I hope you all had a lovely Mother's Day. I sure did...this special day reminds me of how not so long ago (15 years) that I never thought that I would be a mommy...I remember that last Mother's Day while we were going through infertility treatments...I was pretty sure that I wanted to just stay in bed that whole day feeling discouraged and just plain old tired of being poked and prodded. That was a hard time in our lives...infertility is an awful thing. I suffered with primary and secondary infertility and the loss of a child through ectopic pregnancy. Mother's Day is a very special day for all of us...for those of us who have struggled...even more. I can't ever go through this special day without thinking about how many woman are suffering. Woman that want to experience Motherhood. I just want to encourage anyone out there that knows of a woman experiencing this intense pain to just remember them too this week...chances are they have just been through an emotional roller coaster. I still struggle...though I am thankful for each day to be a mommy...I wanted to fill my house with children. The pain for me can still be very intense...but God is my refuge and my strength...with Him I can get through.
Reach out to all the want to be a mom's out there too...please just tread gently as you are holding their heart in the palm of your hand...
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May. 2, 2008 Did you ever have...
one of those weeks when you just haven't felt yourself? I, for one am glad it is Friday because, I have had one of those weeks.
Last weekend, was Brittany's final dance competition for the year. This was a very tough competition and there was a lot of favoritism to another dance studio there that had 108 numbers throughout that whole weekend. Believe me, we had our fill of seeing the same kids over and over and over again. The medals go like this...Bronze, Silver, High Silver, Gold and Platinum. I bought a program...and as I watched the awards ceremony I began to notice a pattern. Most of the dances this past weekend were from this said studio. During awards you would hear...Gold, Gold, Platinum, Silver, Gold, Gold, High Silver (the lower awards went to all the other dancers)...as I watched I was amazed at just how slanted the judges were...most of the high scores went to this huge dance studio and all of the special awards too...there were about 4 other studios there and we are a big one...but we looked dwarfed by this other studio...anyway...our kids did pretty well considering what they were up against. It was very frustrating...Brittany did awesome on her solo...she just more or less gave up and just went out there and had fun...she walked away with a Gold medal...we were so proud of her.
I don't know if it is the stress of competition, coming home from our trip and being busy or just spring fever...but I have been so tired all week...there were days that I woke up thinking (oh, how I would like to go back to bed and sleep until tomorrow). Brittany was pooped too...so she didn't go to dance on Tuesday...we both took a 3.5 hour nap...which is totally unlike us...but it was wonderful...Maybe it was the weather too...it was very cool here this week...sort of made us feel like hibernating again.
But...today is Friday which is my house cleaning day...it is supposed to be warm and thunderstorm today. I think I'll clean and then curl up with a good book. I am into Philippa Gregory novels right now...I am currently reading The Favored Child. I love historical fiction.
Okay...enough of this rambling...I am hoping for a better week next week. |
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Apr. 25, 2008 I just made a new blog!!! Apr. 23, 2008 Before I get behind again...
I just had to post and say we are back from Phoenix and we had a most amazing time. We were able to go out there Saturday...so therefore my husband could have some fun too. We landed Saturday night and just savored the warm air...oh how nice that was.
On Sunday we got up and decided to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix...it was really, really neat. We walked around there for several hours. Brittany took several beautiful pictures that I am hoping to frame and hang them up somewhere..they are just too pretty not to display. The garden had a special event...which was a butterfly display. We have one here locally every summer, but we have never made it...so we were able to in AZ...it was so pretty and I just enjoyed myself so much...I can't even tell you. Afterward, we were pretty jet lagged...so we went back to our room and took a nap for an hour...then we went to see Nim's Island. We loved the movie...it was so good!
On Monday...it was business as usual for Dennis, so Brittany and I walked over to a mall (I think it is called Biltmore) and found a MAC store...it is a makeup store and Brittany has been dying to check it out...well, much to her delight...they actually will apply the makeup for you...she bought 2 pretty eye shadows and a lip gloss, I bought a lip stick and lip pencil. We had so much fun and it was just a nice little pampering for us.
The rest of the week...Brittany and I lounged poolside with a good book and nice hot sun. We enjoyed ourselves very much and got completely rested up until we got home and had to re-adjust back to our own time zone...that one was a tough one.
My poor husband came home...and left again on Monday for Las Angeles. He went from pacific time to eastern time to pacific time in 48 hours...of course he is used to that...below is our day at the Botanical Garden...
The next slide show is more random pics of our week...most were taken when Dennis was working...but we did get to walk a trail in the evening and take some great pics there to...the trail was at the Dreamy Draw Dam
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Apr. 11, 2008 Spring Break...
One of the highlights of our break was when Brittany and I decided to go and paint pottery. As I have mentioned I am in the process of spicing up my kitchen...it isn't quite completed so I haven't posted any pics...as soon as our trip is over I'll have the time to finish...anyway, we have a place here that you can go and buy pieces of pottery...sit at tables and paint them...you leave them there, they fire them for you and you pick them up in a week. What a great time we had together sitting there chatting about nothing in particular but just enjoying each other. We each chose a desert plate which we are going to hang in the kitchen...we chose coordinating colors so it would look like a set. We want to go back and do 2 more...so we'll have to do that soon. Here are the pics...I'll start with Brittany's and end with mine. We are very proud of them...
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Apr. 10, 2008 Winter clothes, summer clothes, YIKES!
I am back on my feet today although my daughter told me to go sit down and take a break because I was beginning to get grumpy, LOL. I guess she noticed that my energy was beginning to wane. We are in the midst of laundry...I am always behind in my laundry...I don't know why...but I can never get caught up...so we have pulled all of our summer things out for next week...and have them everywhere and then I have a growing pile of winter things nicely folded on my dining room table because I just felt too bad yesterday to carry them upstairs...I know that when I am through it is going to be ok but I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I am feeling better today however...the body aches are gone and the chills are better...thank the Lord. I think I'll be just fine once we hit that hot Phoenix sunshine. Oh, I can't wait!
