Surprises

Both of my kids surprise me in different ways everyday. I wish that I could remember each one as I sit to type. James seems to be growing up right in front of my eyes. He says the darndest things. Sometimes he makes me wonder if he's truly smarter than he wants us all to believe. Sometimes he thinks things out and re-thinks things. Other times he can't slow his brain down fast enough to make a good choice.

Today, I am grateful that he made good enough choices all day to come home with a green day. Smiles in every category. I am so proud of the boy.

Emma has goals. They are not always evident, but she does have goals. I know she wants to do well in school. She has drive like her mother had in college. She wants to get things done so she does not have to worry about them later. What I love about her is that she also knows when to stop working and give it another day.

Today, I am grateful that she had drive and ambition. I hope she has it in her to get through the next couple of months....not in her education, but her self-esteem. Doc told us that she must wear her glasses all the time. They are not just for far away anymore.

I love those little boogers.

For someone as smart as you are, you sure are dumb.

My Grandpa used to say that all the time. My memory is that he said it to my brother the most. I remember him being very smart, but not always using his common sense. Things are different now. Or are they?

Well, since I have "little Joe" living in my house, things are not that different. My son is smart. Ok sneaky is more like it. He knows right from wrong, but sometimes can't process the difference in time to make the right decision. (This is not the part that I think is like Joe...smarts was the commonality.)

One such incident: He knows the bad words. (I thank Kevin for this.) He knows that he should not use them. However, when he got mad at school the other day he forgot another rule. S*P*E*L*L*I*N*G it is just as bad. And who in the world taught my boy how to spell the "F" word???!!!

ohMAword.

Tonight he is having a hard time eating his hamburger bun. Why he did not want it with his sandwich, I don't know. Told me he would eat it by itself later. Later turned out to be yucky. Toast it and add butter. Still yucky.

Eventually, I made a deal. Eat the parts with cheese. Little sneaker was taking the cheese off to avoid eating the whole thing. Oh Boy! He's gonna be a tough one to raise.

God Bless the Children.

Not that exciting

Thanksgiving was nice. I spent time with Dad and Lois. It is always nice to be able to relax with people we love.

It does not look like I will get that exciting night out without the kids after all. I had plans as of last weekend with a man that I'd been seeing. Now he claims that he does not have the time for a "real relationship". Ok. Plans canceled for tonight. Got feelers out, but no responses so far.

Dating sucks. I am just not into the "game." Apparently, honesty is a part of the game that I just can't play right. I use the honesty card, but others seem to be scared of it. So, I've come to the realization that I just might be alone for awhile.

As much as I would like to say that I am ok with that. I'm really not. I miss a man's touch. I miss having someone to share special times with. I miss having company. Adult company. I miss having a best friend.

Things still are proceeding like normal around here. Whatever normal is. For me that means: my yard is still a mess, the original landscaper took off without finishing the work and without paying me back. Normal also means that I work my ass off as MOM 12 days in a row to have a short 2 day reprieve to spend most of that time either working out of the house or working on the house. Something always needs to be done around here. And lastly, Normal means that dating still sucks.

I am getting excited about Christmas. I might be able to fart out a few extra dollars to buy my kids a decent Christmas this year. Thank you, God for a low personal property tax bill and no other debt. I should put my list together, but that has not happened. I have no idea what to do for the parentals. I did start on the kids today.

I am not however, looking forward to Thanksgiving. My children will not be with me at all that day. They will be picked up by their father at 9am and won't return until Saturday mid-morning. I'm not sure if it is Thanksgiving that I will be sad about or Friday. We usually spend all day Black Friday baking cookies together. They won't be here. *pouty face*

The benefit is that I will get an exciting Friday night without the kids. This only happens in the summertime. Now, what to do?

Until then.....Happy Thanksgiving.

Back Up and Running....for now

The divorce has been finalized for a long time. I've been too busy to get back to this. But I am here now.

Everyone seems to be adjusting well to Mom and Dad living in two different homes. The kids miss their Dad, but know it is best this way. More proof of that this past summer. We are all stronger because of it.

We are finished with the 1st quarter of third grade for Emma and first grade for James. I have a hard time believing that they are as old as they are already. OhMAword.

James is getting a grip on the reading thing. There won't be a single secret left anymore. He clearly uses as much patience as he can when the day is almost over and I am asking him to read with me. He is much smarter than he thinks he is. He takes after his mom; MATH! He is good at it. From nowhere we are discussing evens, odds and division.

Looking for first aid items, he says, "Mom where is it located?" Love it!

Emma is doing well, as usual. She did not make it into the Quest program, but is doing well. Third grade is going to be the year she realizes that she actually has to work to do well. I thought it wouldn't happen until middle school, but that's ok. She's my reader. We've been reading the Bible together nightly. Love it!

I am doing well. Leaning on God for a lot lately. My friends are great too. I have a job that I love and work with wonderful people. My favorite activity is walking. I manage, on a good day, to walk about 5 miles. Weekends without the kids are when I get my LONG walks in. My goal is to do a 1/2 marathon in the spring. I would like to run some of it and walk some of it. Mostly, I'd like to beat my last time of 3:58:59.

2010 update....

This blog will be back up and running soon. I am under advisement to wait until the divorce is over. That should be finalized this week or early next.

Jenny