I have to tell you - I am kinda flippin' out today about gas going to $3.75 a gallon. I can't believe this. Last week it cost me $63.00 to fill up last week. I can't wait to fill up this week! How scary is all this price increase stuff. I received an email from friend the other day about food prices and how they have and are sky rocketing! The article suggested stock piling your pantry. I know - because no matter where we shop it seems like we can't get out of the store for less than $130.00...... Steve and I are VERY fortunate because more than likely we aren't going to lose our jobs during this mess but think of all the people that have and will lose their jobs during this mess. I just scares me to think of all the people without jobs and having a hard time providing for their families. I guess since I saw the movie The Pursuit of Happyness - it really makes you think about that.

You all know I talk about being "Green" - well I am a greenie with a gas guzzlin' machineeeee...... I drive one of those nice SUV's that get 16 miles to the gallon. A couple of months back we thougth about getting rid of it.... the value of it went waaaayyyyy down...... so I would lose my ass. Then I feel I need the room for the family. I love that it fits ALL of us comfortably and with the 3rd row seating - we can even take an extra. So, I decided to keep it. So, now it's really not worth anything and gas is going thru the roof! We do drive Steve's car alot when it's just the 3 of us. So that helps.

Received another interesting email today about reuseable water bottles - those heavy plastic kind ( I have several of them) I have been promoting using some sort of refillable bottle instead of buying bottle water all the time and now some of the bottles seem to be leaking unsafe shit in our water. http://www.enviroblog.org/2008/04/cheatsheet-bisphenol-a-bpa.htm Check out the link and read up. Seems stainless steel bottles are the way to go. I will have to get one and check them out.

We had the big kids last night. Riley forgot his spelling words again last night and Steve made him write 30 sentences. That is one of our punishments for our kids - writing sentences..... if our kids are misbehavin' and you want them to straighten up RIGHT NOW - tell them they are going to be writing - and POOF - new kids appear. They hate that punishment. So, it works really good for us for leverage. Riley has been told several times to bring the spelling list every time he comes to our house but yet frequently forgets the list.......so, after homework last night he was writing. Each time he doesn't bring the list the sentences go up by 10 and the sentence gets longer...... someday he will remember! It may take 150 sentences but he will get it!

Ashley was so excited to get a B on her math test which brought up her horrible math grade to a C-. We were very happy for her but then at the same time concerned for the F on her science test that she can(yes can) use her notes on....... WOW! Sometimes......13 year olds......

Piper was her usual happy, mean self. Kinda hard to keep her entertained because we had to stay inside. She still did pretty good for having cabin fever. I think tonight even though it is chilly out we will probably have to hit the bike for alittle bit.

I think this might be one of those "freak out" with all the bad info days for me. I better not watch the news tonight......I feel anixety kickin' in!

We had a great weekend. Friday night we ate chickin' wings and cheese fries....yummy! We did our Target run. We had birthday presents to buy - plus our normal load! You should've seen some of the people checking me out at Target. I had toys galore in my cart and Piper sitting in the seat and you could just tell that they thought I was buying my kid all those toys! HA! Jokes on them! But I did get her a toy to put back for her birthday or Christmas. They had the little people farm on sale for $20 so i snagged that up. And heck - maybe I will give it to my niece instead for Christmas. But it was a good deal so I bought it. We headed home and put Jr. to bed and watched Charlie Wilson's War. It was a good movie. It is another true story one and I like those.

Also, on Friday night we took Piper's bike(tricycle) home. You should've seen her face. She was like "IS THAT FOR ME" and she was on it! I thought she wouldn't be able to push the bell thing on it.....sorry for us. Daddy showed her how to do that and guess what we hear all the time now! She loves it! I think it cured her urge for the "bike" thing instead of the plastic ride on thing.... although she was still playing and riding those too!

Saturday we did the grocery store before the party. Then headed to the party. MAN - the birthday party was fun but busy. Lots of people. The birthday girl was adorable! She seemed to enjoy opening her presents. It was cute! Then after the birthday party we all just stayed there for the cookout! Again, people - people everywhere. BUT lots of fun too! It was nice to see my cousins from Dallas. I can't remember the last time before now it was when I saw them. Very nice to see all my family. And we will see most of them again this coming weekend because it is my niece Norah's 1st birthday party on Saturday too. And that will be another party with TONS of people. I hope for decent weather for my brother and sister in law. They have a nice yard, outbuilding and it will be great if people can be outside!

