Out with the Old, In with the New!!!

Boy, I can not believe that 2009 is almost over. What a year it has been, I am hoping that 2010 will be a bangin new experience for all of us!!

2009 started off rough for Sommer since she was still at Canopy Cove and dealing with her eating disorder. She went to partial treatment the end of January and came home around the end of February. I will not lie, it is an everyday struggle but she is doing well and I am very proud of her. She had a slight setback in March but she made some changes in her life and things are back on track.

I also started back to school in January to persue my elementary education degree. What a challenge this has been. I go to school 3 nights a week for about 3 hours each night. Homework is about to kill me but I am now half way through the program. I will graduate in December 2011 and I would like to teach 3rd, 4th or 5th grade.

The boys have had a good year. I took Sommer and the boys on a cruise to Cozumel in July and they had alot of fun. Currently, they are in Georgia at Stone Mountain and then going to Alabama to visit Granny Aunt Jean.

Chuck was laid off from Airborne Express in February and started with Wal-Mart as an Assistant Manager in March. Talk about a change in careers. I still hope he will find a flying job again soon!!!

I am still substitute teaching and the PTA president at Crawfordville Elementary and do not see that changing anytime soon!! I will be doing my practicum hours at CES this semester so that is good.

That is all for now. Hope everyone has a happy and safe New Years Eve and a great 2010!!!!

Great Give-A-Way!!!

I am so amazed at all the great give=a=ways that are going on in the blog world. If you visit Kelly over at Kelly Korner, http://kellyskornerreviews.blogspot.com/, you will have a chance at winning a great HP Touch Smart somputer. These are awesome computers!! Go check out her website and her adorable little girl Harper...too cute!!!

Wow!! It is Almost Christmas

What a week it has been. Tuesday night was my last class for the semester so I was VERY happy about that. I do not have class again until January!!! It is so nice to not have to go to school at night and be home with the kids and get some things done!!

Chuck's Aunt Florence died earlier this week from a car accident she had a week earlier. She was neat Joplin, MO., and from what we can figure out she was trying to pass an 18 wheeler and hit a car head-on. The driver of the other car was also killed in the accident. Very sad and tragic for all families involved. She would have been 88 in January. She lived a great life. His mom and dad have gone to Kansas for the funeral and will be back next week.

A little more sad news in our community over the Thanksgiving holiday. A parapro from one of our elementary schools was killed in a domestic dispute. She left behind a 2 year old daughter. She was in school with me getting her teaching degree. She had just finished classes this semester and was getting ready to start her internship in January. Very sad.

The kids only have 1 more week of school until Christmas break and they are VERY excited about that. Sommer has finals the end of the week but she is exempt from more than half of them. Hunter has a Christmas program at school on Tuesday and Zach has exams the end part of the week too. I need to finish my shopping before the end of next week!!

During Christmas break we are going to take Sommer to Savannah, GA. to look at SCAD ( Savannah College of Art and Design). She really wants to go to college there. They are expensive, 30,000 a year , so we have to look at scholarships - keep your fingers crossed for her.

That is all for now. I have to go finish making a blanket for Hunter's football coach.

Have a great weekend.

Family and Holidays

Well, Thanksgiving is behind us once again. We had a great day. We spent the day at Chuck's mom and dads with my parents and his sister's family. Chuck only has one sister and she usually swaps the holidays between her family and her husbands family. I have two brothers and my brother Chris who lives in the DC area will sometimes come home for Christmas. My brother Hale and his family live in Tennessee and spend the holidays with his wife's family.

This Thanksgicing was much better than last year. Sommer was at Canopy Cove for last Thanksgiving and we did not get to see her until Friday so it was very sad at our house last year. Thankfully she is hope and doing so much better this year. Eating disorders are a lifelong journey and she is doing great. I am very proud of her.

Tomorrow, it is off shopping on Black Friday. I can not wait! My friend Stacy is even going to WalMart in the morning to do some shoppiong. She has never been on Black Friday so she is a little nervous about lines!!! She and her mom and aunt usually go to Appalachicola on Black Friday.

