Brady Bunch Repeat.... I Don't Think So

Kids Just Love School

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:36:00 +0000

It is amazing how quickly the newness of school has worn off. One day the kids are jumping out of bed at the speed of light and running out the door to school. And the next they are pulling the covers over their heads and hiding instead of getting dressed.

I think it has to do with the change in the weather. On the days when the temperature has dropped significantly, they tend to hide under the covers in the morning. But on warmer days, they seemingly pop out of bed like toast from a toaster. And I have to admit that on the cold fall days I am even guilty of avoiding waking in the morning. Nothing feels as good as a warm toasty bed on a cold morning.

And to think that we are only one month into the school year. Sigh, it's gonna be a long year.

Teaching Someone To Read

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 04:14:00 +0000

In my last post I mentioned that I have my 12 yr old nephew living with us. Well I have the wonderful pleasure every night of helping him with his homework. And as a result I have found out one thing......he can't read worth a darn.

So, I sit patiently, and listen while he reads aloud from his homework. And I try very hard to be patient while I correct him. But it is not easy sometimes. I want to smack him upside the head when he repeatedly rushes through sentences. Or guesses at words instead of taking the time to sound them out and get them correctly.

But a school teacher I am not. That why I am looking for a little help from my readers. I am searching for either a computer program or a website that helps build reading skills. I don't know what kind of response I will get, but any suggestions will be appreciated. Lord knows I need all the help I can get.

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:47:00 +0000

It has been a few months since the last time I posted. It has been a crazy year and an even crazier summer. I am so happy that the school year has begun again. And that my house is once again a quiet place.

As usual my home became a refuge for other family members children for the summer. And as a result we now have my nephew living with us. He came to stay for a few weeks and has now enrolled in school here. And it is a good thing that he is here. His mother has been hospitalized for the last two months and now the family is being evicted from their home in a few days. And to make matters worse, the home that they were going to move into was burned to the ground by an arsonist. So, we found ourselves in a position of do we let him be homeless or take him. The choice was pretty obvious if you ask me.

But the summer did not start all that well. My oldest niece and her infant daughter that were living with us, moved out. On her 18th birthday she left the house and has not returned. She quit school and chose to live the party life. And by that I mean that she hangs out with her friends, smokes weed, drinks and thinks that life is grand. I hated to let the baby go, because I am so attached to her. But short of a court order I can't force her mother to let us keep her. So, as heart breaking as it was we had to let the my niece go and live her own life.

So, we are down to being a family of seven again. Which is a huge difference from being a family of ten. The house is a lot cleaner and a heck of a lot quieter. So, I guess I can be thankful for the small changes that happen. All of the kids will be in school this year, ( my daughter starts preschool next week.) And all I can say is what a beautiful thing that is. I love my life!

My How They Love Their Donuts

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Nine police officers in a small town in Michigan have a new claim to fame. And no it is not arresting a famous criminal or solving a crime. They now own the town donut shop.

When the owners of the Clare City Bakery were ready to throw in the towel, it was the cops to the rescue. All nine officers from the city police force chipped in and bought the business that had been in operation since 1896. And since it's Grand Opening on July 1, 2009, it is quickly becoming a hit. They have a line of merchandise with logos like "You have the right to be glazed" and "handcuffs and cream puffs". At this time the officers have no intentions on leaving their full time jobs. So, they hired a manager and some students from the local High School.

So, I bet your wondering where I am going with this story. Well, since I am on vacation this week, I plan on loading the kids into the car and taking a long drive into the countryside of Michigan. Clare is only a 3 hour drive for me. But for the donuts and merchandise I think it would be a fun trip.

So, if you ever happen to be in the Bay City area of Michigan take the short jog over to Clare and pick up some handcuffs and cream puffs. But don't forget you have the right to be glazed!!!

Visit The Cops & Doughnuts Website

How Quickly They Forget

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Good Grief!! It is amazing how quickly my son forgot about his recent tongue injury. Today he was ready to start bouncing on the trampoline again. I reminded him about his stitches and all he could say was, "I am all better mommy. I can play on the trampoline again. I promise I won't get hurt!!!!"

Oh Lord it is gonna be a long summer!!