Yesterday was just nice. It wasn't so nice weather wise. Just a nice day for us. We slept in. Steve went biking late morning - early afternoon. Piper and I did some stuff around the house and then played outside. (of course she had to ride her bike!) and when Steve got home he did some back yard work and I did alittle(just a very little) and then we went to get ice cream. Piper hasn't had that much so we were sure she would love it....well, she ate some but I think she is going to be like Steve and I - not real big ice cream fans! After that we headed back home and just relaxed outside - Piper and Steve worked on his bike and she played some. Just kinda a relaxing day. I had a bit of a headache that just got worse as the evening wore on. By bedtime I was a wreck. But its better today. Still there a bit - but better.

Something I really want to do this summer is just take time to enjoy life. Not always be rushing from here to there to here to there. Just do fun things outside. I really want Piper to experience fun like I did as a kid. The bikes, the swingset, the slide, the bugs, etc. It's hard when we work all week and have to get our errands done during the weekend - plus try to enjoy ourselves but some errands and shopping is just going to have to wait. I want to swim more this summer and work on my flowers more this summer. Between being pregnant and having an infant my flowers haven't had much attention. I just want to do "family" fun things.

Another thing..... you should see Piper, Norah and Paige at this point together. IT IS GOING TO BE FUN! I can NOT wait for them to all grow up and bit and be able to go crazy together! I am so excited that Piper will have cousins her age to grow up with. Thanks guys for having your babies close to mine! I have so many fond memories of my cousins when we would all get together - I am so glad Piper will have memories like those. And I am glad for Norah and Paige too! (although I am sure they are going to have siblings close in age.....is that going to be soon?????)

Everybody ready for the weekend????? Boy, I am. Sounds like it is going to be a busy one. We are eating supper out tonight and going to Target. Plus I rented Charlie Wilson's War for tonight.

Then tomorrow it's my cousin's little girl's birthday party and cook out with the family afterward. I just can't wait for this family event. I am so looking forward to seeing all my relatives but - I haven't seen my relatives from Dallas in like FOREVER. So, it will be really nice to get to see them and all their kids - come to think of it - I have never seen any of their kids in person and they haven't seen mine! That's just plain crazy!

Sunday it's laundry, cleaning, etc., etc. and Steve is biking. So POOF the weekend will be over before we know it.

We took Piper to the park last night. MAN did she love it. She had a blast. It was fun to see her play on the stuff and with the other kids. She is so social I tell you. She was going up to all these little kids and trying to get them to follow her and then she would follow them and play with them. I think she might need a brother or sister......that is around all the time....... I guess that isn't going to happen. We are selling the baby stuff in the garage sale this year. I have asked to make sure we are done and I just get the look of death......

We started watching the "Earth Day" Oprah last night. COOL information....... if you have it recorded - get it watched. If you don't but can catch the replay of it. Take the time and watch it. What I have seen so far, is filled with lots of information. Every little bit we can do will help the earth that our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to live on long after all of us!

I was able to get a walk/run in last night after Piper went to bed. I jogged more than I thought I could! I was totally gasping for air by time I got home - but hey - I was able to jog further than I thought. It is so hard for me - when I was in high school (yes I know that was 18 years ago or better) I could run - no problem and run fast better than further. Shit - not now. I am happy to get from one corner to the next..... The funniest thing I thought of last night was I was running on the flats of my feet. When I was young (yes, again I know I am old) I ran on my tippy toes.... I tried that last night ummmmmm...... it didn't last too long! It hurt my old legs...... I was whipping my husband's butt at the challenge and I looked today and we are neck in neck. You know part of the problem for BOTH of us.... WE WALK TOGETHER AT WORK ALL THE TIME! I guess we will just have to tie!

What a beautiful week here in Indiana! You couldn't ask for much nicer weather than we have had and boy....does it lift your spirits! Not really much going on this week. Just been enjoying the outside.

On Monday I had a neighborhood association meeting. I am the president and Steve is the first lady.....anyway - had a meeting. It was a nice meeting. The University of St. Francis is in our backyard and they sent a gentleman to come talk at our meeting to give us their "30" year plan for the university. I hope the best for them. Not too much construction on our side of the campus but I also hope we don't live in our house for the next 30 years. I would like to upgrade sometime between now and then!!!

Tuesday- Steve washed the vehicles after supper and Piper played outside.

