Testing....

Is my blog broken? Did the Blogger Gods not like what I said? Why didn't my last blog post?

'F U' -- A wrestling move?

"F U!" I hear coming from my boys' room while I was cleaning this morning. You should have seen how quickly I flew down the hall and stood at their door.

The boys were on their bed with a few of their Power Ranger, Army guys and wrestling men.

Me: "What did you say?"

MCS: "F U. It's a wrestling move."

Me: "Uh, no it's not. It's a cuss word."

They sit there looking as confused as can be.

Me: "Where did you get that from???"

MSC: Always the one with the most to say, "Xavier's house on his wrestling game."

Okay, remember when I was so happy they were playing at their friends' house? Happy for my moment of peace? *sigh* Okay.

Me, being my very direct self, gave it to them straight. "F U is short for F*ck You and that's a cuss word, right?"

Both: "Yes, Ma'am."

Me: "Okay, so I don't want to hear it again."

Both: "Yes, Ma'am."

I left the room shaking my head. My, the things that they learn from their friends.

Yesterday, the words were faggot and gay. Yeah, really. But look for this story in a later post......

What are you cutting back?

Of course we're all feeling the financial crunch, while standing at the threshold of recession. With these ridiculous gas prices and the price of food getting higher and higher with every visit to the grocery store, the dollar don't stretch as far as it once did.

As a mom, CEO of my empire(thanks for helping me realize my position, Neighbor) , I'm on a mission. It's become my journey to find many ways to cut back to make room for the changing economy.

Coupon clipping is going to become a regular part of my Sunday afternoon. I've done this before, but was never able to keep it as a habit. Yet, the last time I clipped, I came out with over $20 in savings that day. Now even though $20 doesn't put a dent in the gas tank, it is a special outing to McDonald's for the kids or lunch for the Hubs and I. Money well saved.

Many of my friends are also stay at home moms, which give us all the opportunity to car pool. Many of us go to the same places throughout the week and we've found it more convenient to do things together. On my outings with the rug rats, I've found it more convenient and more cost effective to pack lunches and/or snacks for the kids before leaving the house. This saves on stops at the nearest fast food restaurant when the rear seat start calling out "I'm hungry!" Even though they just consumed a three course lunch prior to leaving the house an our ago.

I'll be looking soon to get another car. Right now, I'm running around in a 1997 Navigator. Absolutely horrible on gas! I love my truck. I love the roominess and the fact that I can ride around with friends and their kids, as well as my own 3. I have arguing with my husband for years on the subject of getting me something smaller. Okay I was wrong because in these trying times and the fact that gas is about$3.95 (I know that's a steal in comparison to some other places in the US), I've finally decided that something smaller is a necessity.

So these are just some of the things this CEO is doing to cut back and keep our business running smoothly.

What are some of your cutbacks?

Staying Home For Them

I've spent many a days wondering why I am not more than what I am. And I've found that I'm exactly what I am supposed to be.



This is what I mean, truth is, unlike many other stay at home moms, I didn't set out, nor do I love the idea of being a SAHM. Don't get me wrong, I love the benefits of the job. I mean, who wouldn't absolutely love the idea of being able to stay home and not have to worry about the commute to work or the trouble it takes to get there? Getting the kids ready to be dropped off somewhere every single morning can be a hassle. I have the option to wake up early or sleep in (because my little angels almost always sleep late), and if I want, I don't ever have get out of my pajamas. Those are the some great perks to the job I have. I'm here when my boys get home from school. I'm the one that helps them with homework and projects. I'm the one that teaches Miss Missy the basics before she goes off to big kid school.



Believe me that's all fine and dandy, but I have dreams of my own, dreams that I have yet to fulfill because I want the best for my children.



For many years, I have struggled with the options I have before me. Hubs, of course, a is a Soldier. Because of this, it just seems easier to be home, we never know when he'll be working late, over night, have to spend week in the field, go TDY (temporary duty), or even be deployed. It just seems smart to be there when he can't be.

