Ouch!

Okay so they look like they are stuck in the 80's but it gets the idea across - Ian and I have just started getting Allergy Shots last week. His is luckier than I am as he only needs one and I have to get TWO!! I brought him in because he is constantly in a stuffed up nose state - I actually took him in 2 years ago - well actually before that when he was only 8 months old we did our first testing and he is my allergy, asthma & (lucky us) Peanut allergy kid. But of course - as HF designs it this way - he is the happiest most amiable child - I'm sure it is just because he has to put up with all the "special" treatment. Inhalers, treatments, nose sprays, medications & now injections! But I digress - I brought him and and went myself because soccer season kicks my butt - allergy wise - when we got our skin tests done they told me I was a better candidate for shots than Ian! Boy do they hurt!

We went for a fun Chuck E. Cheese day - Linda was terrific - she went 2 days in a row just to go with all her friends! It was crowded - apparently we weren't the only ones with the same idea. Linda's boys had accumulated over 4100 tickets for the summer - crazy! All the kids racked up more points today and they shared them - we made off with a CEC Bubble Gum machine - oh joy! Our friend Rachel came out from our old Ward - it's fun because we all have kids the same age - between us we have 15 kids - all the same ages - fun times.

This weekend is lowkey - nice before school starts on Tuesday. We're watching my friend CeCe's kids now so they could go out on a date - I practically made them go - they are the kind of friends that would give you the shirt off their backs - literally - so I had to do the sly, "What are you doing Friday night?" When she said nothing - I said "let me watch your kids!!! Go out with your man!!!" Dave was the little league coach - for the "other team" so he got a nice GC for a restaurant in town - so a nice night for them, free dinner & free babysitting - gotta love those! Of course they won't take advantage though and they'll come back early - I told them to go to the movies - the probably won't - ha ha

We also have Judson here too (Linda's #4) and we had Katie Rose here for Tyler - I love having all the friends over - at the end of the night if we forget to have the kids help clean up I tend to second guess myself - but I really don't mind it - I think we didn't have family friends like that growing up - but I did get my cousins - and when I got older in 8th grade + we started spending weekends with friend's families or vacations and it was fun. I want my kids to know I love their friends too and they are always welcome.....

Have a great weekend - I'm just looking forward to relaxing with the family....

A whole lot of nothing

I was in the middle of enjoying my new book (I've read all in the series - love it) - and my house cleaner (that sounds really bad - but the caveat is that I still am crutches and cannot do enough on my own) called - my regular day is Thursday but she had a medical change and needed to come today - in 30 mins....this is a new cleaner since getting hurt so I'm still testing her out - she's very good but it's always a process getting to know someone and having them in your house. So if any of you have a cleaner you know what it takes to "clean for the cleaners", but I'm happy to report - the kids and I must have been keeping up because I just had to put away some clean clothes and dishes, and go through my 2 new counter "piles" most of which was all the extra paper from school registration and so I got to toss most of it.

I have a horrible habit of putting things on my counter by the phone - I suppose that is what it is there for, but I have a couple friends - who never, and I mean NEVER have even 1 piece of paper on their counters - I also secretly think they do not cook - one of them always BBQ's so her husband will do it - and then her kitchen is never dirty. I'm pretty sure my house isn't a sty, but it isn't Model-home-esque every moment of the day either. I do try to have no more than 2 piles on the counter to go through if I can help it (I just move it to a different room LOL)

Well not much else going on - no shopping, no school, just playing at friends - nice - and working at ClubSport 1-2 hours a day - not so nice. It would be nice to have potty training finished - where is the potty training school Christina!!?? Sign me up! But it will be nice to have a regular schedule very soon.

What Time is It?

Well I've been trying to post a few new pictures, but either the battery is dead or charging, or I cannot find the cord - today I cannot find the cord, so instead of waiting for ANOTHER day to go by.....here I am!!!

