What we have here, is a failure to communicate.

Who doesn't love Cool Hand Luke?

I've been absent for a year. Funny thing about this blog about our lives, is that our lives tend to keep us busy!

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

Homeschool was an interesting, exhausting adventure. Christmas in CT was great! There was so much snow- it was just absolutely perfect for the kids. Josh broke up with his long time girlfriend, has a new girlfriend. Rae broke up with her boyfriend, has a new boyfriend now. First Communion. Confirmation. Our first high school graduation!!! Yes- Experimental Child is now a college student- and will be turning 18 this week. We moved, further south a bit. Kids are in a different school now. Brother Bear is now in preschool. And for the first time in a long time we are diaper free!!

All caught up now? Well, there's more. The 16yo is now licensed- so we have 2 teens sharing one car. For a while anyways. In a while longer we won't have that car anymore and will likely replace it with something else. I'm starting the process of going back to school. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. I'm going back to be a nurse. And one of my middles has been diagnosed with ADHD so that is weighing very heavily on my family right now and is presenting a whole new set of waters for us to navigate.

So yeah, I've been just a little bit busy.

Still rushing by....

I'm not sure what it is lately, but I feel like I am on a carnival ride and can't get off.
Experimental Child got his SAT scores back. He did great, with the exception of math. It's always the math that gives him troubles.

15yo is on crutches. Day one of softball conditioning and we got a phone call to pick her up from the field. Since this is not the first, or even second, third, fourth or fifth time she's had this injury we weren't completely surprised. She is being seen by a sports medicine focused orthopedic. The diagnosis is she has a bruised meniscus (it tried to tear, but didn't) and something is up with her LCL. So we're starting physical therapy and will hopefully see some improvement- enough to get back into softball.

My 10yo has decided on taking orchestra over band or chorus. She will be playing the cello. I want to know when she will be able to play Pachelbel's Canon  or Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G major or something equally as moving.

The 7yo is now being homeschooled. Did I mention that already? I could not let him go through the year labeled and belittled. He's 7 for crying out loud- he can't possibly prove to an adult who should know better than to label and judge a kid "from day one" that he is a spectacular example of a child. So it's him and I for the year.

The littles- well, the 2yo took off her diaper tonight, put her shorts back on, and then pooped in them. I think we may venture into potty training now. The 3yo- God I love that age. Three is my absolute favorite age: big enough to want independence, yet small enough to still want mommy.

Another birthday- mine- has come and gone. I am officially closer to 40 than 30 now.

Hoopdad has no decisions on the pending job offer, although they have said they would throw in a sizable amount to cover moving expenses. But, it's the kids- the moving, changing schools, how that impacts them, how that impacts college applications and state residency for tuition determination, etc. The person Hoopdad has been talking to at the company is aware of our situation, but needs to know if we want to proceed further at this point or not (apparently, I thought we were waiting for the job offer in writing, but they were actually waiting for Hoopdad to send in the authorization to run the background check before making the offer). All of this is muddled by the fact that my parents really need some help. Dad isn't working, has some medical issues that have become bothersome enough that even he can't ignore them and push through it anymore.They could use some help with financial things since dad isn't working. Trying to make this decision is like trying to see to the bottom of a mud pit.

Halloween costumes have been procured- we have Batman, Hermione Granger, a clown and a giraffe.  I will be the coolest mom on the block I am sure since we are giving out glow in the dark bracelets for Trick or Treat (and lollipops- but those aren't so cool). Have I mentioned before how I dislike Halloween? For the past couple of years I have tried- in vain- to get my kids to forgo the tradition. I have offered to buy them each an obscene amount of candy in lieu of a costume and having to take them door to door (even though Hoopdad does that part). Economically speaking, it's a win-win. But no...they want to actually experience the joy of making me spend $$ on costumes which they will wear for 2-3 hours tops just to get far less candy than they would have if they took me up on the offer. In other words- they want to be kids.

Because I'm in the Mood...

All pictures are from Pixdaus.com.

Rushing by...

"Put God first in your life and you will have more time."

