Welcome To My Life

Are you ready for Christmas???
Of course not.
I managed to get the tree up and decorated this year.
But it's always fun to look for inspiration.
Maybe next year....
until then I'll just dream a little.

Not a good start to home schooling...I spelled "museum" wrong on my last post. lol. Can I blame it on how late I was and how I was in a hurry to get to my "classroom"!?!? Yes..I was the last one to show up. My two kids had already started their subjects. Spell check is now my friend, along with my teacher guides and answer keys. And thanks for all the support and suggestions.

I made a big change in my life and my kids, and have decided to homeschool them. Yes, me! I know it sounds shocking to hear it from me. The girl who enjoys going to the gym, decorating my house, shopping and hanging out with my sister. But...it was a choice Pat and I decided was the right thing to do for our kids.

I am their "learning coach" and they do have an online teacher. They have all their courses laid out, they have all the resources they need, they take tests, they have all the core subjects plus we added new ones like Latin and French, music, & technology. So far it's going smoothly. No stress in the morning to catch a bus, no tears over hours of homework, and the best part...they're learning!

I have to say...I was very hesitant to do this. I have no experience in teaching, I have no degree, I'm not that organized (you should see my desk). But a great friend told me that I could do it without all those traits. Because a mothers love trumps all of that. I know how my children learn, I know there moods, I know how to push them without going to far, I will always have their best interest and I will always stand behind them, I will encourage them and I will do all of that with love.

So here I am...another job to add to my list along with cook, housekeeper, accountant, taxi driver, referee, etc., etc....teacher! Wish me luck!


Since the kids are both learning about art, we took a field trip to the Cincinnati Art Museum with their art teacher and helper (Krysten). Shaye looked for sculptures, still life and abstract works. Brayden is covering artist from the Renaissance period. Ugh..a lot of them have nudity, I had to edit and walk fast by some of them. All in all, it was a good day. I got to spend the day with them and they had fun along with learning.

Cincinnati Art Museum

( look closely you will see us)

Brayden

on the way out of the museum...

4 hours of sleep every night + 4 nights = A LOT OF COFFEE!

I know you are waiting for pictures of the new house. I'll get them soon. Pat bought me a new camera and it "should" be easier to download the pics onto my blog. I'll soon see.

I'm working on the house at a frantic pace. I don't even have that many before pics to show. I will have lots of after pics though.

Just a few things on my list...

1. paint dining room, again ( i don't like the color i picked out)
2. put up blinds
3. remove wallpaper in kitchen
4. paint kitchen
5. new lighting in dr, lr, family rm, bedrooms, and bath (on Pat's list)
6. paint kids rooms
7. paint master bedroom
8. pick up vanity and counter top for masterbath
9. pick out tile for shower and floor
10. pick out new toilet (very important)

Okay that's just this week. Now you know why the pictures aren't ready. I'm off to Home Depot. They know me by name now. CJ at the paint department is my new best friend. I actually will invite her over when the house is done. Charlie at the appliance department is also a new buddy, thanks to my new fridge, washer and dryer. I'm off to make a new friend in the tile department...I hope.

I need a better name for my house rather than the new "old" house. Any suggestions??? Maybe once I show you what it looks like, you can help with a name.

My kids have made it through the first week of school. The routine is setting in...wake up at 5:30, get ready for the day, breakfast, walk dogs, pack lunch, drive to school. After that I'm ready for my 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee and a nap! I'm not a morning person.

I had a close call yesterday. I was so tired I didn't realize I turned off my alarm rather than hitting snooze. I also didn't hear the kids alarm. I jumped out of bed at 6:10 and had everyone out the door and in the car by 6:25. I don't know how I did it, but we made it to school on time.

Pat is in Colorado this week and I can't sleep when he's gone. I've been staying up way too late and I guess I finally crashed and fell into a deep sleep...where no ALARMS live!

Oh, I'm already counting the days until next summer....and sleeping in.

the look of summer fun

It's been so long ago since my last blog that I almost forgot my login password to my blog. I even surprised myself when I remembered it. So here I am.

It's been over a month since I sold my house in Virginia. My family and I have been living out of our luggage and eating out for every meal (ugh) for the last month. It's all catching up with me! I feel like I'm on an endless vacation. And you know what happens on vacation...you gain a lot of weight!

Good news on our search for a new house...we put an offer in on a house. We narrowed our search between 2 homes....a beautiful house with vaulted ceilings, finished basement, breakfast room with large windows, ready to move in. I wouldn't have to paint a single room. The only downfall is the yard, or the lack of a yard. And our second choice is a older home that would require some work to update it (removing wallpaper, painting, etc.) but it has a large yard that would be perfect for the kids and the dogs. And it has a in-ground pool. So which one do you think we picked????

