bed, but we said absolutely not to that one. But, I digress, I anticipate that this summer, I will start potty training her. It's the last milestone for a baby.

Please someone find the pause button and tell me where it is.

A Friday Haiku

Thought I'd give haiku a try...


Mommy, she calls me
I love you, Monkey Girl says
She wants to get up.

MG loves purple
It's her favorite color
She loves wearing it.

He loves computers
I call him Computer Boy
Never gets enough

Loves them so much that
He tells me that it's his work
Just like his Daddy.

The Mayor has grown
In five years, she'll be a teen
My baby no more.

Her first sleepover
Was great fun and successful
sniff* where's the Kleenex?

Laundry is a four-letter word

"I have work to do, but I don't want to do it." Have you ever found yourself thinking and saying the same thing? It's sad, I just can't get motivated. Right now, I'm not even sure if the house was on fire I'd get out. Okay, that's a little extreme, but that's the way I'm feeling.

What's wrong with me? Maybe I'm rebelling. That's it. I'm rebelling against housework. Well, not so much the cleaning, it's the laundry. It never ends. It multiplies. Honestly, the laundry must pro-create all on its own. How it does it, I'll never know. Frankly, I'd love to stop doing it all together. However, the problem is, if I don't do it, no one will. Oh well, better get something started or the children will be going to school wearing dirty clothes and looking like hobos. And, I can't have that now or can I?...

It is crack.

Ah, that first sip was delicious. It may be hard to believe, but the first time was less than a week ago. I can still taste it. Trying to savor the aroma, the flavor, the pure enjoyment of the entire cup, I nursed my beverage. After one cup, I'm addicted.

There's a reason why people call it Starcrack, right? While food shopping last week I ran into a friend. She was going to purchase a tall, non-fat latte at Starbucks, which is conveniently available at a kiosk in the supermarket, so I decided to try my very first one. I'm not a big coffee fan, but occasionally have a cup. Wow! From the first sip, I was hooked. What do they put in their coffee? I consider myself a non-coffee drinker, yet after having that cup, I craved another one ALL friggin day long! Like a drug addict, I kept thinking of reasons to leave the house and "happen" to drive by a Starbucks. The desire pulsed through my entire body making the temptation difficult to resist. Nearly a week later, I still find myself desiring another one. I suppose I could consider it my "little" treat once a week, while doing a necessary chore. Or should I save the $3.25 a week and at the end of the year still have $169 in my pocket?

Even for a "saver" like me, the choice is not an easy one...

Is anybody there?

Hiya! I know it's the same ol' excuse, but....(get ready for it... are ya ready... ok, ok no more waiting) I've been soooooooooo busy! Seriously, between working (this is a hectic time for many church singers and I'm no exception), taking care of the usual household chores, husband and children and PTA stuff, it seems I barely have time to breathe.

Fortunately, it's slowing down--a little. I still have rehearsals and First Holy Communions to sing. But, I think we've made it through the worst of it. My oldest (the Mayor) made her First Communion and if I can figure out how to post some pictures - I will. I think I'll enlist Mr. Hard-Worker's help for that. Meanwhile, we had a small party at our house to celebrate the day. Mr. H-W manned the barbecue and (if I do say so myself) everything was delicious. My sisters, Red and CPA said nothing further about the guest list. My other sister, Army Wife, came down for the event. All in all, I'd say a good time was had by everyone.