Thinking Spring

Well, I'm trying to think spring as we anticipate a storm on Wednesday that could bring the largest snowfall we've had all winter. The current map shows us in the 9-12" area. All I can say is I hope it starts well before morning so I don't even have to leave the house Wednesday morning. I'm sure JD's already planning for a snow day. LOL

On to thoughts of warmer weather, spending time outdoors and camping...

Since the pay periods work out that there are three this month, I want to get some camping weekends booked. I know I shouldn't wait, especially for holiday weekends (which include Halloween believe it or not...if you camp, you know this), but I kind of had to wait for the extra money. Anyway, just booked 2 weekends in Gettysburg Campgound, one of our annual stops. It's about an hour away and they have mini golf, which JD loves.  We've already got our summer trip to Ocean City, with the Magees, booked and now we need to find a few others. Hoping to still find something for Memorial Day weekend somewhere not to far away. LOL A girl can dream, can't she?

Spent some time looking at the catalog that came from Gardeners  Supply Company today. Need to make some decision about what to plant this year. I think we get a little confident in our plans every year and unfortunatley things go to waste. I hate to even say that, but it's true. We get home, there are things to do and checking the garden isn't on top of the list. Need to make that a prority is we're going to try it again this year.

I also hear that it's going to be like 50 degrees this weekend and nice. Goodbye snow from Wednesday...hello mud pit. Anyway, if that's the case, my car really needs to be cleaned inside, especially after Friday night. On the way to the community college to see Wreck It Ralph (great movie BTW), JD ate his Subway sandwich and then asked if he could eat the 100 fruit loops he had on a plastic cord from school. They were practicing counting that day I guess. Well, if you can image the way a beaver eats...wood chips flying everywhere...you have a good idea of what my back seat look like. Honestly, I have no idea how he does it, but the back seat and floor loaded with fruit loop pieces. Pieces from 100 fruit loops to be exact. So seriously, I hope the weather's nice so I can clean. However, if I were to get stuck in the snow on Wednesday, at least I'd have something to eat. ROFL

JD Gem - Febuary 20th

Sorry I'm just posting this now. I put it on Facebook, but want to keep track of these here. This is a good one...my dad laughed for days thinking about this one.

Conversation with JD while drying his hair...he asks me what my shirt says:
 
Me: It says Salisbury State University, where I went to college.
JD: And where I can go too.
Me: Well, yeah. You can go anywhere if you get good grades.
JD: I don't want any more grades.
Me: Well grades tell you how well you're doing in school. If you get good grades, you can go to a good college, you know, so you can be an engineer.
JD: Or in a caboose.
 
And that folks is why I love him so much! LOL

Christmas...in pictures

Finally got the pictures downloaded from the camera and ready to post. Hope you enjoy!

    

 

 At Washington Crossing State Park (NJ side) on Christmas day to watch the reinactment of Washington Crossing the Deleware River. It was really cold!

Reece, my little buddy and Pop-Pop watching TV.

Look at that big silly grin!



JD Gem...Superbowl Sunday

When the game was over, which was after 10, and everyone went home, JD looks at me and says "Mommy, you have purple on your eye." I thought about it for a minute...did I put purple eyeliner or shadow on; I mean the Ravens were playing and that is their color. Nope, pretty sure I didn't. So I asked him where on my eye and he points to the circle under it and says "right here". No buddy, not makeup...mommy's just tired...all the time. LOL

Year in Review

I knew I had done this once before, just needed to look back for it. A great way to sum up what happened this year, include a few bits of info, and guess at 2013 might bring. Yeah, I also realize it February already...time flies, right?! So, here we go…

What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?
After years of watching the commercials, I tried the Insanity Workout. Yikes! It was a great workout, but not really the kind that works for me.

Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Once again I’m going to guess that it was eating better, exercising and losing weight. It was mostly kept, just not the losing weight part. This year it’s to be a better mom, wife, friend, person. Oh, I have so much faith in myself. LOL

What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?
A refinanced mortgage.

What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 29^th…our first trip to the ER with JD when he gashed his head open in the corner of the half wall in the kitchen.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting out of bed at 4:15 am for probably 80% of the year to get in my workouts.

What was your biggest failure?
Not losing the 8 lbs I gained back the year before. L

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ear infection (Nov 29)…sinus inflammation (Dec 21), then a stupid cold (Dec 31) and finally the flu (Jan 21). Everyone is sick and it’s hard to kick it. JD had a little cold thing right after school started, but he and Reece have been good.

