Once a year, my daughter goes to her Mimi's house (my mom) and I get to refresh myself.  I really love this time because I literally never send Anna away.  By this time I am usually totally spent.  Ok, way before this time actually!   I love how the convention helps inspire and motivate me to keep on going.  This year one of the speakers was Carol Barnier. She was there a few years ago and I loved her. 

During our lunch break yesterday, we headed on over to a Thai Restaurant nearby.  The food as usual, was pretty good. 

I had the Coconut Chicken soup

and Pineapple chicken with rice

Hubby had the Hot spicy squid

On the way home we stopped at McD's for a burger and then Dairy for a chocolate dipped ice cream cone.  Oh my word those things are huge! 

Then we came home and took a 3 hour nap!  Totally unusual for me. 

I did not attempt to do any major cleaning sadly.  However that is ok.  I hope to start tomorrow off nice and early with some motivation.  Monday is usually ‘recover from the weekend’ day.. in which we are easy on schooling and focus a bit on cleaning. 

We are about to leave to go get Anna in a few minutes.  I will try to do better with blogging.  I really need to start recording precious moments more often. 

Oh yes, today is company day. You see.. being a homeschooling stay at home mom.. I don't see adults personally much. One day a week another homeschooling mom comes to visit. She used to be a SAHM also.. but she has been a working mom now for the last couple of years. However, our visits do not change. They just get harder to find the time for sometimes.

She sees our visits as relaxation time. Just a few hours where she does not have to rush about.. worrying about this or that. I want her to be able to come and just relax and enjoy her time here. I love to be able to cook up something nice for us. The kids are easy.. they like Ramen, hot dogs, or mac and cheese.. oh and tuna also. Sometimes I like to try new things on my friend. I need to get back to that because I have been slacking. Although last week was polish sausages and potato salad (my salad was um.. undercooked..)..

For me, her visits means.. There is an adult in the room!! Other than my husband that is.. who works from home.. or my son who is technically an adult now. But honestly.. another mom, a homeschooling one at that. A wife and mom who understands my frustrations, goals and worries. Another mom who enjoys spending time with me. Someone I have known and cared about for 9 years! I met her at La leche when I was pregnant for Anna.. and we have grown close ever since.

So today, I am thankful for my friend Stephanie. Who has always stuck by me and never gave up on our friendship.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

It's time for "Get Your Vlog on" with Lizzie B.  Today I decided to talk about Anna's favorite item in the entire world.  Please share your stories or even suggestions.  I can't imagine her taking this thing along with her when she enters college!
Want to join in?  Click on the icon above and meet Lizzie B.

Today was kinda of a busy day.. although almost two hours was just sitting at McDonalds.   Annaleah had a ballet rehearsal today.  There have been some intense practicing to get ready for her performance next Sunday.  After her rehearsal we had a 4 hour wait til it was time to pick up her pictures.  So we went to Borders and looked around during rehearsal.  After picking her up we headed to McDonald's so we could just kill time and let her play in the play area.I was a bit frustrated with the place.. Hubby mentioned that I should really vlog about it.. and since I am trying to be more comfortable with the camera.. I decided to go ahead and just do it. After leaving we headed to ToysRUs to pick up Ethan's birthday gifts.  I hope he likes them.  I still can't believe he is going to be 3!Then we waiting in the parking lot til it was our time to go in and get the pics.  Now I was a bit nervous.  I know 2 years ago it cost us about 150.00 for her 2 classes.  This time she is in 3.  I budgeted about 200.. but prayed it wouldn't be that much.  I know I know.. you must think we are nuts!  That is alot of money on pics.  However, I can not sit and choose which ones I want to keep.. she looks good in all of them!So we got our tickets that were pre-ordered.. Then got in line for the pictures.  When our turn came .. the lady put down 7 different poses (2 sheets each.. 1 8x10 and another with 1 3x5 and 4 wallets) and 3 group shots.  that is 17 sheets.  I was thinking.. "oh man, I am in trouble"  .. the lady said.. 400.00 for all.I almost died. Then she said she was kidding.  127.00.  I said.. "for all?" .. yep.  "Ok, I will take it".. lol. Thankfully Angel was pleased as well.  When we got to the van I told him 400 is what she said.. and the look on his face was priceless.  He really wanted all poses and is very pleased with the price we paid.I couldn't scan the pics so I tried to take a pic of the pic.. (confusing yet? lol) Here is just a few..

We are home now.. hubby is now sleeping because he has to work from about 1:30am til noon tomorrow I think.  He needs sleep.  Next week we will be busy with all the rehearsals .. dress rehearsals included.  I will be happy when this is over to be honest.  Although I do love her performance.. but I am grateful it is only every other year.Thank you all for the prayers for my dad.  He is finally home and happy to be there.  He could definitely use more prayers as he is not completely healed.I will leave you with a video of Ethan taken yesterday.  About 30 seconds after I shut off the camera his left hand was covered in paint.  He moves fast! 

