Gotta get organized (aka a really boring post...)

It is no secret that I am not the best housekeeper in the universe. Part of it is having so many people in such a small space. Part of it is having too much stuff, and most of it is my inability or lack of desire to do anything about it (there, I said it...admitting you have a problem is the first step in recovery, right?). Growing up, we always had one of those magical self-cleaning houses. My mom's idea of making us help out around the house was making us lift our feet so she could vacuum under them each morning while we watched TV. When she got too busy running her computer business to keep up with the house, we had a cleaning lady come and clean 2-3 times a week. Well, now that I'm on my own, my house no longer magically cleans itself. And I don't like that!

I like getting into the habit of keeping things cleaned and picked up, BUT when I am lazy I mean, BUSY, for a day or two (or 10- gotta keep it real) everything totally spirals out of control. Well, I am trying to get the house clean and orderly again. I am starting with a basic surface cleaning. Here is what I am hoping to accomplish today. Just 3 rooms:

Front Room (pick up, sweep)
Kitchen (dishes, sweep, mop, wipe surfaces)
Dining Room (sweep, mop, wipe surfaces)

I'll cross them off as I finish them :o)

D'oh!

You know how some days it seems like your brain just isn't quite there? Like the lights are on but nobody's home... Well, y'all, today was my day.

Exhibit 1- I couldn't find the phone. My dad called, and I found it...on the base. It was charging. Like a good phone.

Exhibit 2- I went to pick the boys up from school and nobody was in line for pickup. I started to panic because I thought they may have been released a half hour earlier (today was early release). I park at the front of the school, run in, peek into the office, and don't see my kids! I saw Ms. Murdock, and asked her if we had early release today. She told me we didn't- despite the fact that they have had early release on this day for the past 20 years. Strike 2!! So they don't have early release... So I head to G-ville to meet up with a friend for a little get together at Mickey D's, and....

Exhibit 3- after talking for a while, she looks at me kind of funny, and tells me my shirt is on backwards. What. The. Heck?! Did I mention it was a pocketed shirt? You know, the kind with the one pocket that goes in THE FRONT!! BTW...No comments about my overly dressy wardrobe... ;o)

So yeah, today I have successfully lost my phone, lost track of my children's schedule, and appeared at my former place of employment (among several other public places) with my shirt on backwards. Wow. I totally rock!

Can anyone top these?! Come on...make me feel better. Please....

Really, I'm begging! Even if you don't know me or if you just happened upon my blog, PLEASE share something...

Well folks, the "awesome pictures" didn't quite happen Tuesday...oops! Sorry if you stayed tune and I disappointed you! :o)

We ended up making some yummy caramel, chocolate dipped pretzels, and the kids popped a LOT of popcorn. My little kitchen was was a wonderland of fluffy white popcorn. It was thrilling. ;) Especially when I went in the other room to feed Caleigh and came back to find ALL the popcorn popped, along with powdered sugar and chocolate milk mix EVERYWHERE. It was an icky sticky mess. At least it motivated me to mop my floor...


We ended up without any of the cookies because I didn't have sticks of butter. When I realized we had no butter, I called John and told him about it. Here's how it all went down, and I quote:

Me: Honey, we are out of butter

Him: Didn't you just buy a huge tub of it?

Me: Yeah, but I need the sticks to bake with.

Him: Ok...what kind do you need?

Me: I need the cheap Imperial sticks

Him: How many?

Me: 4

Him: 4 of those big tubs? Isn't that a lot?

Me: No, not the tubs- the sticks. I need 4 packs of them

Him: 4 packs...Ok..I'll do it. See you in an hour

So what did he show up with, you ask. I know you are dying of anticipation. I know it, know it, know it!

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One (1) Four pack

That's it, just 1.

At least he tried. Don't worry honey, I still love you ;o)

In other news, Caleigh is almost 6 months old (ok, she's 5 and a half, but by the time you are on your 4th, you are allowed to estimate, right?). I have no idea where the time went. She is still teeny tiny, so I'm a little concerned about her, but perhaps she is just a small child. She still has blue eyes, so I think she might keep them. But we shall see :o) She has 0 teeth and likes to grab my hair and pull it. She has a beautiful little gummy smile, and is such a joy to be around! I love my little Caleigh girlie girl!

That's all for now. I really will write more later. Really. Promise!

Bad Weather Day...I love you, TEXAS!!

School was cancelled today because of bad weather (aka...there was a bit of freezing rain over yonder, so all y'all kids just stay home).

We are baking and making candy to celebrate! I will add pictures as our day progresses. I LOVE BAD WEATHER DAYS!!!!!!!

We are going to make:
1. Caramel
2. Pop Corn Balls
3. Brownies
4. Gingerbread men
5. Rolled Sugar Cookies

Stay tuned! Awesome pictures coming up!!!

I love these girls!

That last post was pretty heavy, so to lighten it up a bit, here are some pictures of my girlie girls. I love these cutie pies! I am truly going to miss staying home with them when I start teaching in the fall! But for now, I will enjoy our crazy little moments together...

They like to "dress up"


Caitlyn is asleep in this one...I caught Caleigh red handed! She's gotta get her teasing in when she can!


My beautiful baby girl :o)


And my crazy nutty big girl!

Here it is...the day we've all been waiting for.....

....JOHN'S GRADUATION!!!!!



I was so proud of John yesterday. He was able to walk and receive his BBA in Accounting. I guess all we need now is for the grades to come in, then it will be "official". I got teary eyed during the ceremony. All his hard work led to this. It was really bittersweet- that is our recurring theme for this month, semester, and year...just in case you didn't notice. When we walked in to the field house for graduation, I was so excited for him, but it also felt a bit empty.

Bear with me a bit while I back up. When John's mother was first diagnosed with cancer, we were rather hopeful. We knew she had a rare cancer, but we also knew that many people we know and love had survived the cancer curse. Upon her initial diagnosis, she was told, and she passed it along to us, not to google her type of cancer on the Internet- just to wait until treatment options could be discussed. We soon learned her tumor was inoperable.
It was too involved.
It was terminal.
His sister called and shared the news. I went numb. We weren't especially close, but she was his mother- the one who gave him life. And she was dying.
Soon.
And I had to be the one to tell him.
I called my parents for advice. My parents always have good advice. Except when I don't agree with it. But even then, it usually has merit. My mom helped me through the emotional aspects of sharing the news. My dad helped me through the technical aspects of it.
He came home from work, but I could not gather the courage to break the news. I wanted it to be perfect- as perfect as telling the one you love his mother is dying could possibly be. Finally the kids fell asleep. But he fell asleep, too. So I fell asleep. Then I woke up. I realized he was also awake.
I told him we had to talk. About his mom. And the cancer. The curse. I don't remember the words I spoke. I know they included inoperable, extensive liver involvement, and terminal. Terminal.
I broke the rule that afternoon. But I didn't google. I went to PubMed. Being a med school wannabe has its perks. I found out there was no record of 5 year survivalship with his mother's type of cancer. No record. Ever. Anywhere. In all the literature on record. The survivalship range was 2 weeks to 14 months. And her estimation was 6.
As in weeks.
Weeks.
Six of them.
I stumbled through the news. He sobbed. This was only the second time I saw him cry. The first was when our best man, Chris died. The first words out of his mouth were, "So you mean my mom isn't going to be able to see me graduate?"
"No, she will be gone by then"

She passed away July 1, 2007.

18 months later, here we are.
Bittersweet.
Her memory and spirit have strengthened and sustained him this semester.



Congratulations Honey!!