Your View of My World

Sickness

2012-02-10T16:55:00.001-05:00

On Monday night Zack said "Mom I need a bucket in my room, I have a belly ache." Being the horrible mom that I am in these cases, said "No, Zack, it is now an hour past your bed time, and you are just playing a game, you need to go to bed please." Well needless to at about 11pm he came up and woke me up telling he had just thrown up all over his bed, and yes he did. I felt so bad for my child for the next 12 hours he was throwing up, and miserable. I spent the full 12 hours with him awake, watching him go through this horrible stomach bug. He then woke up the next day feeling great. I thought for sure I would be up all night the next night with it. That did not happen, Tuesday came and went, Wednesday I was feeling great, even got a workout in after dance. I woke up at 3:15 for work on Thursday, and knew right away I was done, I spent my next 7 hours sicker than a dog, throwing up, and even I think fainting, I would be sitting on the couch, and wake up in the floor a few minutes later. After I was done getting sick, I got a really high fever, and had the worst body aches, and head ache I have ever felt in my life, it was the worst illness I have had in a long time, and the stomach pain was crippling. Zack, and I are both better now of course, and not that any of you wanted to hear or read this, but I just thought I would share what this dreadful virus is like that is going around, and remind you all to scrub your hands all the time, and take your vitamins (even though I take mine everyday, and it did not save me).

I Know Who I Am.

2012-02-07T10:40:00.000-05:00

I think having teenage children brings a whole new world to look at. One thing that I notice with my kids, and with my job, is that there is a lot of be like me, and if your not, either you will be the kid no one speaks to, or your the kid (and this is mostly with girls) that will not get spoken to, or made fun of, or they will so jealous of you that they make your life miserable, and talk about you all the time, even when they thought they were friends. I find it very important for my kids to learn, and know that it is okay for them to be them, and know who they are. So this post is more a lesson for my kids, and anyone else who needs a little self love speech (i do not know that is the right word).
I always thought I wanted to be a teacher, but after working in schools for a while I realized, no flipping way do I want that job. I always loved to take pictures, but with a ton of critizicsm about how horrible of a picture taker I was. I knew though that I saw wanted I wanted to capture I guess no one else did though. I managed to take a couple classes while in school for teaching, and learned a few things. Then decided I really wanted to be a photgrapher, and now am in photography school. I know I will be good at what I do, despite the critics. I know I do a good job.
My best friend is truly my husband, I love him more than life itself. We have a relationship like no other couple we know. Yes of course no matter what there are critics there as well. My husband allows me to be me, and I know you have all read this before, but I can't say it enough. We are who we are, and do not need to pretend. In the end we are best friends, and our love truly grows everyday. Our kids are our world, and they know it. They are great kids, and that is because we raise them. They are the center of our universe.
I have tattoos, and yes a big old skull on my arm, even my friends have said not nice things about it, I also have a deer for my dad, and yes have heard shit talk about that too. I am a huge baseball fan, and could give you a ton of baseball facts. I have a one of kind relationship with my husband. My kids are the three best things that have ever happened to me. I am very close to my mother, I was very close to my daddy, that YES I still cry everyday wishing he was still here. I am a Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Soccer mom, Dance mom (not like in that gross show), A Photographer,and A Mini Van driving tattooed woman who know who she is, and could not be prouder. Critics will talk, let them you got their attention, so you have made an impression.

The Simple Things

2012-02-05T09:09:00.001-05:00

Getting out cookie cutter, and recipe, a cup of coffee, and my eyes on this bright, and sunny Sunday morning.

A Fighter, and A Hero Often Goes Unrecognized

2012-02-04T07:54:00.001-05:00

The other day, my mother updated a blog that she had started when they found out my dad had cancer. She really has not posted anything in a long time, but other day she did. It is not that this update is that life changing, but as I read it, I thought about how everyday I miss my dad so much, and it never gets easier, I do not care who you are it does not get easier, and you always think the "what if's". Does that change anything? No, does it help anything? Nope. What it did do though is made me go back to the very first post my mother wrote, and read all of her posts, and cry of course. Here is the thing, and my mother did not really even know this until my dad told her, I was really close to my dad as a teenager, and spent pretty much every night in the garage with him. I had the dad every little girl wants, he took us fishing, to gymnastics, four wheeling, to dance, and even hunting. All well my mother went to school, and worked a million hours a week so we could do all these things. My mother did, and still does so much for us, and in the midst of my dad being so sick I guess I lost some sight of that. My mom is a fighter, hell she could not stand hospitals, or needles, yet she sat with my dad for every treatment, and did everything she could for him at home. There were days where I am sure she thought she could not do it, but she did it anyways. She took care of my dad throughout his whole life, and my sister, and I. She may not have always been there, because of work, but she wanted to be.
Through my dads cancer my was by side the whole time, that is tough, there were good days, and bad days, but man there days I would leave and just cry so I have no idea how the hell she managed watching her husband of 40 years go through hell, and wake up the next day to do it all over again. My mom was the reason my dad fought so hard, without her I do not know that he would have. My mom was and still is fighter to, she dealt people saying shit like "well he knew smoking could do this, and still chose to smoke." and guess what she still deals with those people. If I were here I would have told them to "Fuck off" a long time ago, not my mom, she goes with I am better than them, and I will be sure that they know it attitude, and conquers each day with that. She struggles everyday without the love of her life, and that has to suck more than I know, but everyday she comes back fighting, and trying to raise awareness for lung cancer. She also got a tattoo for lung cancer awareness, and because my tattoo guy (and hers) is so awesome, he donated the money she paid for it to Lungevity.

My mom is a fighter, and a hero that has gone unrecognized, but mom, you have not gone unnoticed by me, and my family, and I am pretty sure Tami, and her family would say the same.
Thank you for all you do, and have done, I am proud to call you my mom, and clearly dad was proud to call you his wife. You are the strongest woman I know, I love you!!!

2012-02-03T05:02:00.003-05:00

Here is my first Month- in- Photos post.

A Natural Firming Mask

2012-01-31T17:19:00.003-05:00

For Christmas this year my mother gave me a book with all natural skin, and hair care recipes. It is a wonderful book, and I am loving some of the things that I have tried. I thought I would share a truly wonderful, and very easy face firming mask, that yes really works, and is great on all skin types.( Before I do though let say, I am in no way a medical professional, nor do I claim to be, and am in no way responsible for any type of reaction you have to this.)
Here it is:
One cold small or medium egg white,
One teaspoon of cornstarch
Mix together until smooth, and foamy, there should be no lumps, and apply to face. At this point you will need to lay down or all your wrinkles if you have any with go south, and you do NOT want that. Wait 20 minutes, and rinse off, follow with moisturizer.
This mask gets very tight, and you will have a hard time open your mouth, but it is not that uncomfortable, and the results are awesome (at least they were with me)

This is from Organic Body Care Recipes. Author: Stephanie Tourles
I was in no way paid to write this, or am I claiming this is my recipe.

A Day in the Life

2012-01-31T00:42:00.000-05:00

I saw a post today, well I think like 3 or 4 that described a day in the life, so I thought since winter break is now over I would share an average day in my life:
3am- First alarm goes off, but since I am a snoozer, it keeps going off.
3:30am alarm goes off again (see told you I was a snoozer)
3:45am I get up, and make coffee.
4:00am I turn on my computer, and check into one of my classes, I get as much done as I ca between now, and 5:30am.
5:30am shower.
6:00am I get Jozie up for school, and finish getting ready for work.
6:30am I get Zack up, and eat breakfast with the kids.
6:55am The kids leave for school, and I go around just getting the final touches like my coffee, and water ready to go.
7:10am I leave for work, and get there at 7:30am
I am that at work, working with high school students until 3pm
3:20 I get home, hang up my stuff, and sit with the kids to do homework, I sometimes bring out my computer and work on my school work depending on how much help the kids need.
5:00 make dinner
5:30-6:00 sit with the kids while they eat, I do not eat at this time because I work out after they are done, and I cannot eat first then work out
6:30 Workout
8:00 sit down and eat, and hang out with kids
9:15 Tuck Jozie in, and at 9:30- Zack gets tucked in, and yes every night they get a kiss, and I love you's before I turn off their light on the way out.
9:30-10:30 Homework
11:00 Bed
Now I left out all the other things that moms do, like dishes, and laundry, and general mom stuff, but that all gets done as well. This is basically just a run down of a normal, no after school activities day at my house.

Simple Fun

2012-01-22T09:22:00.001-05:00

This was on our first snow day of the school year, and mu kids went outside for some simple snow day fun, we had a blast!!!!!!