On the other hand, I always think that sometimes it may be greener on the other side, you know. Me having a career of my own, something, other than my kids to be proud of.

Recently, I came to the realization that the thing that I should be most proud of is having wonderful-well rounded children that are smart, respectful and beautiful. Now how much more fulfilling do I need. For them, I can wait on me.

Where did those great summers go?

Ahhhh, peace! Everyone's out of the house except Miss Missy and she's taking a nap. 6:30pm is a bad time for a nap, I know, but Miss Missy rarely naps and I guess after a joyous playdate with the neighbor, she's all pooped out.

So, selfish me is letting her catch a few Z's while the boys are visiting friends and the hubby is working the night shift.

As my boys off spending one of their last summer days INSIDE someone else's house, presumably playing video games, I can't help but think,

"Where have the great summers gone?"

Remember the days where we stayed outside until the streetlights cames on and dare we run into the house for ANYTHING at all in fear that we'd have to stay inside?

My kids practically beg to come back in, claiming "It's boring outside."

Remember "Red Light Green Light", "Mother May I" and "Red Rover"? Remember catching fire flies, building forts and having club houses?

My kids think that "Sooooo lame!"

Summers days use to seem endless. And the idea of coming in when the street lights came on was heartbreaking.

I guess these days, kids have so much junk inside the house that outside seems dull. I mean, who wants to play with bugs when you have a PSP or DS with virtual pets to play with?

Who wants to look for your friends in trees or behind bulidings, in between cars or on neighbors porches? Who wants to play hide and go seek, tag or freeze tag anymore when there's a world of technology waiting on the inside? Who needs good ole' outdoor exercise and play when you have freakin' WII Fit in your living room?

And we wonder why we are the most overweight country in the world!

Children Change Your Outlook, Many Times For The Best

It's funny how having children can change your prospective so much and how what you once thought was most important, isn't quite a priority anymore. Having children makes you stop, take a breath and think about the things that you do.

Many who know me that my marriage surly has its up and downs. Now,normally I don't go discussing those things that are considered personal to friends and family, so shhhh! Let's keep this among us, okay? Don't tell anybody. LOL. But,I've come to realize that the honest to goodness reason my marriage has lasted as long as it has is because of the love that I have. Not the love for my husband. Not even the love for myself (Lord knows there's a lot of that to go around), but the love that I have for those 3 little people in my life. For me, even when I think that the world around me is crumbling and I can't take one more day of marriage, I can't help but stop to think of them and the things that they deserve in life. They deserve to have a childhood as harmonious and fullfilling as their father and I can provide. Sometimes that means doing things we would not necessarily do or taking things we wouldn't necessarily take from marriage without children.

Children cause you to become less selfish and make you stop and think when those points of anger are so high that you just want to walk away. They say that 50% of all marriages end in divorce, but the statistics I worry most about is that nearly 60% of black children grow up without a father in their home. Now, I'm no pschiatrist, but I do know that many problems can stem from divorce or just not having 2 loving parents in your home. And after watching Black in America on CNN for the last 2 nights, I am convinced that if there is anything worth fighting for, it's my children, and in turn, that means that I have to fight to make my marriage work by all means. Their futures are of the utmost importance to me. And there is no problem so great between their father and I that I can't work my butt off to change to ensure a fighting chance at a good life for them.

It's funny how kids can change your prospective on your life, huh?

A Lesson on Girls By a 1st Grader

My son, Middle Child Syndrome, as he will lovingly be called had some very interesting things to to me yesterday about his "beautiful mom". He's my angel. Always telling me how beautiful I am and how I'm the best mom in the world. I always get a boost of confidence from MCS because to him, the sun revolves around me. Absolutley great for the self-esteem.

So we're talking about how he thinks I'm the most beautiful and how no one is more beautiful than me (Yeah I'm still smiling). So I tell him that he's going to have all the girls if he keeps being so sweet and telling girls stuff like they. I tell him girls love to hear guys say those things. (Okay, yes he's only going to the 1st grade, but I have to get him ready early).

