I just have to, that's why!

On the way home from the store this morning, Nathan declared that he was going to go to sleep. when I told him that we would be home in five minutes he said that he was still going to fall asleep. When I asked him why, he said I just have to, that's why!

Hmmm, now I know how annoying the answer "why" is, when you want a real answer.

Rude Attitude

So, I had to run to the grocery store this morning after the big kids went to school. I decided just to run to the closest one. We have two grocery stores in our little town, a Giant Eagle which is where I prefer to shop and a Shop and Save. I only go to the Shop and Save when I don't feel like driving the extra five minutes to get to Giant Eagle. This last year I have been very disappointed with Shop and Save. They have food that's out of date and sometimes there are rude cashiers.

Maybe I'm spoiled, but I like to have the cashier, not only check out my groceries, but place the bag in the cart. I mean afterall, I did just shop through your store, and load everything onto the conveyer belt myself, is it really too much to ask that they take the bag they are already holding and put it in the cart. Apparently it is at Shop and Save. And not only that a little "thank you, have a nice day" wouldn't hurt anyone either. Why doesn't anyone say that anymore?

SICK Sick sick

Yep, that's been me. Toasting in the new year with cough syrup.

I'm pretty sure I had the flu, but the good news is. I'm feeling better. I'm really hoping the rest of the fam doesn't get it. Nathan had the sniffles and a little cough, but that seems to have subsided. And Anthony got sick at school, so I had to pick him up at 9:45 in the morning yesterday. Apparently, he threw up and almost passed out. So I took him to the doctor, who said he just had the stomach flu. Anthony seems totally fine today. He goes back to school tomorrow.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Here's to 2009!!

Last Post of 2008

I started this blog in 2006 as a way to record memories for my children. A memory is only a memory if you can remember it. And let's face it, I don't exactly have a great memory. Heck, half the time someone tells me something, I forget it a few minutes later. Every year since, I have tried to double my posts. This year I succeeded tenfold. Go me!!

This is my last post of 2008 and the start of many more years to come! Have a wonderful and blessed new year!

I'm the mom!!

Only A MOM Can Appreciate! Don't forget to pause the music below before attempting to watch the video.

The Twins

Sarah and Zachary had their music concert at school about a week or so ago. They are in a special music group, this group is audition only. The Musical Mikes holiday program was wonderful. I didn't get any good shots of the whole group on stage (it's hard doing that with a cell phone camera hahaha), but I took a few good ones of Sarah and Zachary in front of the Christmas tree afterwards.


Zach and Sarah with their music teacher/choral director Mrs. Weisgerber (she used to be my teacher when I was their age, she looks great doesn't she?).


Yes, Sarah is slightly taller than Zach for the moment....




Zachary with his buddies (Caleb on the left is his best friend) being silly.

Bah Humbug!

Yes, I'm in a sour mood. I don't know why, but this year I just haven't been in the Christmassy mood. I didn't send out Christmas cards, because by the time, I thought about doing them it was too late. I didn't take pictures of the kids to put in the cards anyway. The tree just now got decorated. It was a naked tree for about a week. I didn't even put it up, Anthony did.

Let's not even mention the fact that I waited until the last minute to go shopping for presents (and I still haven't wrapped them). I just haven't been in the mood. I think the depression is back and I need my antidepressants upgraded to a higher dose. I have been so bah humbuggy for weeks. This whole year has just been awful. I have been late every single day for work. It's a wonder I still have a job. Everything is just a big mess.

And to top it all off, Rich had another MRI done, which revealed that he has more discs going bad in his back, including one where he already had surgery. I feel so bad for him, I can't even begin to imagine how much pain he must be in.

I'm really hoping that 2009 will be a much better year for me. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Nicholas

Nicholas' first grade program was this morning. The program was great and all the kids did a great job. I was very proud of Nicholas! He did all the motions and sang all the words to the songs. I think he was a wee bit nervous when it was his turn. But, at least he had a buddy doing the part with him so that helped. And best of all Nicholas looked so nice and handsome. He dressed up in his suit pants and a nice white shirt and a red clip-on tie. He looked adorable! I'm going to have to print out his picture and give it to Terri, since she gave him the suit. It was one her son outgrew.

Snow........

We thought we were getting a big snow storm through our area, it snowed all day, even sticking to the roads, caused some accidents, and enough to build a small snowman. But by midnight, it was all gone....it melted. And we haven't had snow since. I guess everyone else got it instead.


Of course I had to put Zach to work

Because someone had to do it

Sarah posing in front of our house

This is one of the trees in our yard

Another tree I thought looked pretty

Our Little Morning Adventure

It all started when Rich woke me up in time to finish getting Nicholas, Sarah and Zachary out the door to catch the bus. Amanda and Anthony already got up, dressed and caught their bus by themselves, they've been doing it for years. And Nathan was sleeping.

So, I wake up to find Zach helping Nicholas tie his shoes.....I should have known something was going to happen based on that, because those two fight like cats and dogs every morning. We're talking about throwing punches here.

While Zach and Nick were finishing, I braided Sarah's hair. Then, I gave Nicholas his little surprise (a Lunchable, which he's been begging for for years, but he's been doing so well with his reading homework, that I caved and bought one....). He was so thrilled.

I told them to get their backpacks and coats. And as they were putting their stuff together, the bus went down the road. By this time Nathan woke up. I was going to have to take the kids to school and now Nathan was going with us, because he didn't want to stay with Rich. I asked Zach to take the car seat out of Rich's car and put it in my van. While he ran out to do that, I had Sarah get Nathan dressed and ready. I ran off to throw some clothes on. Most of the time I don't care...and if they miss the bus, I just ran them to school while wearing my slippers and jammies. But today I wanted to grab a coffee, so I had to get dressed.

By the time we all got ready and ran outside, we had five minutes to get to the school before they were late. All the kids piled in, I buckled Nathan in his car seat. I climbed in behind the steering wheel and went to start the car and couldn't. The damn battery died. That has only happened twice before. Great!

I tell everybody to jump out and get in dad's car. I told Zach to run in and get Rich's car keys and I proceeded to take Nathan still strapped in his car seat and put him in the other car. Ten pound car seat plus and thirty pound kid - was heavy!

I finally managed to get all the kids to school 15 minutes late. And I really needed that coffee after all that. So I got my coffee and Nathan got his doughnut and we were both happy campers for the rest of the morning. See, I told you I should have taken Zachary and Nicholas working together as a bad sign, didn't I?