11:45

Prayers for Nancze who has been in the hospital! Wishing her a speedy recovery. She is greatly missed!!

It sure is the season for storms! A tornado hit in a city a few hours from us a few days ago. My brother-in-law and his family live there. They lost trees, the kids big playset jungle gym - those wooden ones, windows - but all are okay. There was a good amount of damage. As of Friday, 3,100 people were still without power. The airport there suffered a lot of damage. Another tornado hit Aurora, Nebraska as well. Governor declares state of emergency after tornadoes hit. In April there was some bad weather as well - President issues disaster declaration for parts of Nebraska. We have had so much rain.Seems like everyday! There are still places in Nebraska that are in flood warnings! I hope that the bad weather starts to die down. So many tornadoes!

Monday starts Vacation Bible School - Montana and Adelina are going. Giuseppe is too old and Ariana is too young. It runs 5:30 to 8 and they are even feeding them a light supper. Montana starts a football camp Monday - Thursday 10:30 to 12:30. Helmets only. They get a football. The High School Coach and players run this one and one in July that is full pads, runs most of the month and is every week night for a few hours. Montana loves football - so he is thrilled. Fortunately two Mom's are carpooling. We have four boys from our little village going and they have enough room to take them. I don't - with four of my own kids, adding three more to the car won't work. I am very thankful that they are doing this. With gas this high, every little bit helps. I have to think of something nice to do for them. Giuseppe is going to be in a golf camp. He decided not to go to Tennis camp. There were some boys making fun of him about it, so I think that's why he declined. I told him it didn't matter what they thought, if he wanted to do it he should. He's almost 14, so I know a lot of it is the age, but I don't want him to miss out - you can't do over this time of your life! He's in need of a confidence boost, but I am unsure how to help him. I have tried so many things, but he is short and husky - hasn't really grown in a while and most of his classmates are taller and it bothers him so much. I hope he grows a bit this summer. Starting high school is stressful enough - I want him to not be so self-concious. It breaks my heart! Kids are so darn mean.

Adelina's 8th birthday is a week from Monday. We are having a Hannah Montana party at a park - there are ducks and geese to feed, playground equipment and we are having a Hannah Montana pinata. Now if everyone would RSVP - that would make everything so much easier. I hate it when they don't. You have no idea how much to buy. Ughh!! I have had her gifts for several months. There was a Hannah Montana bean bag on clearance, a Hannah Montana game - you plug into the TV, and I got some Hannah Montana stickers, key chain and pencils, and 2 bottles of nail polish she wanted for Giuseppe, Montana and Ariana to give her. I am making ice cream cone cupcakes and got Hannah Montana picks to put in them. I am tired of Hannah Montana, lol. My Dad's birthday is tomorrow - but we are celebrating his and Adelina's together at Mom and Dad's next Sunday. Giuseppe will be spending the week with his Dad so we thought we would combine the two so he wouldn't miss it this week. Montana will go stay at his Dad's next, then Adelina. They are taking turns - he isn't taking them on vacation this year like he usually does.

I haven't been doing as good on the dieting thing. Haven't been in the mood. I think it's the weather. So many gloomy days, I get really gloomy myself I think. I love some days like that, sitting around the house in pjs, but I need sunny days more often now. Today we had both. More rain. My flowers should be doing better than they are with the weather we have had. I don't have a green thumb, but I love flowers and have tried to expand my flower garden each year. I just planted five 4 O'Clock flower plants I grew from seeds. I hope they make it. Last year they didn't. The Salvia's I planted 2 years ago and the one I planted last year are doing well, along with the Mums. The lavendar didn't come back - I bought new. Some of the tulips still come up. My peonies don't stand up well anymore. I have gotten three flowers off of it, but I would think I would get more. I have to research it. The Irises don't come up good anymore - have to dig them up I guess - I have been putting it off, afraid I will replant and they will all die. We planted a few new things, but I can't remember the names off of the top of my head. I am going to try and go to this greenhouse next week. I have to do it in shifts I guess you could say - being a SAHM money is tight. I have lots of plans though. My pansies Mom gave me for Mother's Day are hanging in there. Last year I had some in a planter that made it through fall - I think they did better in the fall. The lilacs did better than last year, but still not the best. We had some terrible weather, which probably didn't help, but I think I need to do something to them to spruce them up - more research. I need a gardening for dummies book. LOL. Okay - better go. I want to do some more updating on my site before I don't have any computer time again. Have a super week.

11:45

Crazy weather here! We had rain and storms for two days straight. 8 inches of rain. Some tornadoes around. My husband's place of work was without power for 3 days. Where I grew up and lived for 20 some years got hit really bad by a tornado! It was a mile wide they said. I can't believe it. In all the time we lived there, there were only 2 nearby and I can't remember any damage. Windsor, Colorado. My parents were on their way to Fort Collins, Colorado to catch a plane the following day to Las Vegas - right past Windsor the day of the storm. It was scary - my brothers live in Fort Collins and my youngest brother works in Windsor. Click the links below to see. I still can't believe it - it's amazing more people didn't get hurt or die!!