We decided on the older home. I know it's not move in ready and doesn't have vaulted ceilings and an open floor plan. Pat loved the other house. But we decided the older home was a better fit. It's in a better school district, a bigger yard, and don't forget about the pool. Plus it's also $25,000 cheaper. It's cheaper because the house is a "short sale" but that also means it takes more time to get everything approved. So I am currently waiting, hoping, praying for everything to fall into place....and quickly. In the meantime, I am getting all my ideas for the house. What color do I paint the rooms, how do I fit my furniture in, how can I get a doggie door in, when will the kids go to school, and of course...when can we have a pool party! I'll keep you posted.

Today I had a preview of what the next few years are going to be like.


During breakfast I notice that my daughter has a little bit of attitude, a tone to her voice, not that sweet child like voice that speaks to me. Maybe she’s just tired from not getting enough sleep since she’s been sick. So I ignore it. I pack her lunch and she tells me I didn’t pack enough food…there’s that tone again! I ignore it again. I then tell her the American Idol update and she quickly corrects me when I miss pronounce Danny’s last name….oh, there’s that tone! I can’t ignore it anymore. I quickly correct her and tell her that I will not tolerate her talking to me like that. She gives me a look and then…..the tears! This is the worst thing to happen before school if I want her to get to the bus on time. Once she starts to cry it doesn’t stop.


Is this the beginning of her “tween” years? Oh, please help me!


Later that day I pick up my son from school. He is clearly upset. He experienced a little bit of bullying today. As his mother, I want to march right back to the office and let them know what’s going on. What about the “no tolerance” to bullying I am told about. Of course I don’t….that would be over reacting. I want him to be able to handle situations on his own too. So I made sure it was not serious…he did not physically get hurt. I knew a time like this would come. Middle school kids can be mean. They are far more advanced from when I was that age.


Is this the beginning of his “tween” years? I hope not!

I love to decorate with white. All my dishes are white, my serving platters are white and my table and chairs are white. I even painted my kitchen cabinets white. It just has a clean and simple look.


Here are a few ideas. I was just doing a little (online) window shopping. The best way to shop when money is tight! My favorite is the large farm-style table and white chairs. I love how old and distressed it looks.

My interpretation of President Obama’s “Mortgage Forgiveness Act”


President Obama passed a program to help homeowners, like myself, keep from losing their homes and falling to foreclosure…but let me give you my interpretation of what the forgiveness act has done for me.


I have passed the year mark that my house has been on the market. Pat and I have done everything possible to sell it. We have fixed, replaced and upgraded our house. We have lowered our price (ugh..over $50,000), we have never refused a showing, we have begged, borrowed and are ready to steal. And now we have come to the conclusion that we need to get help from our Mortgage company. Should be easy, right??? President Obama has passed all these programs for us. He’s here for us…he wants change like me!


Did he forget to tell that to the mortgage company. Why does it take 10 weeks to be assigned a counselor to help me? Why is a counselor impossible to get hold of? Why does the person you’re talking to refer you to someone that might be able to help you better? Why did they not receive my packet I faxed to them, twice? Why did my packet get sent to the wrong department? And since it was sent to the wrong department, why was it rejected and closed! Yes…after weeks of waiting, my cry for help, rejected and closed.


The customer service rep-so called mortgage counselor proceeds to tell me that she needs to reopen my case and resubmit my package. And refers me to someone else (heard that before) and I should wait until next week to see if anything has been done. Wait…did I hear her right??? I don’t know, I had a moment were my face turned red and all I heard was blah, blah, blah. I didn’t even ask her to hold while Shaye had a coughing attack and got a little sick (in the sink..yuck). Did I tell you that Shaye has a bit of pneumonia (a story for another day).


Okay, so now back to my interpretation of a mortgage forgiveness act….

Please forgive me when I use all the @#%& words I know when I talk to my mortgage company!

Please forgive me when I’m in a bad mood after not getting any help from all the acts I was promised but not given.

Please forgive me when I don’t have dinner on the table because I was on the computer all day trying to find some loophole I fit in.

Please forgive me when I decide to no longer pay my mortgage

And (kids) please forgive me because I have no idea if we will have another opportunity to have a mortgage.

Did I run while the kids were on spring break???? No, not one mile! Walk and step aerobics yes, but running, NO! My goal of that half marathon seems to be slipping away. I need some motivation to get back on track. Maybe new shoes, maybe losing those extra (chocolate bunny) lbs., maybe a pedometer or maybe just some competition. Whatever it is...I need to find it soon. Okay, how about swimsuit season! It's just around the corner. Ugh, I need to go run now!

okay...now that I got your attention. I did not get a facelift! Do you like the new look I put on the blog? It took forever to do it and I lost a bunch of stuff and had to redo a lot. But I figured it out (I did have to call Pat a handful of times for help). I'm giving it a test run to see if it's a keeper...or I might just change it again!

SHAYE

e make a wish e

My top ten reasons I run...

1. I run for my health!
2. I run for chocolate!
3. I run for the challenge!
4. I run for cupcakes!
5. I run to clear my head!
6. I run because I'm 40!!!
7. I run to feel strong!
8. I run to lose weight (because of #2 and #4)!
9. I run because I have a goal to run a half marathon!
10. I run because I can!

Why do you run????

