Just Me!!

It's official, it's gone, and since it is Non-Judgment Day (or so say Hoda and Kathi Lee) I will share this with you! I've officially lost my desire to cook, read, scrapbook, and sew. Some of these things have been gone for quite sometime, but the joy of cooking is the latest thing to go! Remember you're not judging right? I simply have lost the joy I had in all of these things...scares me a little! I know life has it's hills and valleys, but the joy found in these simple pleasures never return. Last night we watched Crazy, Stupid, Love. It is a hilarious movie, but one that will also make you stop and think about your own life. For those of us that are getting older, it makes you wonder, "have I lost myself?" Easy to do with life, and kids. At this point in my life I know that I don't care, or rather I do, but have no energy to change things. Then my wise coworker posted this on FB today: "Dreams make the difference between living a life, and ...

Woke up early for dinner party Thursday November 23. Ate. Went to work at 7pm. Thursday, November 24th, I worked off at 0730. Ran home. slept two hours, got up, dressed everyone, headed to the in laws for Thanksgiving, ate, ate some more, gossiped with the girls, played "May I?" rushed to Shannon's for the Black Friday Ad Strategy, stayed up till midnight, and then continued to shop till 10 am! =41 hours of no SLEEP (longest I have ever gone)!!!! Mark and Charlie went over to the Slaughter's for some football/play time. Valerie ended up sleeping in till 5pm after we got home. Poor girl was so tired after her first adventures with Black Friday. For the record, when I forget next year, she did great. No complaining, dirty looks, or bad attitude. She was slightly bored with the process but that will change when she decides what she wants to purchase for people. Can't wait till next year....! I enjoy this tradition, no matter how chaotic it is. I lov...

We knew it was coming! Our neighbor asked our permission weeks ago. Today, Frosty the Snowman arrived, perfectly nuzzled between our yard and his. Charlie loves him, and wishes she could sit in his lap. She also fancied his reindeer. Now we better getting moving on our holiday decorations or it will be Christmas with the Kranks all over again.

Who can ask for anything more???

I have this week off so the kids always try and hit me up for play dates, especially Charlie! Her and Ryan requested Tuesday as their play day (Ryan was just trying to get out of nap time). I took them to Goodwill and the Dollar Tree (they are so easy to please at this age). They each got a book, puzzle, and a small apple juice. A man in the store asked me if they were twins...I said nop. He said, "they act like brother and sister." I love that these two cuties love each other so much--makes my heart melt!

The last of our cabin pictures. We did have a blast...and enjoyed every minute of it! We are glad to be home, with all our kids! We missed them. Last night we had a quiet night with the kids. Dinner (homemade nachos), preparations for a week of school, laundry, baths, and grocery shopping completed the night! When H&A dropped off the kids, they informed us of some issues the kids were dealing with...ones that we have been working on since I don't know...FOREVER. In an effort to continue where they left off (instead of taking it too personally, which I started too), I woke up at 1230am and 0430 am to take both Charlie and Ethan to the bathroom. Potty Training! Maybe in a week I will have two kids who are potty trained in the middle of the night. Ethan was sooo easy to get up last night,  which is a HUGE change. They both woke up dry....score one for Arlene! Then this morning I called and made arrangements for my son to have a friend come over after school. Ethan made some c...