Here I am! Yes, I am still alive and well. Just took a little break from blogging because it seemed like I always had the same thing to say. So, now having taken a break, I have some new stuff to share.

All is well here in our house. I got the kids all settled back in school. Elizabeth is a senior, yes a SENIOR, in college. I still can't believe how fast the time went by. She is Editor-in-Chief right now at the Independent Florida Alligator (the University of Florida's newspaper). So, she is busy, busy, busy. She's still involved in her sorority as well. This year she chose to live off campus in an apartment with three other gals. Her apartment is so cute and I love her new roommates. This is going to be her best year yet!

Greg is loving college. He's still at the USF. He now is also working as a personal trainer. He's doing what he loves. He's even talking about going for his Master's. Right now he's trying to figure out how to get one of his certifications as a trainer in addition to a full course load. But, I know that he will figure it out.

Emily is a senior in high school. Can you believe it??? I can't. Her school year started off to a not so great start. If you followed the national news about a kid who wanted to shoot up a school and it be "bigger than Columbine", that was her school I was so sad for her that that is how her final year of high school will be remembered. On our back to school night right before school started, we were walking around the school with lots of cops on the campus. On their first day, it was full of media and even the helicopter was circling. They had bomb sniffing dogs do a sweep of the school that morning. When I first read the article, I thought maybe the kid was all talk and just wanting attention. I almost felt sorry for him. But they released more information last week and he was serious. He will be tried as an adult and I hope they throw the book at him. I can't say enough about how the school handled the situation. The first day went off with no problem and then we got another phone call. Apparently a teacher (who wasn't working at the school anymore) was arrested for having "an inappropriate relationship" with a student. So, the media and their camera's were back. The situation happened the previous year but for some reason, they like to make an example of our school. We are finally in a routine now and hopefully we will finish the school year without any further incidents.

Mark is in the 5th grade. He pointed out to me several weeks ago that I have "three seniors". A senior in college, high school and elementary school. haha. So far he is doing great. Moving him last year to a new school and repeating the 4th grade was just what was needed. He also is on some medication now to help him "focus". I'm so proud of how hard he is trying. After the first of the year, we will be searching a middle school for him. We are definitely not sticking with the Florida Public School system for him. He is going a different route. So, I have my work cut out for me.

I'm still selling my Avon. Not making a whole lot of money but I am not losing money either. So, that's good. If you ever need any Avon, please visit my website. They have some great deals and they sell so much other stuff besides make up. www.youravon.com/kbehrman

I finally got back into my scrapbook routine. I'll be heading back up to Indiana in February for the girls weekend again. I was so excited I was asked back. That was such a great time. If anyone is in Indiana and is looking for a fun weekend away, you definitely need to check out Michelle's Memory Loft in LaPorte.

Well, that's a quick update of things going on. I'll have more to share tomorrow or the next day.

Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Holy smokes Batman, it's February. 2011 is already starting to fly by. Please slow down.

Two weeks from today, I will be in South Bend Indiana visiting my friend, Lisa. I met Lisa when I moved here to Tampa in 2003. Our boys were on the same baseball team. We hit it off immediately. We had so much in common. We were both from the midwest, loved scrapbooking, we were very active in our kids schools, little league was our "life", just to name a few. We live(d) in a newer community that is still "booming". There is also a "reputation" that goes along with our little community. Yes, there is a lot of fake boobs, botox and silicon here. But with Lisa and I, we didn't fit that mold. Everyone here is too busy living "above their means" with their fancy houses and cars, hitting the country club and tennis courts and running down the road in hardly nothing at all. But not Lisa and myself. Our houses were not "show pieces" that you couldn't enjoy living in. We enjoyed being mom's, carpooling and just being ourselves. Our kids were not perfect and we didn't expect perfection from them. Don't think our whole community is like this. It's just unlike anywhere I have ever lived before. I have made many nice friends here. So, when Lisa told me they were moving back to Indiana, I was devastated. In less than a month, she was gone. Thank goodness for Facebook. It's a great way to stay in touch. So, I am flying up to see here in two weeks for 5 days. Over the weekend, we are going to a scrapbooking getaway. I cannot tell you how excited I am. Unfortunately, it's very cold and still lots of snow there. This Florida gal is going to be way out of her element. This is a picture of the kitchen of where we are staying. It's called Michelle's Memory Loft in LaPorte, Indiana. I have not clue how I am going to get all my stuff there, but it's been really challenging and fun getting it all together.

Overall, life is good. Kids are keeping me busy. It's been weird this year only having to get two kids off an out in the morning. Seems like just yesterday, I was getting Liz off to kindergarten, Greg off to nursery and getting Emily all bundled up to run around. Time flies.

Kids are off school AGAIN tomorrow. It's "fair day". Needless to say, we won't be attending the fair. I'm looking forward to sleeping in. I told Mark that maybe we'd go see a movie or something.

