I'm raising my kids to be...

Just like me.

Tonight, while we were at Devyn's soccer practice, Miah and I were sitting on the side munching on some snacks. Dom had helped carry the stuff (like my chair and a blanket for Miah) before he took off for the skate park. We had a bunch of stuff that would have benefited from a bag or tote. Then, the mosquitos started attacking us and we had to run for shelter.
I gathered up all I could in my arms and started booking for the car.
Miah was struggling with a few things but I started getting some distance between us and yelled back to her, "Every woman for herself, Miah!"

Then the lid on my drink started coming off so I had to stop and resituate everything and that is when I saw Miah passing me up from the corner of my eye, dragging the blanket and yelling, "Every woman for herself, MAMA!

She laughed as she left me in the dust.
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Dom has been attending this new school for less than a week and he already tested out on his Science packet. He got a total score of 110 (the extra 10 points are for the notes he took to prepare).
I'm so proud of him and I knew this was the type of setting he needed. No lectures...just work and the proper surrounding to help him focus.

Better than I thought...

Before I start, I would just like to mention at this time that Miah has changed her cat's name from Tattoo to Tattoo White Tiger.
She was insistent.


My life financially is.....better than I thought.


A few years ago, I actually considered myself as "poor", financially.
I was a stay at home mom of 3 kids. Angel was traveling all over Texas (and a couple of other states). We were living only on his income as a laborer in construction.

We already know about Dom not being his biological son from THIS STORY.

We had Miah and Devyn together and we both decided that I was going to stay at home with them until they were old enough to communicate with us in a manner we could understand comfortably. We were both paranoid parents and didn't want to risk anything when it came to our children.

Once they were old enough, I picked up some info from a local college and found a list of careers. I decided what I wanted to become, went to school for a few years (with the help of financial aid which paid for 95% of my schooling), graduated and am now a Physical Therapist Assistant.

The times of food stamps have been long gone. (It was hard adjusting to paying actual money for food when I had been used to using food stamps.) I figured it out.

Now, since I moved and started this Home Health job, I am actually starting to see a huge potential for saving. Seeing as I am the only one who does our budgeting. We've always had 2 separate bank accounts (we still do) where his check Auto drafts into his account and the same with mine. I also keep both accounts in case of identity theft.

Anyway, I was thinking today about how much better off we are. I mention to Angel lots of times how I remember when I used to waitress and the money was NO WHERE near as getting an actual CAREER. I could never have made a career out of waitressing (no offense to those who are out there).

My family life is...better than I thought.

Back then, I was a stay at home mom of three.
Now, well....still basically the same with the exception of a job.

Angel is still with the same company and he still travels where ever they send him but he hasn't been a laborer for a long time. He's a machine operator. Much better pay. I still get up in the mornings and get the kids up, make sure they have what they need and drop them off (yes I still drop off my 13, 9 and 7 yr old even though they could walk to school). I pick them up after school. Sometimes I have my parents walk around the corner to get Miah and Devyn because I haven't come to terms with letting them walk alone. Dom's school is 1 mile away and I won't let him walk...well I did one time and he didn't come straight home. He sealed his fate on that one.
Angel still tries to get me to let them walk to school and back home. Nope.
I'm still a protective mommy and I am scared to death of pedophiles so there's no talking me out of it. At least not now.

I've always had problems with Dom and his school and grades and behavior.
I finally did what I needed to do.
You can read about what I did HERE.

In public school...He got a 6 in science.
A 6!!

How do you get a 6 in science?

Here's how....he didn't do any of the journals he was supposed to do. But the teacher gave him a chance. She gave him instruction on the 6 journals and let him make them up. I made him sit and write ALL of those journals and he wasn't going to get up until he finished them ALL.
Within 30 minutes, he handed me his 6 journals. He turned them in the next day and got 70's on them (they are only allowed to get the minimum passing grade for make-up work). So he ended up with a 70 in science when I withdrew him from that school.

That's when I knew I made the right choice.

I've always been the one to manage these types of situations because Angel is always gone and now...I prefer to be the one to manage it. I like having control of the family. He comes home and throws a big fat wrench in my gears. Screws up the whole schedule (I still love him though).
I tried letting him handle "my duties" one time and THIS is what happened.

Anyway people, I'm pooped and It's 7:44 Dang. I promised the kids they can start staying up a little later...like 9 *gasp* How am I ever going to make it till then???

Got the tree up...finally. UPDATE: COME SEE!

I sent these pics to Angel on his phone. I use my cell phone to take pics because I don't have that Christmas gift I was waiting on since last year just yet. YUP, I've been waiting on Angel to get me a digital camera for the longest time now.

I have already done the whole "get my own damn present" thing too many times.

Oh,....uh....anywhoooo.

We've had the tree up for a couple of days now but we haven't gotten around to putting up the decorations. And by "We" I mean ME. I've just been passing out after work. I have just enough energy to make sure my kids are home safely and then I knock out.

Um....yeah...about the tree....