Orginization

2012-01-21T11:07:00.002-05:00

First off let me tell you if you do not know me, I am the least organized person in the world. I am one who will try to be organized, and fail at it over, and over, and over, unless of course it is my pictures, I am really organized with those. On that note, I recently read that meal planning a month at a time is helpful for bust families, and well a mom of three, a full time job, and a full time student I would say qualifies as a busy family, add in a husband that works about 16 hours a day, and yup that defiantly qualifies.
So about a month ago now, I tool a blank calendar page, and planned out the whole month of January worth of meals. I then looked at that list every week before I went to the store, and made my list. I cannot tel you how much this little sheet of paper has helped my family this month. It is awesome, Jeff even called the other day, and asked what dinner plans were, and I said look at the calendar. It is perfect. I even put leftover nights in there, and we have thrown way less food away. I also put nights for the kids to plan whats for dinner, and help make it.

This week it will change a bit due to football games, and a dress rehearsal Friday night, but I know that now, and am making the changes for the calendar. I being the most unorganized person you will ever meet highly suggest monthly meal planning, at least try it for a month. I am totally hooked, and one step closer to being a little more organized.

My Confession

2012-01-13T16:59:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make, umm okay maybe a few, but here goes. I do not read nearly as much as I should. I mean I read my books for school, and I read all the blogs that I follow, but I do not sit with a book to read for enjoyment. That being said however I have recently finished the first book that I have read in a while, and not one that I read because I was reading to the kids at bedtime. I mean a book that I read just to read a book. I am somewhat embarrassed by the book that I read to. I read, and yes I fell into the trap New Moon, and might I tell you that at first I was kind of into it, and enjoyed. Please note that at first. Then as I got a little more than halfway I realized how awful it really was. This book is horrible, I mean really bad. Here is a little summary:Edward, and Bella are in love, he leaves her because he cannot give her the human life she deserves. Bella start hanging around with Jacob, and he then becomes a werewolf, but she knows, and is okay with that. He tells her loves her, she just wants to be friends. After everyday with Jacob, Bella starts to think that she could learn to love him, as she is ready to tell him. Edwards sister shows up, and Jacob hates vampires, in fact he fights them, and kills them. Bella then takes off to Italy to save Edward as he is asking the head of vampires to kill him, and saves him. He tells her he lied he never wants to be without her, and she takes him back. All this is happens in between the many dangerous things she does because every time she does something dangerous Edwards voice is in her head, and she wants to hear him. She gets hurt numerous times, and is super clumsy. She has nightmares about him leaving her, after he already did of course, and all she wants is to look into his eyes, and feel his cold, hard skin, which is described on almost every page.This book is ridiculous, it has many spelling errors, and I suck at spelling so for me to find them is bad. The grammar issue is the same, and there are typos up the ass. Again all of the things that I am bad at, so for me to find is bad. It took almost 12 weeks, reading at least an hour a day 5 days a week to finish this book, if that says anything about how bad it is. I just felt a need to share this with all of you because well I just needed to tell you how horrible it is that teenage girls everywhere (including my own) are so into these books, and movies.

So Far, So Good

2012-01-02T08:45:00.001-05:00

The new year is off to a great start so far. Yesterday I made a list of the "have to do" things on the chalkboard in my kitchen, and so far I have completed all of the things on the list, and it is 8:38am. Who cares that I was up at 3am. (My husband is sick, and so on my last day of Christmas vacation I got up extra early to help him get ready for work) okay back on topic. One of the things that I had on my list was to clip, and organize all my coupons, and then plan meals for the month. These were the first two things that I did this morning. Now all my meals are planned for the month, and all I have to do each week is check the flyers, grab my coupons, and go to the store. I am super excited to see how the month a head meal planning works out, and of course I will let you know.I hope your New Year is starting out as successful as mine is.

Good Bye 2011, Hello 2012

2011-12-31T08:31:00.000-05:00

Here is a little video pf some pictures of some of the things we did in 2011. The saddest thing that happened was that I lost my father in March. Instead of capturing the sadness though I put together some fun things that we did over the year, from lots of swimming, to playing with my mothers new puppy, to going to a balloon rally, and even some photos of things I had to take for school, oh and of course the fact that my husband got to play softball at Fenway Park.
Check out our year!

I am so bad at this

2011-12-28T19:11:00.001-05:00

I know, I know I have not blogged since like Thanksgiving, and I am really bad about it. I promise tomorrow will be a very long update post for all of you, even if my followers are family members or close friends.

Thankful for...

2011-11-24T08:05:00.000-05:00

I did not want to do one of those posts that tells you a list of the things that I am thankful for, because honestly, besides my family, and friends, and health, and my home...etc. I would have forgotten a million things, and well really I am thankful for everything I have, everyday, the good, and the bad. I did want to use this post to talk about my dad, because this is the first year without him.

I am thankful for the relationship I had with my daddy, and the time throughout my whole life that I got to spend with him. I was lucky enough to sit in the garage with him almost every night as a pre-teen, and teenager. I am thankful for all the times as a kid he took in the "Big" truck to work with him, and all the times he took me, and my sister hunting. I am thankful to mom for picking me up the time I was a young girl, and begged my dad to take me to the shooting range, and cried as soon as he fired the gun, because it was so loud, and scary. I am thankful for the time my dad took me to work, and I fainted at the lumber yard, so he took me to Burger king to get me french fries, but only let me eat 10 because he did not want me to faint again, (that was the last time he took me to work with him!)
I am thankful for all the love and support my father gave me, and all the things that he taught me.
I am thankful for all the love and support my father gave to my children. and all the things that he taught them. My children were very close to my father, as was I, and this has been a very difficult year for all of us. Remember all things that we are thankful for, and the things that we did with my dad, and all the good times we had, does not make it easier, but it does put a little smile on our faces with the tears.
My father was an amazing person, and really touched our lives more than anyone would ever understand. He was a true hero, and to us he still is. We all miss him so much. With that being said I should add here how thankful I am for my mom, who is a strong woman, and has been the greatest mother, as well. She is also a wonderful grandmother.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, be thankful for all your moments, good, bad, happy, or sad. They makes us the people that we are.

Creepy Places

2011-11-11T21:52:00.000-05:00

Last week after the Lungevity walk in honor if my dad, my friend Michele, and I went to take some pictures. We went to the state hospital grounds, and found some creepy places on the grounds. It was fun, and a little scary at the same time.
Here is my favorite image from our adventures.

I love the way the sun is shining on the creepy door, and no it is not photoshop-ped in anyway.

A New Site

2011-11-06T21:09:00.000-05:00

When I started Photography school, I had no idea what I was in for. I was scared that they would tell me my photos suck, and I will not make it as a photographer. Well that has not happened, and I am doing really well so that is a good thing.
I did have to make a website though, and that was a task in a half, because I am not a website designer, and had no clue where to start. I tried Wordpress, and hated it, I tried to make one here on Blogger, but could not get the domain name to transfer to blogger form wordpress. Then thanks to my friend Michele, she asked a friend of hers who uses SmugMug if it was decent, and easy. He said yes, so I now have a SmugMug site for my photography.
Here is the link, and keep checking back as I slowly begin to add pictures to it.
http://kellylongphotography.smugmug.com/

I Do Not Understand

2011-11-01T17:36:00.000-04:00

I get that there are always new trends, and fads that some of us love or hate, take for instance the while Ugg's trend. At first I hated it, and then I was given a pair as a gift form my parents, and let me just tell you... They are the best freakin things ever, They are warm, and so comfortable, and I love them. That being said I do not wear them in the summer when it is 90 degrees out.
So moving on,, here is what I do not understand.....The whole friggin zombie fad. It drives me crazy. I listen to high school kids all day long talk about zombie attacks, and how cool Zombies are. Then I listen to teachers talk about how they will survive the zombie attack. Only to come home, and here my own teenage boy talk to me about zombies, and how they are going to attack, and then I came across a blog, and do you know what the post for the day was? You got it... Zombies.. Well the anatomy of a zombie to be exact. I do not get it. I do not watch "The Walking Dead", nor do I care to, but clearly Zombies are coming to get us, and only the people that know all about Zombies will survive.
Really. So please feel free to enlighten me on this new trend, but I have to tell you, I am most likely not going to love this new trend, like I do my Ugg's

Happy Friday

2011-10-28T16:30:00.001-04:00

It is not very often that I happen to be driving by the lake, and think oh I should take a picture, and actually have time to stop and do so. The other day before the snow fell, I did though, and here is what I got.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!!

I Did It!