Accidents Happen

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:03:00 +0000

When you are a parent the first lesson you learn is that accidents do happen. And in my house we have had an over abundance of them lately. And last weekend was no exception.

On Friday evening my 5 yr old son was playing at the neighbors house. Bouncing happily on the trampoline with not a care in the world. Then it happened......his chin made contact with his friends knee. And he split his tongue wide open. Of course it took stitches, four of them to be exact, to sew up the cut in his tongue. And then the fun really began.

For the next two days it was a non-stop battle to get him to stay hydrated. He refused to eat or drink. And after two days we had to return to the hospital. We begged and pleaded and finally were able to get him to drink. But only after threatening to give him an IV. He was not pleased with being forced to drink. But we finally won the battle.

So, it is Wednesday and he is doing so much better. Though his speech has taken a beating. He struggles to talk clearly because of the swelling. But it is great to see him bouncing all over the house with his sister. Chasing after each other without a care in the world. And the best part is watching him eat and drink. I never thought I would be so happy to see him drinking and eating.

My Children's Obsession

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Lately my children have developed a new obsession. They have found a bird nesting in a hanging basket off of my deck. I was going to plant some new flowers in it this spring, but it has found a new purpose now.

My children spend hours sitting in chairs around the deck talking to the bird. They pause every now and then to ask me how much longer before they can see the baby birds. Then they ask questions like where's the daddy bird. Now try and explain that to a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old. I found it simpler to just say that the daddy bird will be back when the babies come. Or I tell them that he is out looking for food. Sometimes I think it would be easier to explain nuclear physics to them.

They will understand the concept one day. But in the mean time we will sit and wait patiently for the sound of little birds chirping away.

Top Droppers Of April

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:11:00 +0000

Thanks goes out to all of those that have dropped their Entrecard on my site in April. Here is a list of the top 10 droppers. So it's time to show some link love. Please stop by and visit these sites.

Buck Robin.com/

Credit Bum.com/

Autism Experiences

Happy Quotes

Dungeon Siege Cheats

Blogging Ideas

Vacation Oregon

Money Snip

BMWF1 Blog

More Game Cheat Links

And The Credits Go To

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:56:00 +0000

Thank you so much to everyone that responded to my last post " The Question of the day". I did get some really great feedback from everyone. I am including a link to all those that posted a response to the post.

The winner was The Native American Momma She gave me suggestions like posting for odd jobs on Craigslist, she even suggested using food banks instead of buying food. While I could not do that in good conscious since so many truly need it.....I did take her suggestion and look daily for odd jobs that I can do on the weekends.

Other responses came from: Don at Beyond Left Field
Laane at Laane On The World
Jan at Better Spines
Jen From Mom of 2
Sadie at Sadie's Skinny
Wtad at My Prerogative
Jen at Redhead Ranting
Tami at Sunflower Seeds

Once again a big Thank You to everyone who responded. While I did not get my goal of $1000 dollars in a week, I did learn that no matter what happens to me in life I will survive.

The Question Of The Day And Entrecard Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:24:00 +0000

I am feeling very low today. And it has to do with my bankruptcy. And let me say that it has been a long time since I felt this bad. And I am willing to give 1,000 Entrecard credits to the reader that comes up with the best solution.

My husband and I had a meeting with our bankruptcy attorney yesterday. It seems that the attorney for the so called "Friend of the Court" wants to dismiss our case. And that my friends is really messing with my head like you would not believe. The mere thought of losing everything that I have worked for is eating me alive.

Now let me clarify something here, "Friend of the Court" is a local court that is responsible for enforcing child support obligations. And believe me when I tell you that they are not a "Friend" to anyone. I have been on both sides of the fence with this court. The receiving end and the giving end. And I used to believe that they were out for the best interest of the child. But after being on the giving end, because of my current husband, I don't believe they do. But I am not going to go into a ranting and raving session about them.

All I can say is that they don't care about your circumstances. They don't care about how much money you have to pay out in bills to keep a roof over your head, all they care about is getting the money that is owed to them. I think at one point yesterday, I was so angry I compared them to blood sucking leeches. And right now they want a minimum of $1,000 dollars in less than 7 days. Of course they had a few other demands as well, which we have no problem agreeing to. But we just can't come up with a thousand dollars in less than a week.

