Well, another birthday for Emily has come and gone. She is 12. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. For her birthday, we totally surprised her with an IPOD. She was so shocked as you can see from her picture. Now she has something no one else in the family has! It wasn't really much of a birthday celebration though. She had an all day field trip through school to Cypress Springs over by Orlando. She didn't get home until 7:00 pm. She had a headache from being in the hot sun all day. That's why she is in her jammies because she took a quick shower before opening her presents. She also got some clothes. I am going to try and put a little party together for her friends at a placed called "Down To The Wire". It's where you make bracelets. It's so fun and you can make some really nice bracelets. Now, we just have to figure out how to use the IPOD!

Yesterday I went to Sam's Club and I bough the Carpenters Gold CD. It is awesome. I have it cranked up right now. I don't usually get to listen to "my music" because the kids always have the TV on. Steve hates this kind of music so it's a real treat for me to be able to listen to it without someone complaining.

Greg's birthday (14) is on Sunday. He just wants a new mitt. He will have some money left over so I don't know what else he wants. He is at that fun teenage boy stage where everything has to be a "name brand" and is really expensive (Under Armour, Oakley sun glasses, Nike). I can't believe that he will start High School in August. WOW. I am really feeling old--even know I am not. But, compared so other parents who started late having kids, I guess I am considered a "young mom".

Today I have a "to do" list that consists of CLEAN UP THE HOUSE. I have been so busy getting ready for birthdays that I have neglected the house and the laundry. But, no one dares complain because they know I will go off on them. There's 6 of us and only 1 of me. I remind them constantly that in other family's everyone pitches in. That really shuts them up. Even Steve does NOTHING around the h0use. The older he is getting the lazier he has become. I don't know what our future will be after the kids grow up and move out. I told him that once the kids leave the nest, what will we talk about. His job will always come first and I don't want to sit in the house all alone. I so wanted to get a part time job but I have never been able to because of HIS job. I have had to get out of jury duty twice now because he won't take off work to help with the kids. So he gets called for jury and he goes. Now, I don't want to go to jury duty but the point is he won't help me out. Eventually, I am not going to be able to get out of it. I just keep sending the same letter. I don't have any family here that will help out with the kids. Plus they are so involved in after school activities how would they get to and fro? My nieghbor is on jury duty right now and she is on it for 4 weeks! Ouch. There is just no way I could do it.

Well better get my day started. I have a full day of chores ahead of me. Hope everyone has a wonderul day. Until next time.....................

When I see this picture, all I can do is smile. When I am having a bad day, this little guy knows just what to say to make it all better. Yesterday, he had a Spring hat parade. All the kindergartners went around the school to all the other classes. There were some really cool hats. When I asked him what kind of Spring hat he wanted to do, he said "baseball". While the other little boys had "flower" hats, he had a "baseball one". We took pipe cleaners and glued baseball embellisments to them. Then I sewed them onto his hat. I also glued some pin backs onto some patches and pinned them to the sides. He looked very cool.

I can't believe that it is Easter already. Where has the time gone? The older I get, the faster it goes by. I really dread this time next year because that means Elizabeth will be finishing her Junior year and will be a Senior. That is just so depressing. Just yesterday my kids were babies. I think I am so bummed this week because Emily and Greg both have birthdays next week. Emily will be 12 and Greg will be 14. For some reason, that just makes me so very sad. The kids don't need me like they used to and I really miss that. They all still come and kiss me goodnight still and I look forward to that every night. I am paranoid though that when the kids move out and go away to college, that Steve and I will have nothing in common. I have spent all these years being mom and he has just worked. I have no idea what I will do when I can't be a mom all the time. At least I have many years with Mark. He will be 6 in June. He definately keeps us young.

I am still trying to get myself and my house organized. It is still out of control. I am so far behind on my cleaning, laundry and forget about my scrapbook room. It's a disaster. I was seriously thinking about hiring one of those professional organizerst to come in but I changed my mind. I think I can do this myself and I am going to succeed at it.

Well, tonight is one of those crazy nights. Greg has a baseball game. I even cooked dinner. We are having fried chicken, mashed pototoes and a veggie (haven't decided which one yet). Steve actually has the day off from work tomorrow so I am hoping we can clean up the house. I think I might have him turn on the pool heater and we can at least throw the kids in the pool. It's starting to really warm up here in Florida. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come this summer. Right now, I am just dreading the thought that hurricane season is only 6 weeks away.

Well, better get a move on. On a happy note, I just got 2 Creating Keepsakes in the mail. I can't wait to crawl into bed tonight and read them!