Raw footage - http://youtube.com/watch?v=GfYuT0oalXQ&feature=related
My brothers photos http://picasaweb.google.com/Sicc88/WindsorTornado. He is going to go back and take more.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/22/colorado.tornado.video/index.html?section=cnn_latest
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/slideshow/news/16366171/detail.html

Lots of trees at the cemetary are gone. My Grandparents are buried under a tree - which is gone now. The park lost many trees as well. They were huge old trees. It will take years to grow more large trees. I wish I could go see it.

The kids are officially out of school. I am not ready for summer. I have them signed up for a Farm Safety Camp on Wednesday. The boys went to it two years ago - they hold one every few years. I signed Adelina up to go with them too. They are often at their Grandpa's house and he has a little farm. I figured it can't hurt them to go. They get a t-shirt, first aid kit and a sack lunch. It cost $5 for each of them. Not a bad deal! They will learn about electrical safety, PTO safety, Fire Safety - Smoke House, Graind and Gravity Flow safety , first aid, chemical safety and 4-wheeler safety. We live in a rural area, so it all will come in handy.

Okay - better go. I want to do some blog hopping. Have a super week.

		11:45

Oops, I did it again! I can't believe I let it go so long between posts again. I don't know where the time goes anymore, but I need more of it. I have been really busy with lots of different things. I need to stop starting so many projects at once. I have a bad habit of doing that. I am working on that. I started counseling about 2 months ago. I was embarrassed to put that in here, but after thinking about it and talking to another online friend, I realized that I have no reason to be. I am trying to better myself, so I can live a happier life. One of my goals, among other things I am working out, is to be a better parent and to improve my parenting skills. I have made many mistakes - I let a lot of things go. Wasn't firm enough on a lot of things, sometimes not consistent, etc. It's caused some tension in the household and problems. It's hard enough blending a family with a Step parent and half sibling, so I am trying to improve things around here. It's tough with three parents and everyone agreeing on things. Let's just say, it's not exactly happening. I am doing better - I know it will take a lot of work, but I am hanging in there. There is a lot of disrespect and that's the big one I am working on right now - I made a list of what disrespect is to me and the consequences if they do it. First offense is a chore for me. Second is a chore, plus write ten times what you did wrong - example - I will not talk back to my mom. Third offense - Chore, write ten times and 3o minutes in their room. There has been a lot of chores done for me, lots of writing and time in bedrooms. I do see some more effort from them as we continue this - I think that they are realizing I mean business. I have tried a lot of things, but I am hoping that this one works. I have been going every week and I am feeling better. The boys told me not to long ago the reason they listen more to Rob and their Dad is because they are scared of them, but not scared of me. Nice huh?

My boys went through Hunter Safety classes and passed the test. They love hunting with their Dad. We survived Montana's programs so far - one more to go next week, plus Giuseppe's Science Fair, and two track meets. I hate the paper route - I have to roll the papers each day before the kids get home from the bus - they have 1 hour and 2o minutes to get them all delivered before 5:30 pm by the time they get home, and then I deliver the weekend edition on Friday or Saturday - depending on when the papers get here. I want the kids to learn more responsibility - but I really am not enjoying the extra work. I did like walking the route by myself on Saturday morning - it was good exercise. They are doing well with it so far, but there have been times where they weren't too happy that they had to deliver papers before they could do anything else. We'll see how it goes. They have said they wanted to quit a few times already, so I'm not sure how long they will hold out. We have to give 30 days notice to quit. I started thinking about the summer - it will be in the 90s and 100s when the paper is delivered each day, as the warmer weather gets here. I don't really want to drive them with gas prices as they are - it's gone up even more. I don't like the hot temps either - yes, I am a big whiner. Give me 85 at the highest and I'm okay, but after that, I want my AC. I just don't do well with the higher temps. We'll just have to p lay it by ear.

We planted some more flowers. I love this time of year! Hubby is making a little pond in the backyard - it's so neat. We put some goldfish in there. There's a fountain in the center, and lights for at night. The kit came with a buttefly house too - I need to get a new birdhouse to put out there as well. I have so much more I want to do around the outside. I have been reading my gardening books - looking for perennials that don't need tons of care and can survive the heat we get here. I have to go do some flower shopping again. I can't wait to sit out by the pond and relax in the nice weather.

I better go - it's really late and I am so tired. I am going to visit over the next few days.

