I voted....did You?!

 Well yesterday was election day here in 

I hope all of you who were eligble to vote, did so!! I made it to the poll late last nite but at least I got there!

I had such a busy day yesterday! The housekeeper didn't show so I stayed late to do her job and then we had a staff meeting that made me even later. I finally got home at 4:30 and whipped up some macaroni with cream of chicken and broccoli soup on it, some yummy cheesy garlic bread on a french loaf, and a salad to go with it. Then we were out the door by 5:30 to go to Cody's soccer game. He got another goal!! Way to go Cody!!

Mike had stopped there to pick up Colin and drop him at his practice, so after the game we went through town to get some milk and bread and then picked Colin up from his practice. Got home around 8:30 and then tried to talk Mike into coming with me to vote, but to no avail, so off I went by myself. Thank goodness the polling booths were open till 9:30 because I had to go way out in the boonies to vote! It just happened to be the exact same place where we had just spent Sunday afternoon watching Cody practice before we went to his soccer BBQ, only Mike had taken all the back roads to get there. I did manage to find it though, lol!!

Finally home again and Colin was just dishing up pie and I sat down and Hannah served me mine. From there I proceeded to fall asleep on the couch, lol!!

It turns out my vote didn't reallly make a difference at all anyway, as my party didn't make it in here locally or federally. BUT all of our votes combined make up the team of people who will hopefully make this world a better place for my children and their children to come!

The Soccer Run Around, lol!

 I had to work late because the

housekeeper didn't show and then we had a staff meeting that

made me even later. I finally got home at 4:30 and whipped up some

macaroni with cream of chicken and broccoli soup on it, some yummy

cheesy garlic bread on a french loaf, and a salad to go with it.

Then we were out the door by 5:30 to go to Cody's soccer game.

He got another goal!! Way to go Cody!

 

Mike had stopped there to pick up Colin and drop him at

his practice so after the game, we went through town to get some

milk and bread and then picked Colin up from his practice.

Got home around 8:30 and then tried to talk Mike into coming with

me to vote (to no avail!!) so off I went by myself. Thank goodness the polling booths were open till 9:30 because I had to go way out

in the boonies to vote!! And it just happened to be the exact

same place where we had just spent Sunday afternoon watching

Cody practice before we went to his soccer BBQ, only Mike had taken

all the back roads to get there. I managed to find it though, lol!!

 

Finally home again and Colin was just dishing out some pie and I

sat down and Hannah served me mine From there I proceeded

to fall asleep on the couch, lol!!

 

I'm glad I have a few days off now. I've been having computer

withdrawls with mom being here and then no time yesterday, lol!!

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

~Joni~

Birthday Weekend

 What are your plans for the weekend??

My mom is coming to visit today and will be staying for the

weekend to celebrate Hannah's birthday! My sister will be coming up

also with her children tomorrow.

This morning the kids and I are off to the city to exchange a birthday

gift, pick up a free birthday cake Hannah's other gramma won on

the radio, and then lunch of McDonald's (free also with coupons I won

on the radio, lol) at the park on the way home.

I may not be around much with mom here and all, though I usually can

catch a few minutes here while she falls asleep in the chair, lol!! Her and I are like two peas in a pod when it comes to that!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!

Mattie Stepanek does :(

 Has anyone heard of him? Miss Hepburn, I bet you have for sure, with your love of poetry?

 

This young man, who was only 13, has already lost 3 siblings to the same disease, Muscular Dystrophy, that took his life yesterday

 

You can read the article HERE.

 

In my whole life, I will never be as accomplished and well-spoken as this young poet who could inspire everyone who heard him spoke. At such a young age, he could speak so eloquently, that you were mesmerized by the insight he had into life.

 

The world is indeed a better place for having had him even for the briefest of times, and I for one mourn the loss of such a wonderful, loving human being who's words will forever live on to inspire us all.

 

I just wanted to share one of the verses I picked out of the many in one of his books that I own.(And boy was it hard to choose just one!)

 

I Could...If They Would

 

If they would find a cure when I'm a kid...

I could ride a bike and sail on rollerblades, and

I could go on really long nature hikes.

If they would find a cure when I'm a teenager...

I could earn my license and drive a car, and

I could dance every dance at my senior prom.

If they would find a cure when I'm a young adult...

I could travel around the world and teach peace, and

I could marry and have children of my own.

If they would find a cure when I'm grown old...

I could visit exotic places and appreciate culture and

I could proudly share pictures of my grandchildren.

If they would find a cure when I'm alive...

I could live each day without pain and machines, and

I could celebrate the biggest thank you of life ever.

If they would find a cure when I'm buried into Heaven,

I could still celbrate with my brothers and sister there, and

I could still be happy knowing that I was part of the effort.

 

By Mattie Stepanek~June 2000

My Meltdown, lol!

