S.H.I.T (So happy it's thursday)

Ok, so my basment is flooded, the laundry is soaked, the cat pissed on the piles of laundry so cat poop fell onto my feet, and cat pee smelling water ran down my arms, and I lost it. I was a crying mess. Now I have all the wet stuff washed and am finally starting on the dry laundry, and this morning it started raining again. The backyard is a swamp, around the house is a swamp, the driveway is a swamp. Im going to pull my freaking hair out. Add to all this, my Great Uncle Don passed away Wed. morning. So sad.

Ok, now that all that is out of the way... on to some better news.
We went home last weekend and got to meet up with some friends I had not seen in years. When I say years, I mean since high school. My friends Kelli, and Natalie met up with Chris and I and we had a BLAST. Our friends Nathan and Jeni, and Matt and Dawn came out for a while too. It was sooo nice having dinner with the Tacketts and the Kruse's. Man, I miss the whole gang. But we had a very good time. I cant wait to come home again and hang out with everyone.

School is quickly coming to an end. I cant wait for summer vacation. Ashlyn's preschool is already practicing for their "graduation". They have a few songs to sing, then she gets to bump up to a kindersprout.. It's like a 4-K prekindergarten class. I am so excited for her. She has loved meeting new friends, and playing and singing. However, every boy in her class calls her their girlfriend... Seriously? She's only 3!!!
Kathryn is excited to be going to Jr. High next year. I cant believe she will be in 7th grade. She is so smart, beautiful, and a really amazing kid. Brandon moves up to middle school, and in 4th grade has sooo many new opportunities in this new school. Choir, Drama club, basketball, all kinds of after school stuff. I am just looking forward to having them home with me every day, and sleeping in.

Ok Im outta here,
Lots of Love,
Shel

Bring on the rain

It has been gloomy, and rainy here forever.
This weather always makes me so bummed, but I think it has that effect on everyone. I have been trying to not let it get the best of me, and Ashlyn and I will walk in the rain with our arms streatched out and our heads looking towards the sky. We twirl in circles and sing... BRING ON THE RAIN !!! I figure I would rather it rain now while I have tons of cleaning to do, than later in the week when I will be done cleaning and can go outside and enjoy the 80 degree weather we are supose to get.

I am getting sooo excited that we are getting closer and closer to the end of the school year. I am looking forward to summer vacation, sleeping in,and having all my kid's home everyday. Im also excited that my sister just accepted an offer on her house, and cant wait to start doing fun stuff with her and the kids. AND its excited that she and I are both looking to buy a new house. It will be great to be able to paint the walls and do whatever we want without having to ask a landlord for permission.

Well thats all for now, gotta get cleaning Mr. sun is poking his head out. YEAH !
Shel

Camping

I am really excited. Tonight we are going camping, and it is the first time Ashlyn will go camping. I cant wait to see what she thinks of sleeping in a tent, under the stars. We have hotdogs, and smores, and we are going with our neighbors. It should be a fun night. I just need to finish packing and as soon as Chris gets home, we are to Starved Rock. But first I need a sleeping bag, and an air mattress, and I have to pack my fan. Who camps without an air mattress and fan?? I am also excited that Chris gets to use his brand new tent.

Ok, off to finish packing.
Shel

Easter in New Jersey

So we decided to come spend Easter in New Jersey with my Grandparents... Nannie and Pop-pop. We have never had a holiday with them and our children, and with Pop-pop's heath not being so well, I didnt want to put it off much longer. I am sooo glad we came. We have had the most wonderful time. We didnt tell Nannie we were coming, and she was quite surprised ( and a little pissed we didnt tell her). But she warmed up pretty quick when she saw the kids with Pop-pop. Kathryn is facinated by Pop-pop's history and stories he tells of his life. We could barely keep her out of his room. Pop-pop stays in his room because he gets too weak. So we went up to his room to visit him so he didnt have to worry about it. Kathryn spent most of her time at his bedside chatting away. Brandon and Ashlyn would pop in and out of his room, but they played so well and really entertained Nannie, and Aunt Peach (My mom's sister Doreen). Chris and I ran to a few stores to get Easter shopping done, and we got groceries for Easter dinner. I didnt want Nannie worrying about feeding all of us. I bought a ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, cranberry's, and cantelope. (It's what Pop-pop wanted). We even bought some Humus and tortilla chips, which Nannie couldn't believe we were eating. We were supose to go to the statue of Liberty on Sat, but it poured rain till almost 6pm. Sat night Mom, myself and Doreen played Easter bunny. The kids were so afraid the Easter bunny would come to the hotel and not to Nannie and Pop-pop's house because they wanted Nannie to see them get their baskets. Brandon made everyone pray that the Easter Bunny would go there and not here.... he wasnt disapointed. Sunday, we all got dressed up and went over. Everyone was so excited to see the kids all dressed up, even Kathryn. We decided to take a drive to see the Statue of Liberty and Mom and Aunt Peach came with (good thing we have the van.) We went to Liberty State park and saw the statue from a distance.... it was still amazing to see from the distance. Chris also heard about a 9/11 teardrop memorial from the Russians and we found that too. It was very emotional to see. We made it back in time to start dinner..... Nannie actually let me cook in HER kitchen. She didnt even stand over me, she stayed out of the way. Everyone was very shocked, including me and Pop-pop. Dinner was wonderful, and Nannie thanked me for all of it. We played around for a while and then it was time to say goodbye to Pop-pop. We are leaveing early in the morning and he wont be up yet. It's hard to say goodbye, but we really did have a fantastic time, and I am really glad we finally made it back out to see them. Pop-pop was very proud of how well behaved the children were, and was amazed that the kids wanted to hear so much about him. He cant believe how much Kathryn and Brandon really look out for Ashlyn. He cant believe how much they have all grown. He gave me a hug and told me and Chris that we are wonderful parents, and that he has not been this happy in years, and that we really made his weekend. I hope we can get back out here this summer and actually get to go to the Statue of Liberty and go inside the monument... I am hoping Chris' dad will come with us too.

Anyway,
Happy Easter.
Lots of Love,
Shel

doing better

Things are getting better here at the Power House. Nobody else has gotten sick,and Ash is def. better. We went home over the weekend and had a great time. We had an Easter celebration with Chris' family, and a HUGE Easter egg hunt. The kids LOVED it. I think its the best Easter turn out we have had in years. Then we hung out with Barbie and her boyfriend Paul, aka Buddy. We had a great time and Cassie and Mike came along too. We played some games and really enjoyed the company. Then we had a really nice lunch at Ryan's to celebrate Grandma Milan coming home. It was a great time seeing everyone and hanging out with everyone. We even got to see our Moo Moo. Such a great weekend.

I am now doing laundry, and cleaning, and preparing to go to New Jersey this weekend to visit my Nannie and Pop-Pop. I cant wait. But anyone who reads this and knows Nannie and Pop-Pop,,,, SHHHH ! Nannie doesnt know yet, but Pop-pop does. This will be a great surprise.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter.
Shel