Can February March? No but April May.

Can you believe today is the last day of May? I can’t!

Well, Parker survived 8th grade! And so did I 

Summer has officially started (well, maybe not weather wise). Saturday I will drop Parker with his dad, and head to Salt Lake with my mom and sister. My mom will have surgery on June 5th.

This year I turn 30, my sister turns 40 and my mom turns 60. So for several years we have planned a “30, 40, 60” celebration. As time passed we realized none of us had any money to do anything (my sister lives in California, so it takes travel money). So, although being together for a sucky thing like surgery, we are going to celebrate before the 5th… because honestly, a “31, 41, 61” celebration doesn’t sound very cool.

I just can’t believe how fast time is flying by! Before you know it Parker will be back and in HIGH SCHOOL!! He says he’s ready, but I’m not!

Nothing too fun has happened, so I don’t have any pictures… but I’ll blog while I’m in Utah and I’ll take a lot of pictures Of scenery, not us .

Grateful

I am sitting her at work, waiting for a client to come in… feeling tired and a little annoyed (no-shows suck). I feel overwhelmed and wanting a pity party… Then I read a news story about a 24-year-old girl who has necrotizing fasciitis (flesh eating disease). She has had her left leg amputated at the hip, her right foot and both hands. She spoke for the first time after 3 weeks and was so grateful to hear her own voice. She didn’t utter a “why me”…. Wow. I feel kind of silly! It made me realize that I need to be much more grateful for everything I do have.

1. I am generally healthy 

2. I have all of my limbs

3. I have a fabulous family

4. I have a job

5. I was fortunate to attend and graduate college and graduate school

6. I have a reliable car

7. I have a warm house and food in my fridge

8. I live in a country where I am free

9. I have access to modern medicine

10. I am alive

Okay, so there is much more, but I need to get more assessments written. Be happy, be grateful!

♥

Memorial Day

Today was a very chill day! I went over to my mom’s house this morning and watched the recorded American Idol finale. Thanks to Facebook the results had been ruined for me, but I wanted to watch anyway because of my secret crush on Steven Tyler and Philip Phillips. Mom mowed the lawn while I watched because she had already seen it. While I watched I also attempted to fix her recliner that had broken underneath. Parker did the edging and picked up the fallen branches and tree. YES tree! He worked hard. Mom bought us all Subway sandwiches for lunch, YUM! Parker went home to do his chores and to call friends to see if they wanted to play hang out. Mom and I watched the House series finale, which was kind of a let down. I expected something pretty awesome, but it ended up being a little boring. Oh well!

Parker had gotten a free activity card for Fat Cats. He can choose one free activity a day for a week (minus movies). He decided to invite his friend Braigen and it ended up that Braigen’s 3 sisters tagged along. It was a little crazy! I didn’t bowl, but the kids did and they had a lot of fun.

Now Parker is playing at Braigen’s house, enjoying the fact that school is over and he can play without worrying about going to bed early!

I’m home thinking about all those that I’ve lost in my life. Wishing I had a few more minutes with each one. I’m starting to realize that life is way too short!

I have a LONG day of work tomorrow… but I’m glad I’m starting to get more clients and feel more comfortable in my new job. It was weird to give the key to the school back to my boss.

Happy Memorial Day!

P.S. It didn’t snow!! And it wasn’t FREEZING! Yay! This was taken many years ago… I miss my daddy!

Update on Princess

Princess has been with her new family since Monday night. I was extremely sad and worried after she left. I wondered if she would be okay and if I made the right choice. But, as they friended me on Facebook and have e-mailed/text pictures I know she is in safe and loving hands. They made the trek to South Dakota and I’m sure Princess will love it there. They say Princess is happy and warming up to them quickly. I knew this was true after they sent this photo:

She looks absolutely content in her new home. I am happy I was able to find a family that would love and spoil her as much as I did. They even bought her chicken nuggets for the road trip to South Dakota.

I still miss her like crazy, but I know she is in a good home and she’s happy and healthy. That eases the pain a little.

Last Day of School

Tomorrow is the last day of school. Parker will have completed 8th grade with a 3.5 GPA. On June 2nd he will head to California for the summer. In August he will come back and start HIGH SCHOOL! I can’t believe this kid was in 6th grade when he came! Time is going by TOO fast!!