It has been pretty busy around here. Mike came home on Friday thankfully from Singapore and then we proceeded have a High School Musical 2 party with Tyler's girlfriends. It was really cute - one of the girl's had brought her twin brother and asked if he could stay so it was cute - 11 girls, and Joey. Luckily my 2 boys went to the neighbors and they had a big sleepover and had a Star Wars Fest!
Last Thursday & Friday was also middle school registration - it's always so fun to see what teachers they have - the kids were all very excited. I worked the registration Friday AM and it made me tired the rest of the day!

Saturday we had a water day at the WaterSlides & lake for Scouts - it was a beautiful day - I think it had to be in the mid to low 80's so it was perfect! Later Mike & I went on a date to see the Bourne Ultimatum - watching that movie was like riding a rollercoaster! It made me so dizzy!

Sunday was a nice day - I made it through the whole block at church for the first time the whole summer. My leg is quite attractive in my brace (I have a picture!!) We've had a ton of new people move into our ward this summer I don't know all the faces right now - which is hard when you are the one conducting in RS - you hate to miss a visitor or call on someone that isn't!

I've felt like I've been lacking spiritually - which makes sense because I haven't been to church - but I have been having the kids read the BofM and have kept up on prayers, but taking the Sacrament and hearing the lessons and talks really does boost your spirituality. This week's RS lesson was Ch. 6 in SWK - about Scriptures - something I have to do more of on a personal level - being a convert I've read the bible a couple times through, but I cannot say the same of the BofM, I've probably read the whole thing but not straight through, just in pieces or differing times, when you've been GD teacher 2X you are bound to get a thorough reading of most of it, but not cover to cover unless you taught that 4th year. If you have ever been GD teacher you know what I'm talking about . Unfortunately the first time I was that teacher I was a new convert - nice calling for a newbie (NOT!) but good thing I had a decent enough grasp on the bible so I could fudge my way through. Okay, now I'm rambling - but the point to this is - I need to read my scriptures myself every day and really study them.

My headaches have gotten better - I'm trying to keep better track of them on a monthly calendar - to see if I have any patterns, I was keeping a log, but I'm visual so I'm hoping this will help. My hip and leg are still attached, but I cannot walk properly or without the aid of the crutch. I hobble around the house without it but that is about it. I'm going to PT 2x a week which helps - it's just a waiting game.

I'm working again at ClubSport - just 1-2 hours a day - actually I'm getting "laid off" to my delight - they want one full-time person for the job instead of me & my job share - which makes sense of course for continuity - but neither one of us wanted full time - so it is a blessing - I was really getting stressed thinking of how I was going to go back to work 2x week and do PT and preschool 2x, and speech therapy 2x for Lucas in a week - there weren't enough days! So I'm going to transition the new person who will start next week! Then it's back to shopping at the mall with Linda and lunches with the girls (yeah, the life of leisure - ha ha)

Today my little guys got their school schedule too and I worked at their registration too - it's so fun to see all your friends - I have another 9 years at that school - sigh - good times.

This week we have not much planned - just one more week and they'll be off to school - hip hip hooray! Guess I better get those rugrats in bed - 8:30 is going to hit them like a ton of bricks next week! Hope your summer days are ending happily as well!

I've Had ENOUGH!!!

I tend to glaze over my days when I post - but I'm done and at the end of my rope. Here's how I feel today:

1. Drained
2. Frustrated
3. Impatient
4. Sore
5. Overworked
6. Over scheduled
7. Abused
8. Taken advantage of
9. Ignored
10. But yet in the same breath blessed

My kids are driving me crazy - half of it is them physically/mentally and half of it is their schedule.

My #2 child is Dr. Jeckell/Mr. Hyde. He is my most "needy" he always needs my attention, he would actually thrive being an only child. He wants what he wants when he wants it and doesn't agree with anyone. Votes are always 3 to 1 for everything - food, tv shows, games to play, where to go, etc... if you say left, he says right - and he is SO moody and grumpy - it's so draining EVERY DAY when you come downstairs and say "good morning" and 3 are happy and THE ONE is constantly getting up off the wrong side of the bed. But he's polite and sweet when he goes to his friends' houses and the parents all love him - and he can be so so sweet and sharing - the first one to give up his seat, share his food/candy, watch the baby, is okay when we can't do something he wants, he says his prayers and helps us keep the sabbath, loves to read the BofM - so I just don't get it. He pushes my buttons - do I expect too much?