What was the best thing you bought?
Our new smaller coffee table…so much more space in the living room. Of course we did get a truck that makes towing the trailer a breeze…that was a pretty good buy. LOL

Whose behavior merited celebration?JD, for adjusting to getting up for daycare before school in the morning and full-day kindergarten. It was a huge transition for him, but he’s doing well.

My parents, both in their 80’s, who spent 13 days without power after Hurricane Sandy hit NJ this year. Luckily they have a generator and my brother was able to stop by their house to start it in the morning to power the thermostat for heat and run the hot water heater and fridge and a few lights. Tried to get them to come visit us while it was out, but they wanted to stay and they never complained.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Let’s see…most people on reality TV and politicians during this election.

Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and bills

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
We spent a week at a great campground in Ocean City, MD with some friends of ours. It was so much fun; we’re doing it again this year.

What song will always remind you of 2012?
LOL…well I’d have to say Gangnam Style by Psy. It’s was only playing somewhere every 5 seconds.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
happier or sadder? I guess about the same…if I had to choose, I’d say happier. It wasn’t a bad year.
thinner or fatter? Hhhmmm…so much for my plan from last year…still have to say fatter.

richer or poorer? Well, honestly I feel a little poorer right now, since we’re still catching up from Reece being out of work from mid-Sept until the week before Christmas. Hoping that will change. Of course we’re always rich in everything else…family, friends, having the things we need.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spending time with my parents. They are both in their 80’s and mom’s having some memory issues and dad’s fallen several times this year. Leaving at Christmas was a little hard this year, because it really hit me that I don’t know how many more Christmases there will be with them. I’d like to think lots, but in reality, I just don’t know and I have to face that.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying (money, my weight, what others think of what I do or say)

How did you spend Christmas?
We spent it in NJ with my family again this year. JD had a bowling date with his godmother; we had a wonderful time visiting with Dave and Amy and caught up with some friends I haven’t seen in years. JD had a wonderful time playing with his Pop-pop…they were army guys and rid the world of villans.

What was your favorite TV program?
My favorite is CSI and I love Big Bang Theory.

What was the best book you read?
Some friends that I grew up with in NJ introduced me to the Janet Evanovich series about Stephanie Plum, bounty hunter. Super fun reads!

What was your greatest musical discovery?
My son…he’s really into music and I find him singing and “la, la, la-ing” a lot. Two favs so far are Gangnam Style and Whistle.

What did you want and get?
The last few months, for there to be work for Reece, but I really wanted JD to start kindergarten with no issues and adjust well to his new long day. He did.

What did you want and not get?
To refinance the house…again. Sigh.

What was your favorite film of this year?
Well, technically we didn’t see Skyfall until a few days into the new year, but it did come out in 2012. It was awesome!

What was an unexpected joy this past year?
No-Knead Bread…taking the time to actually re-read the recipe for no-knead bread and then making it. The Best! It takes a lot less time than I initially thought and everyone loves it!

What was an unexpected obstacle?
Time. Just trying to figure out how to fit in being mom to a kindergartener with everything else seemed like such a daunting thing to me. Now there’s getting him up and dressed for school, dropping him at before school care, homework, making lunches for the next day and checking his backpack and keeping up with anything else school related.

Pick three words to describe 2012.
Changes, busy, quick

What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Pinterest!

What was the best way you used your time this past year?
I spent many days getting up at 4:15 am so I could get in my workouts and have the evenings free to spend with JD and Reece.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
To celebrate my 41^st birthday we went to Cancun Cantina with some friends and got a hotel room near there so we wouldn’t have to drive all the way home. The hotel was really nice…brand new.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
To have been able to pay off more bills so we’d have some more play money for trips and things like that.

What kept you sane?
My friends and family…especially JD (even though he takes his part in making my insane)! Oh yeah, some wine didn’t hurt either.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

That I really need to stop comparing myself and my life to others…it never does me any good.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
So you're standing in the middle of the thunder and lightning

I know you're feeling like you just can't win, but you're trying
It's hard to keep on keepin' on, when you're being pushed around
Don't even know which way is up, you just keep spinning down, 'round, down…

Every storm runs, runs out of rain

Just like every dark night turns into day
Every heartache will fade away
Just like every storm runs, runs out of rain
(Gary Allan)

Make 3 predictions for 2013:

I did this last year and just don’t feel like I can predict anything this year. I have no idea what it will bring, but as long as we’re happy, healthy and have the things we need, we’ll be good.

Out with the old, in with the new...Happy 2013!

