Training wheels

2 months and 1 week since I last posted. Let's make this first post a test post... let's see if I still have words and stories and ideas to share with you.

• Alex finished 5th grade and his time in public school. We have him in tutoring for the summer to bring his knowledge up to 6th grade private school levels, so it is like school never ended for us. But it is exciting for everyone. Alex is gaining a sense of pride ( in his work and knowledge), we are gaining a sense of confidence that we can all handle the new curriculum ( Abeka, notoriously Challenging), and we have made a great friend and mentor in Alex's tutor, Mrs. Gail.
• I have been working A LOT, spending 3+ days of the week out of the house, and have wrangled through a couple 5 day weeks in the last two months. It's long and tiring, but the paychecks are satisfying.
• The house has therefore fallen into a general state of mess, not that it was perfect with me at home most of the time, but it sure wasn't mass chaos. We are working on systems, but they are slow and lazy due to summer temptations and the call of the pool most evenings.
• Dogs are fabulous. Buddy was recently groomed where we discovered that he has an allergic reaction to the chlorine in the pool. Poor dude doesn't get to swim with us, which has become a favorite treat for him and Bella.
• Steve the Hedgie has been ACTIVE, more active then I can remember him ever being. I think the heat drives him out of his house for long cool water breaks through out the day. I find him most mornings sleeping on his wheel soaking up the AC that blows right there into his cage.
• Crafting: I have been stitching a lot lately, making a large panel of little birds. Love it, it's like magic. Sarah, has feed my desire by sending me a stash of patterns that I have planned for smaller, quicker projects. Enabler! :)
• We had a string of three guests over three weeks, each coming and going independently, fabulous to see them all, but whew, it is tiring playing guest all the time.
• I have been trying to do one thing each week that I have put off for months/years. So I finally hung the mantel mirror and put on the knobs to the bathroom cabinets upstairs. Neither one was hard, but I just never "got around" to it. This week, I want to finish up the touch up paint around the fireplace.

Okay, time to go work on Fourth of July treats. More to come... something special tomorrow!

Up to Speed

My virtual life sure slowed down, I dropped off every social instrument and focused on my day to day. It was great, refocusing, soothing, eye opening. I highly recommend it. But over the last week I have felt myself increasing my speed, getting back to where I was minus all the Facebook distractions. I actually want to write here again and have a mental list of posts and memory features.

 I have been spending lots of time at my desk, working on new projects, prepping new teaching subjects, finishing up this semester of school ( easiest one yet!), and crunching financial numbers. The dogs have been in the house more and more due to the early heat here in Texas. They make a ring of four around my chair and jump up the second I shift, ready to follow me around. It's sweet, but makes for a mess of activity around my feet when I walk around.

 My organizer has been neglected, so I brought it all up to speed, added event after event, bills, menu plans, and Alex events through the end of the school year. I have been toting it along with me everywhere again, it's my brain while my mind is busy with other thoughts.

We are finishing up Alex's stint in public school with fun events like the 5th grade EconMall, where he is making pet rocks to sell. Class parties are all ready being planned and the final state test will be on Thursday. We keep hearing nightmare stories of school district budget cuts. While I feel for our friends that are going through this issue, I am so so so glad that we made the early decision to put Alex in private school through 8th grade. We are all relaxed, excited about the change, and ready for what this new experience will bring.

Let's finish up with a small list of my current loves:

• Foo Fighters! We watched a bi optic about them a couple weeks ago and now I can't stop myself from singing their songs, especially All My Life. Fabulously cathartic!
• Fiction, I have pealed through four hefty books during my absence, and now have a big stack waiting in my office and more to pick up from the Library.
• Buddy's new haircut, he looks like a little lamb to me. So much that I am always picking him up for a snuggle just to feel his soft short fur on my hands. Like silk!
• The pool, we have been swimming for the last two weeks, the weather is THAT hot all ready. I don't think it has been this hot this early since we have lived here. Whew, we need rain.
• Fresca, the Peach Citrus, I feel like an old lady buying it, but I just LOVE the taste. Yummers!
• Feeling like I am back in the saddle, but not the same me, a new and improved me!