We did it!!! the results are in...Race Results for Running Events Active.com. It was cold as usual but the kids, Pat and I had a great walk/run this morning. We had a goal to finish it in 1 hour and 30 min and we finished it at 1:08. I'm still waiting for the pictures to post online.....hopefully soon.

Tomorrow is the big race day...the Shamrock 8k. I've been running for 8 weeks and logged in a bunch of miles. I ran in the rain and cold, I've done step aerobics until sweat was pouring off me and I put a lot of miles on the treadmill. I'm ready!
Every year Pat and the kids stand on the side to cheer me on. They wave at me at the start on 31st street and they make their way to King Neptune on the boardwalk to see me finish.
But...at the last minute I decided it would be nice to have the whole family do the race. It might be the last time we are in Virginia to do it. So this year I will be "walking" the 8k with my family. No need to worry about my time, will I make it to the end???, will my knee and ankle feel ok??? Piece of cake! I guess I didn't need to train so hard after all.

Because of this cute face...

And these darn cookies the

"little cute face" keeps selling to me!

I finally changed my facebook name to my real name and added my maiden name. It's so strange seeing LadyBird on there..and no more LB. I've been LB for such a long time! But since I have...I have been contacted by some of my childhood friends. My neighbor, an old classmate, a dear friend, an old coach. So happy I did now. I hope I hear from more friends, but isn't that what facebook is all about. Isn't that why there's so much name dropping????

So feel free to call me which ever name you know me by. I'm not one of those people who get mad when you don't use the right one. Just don't call me...Debbie!

Pat and LB in Chicago. Our reflection off the "Cloud Gate" in Millennium Park.

well, week four has come and gone. I was good and bad! I walked and did a lot of aerobics, more than running. Week five was better. I managed a 5k. I'm halfway to my 8k goal. Pat and I walked/jogged 6 miles on Sat. The first 2 miles with the dogs, the second 2miles just us, and the last 2 miles with the kids. We had to make sure everyone was getting there turn. The kids want to do the 8k with us now. That would be fun...they usually just watch, but we would probably walk the whole way.

Onto week six...I hope to RUN all the miles this week.

My new favorite singer is Adele . Her debut album is '19'. I'm so glad she won a grammy for best new artist and best female pop vocal. My favorite songs are cold shoulder and chasing pavements. I love running to cold shoulder. Speaking of running....off I go!

Oops...I didn't get my long run in this weekend. My family from South Carolina came for a visit. It was a gorgeous day so we went to the zoo. Does walking around the zoo for 4 hours count as a workout? The kids had a great time because all the animals were out enjoying the warm weather too. Hmm...my favorite animal to see was the giraffe trying to brush his teeth on the pole. Does he even have teeth? Well he has a purple tongue that I saw, but I didn't see teeth.

I guess you're never to old to go to the zoo. You'll be surprised how fun it is to stare at the animals like you did when you were a kid. Oh yes, did I mention "the kids" had fun too!

{I would post pictures but I still don't know how to get the pics from my phone to the computer yet. Anyone out there have any idea?}

I'm on week three of running and it's going good. My ankle feels a lot better. I switched the insoles in my shoes and it seemed to make a big difference. I was able to run 3 miles /walk 1mile Mon, 2miles tues, strength training weds, step class thurs & fri, 2miles friday and I'll do my long run tomorrow. I'm also using some light weights to strengthen my knee & ankle. Onto week 4....

I finally did it...I cut my hair. I have been growing my hair for about 2 years. Basically because I was too lazy to get a haircut so I trimmed my bangs myself. Occasionally I would get my hair trimmed by my hairdresser. I decided when I turned 40 I was going to get it cut into a "bob". I love that style. I'm at the salon, sit in the chair and tell my hairdresser "ok..I'm ready to cut my hair". I tell her I want a shoulder length "bob" and make sure it's long enough to put in a ponytail. I wear my hair in a ponytail everyday! And then I change my mind..."well, what if I keep it long but just have layers around the face so it's not so heavy around my face". I think maybe that will keep me from wearing it up. She tells me that I won't be able to put it in a ponytail with the layers because they'll just fall out. OK. No...I'm ready to cut it so I tell her to do the "bob". I want it to look like Jenny McCarthy's (she was on Oprah today). I sit watching her cut it and it looks good so far. She then blows it dry. Still looks good. She turns the chair (I can't see now) but I think we're almost done and she is just trimming ends. I was wrong. In the end, I have a chin length cut (someplaces even shorter) with layers all over. I can't even grab enough hair for the ponytail. What happened???? Somehow what I asked for gets lost in translation and I end up with both cuts we talked about in one style. I'm crushed. I waited 2 years for the "bob". Good thing my hair grows fast.

I call Pat (he's in Cincinnati) and tell him I got my hair cut SHORT! I tell him what it looks like. "It sounds like your trying to talk yourself into liking it", he said to me. I am...I'm trying to. It's a great haircut, just not what I wanted. Maybe it'll grow on me. I hope! {sorry no pic's until then}.