Wednesday, March 27, 2013

So much...

...going on!!

I guess I missed a few weeks of blogging!!  Things have been busy to say the least!

We started the paperwork and FAFSA forms for Courtney to go to college!!!  We are probably looking at a Fall start for her, altho we arent counting out May yet, even if it is highly unlikely.
She is also motivated to work over the summer months... since she will have to pay for her own internet and cable while away at school.  Since we are forking the bill for some of the schooling. 

We are still nursing Quackers back to health...3rd round of antibiotics.  It's been quite the journey with her!!
Runway was spayed yesterday.  Brittany has been very attentive to taking extra good care of her!  Really, she has been a nervous wreck!!  LOL
We have an E-Lop in the house with boo boo ears... she sliced them under her nails. 

I may have FINALLY (2 yrs later) found the super rare ducks I have been searching for.  Fingers crossed that this "deal" works out!
We are thinking about (privacy) fencing in the upper part of the yard, where the coops are... and putting our "guardian dogs" to work at nite!!  Our neighbors have all kinds of wild life living in their fallen down garage... and something is really after our animals up there.  We lost another chicken. 

We have started our "Family Dinner" nights!!  It was nice to have everyone together last weekend!  I think everyone really enjoyed themselves!  Looking forward to the next one.

Looking into some advertising options for my shop.  Excited about that!

Switched to a different Chiropractor...  today was my first visit... I am happier already!

Nathan goes for his hunter safety course on Saturday!!

New truck tires are GREAT!!  Love them... and they do awesome in the snow.  Too bad I got to find that out in SPRING!  LOL!! 

Still loving my Land Rover!  Way better on fuel... ugly or not!  ;-)

Stacy has been hard at work on the Escort.  The body is off... and it is in the garage for its motor swap.  He had his steering parts custom made.  It shouldnt be long now!!! 

I've gone through hell and back with issues with my hip/knee.  I am finally "over" the trauma from the hip injection... but I sure as hell wont be getting another one!!!!  No thanks!!!

I think that about wraps it up.  I am sick of this weather... and soooo ready for the "real" SPRING to show up!!!

Friday, March 1, 2013

2013... Weeks #8 and #9

Ok... it has obviously been pretty busy around here lately!
A quick recap-
*Something got in with the kid's ducks... we lost 1 and the other 2 were badly ripped up.  These ducks have seen 2 different vets... been on 2 different antibiotics... tons of wound care... one got a nasty flesh eating infection that went all the way into the muscle.  BUT, now we are seeing some recovery with both of them!  They are living in our side kitchen right now... and we have yet to figure out what got them or how it got into the coop with them!  Whatever it was got in with the chickens this week, we lost 1 chicken.
*STILL waiting on the new tires for the truck to arrive!!!  Grrrr!!!
*Last week we were still looking for another vehicle.  This week we decided on a Land Rover... and made the purchase.  LOVE IT!
*Got rid of the CRX...  It now belongs to Josh.  He is beyond ecstatic about it.
*Ordered and received a book on mesothelioma for my grandfather.  TONS of info... he is pleased with it.  Just wish my asshole mother would quit using him to pay her way in life.  He needs to really focus on himself and my grandmother!
*Stacy almost bought another Bronco.  I am so glad that fell through... more trouble than it was worth!  Now focusing on finishing the Escort!! ;-)  His dad had that thing pulled out and on a tow dolly in less than 12 hours of Stacy saying he wanted to bring it home!!  I bet he did a happy dance in the space it freed up in their yard!!  LOL!!!  I am excited to see some progress being made on it!
*Brittany is practicing with the UDA comp cheer team  now!!  They are in between seasons right now... but she is excited about cheering again.
*I will be placing my seed order THIS weekend!!  I cant wait to get out into the garden... I have TONS of ideas!!
*It is actually starting to smell like spring... and my allergies are feeling it.  I cant say I am sad to see winter go... I have had enough now.  I am sick of slop falling from the sky.  I am ready to get my hands in some dirt!
*Kids are doing good with school!
*Making good use of our "Y" membership.
I think that about covers things.  I am hoping to have a bit more time in the upcoming week to put together a more in depth blog!  Things have just been so damn crazy lately!!  I am ready for some "down" time!! 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

2013 week #7

I am really running behind on my blogs!!  I have been sooo damn busy!

School is coming along.  We have had some bumps in the road... but that is to be expected.  Both kids have been working on putting together some HUGE portfolios!!  I am impressed with both of them.

I FINALLY have peace and quiet from the drama!!  Knock on wood!!