A mid February List

• It's been unTexas like cold for the past couple of weeks. We had Snow! And more hard freezes then I can remember.
• Gloves and scarves and hats have become part of our daily wear.
• Flowers have popped up in places. Casey's early Valentine Tulips make me smile in each room.
• Comfort foods like stews and potatoes and rich meats are all that we consume in this cold.
• I had a fire in the fireplace for 3 days straight, loved it!
• I picked up Alex and lifted him into the balloons and ribbons at the grocery store the other day. It was a perfect moment for Lucy in the sky with Diamonds to be playing. Our store has good music. :)
• Alex had a birthday sleepover, three boys means lots of fart jokes and burping. Good times.
• I broke my pinky toe on the birthday party night, Good Lord it hurt!
• Tried Bikram Yoga for the first time. Even with the 104+ temps, the slave drive of an instructor, and the lack of fitness on my part, it was amazing. Totally going back, would have today, but I am so sore.
• Casey is home with a string of local jobs, love it!
• Garden planning, prepping, and seed starts are in full swing!

Trimming the Life Fat

It's Limbo week, that odd week of the year where the holidays are over and the New Year has yet to start, which means everything is in reflection. I have all ready made my prep list and have moved on to thinking about what I would like to cut out of my life in the next year. For a girl who loves lists, this is the perfect mental workout!

Tangable:

1. Facebook games, I admit it, I love to zone out on Frontierville. The missions, the cropping, the holiday events, it's a vice AND a mega time waster. It takes away time I could be spending with my family, on my house, cooking recipes from the stack of cookbooks we have, gardening, puppy playing, LIFE.
2. Couch time, the TV is ALWAYS on. Time to make some rules about when the TV is on and what is being watched.
3. Paperwork, the sheer amount of paper, mail, contracts, reciepts that we have/store is CRAZY! I want to start purge and organizing this better than it currently is. Maybe even look into Neat Reciepts again.
4. Clutter, it is everywhere, enough said.
5. Processed STUFF, think foods, sodas, snacks, ice creams, etc.  I know how to make all that stuff, so I need to just make it instead of buy it.

InTangable:

1. Stress, I am my own worst enemy. I CREATE stress for some stupid reason. New Mantra= Less Stress is More Living
2. Anxiety, which is closely related to stress. I can work myself up over just about anything.
3. Arguements, I have slowly been realizing that many of the arguements that I am involved in, I start. Ouch!
4. Cursing, yeah I can and do sound like a sailor. Time to stop, I want to sound as educated and classy as I really am.
5. Expectations, I hold a high bar to everyone else but myself. So I want to drop other's bar and pick mine up.

Obviously, my New Year is working towards making a New Me.

Snippets of Love, Life and Loss

• My Mother in Law was here during the Thanksgiving week and let me just say, I Love That Woman! She is calm and supportive and funny and open. We all miss her and can't wait to see her again.
• Casey has been busting his ass to learn a new class to teach and test out on. Scratch that, TWO new classes to teach and test. His first test is this coming Saturday with the second having to be done by the end of year. He is literally the best study-er I have ever seen.
• Our Grand Am blew up this weekend, it broke a piston rod, which makes it nothing but scrap to us. Luckily the service manager at our repair shop wants to buy it, so all I have to do is take him the title, sign it over, get some cash, clean out our stuff and hand over the keys. She was our growing up car, she hauled us all over the place ever since Alex was a newborn. Good memories, good car.
• Our neighbors Yorki was hit by a car this weekend and died. We were the first ones there and Casey was in the process of moving her when they came home. It was horrible, I have never seen someone grieve like she did. The parents were out of town for the holiday week so it was just the daughters at home, both in their early twenties, but neither having had to deal with something like this before. We tried to do as much as we could to help. Casey handled the body and cleaned up the street as best as he could. I tried to direct traffic and help the younger sister help her older sister. There are so many what-ifs and I-told-you-so's for this accident, but the thing that I want to take away from it all is to make sure that our pets are always secure, collared, and safe. It was just so sad and so needless. We both came in the house and snuggled our little pups all night.
• I have been putting together a playlist of music that MAKES me want to move. Like The Killers, Things that I have done, omg that song puts a wiggle in my pants like nothing else. And the Ranconteurs Old Enough. And HELLO Aerosmith's Dude looks like a lady! And I must admit that Fergie's Glamorous is way up there too!  All in an effort to shake my booty to a smaller size. :)
• I finished a HUGE crochet project this past week, a gift for my SIL's. I totally forgot to get a picture of it. It feels great to wrap up a big project like that.
• Steady work starts up for me again next week, which is FABULOUS. I am really looking forward to teaching live classes again. And a steady/bigger paycheck is always welcome.