2011-10-22T22:27:00.001-04:00

I keep seeing this pop up in my google reader, so I finally decided to do it. I am linking to other blogs, because well the list would be just as long as this.

A. Age:

I will be 37 onNovember 4^th. I am not sure how I feel about this.

B. Bed size:

Queen.

C. Chore that youhate:

Going to the dump. Wedo not have trash pickup so I have to go, and I hate, hate, hate it.

D. Dogs:

I always had them asa kid we had black labs, and then a German Shepard. Now I have none because Ido not have time (I really want one though)

E. Essential start toyour day:

Coffee.

F. Favorite color:

Green.

G. Gold or Silver:

Silver (Tiffany’s ismy favorite)

H. Height:

5’8”

I. Instruments youplay:

None now but playedthe sax, flute, clarinet, drums, and guitar.

J. Job title:

I am aparaprofessional, in school full time for Photography

K. Kids:

I have 3.

L. Live:

New Hampshire.

M. Mother's name:

Ask my mother.

N. Nicknames:

Kel

O. Overnight hospitalstays:

Just the basics, likehaving kids, and surgery.

P. Pet peeve:

People that complainabout how miserable things are, but do nothing to change things. Oh and peoplethat spit in front of me.

Q. Quote from amovie:

“Wow...that was tingly! You gotta try that!”

R. Right or lefthanded:

Right.

S. Siblings:

One, my older sisterTami.

T. Time you wake up:

Weekdays, 4am (mostdays) Weekends 7

U. Underwear:

Really?

V. Vegetable youhate:

Cauliflower

W. What makes you runlate:

Everything

X. X-Rays you've had:

A lot.

Y. Yummy food thatyou make:

I have learned tomake good chili.

Z. Zoo animal:

I think that Zoo’sare a little mean. I personally do not like caged exotic animals, but I have tosay I have been to the National Zoo, and I got to see the baby pandas.

Memorable Moment

2011-10-20T21:56:00.000-04:00

I have to give a little information first so bear with me here. I work in a High School, as an aid, and this my first year ever being in a high school since I graduated. I have worked with elementary kids for the past 5 years; so you can imagine how working in a high school would be different.
I work in an English class three out of the eight periods in my day, and well I have never been one to be grammatically correct, or hell even a good speller I have learned over the years that for me these things get better with age. Anyway, every week the kids have a paper to do, and this week the paper needs to be about a Memorable Moment. This is somewhat ironic to me because yesterday as I was upset that my birthday is fast approaching, and I went to visit my dad last year in my birthday, but this year I cannot do that. Jeff had said to me "Kel, I know this is very hard for you, but take a few minutes, and remember all the good times you got hang out with your dad, he would not want you sad, and crying all the time."
My thought was, ummm it is not that easy, because I really miss my dad. Then I was thinking about it today, and well I do have a lot of good memories of my times with my dad. So this sparks me to tell you about this one time....
September 22, 1997, I was two weeks late with Zack, and was being induced, and if any of you have been induced you know that you need to go in the night before to get this gel, that will hopefully start your labor. Well I had to go in, and you know who brought me in, my daddy. He even hung out with me for a minutes while I got all settled in. When he left my x-husband showed up (not my x at the time), and we went through the night with nothing happening.
The next day they started the iv, and well I as on my way to having my first child. My sister was my coach, and when she showed up the first thing she said is "Where is dad?" I had no idea, I assumed he was at work. My sister said that his truck was the hospital, but how the hell would I know, I was in labor.
My dad was in fact at the hospital because he had fallen off his logging truck, and broken some ribs. I did not find this out until much later in the day because no one wanted to worry or upset me.
I finally had Zachary, and a few days later was sent home. I was on maternity leave for 6 weeks, and you know what, my dad was on broken rib leave for 6 weeks too. This was great because I lived with my parents, so while I was home with Zack, my dad was home. I will never forget that everyday when I went to shower or do anything, my dad would have me put Zack on his chest, and that is where he would stay until he cried. My dad, and Zack would sleep, or watch tv, but for at least an hour a day my dad would have Zack in his chest. That to me is a great, good memorable moment.

Its Hump Day!

2011-10-19T21:32:00.002-04:00

I am happy today is Wednesday, even though we have dance, and I have to work it is Jeff's day off, and like when my husband is home. I do not know why during the school year, because I am not here, but I just do.
I also like Wednesday's because it means I only have two more days of work before the weekend, and one more day until I can wear jeans to work. I know that sounds kind of funny, but if you cannot wear jeans, and you really want to because all the kids are it makes you a little jealous that you cannot be comfortable.

So happy Wednesday/Humpday/Middle of the week day, whatever you call it, I hope it was a good day!

Just a little fun.

2011-10-15T23:14:00.002-04:00

I Heart Faces / Hands

2011-10-10T04:40:00.000-04:00

I saw this photo challenge on I Heart Faces this week, and knew I had a picture for it. This picture is form when Jo, and I went apple picking, and I thought it was a perfect shot for this photo challenge.

The Sun

2011-10-05T20:58:00.000-04:00

The sun finally came out for the full day today!!! I am so tired of the rain. I got to go out and get a great shot of Jozie the yesterday as the sun finally started to break out form the clouds.

Self Portrait

2011-09-30T21:18:00.003-04:00

I had to do a self portrait for a class assignment last week, and well I really generally dislike pictures of my self. I am not photogenic in any way. I never look the same in a picture as I do in real life. Really! I then found out that the portrait did not have to be a face picture, or a picture of us even looking at the camera. Hell one person took a picture of her hands. This made me very happy, and I got an A, so apparently it made the professor happy as well. Here is my self portrait.....

Help

2011-09-27T19:31:00.000-04:00

Hi!
This post is a post that is very important to me. I am posting a link for a walk in memory of my father who died last March from lung cancer. My father went through hell, and back trying to fight this awful illness, and I know for a fact no one out there would want to watch a family member die from this awful illness. I am asking for help from everybody. Please let's find a cure for the number 1 cancer killing disease. Click the link, or the picture of my father on the side of my blog to help out.
http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR/2011TeamRaiser/General?team_id=23552&pg=team&fr_id=3111

Two Weeks.....

2011-09-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

I am two weeks into my two classes towards my BFA/ Photography, and I did very well in my first week. It was a lot of time spent online, and in class, but as far as the photo assignment it was easy. I had to make my own view finder, take a picture, and post it for one class, and then for my other class I just had to take a picture of the town I live in, and my favorite part of it. Like I said easy. This week though has been a little challenging. I had to take a picture of something that means a lot to me. My first response was easy, my kids. Then I realized while my kids are the most important thing to me, and mean everything to me, however that was not exactly the assignment, because it was to research some things that are important to me, and take a picture of one, then write about why that is important to you. After a lot of thought, I finally figured it out. I took a picture of my camera. Why? You ask. Here is the thing, my camera is important to me for many reasons, but I will share a just a few because I am sure you do not have hours to sit here, and read my blog. Without my camera, I would not be able to take pictures of my kids, or have the memories of their birthdays, holidays, award ceremonies at school, and how much they grow every day. I would not be able to capture the moments that I love so much. I would not be able to photograph my husband for that matter either. Without my camera I would not have a picture of my dad helping Jo open one of her Christmas presents, when last Christmas was his last Christmas. I would not have the picture of the huge sign that Jeff left in the hallway for Zack to find in the morning of his 13th birthday, that said Happy Birthday Dash, Welcome to your teens! I would not have the pictures of my dad's last Birthday party, or his last Birthday cake at his house, and him sitting and chucking crab apples at Jo. I would not have the pictures of all the neighborhood kids getting along, and playing at the lake together. You see without my camera I would not have any of these pictures, and they all mean so much to me. So that is just some of the many reasons why I photographed my camera, and why it is important to me.

The Christmas photo I mentioned.

Just a Rant.

2011-09-13T21:27:00.001-04:00

I have been so busy that I hardly even get to blog anymore. Going back to work sucks, I wish I could stay home, but it would be hard for me to be a stay at home mother when all my kids are gone to school all day. Besides the fact that after about 2 days I would get bored out of my mind, and need to get out.
Anyways, I have gone back to work, and school, and the kids have gone back to school. I love my classes that I am taking, and I am learning so much already. As far as being back at work, well we can talk about that another time. The kids so far are doing well at school, but this week is their first full week because they started so late.
September is a busy month for us because there are so many birthdays. I would not be surprised to find that I only blog once or twice for the rest of the month.
Other than all the other random rant stuff I would say, but I will save that for another time, I have these beautiful roses that bloomed in September. Yes I said September. Check them out.