The 2 month long saga over truck tires has ENDED!!  Tires have been ordered and will be in by the end of the week!  We also replaced the steering stabilizers... and got an alignment done.  I think maintenance on my truck should be about done.  Only thing left that I want done is having the rear checked out.  I am not liking that funny smell that seems to come from it.
My CRX gets inspected tomorrow... driving season is fast approaching. 
Now, I am really hoping my hubby can turn his attention to his Escort project!! 

We had a busy weekend.  Saturday was a get together at Stacy's parents... Sunday we went to my grandparents to celebrate the girl's birthdays. 
I didnt get much of my  "weekend" things done.
Yesterday Britt and I had PT in the morning... the afternoon was spent on getting all of the kids hair cuts and picking up a few things we needed.  Once we got home I threw together some soups... and called it a day!

Brittany is going to make her first attempt at cheerleading again... today!  She is nervous... but I know she has this.  The Physical Therapist has been giving her some great exercises to improve her stability!  And boy... does that girl have some rock solid abs now!! 

Oh... Stacy and I actually followed through on a date night last weekend!!  It was more of a Valentine's day date... but it was awesome!  He took me out to dinner... then we took the truck up the mountain to watch some beautiful snow fall!!  LOVED IT!! 
Yea, we need to do that kind of stuff more often.

And... lastly...
We are trying to put together a team for "Logan's Walk" for autism.  I really hope we can pull it off!!

That's it for now. 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Logan's Walk and Run

This year we have decided to put together a team to participate in the 8th Annual Logan's Run & Walk for AUTISM !!!

DETAILS--
Saturday April 6th (my birthday)
City Island, Harrisburg
The 5K Run starts @ 10, Registration @ 9. $20 fee... with 3 cash prizes available! 1st-$125, 2nd-$100, 3rd-$75
The Walk starts at Noon... Sign in @ 11, no fee
There will be refreshments, entertainment and vendors!

We are looking for people who are willing to help out for a GREAT cause, who would like to join our team!!!


I have a bunch of fundraising ideas... but we NEED a team first!!!


We are also looking for business sponsorships... which will get the business's name on the event shirts and other things... depending on the amount they donate!

ALL MONEY RAISED GOES TO THE GREATER HARRISBURG AREA CHAPTER OF THE AUTISM SOCIETY!!!

THIS IS A GREAT CAUSE!!!

1 in 88 children born today will be diagnosed with autism!
The Autism Society is a leading voice and resource for the autism community in its grassroots efforts to educate, advocate, serve and support those affected by autism.  The Autism Society is able to serve individuals and families living with autism as a result of events like this one.
Please run or walk with us to promote autism awaremess and support the local autism community.

We are asking for business sponsorships with many included benefits- 
*publicity and exposure through area media (radio and TV)
*promotion of your organization in print on facebook and the web
*increased visibility with loyal customers
*positive image in the community

For more details... contact me!!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

2013 Week #6, take 2

 Yes, take 2... because the first one was full of screen shots and photos of what was really going on...  BUT, I have decided to let it all go... I have no need to prove a damn thing!

This has been the hardest week of the year... so far!  Not because of the kids, or Stacy... or that I have a TON on my plate!!  But because my "father" is a real douche bag!!  I really didnt think someone could be as twisted and demented at he is!!  His crazy behavior went from name calling, to threats... to harassment... to spreading lies about me!!  Really... GROW UP!
The difference between him and I... I can back up everything I have said about him!!  He cant back up the LIES he spreads!! 

I have decided NOT to go into all of the nasty details.  I am better than this... if he wants to continue to show his bat shit crazy colors, he can go for it!!  (He and my mother have TONS in common)
BUT... since I KNOW he is stalking my blog... because he TOLD ME--there was something that someone texted me about and another person messaged me about... I want to address one very small detail--
I DO NOT exist on Facebook to my "father"!!  I deleted and BLOCKED him weeks ago!!!!  He has no way of knowing who I am friends with, or who is friends with me!!  (Hey... "Dad"... you are a DUMB ASS... a dumb ass with some SERIOUS mental issues!)

I also went through my friends list, and deleted and blocked anyone else I thought to be stalking my page for him.  THEN, I went and set my page so that NO ONE can message me, unless they are on my friend's list!!  The things I need to go through to have PEACE!  But it is all fine now... and I can get on with my life... my happy, fulfilling life.  Something my "father" has no idea about, will never have... and will never be able to take from me!!