So, that my friends is the question of the day. And I would love to hear from my readers on this. Since I know many of you are hard core Internet money makers, I want to hear your ideas on how you would raise this kind of money in a hurry. And let me say that a loan is out of the question since we filed Bankruptcy. And none of my family members are in a position to give me this kind of money. And I don't think that selling everything we own would raise more than $50 dollars since our kids have destroyed everything.

Let me hear your ideas on making money on the Internet. And to the person that comes up with the best idea, I will give 1,000 Entrecard points to them.

And in closing today, I want to give all my readers a great big Thank You. Without you I would have given up on blogging a long time ago. You have all been so supportive, and I appreciate it.

Still Here

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:21:00 +0000

While I have been absent for a few weeks now, I am still here. I just have been lost deep in thought. And my thoughts have taken over my brain. My mind has been more or less occupied by thoughts of my daughter. And try as I may, I can't seem to shake it.

Today is another great day in my house. We are celebrating my nieces Birthday. So Happy Birthday to the Big "D"! She turned 17 today, and what a fun day it was. We started out at 7:30 this morning going to cosmetology school. And ended our day at 10 p.m. with cake and ice cream.

So now it is almost midnight and I am already in bed. My day will once again start way too early for me. But since I am off from work I will be able to return home and sleep some more.

Here's hoping everyone has a great day.

Happy Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:45:00 +0000

Today I celebrate my oldest daughters Birthday. She came in to this world 18 yrs ago today. I truly regret leaving the hospital without her. Some would say that I left and never looked back. And to that I would say it was all a lie.

For the last 18 yrs I have led a tortured life. I spend my days looking into the faces of the young girls I meet at work. And I try very hard to remember her face from her baby pictures. And I wonder what has become of my little baby girl.

Perhaps there will come a day when I can hold my daughter in my arms again. In the meantime I will look at the faces and wonder if one of them could be my girl.

The Pain That Won't Go Away

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:13:00 +0000

I have had an incredible couple of weeks. And things are about to get even more fun.

This week is the birthday of my first daughter that I gave up for adoption. She will be 18 yrs old this Thursday. And for the life of me it does not feel like that much time has passes. It seems like only yesterday I was still very pregnant with her. And who ever could have imagined the way she would make her appearance into this world. But that is another story that remains to be told. Perhaps that is a post for her Birthday.

Today is yet another of my least favorite things to do. I get to be molested by a mammogram machine. And I do mean molested. At least that is what it feels like to me. I mean lets be honest who really enjoys stripping naked for a stranger, then having your boobs placed into a medieval torture device then photographed. Not the way I want to spend an afternoon. But alas it must be done.

But for now I am lying in bed in horrible pain. I have pinched a nerve or have pulled a muscle, because my neck and lower back hurt so much, I can barely move. As long as I don't make any sudden moves, the pain is in check. It is when I try to bend down or move quickly that it feels as though my spine is being ripped from my body. And the sad thing is that I want nothing more right now to jump out of bed in the morning feeling like I could jump skyscrapers. Or even simpler just to be able to go to the gym and work out. All I can do is suck down pain killers like candy and try to stretch and pray for relief.

So, for now it is time to get some rest. Send me some good drugs please.

Tim Taylor Returns

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:42:00 +0000

My Tim the tool man Taylor has returned. And his latest adventure has been trying to repair a toilet. And has added a newly defined layer of stress to my already frazzled nerves.

Once again one of our children flushed an item that had no business being in a toilet. It turns out that our kids think that the toilet doubles as a garbage can, and they flushed a plastic container. And wouldn't you just know it stopped up the toilet. And no amount of plunging or snaking was breaking this thing up.

So, here it is Tuesday and our toilet is still not fixed. While the plastic container is not stuck in it anymore, we have been left with a leaking water lines that sprays water everywhere, broken lever arms, and a tank that leaks when you flush the toilet. I had to beg my husband to stop trying to fix it last night. Because it seems that he was only making things worse.

