baby steps to adulthood

Doug & Kayleigh in May

poor louie lou.. he just cant catch a break. his apartment building is in the woods, but that didn't stop some losers from smashing his car window thismorning. luckily, the car alarm scared them off before they were able to steal his very pricey stereo equipment, but he keeps saying "why me?" . bad luck seems to follow Doug wherever he goes, not a great pattern for a kid about to go off to war. Uncle Tim lent him the money to get it fixed, as doug had just spent his last 500$ on a new clutch for the car, and didn't have any left to replace the window. all of our money is tied up with the Costa Rica thing coming up. without the loan, Doug would have had to sleep in the car until it was fixed so that he wouldn't have the stereo stolen. He's sleeping here, where the car will be safe, tonight and getting the window replaced in the morning. Poor Louie. he has Army drill all weekend and will pay Uncuh back next week. why can't life be easier for these guys? the girls can't afford cars at all, and Doug's, although a nice car, is a constant expense and source of problems. he sure is on the fast track, as far as learning some independent living skills go, way more than the college kids are learning. college is a cushy Barbie Dream Date compared to sharing an apartment with a pile of teenage friends!

anyway, I'm craving cake.

late!

ok, so i blew it again. im trying!

last night i made chocolates. they were supposed to be for Halloween, but it got late, so i stuck to a thanksgiving/fall theme. cute huh? if youve read for my blog for any length of time, you know i make these for almost every holiday. 20 years later, still making them. my mom & dad look forward to it, so does the nursing home my mom volunteers at.

spent the day at home yesterday, cleaned my truck, raked leaves, played in leaf piles with the kids, just hung out. Yogi & T fixed the broken screen door. we drove courtney to work and back. nothing big. saving our money. today? no idea! hoping to have some fun. not with laundry LOL

The Promise

well, i promised I'd post every day(every day is TWO WORDS, PEOPLE!) in November, so I am determined to keep my word, but BEWARE, the crap is oozing. the hormones are flowing. this could get ugly!
there's only so much that can be said in a public forum. anybody can read this. anywhere. i have let that edit my words and thoughts at times. But not today!(lucky you, huh??) here's my brain dump:

1. Even country music has gone down the crapper. "save a horse, ride a cowboy" ??? do you honestly think i want to -or should have to-explain that to my kids? yup, i know... "lighten up!" ya know what? NO! total shit.

2. i dont know you. you dont know me. dont approach me at a basketball practice and tell me that because of what happened at Fort Hood today, i have no right to be dissapointed that my son was cut from a school basketball team. i am well aware of what happened today. you have no idea what i have been consumed with all day in my thoughts. you also know nothing about my son. oh, you live over in Pooptown? what's that, you say? you're only here because your nasty divorce forces you to visit your son in another town? that much child support? really? I DON'T GIVE A RATS ASS! neither does the woman i am sitting with, who's IN TEARS because son was cut too, and is very sad that his DYING FATHER wont get to watch him play on the school team before he EXPIRES. oh, but you already know that, because you butted in on our conversation, remember? Don't let the double doors hit you on the ass on your way out! in the end, we charmed the pants off the guy and made a new friend.. but GEEZE! he actually said to us "this town seems full of stuck up people." yah.. we are 2 of them. so beat it! LOL. he was laid off in May and admits hes home too much, thinks too much and is consumed with world news and events. hes ok. i will call him CHUMP and will report on him weekly from now on. stay tuned.

3. To A Certain Someone Who Reads My Blog Regularly:
pardon me for being a bit paranoid and *self absorbed*. since March i have been the perverbial punching bag and scapegoat in this whole matter. i'm not being self absorbed, i'm being realistic and going on gut instinct, which in the end, thus far, always turns out to be correct. well, most of the time, anyway. i missed quite a bit of info, i will admit. if the Kryptic Kode KoobFace message wasn't meant for me, but was meant for T.A.F(or the spouse of that person, or anyone else), how hard would it have been to call me and say, "wasn't meant for you or anyone in your house"? or maybe add that to the message in some way? i mean, go back and read it! what would you have thought, if you were me? the whole thing could have been avoided, but no worries. the End Connection button on KoobFace is so convenient. please use yours liberally. wish i had one in my heart and mind that i could push, but, oh well. I quit. regardless of what any outsider thinks or assumes, i have nothing to feel guilty about and am tired of the extra baggage that this entire episode has put on me, my spouse and my extended family, some of whom are reading those messages too, and asking me if it is me you are upset with. enough is enough. i do agree with you, regardless of who you were speaking to, that the I'M SORRY part has to stop. its over. you ended it, so let it go! but don't drag it to KoobFace! anyway, be well.

4. to the ass hat in the handicap space at the grocery store this morning-shame on you! i had to help that broken guy into and out of the dang store and to and from his truck! he was so humiliated! poor dude only needed milk and cant afford convenience store price.

ok, i'm almost done. phew. i feel better. thanks! hang in there, im getting to the good stuff.