Yes I know this is not a rose, but I like it!

Jo Jo

2011-09-12T05:02:00.000-04:00

On Friday, Jo turned 12 years old. I wanted to help her have a fantastic birthday, but being that it was her first week of school, dance, and comp. dance, added with a couple soccer practices for her brother, and a game on Friday it was a little difficult to not feel the chaos of the first of school.
She did have a great birthday, though. She even got enough birthday money for her ipod touch.
Now the hard part..... my baby turned 12. Where did the time go? I guess I have learned a few things along the way, and she does have two older siblings that somewhat pave the road for her. It still does not change the fact the time goes by so fast, and you never realize it until you have your kids.
My dad would be proud of Jo, she made the competition team for dance, and is now in 7th grade, so she is in middle school. She is friendly, and outgoing, while being herself the whole time. She will wear a tutu, and jeans to school, and when someone says something to her, she just says something smart like, "okay well you just have to smile, and you can pull it off."

Jo, and my mom.

Jo is a great, fun-loving girl that has grown so much since her last birthday. I am very proud of her, and although she is growing up way to fast, I embrace all that she is, and will be.

A Cool Find

2011-09-06T22:35:00.000-04:00

I am a skull person, and so I found this awesome find on etsy, and think it is so cool, that I wanted to share it.

Open Minded

2011-08-26T22:38:00.000-04:00

This year I am working in 11th, and 12th grade. This is a huge difference for me, but I am staying open minded. I am looking forward to all the changes that the school I am working in has made some recent changes last year, and are only willing to grow from those ideas, and changes that did not work last year, and building on the one that did.
I am excited for the change, and after my first day back form summer, I feel even better about the changes. I am going to stay open minded, and will let you know.

Back to School

2011-08-23T22:08:00.000-04:00

Well, I have to go back to ~~school~~ work this week. My kids not til after Labor Day. So sad for them though they will need to be ready to go back before I go back.
This year though I am doing things differently. I have been trying to make schedule so that I can stay on it, and on track. I often have a hard time managing all the events of the back to school season. We have soccer, dance, Birthdays, and I go to school so I need to make sure I take time out and do school work. I am determined to set and stick to a schedule.
I will show you all my schedule after I finish making it, and then use it for one week to see if I can follow it.
Wish me luck.

I Heart Faces Photo Challange/Beautiful Eyes

2011-08-15T14:19:00.001-04:00

I wanted to enter this photo challenge because my friends little boy has beautiful eyes, and I took a great picture of them when I was out visiting them, (and yes she said I could enter with the picture I took).

Road Trip II

2011-08-11T04:39:00.000-04:00

Yes, that is right, I am taking another road trip! I am heading to New York next Wednesday night to visit my friends, Tara, and Paul, and their adorable blue eyed boys. I am so excited.
Tara and Paul are very good friends of ours that moved back to New York right before we moved into our house. We used to be neighbors, but we bought a house, and they moved home.
Tara is an artist, and paints some amazing pictures, when Jozie broke her wrist she painted flowers on her cast, and it was the most beautiful cast I have ever seen. I am so excited to hang out with them for a few days. They also live in great area with the coolest thrift stores ever, so back to school shopping will be a definite while we are there.

Summertime

2011-08-09T08:19:00.000-04:00

Summer is my favorite season, but for blogging it is very bad. I do not tend to clog much in the summer, mostly because I am always at the lake, pool or running around. I am pretty sure you all do not want "i went to the lake again today" post. I will try to do better and be more on top of blogging.

Finished

2011-08-04T18:10:00.001-04:00

I am done messing with my blog, and its look. Here it is the new look. I had a hard time but managed to get it done. I hope you like it.

Caution

2011-08-01T15:27:00.001-04:00

Please be advised this blog is going through some changes. Please be under advisement that it may not look very pretty right now, but it will soon.

Shoes

2011-07-29T13:35:00.000-04:00

The other day I threw out like 20 pairs of shoes. It was a sad day, because I love shoes, but I just have too many. And then I came across these shoes, via Etsy. I love them!
So here is a little info on why I love them. Yes I am a chick, yes my favorite color is pink, yes I like to dress up, and yes I love cars, well mostly hot rods, and Jeeps. These are the coolest most original shoes I have seen in a long time, and I though I would share them with you. Even better if you do not like cars, there are all sorts if shoes, check it out.

New Button

2011-07-29T00:17:00.002-04:00

Two posts in one day!
Really though this is IMPORTANT, to me and my family, and a very close friend of mine. If you look at the new picture on my side bar, that is my dad, and as most of you know he died of lung cancer on March 10,2011. I can tell how horrible it was to watch him suffer, and eventually watch my father, my hero, and the greatest man I have ever known die, but really that is not for now. If you click that picture it will take you to the Lungevity website, and the walk we are doing to help raise money for lung cancer research and hopefully one day a cure.
Please help in any way that you can. I would never wish what my dad went through on anyone, and I hope that you or your loved ones never have to go through it, and my dad would tell you the same thing if he was here.

Music

2011-07-28T23:24:00.000-04:00

Music is a big deal to me. I love to listen to it all the time, and I do. The other day though someone asked me what was my favorite type of music, and I did not have an answer. So I thought I would let you all know some if the types of music I have on my ipod. Here is a list:
The Beatles (this to me everyone should have)
Boy Sets Fire
Blink182 (I am ~~secretly~~ a huge fan)
Buckcherry
Chevelle
DOPE
Frank Turner
Dropkick Murphys
Eric Church
Tim McGraw
Jack Johnson
Janes Addiction
Jason Mraz
Jimmy Buffett
The Zac Brown Band
Ray Lamontange
Live
Tom Petty
The Ramones
Rancid
And a lot of Social Distortion (well every album, and a little more)
So as you see I listen to a lot of different music, and that does not include any of the kids playlist that I have, and yes I know all the songs.

The Crazy Things

2011-07-25T23:05:00.000-04:00

You know it is a little crazy in my house right now. Jeff changed jobs back in June, and although it is a far better company, he is back to working 16 hour days, and that just sucks, for him mostly. Do not get me wrong I miss him so much, and hate it, and the kids do to, but shhh do not tell him that. I say this because as hard as it is, I cannot sit here and complain to him about it because well really it is far harder for him, and that would only make it worse for him. (Yes he reads my blog, and yes he will see this!)
Here is the crazy part though, I have just learned that. I mean the whole how if I complain it makes it worse for him.
Next we have my change in colleges, and majors. This is crazy because well it just brings a whole new change to the house.
Finally with three kids, well it is just crazy no matter how old they are because even as they become more independent there becomes a bigger need to be on top of things.
But again here is the ~~crazy~~ best part.... Our life's are changing so fast, and everyday brings a new challenge. Everyday no matter if he is working 16 hours, or 2 hours I am grateful for all the things that my husband sacrifices to let me work the job that I work, go to school, and be home with my kids before, and after school, and all summer. I am grateful for the fact that he understands me, and is there for me when I have tough decisions to make. I am grateful that he loves me as much as he does, because well lets face it I am a bit of a pain in the ass. And I am grateful for the the fact that I get to love him, because even through the crazy times, and the best times, he is truly an amazing husband, that I love very much.

NEWS!

2011-07-23T11:42:00.000-04:00

I have some very exciting news! So almost two years ago I took a class that required me to take some pictures it was an art class that I took while working on my teaching degree (which I am currently somewhat working on still). My mother gave me her Nikon D80 as a gift, with two kit lenses, and my new camera I started taking all kinds of pictures, and my family (my mom mostly) started saying to me "You have a great eye for this Kel, you should do something with it." I somewhat ignored her because well most people had said to me "you're not a good picture taker." or things of that nature. A few months ago however a couple of the local mom's had said you take great pictures...and so on, and then the person that I listen to the most because he is my best friend in the world my husband told someone, "She is really good at picture taking, she just has that eye." To be honest I was kind of shocked because he used to tell me otherwise, and I agreed that I was bad at it. Well all that being said, and a little bit of back story here is my exciting news.....
After some long thought research, and the fact that I love taking pictures of everything and anything, I have decided to change my major. I will no longer be getting a bachelor of science with education degree. I will now be transferring to an art school, and getting a bachelor in fine arts with a major in Photography, and taking the extra classes so I can still get a teaching degree just as art instead of science. I will be getting a degree that will allow me to do two of my greatest passions, photography, and teaching. With that I guess I congratulate myself for a couple reasons, one being that I have the confidence in myself (finally) to know what I want to do when I grow up, and two that I am able to do what my passion, and hobby is.