Mike has been gone for 2 weeks straight - which is tough enough when I'm not a cripple so this stint has just been too much for me - at least mentally - I'm so glad he is on his way home. The potty training for Lucas isn't going great - he goes on cue, but only on cue in the toilet - otherwise if you don't catch him - it's time for a new pull-up, and I just don't have the mobility to let him run around butt nake'd or in underwear because I can't bend well for clean up.

#3 is testing my limits - he is my child that is too smart for his own good and he doesn't listen to me - you can tell he is brilliant because HE CANNOT CLEAN UP after himself - so he better become a bazillionaire so he can hire someone to wipe his ...nose - ha ha He can make his bed beautifully but cannot pick up his socks, or his plates - that one burns me the most!

#1 has actually been very helpful - it's more of her crazy schedule that is just beginning that is driving me batty. I feel like I'm alienating my friends because I'm making them carpool with me :) - she has dance 3 X week and we go back and forth all the time.

To top it off - I'm getting my mystery headaches or rather "episodes" back - I had to see a neurologist because I have these weird head spasms, I have vertigo and my neck hurts - my MRI says my brain is "perfect" but obviously something is amiss - but when I was working out it was better - but now that my best friend is a crutch and a brace - I'm not getting much cardio - I need the pheromones! I'm even trying to reduce my 1/day can of my beloved Diet Coke to see if it will help.

But I do have to count my blessing - we have so very much and we have good health - I have a husband that loves me and kids I truly wouldn't trade in for the world so I have to learn to work through the rough spots but sometimes I have enough!

Sorry for the moan and groan session but thanks for reading - your blogs help me through the day - School starts in another 13 days? But what busy days we have coming up!

Pachelbel Bedtime

So funny - my friend Michelle sent this to me... I also liked his bumblebee one....

Spoiled Bumblebee

TAGGED!

Thanks Fisher! I hope it ends up being interesting enough to read!

4 JOBS I HAVE HAD

1. Wells Fargo Bank - Teller during college then HR Consultant at WFB after :)
2. Receptionist at SJSU - sat at my desk during the Loma Prieta EQ and had paper flying at me everywhere!
3. Waitress at Nijo Castle (like Benihana's) made $175/night on weekends - paid for college!
4. Executive Management Coach & Trainer - my real job


4 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

1. Union City, CA
2. San Jose, CA
3. Fremont, CA
4. Ptown, CA (okay, so all within 25 miles but I love it here!)

4 FAVORITE SHOWS

1. L&O (Original Still!! & CI)
2. SYTYCD
2. Closer
3. Lost

4 FAVORITE FOODS

1. Soul Food (for me it would be Chinese)
2. Italian - Osso Bucco
3. Grilled veggies
4. Popcorn!

4. FAVORITE WEBSITES

1. Blog sites
2. ITunes
3. Yahoo! Groups
4. Shopping sites

4 PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE (with my man)

1. Italy
2. Singapore
3. Paris
4. Hawaii

Okay girls, this was much harder than I thought it would be - hopefully you woke up to read the end!

Busy!

I am so tired! It's been a busy week - here's a recap

Tuesday - started Dance - yikes! Tyler is dancing something like 8 hours a week this year We went and bought new shoes for school - boy those can just add up - and boys and shoes - Chandler's had holes in his and the soles were peeling away! We even managed to go to the $1 store - all four kids and me on crutches - the kids were terrific - they strapped Lucas in the stroller and took turns pushing him and helped take the cart too. In the afternoon the boys next door came over to play to keep my kids entertained!

My next door neighbor set up a block party for the America's Night Out thing and registered our group so the police would come over and give balloons and hats and balls to all the kids - it was super fun - we had at least 8-9 houses/families attend. It was a blast because we have lots of young kids!



