12:45

Some more words of wisdom from my friend. "The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive."

Fun Facts:   The most popular name for a pet in the United States is Max. 

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day! My three oldest kids, Giuseppe, Montana & Adelina will be home at 5 from their Dad's and we will go to my Mom and Dad's for dinner. Here is what I got for my Mom.


Ariana and I planted Violas and Pansies in the tea cup planter. She thought it needed ribbons on it too. With the other kids gone usually Ariana is my only helper. I didn't want to buy the flowers too far ahead of time. It's great the kids get to see their Dad every weekend, but it's hard too because I end up having to do so much without them here :( They miss out and sometimes think that Ariana is more important - which isn't the case. Blended families are so hard to blend! I could use a class for this.

It's been a long time since I posted again. It's frustrating because I really want and need my time online to visit and do things on my site. It's important to me. Hopefully I get to have more time soon - just have to keep hoping. Let's see if anyone cooperates.

Giuseppe got a medal for the Golf tournament April 25th! 1st Place! He got third in the tournament he was in Monday, May 4.

School is out May 22. I am so not ready. I have a few more things to do to work on my business. Okay, got to go!! Need to visit you before I get off of here. Have a super week!

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." (Robert Brault)

10:15

My friend just said this today - "Life ends when you stop dreaming, hope ends when you stop believing and love ends when you stop caring. So dream hope and love...Makes Life Beautiful." --I love it!! I have been trying to work things out within myself concerning different aspects of my life. That really made me stop and realize how true it is.

A lot has been going on here. I haven't had much time online. Some people in this house make it impossible for me to have regular internet time and it's unfortunately out of my hands. I will say that I will keep working hard to get on as much as I can. Some people just really are a pain in the backside to put it nicely and there isn't anything you can do to change that. They do not care about my online time, don't care what I love to do online. GRRRRRRRRRR! Make the best of what you have, right? That's what I am trying to do. I thought I would be without internt, but for now things are ok as far as that goes. You never know though. If by chance I am without it for a bit, I will not be far away. I will just have to go to my Mom and Dad's or the library. I have had my website for 8 years and I am not going anywhere.

Giuseppe will be in his first Golf tournament Saturday. Yeah!! The lowerclassmen don't get to many opportunities to be in the tournaments, so he is very excited. I really don't know all that much about Golf. My husband enjoys it. I just am not a very athletic person and don't get totally into sports. I am trying to decide if I should go to it - you can't see anything unless you walk all over the course with them. And we are talking all day long. YUCK! I guess we will play it by ear. School is out May 22! YUCK!!!!!!!!!! I do not enjoy summer. I love my children, I really do. I just don' t enjoy summer vacation. They get bored so fast. I hate the hot temps - usually in the high 90s and lower 100s. An old high school friend is a teacher in Colorado and they go all year round. I like that. You get vacations spread out through the year, but they never have to long of a break to forget things or get out of the swing of things, you know? It's hard to get kids to do school work in the summer to keep their minds working. With money so tight, summer really makes that worse as well - more groceries, more running around. I am looking into starting my own business. I have to do something. There isn't a lot I can do with the kids - jobs are few and far between now. A nearby company just laid off 100 more people. With daycare costs, a job for me wouldn't make any sense anyway. I need something flexible. I have a little more research to do, but I think I am about ready. Will fill you in when I get it all settled. If it all works out, the kids can be with me! Perfect!!


Thank you Kia for this award!

The rules are:
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate up to 10 blogs which show great attitude and/or gratitude!
3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Remember to link the person from whom you received your award.

Kia (& Zeno :)
Jessica
Marge
Kris
Kellie
Brenny
Pat

Click here to save it to your computer!

I have been enjoying the nice weather here. Ariana and I have been outside for the last 5 days walking, going to the park, exploring the neighborhood. Today it's supposed to be 90 degrees!! CRAZY! Hopefully summer won't be a furnace. I am so out of shape, I need to do a little more strenuous exercise. I have really let myself go. I started bringing my camera and taking pictures - Ariana wants to make a scrapbook, so I am getting off of my butt, entertaining my daughter and having fun. Can't beat that!

Adelina got a perfect attendance award from the youth group she attended all year. The closing program was last week. She got a pack of McDonald's gift certificates. Woohoo!!

Thank you Kia for the siggy! Okay, gotta run. I want to hurry and visit before I have to get off of here. Have a wonderful weekend!

8:15

We had a little snow and rain yesterday morning. Then it was gone. Unfortunately the wind is still sticking around. It's been terrible weather - worse than all witer. cold and windy. YUCK! March will go out like a lion! I am so ready for the nice weather. I have a lot to do to get myself in shape. I am terrible about procrastinating and unfortunately, I am paying the price. I gained more weight! It sneaks up on you. I am so mad at myself and ashamed to have let myself go. I pretty much gained all the weight back that I had lost 5 years ago, which I swore I would never let myself get that big again. For the first time in 2 years I have really considered lighting up a cigarette, but I haven't. I know it wouldn't be smart considering that I have done so well and not touched one since the day I had quit. I am just really stressed out here and can't find a good outlet for it I guess you could say. I have come to the realization that things are what they are here and I have to make the best of it. It's time to focus on bettering myself. I can't go on as I have - trying to please everyone around me with no result. I started keeping track again yesterday of what I ate, water I drank and weight. I am going to do it everyday and try to start walking as soon as the wind stops. I lost 12 pounds last time I did this, without a lot of exercise, so if I add extra walking, that should help a lot. I have been lost in a huge sink hole and I am dragging myself out, inch by inch. That's the only way I can describe it.