Yesterday we had the big kids. We received an email from Riley's teacher yesterday saying that he was not trying his hardest and was not getting the grades he should be getting.... so, that boy got a talking to last night. Steve and I both told him we were not mad at him - it's not about being mad - just disappointed because we know he can do so much better than the report we received. Somehow we have to find a way to get that boy motivated and KEEP him motivated....usually it's money......and we told him if he makes the honor roll we will give him $50 but for some reason (spring weather) he is having alittle problem keeping focused. MAN - I can't tell you how MUCH we just want them to do in school and go on to college so that they can have good jobs to support themselves and their families. And have a good life with that. Not one that they have to struggle to feed their families, and clothe them. You know what mean... all parents feel this way.

Tonight I am hoping to take Piper to the park. Steve wants to go try out the bike trails - so hopefully - the plan is to maybe grab something and go eat at the park for a picnic. Then her and I can play while daddy goes biking! I think this will be her first time at the park. I will have to take pictures......

I am looking forward to the weekend. We have a 1st birthday party on Saturday for my cousin's little girl and then a cookout with what sounds like my whole mom's side of the family. My relatives that I haven't seen in forever are here from Dallas. It will be fun to see everybody. Then of course we are going to have to have a movie night. I want to see Charlie Wilson's War. And a Target run..... have to get those 1st birthday presents!

HAPPY EARTH DAY! Have you hugged your tree hugger today????? You should see my little girl today--- while at Wal-Mart the other night - they had Earth Day shirts made out of organic cotton. So, OF COURSE mom and dad had to get her one of those(actually 2). So, today Piper has her shirt on that says Lil' Tree Hugger! She looks adorable!

You know - one thing I want to say about being "green" - you don't have to do ALL green stuff....just change a couple of things or one for that fact. There are somethings I just can't change (yet) like shutting off the water while I brush my teeth....can't do that yet.... BUT we all can recycle cans???? Can't we??? And I am telling you all - buy the reuseable bags.... I love ours and so does Steve. Everytime we use them - he always says that would've been 5 plastic bags and we have 2 reuseable bags. It's great. And I don't have to worry about seeing them in MY TREE BEHIND MY HOUSE....... and if you use the plastic bags (which we still do sometimes) RECYCLE THEM. I don't know about all Wal-Mart's but our Wal-Mart has a place right inside the door to drop them off....come on.... you all can do that. Check out these different reuseable bags I found...http://www.dodobags.com/ Stop buying the damn bottled water (unless you are somewhere you can't get any other) I have a link on my link list called filter for life... check out the damage we do by buying the bottled water!

When you think about all the "little" stuff each one of us could do that could make the world a cleaner - greener planet for our kids, grandkids, families and friends.... isn't a few minutes of your time worth it for all those people.

Something else everyone should consider.... getting off all those crappy mailing list. How many days to you get soooo much shit in the mail and you just throw all the paper away (or recycle it like you should) I think about 6 months ago I signed up to get my name off all those mailing list. I can NOT believe how much less of shit mail I get.... https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t Here is the link to the place where I signed up. I know that there are several others out there. GO FOR IT. Do you even read that shit you get.... and think about it this way - you won't have all that mail to go thru everyday! Here is a quote from a website I belong too.....If all 211,000 Biters cut their catalog intake by 100%, we'll avert CO2 equal to taking 1,393 cars off the roads for a year. See alittle change to make a big impact....

Also, another no brainer.... CFL lightbulbs. Less energy, helps the enviroment and they last longer than the .99 pack that you buy at Dollar General. Come on..... do it..... check out this website I visit often for CFL info...http://green.yahoo.com/18seconds/;_ylt=Asp4Eitw5igixRbafz9cYeiAV8cX Another no brainer and yes I know about the disposal of the CFL's being alittle different than just throwing them away go to http://www.earth911.org/ to check out the way to recycle them or dispose of them. It all just takes alittle time and TRUST me once you start the switch with some of these things you don't have the time difference anymore because its "just like you use to do" because NOW it is the way you do it! The light is alittle different with CFL but it takes NO TIME to get use to it.

Did you all know that we have an Indiana Living Green website and magazine???? Check this shit out on the net sometime...http://www.indianalivinggreen.com/index.php?option=com_magazine&Itemid=1 and sometime just sit down and do a search on recycle, green website, etc. you will NOT believe what you can find.

