The boys latest masterpieces

The boys stayed up late drawing pictures the other night and asked me to post them here for all to see.

Ben's is our new house with his new Tony Hawk skateboard that he wants for his birthday and his skate ramp.

The other is Calen's...um....It kinda looked like a psychadelic spider, but he said it was his playground!!

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder!

~Enjoy!

Exciting Stuff

Well, 4th of July is quickly approaching and I'm not sure where the summer has gone, but I definitely know it is here! Our temperatures reached over 101 this past week and I had sympathy for my old co-workers at The Plant Shed, in the greenhouse sweating this butts off. I'm fortunate enough to have gotten a new job just a few weeks ago, though I'm still outside driving around, I'm lucky enough to do my work inside now, instead of outside.

The kiddos and the BF are going SouthEast for the 4th this time. Usually I would spend it with my lifetime friend Jess and her family, but since me and the BF are trying out this "family" thing together, we are going to his family's place this Holiday. I heard it's fun with Fireworks, swimming, lots of running around and dodging crazy kids with sparklers and such. So I'm looking forward to it. I really love his family. The are down to earth, fun-loving people that just want the best for whoever they care about. After meeting me for the first time, they called me family the next day. Big Hearts Everywhere out there! Ben and Calen (my boys) love it out there. Going to Uncle Bruce's House has been all the talk around here this past week. Maybe it's because the kiddos get spoiled rotten with toys and treats. Who knows with them though, it could be the chicken chasing or getting to hang around outside with the grown ups. But I'm just as excited as them. It'll be the first time since Memorial Day that I've gotten to hang out with my family and not have to worry about getting up to work in the morning.

I missed Miss Charity's graduation because I had to work at the old job and everyone went out there and had a great time. We are so proud of her for graduating and I even got to see her play some kickA## softball earlier this year when her team came into town. So, I was sad when I couldn't make it to see her walk across the stage in her hometown. But I'm excited too, because I get to hang out with the ladies of the cousins and Aunt Patty.

The BF, TJ has his lifetime friend Shaggy coming down for a visit too, the week after the 4th. We are going to Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor and probably going to spend some late nights out just us "Big Kids" having some drinks. They are bringing their kiddos too, and my boys haven't meet them before so they are excited to make some new friends.

Lastly...we have a big move to our new house coming up in a couple of weeks--Fingers crossed--and all of us are so Psyched about it. I'm psyched because I'll have tons of room for my garden ideas that have been growing in my head. Ben and Calen are excited to have their own room and a Play set in the backyard. Gage(BF's son) is excited to have his own room and a 1/2 acre to play football on with the new friends he's going to make. TJ is excited to be a new homeowner and have such a great house out in the outskirts of the city, but still be close enough to go see a movie at the theater if he wants.

We have other stuff going on too, like my boys coming to live with us full-time and Gage too. We will have a full house, but it's something we've both wanted for a while now, so it's great times ahead. Ben and Calen, love the idea of their "responsibilities" and their own "free time" their have set aside to do whatever they'd like. Ben's is to play games on "his" computer and Calen's is too have me play Xbox football or color with him. Gage, being older (almost 13) realizes those "responsiblities" are just plain ole chores and while he's not as excited about that part, he's lovin the allowance $$ and he really loves and looks up to his Dad, big time, so that's what he's really excited about the most.

I'm really exhausted just thinking of it all, but so excited that all these things are coming together. All of our lives were empty without each other in them, we just didn't realize it. Now that we are all together, I see all the little things I love about our make-shift family. Ben loves Gage's attention and Calen looks up to Ben and Gage. I love seeing my boys open their arms to a new "big brother" and Gage take Ben and Calen on as his little proteges. TJ has gracefully stepped in at times and given the boys the stability they need...with the love they deserve. So far, I have to say this is one of my favorite parts of my fairytale. So what if my Prince Charming is a 30 something biker boy with a shaved head and grease under his fingernails...just means he's not afraid to get a little dirty! ;)

The daily Summertime routine

Whew! It is hot outside and it's really not even into the really high 90's yet. I work outside right now and it is hot!! But the rain is supposed to be coming and I'm really looking forward to it.

The boys are in from their dad's house now and the BF has his son here too. It's a full house right now. I'm feeling highly out-numbered these days. However, it is quite humbling to have those 3 here to look after. Feelin' like a real mom again. I could do without all the daily chores of laundry, cooking and cleaning, but I suppose it comes with the territory.

The older boys have been staying up super late...like 1 or 2 in the morning while the younger one is struggling to keep up and makes until about 10 (if he's had a nap). That just means they are all grouchy in the morning hours. Oh, how I miss those days. Sleeping in till 12 and eating cold pizza and watching the local channels daytime movie (before everyone could afford cable). Heck even in high school watching Jerry Springer...that was a long time ago. I'm glad the kids are at the age where they are making their summertime memories. Although, I do feel a little parental pressure to do my best to make some fun times for them.

We will be going to the ever popular Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor and hopefully squeeze in Dinosaur Valley just before school starts. But before all that we'll hang out by the pool, play Rock Band, and watch scary movies and eat lots and lots of buttery popcorn on the living room floor.

I'm so glad summer is here. For my boys so they can have their break from the pressures of formal education, but more for me. Making Kool-aid ice cubes and teaching them how to swim...it's really one of my favorite times to build memories with my kiddos.

My first time...

Well, I've joined the blogging world now. I feel all official. Where to start??

Who Am I?

I've been told in many different situations "You don't look like you've ________." Fill in the blank. I have been a Straight A student, a Goth girl, a County girl, and a City girl...depending on the day of the week. I'm indecisive to say the least and a big-time dreamer to say the best. I've had jobs like taking surveys in the malls...you know those people you used to run from when you were trying to shop. I've sold you the tickets to your favorite concert at Ticketmaster. I've helped you find that perfect outfit in Hot Topic and fit you for the perfect running shoes in Oshmans. I've handed out the bags of food at the Food Bank. I've washed your car at the fundraiser. I've been the one with my head down at church on Wednesday, and my hands up high with praise on Sunday. I'm the girl standing on the corner waiting for the bus; I'm the girl in the fast car next to you at the light. I've been to prison. I've tutored your children. I've baked the office brownies and dressed to impress. I've lived on ramen noodles and cheese sandwiches; I've dined at the Five Star restaurants. I've made big money, little money and no money. I've hurt people I love, disappointed them all, and amazed them all.

I'm not sure I can really define Who I Am, What I Am. I can say that I love my boys with all I have. I've made some of the worst decisions a person can make, but I've learned some of the best lessons some never learn. I know that money CANNOT buy you anything worth living for. I know that honesty is the ONLY policy. I know that girls can fart just as much as boys and boys can cry just as much as girls. I know that there will never be an obstacle too big to overcome with a prayer and faith. I also know that while my life will never be that Fairytale I've always dreamed of; it is in fact my very own Disenchanting Fairytale that continues to show me the truths in my life in the most unpredictable, unconventional, irrefutable ways. And THAT is all I've ever dreamed of.