Mark is starting to stress over the dreaded FCATs that will be here before you know it. I really hate these standardized tests. We have made the decision that once he finishes elementary school, we are pulling him out of the public schools. I have always been a big advocate of them, but I'm done. They aren't teaching him anything except FCAT, FCAT, FCAT. The kid is 10 years old (almost 11) and still has not learned cursive. It's no secret he struggles. Teach kids the basics and it will come. But not here, they are teaching them some math which they will never use in life. Even Steve and I can't help him. Teachers I have talked too don't like this math program either. It's so sad to see what he isn't learning and what my other kids learned in other states. So, I need to start researching private schools. I always joke with my hubs that you will never see anyone from Florida on teen jeopardy. They've never learned half the stuff. Okay, I'm done moaning and groaning.

Well, I'm off to volunteer in the media center at Mark's school. Hopefully, by this afternoon, the sun will come out in time for our three day weekend.

Happy New Year!

Hard to believe it's 2011. Where did 2010 go? It seemed to just "fly" by. Now I have the task of taking down all the Christmas decorations. I love looking at the Christmas tree so I procrastinate taking it down. Our first house was small that the tree pretty much came down the next day. I don't feel the need to rush taking it down now that we live in a house that has room for a tree. But, this weekend it will come down. Steve has finished his year end stuff at work so he will be home to help. Unfortunately, he worked all day New Year's Eve, New Year's day and Sunday too.

Everyone is back in school, with the exception of Greg. He starts back on Monday. It's kind of weird having the house all quiet again after all the "bodies" lying around the house watching TV. As much as it bothers me, I let it go. I don't know how many more Christmases I will have them all home together. This time next year, Liz "should" be a college graduate. She's not sure though that she wants to graduate early. I think she should and get a head start. It's going to break my heart though when she starts sending out all the resume's out of town. Now we are getting Emily going on all her college stuff. She finally registered for her SAT. Hard to believe that she is a junior and will be a senior.

With all the changes going on with the kids, I've kind of neglected "me". So that is my word for the year. Yes, it sounds selfish but for the past 20 years I've been "mom". Somewhere in there "Kim" got lost. Don't get me wrong, I have NO complaints. It's just that after all this time, I am ready for some "me time". Everyone else's needs have come first. I've let myself get lost. I put on weight and my health is not the best. My last doctor appointment, my cholesterol was up and so was my blood pressure (I'm on meds for those already). So, I left the doctors office with even more meds to take. So, in addition to "me", I am also going to use the word "no" more often. It won't hurt the kids to stay at home while I do something for myself. I cannot tell you the last time Steve and I had a date night. We are always having to pick Emily up from work and take her somewhere. Giving her her license, is not the answer. She knows that. Her grades slipped so until they go back up, she's a passenger. So, she knows what she has to do in order to achieve that. So, if I am out taking a walk, they can wait on me for a change. I know that sounds selfish, but I have to start taking care of me. I may even give running a try. I've said that in the past but have never done it. This is my year to try!

Another thing I have done is booked a trip to see my friend, Lisa, in South Bend, Indiana. She invited me up for a scrapbook weekend at a lodge at the end of Feruary. So, I'm off for a weekend of scrapbooking. Steve is fully capable of taking care of getting Mark and Emily off to school. He's all on board and told me to take as much time as I need. So, I'm leaving on a Wednesday and coming back on Monday. I love that he is so supportive of me. I know he is really worried about my health. He's always trying to remind me to take my fish oil and even got me a cookbook for Christmas and told me he would eat what I did.

So, what do you think of the new blog? I came across this website and fell in love with it. It so fits my personality. I'm still working on the header. I just can't figure out how to get the title right. But, I'm not going to give up. I still need to tweek some more stuff, but "baby steps".

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. May 2011 be a great year for everyone. Hopefully, I will do better at keeping up with this blog.

Publish Post

Happy November!

Can't believe it's only 11 days until Thanksgiving. It has just been flying by!

I've been in a Dancing with the Stars haze. After next week it will be over and I will have to wait until the next one starts. Here's my two favorites:

Do you not love this kid? His personality, his energy. I really like him. And it's so good to finally see Lacey get someone who has taken her this far. She always seems to get the "bad boys" who are their just because. The other one I like is Bristol Palin (my computer for some reason will not let me save her and Mark's picture). Yeah, I know she isn't the best dancer but how can you not root for her? What a completely different person she is since that first week. Her and Kyle are the only two that represent what the concept of the show is about. People who have had no dance experience! Jennifer Grey is okay. I'm kind of tired of her "whining". We know "she's 50". Heck, Florence was 70 something and didn't complain at all. Plus, I still think Jennifer has the advantage. You know she has had some kind of dance training. She was AWESOME as Baby. Don't get me wrong. I do like her, I just think Kyle or Bristol should win. As for Brandy, ick. She can dance...no doubt about it. I would probably like her more if she wasn't paired with Max. He's got such a chip on his shoulder. He really turned me off when he argued with Carrie Ann last week. But yet, he still got a 10. So, I truly believe they are setting this up for a "Brandy win". I hope not but I have that feeling. Did you not just love Kurt and Rick? They were so fun to watch. Again, disappointed they went home. Bristol probably should have gone home before them but she's got the fan base.