		11:45

It's been a long time - I haven't been online much at all. I didn't mean for this much time to pass without updating and posting. I just haven't felt like doing much - been in a rut I guess. I am struggling with my weight issues. I can't believe I gained this much! It's so depressing. I started to write down what I eat each day and weighing myself more often. They say that people who do that lost more weight! It's really a rude awakening to see what you eat, at least it was for me. I have since lost 9 pounds which I am very, very happy about! There is so much more to go though. I did get hard tubes put into my bike tires. We are always getting flat tires around here. Cost me about $50 for the tubes and labor, but it will be worth it. I have tried to walk more. The weather hasn't really cooperated though. We have had some yucky days. Hopefully more nice days are coming.

I am a little late with this, but I would like to ask you to put Kiki and her family in your prayers. She has lost her Grandmother a few weeks ago. I so know how she feels - I still have a hard time about my Grandma. I can't imagine how people can get through when they lose their children or spouses. This is devastating enough.

It's hard to believe school will be out May 23. I am not ready for summer. I hate summer to be honest. It's so hot - usually 90s-100s here. Hubby will be working nights 4 days on, 4 days off. Trying to keep four kids quiet should be fun. I told him he needs to get some earplugs, lol. The kids want to attend several camps, which I am all for, but gas is going to kill me. It's gone up again here $3.48 a gallon! It's nuts!!

My 5th Grader - Montana has tons of things coming up - several programs. It's crazy! One for the 5th Graders DARE Culmination, band, Central Connections - the singing group he is in, music program, and a track meet. Adelina has a track meet. Giuseppe has nothing. Woohoo!! The older they get the less they have it seems, unless in sports. He talked me into taking on the paper route our neighbors are giving up. I must be out of my mind. He and Montana will do the majority of it, but I will have to do Friday and Saturday as they go with their Dad. I am not happy about it. I told them they will pay me out of the income they receive. It will be a pain in the butt for me to do it with Ariana. This will be a definate lesson and trial in responsibility. They signed a contract at the newspaper. Wish me luck.

I better go. I need to catch up on my Friday Fun and visit friends and get off of here! I did get caught up on my What's Your Price - the link is to the left. Have a wonderful week.

		10:45

I would like to say could you please put Lieve and her family in your prayers? Her son passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with them as well through this terrible time.

There is so much I want to do around the house. I guess it's Spring and my subconcious decided it's Spring Cleaning Time! I have thrown away a bunch of papers and other junk, found lots to sell, organized my greeting cards, scrapbooking stuff, and there is so much more I want to do! I get myself into too many projects at once though. I start something and then I see something else and go to that. It's not a good idea, but I caught myself doing it three times already. I have a bit of a mess on my hands. Hubby has been working nights for nearly 2 months now and it's been hard to adjust - at least for me. It's hard to keep a 2 1/2 year old quiet, plus I don' t sleep well when he's not home at night. I have to get myself on a whole nother schedule and you would think I would be used to it by now. I don't know what my problem is. Plus, they are starting up a new plant so there hasn't been time off. I know he's exhausted. I am thankful that he's willing to work so hard so that I can stay home. I need to quit complaining and be happy with things. I am a complainer, but I am trying to become an ex-complainer, lol.

Ariana has officially began the terrible 2s! OMG! I am ready to rip my hair out. I think we are both ready for Daddy to get some time off.

Montana is starting to really be an opinionated pain in my backside. He has been getting in a lot of trouble for his mouth. Just a big crabby brat - complaining about this and that because he says we are poor and that I (me) don't care about this and that, blah, blah, blah. He apologized more than once, but I can't quite get him out of this funk he is in. I tried to talk to him - not sure what the deal is. Spring FEVER?? I think everyone in my house has definitately gone mad. There's much to much to write about in this blog. Lucky for you all LOL!!

The 2nd graders are having a Spring concert at the Elementary school Tuesday night. It is titled "BUGZ!" Adelina is going to be a buttefly. There are 5 classes and they have split the program into two shows. I get to go to the 6 pm show for her class. I think that's such a good idea. This way you don't have to sit forever waiting for 100 kids to get through. I love my children but I hate sitting at the programs for hours. Especially with Ariana. We already had butterfly wings, so we painted styrofoam balls black last night and I got black pipe cleaners - I am going to attempt to make antennas for her. I need to find her black headband and finish that little project tomorrow. I can be creative sometimes. I just am not good at using my imagination to make things for school.

Giuseppe signed up for a Dodge Ball tournament at the Junior High. He's excited. We have been talking a lot about high school, college, driving, girls. I can't believe that he's that old!! He will be 14 this summer. I think it's hard for him to understand that he needs to start deciding on college now. There are so many requirements - you have to start early. He needs to do really good and get a scholarship! How on earth can I send four kids to college? Oh my.

I really can't believe that Easter is already over. I am still trying to catch up and add gifts from my wonderful online friends. I have them all ready and waiting for me to put them on the page. I have lots of things I am in the process of planning for my site too - see, starting too many projects again. I can't help my self I guess. I must like to drive myself crazy. I better go - I need to go visit everyone. It's been a while and I miss catching up. Have a great weekend and week to come!









The Doll House