Taking a breath, catching up

HOLY COW!  What a crazy few days around here!!!

I got so caught up in the first day of school in my last blog... I forgot to mention our weekend and Hurricane Irene!
We didnt have much damage to deal with (very thankful for that).  We lost power for a few hours...and our house leaked, in the normal spot (which will be GONE in a matter of days!)  We spent Sunday in Harrisburg...visiting my grandparents and doing some shopping (with free entertainment--my mom wanted to come along, and had to get into my truck!!  Needed a 2 step, step stool!!  It was GREAT!)  I took some really cute pics of the pups... and got to chit chat with some of my grandparents neighbors.  I wish we had decent neighbors!!  We also took around the kids pics... got everyone's order.  We stopped at Stacy's parents house on the way up through for a few minutes too.  To show them the pics too.

First day of school rolled around... the kids made it through.  Courtney did (and is still doing) GREAT!  We celebrated with a Dairy Queen trip after dinner!! 
Monday night, as we were getting ready for bed...we let the dogs out.  Sprocket came in with a HUGE wound on his side!  That was an ER vet visit.  He needed immediate surgery to make sure it didnt go through his abdominal wall... and to insert a drain and stitch him up.  What a night long ordeal... that kept me up ALL NIGHT LONG!!  Of  course, I was PISSED at my husband who came home at 1 am, decided to call off work yesterday... and then went straight to bed.  Meanwhile... I was up the entire night with the crying, panting, horrified dog... AND I had a full day of school to do yesterday!  Needless to say, I made it through my day... barely.  I am thankful for an amazing teacher... who knows me and my work... and understood that I was NOT my usual self yesterday.  I felt (and still feel) horrible for my drop off of "give a shit" as the day progressed.
That was the first time in a LONG time that I did a marathon 41 hours of being awake.  And it did NOT agree with me one damn bit!  I was super annoyed with Stacy... I couldnt focus on what my kids were telling me... and I had no patience for anything once I got home yesterday!!  On top of being exhausted... I was dealing with a migraine... and I hurt all over.  It just sucked!!

Stacy had to deal with taking Courtney and Nathan to see Dr K (their psychiatrist)...  since I was at school.  Dr K could not believe how much Courtney has changed!!!  He is so super proud of her too!  She took her Prom pics... and he cant even believe that she went to Prom!  He says she is making SUPER progress... and he got her to admit that she doesnt feel anxious much at all anymore!!!  (But she doesnt like to go shopping if she doesnt have money...LOL).  He is happy and proud that she is switching classes this year... and NOT dependant on an emotional support class room!!!  WOOOO HOOOO!!!  Way to go, Courtney!  Just thinking about this... and all that she has over come and accomplished over the years... makes me cry!!!  I wish I would have stopped listening to the "professionals" YEARS ago... and done what I felt was right.  Maybe she would have started making progress sooner.  I kick myself all the time for this.  See, this is what happens when you have a crappy support system that tells you that you arent doing the right things.  You start to believe the bullshit... and you doubt yourself!  Which is what I did for far too long!!  I guess better late than never is how I need to look at this... but it still pisses me off!
Oh well... Courtney is doing GREAT... and she may have autism... but she is finally starting to see and believe that she CAN do anything... Her Momma and Daddy-O  KNOWS she can... and now she does too!!!  I LOVE to hear her talk about Graduation... and Prom this year!  I LOVE that she is LOOKING FORWARD to things to come!!!

Ok... now... on with today.  I need to recover.  LOL!  I got a good nights sleep... but I am feeling a bit weird still from the pain meds.  I think I will work around the house this morning... then run to drop off Courtney's RX's.  Then I have to pick up a few things.  But, I am really feeling kind of lazy... so that may wait until later when the kids get home.  I am sure they will add to the list of supplies they need anyway.
I put a pork roast in the crock pot for dinner.  Not sure what I want to make with it yet.  I guess I have some time to worry about that.
The tub guy comes tomorrow... he better actually refinish my grooming tub this time.  Yes, I am not over the last time yet.
Monday Derick starts on our house!!!!!!!  I CAN NOT WAIT!!!  I just want our house fixed, completed and back to normal!  Oh... and having my shop done will be AWESOME!  I graduate grooming school next week!!!  Then I can focus on opening my shop!!!  Soooo exciting!!!
We really need to get this piano out of the way... and boxing up stuff that can sit around while they are doing the drywall.  OMG... our main bathroom will get completed.... our living room will be liveable... the shop will be done!  RELIEF!!!  Then our focus can be the root cellar and porch!  And then THAT IS IT!!!  At least until spring.
If our house is done... we will still be able to have our annual "pie party" in Sept!!  It has been our tradition since we bought this house... and I am glad that we will be able to keep with it!

