DONE, DA DA DONE, DOOONNNNEEE!!!

Yes, I am done with school. Today was my last exam!! I passed it with an"A", 98 to be exact! I can finally say that I am a college graduate. A personal goal that I had set when I ended the last relationship (my kids father). I didn't go full time, as I mentioned I do have kids. But, I have attended, summers excluded, since I got pregnant with my youngest, Max. He is now six years old! I did it regardless. I am so excited, that I went and bought myself a 6 pack of my fav. Corona!! Sweet!! I will be celebrating alone tonite though, because Jeff is on duty. That is totally ok with me. I did this by myself and I can sure party by myself about it!!! I feel a little embarrassed because I am 35 yrs old, but I can say that I did complete school. Either way, it serves a personal accomplishment and a great example to my kids. Now that I have done this, btw, I will be receiving my AA in Business Administration. Which is enough to prepare me for my next venture, starting my own business. I will be starting with my boyfriend, a construction business. So, from this point on any education that I seek will be specific to the construction field. I figure that anyone loves to see a chic with a tool belt on....haha!!! So now that this is out of the way, the real fun stuff begins!!!

Good Morning Brother of Mine

I have received phone calls from you so many times about not mentioning you in my blog, well not today...


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!!! WE LOVE YOU.



I hope that you were surprised when you walked out the door this morning!

Tree Trimming

We finally got our tree!!! Ywah!! The kids were so excited. We started with it at about 9 last night. We checked all the lights prior to doing it, just because they always seem to not work from the previous year. Well, wouldn't you know it, when we do start to hang them last night they don't work. How did that happen from one day to the next? Who the hell knows. So needless to say we spent part of the evening trying to get them to work again. We had already hung the outside lights and put a few aside for inside. Now we had a limited amount, we had to get them working. That took, oh about an hour. So after being totally frustrated, I told the kids we would finish in the morning with the ornaments. Fine, no prob with them. First thing this morning, after coffee, eating breakfast, cleaning the kitchen, and finishing laundry from the night before we hung the ornaments. It was fun. We managed to break a few, that always seems to happen too. Nothing important to me, just plain ole balls! hehe...We decorated some of the inside of the house and we are now done. The tree according to the kids "was the best tree we ever had." This pleases me so much. I think it truly made my day today. I hope this happiness continues, so that I will feel better about the holiday myself.

It starting to feel a lot like Christmas!!!

It's getting closer

Everyday I think about what has to be done. With Christmas nearing, it is alot. Not only do you have all your everyday things...laundry, dinners, schoolwork (mine), cleaning house, blah, blah, blah. But now the holidays are here and there is lots to do on top of all the rest. Yesterday, we finally put up our lights outside. Looks good! Got a little frustrated with the kids for NOT helping. But Jeff did and that is huge. He doesn't even have kids but he was doing it for my little ungrateful brats!! He he he...I shouldn't say THEY didn't help, because Max, my youngest did. He helped me to not only put them up, but also help decide where to put them. He is great. He will be getting something special for sure. Shy just sat there pointing and saying "no, not there." Thanks for the assistance! Sam was on his bike somewhere with the boys next door. I guess that is OK too. I just feel like it is always up to me to make everyone happy. It's a tough job.

So, tonight we get our tree. This should be fun! The kids do love to decorate it. We usually have the traditional family tree with all the kids ornaments, bought and hand-made. I usually buy them each a new ornament every year. A little family tradition that I started with my kids. I figure this way, when they are 18 yrs. old they have a collection for themselves. Sometimes when you are starting out you have nothing to put on your tree without having to buy a shitload of ornaments. Plus helps to remind them of childhood Christmas'. I think its a good idea. I love the tree once it up. The rest of the interior decoration will also be done tonight. I do hope it all works out the way I plan, because I still have school work to do. There is always next week for that I suppose.

Another birthday, 33 this time!

Yesterday was my boyfriends birthday. He turned 33. He (for once) took a day off for himself. He always works, works, works. I get a little bent because life is more than just working everyday. Especially when you have two jobs, one being part time...(back on topic) When he woke up in the morning, he went outside to let the dog out. That is when I snuck in his little present. I placed it on his pillow and pretend to still be sleeping. I got hims a bottle of Euphoria by CK. Of course he noticed it as soon as he walked in the room. I jumped up and said "Happy Birthday". We laid in bed for oh, a few minutes...then the next gift, ha ha!! Afterwards, he had a small fast breakfast, during which he received more "Happy Birthday's" from the kids as they woke up.