We started buying organic of somethings. Here is alittle info in regards to organic fruits, etc. Look for the labels stuck on your fruits and veggies:
A four-digit number means it's conventionally grown.
A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic.
A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's GM.

And I found this article in regards to what to buy organic and what doesn't matter http://green.msn.com/galleries/photos/photos.aspx?gid=164

OK for those of you that don't believe in Global Warming, going green, etc., etc., etc., maybe it is all shit ( I don't believe that) but even if it is - changing these things in your life won't be that hard and what if it ISN'T all shit and they were right all along - THEN YOU WOULD'VE MADE A DIFFERENCE!!

OF COURSE there is an Oprah show today - but check out the suggestions for ways (little ways) to change....http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200704/20070420/slide_20070420_350_111.jhtml?promocode=MSNgogreenRLss

You know what - if you don't want to do it for your family - please do it for mine!

WOW! What a weekend. I will start with Friday..... at 5:39 I felt the house start to move in a way I have never felt it before. At first I thought Gunnar was panting and shaking our bed but then our big dog started to go crazy. He was barking and running up and down the stairs. And the earthquake woke up Steve to which he said - What the hell is going on and I said "We are having an earthquake" to which he said "Yeah I think you are right" and rolled over and went back to sleep!

The plan for Friday was we were going to work until 11: 30 and then go get Piper and come home and be in Huntington by 2. Well, in the middle of the night on Thursday I woke up sweating my butt off. So I put our little fan in the window to bring in some cooler air....with that cooler air it brought in the sinus headaches for both of us. Steve's was worse than mine but I still didn't feel good and I wanted to make sure we got rid of our headaches before we had to leave for Indy. So I called in for both of us and we both took meds and went back to bed.

We were alittle late getting to Huntington. But dropping Piper off at Grammy and Grandpa's went pretty smooth. We took her out to play and then we left while she was out there playing so she could've cared less that we left. I am happy to report there were NO tears from mommy when we left. I did get choked up in the afternoon while packing her stuff but I was fine when we dropped her off. Grammy let her play outside all night it sounds like. She ate good for them and she had alittle trouble sleeping. She doesn't know that she is suppose to sleep when you stick her in a kingsize bed. But she ended up sleeping and getting up early the next morning. It sounded like the grandparents had a great time with her being there. And now that I have left her over night I am already for another night!!! I told Steve yesterday coming home I could have another day already.....

We headed to Indy and got to our hotel around 4ish. We dropped off all our stuff and headed downtown to shop and cruise around. We hit the circle center mall and walked around and we were hungry at 5 so we headed to the Weber Grill. We did have reservations for 6 but they were able to seat us early. It was pretty good food and we each had a couple of beers so that was relaxing too. After dinner we went back to the mall for dessert. I had a tollhouse cookie and Steve ate a cinnabon. It was nice. I did call home at that time to check on my brat. Just because we were heading to the concert and I didn't want to call from there and once it started I wasn't going to call. Piper was fine. Outside playing and having a ball.

The concert was GREAT! Michael Buble` is a nerdy cute guy. I think even Steve didn't mind it once he started. It was so nice to be away and just have some us time and even just some me time too. We planned to sleep in on Saturday and just take our time. Well, Ashley calls us at 6:45 to see if we went to the concert last night....DUH! She knew we were going and staying in Indy that is why their mom traded us weekends. Sometimes I think she takes a "NO COMMON SENSE" pill every morning. But I wasn't ready to get up yet so I went back to sleep and slept till 8:45 which meant by time we both go cleaned up we missed the free breakfast. Oh well. I am glad I didn't know the breakfast hours for sure because then I would've gotten up early and not slept in and took my time. We stopped at Cracker Barrel and ate a huge breakfast and headed for Huntington.

Last night I didn't feel like doing much. Just been doing laundry and trying to get it done and put away for the week. I was so mad last night. I was hungry for pizza and this little pizza joint down the street sounded good to me so we headed out for pizza. It took forever to get it and after we ate it make me feel sick. It was really greasy. It makes me so mad when something sounds good and after you get it - it sucked and it cost us $36 for the pizza that was shit! I just should've made myself make a homemade one and save us the stomach ache and MONEY!! I get pissed when we eat out and the food sucks. I can make sucky food at home! We came home and Piper played outside for a bit and then it was bath and bedtime.