I came up with an idea for Brittany next week...we are planning to visit a botanical garden, since she loves to take pictures I told her it would be neat to take some nice shots of some of the desert plants since they are so different from ours here in the NE. I told her that she could mount them and label them, maybe even add some drawings although I haven't convinced her of the drawing yet...since she doesn't like to draw or feels that she doesn't draw well. You can't do everything perfect right? LOL
Have any of you ever used a Consumer math curriculum? I am pretty set on Abeka for that but am open to others. I am starting to think about next year and since Brittany isn't planning on college, I want to teach her real world math. I would appreciate any input.
Have a blessed day! |
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I am so happy it is Wednesday...we are leaving Saturday for Phoenix and we are so excited. Brittany and I stopped at Border's yesterday before dance and bought ourselves each a new book for the poolside. My husband is teaching in Phoenix next week and we decided to join him. Brittany and I are going to spend some time in the sunshine while he is at work...we can't wait!!!
Has anyone discovered The Homeschool Lounge yet? I just found it last night when I scrolled down the homeschoolblogger's main page. I joined...but have no idea what I am doing but it looks like a lot of fun...feel free to add me as your friend if you are on there...I am having trouble maneuvering my way around. My daughter has a face book...which she says is similar...kinda cool I think. I have always wanted a homeschool community. With Britt's dance schedule it has kept us out of a lot...but this is her future and that is ok with me...if I can turn on my computer and have friends...that is such a blessing to me...just has blogging has become.
I know I am rambling. I am sitting here not feeling so well...I am catching a cold...have the chills, sinus pressure and a sore throat...not exactly how I wanted to feel as spring has finally sprung in our neck of the woods. Brittany keeps telling me I'll be better by the time we leave. I am counting on it.
Wishing you all a blessed day! |
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Apr. 7, 2008 I am waaaay behind...
Life has become very chaotic lately...but that's okay, I am going to just fill in as I can. Two weeks ago we took our spring break...Brittany had time off from dance so I decided since we never take Spring break and that she only has these last three years of HS to go ahead and just take it...of course our weather left something to be desired...so Brittany got herself a tan from a bottle...it looks great too. When she went back to dance she was as tan as all of her friends who actually went to Florida...the product is by Jergens...it is called Natural Glow...I even tried it and I didn't turn orange...so that was a good sign, we bought ours at Sam's Club at a great price...okay, enough of that...LOL.
Last week was all about competition...we had costumes to fix such as hemming, straps to tighten, tights and shoes to buy and those odds and ends make-up and bobby pins and all that...every year I say I am going to save up for this expensive week...and of course I never do so every year I say it again...but we somehow get through it all.
Her competition was Saturday and they all did just great...Okay, this is the part that if you don't like to hear bragging ( I am not really bragging, just basking in the glow) of other people's children then you might want to cover your ears or in this case, cover your eyes. They all did awesome...and my daughter amazes me. Now that she is grown...I don't go in and watch her all that often at dance...she is quite the independent...and that is what we want...but we are always there for any performance and she just blows us away at how much she has matured in every way. She performed in 2 jazz, 2 modern, 1 hip hop, 2 tap and her solo. Two of her group numbers were awarded high gold...the rest recieved gold and for her solo she got a high gold and another honor of 5th place over all the dances in her age group...we were pleased as punch for her. I wish I could take pictures of her on stage but it isn't allowed so I just added a couple of them from her day to show how much fun she had...
 Brittany and her BFF Mehgan before her hip hop dance.
 Getting ready for her solo...it was at 9:45 PM by the way...she still looks fresh and ready to go...even though she was tired.
 Here they all our our soloists...waiting on stage for the last set of awards.
Congratulations Brittany...we are so proud of you...
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We had such a great "family" week last week. I feel as though I have been on vacation. Things were pretty normal with school and dance Monday thru Wednesday and then we decided to take a long weekend. Thursday was our day to play hooky from the world and the three of us went to see a double movie...and they were both decent and very good (now that is a switch)...we have a joke around here about the popcorn box going over Brittany's head in case of something that she doesn't want to see...didn't have to worry about that at all.
First, we saw College Road Trip (which made me cry just thinking of it) and then we saw the movie Penelope, I really liked that movie. We all left so happy that we actually were able to catch two good movies. Friday, Brittany had a rehearsal...mom, Dennis and I were able to watch and Brittany did her tap solo for the first time in front of us...she did just awesome! Dennis left and mom and I watched them work really hard all evening. Afterwards Brittany went home with my mom for the weekend and Dennis and I came home and had a long weekend by ourselves. It was so nice. Our 23rd Anniversary is coming up on the 23rd...we decided quite by last minute that we would go away Saturday night...we decided on Amish Country. The weather wasn't that nice...it was foggy and cloudy and cold but that country is beautiful no matter what the weather.
I have to put a plug in for the inn that we stayed at...we have stayed there twice now...last year and again this past weekend...clean, cozy, romantic all aren't enough words to describe this place. If you find yourself ever wanting to travel to Holmes County, Ohio...you have to check here for rooms...Holmes with a View.
It is well worth the visit...we took a beautiful drive through the country and stayed in Suite #6. I love this part of our state, with it's rolling hills and beautiful farms.
This is the view from our suite, we just love it...
Now, it is Monday and back to life...Dennis is in Seattle, or on his way there right now, our puppies are back home and Brittany is at dance...me? I am just sitting here basking in the glow of great memories... |
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