He finally gave up around 2 a.m. and went to bed. I on the other hand was left to clean up the tools, and clean up the bathroom. And of course he did the smart thing, he called a friend that is a plumber this morning. So we are going to leave this job up to the pros. Now if only I could convince my husband to stop trying to repair things........maybe just maybe we wouldn't have to keep calling repairman.

I love my husband to death............but a repairman he is not.

Man Am I Sore

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:56:00 +0000

Well I finally did it......I joined a gym. We couldn't wait to get started working out. I tried to start out slow but I am soooo sore.

I have forgotten one simple thing that must be done, stretching. I mainly walked the indoor track, but took a little time to lift some weights. But had to stop abruptly when my children were finished early. So I did not get the opportunity to stretch. And I am paying for it now. I am stiff as a board!!

Now we have come up with a schedule for going to the gym. And so far it looks like on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday I will be going to the gym. I am wondering if I should take one of those days and spend it doing a yoga or pilates class. Perhaps that will help to keep limber. But one thing is for sure, I will remember to stretch from now on.

Break Time

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:18:00 +0000

Today I have decided to take a break from my entrecard dropping. To all my droppers, keep on dropping your card. I will be back tomorrow night to pay you a visit.

I finally managed to get my hair color straightened out today. I had to pay a visit to a professional stylist, and we ended up stripping the color. The finished color was well worth the money and the extra time.

So, enjoy the rest of your evening and I will see you all tomorrow in blog land.

Don't forget to change your clocks tonight.

Happy First Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:04:00 +0000

I just realized that today is my blogs 1st birthday. One year ago today I started my blog. And have been nothing but impressed with how well it has done.

So, I want to thank all of those readers who have helped to make it a successful year. And I hope that you will continue to help me make it a success.

Tammy

Kiss And Make Up

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:36:00 +0000

I want to thank everyone for their input on my last post. After a very long weekend and an even longer week, we have come to an agreement to seek out counseling. I think that instead of a psychiatrist we are instead going to seek out pastoral counseling.

Like I said before, I truly believe my marriage is worth saving. And I am not ready to give up the fight yet. But I need some change in our relationship. And I really hope that we can find some middle ground, and soon.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Lord knows we need all the help we can get.

Thank You

Tammy

Is This The End??

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 05:51:00 +0000

I am at a sort of crossroads in my life. After a horrible weekend spent arguing with my spouse, I find myself wanting to leave my marriage. It is a painful decision to make. But I have left in my heart already. I took off my wedding ring last night and put it away.

I have to say that I am willing to do the whole marriage counseling thing if he is. And I would stay if things were to change. But I am not willing to stay any longer unless things do change. I have always said that when I got married this time that it was to the end, but a person can only be pushed over the edge so many times, before they break. And that is where I am at.

The other reason to stay is my children. Our children have always favored dad over me. And I want my children to grow up with their two parents in the home. But also have to weigh which is more damaging, staying in a home with so much hostility, or leave and live with only one parent.

I will continue to pray for my marriage. And I hope that I will find the answer that is right for us all.

Unhappy In Life

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0000

As you can tell by the title I am totally unhappy with my life right now. I have been burning the candle at both ends for far too long. And I have finally reached the end of my candle.....nothing left to burn. I am just physically and emotionally exhausted. And I feel as though I have nothing left to give.

Now the sad part is that it feels like a hopeless situation that will never end. I have no escape from the things that are burning me out. And as much as I hate to say it, my biggest drain is my family. Now don't get me wrong....I love my family to death and would do anything for them. But I need a serious time out for me. I have a strong desire in my heart to take a vacation alone. I was thinking about locking myself away in my room, but that won't work....they will still know where to find me.

Hopefully one of my readers will have a good suggestion for ways to combat mommy burnout. Cause I got it bad....and I need a cure and quick.

What Are Your Favorites?

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:01:00 +0000

I have been reliving some of my younger days lately. I am so totally hooked on classic music from my teens. And I am grinning from ear to ear and dancing around playing air guitar.

So, I ask the question what are your absolute favorite songs from your teenage years? You know the ones that make you turn the radio up, and dance around the room so that your kids think you flipped your lid.