I took the pics to show Angel the tree lights and the 1 decoration we have up. This decoration isn't by choice...you'll see....

Click on the pictures to get a better look.

I don't expect the ornaments will be hanging on the tree for very long.

It's going to be a long Xmas with this cat.

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So guess what we have here.

THAT'S RIGHT!!

Gas has come down to $1.49 here, and that's without the gas card with the .03 discount.

I knew it!!

When I saw it I almost peed my pants a little. I know I let out a little squeak while I was driving and it's a good thing I was alone.

All is right with the world!

Maybe...JUST Maybe....

I'll be able to stick to doing something.


AFRo was just talking about making time to do something for yourself.


And..


Honkeie2 over at feeling stoopid is wanting to get back into shape again.


I guess I could do a little getting fit of my own for myself.


I'm going to have to drag these babies back in from the back porch.

Also...

My two babies, Venus and Serena that I got a little while back ....

are now growing up to be muscular and beautiful.

Of course, Snowball, the cat isn't scared of them at all. He's going to just keep on eating his food and ignore the beast on his left.

Tattoo, the kitten, is still a little scared of them and..... they know he's iiiinnnn heeeerrrreeeee.

Those dang dogs tear up EVERYTHING in the back yard!

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I withdrew Dom from the public school he was attending here. It was just too slow for him. He was always getting in trouble because of his grades but I know he is just bored. I put him in an alternative school that is from 8-2p, and on Fridays 8-12:30. It sort of puts a kink in my work day but I think it will be worth it.

He gets to complete his work at his own pace and if he just keeps on working and completing the 8th grade work. He will automatically be moved into the 9th grade. If he works at the pace that I know he is capable of working at...He will be able to graduate in 2 1/2-3 yrs.

Today was his first day and he seemed to like it. Now I can't get after him for coming home and getting on the XBOX right away because he does all of his work at school. (Almost like a home school program...away from home).

I'm excited and he's excited so there is excitement to be had around THIS household.

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So guess what people!!!

Gas around here is getting close to hitting the mark I hoped it would!!!

Have you guys heard this?

It's called "One Minute Inside A Woman's Head".

The people on my radio station play it. I believe it comes from another station though.

I know it's played in many other radio stations so I was wondering if you guys had heard it before.

http://www.podcastalley.com/player/player.php?pod_id=46805

This is TOTALLY ME. I catch myself thinking these stupid things all the time.

Check out this one:

http://www.fluctu8.com/media/15556/15942/

Yup, Those are some of the things that I think about.
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I was over at Drama's Pond reading up on her and I saw this on her post.

Drama Mama is right, don't give us any beef over some of the items that are on there. We didn't make this stuff up.

If you chose not to participate then don't, it's all up to you.

I guess you just print it out and take it with you so you know what you're looking for.

I was just thinking of taking pics and posting them as proof.

I laughed when I saw it cause I usually see these things in Walmart. I'm there A LOT cause it's just 2 blocks away.

I think I'm going to win.

I don't know when it's going to be over. I guess when you get a bingo.
I don't know of any prizes offered so just shut up and play!

A little TMI for ya!

Denial is a bitch.

I know this now. I've known it for quite some time but of course........I denied it.

Want to know what I was in denial about?

My boobs.

I refused to believe I was gaining any weight because my boobs could still fit into my usual bra size.

Hardly the truth.

Let's just say that I could squeeze my boobs into my regular bra size..and no one mentioned anything about comfort.
I don't know how many women out there sleep with their boulder holders on or not but I do. I have to. I can't just let them hang loose as I toss back and forth because one of us (Angel or I) will be knocked out for sure. There's no one to save us except the kids and well, that 's just not a sight I want them to see.

Anyway, I have been waking up with my boobs really sore and I was a little worried because that was always the symptom I would get when I was pregnant. I did not want another baby right now.

Uh, back to the point.....

I finally had to break down and buy some new bras. I also had to guess what size I was since I wasn't fitting into the others anymore.
I won't be telling what size I am now because I am feeling a little like Dolly Parton. The upside is *snicker* My boobs aren't screaming anymore!

The torture I put myself through because I'm so cheap.

Not ready for it to be over!!

I'm talking about the weekend.

I had so much to do.
Angel and I went to Mexico on Sat afternoon and just spent some quality time there together.

I had to go back and forth to Walmart numerous times because I kept forgetting stupid crap like make-up or deoderant.

We had promised to take the kids for breakfast at IHOP and Angel was dragging behind and making us late.

This is him standing and watching TV. He's mesmerized. He can't draw himself away from the screen. I've called his name several times but he doesn't respond.

Maybe next time I'll just turn off the TV so we could get a move on.

Guess what he was so captivated by?..... Steel Magnolias, people.

Angel continues to think I'm a little mental because I bathe my cats. Any cats that I've owned were routinely bathed. Here's Tattoo in the tub. I call them "Swimming Kitties".

He reminds me a little of Michael Phelps reaching for the Gold. I'd say Tattoo made good time.

Either way, I don't want to go back to work tomorrow. I need more days off.