We watched Juno last night. It was a good movie. I really hope that Piper isn't as witty as that 16 year old girl was. She had lots of little one liners to throw right back at everybody. Good movie - if you haven't seen it - check it out.

Today Steve is up doing trail maintenance on the trail in Winona Lake. I hope he comes home with some info about Eric. Steve and I speculated the WHOLE way to Indy from Huntington on WHY Eric would've done something like this. We came up with many different scenarios but still none that we would've EVER expected behavior like this from our friend. If we get any info I will try to post it.

We received an update this afternoon on our Winona Lake friend...

"the swelling of the brain has gone down, they were able to re-analyze him, the bullet is in his skull and not his brain, he has extensive damage to his nasal passage, and his tongue is destroyed. They did surgery to fix his jaw, what they could to the tongue, his nasal passages and his eye, which it appears he’ll be blind in one of them. After surgery, the nurse asked him if he could hear and understand her, he squeezed her hands in confirmation. He will be in the hospital for the next 6 weeks probably recovering with a feeding tube, etc."

If you read Steve's blog sorry for the duplicate... if you read just my blog here is the update. You know -I know (of course I do) my husband is very opinionated at times but his blog today says it ALL! Please take a moment and read it.

This week is going so slow. I am sure it is because I am in anitpaction of Friday. The week always drags out when you have big plans for the weekend! Not much going on this week. We have no new news at this point on the story of our friend from Winona. I have looked on the internet and can't find any other stories other than what we have already read.

We had the big kids last night and they had crap loads of homework. The both worked before they ate supper and then after supper right up until time to leave to go back to their mom's house. I hate nights like that. Steve helps them with their homework and checks it when they get it done and he gets no break during that time and we know they hate doing homework the whole time they are there. Especially since it is getting nice out and all the neighborhood brat pak are out playing. That is what I call all the kids that are the big kids age that they hang with during the summer - The Brat Pak!

Piper was outside at the sitters a bunch yesterday and outside last night too. Her and I walked newsletters around our subdivision and then she played outside. I can't believe how much she loves the outside. She gets sooooo mad when you take her in. She is getting alittle better about the fit when you take her in - but she still throws a short one. I have been distracting her with food.... come on let's go have a bannana..... come on let's go have some gummies...food works every time with her!

Check out the leader board on the Nike Ipod board..... it looks like I am whooping his butt....but what it doesn't show is a mile walk he lost because his ipod quit working.....oh well..... I am kicking his butt right now. I don't really know how I am going to win at this because we walk together at work and at home - so how am I going to get more miles than him. I know go by yourself sometimes and that is what happened last night for my slight lead. Steve just keeps telling me "You are going down - You know I am going to kick your ass right??" All talk.....

I know you all know I can't wait for Friday night! Steve made us reservations for the Weber Grill for supper that night. The menu looks fantastic! I told him we need to make sure we eat a very small lunch so we can enjoy the place! It all looks great. A dinner alone, an evening alone and a night alone.... I just don't know what I am going to do. Steve says we will be on our way home at 6 am on Saturday. I am looking forward to sleeping in some without hearing a baby monitor and a dog in my face at 4:30 wanting to go outside. So, hopefully that won't be the case!

I have to say some days are just tooooo hard to take. While listening to the news on the radio last night on the way home from work I about had an anixety attack I think..... there was NOTHING good in the news. All these killings, drug bust, kids being abused, etc, etc, I just wanted to jump out of the moving vehicle. I just freak out sometimes knowing that the world is like it is today and I have kids that are going to grow up in this society. I think about taking them home and keeping them in their own little world and away from all this chaos. I should start my own compound. But then I think about teaching them about this chaos and life and some how teaching them to be stronger than all of it and make a difference in the world. That is really my goal as a mother.

If you don't normally read my husband's blog... please check it out today. He has a story about a friend of ours from the bike trails up in Winona. I am just devestated about this story. I think Steve and I both are very bummed and just beside ourselves about this story. I can not imagine what would push our friend to behave like this. And that is the hard thing for me... I want to know WHY he did this - WHY ??? There has to be some reason. Maybe it was drugs. I can't imagine that but it would explain the behavior. I just can't quit thinking about it and praying for him to make it. I am so thankful he didn't complete what he apparently set out to do!

The only good thing...... is it is days closer to our night away. I can't wait.