Road Trip

2011-07-22T19:04:00.000-04:00

On Sunday my three children and I took a road trip to Ocean City Maryland to see my in laws. We stopped right after the Jersey Pike to spend the night, and then on Monday were up early to drive 2.5 hours to their house. We did a whole lot stuff while there. Monday we saw a A league baseball game, Tuesday we went to the ocean, and then to walk the board walk at night, Wednesday we played mini-golf outdoors and indoors ate and played some more, Then went and got bands for rides, and Wednesday night the kids rode rides from 6-11pm oh what fun we had. Thursday we drove home and all the way home it took us a little over 12 hours, but we made it. Here are some pictures of our week.

Yes wild horses really do live there and walk the roads and beaches.

Those are dolphins that we saw jumping in the water.

Yes I have a child that went on that crazy roller coaster.

Look

2011-07-14T12:12:00.000-04:00

I am blogging about these shoes because well, I love them!!!! They are so cool, and this is a giveaway too so you should enter as well.
Here s a link for what they look like.
And here is one for the blog, Sometimes Sweet.
Check it out, I really like her blog.

House Update

2011-07-10T08:17:00.000-04:00

One of my plans this summer while I am on vacation is to redo my walls. Well as far as pictures go, and hanging them, and changing them out because some of them are very old. This being said I re did my first wall and thought I would share. I do not have a before picture, but it was just the three 11 x 14's of my three kids, and now it looks like this...............

This is what it looks like over all.


Just a few closer looks at some of the pictures.

Now I am looking forward to getting the rest of them finished.

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T22:40:00.001-04:00

We made sun tea, and We had some bubbles...

We played some ladder ball.....

A one lone flower on my bleeding heart plant.....

I hope you all had as much fun as we did on this wonderful holiday!

Our Day, at the Lake

2011-07-01T22:15:00.000-04:00

We went to the lake and I played with my new wide angle lens

The kids played, even Jozie with mono, played for a few minutes.

I just thought this was pretty.

Zack and Tay were trying to catch a fish.

She lasted a little bit over and hour, then wanted to go home and take a nap.

At least we caught a fish in the clouds. Do you see it? Use your imagination.

Zack's Whale

Jozie's happy face

The Head that..............

fell off the body. Tay's creation.

Roses

2011-06-28T22:57:00.000-04:00

I finally was able to find some time to go out, and take a few pictures of my rose bush. This is the only rose that I have planted, and it has lived for 3 years now. Every Summer it gets very tall, and every fall Jeff says "You should really go take care of that before it snows." I always say I know, but then it snows, and I had never gotten to it. It just keeps coming back prettier every year.

A Day at The Lake

2011-06-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

I am so happy to be on summer vacation. Yesterday I took Jozie to the lake (as Zack, and Tay were gone for the day). My friend Michele joined us, and we had a fun day in the sun.

Test

2011-06-27T18:08:00.002-04:00

I am testing a new font

I Dropped the Ball

2011-06-23T23:37:00.000-04:00

Last Sunday was Fathers day, and I dropped the ball. I forgot cards for Jeff from the kids, and even from me. I say forgot, but really I tried to avoid the fact that it was fathers day. It just does not feel right when your daddy is no longer here to celebrate with.

I have to apologize to my husband though, because really it is kind of an asshole thing to forget, or to avoid a holiday that he is a part of. Although Jeff was understanding , and he said he did not care about cards. I did say happy Fathers day to him though.

Jeff I am so sorry! I love you, and you are a great father to all three of our children. I am proud of you for being the father that you are.

*****I know, it is still an asshole thing to do*******

Random

2011-06-13T23:00:00.000-04:00

I have just a few random things that I want to tell about, be it venting, or sharing exciting news, or just rambling.

On Saturday I got a new phone. I went from the Blackberry to an Android, and so far I have to ask my self "What the hell took you so long." I love it. It is fast, the apps are great, and I just well I love it.
Sunday was a day of watching Jeff play softball, which I like doing so it was good, and I always take pictures so that is fun. I can't wait until this Sunday because I got a new wide angle lens so I am excited to try it out.
Today was not such a happy day, I walked into work only to find a memo and yes it was a memo in my mailbox telling me that I had no assignment for next year. In other words, "you are shit out luck." This sucks!!! I love my job, and it works well with my family, and the fact that I go to school full time. You know it seems like one good thing is always followed by a bad thing, sometimes two. Jeff gets a new job that is perfect, and I loose mine. By the way I do way more than is required of me at my job, and as much as I want to say Fuck You, and not do it anymore, that is not who I am. Will it pay off,? nope it most likely won't, Will I feel better about myself?, nope probably not, does anyone really care? Nope. So on that note I will move on......
This coming Saturday I get my tattoo finished!!!!!! My half sleeve will hopefully be done, and I can move on to the portrait of my dad that I have been really wanting. I will post pictures when I am all done.

That is all I have..... In the words of Dory from Finding Nemo...I am gonna just keep swimming.

Dance

2011-06-06T23:43:00.000-04:00

Jozie finished her second year of Dance this past Saturday! Here is a picture of her in her Jazz costume, I will post more pictures soon.

Ooopps

2011-06-03T00:32:00.000-04:00

I am sorry to my 6 readers that I have. I have not posted since May 18th. I have just been super busy with work (as the end of the year is 15 school days away), school, kids, and life in general.
Here is a quick update of what has been going on.
My husband got a new job!!!! He will be here at night now!!!!
I am almost done work for the summer!!!!!!!
I did plant a tree for my dad on his Birthday, (Okay Jeff did, and it was in Tuesday, because we were out riding in my dads jeep on his Birthday) And yes I love the Jeep, and would be buying it, but I do not have the money. That SUCKS!!!
Anyways, when I was a kid we had a huge weeping willow tree in our yard, and so we bought, and planted a weeping willow tree in memory of my daddy.
Jeff, and Tay are both playing softball, Zack is well I do not know, hanging with the girls most of the time, and Jozie is finishing up her year at dance with a recital on Saturday.
That is about all that has been going on. I will post more often, I promise.

Happily Ranting, or Just Random

2011-05-18T22:44:00.000-04:00

I am either ranting or giving you a random roundup.
I have been in school for ~~awhile~~ a long time now, and have just started my core classes. I am so excited because really I am almost done. Well except that have to take these three really ~~big~~ huge tests, and one of them is soon. I am not a good test taker so I am really nervous. I always thought as you get older you grow out of some of these things, but I was wrong, I personally think it gets worse.
We are nearing the end of the dance year!!! I cannot wait to see Jo's dances, I have not seen any of them this year. They are in a room with no window.
I have been doing well with getting dinners made, and ready every night when I go to see my mom, or have softball with Tay, or dance with Jo. I either so it in the morning or the night before. I am also keeping up with school work, so I am sorry for not keeping up with the blog, I am trying. I also wish I could find more time to go take some pictures (well time, and non rainy, cold weather).
I am super excited about the fact that my husband set aside some money to take me out to dinner. We have not gone out to dinner in so long, I cannot wait to go out for a night, like on a date type night.
Finally, for those of you who I have said things like.. "why do people ask me how I am doing." when it comes to my dad. I will tell you without you asking, cause I know some of my good friends want to, but do not know if they should. My dad was an amazing man, he was my hero I miss him a lot. I was sick last week, and really wanted to call him, because I always would call him to take me to the hospital ( I did not need to go to the hospital, but I still wanted him to take me). There are a lot of things I wish I could still do with my dad, like hang out in the garage, or go to the dump, or even just watch the news with him. I do not know about religious things, and I have been even more confused about that since he died, but I do hope that I get to see him again someday (not too soon).
Oh wait one more thing, My mom got a puppy, and he is the cutest, best puppy ever, and it is wonderful for her.

CrabApple Tree

2011-05-17T22:33:00.000-04:00

These pictures are form my mothers crab apple tree. This tree is so pretty, and I think that this is the first year that I noticed how beautiful it really is.
ENJOY!

Workout Update

2011-05-16T23:26:00.000-04:00

I got my ass out of bed at 4:15am to workout! Why? I had a lot going on today, and was not going to be able to workout until 9pm. Will I do it again, or just wait until 9pm?
HELL YES I will wait until 9pm. Mostly because I am still awake at 11:30pm, and tired as all heck, and because, Really who the hell wants to work out at 4:30 (I had to have coffee first) in the morning, and then go to work, and run around all day after work?