I survived another Homecoming. Hard to believe I only have one left. Emily was absolutely stunning. (Well, again I messed up the upload and it won't let me do it. I will work on that). It has something to do with the format it was saved in. I'm clueless with this stuff.

Not much else has been going on. I've just been going through stuff trying to get organized. Today I was going through my closet and I found two Christmas gifts from last year that didn't make it under the tree. Oops. I guess this means I have two done already for this year. My friend Patti is coming down the day after Thanksgiving to spend a week. I can't wait. Maybe I can talk her into helping me paint my bedroom. She is the Queen of decorating and can put a room together like no one can. Our bedroom is the only one left to finish.

This weekend, Hallmark started running their Christmas movies. Have I mentioned I love watching those? I had a two hour window tonight because the movie they are showing now, I watched last night. I'm headed to bed here soon to watch another one. This is my favorite "tv time" of the year. Tomorrow XM turns on their Christmas music. Yes, I am one of those who listens to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. It really puts me in the holiday spirit.

Well, I'm going to shut this computer down and head off to bed. Have a wonderful week. Hard to believe another new one is here. On a happy note, we only have this week, and then everyone (except Liz & Greg) are off next week. Woo Hoo.

Still here!



Can't believe it's been so long since I've updated my blog. Time just got away from me.



Kids have all gone back to school and we are finally on somewhat of a routine. Liz is doing well up at the University of Florida. She LOVES that school. She's working two jobs and taking all her classes. Can't believe how fast the time has gone by. Greg started at the University of South Florida. He's living here and home and commutes to school. It's only 15 minutes away. He's doing awesome! He was meant to be a college student. He's doing so good. Emily is my only one left at the high school. It's weird only have one at the school. She's dying to get her driver's license (she turned 16) in April but until those grades improve just ever so slightly, it will be awhile. But, she is working at it. She also got a job. It's so nice that she has her own money now. And then there is Mark. All I can say is that keeping him in the 4th grade was the best decision we have ever made in regards to his education. He likes the neighborhood school. So do I for that matter. I love that he walks to and from school and I don't even have to start that car! I am still not a big fan of the Florida school system. I think they could learn a lot from other states. I will not go into detail but I hope that sometime in the future, we can get him in a private school and not have to deal with all the BS. We go in Monday to make some changes to his IEP. That didn't take long but it needs to be done.



As for me, I am BORED out of my mind. I've put in a few job applications but of course, no one has called. I am still selling AVON. Making a few dollars but not enough since we have two kids in college. But at the same time, Mark needs me too. I do have an AVON website. If you ever need any AVON, please feel free to take a look. They have great deals and usually free shipping. The website is www.youravon.com/kbehrman



I still haven't started running. I keep using the excuse that it's been too hot. It has. Well, it's finally cooled off and I am still not doing. BUT, this morning I played tennis. I loved it! I haven't played in years. Good news is that I can still do it. I must say, we were pretty good. So, we are going to do it again. Hopefully we will keep at it several mornings a week. It was a great cardio workout.



I didn't get to spend much time this past summer scrapbooking, but I actually did a layout this week. I'm going to try and take a picture and post it. It was quick and simple. Right now I'm so many years behind, that's the kind of layouts I need to do. Plus, I'm really trying not to buy more supplies and use up what I have.



Guess I've rambled on enough so I'm going to finish this post. Next weekend is Emily's homecoming so I will have a some pictures to post next week.



Have a wonderful weekend. Make it a good one.

Happy 4th of July to all!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July. Don't forget all the service men and women who are out there fighting for us to keep our independence. God Bless America!

Still Here! Been a little busy. This is why........

Prom! Although getting a boy off to prom is much easier than a girl, I was still glad I got to be a part of it and I got invited to take pictures. He was so handsome and Brittany, his date, was gorgeous.

Emily made her Confirmation. After two years of preparation, she did it! Greg was her sponsor. Elizabeth came home from Gainesville to attend so it was a real family event. This is Abbot Isaac who officiated the mass. We celebrated afterwards at dinner at Beef O'Brady's. Love that place.

Finally, look who's a high school graduate. Yep. He did it. Can't believe my baby boy is all grown up. He celebrated his 18th birthday back in April. The time flew by these last 18 years. I couldn't be more proud of him than I am right now. So now, he's busy getting ready for college. He has orientation next month.

Mark celebrated his 10th birthday last Sunday as well. I don't have his pictures uploaded yet. I will share those on my next post.

That pretty much sums up what we've been up to. I am enjoying the summer break and am catching up on much needed sleep. I just hope time slows down a little so I can enjoy it. I am so not even ready to start thinking about school starting up again. Until then, I am just relaxing.