The other day while I was talking about the situation with my oldest son... I was stuck on the fact that there was no way I came from these worthless individuals!!  Josh made a very valid point... it isnt always genetics... it is who raises you!!  THANK YOU, GOD, FOR MY GRANDPARENTS!!! <3


Through all of this... I have realized and figured out quite a bunch of things.  First, I completely understand why my grandparents wouldnt let me off the porch for so much of my life!!  The crazy bastard didnt want to steal me because he wanted me... he would have snatched me up for spite!  He is all about "getting even" Second, The things I was told about him were true...and nothing he said was! 
I have no doubts that my "father" was so stuck on that car of his that he would have left me without the surgery I needed.  I witnessed that part of him first hand!!  Jess had to spend her saving on her mother's final expenses AND he is losing his home... BUT, he sure as shit wont sell that crappy motorcycle of his!!

I really let this situation get to me this week!  More so than I have let things get to me for a long time.  I had a nice hike today to think about all of this.  I am not upset because he is a loser...I expected as much.  I am upset that he is trying to drag my name through the mud.  Once I started to really think about it... I decided that I dont really give a shit.  He is preaching about me to ppl who have no idea who I am!!!  LMAO!!  I dont care if they believe his nutty words.  I mean, really, if they KNOW him... they already know he is fucked in the head!!!

So... THIS blog will be the LAST on this subject...  I am over it, and tossing the BS out like last nites garbage.  I just felt the need to get these things off my chest... and now that I have, it is over.

I am forever thankful for my amazing husband... and my super, awesome kids!!  They took me out for a hike today... and even though my knee is killing me right now... it was sooooo worth it!!  I got to spend some time with them...out side in the SUN, and I got some amazing photos! 
I love that we live where there is so much natural beauty!!!  The snow just added to it!

Thank you to those of you who texted, emailed, or called me to "check up" on me!  I have THE BEST friends!!

<3

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Bragging rights!!!

We are SOOOO SUPER proud of Courtney!!! 
She made FRONT PAGE!!

http://www.sentinelnow.com/news/news%201.html

Monday, February 4, 2013

2013 Week #5

We are well into the start of the 2nd half of the year!!  So far so good!  :-)
There were a few "bumps" in the road for Nathan... liquid measurements... but we pulled out every thing that could measure liquid that we had in the kitchen, and now he has it!!  Seeing the him have those "light bulb" moments will NEVER get old!!!

I spent some time last week getting everything together for our taxes... going tonite to have them done!  I will be so glad when that is done and out of the way!  I did do a great job at keeping all of my shop stuff organized... GO ME!!  LOL
Speaking of my shop... I am really wanting to get back to working in my shop!  I MISS IT!!

Let's see accomplishments this week--
-HUGE shelves are up in the side kitchen... as are the new curtains.  All of the trim is stained and hung also! 
-Most of my plants that needed repotted have been done... and everything is all pruned back and looking pretty.
-List is made for what needs done to the Escort... Stacy is now working on the estimates, so I know how much money to start putting back... so THAT can get DONE!
-Started tire/wheel shopping for the truck.  Boy, what a nitemare that is turning into!!  Plus with my knee, and not really being able to get in and out of it... it is just a depressing topic.
-I aired out the house on the 60 degree day we had... it was WONDERFUL!!

Today was my first follow up since my surgery.  The Dr isnt sure if this "fix" will last as long as he thought.  I have a mess going on in there and he is afraid to do too much... since I am still far too young for a total replacement.  So, I have been cleared for 4 weeks of PT... and then he will reevaluate for a 2nd surgery.  But I am not really wanting to jump into that option... so he and I agreed on the PT for now!  LOL

Really... I should have been nicer to my body when I was younger... and crazy... BUT... shit happens.
I am just really glad to have the damn stitches out... they were driving me nuts!! LOL

I "splurged" on Etsy for some new crochet patterns!!  Cant wait to get started on them!!  I think I may need to pick up some different yarn for my little hearts for our season tree, tho.  But I already started on a cell phone case... and I am chomping at the bit to start on the Crocodile stitch purse!!
I am still working on the latch hook rug... I found one to do for Nathan's room too.  Not sure how long they will actually take for me to complete... since it seems really hard for me to focus on actually doing it. 

I managed to make my way through my first lesson in my photography work!  Boy... HUGE difference from the Penn Tech classes I took!  But I am up for the challenge.

We are still waiting on word from Courtney's Neuro Psych eval... The April start time at HGA is fading away...  which pisses me off!! She will have to wait until Fall.  Which means we will be back to the JOB fight!

I think that covers it all...  until next week!