Thank You Mom & Dad

Can I just say that I have the best parents in the world. They are always looking out for me and checking in. The call just to chat and they are the best grandparents. My kids actually come home wanting to call Grandma to have a play date. Too cute! They are great sports with it all - one on one works best as they do get a bit overwhelmed with more than two kids.

For example, Michael spent 3 hours over there tonight to work on homework. He has a big science test on Friday and also a Social Studies test. Homework is a huge struggle anyways for Michael so I forwarded the teachers info of the tests to them and put them to work with Michael. He argues to much with me and cannot focus with the other kids around. When I arrived to pick him up he had memorized all that he needed too and my parents and Michael are confident he will pass with flying colors on Friday. Yeah! Too cool!

Thanks so much for all you - taking Emily shopping and doing fun crafts with all of them. Going that extra mile like photocopying extra info for Zach's science paper and driving it over just because. I am so lucky to live by you and have you so involved in my children's lives - thank you and I love you!

Icky Sicky

I cannot believe how many sick people I know. This is crazy. Everyone in my family has been sick in the last week. Ending with Sean last night and today. This is gross and I am tired of using Lysol and washing my hands a bazillion times a day. The checker at Safeway cracks up when he sees me because I have been there so often picking up Gatorade, sprite, soup, bread and all that good stuff that is suppose to make you feel better. 1/5 of Andrew's kindergarten class was absent today and his new nick name is horizontal boy. He has laid down everywhere we are for the past 5 days. In the car he rests his head on the arm rest or he lays on the couch watching the millionth repeat episode of some Disney show - its quite sad. Michael and Zach have said there are so many sick kids at school or kids absent in their classes. Michael had only 14 kids in his PE class... crazy! I just hope the bug Sean brought back from Arizona stays confined to my room - no one else can be sick! Lots of friends are sick and I want you to know you all are in my prayers to get better soon and be healthy again!

Shopping

With all the kids healthy today and not having to go to work I splurged and went SHOPPING! Oh my - I so have missed going into a store - any store and just looking around. We sold Sean's fridge that was in his office so I had some cash and I went right ahead and spent it! Shoes for Andrew and Michael, a way cool green golf shirt for Zach for his first day of high school golf tryouts at West Linn, new church pants for Michael, and a pair of polka dot flip flops for Emily and for myself a few pairs of capri's that actually fit! I was very careful and didn't splurge to bad - Nike had an awesome jacket that I loved but put back on the rack. I had so much fun and even treated myself to Baha Fresh on the way home! Funny how I felt so liberated and joyful - maybe pathetic is the right word! Anyways I had a blast - Yeah!

You Know Your In A Recession When......

1. You unlock a used family cell phone for your child to use that originated in Arizona went back to Newberg then back to Arizona and back to Newberg then to West Linn! Michael now has a cell phone (for my peace of mind) that I unlocked successfully by myself for free online by doing a bit of searching for a forum that gave them out for free... Yeah!

2. Your husband turns into a Dog Groomer..... I laughed so hard! He actually doesn't look that bad!

3. You finish emptying out the Accent Residential Homes office in Tualatin. All I have left to do is vacuum and he will be officially gone. He has temporarily moved an office back into our house. It will be nice having him around a bit more when he is in town. Its so sad to have that that chapter behind us - maybe its more just sentimental. I remember sitting in his truck years and years ago trying to think of a name for his company.... Wow! He did a great job and Accent was a huge success for so long - dang economy!

4. Your husband has to start commuting across the country back and forth to work! As much as I hate him being gone and I dislike Arizona (its way too hot) we are blessed that he is finding work when so many of our friends and family seem to be unemployed and looking for work. We will miss him lots but it will be a growing and strengthening lesson for us all.

5. You have to give up your Blackberry phone.... well just the internet part. So if you want to get a hold of me call or text me or wait until I can be home to check my email. Its all good!

6. I have had to learn to budget my time so I can clean my own house and keep up the outside. I have learned to shop with coupons, buy house brands and even venture out to Winco... I have even learned to deal with paper blinds in my house (can't wait for those to be replaced)! I have even started back to work part time (which I love) We have all become more creative and more resourceful which is a huge life lesson to all of us! I am so thankful for our families who support us to all ends of the earth! Its been an eye opening experience that will only make us all better in the end! I hate to say I am thankful for this but in a small way I am!

Sharpie

Andrew has been experimenting with Sharpie Pens - everywhere! Name a surface and it has seen a sharpie in the last few weeks. I have no idea what or why he is doing this! Its a big pain and he actually as done a lot of damage.... The carpet, counters, coffee table, hardwood floors, walls, toys, clothes, computers, and the list goes on - seriously! The other day he came in with designs all over his pants and shirt and then proceeded to write on the computer - consequence now is that if he draws on anything besides paper I get to draw all over his face with Sharpie and he can go to school with it all over - couldn't come up with anything better off the top of my head. So today he explained how I would be doing the same thing by coloring on his face as he had done and that it wasn't right so I couldn't punish him that way - smart cookie! To bad Andrew - you do it again and you'll be colorful big guy!