Another year gone by and boy did it go fast, especially once school started. The end of 2012 wasn't at the top of my good list with Reece out of work from Mid-September until the week before Christmas, but the rest of the year was pretty good. We started by celebrating JD's 5th birthday at Adventure Park; went to visit my family in New Jersey several times; went camping a lot and spent a week at the beach in July; and JD started Kindergarten in the fall. We've got a roof over our heads, food on the table and our families and good friends to share it with.

We had a great Christmas in New Jersey with my family. JD and Pop-Pop (aka, the Lieutenant and the Captain) saved the world from bad guys again. JD's god-mother took him out for the day Sunday...lunch and bowling, which he loved! We got to spend time with Dave and Amy and catch up with my friend Debbie, who I haven't seen in years, and her new husband Adam. At mass on Christmas Eve, JD impressed us all by talking to Fr. Kindon and shaking his hand and he followed along in the hymnal and mass book...it's the first time I didn't need to find a way to entertain him (or listen to him ask "how much longer?" while squirming in his seat). New Year's Eve was spent at home with Carolyn and Dean and our neighbors, Emma, Alex and Connor. Reece and Alex lit off fireworks at midnight and a good time was had by all!

So, I'm not planning to make a resolution this year, cause you know how that goes. I'm gonna get back to healthy eating starting today and if it wasn't for feeling so icky (we've been passing around something for about a month and it's my turn...again...sigh) I would have gotten up at 4:15 this morning to work out. Honestly the way I feel right now, I could go back to bed for the rest of the day and if you know me, you know I'm not one to take naps or stay in bed late. I'm usually by 6:30 - 7 even when I don't have to. I guess my plan is just to be a better mom, wife, and person this coming year!

Anyway, it was back to the regular routine this morning and surprisingly, it went pretty well, although JD really didn't want to get out of bed. I'm just going to assume that tomorrow and Friday will be harder since he'll be tired from being back to a normal day. We're a little over a week out from JD's bowling birthday party, so there are a few things left to do for that. I've already figured out that March is the month with 3 pay periods instead of 2 and plan to book our camping weekends then. Need to start getting any papers not in the tax folder together so we can get those done as soon as we get the chance. I have no idea what 2013 will bring, but I hope it it includes continuous work for Reece, having friends over more often, spending more time with my parents, a visit from the Carter's when they head to VA again, more camping, and health and happiness for all!

First trip to the ER...

It was bound to happen sooner or later and seeing as he's almost 6, we've done pretty well. We had to make our first trip to the ER with JD on November 29th. He and daddy were playing around in the kitchen right before he went up to bed and lost his balance and hit his head, about 1/2 an inch from his right eye, on the corner of the half wall in the kitchen. We figured he'd have a bump and when we looked it was bleeding...then he saw it was bleding and started screaming and crying, which only made it bleed worse. I grabbed a kitchen towel to put over it and Reece ran for the band-aids...I knew however that this would need more than a band-aid. We grabbed his Bobo bear , left the house about 9:25 and tried the urgent care place up the street, but they closed at 9, so it was off to Carroll County Hosptial Center...about a 20-25 minute drive. On the way JD started saying "I'm scared, I don't want stitches...promise I won't get stitches!" I told him I couldn't promise that, but we'd see. Luckily the wait wasn't long and the nurses were really great with him. His eyes got teary a few times and his lip was quivering, but he never cried after we got there. They checked him out to make sure he didn't have a concussion and the PA asked him all kinds of questions, like how many of his stuffed bear did he see; did he have a headache, did he feel like he was going to throw up (no, that was mommy!). Luckily they were able to use dermabond and steri-strips to close it (I told the nurse that he was really scared about getting stitches, so if there was a way to do it without, that would be awesome). On the way home he said he was going to tell his classmates about the ER and then says "That's a pretty fun place." Um, yeah...you got stickers and chocolate pudding, of course it's fun. LOL Can we not go back to the "fun" place anytime soon, thanks.  At least it was not a horrible experience for him.

The steri-strips are still on a little over a week later, but we've been extra careful not to get them wet and we've been keeping a band-aid on it during the day. He missed PE last week since the school nurse suggested that if they were playing field hockey, it might be best to write him a note to be excused. Otherwise it hasn't stopped him, my little tough guy. He even particiapted in crazy hair day at school the day after this happened. Daddy spiked his hair and painted it green. Reece felt really bad, since it happenend while they were playing and was worried JD wouldn't want to horse around with him anymore.

Friday, the day after it happened. This was after he got home from school.

This was Sunday, first time we took the band-aid off. You can see a little bruise too.