Route 56 is at the Olympics

Today was our monthly meeting for the 5-6th graders from out church. We talked in 1 Cor 13 because of Valentines Day and played different team games in honor of Olympics. Fun times. 

A Visit to the House

Friday was the inspection at the house we are in contract with.  I thought it would be a great time to take the children over to see the house as they have yet to do so.   I knew it was going to take a long time and that there would be some boredom there.  Boy was I ever right.  2 hours later we were able to go out to get some much needed food!!!

We did have the opportunity to see and hear some children playing at some of the neighboring homes.  Stephen did not see or hear anyone his age and he is a bit concerned.  I kept trying to encourage him by reminding him that it was a beautiful Friday night, so I am sure there were some baseball games being played and perhaps they were out at those.  (nudge nudge wink wink)  Here's hoping and praying!!!!

I also reminded him that since he will be heading out to a brick and mortar next year he really didn't need friends right next door.  He will be making some soon enough.  (I really do hope it is soon!)

The house was in great shape per the inspector.   A very few minor details that will need to be addressed.  But it was a great time for me to visualize where we would put our things once we move in.  The boys were deciding which room they wanted.  Stephen is the decider there.  I gave him carte blanche, being the oldest and all.  I think we have it settled!!  

My challenge will be to see where all our furniture will fit!   We were able to have such large oversized furniture in Ohio, that I am concerned about size and location of said furniture.   I guess I could always sell or give what we have away and then buy new.  ;}  

As for the color scheme.  I really like most of it.   There will have to be some changes which I am none too thrilled as I am not a fan of painting.  May have to recruit my good friend Heather.   She painted two of my rooms in Ohio!!!   A great way to get her to come and visit!   BTW - she is an amazing painter.   I must say,  I didn't know that a nonprofessional could do such a great job!!!

Love my kiddos!

When we go out of the home for anything, I am always reminded how much I love my children.  I run a tight ship and I must say I am really thrilled at the results.  I have stressed certain behavior so much that even my kids can't tolerate it when others are not acting the way in which they think.

It is a great sunny day and my children have been outside soaking up the sun rays.  While I am not a fan of Mondays any longer.  One could even say, I hate them! (STRONG Word, I know.) It is a great way for the kids to get outdoors easy and run free.

On a side note - the young ones have had such little exercise that Saturday wore them out.  I mean they were even hurting due to all the running around at The Kimballs they did!!    I think I may have to sign them up for some gym class.  Or better yet I must start taking them over to parks for some hiking.  That sounds better as we will be able to see all the new flora and fauna with spring looming at our doorstep.  

Summary of the 1st week of 2010 - School week that is!

Okay so on Wednesday we had book club. We are working our way through the Chronicles of Narnia. We complete Voyage of the Dawn Treader book 5. Only 2 more left. I only listened to a portion of this book. So as far as recommending can't help you there. You will need to contact the kids on that one. The really funny thing about this weeks book club was Stacy. A mom to two of the boys that are in the older group. She informed us that she can't stand this series. Yup, she even went so far and used the "hate" word. She was leading the young ones and she even informed them that she hates this series. Some of us are waiting to see what the young ones repeat when we begin the next book. (I should not hear that from Ab as she likes the series. I mostly think it is because she listens to it and doesn't have to read it. Josh on the other hand is not too thrilled with the whole book club idea. So I think the comment would come from him.) But you see there is a family whose 9 year old daughter is extremely negative. I mean I don't recall hearing a positive word out of her mouth. So I feel for that Mom. Back to Stacy - she informed us that her boys are not too thrilled either so she said if we were sticking with another fantasy series they would not be involved. That would stink since her oldest is a buddy of Stephen's and one of the reasons we do this book club. We will take any and all suggestions you may have in regards to a book club for boys ages 10-13.