Chuck had to go in and work a few hours this afternoon but will be home before long. He is not often home on the holiday so it is nice to have him home for a change. I kniw he misses flying but he is also grateful that he does in fact have a job. Hopefully he will be able to get back into flying again sometime soon. He had an opportunity to fly in Belgium but the money was just not worth the time he would be away from family. I told him to go for it but I think he enjoys being closer to home now!!

Hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Tired and Aggravated...

What a week. I can not believe that Thanksgiving is only a couple of days away and then Christmas. I have been subbing fifth grade the past couple of days and they have worn me out - such sassiness!! After work I then head off to class and do not get home until 9pm...I am worn out this week and I have an exam tomorrow night. I should be studying but I just can't get my mind on it.

Went back to the eye doctor this afternoon and my cornea is finally healed - only took a little more than 3 weeks. I do not have to go back until December so that is good. My appt ran late so I was more than a little late for class tonight. Oh well, got to get your priorities in order.

Also found out that in April I will have another niece. I have always been able to see my new niece or nephew not long after they have been born but that will not be the case with this one. I am sure there will be enough family there that I will not be missed. Oh well, at least I won't get in the way.

Can't wait to go shopping on Friday!! I am actually doing alot of my shopping on line this year. I saw an ad last night that said Old Navy was opening at 3a.m.!! Way too early for me. I do plan to avoid Toys R Us this year ... our store was just remodeled and it is horrible. There is no way to even get 2 buggies down an aisle.

Oh well, that is all for now. Sommer is wanting to look something up on the internet and I need to get to bed. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

The Bulldogs Won!!

We had an exciting Saturday. Hunter's football team had their Super Bowl game today and they won 15-14 - talk about a close game. I am so proud of him. This was his first year playing tackle football and he played on a team that was 1 year above his age limit. He did great. The Bulldogs were the league champions and they also won the Super Bowl.

Sommer and Zach went to Georgia on Friday for my niece Dana's wedding. Hunter and I did not get to go because of his football game. I guess that Sommer actually asked Zach to dance. I am very proud of both of them and wish I could have seen them. This was also Sommer's first road trip by hersself and they did great.

I have one more class before winter break...I am so excited and so ready for a break. I took my GK - Math exam on Nov 11 and I passed! I was very surprised because the first 10 questions I had to mark and go back to. I was convinced I had not passed and when they gave me the paper it said PASSED.

That's all for now. Gotta go get some stuff down around the house before time for bed. I go back to the eye dr on Monday and my eye seems to be clearing up. I can at least see a little out of it now...not as blurry as it had been. More later!!!

What a week.

This has been a week. Tomorrow is Zach's 13th birthday! Wow, has it really been that long since he was born? Hard to believe. He is not doing a big party this year and has opted to just have 2 friends spend the night. We are going to go eat at Five Guys tomorrow for lunch though!!

On a sad note, we had to put our beloved chocolate lab, Cocoa, to sleep. We have been outting this off for a very long time and it was just time. I know she is in a better place but it is still so hard not having her here with us. She and Zach have the same birthday but Cocoa was 1 year older. We really do miss you Cocoa.

Also, a little boy by the name of Gavin Owens is losing his fight with Mitochondrial Disease. I have been following his blog for awhile and it is so sad. He is only 3 years old and he has touched so many lives with his story. I can only imagine what his family must be going through.

I have been busy with school. Only one more class to go before Christmas break. I am scheduled to do a retake on my GK - Math exam on November 11. I have to pass in order to take classes in January. Nothing like a little pressure. Seriously, who cares about the length of a shadow a tree makes!!

The kids have also been busy with school. Sommer is looking forward to her Euro trip in April and has also been busy looking into college. Can not believe my daughter will soon be going to college. She says that she would like to be a high school art teacher or a world history teacher.

That is all for now. On my way to see the eye doctor. Have a great weekend.

Busy, Busy, Busy....