I never have enough time. And I hate rushing. So it's something for me to think about.

Things are chaotic as usual.  The job offer will be coming-  we flip flop on what to do about that and I'm still praying. Experimental Child just returned from Homecoming Weekend in CT. I need to press him to start choosing colleges soon and start the applications. 15yo is down for the count with yet another knee injury - on day one of softball conditioning. We have an appointment with an orthopedic this afternoon, and will hopefully get some more options or answers soon. It seems cosmically unfair that this athletic kid who loves playing sports can't because as soon as she tries her bad knee fails on her. 7yo is doing well with homeschooling- that's a new adventure for us. I've discovered something very interesting about our 10yo. When she is ranting and yelling and very argumentative there is an instant off switch. I found it...finally! I have to wrap my two arms around her to reach it, but it's there. Life with the littles is moving at their speed. I'm not sure if they're running to keep up, or if they are lapping us. My baby girl had a birthday last weekend. I can not believe she is two already. Sigh- where does the time go?

 I was turned towards a new blog and have enjoyed reading the thoughts of a mom to ten kids.
She's also the author of  "Family Feasts for $75 a Week". Finally- someone who knows that while I would love to experiment and create all sorts of delectable dishes for my family, the reality of my budget forces us to more boring and cheap stables more often than it doesn't! You can enter the contest here to win 3 copies of the book- one for you and two to give.  But just remember me if you win. ;)

Wise Words

A Passport for Life

by Regina Brett, 90 years old
of The Palin Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's It's ok to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really, does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood.  But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take NO for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves

Free Disney Park Pass

I came across this on the web and had to share. Starting in January 2010, if you volunteer with one of the sponsoring organizations you get a free pass to a Disney theme park for a day. They are calling it Give a Day Get a Day. Check it out.

Walk by Faith

Homecoming weekend was this past weekend. Both of the oldest kids went. I think it's a pretty big deal that Experimental Child went, and not only to the dance but to a party afterwards and to the football game before. That's huge, because he's not a very social person to begin with but also because he's been hesitant to do much socializing at all since we moved here a year and a half ago. My daughter's boyfriend came down for the weekend- he happens to be Experimental Child's freshman year football camp roommate and a good friend. The three musketeers.

Children never fully realize the sacrifices their parents make for them. At least not until they are adults, and even then even though they may understand they may never know about them. Hoopdad has an opportunity to move us all back north. The financials would stink- the cost of moving, getting into a new rental home, etc. However, I'm sure we would figure it all out. The job offer hasn't been made, but there's a good chance it could be- the company is waiting for budgets to be approved first. Formalities. Here's the thing- I think we have to pass up the opportunity, for now, and hope it comes around again in the near future.

Experimental Child is in his Senior year and, as I pointed out, is finally feeling comfortable and coming out of his shell. He's also the one who has entertained ideas in the past like moving back north and living with his grandparents. When I casually brought up the option of moving though, he was not happy. Can you blame him? It's Senior year; he has lots of changes ahead of him. Who faced with that wouldn't want things to stay "normal" while they can?

Even though I would love (to the nth degree) to be nearer to family, to act on that and uproot him again seems selfish and feels wrong. When he was one and a half we moved him to PA. Then back to CT again just before he turned three. That was a good move. Then when he was in 2nd grade we moved to a different town and he switched schools. Two years later we bought our house, in a different town, and he switched schools again. When he was in 8th grade, we switched him to private school- that was a good change. Then when he was a Sophomore we moved down here to FL. I just can't rationalize uprooting him...again. The adjustment of living here has been hard- harder on some than others. I just keep reminding myself there is a reason we are here. I may not know what it is, but I have to believe that there is a plan and a purpose. Maybe the reason Experimental Child is getting comfortable and growing now- of all times- is a clue that whatever the reason or purpose is, we're not done here.

There is a song by Jeremy Camp that I keep singing in my head. There's no other way for me to think about this.

Jeremy Camp- Walk by Faith video

Well I will walk by faith 

Even when I cannot see 

Well because this broken road 

Prepares Your will for me