A new year

Ok, so I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I just have kinda forgotten about blogging. I can hear the gasps, smartypants, cuz I never forget anything. Right?! Anyway, it's a new year and I am going to try to do better. Let's ignore that it is the day before March. So lots has been happening around mi casa. Still doing foster care, Chick is almost done with her junior year, I am still working full time, Mike is still making my blood boil for fun. Ok, maybe not so much new.
My mother moved in with me, that is new. She is going to help me keep my kids going in the right direction. I have had a really hard time adjusting to working full time, full time mom, chauffeur, chef, laundress, banker and 1001 other things. I started to feel that the kids are not getting enough grown up time so she is going to help me out with that.
I have made only one quilt in the last year. I really miss that. I haven't really had a reason to make one though, so that probably has something to do with it. The last one I made was for the Hasting's Community Club Christmas party. Oh, that is something else new. I am the secretary for the Hasting's Community Club. We are trying to breath some life into this dying little town. We held a Town Christmas Party, have started holding game night once a month, are having an Easter egg hunt/pancake feed in April, bringing back Hastings Fun Day this summer and then having another Christmas party this winter. Lot's of projects. There seems to be quite a bit of support for us throughout town so that is a great start. The thought being, if people have some kind of pride about the town, things can only get better. I am paraphrasing the mission statement but you get the idea.
My friend/little brother Snatch got married over Thanksgiving. I am so happy for him to find someone he can be happy with.
It is starting to sink in that next summer, my baby girl will be 18 and looking for her own home. I think it is very important for her to get her independence and am trying to get her to think about colleges. She keeps telling me she is only 16, she has plenty of time. I keep telling her it will go faster then she thinks. She looks at me like I am nuts. Kind of like I used to look at my mom when she would say totally ridiculous stuff like that.

It's fall already

The cool weather is here already and I am not a bit sorry to see it. I don't like to melt, it just isn't proper. As we all know, I am super concerned with propriety. School started August 18th and three weeks in, I have gotten calls from the principals 3 times. Twice in one day. Are you serious? I got exactly 2 calls for behavior from the old school in the entire 7 years my kids had been going there. Maybe I was just spoiled but I am a little concerned when one of the calls was because my 7 year old was playing tag at recess. Apparently that is no longer allowed. Really? When did that happen? Isn't it a training game for future sports like football, basketball, soccer? You don't want kids to sit around and play video games but you don't want them chasing each other either. OK.

I seriously suck at updates

Ok, so it has been a little longer then a month. I really need to get better at keeping all the adoring fans updated, both of you. The wonderful blessings I call my offspring have all started back to school. Thank the powers that be for that. Chick is now a junior, Bubba is officially a junior high student in 7th grade, 411 is in middle school at 5th grade and Mr. is in second grade already. We do have a new friend staying with us, she is a freshman. I tell you what, getting 5 kids ready for a new school year was not as much fun as one would think. I don't know that I could do anymore than that. Of course, you don't know what you can handle until the situation presents itself.
We still have not gotten down to the river again this year. Stupid Missouri, coming out of the banks all summer long. At this point, I think we will just have a get together at the house for labor day.
I did finally get a new couch. It's a sectional that is supposed to be L shaped but the girls put it in a straight line so it takes up an entire wall which works cuz all 7 of us can sit on it :) Now Mikey is bound and determined to get the biggest TV he can to go in the living room. Boys and their toys.
We got Chick a car. She can get her license in October so she will be ready to go. It's a 2000 Intrepid, like my old car but red. I miss that car. I had to get rid of it because Mr decided to make an entrance into the world. I almost want to trade her cars, how sad is that?
We are taking the kids to Adventureland next weekend. That ought to be a great photo op. We haven't gone to an amusement park since we left Germany so I am super excited.