A Piper funny last night. I was giving her her bath. I was working on teaching her again about brushing her teeth. So, I got my toothbrush out and I was showing her while she was sitting in the tub. She then wanted my toothbrush so I let her have it. I was fine with her "brushing" her teeth but when she started to put it in the bath water.... I took it from her hand quickly. To which she replied" Be Nice" well, so with that not talking much thing...... she is starting to say and talk more. She still isn't there yet but it is really starting to sound like words and a few word sentences. And with that little snappy comment from last night I learned I may not always want to hear what she has to say!! And another funny about that is WE ALWAYS TELL HER TO BE NICE! like when she is petting the dogs, trying to hit you in the face, etc.... so she is learning something. I just have to hold out hope she doesn't say a curse word next!!!

Only walked yesterday during breaks at work. I don't want to come out of the gates running and kill myself the first week. I did plan to walk last night. But I ran to the library to return my books from a couple of weeks ago and pick up the next book in the Blossom series of Debbie Macomber. And Piper was crabby and just wanted to piddle in the garage and yard so no walk last night. I will have to go tonight though - I had out newsletters for part of our addition and they have to be delivered by tonight!

The weekend is over! How short was that???? Some highlights from the weekend.....

Saturday was Riley's birthday. He turned 11! We had a small birthday party for him in the afternoon. He received lots of nice presents and Money! The kid is rich! Then after the party was breaking up and we were getting hungry I had decided that we would all go down to Coney Island and chow down. I don't really care a bunch for this place but I need my once a year fix.... So we all head down in a couple of cars.... My parents and brother and his family in their cars, our family and Steve's dad in our car. When we rounded the corner by this bar on main street and we were all talking about the bar..... there were 2 naked.... YES naked guys running in to the bar but turned around once they got at the door and we got to see their front side along when the moon before! At least they weren't so drunk that they didn't forget to cover their junk in the front!!!! I have to admit I was alittle disappointed. The kids were grossed out and Ashley said she couldn't eat now.... drama! It was so funny! And of course when we left Coney Island - the kids said - hey lets go back down by that bar dad!!!! That made for a very rememberable night!

Sunday we took Riley to Applebee's for his birthday meal and went to Target. The ever faithful weekly trip to Target. But Riley wanted to go too... with all his birthday money.... We got him a Nintendo DS for his birthday and he wanted to buy a case to protect it. Ashley swept out the vehicles Sunday morning for money so she would have some to spend. She is the kinda kid that if she has a dollar she has to spend it right NOW! And Riley hell that kid can pull out his wallet at any given time and have $50 in it!

So mama just did laundry and housework this weekend. I didn't do alot of cooking this weekend. I will have to make up for it this week! I like not having to cook but feel very quilty when we eat out a bunch.

Ok - so I am thinking of doing this 4 mile run/walk in September that they are having here in Ft. Wayne. I am afraid to say I am going to do it and then not complete it! Steve just thinks that is crazy. See, I know I can walk the 4 miles....but I would like to run the 4 miles or atleast the larget majority of it. So, I am going to start beefing up my walking excerising and hopefully start jogging some too. You can register now and get a $5 savings or wait and register clear up till the race date. So, my ever supportive husband said "Start training and then see if you what you want to do" So, I am going to take his advice. And I believe he is going to do it with me. So to kick off our training.... we both have nike+ipod for our ipods....I know you are shocked! But with this little wonder we can do a challenge against each other - so for the next 30 days... we are in a challenge to see who and run/walk the most miles in 30 days.... So, come on all you Life as a Weber fans out there help cheer me along!

I love the sunshine!!! It just makes me feel like a different person! So much has happened in the last week I tell you. Well, I survived my melt down....... the rest of the week went ok. Steve has still be fighting his cold or sinus shit - whatever it is. He even stayed home on Monday this week to go to the doctor. The doctor gave him anitbotics and a shot in the ass. Well, the shot must have given him ENERGY....when he was suppose to be resting.... he painted the trim around the door, the new front door ( I will tell you about that later) and did a whole bunch of other stuff around the house! I was very thankful for his hard work BUT yet I wanted him to rest so he can get better.

On Saturday and Sunday the handyman came and put in our new front door and storm door. They are beautiful and you can't imagine the light that now is in our living room! I love it! The door has some navy blue and green colored stained glass in the door and it is so pretty when the sun comes thru it. Of course, it was a bitch to put in... the handyman had all kinds of things go wrong but in the end - it's in and really pretty! I was a bit more expensive then we thought it would be but worth every penny!