This is Parker on the first day of school

 

 

This is Parker on Picture day

 

This is Parker today, the day before the last day of school…

This is hard to see…. but this is how much he’s grown since September 16, 2011!!!!! Look at those growth spurts!! No wonder I can’t keep food in the house

Love you Parker!

Dear Princess

Dear Princess,

I know you aren’t going to understand why you live in a new home. I know you are going to be scared and angry and confused. I know you will miss me and cry when you don’t get to come home. I know that no words could explain these things to you, because no matter what I say, you won’t understand. You have been the most incredible dog I’ve ever had. I love you more than any animal I’ve ever met and/or owned. You are smart and funny and you are so obedient. The last 4 1/2 years have been wonderful. I never thought of myself as a dog owner, but you have forever changed me. I love you Princess. Please know that your new family loves you and will take care of you just as much as I have. Please know that this decision was the hardest one to make. Be happy little doggy. Enjoy South Dakota. I will miss you everyday. Parker will miss you too. Don’t cry. I love you.

Love,

Mom.

The institution of marriage

Here comes my rant…

I’ve heard so much garbage lately about the horrors of “gay marriage”. Before you keep reading, let me just say that I am in 100% favor of gay marriage. If you don’t agree, you should probably exit this post.

Do you know what I think ruins the institution of marriage? Domestic violence, pornography addiction, drug addiction, alcoholism, child abuse, intolerance… Would you rather see 2 loving men in a marriage or a “traditional” marriage where the man beats and rapes his wife everyday? I know which I’d rather see! Pornography ruined my marriage… and the life of my ex-husband. And if he would have just been HONEST with himself and ME, he could have left the marriage and lived his life happily with another man. Now, will there be abuse and addiction in gay marriages… yeah, probably… but it will the the abuse and addiction that ruins the marriage… NOT the fact that they are homosexual.

Shouldn’t we all have the right to marry who we want to marry? In my grandparents day black men could not marry white women (and vice versa). And now, WE ALL THINK IT’S CRAZY!!!!!! So what will happen in 20, 30, 40 years from now? Will our children and grandchildren think we are crazy for being so homophobic? I know some WONDERFUL people who are gay… who are in wonderful relationships… and WHY SHOULD they have to FIGHT to get married? I do NOT UNDERSTAND.

The end.

Tempus Fugit!

Where has the time gone? The days just zoom by one after another and sure enough it’s almost half way through May! I’m realizing that I don’t follow through with things… I mean, I followed through on getting a Master’s degree, but that’s about it. I need to start sticking to my commitments! (Yes Jackie, I’m admitting I have commitment issues) Anyway… more on that soon (I promise).

A few weeks ago my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. Cancer… what an ugly word. I’m not sure what the appropriate response is to that kind of news, but I’ve been numb. It doesn’t seem real and I mostly want to ignore it. There aren’t any gynecological endocrinologists in the state of Idaho… So we have to go to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City. Mom’s first appointment is the 23rd and I’m nervous. I mean, I’m sure she is WAY super nervous… but I’m nervous too. I laughed at the possibility of cancer in my immediate family… now I realize I was too naïve. More on that as news comes.

Tomorrow I am getting allergy testing. I went to the ENT like 4 years ago and I was supposed to get the testing then, but I put it off and off and off… so now, I’m finally going in. I haven’t been able to take allergy medication for over a week and I am an itchy, sniffling, sore throaty chick! I hope they find something out so I can be much more healthy! I am losing my health insurance in August, and I’m super nervous! I’ve never gone without health insurance (well, for awhile in undergrad, but there was a student health clinic that was cheap). It is a scary though.

Parker is in baseball and is excited for school to be out in 8 1/2 days! He will be heading to California for the summer and he’s excited about that. He can’t wait to see everyone there.

We went to the baby animal fair this weekend, and as always it was a lot of fun! The reptiles weren’t there, so that was sad… but the bunnies and ducks were dang cute! I wanted to take the bunny home with me!!

Miniature Australian Shepherds

Cutest bunny ever!

Mom and Parker loved this puppy!

THe ducks are my favorite!!!

FUnny pictures