Weekly favorites

• It's Sunday and the menfolk went out and rustled up some donuts, yummy.
• I am going to go see Eclipse with a friend today, yeah a guilty pleasure, but I bet the True Blood episode will be better than the movie. She cancelled and it doesn't surprise me, but did disappoint. :( At least I have True Blood Tonight!
• Texas has realized that it is summer and therefore has turned up the heat and humidity.
• My garden has decided that we will not be getting any green beans this year regardless of all the hard work I put into them.
• My garden has decided that it will bless us with 20+ watermelons though. Go figure.
• The pool is BLUE not even a hint of green. Super happy about that.
• I am redesigning some things on the blog, expect a mess and hiccups for a couple weeks.
• Only 2 weeks left in summer session, YAY!

When it Rains...

Yeah there has been a lot going on, hence the blogging break. Because really do you want to hear about:

• the fact that all three cars had some sort of major hiccup over the last two weeks.
• and our Lab ate all the beefsteak tomatoes that were two days away from perfection off the vine today.
• and that a good friend of mine passed away this weekend at the age of 36.
• and her death has triggered some emotional responses and fears of dying young due to poor health.
• and that school is boring as all get out, but there are only 6 weeks left after tomorrow
• or that work really slowed down, like snail speed.
• and that my ENTIRE braid somehow dreaded up on itself the last time I was in the pool and it took me an hour to pick out and now I REALLY need to cut some mega length off.
• or that we saw a scary gory motorcycle accident minutes after it happened.
• and that all the fabulous rain we got last month has resulted in an explosion of flies, who like to come in our house.

Inhale, Exhale, Keep Going Forward.

On the Bright side (because there always is if you look)

• Casey picked up two jobs for the month!
• I switched house insurances and saved a BUNDLE
• and that switched restructured our escrow account which sent us an out of balance check!
• I am slightly car savvy enough to find the problem under the hood and confident enough to go back to the garage to have them fix it AGAIN.
• Alex is loving his summer camp.
• And once again, I am rocking the grades in school, 100+% in every class. Plus due to extra credit.
• And I love my husband, he has been great through the pouring rain, I appreciate that.

Okay, Carry On Nicole!

Frogs and a list

A teeny tiny frog in Alex's hand, they are all over the place right now.

• This last week has had a boatload of drama dealing with Alex's school. We all hate it.
• The drama that is.
• I have been sick for a couple days, sleeping like the dead. 16 hours throughout yesterday, slept till 10am today.
• I can't even get into a horizontal position or else I will sleep.
• Ugh
• Alex has three days of school left.
• I have 10 days till Summer Session starts for me.
• Work: slowly increasing.
• The pool is fluctuating between blue and green, the heat has such a huge impact.
• The garden is flourishing! Have a week or two before I can harvest our first tomatoes! They are huge!
• I downloaded a ton of Podcasts, business and history and grammar and This American Life, it is all good.
• Casey is home, working local right now, glad to have him here every day!
• If I am feeling better tomorrow I might actually PAINT the ceiling. Snort, we will see. :)
  

Snippets

Bella in the morning light, I like this shot.

• The days are warming and hoodies are no longer a must.
• A Food revolution is on my mind.
• Disgusted at persons who post on others walls and make nasty toned comments that they think I won't be able to read.
• Loving late night kitchen talks with my one true. The talks have been altering.
• Love A-game Nicole.
• Happy that an instructor canceled class on Wednesday, so I get to cut out early.
• Waiting for a 4 o'clock baby phone call from my bff. :)
• Over joyed for a happy healthy healing Alex, first day back to school was great.
• Still rocking the school books and the grades show it.
• Listening to moody rainy day music even with the sun shining because I like it.
• Started dreaming about car rides in San Diego again. I must miss some part of that city.
• Looking forward to Super nachos and DVR'd Life.
• Planning a Lego egg hunt for Alex, of course it would be Legos.
• Cracking up over Archie happy growls, cutest dog ever.
• Planning my Summer and Fall schedule, looking forward to more more and more.
• Loving that my hair is long enough for Braids again.