Monthly update

So my baby girl turns 16 today. She is flying to visit her aunt and cousins in July. I couldn't wait and told her about it last night. She was properly excited by it, I got cool mom points and everything. Wow. I am not sure how I am feeling about this. I am so excited for her to be experiencing all the greatness this time of her life has to offer. And I am soooo thankful that she isn't nearly as extroverted as I was at that age. I couldn't handle half the stuff I pulled on my mom. Of course, I did it, so I would recognize it and be able to squash it. Right? I am contemplating these things because 411 is following very closely and she will be here in 6 years. I know she will make up for everything that Chick isn't doing. Bubba is stretching out, starting to get his growth on a little at a time. His orneriness is in full steam ahead mode though. Mr is in full glory this summer, he gets to spend most of his days with his cohort in crime, Riles. Those two kill me, I am really grateful that Aunt Wendy loves him so much that she lets him hang out. We are going to take Mike's twins out tomorrow. For those of you that aren't on facebook, his twins are the new boat and new truck he had to get to haul said boat. We have been trying to go out on the lake for the last two weeks but mother nature being the bitch she is, we haven't been able to go. So tomorrow we are going. I am packing a picnic and getting some sun, sounds heavenly. Next week we are going to see BEB for the 4th. I don't know who is more excited, Mike or Zach. We are both ready for some time away from the day to day routine. I am making a quilt for his neighbor and taking it with us to save on postage. That makes sense right, drive 10 hours to save $10 postage? I know, just made me giggle when I thought about it. I got to stressing a little when I made this brilliant decision, I only had 2 weeks to get it done. So I cut it all out, got all the flags made, got the ribbons attached and clipped and all the backing squares. Then I realized that they were all the wrong size and had to recut it all. Thankfully the flags were the right size. So I am on a schedule now, I have to get one row done every night and then I will have to clip it on the way to Tennessee. That should make Mike's truck nice and decorated by the time we get there :)

Amazing!

I know, I am amazed at remembering to update almost as much as you are amazed that I am updating. Tis the season for graduates. This year, it is striking me rather harshly as some of the kids graduating are related to me. And I used to change their diapers. Ok, maybe not literally but I was certainly old enough to. So, there are four of them between this weekend and last weekend. Wow. Then I get to thinking about how Chick is going to be a junior in high school. When did that happen? I know, when I wasn't looking.
Speaking of Chick, she got her learners permit. She is doing a great job of driving, gets a little nervous when semi's pass her but that is just a confidence thing. She also got 1st place in an art show at school. It is a huge paper mache bug she named Quasimodo. I will try to get some pictures up later.
Bubba is doing his best not to do anything this last week of school. There are 5 days left, I hope he can hang in there for it :)
411 is having her year end recital for dance class next week. She is so excited, she gets to sing too so she can hardly contain herself.
Mister is loving having roads to ride his bike on. He has made a new bestest best friend that he can hang out with and has had the other half of double trouble spend the night.
We went to the heart walk along the river in Omaha last weekend in memory of our niece, Hadleigh. It was pretty bittersweet to see all the people that turned out is support of her. The team raised about $800 which I didn't think was too bad.
We are getting ready for camping season, next weekend, bring it on! Mike is so antsy, even Chelle is ready to go!! I am toiling away at my job, I have discovered I am pretty good at this leasing stuff. It has almost been a whole year, it doesn't seem like it.
The kids are getting ready to transfer to their new school next year. The younger ones are excited, Chick not so much. She would rather stay put, I think it would be very good for her to meet new people and interacts with other kids her age that can give her a fresh start socially. We'll see.

ok, so I have been seriously slacking. I am going to attribute that to moving. Yeah, that's it. We bought a home in an even smaller town but with almost twice the space. Go figure. All of the kids will have their own room finally so that is a plus. I will actually have my own sewing room too. FABULOUS!! I received a promotion at work, get to be legitimate now. Mikey has been taking over alot more of the day to day stuff, its not so easy to do it all when you are getting home at 6:30 or 7 at night. The kids are going to have to transfer schools next fall, they aren't especially groovin' on that but aren't exactly heart broken either. I have been mostly just hanging out, working and trying to learn to not share my opinion unless someone asks for it. That is a hard one for me. It's getting better though. We had the family Easter get together last weekend, that was so fun. My wonderful new camera is in a box, dammit. Wendy got some good ones so hopefully she will share. The heart walk is coming up again. This year we are ordering long sleeved shirts, it was chilly last year. 411 got to do the cookie sales again this year. Unfortunately, that is about all she gets to do. I am hoping that her new school will bring a new girl scout troop that is a little more organized. She is doing dance so there will be a recital again this spring, I just got the email to the link of the pictures from last year. Nothing like being on top of it. Apparently my friend Jen graduated from nursing school, WAY TO GO!! And on another facebook connection moment, I found one of my bestest friends I grew up with. I was amazed at how much she hadn't changed. She is one of those people that just didn't change very much, I am soo envious. Funny thing, her name is Brandy and she has 4 kids now too. I was thinking, I graduated 18 years ago. That means in 2 years there will be reunions for 20 years. Where in the hell did the time go?

What's been happening

We made a quick trip to Tennessee, dropped off a couple gifts, had a great time!
















This is the quilt I made for BEB. His neighbor ordered one for himself!






















Here is how the guys spent their time together, this and drinking beer.

















Chick went to the winter ball at school. I think next time, I am going to have to plan on more then one day dress shopping, I can't do the 10 hour marathon shoping anymore. I get too crabby.

And working. That is what I have been up to. Not really anything terribly exciting. I might have some good news soon but I don't want to jinx it.