OK... I have tons to get done... if I can keep my eyes open to do it... LOL!  I may need to pencil in a cat nap at some point today.  I am still tired.

I hope everyone enjoys the beautiful, sunny day we are having!!

First day of school

I cant believe summer is over!  What is even more unbelievable--I am down to 3 kids in school!  And today is Courtney's last 1st day of school!!  Thinking even more about it... it is Brittany's last first day of middle school AND Nathan's last first day of Elem school!!  I can't even believe it... my babies are growing up!!  Do you know how many first day's of school I have lived through...?!?!?  A LOT!  LOL
NONE of my children wanted me to go out and wait for the bus with them this morning... not even Nathan!!  :-(  He cried for a brief minute before he went out the door... telling me he will miss me.  When I went to get my shoes to go out with him... he said "NO!  I can do this myself...it is only out front!"  I fought back the tears and watched him walk out the door!  He did turn around and blew me a kiss.  And of course... once he was standing out front...I opened the front window and talked to him through the window!!  LOL!!!

Courtney left the house this morning upbeat and excited!  That was REALLY nice to see!!  I already sent an email to her ES teacher... letting her know what all we worked on over the summer... and telling her I hope her and I can have that same "united front" we had toward the end of last year.
Courtney left here actually looking forward to switching classes this year!  Which will be a big first for her... and it would be a SUPER thing for her to do for her SENIOR year!!!  I am soooooooooooooo proud of ALL of Courtney's progress over the past few years!  She is doing great!!!
I truly hope we can avoid her "normal" start of the year drama.

It is so quiet here right now... I guess I will make my feeding rounds.  Then get moving on the rest of my homework... and then write up my notes for the kids Dr K. appt tomorrow, which Stacy has to take them to since I will be in school.  Let me tell you how hard it is to "allow" him to take them to this appt!!!  I like to be the one doing these things... so I know things arent missed or left out!  Ugh... this is a tough one for me!  BUT... I know he can handle it...  he is an awesome Dad!

Oh boy... dogs are starting to get bitchy... it is feeding time!!  Sheesh, it is a bit chilly out there this morning!  Hope everyone has an awesome day!!!

Storm ready...

I spent some time earlier getting ready for the pending storm.  I gathered all of our patio furniture... trash cans... the flower pots I emptied during the week... and anything else that may blow away if the wind picks up.  I KNOW my arbor wont be blowing across the garden this time!!  Stacy drove big stakes into the ground to secure it after the last time it took off! 
It was kind of funny... the girls were securing the garden bed plastic with extra bricks... and Nathan was worried about the tractors!  I told him if they blow away... we have BIGGER things to worry about...LOL!  Poor kid.  He gets so worked up about storms!

We also braved WalMart earlier this afternoon!  WOW... Ppl are a bit crazy!!! 
On the way there we had to stop for truck fuel.  Well, while I was pumping... I watched a guy fill 8 huge gas cans with gas!!!  Ppl were bitching at him... and he insists he will be prepared with his generator... when we are without power for days.  LMAO!! 
I picked up the "proofs" from yesterday pictures!  I put them in an album.  I will go around this week showing them off and getting family orders!  They look even better in print!!!  WOW!

I have come to the realization that I MUST get ALL of my homework DONE tomorrow and Monday morning.  Because come Monday afternoon... I will be swamped with school paperwork!  AND a cranky Nathan.  His attitude has REALLY gone down hill over the past week or so.  I guess it is the stress of school starting.  Whatever it is... he is driving me crazy... and I wont be putting up with it for much longer.

I need to sit down and think of what days and hours I will have my shop open.  And I guess I should start to figure out pricing.  Surprisingly... I have A LOT of interest already!  I am really excited!!!