Thursday was rather shocking as I discovered that Abigail was just clicking off her work and not completing it or not even doing it. I think she was surprised that I was on top of the school work. I was very behind right before the break. But this year I want to stay on top of this and stay on schedule. So imagine her surprise when I called her on it. She lost some privileges here. Namely the chance to horse back ride again. (Silly girl - every time she has gotten close she has messed up big time!) She started back to piano lessons and loved it. The teacher is so impressed with her creativity.

Friday was a pretty good morning and then off to check out a house in the afternoon. Bill was a little late to the house and arrived when the realtor and I were leaving the house. Rick (our realtor) told Bill to get back in his car and keep going. This house was horrible. I was shocked at the price of the house for all that is needed. Rick agreed that it should be about 80 grand lower. I was ready to move on. But the upside to this was Bill and I got to have lunch together. That makes two times this week!!! I love it!!! We even stopped by this cute coffee shop. I enjoyed the setting and plan on stopping back there. Night time was youth group for Stephen. He needed to attend due to the meeting for the Belize trip.

Book club delight

This is our second month of book club and it is going well. The idea was originally to be for older boys 10+, but since we have younger siblings we decided to have them listen in on the family read and then they can have their own group. The other decision was to go through the entire Narnia series. We are taking the books chronologically as opposed to when written. We have finished the first two. Next, we read A Horse and His Boy!

So we break into two groups and have two separate discussions during the 1 1/2 hours. Afterwards we have some time to fellowship and eat snacks. Today was my turn for snacks. The other Mom's got the idea to have Turkish Delight (Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe). There was a recipe I found and ventured a try. I failed! I am determined though, so next time I will try again. The kids did not know until today so hopefully all will go okay once I try again! I did also have other snacks with me.

Where are we Wednesday

We began our school day at home. Since we have been having trouble with one of our computers again, I called apple to have them help fix. We tried over the phone but no luck. They set up an in-house look in Bridgewater, about 45 minutes away. Took us over an hour. The only positive was the work that was completed inside the car. Spent an hour in the store. Then left there to travel to Titusville, again 45 minutes from there. Again took over an hour. After dropping of the young ones for their nature club, my eldest and I ventured out to find some much needed afternoon caffeine and snack. About 20 minutes away we were in New Hope, PA. Located a Starbucks and enjoyed a nice cup of afternoon tea - for me, a frappucino for him and some pastries. Then it was back to NJ to get the young ones. Then we drove home. What a whirlwind!!!

Nature club pictures!

Let the year begin!

Yes, school has begun here in the Shea household. We did start off very very slowly. Only two subjects per child and let me just say how unorganized the teacher was!!!

I felt all frazzled running from kid to kid to kid with all the little questions they needed answered. I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. You go here, another over here, and you there. Okay I'll see in a couple of hours. HAHAHAHAHA! I think I just walked away from one over to another when I got called back again. There were also several phone call interruptions that I felt I had to take. Definitely need to change that approach. People do forget what goes on inside this home during the school year.

Plus Stephen had a really cool science experiment that everyone wanted to see so that took them away from their own work. I must say it was cool!!! But it was sooooo great to see all of them happy and involved. Josh did give a little bit of a face but I squashed that attitude real quick. And yes, there were tears from Abigail. Yep, actually tears. All was okay in the end.

I am praying for a more successful year this year. We did have some major bumps last year and I don't want that for this year. I pray that I am able to handle all the chaos (because this is the best way to describe it) this year. I don't function well in chaos. I like my ducks in a row. We shall see. Could this be the last year? Maybe!?!

Hot summer days!

As much rain as we have had this summer lately it has been very hot. That is part of the reason we went to the beach so much. I love being by water when it is the summer time. So on Wednesday after all the commotion died down we just hung around the pool at my parents. It was brutally hot. Bill and I had the opportunity to go out to lunch together at On the Border. Afterwards I went over to pick up the kids. I stayed for dinner so that I could see my Dad and make sure he was okay. He is! (He went to the doctor and he is okay but the doctor wants him to get more testing since it has been several years since any type of work was done.)

Here are some photos of the kids by the pool.