5. the house we wanted to rent? too many of us. um... its a 3 thousand square foot home with 6 bedrooms, 2 living rooms and 3 baths. who do you think is going to apply? BIG FAMILIES! DUH! good luck renting it to a family with one kid and no pets. no, really. good luck with that. now that we've moved the kids around and doug has his own place, the house seems more spacious. we're ok here. thanks anyway. (except NOT)

now for the good stuff!
My RADlet son didn't make the school basketball team, unreal competition in Class L schools, but he handled the disappointment very well and started practices for his town rec team last night. that's when i met CHUMP. anyway, the new coach said "i'm so excited! i've wanted jackson on my team for 5 years and i finally got him!" and gave him a high five to die for. boy, that helped. hes a young guy, with sexy finger waves, the next generation of a huge family i grew up with, The Tenhaves. great family. they attended our church when i was a kid. hes a cute kid.

the youngest 2 Crawford's bedroom is done and is it ever cute. i am so pleased with the final result. it's so gratifying. the 2 men helped me so much and i love them for it. i am so blessed to have them in my life. i do not take it for granted. i know. i get it. i do. it's ok if you're jealous LOL
just need another window blind and a little more paint on some doors.

Jackson's Gotcha Day was fun for him, i hope. he got the chinese food take out he craved and was thrilled to go to his first practice of the season. he was begging that clock to go faster! also, 7th & 8th grade basketball practices are later in the evening, 7-9, so he gets to stay up late on Thursdays now. big deal for him! damn, that wet bed though. UGH. will it EVER end? ever? really?

my mom is doing so fantastic! recovery is going so well. shes moving around very well. i tend to visit her on Friday mornings, but shawn's cold is too yucky to expose her to right now. we may see her Monday or something. soon as he's better.

jackson has been invited by our PCP to get an H1N1 immunization tomorrow morning. i think we'll do it. why not atleast make one kid immune? im waiting for a call from PID to let me know if they want him to have it. not sure! the 3 youngest have had regular flu shots. yogi wants one, but is on a waiting list. he had the worst time last year!

Courtney has settled back in nicely. positive actions and words, learning to argue appropriately and think of others feelings. we work on this daily with most of the kids anyway, so its not like shes singled out lol. she gets it. i just wish i had a place for her! she has kristin's room, but when kris comes home, courtney is stuck "couchin' it" LOL. soon, kris will go to study abroad for 17 weeks so.. she'll have her own space for a bit. she loves her job at Target and is really enjoying her college classes so far! this is HUGE for her.

since youre all chicks:
40 rots so far! my cycles are so screwy and weird. nuff said. i hate it! waaaaa.
wait... supposed to be telling the good stuff.....

but i think thats it for now. other than some sniffles, sfuffies, all-night-cough parties and oozies we are all healthy. no flu like stuff. we have done well so far. all 9 of us. im using hand sanitizer for the first time in my life and cleaning more, using disinfectant a lot.. i hope we can keep it AWAY. no swines allowed here!
i hope you are all healthy and well! thanks, if you read this far LOL

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY, baby boy. We love you. What would we do without you? Here's to a fun and crazy... and very educational 6 years. many more.

AFTER photos, halloween, dentist, misc.

so much for promises

its blogger month. we are supposed to blog every day. i missed the first 2. over achiever , i am, huh?
lets see, what do i want to talk about? well, for starters, a kid i worked with back in the late 90's when i was a para professional in a middle school(RAD adoptee), stabbed a guy to death 2 days ago at a Halloween party. nice. the party was at the home of another emotionally disturbed student i worked with back then, and enjoyed working with. everyone said CF would eventually kill and he finally did. he will turn 24 in January. about a year ago, a friend's RAD(adopted) 19 year old son killed his grandfather, remember that? just creeps me out, ya know? thats all i want to say right now. i may go see him, if they'll let me. you can read the story here: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Merrimack+man+charged+in+deadly+stabbing&articleId=05f65bdd-dc8d-499b-b7cd-2e091277e8e8

moving on:

we went to visit doug at his apartmentSunday night, its very nice. we had dinner, had a good time. hes doing well and is very happy right now.

courtney, long story short, got pissed off and left for a week, but took a break, thought things through and came back last week. she had become very overwhelmed with all the committments she'd made and her *fight or flight* inctincts went haywire, pretty much. she loves her job at Target and started college tonight. i hope shes ok. this is alot for a teenager like her to take on, all at once. she got bookoo financial aid! she needs a car so bad! we cant buy her one(hell, my 20 year old doesnt have a car! my 47 year old house mate doesnt either!) her parents cant buy her anything either. shes trying hard, i hope things come through for her soon. her uncle from Maine is trying to score her a ride :) sharing my truck with 3 other people really rots. but i dont mind. i ahve no life lol

jackson is in the process of trying out for the junior high basketball team. first cuts are tomorrow and hes excited and nervous! its nice to see him care about something. please, GOD, let him make the team! he could use the self esteem boost. and his grades will have to stay good too. hee hee. dangle the carrot!!!!

shawn is Mr. Comedian again this week. so funny. still coughing all.night.long.