Stacy has off again tomorrow!  Which means if this storm holds off some... we can get to the drive in tonight!!  Smurfs AND Cars 2 are playing!!!   Fingers crossed!!!  I REALLY want to see Smurfs.
Stacy also got his vacation time approved.  So he will be here the week Derick comes to work on the house... and we will hopefully get a lot of list completed!  I really am ok with NOT getting a root cellar... BUT, I really want a front porch!  AND... I need a chimney for the stove that is going to heat my shop and Nathan's bedroom.  The make shift chimney from last year is kinda scary... and I need the window to be able to hold an A/C... because that blower dryer kicks off some heat... and isnt winter yet!

I have some ppl voicing their "unhappiness" with my marriage.  Some ppl just really need to get over the past! 
I am glad they decided to sent the email though.  It just goes to show that there are certain ppl that cant keep their mouths SHUT about me/us.  Geez ppl... Stacy is happy.  He and I have a great marriage!!  And YES... I am 110% spoiled... but so is he!!!  I dont understand why it pisses ppl off that he bought me my big truck...?!?   When I had the expedition ppl bitched because I had the newer car... and he was driving an older car.  Now he has a brand new (driven out of the showroom, mind you) car... and I have the 4 yr old truck!!  LOL!!!  BUT... the truck is lifted, and has huge tires.  I guess HE is suppose to be driving that...  And I guess ppl forget that he has his Yota, and his big Bronco, and his tractor.... I could go on.
Oh well... jealousy is an evil thing... and I guess the real problem isnt me having the truck or previously having the newer car.  It is that Stacy is with ME!  He isnt following the path OTHERS think he should.  TOUGH!!!
This is how it is.  I hope ppl can get over it... and stop harrassing me about it!!!  Shhheeeshhh... can we say GROW UP!?!

Ok... enough with my mini rant.  Time to move on with my day.  I may just try to work on my homework.  I spent too much time today and yesterday dealing/fighting with Courtney's sperm donor.  Some ppl are just completely pathetic.  That is all I am going to say about that... for now anyway!  LOL!!

I hope everyone stays safe during the storm!!  AND Be strong when sending your littles out the door on the first day of school, Monday!!  ;-)

Shortening the List

I am determined to shorten our to-do list!  And I am working on it!!
Today I did the kids "photo shoot" DONE!!  I have some good ones to use as Courtney's senior pics!!  After running all over the place for pics (sunflower field, abandoned house, hang glider spot, and covered bridge)... we took Courtney to order her class ring!!  She is soooo excited!!

Stacy took off today to get his tooth fixed.  He was happy with my dentist choice for him!  I sent him to the kids dentist!!  They are SUPER with the kids... I figured they could handle him too!  He said it was painless... which is a good thing.  AND, he will be making another appt to take care of a couple other issues!  I am so proud of him!!  LOL!

It was nice having him here today.  I have missed him so much!!!  He put in for vacation... while Derick is here working on the house.  And we will be working on that list even more!!!  Derick will be taking care of the living room...and my shop...and the bathroom drywall.  Stacy and I will be taking care of our bedroom floor and the bathroom floor! 
THEN... our list will consist of the root cellar and porch.  And then NOTHING until spring!!

The winter will consist of FAMILY TIME... FAMILY TIME... and MORE FAMILY TIME!!!  In a COMPLETE house/home!!!
I want to be able to focus on building my business... and grooming my heart out.  I want to have HELP with homework hell... yes, from Stacy!  This school year... there will be much more of a team effort!!! 

So... tomorrow I will continue to declutter.  I plan on grooming Sakari... and working on homework also.

BIG PLANS for the fuuture...!!!  I am so excited!!!

Hmmm....early BUT good!

Not even 10am... and already turning into a pretty good day!!
My tub refinisher comes on Sept 1st!!  Then Derick is scheduled to come Sept 5th!!  MY HOUSE AND MY SHOP WILL BE GETTING PUT BACK TOGETHER!!!  WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!
In addition to that... I think I have Stacy almost talked into taking vacation that week!  So, he and I can finish the flooring in our bedroom AND the upstairs bathroom!!!!!  We will also be able to spend a day at the Grooming Expo!!!

You have NO IDEA how happy it makes me to have my house back together... even more exciting that my shop will be DONE!!! 
Then I can focus on putting my house back together... and getting my shop set up!!!!!!!! 

Then I can focus on "Apple Season"!!