They are Here! (finally)

The entire time we have been here in Ohio our really close friends and neighbors have been out of town. Yes, they had the wonderful opportunity to travel together for a month. You read that correctly. ONE MONTH! They arrived at 7:30 pm. Meghan came over as fast as she could get out of the van. She was already to see her friends. But to her surprise I was the only one home. She was sooooo excited she was shaking. Just beside herself all day with anticipation of seeing Abby and Joshie!!

Together we walked down to the NBC talking about their vacation. She had a great time and really did not feel like they were gone that long as they were in so many different places.

The kids came running over to her as she arrived at the house. Abby made the decision to leave the club early to have some alone time with Meghan. They were too cute and sweet together.

I waited about an hour and felt it was time for me to go and hug my friend. I didn't want to just run right over as I know how crazy life is upon arriving home from a vacation. But just as I was about to leave she walked in through the door!!! YAY!! I got to see, hug, and drink with my good buddy Suzanne. She is a great wonderful person that I will miss dearly.

We sat around for several hours just catching up and laughing. Our usual MO. And Heather was even able to stop by for some bonding time as well. It really felt like old times. Of which I do not want them to stop. There is all kinds of sleeping over going on in this neighborhood tonight. Suffice it to say I am the lucky one. I have zero children in my home. I was half waiting for a call from Suzanne telling me Josh needed to come back home. But nothing as of this writing. I do hope by now they are in slumberland! The most exciting part is that it is Joshua's 1st sleepover that is not at a relatives house. Go Josh!!

I ache I ache its off to load I go!

YES!!! My entire body aches. In places I was not even sure could! I know I used the term auto pilot in a previous post and let me just say that has been the definition of my life. I ache when I try to do anything. Just think of something and I am sure I ache!

At this current writing I am without any other assistance. My children and me are all that is left. There is still stuff that needs to get done. And it will get done. I am a mean supervisor. Thankfully most of the hard work is all behind us. No wait, it is ahead of us too! Just a few months in between. Praise the Lord!!

It is a nice thing to be moving forward but I am extremely happy that there is a break! I told Bill we are getting too old for this type of work. Next time, I am paying!!!! That is a must!

Josh "helping"

More helpers!

POD #4 - furniture!

Van that my Dad rented for the things we want at

the apartment mostly because we don't want it in

storage. Even though they say it is temperature

controlled we are skeptical.

POD #3 - misc. Basically the overflow of what

we weren't too sure where to put it.

What the kids did.

The kids had a fiesta at Grandma and Pop-pops house.  With Aunt Dee around and on Saturday, Uncle Kevin, Allie, Uncle Jason, Tiffany, and Jaide all stopped over.  The house was packed.   That's what makes it fun, fun, fun.   They swam in the pool both days and they got very red.  The top of the shoulders for they boys are lobster.  They are extremely tender.  (Tomorrow this Mama must find some Aloe lotion.)  

They did not get too much sleep either.  There were several movies that they watched.   Lots of Wii playing.  Even some DS.  Jaide slept over too, so her and Abigail were awake until 2:00 AM.  I am hoping for lots of sleep and rest this evening.  Never good to begin the week sleep-deprived.   Thankfully we are nearing the end of school.  

They also all received hair cuts.  Bill too!!!

That Grandma was busy, busy, busy!!!

Feeling better!

Yes, I am feeling better.  I had a great night sleep and woke up a refreshed.  I still have a little bit of a cough and some sniffles but definitely feeling better.  

Wednesday is a Doctor's appointment so I can find out if I truly am on the mends.  

The kids were troopers yesterday doing a lot for themselves.   Bill cooked dinner as I was afraid to spread my germs around too much.  All-in-all I think the relaxing yesterday worked.   

Today was back to the school grind.  The kids not so happy about that.  We did do some doubling up as on Joshua did all his work in the car on Friday.   They will be doubling up tomorrow too as we have a field trip on Thursday and I am really trying to push and be done next week.   I am not so sure that can happen for all.  Joshua most likely.   But I figured we would be working throughout the summer to keep ourselves fresh for the next school year.