 Yesterday we had to pick up a whole cow we had butchered at the local meat cutters, and once we got it home and went to put it in the deep freeze we found out it wasn't working!! Yikes!!!

 

So it's 4:15 when we load it into the van and let me tell you that was 500 lbs of beef, lol, ALOT!! So when we discovered the freezer down at the garage wasn't working, we brought it all home and tried to cram it in our small deep freeze here, one of those little square ones. I had just bought a bunch of those McCain cream pies and cakes that were on sale and a huge tub of vanilla ice cream for Hannah's b'day and there wasn't a whole lot of room. So we took it all out of that freezer and now it's full of hamburger and pre-made patties. A full freezer full, lol!!

 

Cody crammed what he could of the pies and stuff into our refrigerator freezer while I phoned around to the neighbours to see who had some room for us, lol!! We now have meat in 3 of our neighbours freezers as well! Thank goodness for good neighbours!!

 

So today we will be cooking a lot of frozen things we just didn't have room for, lol, like mini pizzas, and pogos, and we'll be having chocolate cream pie for supper!!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

 She had a most wonderful day I tell ya, lol!!

 

We spent the morning with Colton at the park picnicking with his class, it was potluck and there was plenty of food to go around, She had a great time playing with her brother and his friends. We came home and she had a nap then we BBQ's hotdogs for supper (her choice) and were off to the soccer game, where she played with a little boy who is there all the time, and then we were off to Colin's practice where she played in the park with two little girls who are usually there.

 

Then finally at about 8:15 we were off to the store where she picked out her own cake and icecream and we came home and ate it after she opened her gifts. She put on her new little Hello Kitty slippers and a short outfit she got and promptly fell asleep on the couch, lol!! She was tuckered out and so was I, I didn't last much longer than her and fell asleep in the chair! Today she has her other outfit on and already has her little lip gloss necklace half gone, lol, she's been applying it to her dollies!! We gave her a little family park play set yesterday morning when she got up and now she is looking forward to when gramma and her aunt come this weekend with more gifts, lol!

Happy Father's Day

 Well I gave my dad a call when I got home from work this afternoon and he wasn't home!!lol

 

My step-mom informed me that he was gone 'with the boys' to the Nextel car race in Michigan! He managed to get free passes to camp there and everything and took along a couple of friends. I am soooo happy for him!! He is an ex stock car driver from wayyyyy back, lol, I used to love sitting in the bleachers on Saturday nites and watch him race around the track in his car...of course it was always better when he was driving around doing his lap with the checkered flag What a great way for him to spend Father's Day!! So I will give him a call again tomorrow nite to see how the race went. I'm pretty sure he had a very Happy Father's Day!!

 

The kids got Mike breakfast in bed. Colin-13-did the coffee and eggs, Colton-7-did the toast with peanut butter and brown sugar and nutella spreadlol, and Hannah-3- carried the card!!

Hannah's 2nd Soccer Game

 Just thought I'd update you all on Hannah's second soccer game!!lol

We had been coaching her all week that what she needed to do was chase the ball and kick it down the field. Well this time the coach put her in net and you're already guessing what happened aren't you???

She was alright for a bit when the kids were at the far end with the ball and she was just watching the crowd and doing a little dance by herself in the net, lol. Then the ball came towards her and thank goodness she managed to notice at least, lol!! Well she threw the ball back out into play like she was supposed to, but once all the kids started chasing it so did she!!LMAO!! It was just too cute!!

Once they all got to the other end we gave the coach notice that he was missing a goalie, lol, and he put another kid in instead!lol

I'm lovin' it!!

Playing Hookey

 GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!

 

What are your plans for the weekend?

Anything special planned for dad??

 

I am playing hookey today. Cody has his last exam today and needs

a ride home this morning from the school so that was a good excuse

as any to 'skip', lol!! So I've been feeling a little guilty and thought

I better get my butt in gear and get something done at least, lol!!

So I've had a productive morning so far.

 

With Father's Day approaching fast I thought I had best take

the kids into town tonite so they can get Mike something (even though

he didn't extend the same courtesy to me on Mother's Day, but am I bitter about it???....... Heck Yes!!!LMAO!!) I know the kids enjoy giving gifts, and Colton has already given him the things he made at school, he just couldn't wait, lol!!

 

I am working this weekend, so won't be around a whole lot.

I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families.

More Soccer :)

 I was very lucky to have this week off, and it's not even holidays.

Far from a holiday really, lol, I have been running and will be all week to pick up Cody from school after exams every morning, and then back and forth to soccer games in the evening. Thursday

and Friday are a nite off though, thank goodness, no games or practices which means we can eat our supper and actually sit and enjoy it without gobbling it down, lol!