So he says that he couldn't tell other girls that.

I say, "Why, MCS?"

He say, "They (meaning other girls) might get mad if they hear me say you're the most beautiful."

I say, "You think they might get jealous?'

He says, "Yeah, and if I tell another girl that they're beautiful too then they might smack me."

I laugh and ask, "What do you mean?"

"Well," he says they'll get sooo mad at me and one will smack me on this side like this," and he demonstrates a smack to one cheek, " and one will smack me on this side!" And he demonstrates a snack to the other side. "And that wouldn't be good!"

Too soon for a routine.

Well, there are just less than 3 weeks left until school starts and I'm already starting to feel anxious. I think the kids are too. There is a higher amount of arguing and fighting amongst all of them lately, making it more difficult to just enjoy the the time we have left of summer vacation.

It's time almost time to get back into a routine. The bedtimes, which have become non-existent, are going to have to change really soon in preparation for school hours. Yet, I want them to be able to enjoy the last few week they have, and with this Georgia heat, early bedtimes become an issue. Of course the longer hours make it almost impossible to get the boys to sleep at 9 o'clock considering it's still light out. And, the heat here in Georgia reach staggering temperatures and the humidity makes it impossible to take a slow walk, much less ride bikes, jump on trampolines or run. The kids can't even go outside until around 7, when the sun is beginning to descend and the heat is only in the low 90's (still unwavering heat, I know). So it poses a problem when trying to get your kids, who have been stuck inside all day, to come inside at 8 o'clock and be ready for bed by 9. An hour outside barely gives them enough of an outlet or enough exercise to burn off a calorie!

So for now, I just plan to play it by ear and perhaps hold off on preparing them for the school routine until the week before they have to go back. Remember when summers seemed to last forever?

"It's your JOB to clean!"

Okay, so if you read my last blog, you know that I have my 13 yea old step daughter here for a while. As a matter of fact, this is the last week. Well, a few days ago, after doing a lot of running around buying school clothes for the boys and looking for things she might want, we came home and sat down. Well, of course, she went straight for the phone, as most teens do. So I asked her does she so anything other than talk on the phone, like clean up something. She said, laughing, "Nope, you're the housewife. It's your job to clean!"

Okay, I have to say how this really felt like a stab to the gut. I guess first it's the idea that I really don't want to be where I am. I really do want to do things for me. I want a career and life of my own, outside of being a mom and an Army Spouse.

Then, I think it bothered me because I realized that that really is the way that she sees me. As nothing more than a housewife, and that to her, that's NOTHING. Her mom works as a supervisor at some plant, works long hours and, for her area, makes really good money. She's proud of her mom, but me she considers nothing more than a housewife.

Coming from a teenager it hurt because I never wanted this for myself. And although I know she doesn't understand the situation of why I do what I do, why I stay at home and raise my children rather than leave them for someone else to raise, why I haven't gotten a career going of my own, why right now it is more financially suitable that I stay at home, the comment still bothered me to no end, and sent me into a world of thoughts about what I want to be when I grow up.

Count down to the first day

I decided that today will be the beginning of school shopping. I kinda like doing this because it gives me some time with my kids and I get to see how their likes and dislike have changed since last year.

This year I have a 1st grader and a 3rd grader. Wow how the time has flown. I watch CJ (the 3rd grader) change ever day and he does everything he can to try to be the "Big Kid" and be cool. Before it seemed so simple to just go out and buy things for him and see his eyes light up because he has something new. Now....... he has an opinion. If he doesn't like it, he's quick to say.

Cam is going to the first grade. He's still my baby, right? Cam is still at the age where if I like it, he likes it. Mommy is his world. He's going to make a great first grader.

It's scary to know that as they grow another year, so do I. Pretty soon Mom is going to be so uncool and soooo clueless. Pretty soon they are going to want to do the school shopping by themselves and that's scary. So I rather enjoy the school shopping days, because all too soon, they'll be gone.

