Honestly...where is my happy place...because I feel a long way from it!!
There have been so many interesting things that people have done these past few days and I have just had time to consider all of them.
To the lady at Menards who was smoking while you were filling your propane tank.....seriously?? They put up those signs for safety reasons. I don't feel like having my family blown to pieces because you couldn't put down the smoke for a minute. Now I smoke, don't get me wrong. But I don't stupid smoke. You are the reason that people have to be treated like ignorance is the way to go.

To the older woman driving in your car today....you narrowly avoided an accident when you swerved into the other lane without looking....there is reason number one to get the hell off of your cell phone and drive. Reason number two, and with all due respect, you probably shouldn't have been behind the wheel of that big of a car anyway, and you most certainly should be paying more attention.

To the kids who continue to scream at the top of their lungs outside.....you are screaming for fun, but that blood curdling sound that is coming out of your mouth sounds murderous.....seriously. It is one of those things that makes people look out to see that you are o.k. ....and while you are giving me that look like why the hell am I looking out my window for, please stop and think that maybe if you weren't drawing attention to yourself, I might not be looking!

and.....stop throwing things over the fence!! If you want the things you lose back, then quit throwing the things that could hurt someone into my yard.....

Tomorrow is a new day!

Happy 4th of July!

I think that it is important to take some time and think about the meanings of a parade and fireworks and the whole idea behind Independence Day. Would independence from England have come regardless of the American Revolution? Someone would have headed it anyway, probably.... just not at the time that they did....It could have been the 4th of September

Here are some general facts:
~1804 - The first Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi occured at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
~1926 - The 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence takes place throughout the nation
~One lucky Philadelphian purchased a $4.00 picture at a flea market. What they found behind the picture was an original 1776 printing of the Declaration of Independence. It was sold to TV producer Norman Lear for 8.1 million.


And a quote I quite like:
"A thoughtful mind, when it sees a Nation's flag, sees not the flag only, but the Nation itself; and whatever may be its symbols, its insignia, he reads chiefly in the flag the Government, the principles, the truths, the history which belongs to the Nation that sets it forth."-Henry Ward Beecher from The American Flag

Here is also to hoping that the Brewers don't suck it again today and tomorrow against the Cubs. I really would hate to see them swept. Also, truth be told, I really can't take any more heckling!

Summertime

Well, I think that summer is finally here! It has been terribly hot, but I am not complaining by any means! Elliot loves the pool and he likes to watch the other kids play too. He is getting the hang of splashing, which is fun to watch.

It has been a hectic few days with mom in the hospital and all that stuff. I had to apologize to my doctor because I missed an appointment..I guess my brain was just a bit off!

Dan is coming to visit us tomorrow! I haven't seen him since October and he hasn't met Elliot so I am really excited for that. We are going out to dinner with some friends and then try to hit up a ballgame tickets permitting.

My little guy got dedicated last Saturday, it was great to have the people there that were there. I couldn't have asked for it to go any better. What an amazing day! I just wanted to share a piece of what she said because it seemed so prolific to me.

Our children will live in the world we leave them. They will live with the problems we have not handled. We can not tell them how to live in that future. They are learning from us right now. What values, what passwords do we need to transmit to them that will give them the tools they will need? In out community we are called to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We hold that each is a unique individual, precious in his or her own right, entitled to be receivied by loving arms and to be guided with sympathy and respect. We take it as a duty incumbent on us all to provide that love, care and support so that our children may grow to be confident in self, joined to a larger humantiy and loving of life.

On a different note, (and I see their point, but geez) I got a letter from a child support agency here in town telling me that I hadn't named a father on my birth certificate (I know) and that I should list that so that I can get child support, or list why I don't want to seek it. It sort of irritated me because I have a family member who is owed three years my salary of child support and they can't seem to do anything for her. How about take the forces that you are using for me and put that out to her? Just a thought! I understand govt. protocol and what not, but it had me a bit miffed for a while.

I am off to have lunch with the girls this afternoon! Good times :)

Alls well that ends well

I won't say that it has been a tough road, but I will say that it has been a challenge. Last night was the "final" class. Now to wait for the diploma to come in the mail and take the IL administrators test. I also have to renew my WI license...soon!

I know that the bird won't remember being there, but my hope for him is that he sets his goals high and accomplishes all that he sets out to do. I was talking to some friends the other night who told me not to downplay my accomplishments. It hit home. I guess I don't like to see like the one who is being a bragger. 2 masters degrees is an accomplishment, so for a second, yeah me! :)

Now that it is officially summer in my mind, the weather can warm up anytime. I have an open pool and 60 degree temps. What the heck??

