Happy Thanksgiving

Thinking of all my family and friends today.. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

Why do kids lie?

This has been a worry for me for many years.. I know that my kids lied to me.. hid things and so on.. I'm over that now.. and they have all turned out so great.. Now I have one boy at home.. for the most part he is really good.. he's a good kid.. but then I find out he's lying about things.. nothing big.. but it still bothers me.. did you clean your bathroom.. yes.. do you have soap and shampoo.. yes.. did you wash your hands after taking the dog out and then before making her food .. yes.. All of those were lies.. Why?  When it would be just easier to tell the truth?  He has to know I'm going to find out.. and then what?  I'm the full time stepmom.. I don't want to be mean but this stuff really bothers me..

Halloween

Tigger and friend

Organizing!!

I'm going a little nuts with getting things organized.. Even living in a smaller space it seems that things pile up.  Plus when we moved we had tons of stuff that had to be put in our second garage and in closets.. I would love to have the garage cleared out so we can park in there.  Would be nice to have it done before it starts snowing.. Also some closet space for things that we really use.. I'm doing the timer cleaning/organizing.. I don't take out more than I can get finished at a time.. After I work for a while I use the timer to take a break and then get back at it.. the next work time I have to deal with the stuff I've pulled out.. then start on the next batch.. it's kind of fun.

I have been feeling so much better lately.. I guess that's why I am getting so much more done.  I'm not sure what it is.. but I've been taking Juice Plus.. My Mom, Sister and her husband and some friends take it and swear by it.. so I'm trying it..  I've felt so sick for such a long time and now I'm getting better.. could this be the answer?  If anyone is interested I have a wonderful consultant who would be happy to talk to you about it.. her name is Susan and if interested just let me know and I'll get you in touch.. Amazing!! She is trying to grow her business and is so enthusiastic about it.. has learned so much going to seminars etc.. She says her health has improved and she's lost weight.. even though I don't think she needed to.. but then seems like everyone wants to.

Last Night

Just as I thought.. the new neighbors had a huge party.. I figured they were planning something when I saw them carrying stuff in from the car.. Who moves in and 3 days later has a huge party?? Maybe I'm an old fuddy duddy.. but I don't like people standing outside my door at 11 PM smoking.. using the F word over and over.. Would have been a good idea to let the neighbors know about the party or maybe invite them.. We would not have gone or maybe put in a short appearance.. but way to make friends!

Our apartment management is no help.. if we complain they say to call the police.. it's ridiculous.. why do they have an emergency number when they won't do anything about a problem.  I so want to move.. but that probably won't happen until Max is out of school..  We would just have to find a place that will take a dog.. I don't want to live with an apartment above me.. Who would design a place that has a very nice 3 bedroom townhouse.. and put a one bedroom apartment over it??  $$$$  I guess we have to get what we get on people living on the side..  We don't want to own a house again.. but this is just dumb.

Life

I have to say that my neighbor upstairs has been pretty quiet for the last few months.. To be honest I could probably be friends with her but she is not interested.. the quote on her FB page says a lot about her:

I'm not a bitch, i just have a low tollerence for bullshit..

Her spelling.. not mine.. and this is a college educated person.. at least that's what her page says.. she even has a Master's degree.. just not in spelling.  I guess I can be thankful that she is being more quiet.  She is the blond in the picture.. I figured she was 30ish.. same as my girls.. but turns out she is closer to 40.  Pretty immature for a 40 year old.. There are a few times a day when she is loud but for the most part it's better.

Now that we have gotten her to make less noise we have new neighbors to the side of us.. oh joy.. two young guys.. and are they ever noisy.. running up and down the stairs.. playing loud music and slamming the door constantly.. We haven't complained yet.. Hope we don't have to.

My Mom made it home to Hawaii just fine.. I tried calling her on Wednesday when she was traveling but never got an answer.. finally talked to her last night.. She said her landline wasn't working.. and she couldn't get her computer to work.  I told her to call me today and we'll see if we can get things fixed.. I have no idea why her landline wouldn't work.. she may have to call the cable company.. She has her phone, internet and TV in a bundle.. so they maybe have shut things off for some reason..

This is Poipu Beach.. just a short drive from my Mom's place..

Part of the veiw from my Mom's back door.. that's Peter feeding the wild chickens..

And for fun.. here's a cute pic of Zack.. He's a smiler and a talker.. only 4 months old!! Just look at that big boy!!

Nana and Me

It's been a while since I've posted.. I was gone for 3 weeks visiting my kids.. had my Mom along with me.. also saw my brother and sister.. all in all a good time.. I had planned to stay in a hotel when visiting my daughter and family.. we wanted to see the baby and spend time together.. my daughter really wanted us to stay with her but she has just one extra bedroom that has a queen sized bed.. that means my Mom and I would have to sleep together.. I wasn't sure how that would go.. but we decided to give it a try.. and it was important because Paige was working a split shift and it would be hard to be there when she was around.  If staying in a hotel we would have wanted to leave after dinner.. and that meant not seeing much of Paige in the evening..  Everything worked out well.. Mom and I stayed on our own sides of the bed.. and never bothered the other.. except for one night.. She went to bed early and was in the middle of the bed.. I didn't want to wake her up but gave her a few nudges.. she never moved!!  I thought it was kind of funny.. eventually she got up to use the bathroom and I took over my space in the bed.. We've laughed about that a lot!

In Portland, we shared a bed again.. We had two queens but Erin stayed with us too and we let her have her own bed.. I was fine with that.. she kicks like a mule!! And she says I do too  :)  Now I'm home.. back in my own bed with my sweet husband who never moves all night.. I always worry that I'm keeping him up with my tossing and turning.. but he says no.. He and Max are both sick.. have horrible colds.. I'm hoping it will bypass me..

It's good to be home but even after only 3 weeks away.. I feel that I have to get my bearings..  I know my true north is here with my husband.. just have to get back into it..