No pool for the Weber's until they get our new liner in. The liner is trashed. It popped and tore from the top to the bottom. So right now we are pumping all the water out of the pool. Steve has been cleaning up the back yard and its finally looking nice. We still have some stuff we want to do to it this year but it is going to have to warm up a bit more!

The weather was great last week and so far this week and my daughter loves to be outside.... she is a playing fool right now. She gets all honked off at me when I make her go in! And I can't believe what a dirty little pig she is by the end of the day! Her face the other night was completely covered in dirt! It was funny.

We had Ashley and Riley on Monday night. I was glad to see them. Riley was torqued off at me for making him practice his spelling words. He is now doing spelling with him class and not the remedial class so he has a ton more words and they are a bit harder. I explained to him that I just wanted him to do good for himself because I know how it makes him feel when he does good - he changed his attitude immediately! It was amazing. He told me he was just tired. I think the first day back after spring break just wiped him out. Ashley was just concerned with telling me how she needed new shoes for her mom's! Ashley thought this boy - Drake- was going to ask her out.... well, he told her he didn't want to ruin their friendship so he wasn't go to go with her. I was shocked that a 7th grader thought of that! She seemed to understand and seemed fine with it.

Riley is going to be 11 this weekend. BOY that doesn't seem possible. He was 3 when Steve and I started dating. Man I don't know where the time has gone. And now POOF it is happening again right before my eyes with my own brat!

We watched the movie Dan In Real Life over the weekend. What a good show. It was alittle depressing since the guy can't catch a break but still very real life like!!

Only a little over a week and mommy and daddy get their night away!! It will be the first time I have left my daughter over night...... I am excited but yet I know when the time comes.... I probably won't be as excited! She is staying with Grammy and Grandpa and they are as excited about her staying as I am about going away for a night! Steve is sooooo excited about going to see Micael Buble`. I know he can't wait. I know I can't wait.....

THIS WEEK HAS SUCKED! If you are looking for a happy post----move on to another blog because I am in a mood! Piper is sick, Steve is sick....I stayed home Monday from work to be home with her and stayed home today to recall the dr. and get some medicine and he said to wait it out a few more days....I hate when my family is sick....Piper hasn't been sleeping all night thru so I am tired too...then we are trying to get the pool ready to open and we turned on the outside faucet and we went outside for just a few and when we came back in the kitchen was flooded....the outside faucet has a leak and its a mess.....it ruined several of my books that were in a bookcase...and our pool liner was all jacked up when we took the cover off this year - we are getting a new one so we may not even get to swim until the first week of June when they replace the liner....us and Steve's family are getting calls from bill collectors for his EX-WIFE.... I have NEVER had a bill collector EVER call my house and NOW they are calling because of his EX-WIFE.... nice -thanks.....the guy was suppose to come today and put in the the new door.... he called and is sick too.... I thought that Corelle ware was unbreakable.... well, we found out different tonight..... we broke a plate...so we had that mess to clean up.....my house is messy.....full of shit but plus as I looked around today I saw cobwebs and just dust everywhere, dog hair..... the carpets need cleaned, the windows need cleaned....just need to clean....I wish I had a room to make a playroom for Piper.....her toys are everywhere in our living room..... Piper is kinda turning in to a pill at bedtime.....she won't lay still why you are trying to rock her and when I stick her in bed she cries.....I hope it is just because she hasn't been feeling well....I feel fat....I need new clothes and just dread looking for new clothes because I hate shopping when I feel this way......I want a new hairstyle but I have no idea what I want or need.....I really, really want to quit biting my fingernails....I can't.....I am 36 years old and I remember biting them since at least 5 (maybe before that too)....I read on the internet last night that something like only 3% of people that bite their nails are over 18....I guess I am in the 3% of those goofballs.....I want more time for everything.....I want more energy too....I feel like I don't have enough time and what time I have I often waste(hence a good book)....we don't get to see Ashley and Riley at ALL this week...I forgot Earth Hour on Saturday...... I had the best intention and just plain spaced it...I wish our weather would break.....I need to feel the warmth and see the sunshine everyday.....I need to kick the Pepsi habit again.....Just like biting my fingernails and being fat - I don't do very well with willpower......I need to quit eating out lunch everyday....again with the willpower.....

Ok enough complaining! (or whining some of you may feel) As you can read above it hasn't been the best week at our house....it could always, always be worse.