8 Years Ago

I received a bulletin on myspace today from a friend of mine that asked "How much have you changed in 8 years?", and after reading through it, although many of the questions were geared towards the younger crowd (wow, when did I leave that crowd?), it got me to thinking.



There were questions about how old you were, what piercings did you have and what car di you drive, and what school did you attend. And it got me to thinking about the "plan I once had for my future and all the things I wanted to do before I turned 30, much of which I have not accomplished.



Eight years ago, I thought 30 was forever and a day away. Eight years ago, thirty was OLD. Eight years ago, I just knew that CJ was going to be my only child and I would have a degree in Business Administration, my own career and working towards owning my own company. My, how we gear off path.



Into my mix, I have added Cameron and Kennedy.










And that degree I wanted is has been put on hold to be a stay at home mom to my wonderful children. Eight years later, I'm trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I'm trying to find the time and the money to go after that degree and am now hoping to get into the real estate industry really soon. Eight years later, I'm still searching to find ME in all this chaos of being a mom, a maid, a Army Wife, a tutor, as well as so many other jobs I don't remember applying for.



Funny how life is and how that "master plan" you once had for yourself doesn't seem to always pan out the way you thought. But I have to admit that I can't complain about what I now have, eight year later.

4-day work & school weeks?

Okay so I recently heard on the news that many government places here in Augusta are considering 4-day work weeks. Although I'm not a working mom and this will not apply to my Army Soldier husband, I still was a little leery about this decision. The reason for this change would of course be to save money. Everyone knows that with the rising gas prices everyone, including businesses, are suffering. Money is becoming tight. So many government office including the Richmond County Tax Assessor's office and the Community and Housing Development Office are considering either closing on Fridays or having rotating schedules.

Wow, what are we coming to? Everything and everyone is affected by what is happening in the economy. I mean, even the school systems were considering 4 day school weeks. Now this was something that did directly effect my and my first thought was "NO WAY!" I mean, I'm a stay at home mom who values my time away from my kids to do the things I want to do for me.

Selfish I know.

But, really, I was concerned because I've been considering returning to work and does that mean that I have to pay for daycare one day a week? Yes, I understand the savings that it will produce for the school system. I get that. But the selfish Diva in me says, HEY! WHAT ABOUT ME! Earlier mornings and later afternoons at school would not necessarily be great. My boys already don't get home until 4pm and if you add another hour to that, and consider the fact that some nights it takes as late as 8 o'clock to finish homework, where do the kids get any free time? Will there be anytime to sit back, relax and just be kids?

All in all, I think I need more information on this before making a strong decision on whether I like the idea or not. But until then, I'll remain up on the fence, with my selfish self.

Sleeping in while I can

Some may consider me blessed while others may just think that I am outright lazy, but my day hardly ever begins before 10am since the summer has kicked in. Yes, I have 3 children and my step daughter is visiting for a few weeks, but yet and still, even at 10am, I'm the first one to get out of bed in the morning (after my husband leaves for work, of course).

I know this is because I let the kids stay up pretty late because it's summer and I kinda got tired of the schedules and the routine that the so diligently stuck to when school was still in. I spoil them I know, and it started out where they were allowed to stay up an hour or so later then their regular bedtime. That didn't last long as we started sitting around watching TV or playing the Wii until we get tired. So now, there is no bedtime and the children don't wind down until 10:30 or so. Unhealthy, I know, but as a mom who stays at home, I tend to enjoy the extra sleep I get in the mornings and the alone time I have before they wake up. And I have to take Mommy Time when I can get it because I know that as soon as one wakes, the others are sure to follow and the chaos begins.

"Momma, CJ hit me."

"Momma, Cameron won't get off my bed."

"Momma, Kennedy won't get out of our room."

Now, that's the daily routine. It's started the first day of summer vacation. And I know I'm not the only mom (am I?), but I can't wait for school to start again!