Changing my Workout

2011-05-13T22:57:00.000-04:00

I have decided to change my workout plan, and here is why. I have noticed an overall healthier change in Jeff since he started P90x, and he is not changing much size wise but his overall energy is higher, and he is stronger. Recently I started doing the Kenpo P90x with him on the days that he does it, but as far as the rest I cannot do it, my body is not tough enough.
This led me to some research, and what I came up with is P90 and it is for those not ready for p90X. I started P90 on Monday, and just as Jeff the day after became very sick, but I did do my workout each day. I have not seen results except that it is not as hard as I expected. I work hard, but I never feel like wow that was tough, and then I wake up the next morning, and change my mind because my muscles are sore, but that is good. I will not keep daily posts about my P90, but this is because I cannot keep daily posts at all. I will however blog about it every once in a while, although I cannot promise. I am hoping that I can keep up with it, and will try my best, but I do have to do my Praxis 1 test soon ( like very soon), so I need to study, plus I am still doing classes, and have 3 kids. I am determined however to take my 30 minutes a day to my self to do P90.

Active Mind: Compound Growth - 1 Minute Lesson

2011-05-11T22:09:00.000-04:00

Active Mind: Compound Growth - 1 Minute Lesson

Happy Birthday!

2011-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today is my husbands Birthday!
Happy Birthday Baby, I love you, and Thank You for being you!

The Things I Forget to Say

2011-05-04T23:03:00.000-04:00

There are those things that you always forget to say to your spouse, partner, or whatever you call the person in your life that you truly love. I never forget to say I love you to Jeff, but there is one thing that I do not say enough, and today after talking to a friend of mine I find it the thing that I need to say the most right now.
Thank you Jeff, for loving me for who I am,
For helping me learn who I am,
For being there for me when I need you,
And most of all for letting me be who I am, for not trying to change me, for not trying to control me, for letting me the rock star that I am, and the wife that I am, without complaining, and not trying to make me someone I am not. Thank you for letting me be happy, and knowing when something is wrong.
I love you for all the things you do, all the things you have taught me, and all the things that I have experienced with you. Thank you for letting me know that it is okay to be me, and showing the meaning of true love.
I love you, and Thank You!!!

Art Galleries

2011-04-29T05:09:00.000-04:00

I am always wanting to go to art galleries, but Jeff not so much, and I would have to go with someone, so needless to say I do not go. Until today.... Jozie and I read a blog everyday called Learning Beyond The Book, as it is one of Jozie's friends, families blog, and it is very cool. They do lots of cool things, and I highly recommend it for all of you. Today as I was going through my google reader, the post title was Art Galleries, and I said I can not wait for Jozie I have to read it now, and I did, and this link is soooo cool. You can check out Art Galleries without leaving your own home. Now I will share this link with you. Check it out, and check out Learning Beyond the Book as well.

The Google Art Project

Cool Idea

2011-04-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

Okay so I read a lot of different blogs. One day in my wandering I came across this super cool blog, http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com and I started to follow the blog. Today though she did a post on a desktop organizer that I thought was super. My husband is always saying that I am so disorganized, even when it comes to my desk top. However I wanted to add pictures of my kids, so I made my own. I love it, and thought I would share it with all of you. I do not have a blank one for you to download though, but if you go to http://www.maryjanesandgaloshes.com she does.

Here is the one I made,

I used digital paper that I got form http://whpdesignsshop.com and just free transformed my photos in PSE. It was super easy, and now my desktop will at least be organized.

Easter

2011-04-26T21:49:00.000-04:00

Easter was a little odd this year, as I have always gone to my parents, but my mother did not want to do Easter this year (and I do not blame her). This however left me with a What do I do sort of day. So I made cupcakes. This was probably not really thought out because my kids of course got a ton of candy, but I wanted to make these to make me feel springy too.

These were super easy too.
A cake mix in a box, a jar of frosting, mini colored marshmallows, colored sugar.

Bake your cupcakes, let them cool, and frost them.
While they are baking separate out your marshmallows by color, and cut them in half. Then separate colored sugar into bags, and put the matching color marshmallow halves in the sugar bags, you can mix it up if you feel a little crazy like we did.
When your cupcakes are cool, frost them, and then put the halved, sugared marshmallows on them, and there you have it Springy cupcakes.

Exciting News

2011-04-22T21:47:00.000-04:00

I have some very exciting news. My mother is putting together a 5k walk through the Lungevity foundation in memory of my dad, and the walk is going to be on November 5th (the day after my Birthday). Here comes the exciting part,
Around Christmas time I found this great ring on Etsy, and half the proceeds went to the lungevity foundation. I did a post on how that is all (besides my dad getting better) that I wanted, and that was the only gift, besides donations to the lungevity foundation.
Well I got my ring, and by the way it is beautiful, and I love it. My mom contacted the seller, and asked if she would send some rings so that my we could sell them at the walk. She said yes! Then today she told my mother that they would be here to sell them, all she needed to do was have a table for her!!!! And this walk is in perfect time, because not only can you walk for my fathers memory, but you can buy all your family members (female, of course) a ring, and give to the lungevity fund at the same time.

This is so exciting! Thank you!!!

Earth Day 2011

2011-04-20T22:46:00.000-04:00

This Friday is Earth Day, and this year I am not planting a tree (not that I have in the past, although wanted to it just never works out) I am however planing all my seeds for my garden (may need some kid help, since the broken hand is an issue), and then this weekend I am making a composter, and some super cool recycled picture frames that I will post pictures up when they are done. I will also do all of these things, without using any electricity. That is the way I am going to celebrate Earth Day!

******Side Note, I will be planting a tree on May 28th as that is my fathers birthday, and he loved being in the woods*******

US Cellular... um No Thanks.

2011-04-17T22:07:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you a story. In January Jeff did an advanced exchange on his phone, US Cellular than sent him a phone that did not work, so he had to do another one.
2 weeks ago in ≥†he middle of the night US Cellular shut off our cell phones,Why? They claimed Jeff did not return the bad phone. After an hour on the phone with them (which I did) they realized that yes they did receive the phone, and the DTS department did not put that information in the computer. So yep you got it they messed up. Stay with me here...

4 days ago I called because my phone keeps freezing up, the person I talked to said we could do an advanced exchange, but they needed a 10 sec, phone call from Jeff since the contract is in his name. After several days of me asking Jeff, and we all know that it takes 20 minutes to get a hold of some one, and when you work 14 hours a day, you do not have a free 20 minutes, Jeff finally called US Cellular, and they told him my phone was no longer under warranty, and that they would be willing to do an early upgrade, or I would have to pay for the software updates that my phone needs ($50.00-$500.00). Obviously we did not agree to that, nor did I want a lesser phone than what I have. Our thoughts are we are done with these guys.
SO tonight I called them back, and wanted to work this out, after 40 minutes I asked to speak to a supervisor, who looked into it and realized my phone, IS in fact still under warranty. But we again need Jeff to call so he can authorize the advanced exchange. Bull shit, he already tried to and no one put that in the notes, and he is frustrated, as am I then talked to another supervisor, and he was a JERK, he said to me, that he needed to talk to Jeff, and I explained to him, well I tried to but he kept talking over me. Finally I asked him to stop talking over me, and let me explain, and his words were, "Um Miss you are wasting, my time, I have been talking to you for 15 minutes, and you do not understand." I then explained that he was not letting me speak, so he finally did, then again said to me "Miss you are wasting my time, I will only do this if you get what you say is your husband on the phone." I said "Sr my husband is not going to talk to you right now, he is sleeping, and he is done with you guys, and your screw ups."
His next words were " Miss I am sorry, I see you have been customers for a long time, and we value our customers, but I cannot help you, because you are not cooperating, and letting me talk to your husband, who is the account holder. Actually Miss I am no longer going to waste my time with you because you are not an account holder with US Cellular, Jeff is though, and we value or customers." "Oh and Miss you should know if you cancel a contract you are liable for fee's"
Me" Sir I am not a customer, is what you just told me so clearly you value your customers, and their families, and as far as an early contract cancellation fee, I do not have one with you remember, so yes I can clearly see that you value your customers, and their families business, thank you, and have a wonderful evening"
And that was a Supervisor. Hmmm. Clearly you can all see how much they value their customers.

Nice Boots!

2011-04-10T22:49:00.000-04:00

Today I went to take pictures of a co-worker/friend, and in the park there were three guys playing basketball. One in sneakers, one in Teva's, and this one.......

Now I know it is hard to see, and I know the grass is a little wet, but playing basketball in snow boots, was kinda funny.

A Clear Case of Spring Fever

2011-04-06T22:24:00.000-04:00

Yep barefoot in the snow. Now that is spring fever!

Spring!

2011-04-05T22:21:00.000-04:00

I am so ready for spring, and summer seasons. This year I am going to get my fishing license and take my kids fishing here.