I am Happy today.

A Monday Mini Me

A Mini Me List for Monday

• I charted all my grades today in all my classes, and every single one is an A!
• My body hates me right now and it loves telling me so.
• I just cleaned my uber ring and it sparkles uber-ly.
• My birthday is months away, but I all ready know what I want, a Spa Cert.
• I dreamed about my teeth last night, one came out whole, another broke into two. Eww.

A list

I am recovering from a nasty cold, not the flu because it has only lasted a day, but man alive it wasn't fun. things to accomplish this week:

• Finish painting ceiling ( A MUST DO!)
• Pick paint color for main walls.
• Figure out the next step in Entrelac.
• Decorate for Halloween
• Plan this month's scout meetings.
• Hang pictures.
• Start Christmas giftie list
• Prep for Garage Sale.

Just what I need, a list!

Actually a couple lists!

Quick thoughts:

• Old old friends who have come back into my life this past year make me feel warm and fuzzy. Thanks friends.
• I have picked up knitting again after my summer heat hiatus. Have a yummy project on my needles that I can't wait to wear!
• Dogs make everything better.
• So does really good risotto leftovers.
• I need a facial, maybe I will bust out the goods tonight to lay one on.
• Have been feeling fall in the air these last two days, actually it has LOOKED like fall but FELT like summer. Which means a change is brewing.

A to-do list for this coming week:

• Clean, reorg and purge my office. It is a nightmare.
• Frog any knit projects that are not complete.
• Finish painting the downstairs ceiling.
• Plant a late fall garden.
• Clean and reorg the pantry, again, it is a disaster in there.

Okay, time for nighttime tea!

One more day

One day till I have 11 days of bliss. Where I will...

• hopefully finish the painting downstairs. I found color inspiration in a Father's Day card.
• end every day floating in the pool
• celebrate Father's Day belated with my Pops and My Mister Man at the top.
• purge my closet of the baggage that is clothing that I will never wear again even if I fit back into it.
• wake early just because I want too.
• play the Wii, making it a family event.
• teach Alex about the fine art of letter writing.
• plan a new year of scouts.
• finish a couple financial books.
• perfect fried chicken.
• use the elliptical with a smile on my face.
• hold Archie and Bella as they doggie paddle in the pool.
• finish my waking parts of the day with a G'night and a snuggle with Casey.

Summer in the Wings

Alex and Bella doing their after school routine. Book reading, pup lounging in the fort.

Life is so quick right now, listing is a must:

• School is all most out.
• Family arrives the day after school is out!
• Painting has come to a standstill
• Because I hurt my back and am just now able to bend over.
• The pool has been heavenly.
• Sunburns are showing up in pale places.
• I watched my legs actually FRECKLE today. It was beautiful.
• Patios and BBQ's and floaties are in high demand.
• Especially since we have awesome friends to share them with.
• I am on a quest for the perfect big floppy hat to wear in the pool.
• I vow to perfect my fried Chicken recipe this summer.
• I start my teach from home contract on Monday. Money in my Pj's.
• I have Disney on the brain.
• Alex has the most adorable smatter of freckles on his face. God Bless Freckles.
• Casey is teaching Rocket Scientists next week. No lying, he is teaching NASA.
• My husband rocks.
• I forgot about Mother's Day even in the midst of heavy hinting from my mom.
• I could only hint Home Depot or a bougainvillea.
• I am craving Cheetos.

Listed Again, Mmmm Blah!

• I am listing again because paragraphs feels like too much right now.
• My mom has been really sick, out flat on her back for over a week with at least another week to go. It was bad, is still sort of bad, I am worried about it all.
• Casey is in Canada, so far away.
• I have been feeling domestic.
• I kicked our unorganized pantry's ass today, but I don't know if I like the new flow.
• Alex has been talking in this weird "duck" voice that his friend Joshua does, driving me crazy.
• Our garden is planted, yay Spring produce.
• Half our garden won't be producing till late Summer. Go onions, shallots, and garlic.
• I miss Sharon. Really bad. Starbucks is not the same.
• This morning the flannel sheets felt perfectly perfect.
• Fast Food is the devil.
• I don't like the way orange peel feels under my nails.
• Jon and Kate plus Eight's Kate is really bitchy in her interviews now. hate that.
• My neighbor has three rabbits.
• I think I listed just to blog.
• PPPffftttt!