The rest of the day was his. He was able to get some much needed work done on his truck, relax, and watch TV. I had to study so he was pretty much on his own. In the afternoon, I took the kids and told him that we would be back later. We drove up to Dairy Queen and picked up his cake. It was a Reese's Peanut Butter Blizzard Ice Cream Cake!!! Um mm it looked so good. The kids were so excited to be doing this. They just love Jeff, so this surprise was, well, cool! We had dinner later on, after I got back from school. Then the song and dance. We didn't have candles, but we sang any way. It's just not a birthday without the song. Jeff blew out the invisible candles and on to cut the cake. I was a little nervous, I didn't take the cake out the recommended amount of time prior. So I figured that it was hard as a rock. And it was! But, after lifting the entire cake by the knife, Jeff was able to cut through it without breaking the knife. It has happened before....We all had huge pieces of course, and then off to bed. We watched TV the rest of evening full from dinner and cake.
I know it doesn't seem like much, but I know that he was very happy and that is all that matters to me. Look, he almost smiled...Like I always say, it's the little things!!!

Fun or Dis"fun"ction Thanksgiving

Every year we spend the holidays bouncing around. Most of the time we go to only one house for Thanksgiving. This year was a little more special. Due to work schedules, good and bad, we were able to hit up two houses. It was my fathers turn to have us over, we usually switch back and forth between families. Divorced parents, what can I say. I have been doing it for years. In fact since my kids are in the same situation, they spent this one with their dad. Made me sad, but it was his turn. So any way, we were able to spend turkey day with the big turkey himself in Clermont, love you Dad! Also present were my grandparents, aunt, uncles, cousins, and even cousins kids. Our little group was late getting over to the house, but nobody died of starvation. So we enjoyed our wonderful meal and like always, sat around and talked. To my brother's surprise, they threw a Happy Birthday (real early I must add) for him. I think my dad was upset about not having Max over so he had to do something for someone. Ha!! Parents, I swear! So we hung out for a while with the "older folks" to satisfy their family time. Then it was off to dad's for the remainder of the evening. We were able to hang out a little more comfortably there. Have a few beers and bunches of laughs. Long story short, family occasions are a little on the lame side now because of past circumstances. Anywho...the rest of the night was fun. Just a bunch of gibber jabber of well, nothing, but fun nonetheless. My father had to work the next day on Black Friday so we high tailed it up to Crystal River to see my Uncle and Aunt.

Charles and Mel live up in Crystal River, along with my cousins Haley and Connor. They are only about an hour north of Dad. We haven't seen them since last Thanksgiving, when it was their turn. We (of course) sat around talking for a while. Then the fun. Mel recently obtained a Mule, some sort of macked out golf cart. We went through trails at high speed, ha, not too fast. Lots of fun getting smacked by branches as we are driving by. For some reason being in the woods is always fun. Then it was time for relaxation. We do still have to drive home in the evening. Why you ask, well, Jeff and I both have to work. This is what happens when you date a firefighter. For the past two years, he has had to work on Thanksgiving Day. So this was officially our first year together for this particular holiday. I loved it. We sat around the fire drinking some beers, had some dinner and them time to shove off. Nobody wanted us to leave, but sometimes duty calls. Another name for duty, SHIT! Oh well, ya gotta do what ya gotta do....

We left around 7 pm on our way south. We had to stop and pick up the kids at their dads in Venice, Fl. One way it was about 7 hours. Damn, I was tired when we got home. We unpacked the truck and I went to bed. Jeff had to be up in a few hours to go to work and so did I. The holiday ended with a bang, being my head hitting the pillow at around 3 a.m. I know next year will be a little easier because it is mom's turn, right here in Cutler Bay, ha ha!!

Birthday 6

Last week, (I know its been a while) my littlest man turned 6. He was counting down the days since last month. His birthday was on the 25th of November. We didn't have much planned but I was able to get some of his best buddies to Nana's house. In the past, we did nothing for Max because of his birthday being so close to Thanksgiving. We always had a cake for him and presents but never the friends. Last year, we started to actually do something for my little man. This year we were able to invite friends. It was last minute, but it was a success. He wanted a monster truck cake, which was hard to find to order, so (the great mommy that I am!) I decided to make the cake. Seems to be what happens most of the time with my kids. I guess they know that I am capable so I end up making them myself. I must say that I have had good luck in the cake making department. Since this time the theme was monster trucks, we had to improvise. I went with the traditional white cake and went to town with decorations. Max and Sam donated some of their cars and monster trucks to add to the cake. I also added sand and dirt (crushed graham crackers and Oreo's). I made ramps and jumps with full crackers and a tire path with halved Oreo cookies. The cake was a hit, not only to look at, but yummy, also to taste.

All in all it made for a very happy birthday boy! Thanks to all who showed up to make this a very special birthday for Max.