....Of course there will be no snow.

A Sad Sight

2011-04-03T21:02:00.000-04:00

Today I was driving down the back roads on my way home form my mothers, and I came upon a beautiful view. As I puled over to take a picture I saw a cell phone tower in top of the mountain. Then it got worse, the view was great, but everywhere I turned to get a picture of the beautiful mountains all I saw was cell towers. 4 beautiful mountain tops, all with towers.

Here is the thing though, it made me think.....We spend so much money on cell towers, and trying to make them look like trees (which by the way they don't), and all this technology, for us fast paced Americans, but what if we took half that money, saved some beautiful mountain top views, and all the other top notch technology that we have, and put it to find a cure for cancer, or what if we took the money we spend to go save other countries, and saved our own. We have people dying everyday form cancer. We also have people starving, and that have no heat, or water, and are living in cars with children.
I have a blackberry so yes I guess I am a contributor to the issue of cell towers. With that being said though if someone from blackberry came to me, and said that they would take half the money that I will spend on a phone, and cell phone bill for the rest of my life (which we know we all get an updated phone every two years) and told me that they would put it towards finding a cure for cancer, and all I would have to do is have a basic cell phone, would I do it?..........Fuck Yeah!!!!! (sorry for the f bomb mommy).
Maybe that money would have helped my dad, maybe not, but I say we look at all those cell towers, and think not only are we paying an ass load of money for our phones, what else is all this shit doing to our environment. I mean we know what nuclear power plants are doing, look at Japan, but all these technology, and what not's are gonna cost us one way or another, I say take some of this technology money, and put it to finding a cure for cancer, and I also say we save our own country that is struggling right now, instead of someone elses.

*******these are just my opinions.*******and due to cell towers I have no picture for you*******

The Long Way

2011-03-24T22:49:00.000-04:00

I took the extra long way to see my mom today, and found a beautiful scene, so here are a couple pictures I took.

Compliments

2011-03-23T22:25:00.000-04:00

I thought I would let you all know that I received about 20 compliments this past Saturday on my tattoo. By tattoo, I mean my half sleeve that I have going on. Although I have not finished it, I got a lot of "Wow, who did your tattoos", "I love your art work on your arm", "Great tattoo's", "I love your sleeve work."...and so on. This was all form people I do not know at all, in fact it was at the Dropkick Murphy's show in Lowell that Jeff and I went to. Because I got all these compliments I thought I would share the link of the artist who tattooed my arm. His name is Doug, and he is amazing at what he does. I cannot thank him enough, because I love my tattoos, and apparently so do a lot of other people. So here is a link to his site http://tatbro.com/home.html

.....and here is my arm.

I Don't Know

2011-03-21T23:04:00.000-04:00

As most of you know my father passed away on March 10th at 9:23pm. That was a very bad day for me, and my family. My dad was awesome, funny, brave, simple, and the most amazing person I have ever met, and my hero. My heartbreaks for me, and my family, but I think it does more so for my mother.
Anyways my post is titled I Don't Know because I have no idea what to do or say when someone tells me I am sorry, or what can I do to help. I really have no idea, I say thank you, and I am all set, but really why do I say thank you, or I am all set, both of them make no sense to me. So I ask my few readers, What do you say back to people when they say these things to you after you have lost someone, and someone like my dad?

My Father

2011-03-15T08:39:00.000-04:00

May 28, 1950 - March 10, 2011

Something for All

2011-03-06T21:20:00.000-05:00

I was just reading my mothers blog, TrackingTomsProgress, (the link is on my sidebar), and she posted the following quote, and I thought it was one the best quotes I have ever read so I decided to post it on my blog as well.

I came across the following recently from Rev. Paul Osumi and thought it was worth passing along:

Do more than preach, practice
Do more than think, ponder
Do more than sympathize, empathize
Do more than scold, set an example
Do more than criticize, praise
Do more than dream, make it a reality

Enjoy!

New Button

2011-02-27T20:08:00.000-05:00

Hey see the new button that says project simplify?
I am going to be simplifying my home, starting March 7th. If you have not done this yet you should join too.

My Niece

2011-02-26T13:04:00.001-05:00

This is my niece Mandy, and she is a competitive cheerleader, and she is amazing at it.

Mandy on the top.

...and again

Great Job Kiddo, I love you!

Recovery Time

2011-02-23T14:08:00.003-05:00

My recovery from my surgery is long, and boring. I am glad it is not summer, but very happy that I have my laptop.

Thanks to this great site http://www.aprettycoollife.com/2010/03/easy-cameracell-phoneipod-pouch.html I found, I made this awesome phone case, and saved myself $20. by not having to buy one. Some good is coming form my recovery time.

and... I got to go outside today, and look I found buds on the trees. Spring is coming!!!!!!!

I Have a Rant.

2011-02-21T21:42:00.000-05:00

I go to school, and do enjoy it, but have had some issues with the school that I do go to. Like take for instance when they came out with smart phones they had an app for the iPhone only, not a windows phone, or a Blackberry. Then came the ipod touch app that they offer for students, yet still nothing for the other smart phone people. Now they have an ipad app, but you guessed it nothing for the rest of us.
Now do not get me wrong, I love apple, and have a mac. I would never go back to PC. Now there is a new program that puts your papers into APA format without you having to do anything, and you would think that with all the apple apps that they have they would have had a version for the mac, but nope they do not.
Now as I said I love Apple products. I have an old Ipod that I could not live without, I love my Mac, and well I say I would like an IPhone, I really would prefer to keep my Blackberry well because I do love, love love my Blackberry. So no I will not switch to an IPhone, but I would like to say that if a school is going to promote Apple products then your software should also promote Apple.
That is just my complaint for the week.

My Scar

2011-02-20T21:53:00.000-05:00

I though it would be fitting to let you all know I had surgery, and am doing well, but wanted to share my scar picture with you all.

I Just Have to...

2011-02-17T23:12:00.000-05:00

I cannot wait for summer, and these warms day's are giving me ~~beach~~ spring fever. I cannot wait to be home with my kids everyday, and go to the lake, the beach or Water Country this summer.

My recent beach fever looked at this picture from the beach last summer, and I had to post it.

Somewhat of a Guest post

2011-02-14T20:50:00.000-05:00

I wanted to let people who follow my blog, but not my moms know how things have been with my dad, so I have decided to do a guest post. Okay not really I just am copying my moms blog here. So here it is.

Finally, a post. I want to apologize for not posting for the past couple of weeks. I'm having a hard time dealing with this and wasn't sure I could post a Blog that would be worth reading so better not to post at all.

Tom is having a rough time. Yesterday he had the best day he's had in a while. Today, not so much. He sleeps alot. He's lost some weight, after having gained back the weight he lost after the summer. We take it one day at a time.

As tough as this is we continue to be so grateful for friends and family.

Tom's sisters continue to check in, by calling and stopping by to visit.

Of course, Nan e-mails each day and comes to visit when she can.

Our long time friends who recently retired to Florida check in every Saturday morning.

Our very good friend and personal electrician Jeff and a long time friend who was in our wedding some 40 years ago came over on Saturday to be here while we had a new dishwasher installed, just in case I needed some help. We are very thankful they were here. In the past, Tom always did these things around the house so it's odd for us to have to hire someone. I guess you do what you have to.

Tom received another beautiful hand made card from the ladies at DOT. Thank you so much for keeping Tom in your thoughts.

Our nephew Jeff stopped a week or so ago to clean up the snow in the driveway. Our other nephew is going to finish the tile floor that Tom has not been able to finish.

Brian and Ben have sanded the driveway and shoveled the roof of the camper.

Tami stops each day and Kelly stops a couple of times a week. Tami picked up flowers for Tom to give me for Valentines Day and Kelly picked up cards. How lucky are we to have such great kids.

As hard as all of this is I can't help but reflect on how fortunate we are to have such caring friends and family. I can't imagine doing this without them. I know you've seen this on the Blog numerous times but I will say it again. I don't know how anyone would get through something like this without friends and family. For us it's a Godsend.

Thank you all so much for being there and helping us out even when I don't update the Blog. We are and will continue to be forever grateful.

Posted by Sharon at 8:23 PM

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-13T22:43:00.000-05:00

To my husband who is the answer to all my dreams. I love you, you are the best, and I could not ask for a better husband. I love you!

I Heart Faces Fix it Friday

2011-02-11T21:57:00.002-05:00

Today I decided to play with the I Heart Faces Fix it Friday photo. I thought that it would be fun, and I was right. This was a fun photo to play with, and I used Lightroom 3 (because that is the program that I have) it was fun to do, and I think that I may try to do it every Friday. Just go to I Heart Faces, on Friday's and you can try it to.