A Listed

• I love the sounds of the wind outside the house, our house seems to be stretching and bendingwith each gust.
• I loved watching the stars and moon last night with Casey in the Bounce house. It was not to chilly, zero bugs, and the bounce house made a good cushion. :)
• Alex's birthday party was fantastic, so many fun friends, yummy cake, fun games, and of course the sleep over with a friend was a late giggly night.
• Home made pizza rocks my socks.
• DS games that Mommy can play too are great!
• We are enjoying a lazy Sunday with Casey before he starts another string of trips.
• I was only able to sleep last night due to the wonders of Nyquil. Damn sinusitis. UGH
• I want to purge STUFF.
• Laundry has over taken our bedroom.
• The news is no longer fun to watch.
• My best friend moved to Korea this week, she will be gone for over a year. :(
• I need a facial.
• I'd love a massage.
• I think I love hedgehogs.

Listed

It's the right kind of day for a list:

• Coffee, in hand, Peppermint Mocha creamer, oh so delish.
• Breakfast, in belly, hot and perfect.
• Vitamin, in belly, a needed addition to the daily.
• Exercise, next, hello again The Firm
• Errands, plenty, a standard on my Friday.
• Casey, home coming, hugs and kisses.
• Friday night, show, at Idaho State Pen, super creepy for sure.
• Weather, cold, freezing for the next three nights.
• Christmas, cards, tree, last of the decorations to finish up today.
• Pups, with just the four, our evenings are full of licks, snuggles, and tails.
• Alex, so big, tall and boy, do I love him so so so!
• Me, happy for good friends and conversations, I love all my girlies.

A Vacation Check-Listed

• Packed - Check!
• Cameras Ready - Check!
• Kiddo and Pups at appropriate care facilities - Check!
• Sunscreen - Check!
• Bug Spray - Check!
• Husband - Delayed in Houston, soon to be home.
• Passport - Expedited, arrived Tuesday (nick of time)
• Sun, Sand, Surf - Soon!
• Chichen Itza temples - Soon!
• Xel Ha - Soon!
• Scuba - Soon!
• Lots of Corona - Soon!
• Missing my kiddo - All Ready!
• But excited about our week away - Most Definitely!

A week list

Alex on the last day of school, in his tie dyed autograph shirt.

• Two loaves of bread and a meatloaf are in the oven. Hmmm tasty.
• Cupcakes are on the counter.
• Watermelon is in the fridge.
• Headache is on the head.
• Clean flannel on the beds.
• Husband is on his way home.
• Kiddo is out of school for summer.
• My girlie is watching kiddo on the days I work this week. Love her for that.
• Father's day is right around the corner and gifties are done.
• Winds are battering my tomatoes and green beans.
• Blossoms are abundant on our cucumbers and cantaloupes.
• Vacation is on the horizon.

The End.

A Little Listy

• Tomorrow is the last day of school for Alex!
• I have been working out, and my arms currently hate me.
• Which means I love heat patches and BenGay.
• Sammy dog is still crazy.
• My Garden is crazy as well, but in a fabulous way.
• Made the tastiest potatoes last night ala Pioneer woman.
• Have I mentioned that my BFF is home? Gah I missed her.
• Less then a month till our trip to Cancun!
• Did I mention that it is Cancun we are going too? Well close to it anyways.
• It is officially hurricane season! Which means NOAA is my first fav site right now.
• Speaking of Favorite sites, I won a month long contest at Home Sanctuary ! Thanks Rachel Anne!
• We saw the new Indiana Jones, and I didn't like it. * Gasp* It was super cheesy and predictable. Sorry Indy I so wanted to love you.
• My Husband is the best, seriously that man is awesome. He needs Kudos too you know! :)
• I put flannel back on the bed, and it wasn't even my idea! Casey requested it, so I have officially converted another one to the flannel year round side.
• I all ready miss LOST, so lame I know, but it is SOOOOOOO Good! Bad Robot!

The End