 

Hannah had her second game last nite and in his infinite wisdom the coach put her in goal, but I think he forgot to tell her what she was supposed to do therelol!! She stood for awhile and swung her arms around in the air and then as the ball came closer she finally started paying attention to the game and while she didn't let the goal in, once she threw in back into the field, off she went right along with everyone else chasing the ball, LOL!! We had been coaching her all week long that she needed to chase the ball and kick the ball into the other net and I guess we got through to her!!lol I have such fun watching the game Cody had a game last nite too, and they both won. It was picture nite too so the games were held up a little and we got home about 9.

 

Well Hannah and I are off right now to pick up Cody again.

Be Careful What You Wish For

 I'll try to make a long story short, lol! Our babysitter of the last 6 years has sold her home and was moving to a new place on an old dead end dirt road. It's out of the way now for me on my way to work and would probably take and extra 15 minutes in the morning to drop Hannah there. I have been dreading this move because of that extra time and also the fact that the road in the winter time would be atrocious. The wind here in the winter time creates havoc on the roads with blowing and drifting snow and I was really dreading the drive.

Anyway, I stopped at the sitters the other day and she informed me that she would no longer be able to care for Hannah because someone had reported her for having more than the alloted 5 children per adult. Alot of the children she cared for were only there an hour or so in the morning then caught the bus. Alot of the kids were only there part-time as Hannah was, 2 days a week. She had a strict routine, the kids loved it there and they all grew up attending the same school and therefore already had lots of friends their first day in kindergarten. She fed them breakfast and lunch all for a very nominal fee. I dropped Hannah and her brother Colton off there when he used to go, knowing that they were safe and sound and loved and cared for.

I suppose now I won't have to worry about the long drive down the road, especially in the winter, but whatever will I do now for a caregiver for my precious child?? Sharon is the only sitter she has known and how could I ever begin to replace all that we had there? My sense of peace knowing that at least if I wasn't able to be home to care for my child that I knew she was being well cared for there. Her sense of belonging there with all the kids she has grown up with for the past 3 years. I am terribly depressed just thinking about the whole process of finding a new caregiver and more than that I think I'm scared that the one I find won't be able to measure up

Happy Anniversary

 I'm not sure if we are even doing anything tonite thoughMike wants to go out for dinner but right now we need to be saving for a new van and we've got a hole in the living room ceiling that needs to be fixed pronto (probably cost about $120 for the drywall to redo the whole ceiling) and I just now that no matter how good of a time I have at dinner or how delicious it is, that once I am home again to reality, I will be regretting having spent that much money foolishly!!

 

I will definitely let you all know what happens.

Actually Mike and I ended up doing nothing really, except for retiring early He had brought me home a huge bouquet of beautiful flowers though, they were gorgeous!He didn't even get home from work till the boys and I were finished supper!

Hannah's 1st Soccer Game

 If anyone here is feeling down and needs a lift and a little look at the innocence in life, then I would highly suggest going to watch the little ones (3-4 y/o) play soccer!!lol

 

Hannah's team had their first game finally the other nite and it was just too cute!! She was really looking forward to it and I thought she of course would know the basics because she plays in the front yard with her brothers all the time, but I came to find out things can be different when confronted with all those potential little friends on the field

 

At one point the ball was set into play and of course everyone swarms it like a little bunch of bees, all except Hannah and another little girl that is, lol!! They just stood there at the line and were chatting with each other and Hannah was showing her some new move she learned on one of her t.v. shows (something resembling a jumping jack, lol) and the other little girl was trying it out for herself!! Way too funny!! One little boy was so happy to get a goal until he found out he scored on his own net, lol, and then the poor guy started to cry. Another time it was switch off time and while the other little players were exiting the field to give the others a chance to come on, there was little Hannah way over on the other side of the field swinging her arms around and so engrossed in watching a little guy who was playing on a blanket on the sidelines, lol!!

 

I wish so bad that I would have had a video camera, the whole game was just way too cute and I'd dare anyone to go and not come back home smiling!!

Freakin' AOL!

Decided to upgrade to a newer version finally of AOL and I've been the last two hours trying to get it to work right! Because we are on dial-up I had to hang up with the telephone operator who was helping me and try out their 'fix' only to find it didn't work and have to call back again to see why it still wasn't working!!

 

I finally gave up and will try again tomorrow

Hop, Skip, Jump

It has turned out to be a fabulously gorgeous day here!!

The kids came home from school at lunchtime today, they only

had a half day, so we had BBQ'd hotdogs out on the patio.

Then they tried their hand at practising for the track and field meet tomorrow. Anyone remember trying to do the long jump in school, with a hop, skip and jump?? Yuck!! It's hard and it was so

comical to watch Colton and Hannah try to do it with the big boys

I actually got some weeds pulled out of one of the gardens and Colin went and dumped them for me. Kinda nice to have helpers around!!

 

It's back to work tomorrow for me and I've got a long stretch coming up and have to work the next 3 weekends in a row. That stinks!!lol I miss being able to pop in here whenever I want during the day. We've got another soccer game tonite but I'll be back later in the evening before I go to bed.