My little dude turned six months in the blink of an eye. It's funny when people say it goes so fast, it sure the heck does!

I Wish for You

I wish you the courage to be warm
when the world would prefer that you
be cool.
I wish you success sufficient to your
needs I wish you failure to
temper that success.
I wish you joy in all your days; I
wish you sadness so that you
may better measure joy,
I wish you gladness to overbalance
grief,
I wish you humor and a twinkle in
the eye.
I wish you glory and the strength to
bear its burdens.
I wish you sunshine on your path
and storms to season your journey....
I wish you peace ~ in the world in
which you lie and in the
smallest corner of the heart
where truth is ketp.
I wish you faith ~ to help define
your living and your life.
More I cannot wish you ~ except
perhaps love ~ to make all
the rest worthwhile.

By Robert A. Ward.

Mother's Day

Ahhh, the first one! I am so excited! It seems strange I know, but these five months have been the most amazing of my life. This little dude has stolen my heart and there is nothing strange about that. He has taught me more patience than the hundreds of children I have taught over the years, he has brought so much joy by just a smile. It is amazing to watch my son learn. To realize his hands can grasp, and his voice can make sound! I wish a Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there. I think back to all of the things people said before E was born. They are all so true. Thanks to all of you for being such an awesome support to us, and for loving him so much...this tiny piece of me that I will alway promise to do my best for.

I got this poem from a friend and it is so fitting:

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

My my my

Time sure flies...I was sitting here thinking about some things that I would like to blog about...then I realized that April was the last time. It is been so busy...as I told a friend today, I had to go back and apologize to people this week. I guess I am at one of those points where it is just better to not do as much interaction as I usually do. I tend to then express my feelings and not really worry about the rest of it. I keep telling myself just to hang out and this too shall pass. There is always work and school, sometimes it is more or less nuts than others. Right now I feel like I am just trying to keep my head up.

Spring is making its way. I really like that quiet drive home from work (when there are no crazy nutbags tailin' my ass) to just sort of take things in. The way the tulips make their way to bloom, and how some of the things are just starting to peek their way out. I could do with a little less rain, but gotta take what we can get. At least there is not 8 inches of snow on the ground.


The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month. ~Henry Van Dyke

Elliot is awesome, as I think most moms think about their kids. He is growing so fast and it is so intersting to me to watch and help him develop. I can't wait for him to be able to spend more time outside just exploring. He gets these new sounds and giggles that just keep changing as he learns more things. It is crazy to have a little sponge.

I should keep cleaning........

There is so much going on in the world, and some of it is completely scary, some is downright stupid and some of it just makes me feel so terrible. I am outraged by things that I see on the news or hear along the way.

I am outraged that there was a 4 month old child left on a daycare bus for 4 hours because of an "oversite." and get this...the daycare has two places, the other place just had a person get arrested for child abuse for breaking BOTH arms of a child. You have got to be joking. Most parents send their children to daycare because that is their only alternative. They do what they can to make the best choice. Put a little thought into the fact that you are handling someone elses precious cargo.

I am outraged at people who think it is ok to leave a baby in a bag, or a dumpster, or anywhere else that isn't appropriate. Drop them off somewhere safe if you are going to have them. There are plenty of people who will adopt, foster, etc. and then perhaps do something so that you don't get yourself in this situatio again! Good God, I cannot believe some of the situations.

Then there is the government, could you please step out of what I do in my freetime? Agencies want to tax non-diet soda because it causes obesity? That to me seems nuts. Grant it there are kids that probably drink too much, but hell let's just go for the diet too cause it has artificial sweeteners! Perhaps they are obese because they need to exercise, maybe they like being big, perhaps it is linked to their genetics? I don't know...

And the cigarette tax. Seriously? I know it's not good for you, but using it to help assist childrens health insurance? I am all for helping the kids, but I highly doubt that as I pay the $400 a month for my son to have insurance that I am going to see a governmental kickback from that. It all seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul and I know that I sound like a big huge beotch here, but you have got to be kidding!!

What about if some of the kids put down the sugary drinks (on the decision of the parents) and the Playstations and got the hell outside. Then they would have less of a chance of being obese and also would be a bit healthier!! What an f'n concept. (although then you have to worry about who is trying to entice your child into their car, or whether or not they will be safe when they are out and about in the neighborhood too though, but 6 of one and half a dozen of another??)

Silly taxes like these back in the day started a revolution....how about the goevernment just come into my house and cook for me? or perhaps they can ration what I do or don't do? It seems like such a joke. Put your concentrations where they need to be.