The kids go back to school on Monday... which means PEACE and QUIET!! 
Tomorrow I am taking the kids around to get some group pictures!!

I am hoping to get some homework done today... AND clipping my OES, Sprocket!!  He is getting clipped AND scissored today!!  Before and After pics to come!!

Life is soooo awesome!!!  I am such a happy camper!!!  Even with the few ppl out there throwing negativity our way!!  Sad, desperate ppl that they are.

I want to thank ALL of those friends that have been sooooo supportive and helpful to us in this adventure!!  All of the thoughts, kind words, information, help and general supportive attitudes have been AWESOME!  THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!

PROGRESS!!

Another AWESOME school day yesterday!  I cant say it enough... but I LOVE grooming!!!  I worked on a schnauzer... and a bichon!  I am finding that I really like to scissor!  I am looking forward to the Grooming Expo in Hershey in Sept!!  I cant wait to play with all kinds of scissors... and other stuff!!! 
Apparently there was an earthquake while I was happily grooming yesterday!!  I didnt notice a darn thing... but Cindy sure did!!  LOL!

Then I came home to the reality of my life.  Josh's car broke down... and he was sitting along side of the road until I got there over an hour later.  Poor kid.  We got it back to our house... where it will sit until Stacy can figure it out and has time to deal with it.  I think he is realizing that whole "Dad" job isnt as easy as his Dad made it look!  LOL!  I am glad Stacy has such a good relationship with his Dad now... and I am sure he apologizes to his Dad often these days (and thanks him)... LMAO!! 
On a funny note... Josh used my CRX last week.  And while coming in the driveway he got the exhaust caught on a rock and ripped it out!  Soooo... he is stuck driving the Bronco 2!  AND... he is lucky to have even that!!  Today Josh is coming up to help with some yard work... since he has some days off and we have been so good to him! (NOT his idea... but he is dealing with it)  LOL!

I also came home to some REALLY muddy dogs... that I JUST groomed!  Grrrr!!!  Oh well... looks like Sprocket is def going to get a make over now!!! 

We went over to Lowes last nite... and PetSmart.  I bought my little dogs fall and winter coats... LMAO!!  Yes, I really did!!  At lowes we picked up some plumbing supplies for my tub... which is now scheduled to be refinished on Sept 1st.  We also took the kids to Denny's for a late dinner ... AGAIN! 

To top off our night... When we got home and were getting ready for bed... Stacy went to brush his teeth... and out popped a filling!  Just what he needed during his busy month at work!  I hope he at least takes the time to get it fixed... before it becomes a real problem!!  But, he never listens to me...  LOL.

OK... well...I have to get ready to get some work in the yard done!!

GREAT weather!

It is so beautiful outside today!!  Sunny... 75... nice breeze...I live for these days!!
I spent my morning uploading pics to FB, and moving the girls along with their laundry.  I did all of their new, school clothes for them yesterday... but they have been hanging on to dirty clothes for the past 3-4 weeks!!  Sooo...  I decided today was the perfect day for them to wash and hang out laundry!  Yes, I am just that mean!  LOL!
I spent a little bit of time finishing up my homework before I am back to grooming school tomorrow!  I seriously can not wait!  I have to admit... the videos I brought home to watch almost made my brain ooze out of my ear (at least the poodle and schnauzer ones).  I will NEVER remember all the different cuts they showed... good thing we have this wonderful thing called the internet  now a days!!! 

After homework I started pulling things out of the garden!  I am so done with it now!!  I just dont have the time right now.  So, I am thinking my next big canning adventure will be apple season!!  We have a person that lets us have all of his harvest... as long as we go and pick (and I make him a couple of pies!)!  LOL!  THIS year I have my truck to fill!  I will have to see if I can rally the "troops" (AKA-my grandparents) to help me with applesauce this year!  Between having my kitchen aid... and an extra stove... it shouldnt take too long! 
I also spent some time coloring with the kids today!  I think we are ALL liking those color in folders and notebooks I found yesterday! 

As for tonight... I am not sure.  I know Stacy is beginning to wear thin on this marathon of work.  Not sure if he will get to anything in my shop tonight or not.  And I have NO clue what to make for supper.
Well, I guess I better get back outside and get some more work done while it isnt too hot... or too cold!  Although, my allergies are driving me crazy!  Grrr!!