Kendyl had a bad cold last week too, but is better. she had her first dentist appointment today! she did great! i took some cute pictures!

Kris has been officially accepted to the Costa Rica program. needs more cash. working on it! she will be away from jan. 8th til april 8th i think. She and K3 are doing great. if she doesnt marry him, I will!

the room rearrangement of '09 has been a HUGE success! all i have to do now is touch up the paint, paint some of the doors, and hang the blinds back up. almost there. all 3 kids are happy and jack is keeping it neat in there. he seems happier on the main floor. hes... different LOL

halloween was fun! pics to come.

wait.. what? you want to hear about ME? really? aw, shucks. you DO care. thanks!

ive been working on the 2 rooms, taking various kids to the dentist and doctor, raking leaves, raking leaves and.. um.. oh, yah, ...RAKING LEAVES. then i drag the leaves (and dog crap) out into the woods. over and over and over and over again. i'm 1/3 of the way there. i have nightmares about leaves. and poop.

this viral sore throat and never ending cough have been driving me insane for 5 weeks now. i really havent felt well-or slept well- in a long time. at night, i'm tired and cranky(at myself LOL). i stick to Facebook. havent felt like sharing on the blog much. sometimes too much to say, sometimes not enough. sometimes plenty, but nothing positive. but most days, i am happy that my kids like one other and encourage one another and enjoy the company of one another. im happy that im still in a great, fulfilling marriage(so many are not!) most days are good.
but i want more space. putting shawns bed and dresser in the new room freed up a big corner in my room! and the living room is now FREE OF TOYS for the first time in 4+ years. its SO FANTASTIC!!!!! the back yard is clean. the house is organized and somewhat neat. its all good.
i will put pics up later. hugs to you all!!!!

BUSY!

we moved jackson downstairs to the small, closetless bedroom off the kitchen. we moved kendyl and shawn(who was in my bedroom) into the huge bedroom jackson has been destroying enjoying for 4.5 years. it has been a HUGE undertaking, to say the least. between the urine soaked carpeting, the roof leak last year-which messed up walls and ceiling-, the closets full of yuck, the hidden, stolen items, the knives hidden throughout, the fly larva under the banana peel, the urine sprayed windows(YES), broken(brand new) 40$ blinds, broken baseboard, freshly painted (18 mos. ago)walls that had been gouged with a screw driver, holed with a hammer, written on with black sharpie, poked with scissors..... OY.

we:

ripped out all the carpet and padding

pulled staples

removed all baseboard

installed cheap, but very pretty, laminate flooring

removed the door

cut and painted a new door, baseboard, trim for windows and closets and doors

installed the above

scrubbed walls and windows

mudded holes, gouges, cracks, sharpie marks, banged up areas and the like

installed all new outlets, switches and covers for all, we always do this as we paint each room, but ran out of time and money when i painted it before. it freshens up the place and everything had been painted over by so many families before us... some outlets were faulty anyway.

today we are:

sanding the mud

touching up paint(it will show, but i am not re painting the entire damn room!)

sanding and painting walnut stained closet doors and trim(cant afford to install new stuff right now)

finishing touches

kendyl's old room was all set for jackson, walls are an off white/barely yellow/Navaho white maybe? all i had to do was change out curtain rods that had daisy ends, paint over little, pink, stenciled butterflies, remove coat racks, hooks, wall art etc..scrub window trim and touch up, replace a blind, vacuum, mop, and move furniture around. he destroyed his captains bed, ripped all the dawers apart, so bed #3(in less than 6 years) went to the dump. hes on a mattress on the floor with his book case headboard behind him. bed, 3 dressers, plastic, stackable toy bins and a book shelf. boring, but he cannot handle more. he just can't. I SHRUNK HIS WORLD.

we still havent figured out who the expensive watch i found belongs to. the CD's were Jay's,(he leaves for war tomorrow ) the t shirts were Ben's and Doug's, a 35$ book about "50 Cent" was a book kris had borrowed from a friend, ( "i read it though!" LOL)the knives are mine and Tim's, the nail clippers were Tim's. the DVD's were Tim's. the watch is still a mystery, along with the Herbie Hancock CD's(?????)

so, i'm sorry i bored you. thats what ive been so busy with. i'm also proof reading recipes for the cookbook committe i am on-long story!

did i ever put pumpkin patch photos on here? maybe i only put them on Facbook? i will check. i havent played with my camera much this week. just some before & during photos of the bedroom. they are enjoying the huge space! we filled it quickly though. the rooms are never as spacious as you think they are when you get started. i am hoping to squeeze a little table and chair set in there though- time to purge more toys!

have a great weekend!