Wow, what a week. I was so glad when it was 3:35 p,m, on Friday!!! I subbed in 4th grade on Thursday and Friday and they kept me on my toes. A good many of the kids I had in class I have known since they were in 1st grade so it is so hard to believe they are now 4th graders with hormones starting to rage!!! On Friday afternoon I had to have a little talk with the kids about being "popular" and "not popular". A couple of girls had their feeling hurt during the day and were in tears - friends calling friends names!! Overall, I had a good 2 days.

In my Art Methods class on Thursday we made a Pinch Pot and that was alot of fun. Clay is alot of fun to work with and a great stress reliever. This is a 4 week class and we are having to turn in 30 lesson plans and 2 unit plans. Let the fun begin.

Summer and her friends have been hanging out on the weekend. Last weekend they went rock climbing and this weekend they went to Tallahassee and walked around the downtown marketplace. I am sure the traffice was horrible as FSU was playing a game this afternoon (they lost). She is still looking for a job so hopefully something will turn up soon. She does not want to work fast food becuse of her eating disorder and I respect that decision. She has painted a couple of wall murals for our next door neighbor so maybe she will get a couple of jobs from that or maybe even do some babysitting. Keep your fingers crossed she finds something soon, she is about to break me!!

Hope everyone had a great week and a great weekend. So far so good for us. I am looking forward to just relaxing tomorrow.

See ya later.

Hunter's Birthday and other happenings

Well, my baby turned 11 years old today. That just does not seem possible. For that matter Zachary should not be getting ready to turn 13 and Sommer sure should not be 16!! Wow, time has flown by!! Hunter did not have a birthday party this year. Time got away from me in trying to plan a party so I bribed him with money - that always works with my kids!!! We did go out with mom and dad and ate dinner at Victor's tonight and then came home and had birthday cake.

Hunter has also signed up to play tackle football this year. I was very surprised when he told me he wanted to do this. So far things have been good and he shows no signs of wanting to quit. I thought he might after practice this past Saturnday - first practice in full pads. I am very proud of him. Said part of the reason he wanted to play was because the football players always get the girls!!

Zach did not want to play football but he does like going to the games for the middle school. Was mad he missed the big middle school tonight in order to go out to eat. He is having a good school year so far. He has been invited to take the SAT and ACT - some 7th grade honor program through Duke University. He says he wants to do it so I guess I will be signing him up for that. I am very proud of him as not many are asked to participate.

Sommer has also been busy with school. She is going on the schools Europe trip over Spring Break, will be gone April 6 - 15. She is very excited about this trip and I am so glad she decided to go. She has also been painting alot and has a couple of paintings she is going to enter in the North Florida Fair.

I have been busy with my classes. This past month has not been a good month but all matters have been straightened out so things should be smooth sailing from here out - I hope!! All the homework is about to do me in. I do not know what I was thinking when I decided to go back to school. At least the end is getting near.

Chuck has been busy with work. Even though he now works close to home he is never home!!! Go figure.

That is all for now. Time for bed.

Back from Cozumel!!!

Well, we made it back from Mexico and no one got sick!!!! The cruise was a lot of fun...I did miss Chuck since he was not able to take off from work and go with us. The kids did pretty good and I did not have to get on to them too much!! This was our second cruise so we knew a little of what to expect this time around. Our first cruise was on Royal Caribbean and this last one was with Carnival. Now, not to put Carnival down, I do prefer Royal Caribbean. Obviously each cruise has its pluses and minuses. Carnival has a great water park on board with some great water slides and Hunter enjoyed Camp Carnival.

Can not believe that school is going to be starting up on August 13!!! Where did the summer go to? Well, that is all for now. I got to get busy and start studying for my General Knowledge test I have to take in a couple of weeks. I think I start back to school on August 24 - ugh!!!

Second Week of Summer Vacation ALREADY!!!

I can't believe we are starting the second week of summer vacation. Time flies over the summer. So much to do and so little time to get it done. I did manage to drop my June class so I have a little more time on my hands. Chuck is busy at work, the boys are leaving tomorrow to go to Alabama for 2 weeks so Sommer and I are going to the beach somewhere here in Florida!! We just have to make up our minds where we want to go. She really wants to go parasailing so we will see what happens.

