Fourth of July 2012

Last summer on our vacation we went to DC and Virginia. We were in Virginia with Uncle Norman and his family over Fourth of July.  This is a layout I created using Close to my Heart's Studio J.  They are super fast and easy - this one only took 45 minutes tops.  I will say it was hot and steamy during our trip.  On the Fourth it was so hot that we stayed inside and didn't stay for the fireworks.  We flew out the next day, back to our desert heat.  We never caught a break on the weather.

New Calendar

I bought a new school calendar a couple of weeks ago, and I finally put all of my dates and birthdays in it.  I love new calendars.  To me every summer and definately September  are a new start of the year.  Once a teacher always a teacher.  I don't feel as excited in January - it is not the same thing.  June is the end of the year, and it starts again in the summer.  That is just me and all of the other teachers out there.

Today is the last day of helping HS students pass the high school exit exam.  I started at the beginning of the month.  I feel like it is too late for them.  I tried.  I realize that my body and brain doesn't like "being on" for 3 hours 3 days of the week.  Last year when I was homeschooling a student was very difficult for me, but that was 24 hours if I was lucky. I am constantly trying to find balance in my life.  I need to be here for my family without a migraine.  I am still trying after more than 6 years of being disabled, maybe I will learn sooner or later. 

I had a great Mother's Day.  Julie came for a visit, and we just hung out the whole time.  We caught up on Big Bang Theory, Person of Interest and Elementary.  Those are some of my favorites plus CSI and Body of Proof.  This is the last season for Body of Proof - it was canceled this weekend.  We are great food. Mario's and Mexican food on Saturday.    Breakfast of bacon and pancakes; Panera for late lunch; and Brie and good bread for dinner.  I of course hurt myself.  What would be a Father's Day or Mother's Day without an injury?  Usually it is burning myself on the stove, but yesterday I cut my finger with a sharp knife.  At least I didn't have to go to Urgent Care like I did for a past Father's Day.  That sucked!  Overall the weekend was a great one.  Next weekend the family is coming here for Shane's First Communion.  I need to get ready for their coming as in cleaning the heck out of the house.  A little bit each day!  If something doesn't get done we will live with it!  I am rambling again - at least I am writing. More later.  I need to post some layouts of Virginia and DC I did using Studio J. So fun, easy and quick!

I am back with a whisper!

I look back at the last entry and laugh.  Yep I am back in a vengence - yeah right.  I always mean to write but I get stuck at times.  Sometimes it is my horrible spelling or I think I am so busy doing stupid stuff like laundry.  I hate laundry and dishes - they never end.  My kids hate them too.  I am a mean mommy and make them fold the clean clothes and put away dishes. If they want an allowance, they have chores and rules.  Pat and I agree about no playing on the computer Sunday night through Thursday night.  If they have a project or need to do KidBiz that is something different.  We also don't have a Wii or Playstation, but I think Pat and I would use way too much and get nothing done.    I don't know where I am going with this. 

Jenan is a big writer.  She currently has many stories in progress, and she hopes to prublish them soon.  I think she needs to finish one first.  Ha ha! We try to encdourage her.  She also thinks I should write about MoyaMoya syndrome - all the strokes, surgeries, what happened during that time and it affects me and our family daily.  I think I need to use semi-colons.  I think she miught be right. We checked on Amazon and they are none.  Moya Moya syndrome finally was addressed on a TV show - Grey's Anatomy last week. That is the first time ever.  They had a child with it, but they are effected more than adult I think.  Last Monday was World Moya Moya Day.  That was big on Facebook - I celebrated it with a posting or two.  I am on FB way too much.  Big time waster but I love it.  Jenan might be right; I would might writing a book.  It did change my life a ton.  My life right now it is what I pictured it to be.  Hmmm!

My friends also think I should post my recipes.  I cook a lot now. I  am home and we are trying to save money so I cook.  I don't cook fancy meals, like my mom did.  Mine are easy and usually involve the Crockpot.  I love my Crockpot.    I don't remember Mom having one.  I don't think my mom would use one anyway. I do remember my parents using a pressure cooker.  That thing scared the heck out of me.  I was always worried that it would explode when I was near.

I am close this novel, and I want to write more.  I will post my Close To My Heart creations, post my recipes (flops and good ones) and my thoughts about life and MoyaMoya syndrome.  If you are curious about MoyaMoya please go to www.moyamoya.com and we have a wealth of information.  You probably don't have it since one in 12 million people get it.  I am so lucky!!  Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day!