Brrrrr.

It's officially a blizzard out there, and it is forecast to be one for the next 24+ hours. 2nd snow day of the season for the kids today and I am almost 100% positive there will be another one tomorrow too. I've spent the morning shoveling the slush from overnight before it could refreeze and make a chunky mess at the end of the driveway. I expect several inches (or feet??) to shovel by the morning too. Welcome to winter (and it is still technically fall for another week or so).

Poor Blog

Oh, poor little blog. Someday soon I'll hopefully remember to update you on a more frequent basis. You must feel so neglected. ;)

I Can't Believe It

Another school year starts on Tuesday! Seriously, what happened to summer? I must have blinked and missed it. I look forward to the start of the school year and I don't. It means time to myself, but it also means being by myself. It means my girls are growing up, but then again, it means my girls are growing up too fast. Natalie will be in school all day now. I hope I can keep it together on the first day of school. Kindergarten was a little tough but I think 1st grade might be a little harder since I won't see her until 3:15. I also have Gabby who is starting to grow and change (and ask LOTS of questions every day).

We've had a murderer in our house too. Scratches found it necessary to end the lives of a bird and a mouse this week and last week. The mouse I can handle, better she get it outside than it make its way inside. I wish she'd leave the birds alone though, or that they would fly higher. :)

Almost Done

With BTS shopping that is. Gabby needs 1 more notebook and another pair of jeans, then I just need the classroom basics for donation - tissue, paper towel, band aids. I still need to get them winter boots but those can wait a couple months.

Speaking of winter, today we are finally getting a taste of real summer - hot, sunny, humid, and in the 90s. Ahhhhhhh.....yucky! I think it is only supposed to last 2 days, then a short break, then back to summer again. I just might have to get out the pool for the kids, but that would require I mow, which I don't want to do in the heat. The slip n slide sprung a big leak so that is shot for the summer. Maybe I'll go invest in a new sprinkler for the kids and see if that tides them over.

Why Me?

I seem to have this thought go through my mind on a daily basis. Why is my life so shitty? Why are we always on the losing end? When is it our turn to breathe easy? I'm beginning to think it will never happen. I am not the type of person that wants or needs "things" but damn it, I sure would like to just have enough. I would love for my kids to just once in their childhood, be able to take a family vacation (for more than just one day driving across state). I feel like all we do is get kicked while we're down. We have a crap load of medical bills for Natalie's eyes, Gabby's teeth, and Jeff's arm. Of course everything always happens after we lose insurance. It sucks!!!!! We never seem to qualify for much help either. Today in the mail I get a $200 tax bill from fricken 2005 due to a mortgage company screw up. Nice. They get billions of govt. bail out money and we get screwed again.

I try to remind myself God doesn't burden us with more than we can handle but my goodness, can't someone else get dumped on for a change? I get so disheartened when I see others that get to take fun vacations, can afford to make home improvements, can throw big birthday parties for their kids. Again, I don't want brand new things, I'm fine driving used cars and shopping second hand for clothes and such, but sometimes it would be really nice to have money to just go to a store and buy one outfit without worrying about taking that money away from a bill.

I guess I just needed to vent some frustrations. I am just waiting for the tide to turn and things to start looking up, but it just seems to only get darker here lately and we fall deeper and deeper.

It's a Zoo in Here

Well, as if 4 cats, 3 rats, 2 crazy kids and a dwarf hamster weren't enough, now we have a dog. The dog is only temporary, I hope. My crazy MIL went and bought herself a Boston Terrier late December even though her townhouse complex doesn't allow it. She's been caught a few times and the dog would stay with us during the day - I was doggy daycare. Well I get a call last night saying I needed to keep the do for her for at least a week. Oh Joy! Don't get me wrong, I like dogs - other peoples dogs. We are just not a dog household. I like the cats, they know to pee and poo in the litter box. With a dog I have to pay attention to when it ate and when it needs to go out to do business. She also isn't vocal, which is good and bad. She doesn't bark much but that means she doesn't tell me she needs to go out. So far there's only been one piddle today though, and it is pretty easy to clean up the wood floors with spritz instead of it stinking up carpet. We'll see what the rest of the week brings.

Motivation, where are you?

I don't know what the deal with me has been lately but I just lack any sort of motivation what-so-ever. I have superb thoughts of doing things in my head on Sunday nights, and before you know it, it's Thursday and the only thing I've done that is helpful is a few loads of laundry (which are not even folded yet, by the way).

I did manage to rearrange Natalie's bedroom in hopes of keeping her in it at night. So far so good on that battle.

We found out on Monday that we will be getting about 10" worth of insulation blown in to the walls and attic in a month or so. We won't be getting the living room windows replaced though, Boo!

I'm still plugging away to sell my way to earn the kids a party spot. I've enlisted the help of a Blogger who I teamed up with in the spring. She placed a small order but her readers so far have not jumped on the bandwagon of ordering for extra entries and a possible 2nd prize. It's been less than 24 hours since she posted it though. I still have hope I'll make it.