Here is a list of my Top 10 Favorites:

1. Pat Benetar: Treat me right

2. Eagles: Hotel California

3. Meatloaf: Paradise by the dashboard light

4. Eddie Money: Shakin'

5. Bon Jovi: Runaway

6. Michael Jackson: Off the wall

7. Bob Seger: Roll me away

8. Bob Seger: Hollywood nights

9. Jackson Browne: Running on empty

10. Survivor: Eye of the Tiger ( From The Movie "Rocky")

So, what are yours?

Where I Am At Today

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:38:00 +0000

I am still feeling somewhat melancholy following the death of my friend. So, I turned to some of my favorite things to bring my spirits up. And I turned to one of my favorite authors, Erma Bombeck. And this particular piece was sent to me by a friend of mine some years ago. And I thought I would share it with you.

Erma Bombeck wrote this shortly after finding out she was dying from cancer.

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the “good” living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television, and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s.” More “I’m sorry’s.”

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it… live it… and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.

Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who DO love us.

Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with.

And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.

We only have one shot at this and then it’s gone.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

Farewell

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 05:38:00 +0000

I lost a friend and coworker today. He passed away after a battle with Lou Gehrigs disease. The words to express my feelings seem to elude me tonight.

He was more than a friend and co-worker, he was part of my extended family. And after he retired he continued to be a part of my work family. He was one of those people that leave a lasting impression on you. And he may be gone now, but he will not be forgotten.

Rest in peace my friend.

Thanks To All My Readers

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Simply said a big Thank You goes out to all my readers. So many people stopped in and left Birthday wishes for me. And while the day did not exactly go as planned, it still turned out to be a nice day.

As a matter of fact the day only got more frustrating. It started out on a rough note and seemed to snowball from there. Towards the end of the day it got really fun. I found myself on my kitchen floor scrubbing spilled paint off my tile. Then my wonderful husband spilled paint on our living room rug. Luckily the kitchen floor and the rug cleaned up well. But it left me exhausted and wanting to sleep. But that was not in the cards. My husband decided to paint our bedroom that night. So I occupied myself by painting the trim in the hallway and living room. If my memory is correct it was almost 4 a.m. before I got to sleep.

But on Saturday I did get breakfast in bed. And I got to sleep in as well. While not as late as I would have liked. But anything is better than being up at 8 a.m. or earlier. But I did get many things accomplished on my last day of vacation. Some minor projects that have been nagging at me for the longest.

So here it is Tuesday and my 3rd day back at work. And it sure has been a real laugh riot. I have forgotten that on full moon days, all of the kooks come out of hiding. Now I understand what doctors, nurses, and police officers mean by the weirdos come out with full moons. I have had more than my fair share of weird people cross my path in the last 3 days. But the good news is that only 2 more days left in the week, and it will be my weekend. And another opportunity to get some work done at home.

Maybe this weekend I will finish painting the trim in my bedroom. Perhaps I will take the kids to the rec center and just relax. But whatever I do, I am gonna do it with a smile on my face. Because life is just too short to not enjoy it.

Happy Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (crazynlovemom) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:47:00 +0000

That's right.....today is my Birthday. You would think that I would be happy about this. But as usual I am disappointed. I keep telling myself it is just another day. Well if it just another day.....why am I ticked off?

Well I was told last night I would getting breakfast in bed courtesy of my husband. So why did I get kicked out of bed this morning to take our son to school? And then I had to go help out my mother,( which I don't mind doing)because her car wouldn't start. So I got nominated to take my niece to school. This meant that I had to drive to the other side of town, pick them up, drive to the school some 5 miles away, then drive my mother to the service station, wait patiently while she arranged for a tow truck, then take her home. By the time I got home my youngest niece was awake, so I had to feed her breakfast. Never mind that my husband is still snoring away in bed.

So here I sit in my kitchen. I have already started cooking dinner for tonight, there are clothes in the washer and dryer, and the dishwasher is madly humming away, and my niece is happy and content with a full tummy. I suppose when the kids get home from school I might run away to the movies and catch an early show. Maybe even treat myself to dinner at Olive Garden since I have a gift card. Who knows what the rest of the day will bring. It can only get better.

Hope everyone has a truly blessed day.