For the editing I just took out the color minus the red and orange in the saturation and then made the picture tone a slight bit warmer.

Fun in the Snow

2011-02-10T21:27:00.000-05:00

I found these great pictures of my kids today playing in the snow. I thought it was fitting since this is the first week in a long time that we have not had a snow day.

Please, No More Snow!

2011-02-02T20:38:00.000-05:00

Today I realized as my children were shoveling, and playing in the snow, that the snow pile is higher than my husbands car, and that when my youngest goes in the snowbank to sled, she sinks to her neck! This is silly, and I do not want anymore snow. Pretty soon my kids will drown if I send them out to play in the snow.

Winter 2

2011-01-25T21:00:00.001-05:00

Since we have had so much snow, and are getting more this week, I thought I would share some pictures of the last storm that we got.

Winter

2011-01-19T21:15:00.000-05:00

Last weekend on my way to bring Tay to Karate, Jozie said "look at those trees mom." And would you believe I was lucky enough to have my camera on me. So I dropped off Tay, and we went and took some pictures, and here they are.

I love the contrast on this one.

This my favorite, because I love that Jo is hugging the tree, and she named this place her Winter Wonderland

Random Roundup!

2011-01-11T23:31:00.000-05:00

Oh What a week last week was. The truth is that we made it through, and woke up everyday, so I cannot complain.
I also learned last week never to say 'It can't get any worse!" Because honestly that is a lie, it can get a lot worse.
My week started with a pretty tough day at work on Monday, and then on Tuesday my dad, and my grandmother were both admitted to the hospital, and now they are both at home. My gram was having a tough time breathing, and my dad, ~~had~~ has some back pain so the Dr wanted an MRI. The bad news is it is cancer in his spine. I have to say though that I honestly feel that my dad will come out of this okay. He is a strong man, and he has a really attitude at least when I talk to him, so with those key things, and the fact that he has come this far, I feel he will make it through all of this.
So needless to say I do not have much more about last week, except that after Jozie's trip in the Target, er foot is not broken, and is doing well.
I have to say though, even though I am sticking to the fact that I will never say "It can't get worse" both Jeff and I have had a tough couple days, and are really awaiting some good news, or something good to happen to us, who knows when, but I bet something good will happen soon.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

To ring in our New Year the kids and I made a poster that we wrote the good, and bad memories of 2010, and we wrote down some things we remembered about the year, here is a list of what we have on our poster.
Getting to world 5 on Super Mario
I made the school soccer team
Earned my yellow belt
Tftw shut down
One year closer to my degree
Getting the principals award for my good grades
I made some great new friends
My Lego necklace
Mrs. York got married
My dad being diagnosed with lung caner
Went back to my dad's house
I cried a lot
Had a great summer with Tay, Zack, and Jozie
I laughed a lot
I turned 11
smiled a lot
Having my appendix out
Mr. Whitworth came to our school
Jeffy got a new job
had an experience of a lifetime (i really did too)
earned my orange belt
Grandpa got diagnosed with cancer
not being able to participate in my holiday recital
making my gingerbread house
started 8th grade
got lots of wii games
Mrs. Gay left
started karate
I got my ipod touch
celebrated another year with my husband
made honor roll for the 3rd time
Mrs. Blanchette left
mom moved
Ariana slept over
became closer with two of my great friends
Reconnected with family
sledding down a huge hill with Ariana
getting A,B honor roll for the first trimester
I got my Nikon camera
I got my mac.
There are many more things that we did in 2010, these are just the things that stuck in my mind, and Tay's, Zack's and Jozies's minds.
Here is to 2011, and the memories we make.

Our Christmas

2010-12-31T07:07:00.000-05:00

I thought I would post a few pictures of our Christmas morning.

Mattea got a camera!

Zack got a movie, that he asked for.


and, Jozie got Elizabeth.

Christmas was a lot of fun, and the kids got a lot of toys, clothes, and wii games. Now it is time to prepare for next years Christmas.

Holiday, Oh Holiday...

2010-12-17T08:11:00.000-05:00

I love Christmas, mostly because I love giving my family gifts, and I like all the pretty lights that people put outside (not me this year). I have been trying to get photos of my tree, and have done well, but I keep practicing. I have 4 days left with my Lightroom 3 trial, so for the next four days I will be taking A LOT of tree pictures. Here is one that I have gotten, out of the thirty I took.

My family, and my Christmas tree.

Holiday Flair

2010-12-12T00:12:00.000-05:00

I added some Holiday Flair to my blog tonight. I thought I should and so I did. Enjoy

Long Week!

2010-12-07T23:11:00.000-05:00

It has been a long week or two really. On Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I got my tattoo colored in, and love it (pictures soon to come) We had a great Thanksgiving with my family, the usual black Friday shopping did not happen because of a couple reason , but mainly Jozie got a stomach bug. The following Monday her stomach bug (or so I though) returned. After a long day in the ER on Tuesday she was admitted, and at 8pm had her appendix removed. She got to come home on Thursday afternoon, and since has been slowly getting better.
Now tomorrow we return to work/school, and I have a week break from classes, so hopefully I can finish decorating for Christmas, and enjoying some down time.

Roundup!

2010-11-29T22:26:00.000-05:00

My niece Amanda on Thanksgiving

Jozie on Thanksgiving

The boys on Thanksgiving

My Wonderful friend Tara and her son Cody.

I have not posted anything in a while. so I thought I would let you all know I had a great Thanksgiving, with family. Then on Saturday our friends Tara and Paul came to visit, and spend the night. I am ready for them to move back to NH. I do not have a lot of close girl friends, and Tara is one of them so her living in NY is not working for me. All in all though it was a great long weekend.

What I Want for Christmas

2010-11-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

I have found the one gift that I want for Christmas. It is a chain link ring that says Hope on it, and it is the Lungevity ring. By that I mean that the ring signifies hope for lung cancer patients, and to further research about lung cancer. 50% of all proceeds go to the Lungevity, to help people with lung cancer, and to fund more research for pre-screenings of lung cancer.
As most of you know, my dad is battling lung cancer, and it has been a tough road for him, and my mom, as well as my sister, and I. This is very personal for me, and I want to whatever I can to help my dad, and anyone else who has, or will ever have to go through this.
This is my one and only Christmas present that I am asking for, because not only will it have special meaning to me, but hopefully even the $10.00 that gets donated will help raise more awareness of this awful illness. This is the link for the ring, it would also make a great gift for someone just as a pretty ring, that they will enjoy, and you will know that you helped a good cause. http://www.etsy.com/listing/61198293/lungevity-hope-sterling-chain-ring

Comment Link

2010-11-22T21:31:00.000-05:00

My comment link was not working, but I have fixed it, so now it should be working fine.

I got a new Mac, and I love, love, love it. I like the cool photo booth thing too, and today I showed to Zack and Jo. It was fun, so I thought I would share the photo we took.

Thankful

2010-11-15T22:06:00.000-05:00

This weekend brought a great surprise visit form our friends Tara, and Paul that showed up from New York Friday afternoon. Not only did they come see us they asked us to join them and Paul's brother Andy, and family to Andy's camp in Maine, on top of a mountain. It was such a blast and I do not think that Jozies could have had more fun, I think she even climbed a tree.

Paul walking with Cody

The view was amazing

Seth, Tara, Allissa, Tyler, and Jozie

Not only was it fun, but Andy and his Girlfriend Lisa were very welcoming to Jeff, Jozie, and I, and their children were so nice, and played with Jo, it was great. I am thankful for great friends, and family Thanks everyone.

Here it is.

2010-11-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

The one in the sock monkey hat doing the dance, yes that is my youngest, and she did that move in every picture I tried to take of all 5 kids.

The sock monkey hat girl (AKA Jozie) picked this pose.

All 5 kids spent most of the day playing on this rock. Why? I have no idea.

And this is pretty much the boys faces in all the pictures.

About a month ago my mother said to me "Your sister and I decided that we were not going to make appointments for Christmas pictures, we are going to have you take them." Oh boy was my thought, cause I know that when I have taken all 5 kids, it has not been a good time, so I can only imagine what that will hold for me. None the less I was excited to do it.
The other side was I hate getting dressed up for pictures in outfits I will never wear again, with some $7.50 an hour person taking them telling me to say "cheese", so you can imagine my kids hate it even more.
I wanted to get our children being our children, and well that did not go all that well, so I will show you a few of my favorites out of the 569 photos that I took today.