Wednesday - Physical Therapy - which was tough because after the block party I slipped coming out of the car and hurt my bad knee! Soccer - Ian is going to be on a good team - our freind Larry is his coach, but they pretty much still play scatterball where all the little boys run around together in a giant swarm! Then more dance. Louise and Sophia came out for the day too - I feld bad because I had a ton of driving that day with soccer & dance - but we had fun and we even went to Michael's to get more wire to make necklaces with all the beautiful Venetian Beads I got in Italy :)

Thursday - More school shopping - that French Store - Target , I got an electric cart this time! The kids once again were great. More Dance again for Miss Tyler - and the boys got to go to the neighbor's this time - a nice swap. Later we went to Linda's for dinner - the kids love playing together - Linda & I went to Kohl's as she wanted to see the specials - of course I spent 3X as much as she did! Thanks Linda! Ha ha

Friday - Went to the Dr's. They FINALLY decided I was right about my knee. I have a significant tear in my Medial collateral ligament (the ligament on the right side of the knee cap that keeps it in place) - the good news is it can repair itself with time and I won't need surgery. Or at least so far! They gave me a beautiful new accessory - a knee brace - I'll take a picture next time. Some of the girls in Linda's ward were going to movies so I got a sitter and joined them - we went to see No Reservations - Mike wouldn't have wanted to see it anyway :) It was my first real movie of the whole summer!

Today was my Stamp Camp - a bunch of us get together and put on a camp - I took a few pictures of a few other samples I really liked too. It was crazy because some of my babysitting fell through - luckily I have such great friends, Judy, CeCe & Linda all helped me out with my kiddos and Tyler's friend Katie Rose also came to stay the weekend to help us out. Well I'm pooped. I'm hoping to get the kids to the last 2 hours of church tomorrow, but it will definitely be a low key day....

San Diego

Well I'm back - Vacations are always nice but it is so nice to come home. Our trip was very fun - we went early and we were able to take our time driving down. We stopped in Santa Clarita the first night and drove into Hollywood the next day.

We got to go to the American Girl store - figured we should do it before Tyler gets too old! It was very fun. We went into San Diego the next day and stayed at the Hyatt. It was really nice to hang out in hotels and swim in pools and not have to do the cleaning!

Friday we also visited with Jon & Christina - it was so fun to see all the kids! It's funny to measure time by kids - you know - 2 kids ago we did this, we moved here before the other 3 kids, it's so easy to measure that way! Christina & Jon look the same and their house looks terrific - the best part - I got to ride in the Lift!

The rest of our trip is a typical trip - The Zoo (which I got to stay home from), Sea World (Shamu, Shamu - and if you've been there lately - you know the mantra), Legoland and of course the Beach. It was great to just sit on the sand and watch the waves. We met my parents and one brother the first day. Sunday in the condo my mom's brothers and famlies came to spend the day with us. At the end of the week my brother & his wife came to join us too. It was crowded but certainly very fun.

Thanks to Donna because I had some fun "Good Mail" waiting for me! I love it!

My leg is still gimpy - still have the crutches but I had another MRI today and I'm still doing PT. Lucas' potty training is going slowly but it's goin' - no leaks on the carpet, but I have to bring him to the toilet, I have to figure out how to get him to do it on his own!!!! School starts in 3 weeks - not sure if I'm ready! With my injury I feel bad for the kids - did we do enough for the summer??

Vacation Time

Sunny San Diego is so fun - we got to visit with Christina and her family last Friday and it was very fun to see them - the girls have all gotten so big! I have pictures but they'll have to wait until we return.

My whole family is here, my parents, brother & sister in law and other bachelor brother - lucky or not we're the only ones with kids so the adults outnumber the kids this time. We've had a bunch of fun going to the beach - I've been hobblin' along with my crutches - I got a real fashionable wheelchair (it needed a bell and tassels on the handle bars to complete the picture) for LegoLand - (I stayed home from the Zoo - too many hills & valleys) so I drove to my friend Tami's house - it was nice to go by myself - she moved down here in January - her house is gorgeous! She was my stampin' buddy so it's a bummer she's way down here now.

It's been a nice vacation so far but it will be nice to go back and catch up on what you are all doing. Mike brought his computer so I had a chance to sneak a peek! Hope all is well.....