Hunter is going to 4H camp as soon as he gets back from Alabama so we went shopping for camp stuff this morning. This will be his first sleep away camp but he is excited and I think he will have a blast. They get to go canoeing and kayaking - sounds like fun to me. Zach did nbot want to go so maybe we will go to Wild Adventures or Universal while Hunter is at camp.

Gotta run do laundry so that is all for now.

Enjoy your week.

Fun TImes Up Ahead

Well, it is June and school is officially out!! Sommer is still working on a couple of classes through Florida Virtual but she is almost done. I can not believe she will be a high school junior when school starts back up in August. Zach will be in 7th grade and Hunter will be in 5th grade...time flies!!

I have decided to take the month of June off from school. I will have to take the class next summer but I needed a break. When classes start the end of August I will be ready to go!! If all goes as planned, I should have my degree in 2011, Sommer and I will graduate at the same time. I wish I had thought about becoming a teacher sooner but better late than never.

Hunter is getting ready to go to sleep away camp in a couple of weeks. He will be gone for a week at Camp Cherry Lake in Madison, Fl. It is a 4H camp and it sounds like alot of fun.

Zach has no real plans, just to have fun and hang with his friends.

Sommer plans on spending the summer at the beach and she and I are thinking about taking a girls only cruise in July - we are waiting on her passport.

Hope you have a great week and we will talk again soon.

New Week Off and Running

It is Monday and it is going to be a busy week. I saw my gastro dr this morning and got the results from my colonoscopy. Everything was fine so at least I do not have to go through that awful prep again for another 5 years!! Summer has dr apointments on Tuesday and I have appointments again on Wed and Thurs. Trying to see everyone before my UHC comes to an end at the end of the month.

Hunter had his science project due today so hopefully that all goes well. Nothing like waiting to the last minute to complete a project. Zach did his project on his own and I did not even realized he had already completed and turned it in.

Had a great Mother's Day. Sommer and I went to the mall for a little while and then I came home and lounged in the pool for an hour or so. Very peaceful afternoon.

Gotta run some errands before picking Hunter up at school and going to class myself this evening.

Have a great Monday!!

It's Saturday!!!

Yes, it is finally Saturday. So much to do but no desire to get it done!! Hunter was supposed to go to Sea Searchers this morning to listen to a talk about sharks's but he instead decided to go visit his new puppy Lilly. Lilly is a 6 week old yellow lab that will be coming to live with us on Wednesday!! This was Hunter's present from the Easter Bunny this year. Zach got 2 hermot crabs and 1 has already gone to the big crab cake in the sea.

Chuck had to work today but is off tomorrow and is then off next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Of course, I am working at the school next Friday so we will not get a chance to do anything without the kids.

Sommer and her friends just came in so I assume they will be out at the pool. Maybe I can talk them into dipping the pine straw out of the pool while they are out there. I was in the pool earlier this afternoon and the water is really nice today.

I've got to go to CVS or Walgreens and see if they have a Science project display board for Hunter. His project is due on Monday and Wal-Mart did not have the correct size of display board. Keep your fingers crossed that I do not have to make a trip to Tallahassee for this.

Gotta run. Have a great Saturday everyone.

Hello

Well, I have been saying I am going to do this blogging thing for awhile. I follow my friends blog and so enjoy looking and seeing what is going on in her part of the world that I thought I would give this a try!!

Now for the info. Chuck and I live in Crawfordville with our 3 children and 11 pets!! Yes, there are more animals than there are humans in our home!! Sommer is 16, Zach is 12 and Hunter is 10. Chuck has recently started a new job here in Crawfordville so he is now home everyday...what an adjustment this is going to be! I am still involved in PTA at Crawfordville Elementary and I am also going to school at night to get my degree in Education. Needless to say we are forever coming and going in our home.

That is all for right now as I need to make sure the kids are getting bed. MOre to follow. Have a great night!!