I am trying to do a few things on here before Ariana gets up. So much to do and not time it seems. Tonight is Adelina's 3rd Grade program. It has a circus theme. She is an acrobat. I will be curling her hair and putting sparkles and glitter, along with make up on her. She is excited. She always wants to wear makeup and I don't let her except for home. I told her she can wait to wear a little in Junior High. That's when I did. Kids try to grow up too fast these days.

Giuseppe had to sign up for classes for next year - 10th grade. I got to sign off on it. He gets golf pictures today, and I had to pay for the golf shirt. It's so expensive to be in anything it seems. At least we don't have to pay for membership at the golf course. That is outragous.

I have also been trying to get more added to eBay - to make some money that is needed around here. I can't believe how much crap we have collected! I could add in my store forever. Sad. My goal is to clean out the house and get things organized. I have too many projects started. I need to finish them before I keep adding more! Bad Suzanne! I always do that. I need someone to come and get me into gear. One of those organizational clean up shows? LOL

I have lots more recipes to get added to the Recipe Corner. I really need to work on some graphics for my graphic site. It's been very neglected. The St. Patrick's Day stuff needs to come down as well. I am behind. What's new, lol. I better go. Have a very wonderful day!

10

I came across some goofy stories - Boy wins rights to tropical island in lottery ~~ Man caught entering Spain with cocaine leg cast

I am so behind on posting. The time gets away from me. We have had some beautiful weather, until the past few days. It got near 80 last week! Crazy! Today it's supposed to be 31. BRRRR! We had a slight dusting of snow. I am very ready for spring. Hubby started cleaning up the backyard and getting ready for our garden. He and Ariana planted some red onions.

I have created another site - Suzanne's Recipe Corner. I hope you will stop by and visit. Please send me any recipes or tips and I will gladly add them to the site! I have so much I want to do with it, just need time to get it done!

My son Giuseppe joined Golf in school last week. There are three freshman on the team and the rest are upper classman. He has a busy week - he is in FFA - Future Farmers of America and tomorrow they are having an Ag day at the fairgrounds. Lots of businesses will participate along with the FFA members for a day of Agriculture. Not sure all they will do - have to get the scoop from him. Thursday an Friday he will be helping my hubby and Father-In-Law get ready for a Bull Sale. My Father-In-Law has a farm and every year he sells some bulls at the sale. This will be Giuseppe's first time. He is nervous, but excited I think. Next week, Montana starts intramural football in 6th grade. It's for two weeks, but gives the boys a tast for next year when they can join the regular team. The high school coach will be heading it. He loves football! They say the kids will learn passing, blocking kicking, teamwork, full contact football, leadership, punting, receiving, and tackling. It's free and good exercise too, so works for me! His hope is to be a professional football player when he grows up. I told him he needs a back-up plan - he said a Physical Education teacher and a coach at a school. Giuseppe wants to work in some kind of hunting/fishing field. We will see what happens!

Ariana has been fighting a cold and we finally took her to the doctor when it didn't seem to be getting better. They said she has a touch of pneumonia! Some antibiotics and she will fine they say. Thankfully it wasn't severe! They gave her a nasty medicine - 5 day antibiotics, but it tasted horrible. We got a new prescription for a yummy amoxicillan. She's happily taking that. She goes back for a check-up Thursday. The kids don't have school Thursday or Friday - the High School basketball team is heading to the state competition, so they gave everyone Thursday off to go, and Friday was already scheduled for late winter break, along with Monday too. Then next Friday no school for parent-teacher conferences. That's way too many days off. I will go crazy, lol.

Adelina is continuously grounded to her room - the girl has a messier room than anyone I have ever seen! She is also getting to be a smart-mouthed, sassy, snotty girl! Like several people say teens are. Not sure what is up with it. I have tried talking to her, punishing, etc. I sure hope that when she gets older she mellows out. She isn't always like that, but a lot of the time she is. At school she does well, thankfully. I may have to attack her room when she isn't home and remove some things. I am so tired of the battle. Now if her Dad or step-Dad told her to do something, I bet there wouldn't be such a battle. I want to scream!!!

Thank you so much Kia and Zeno for this wonderful award!


Okay, I better go. Have a super week! I will be by to visit when Ariana naps today or tomorrow. She's waking up now. I have to go to town in a bit. Giuseppe has to get a sports physical and I need to do my little Hallmark merchandising job.

Some graphics by Mable's Makings, Kellie's Creations, The Doll House, Primsical Cuties, No Longer Online, and Whispy Hollow Graphics.