My Mother's day was a quiet one.  It started with me attacking my laptop.  It was running a bit slow so I decided to move all the past pictures to our external hard drive (The Book).  I have a habit of hoarding pics and I have alot of pictures.  Which took forever to transfer..

While the files were transferring I decided to make breakfast.  I knew that I would be alone this morning because my hubby worked all night til about 6am.. and my son didn't get home from work til around 3am.  So I made myself some eggs, sausages, hash browns and english muffins. 

It is rare that I get big breakfast these days.  So it was nice. Oh and of course hot cocoa to go with it all. After the family woke it was time get ready for a friend's birthday at the ice rink.  Anna had been there once, over a year ago.. but had used the kiddie bar.  This time she was too big and was going to have to try on her own.  The funny thing was digging out the hat and gloves..

She still does that Sailor Moon pose.. lol She did a great job at the rink.  I ended up taking a few small video clips.  I am so proud of her.

The birthday boy received a water gun from us.. a huge one.  I loved that he just wanted to use it right then and there..it was kind of funny to watch is mom trying to convince him he has to wait.. and he is still grabbing every opportunity to snatch that gun.. Mom did win though.. and soon he was asking me where it was.  You just gotta love little boys. 

Anna had an interesting school day.. first I had been fighting with my laptop.. which seems to be better right now. 
Then I did a rushed Monday Mingle.  By the time we started school.. we were a bit late.  So I decided to shake it up a bit. 
I wrote a numbered list of each subject. Then took out 9 cards (A-9) and she had to pick a card.. whichever card she picked.. that was our next subject. 
She was so aiming for Science each time.  She always does a great job when we switch off the normal school routine!I have been feeling a bit spoiled this week. 
My wonderful camera has been acting up for awhile.. so I have been researching for a new one. 
However I can not afford one with a 12x optical zoom like the one I have.  So I bought a smaller camera to substitute.
I plan on having someone look at my other camera and using the Fuji Finepix z70.  It is so cute and takes great pics! 
I will continue to use the older camera for those times when zooming is a must. 
So I have been having fun checking out the new cam. 
Last night we picked up a mini tripod and an extra battery..
I have to have battery backups.. there is nothing worse than your battery dying when you are out and about.

Saturday I was finally able to go visit my dad.  I got a few pics but none of him directly. 
He really doesn't like cameras and I wanted him to be as relaxed as possible. 
He was a little upset because he wanted to go home.  However the sutures are in bad shape. 
They were opening in some sections and appear to be infected.. So he had no choice but to stay.
 He is really serious about not going to rehab.  He wants to do it all at home.
While we were visiting my Uncles decided to bring my gram. 
She had been wanting to visit my dad.  It was really sweet to watch them..
She just stood there holding his hands or touching his feet.. anything she could do to let him know that she was there.

Right now I am alone.  I have been alone for about 3 hours now.  Most moms would say.. wow!  How Awesome!  I wish I can be alone..

I can not say the same..

I don't like being alone at all!

Yes, ok.. first thing in the morning.. I like it.. but it is only for an hour or two.  I can handle an hour or two.. I can't handle 3 hours..

I am feeling lonely

Even at night.. if Angel is working or sleeping.. I get lonely.  I even cry.. Angel doesn't even understand this.  I don't think anyone does. 

It is too quiet.
I don't want to turn on the tv
I have spent the last three hours watching things on You Tube..
like an old episode of Dawson's creek
and a video put together for the last episode..
which made me cry. 

Yep, I am odd
I don't like being alone. 
sigh..

Someone please come home soon! 

This is going to be a random bullet post.

• My dad is in the hospital
• kidney failure
• last week he had a tumor taken from his leg
• we visited him yesterday.. 
• he didn't look good
• mom found him this morning and called ambulance
• we also have no clean water
• it is brown
• we never got the notice that the town was flushing the system
• so we never prepared
• tonight was also photoshoot for ballet, tap and kids in motion
• oh my word.. I was not prepared
• fringes were hard..
• thankfully a mom came over to help
• then of course changing for the next two
• rush rush rush
• never mind the work I put into the bun 
• Anna's hair is so thin
• so I used a sock to give it substance .. lol
• so glad today is over
• please pray for my dad though.  
• I am very worried and trying to give it to God.  
• Thanks for listening if you got this far! 

Now I am sick.  The weather cooled down drastically last night which is bad for my allergies.  I ended up coughing all night long.  My throat is raw and I didn't sleep well at all.  I just drank my peppermint tea with honey, so I am feeling just a bit better.

I decided to try something different today...

~ First let me tell you, a movie of my life would be a pretty dull movie!  That is a hard question for me.  I haven't seen many of her movies lately but I always liked Sandra Bullock.  I think she would work.