fRiDaY

So today, I'm not gonna cry :) how's that sound? Seems like I've cried every day this week and today I'm just not gonna let it happen. Progress was made with Madison last night I think - After work Damion met me at Cane Creek for Madison's Open House. It went well. She decided she was too tired to go to tumbling and asked if she could skip it, so since we were gonna be pushed for time anyway, I agreed. She can go twice next week to make it up. After Open House I had to go pick Emma-Leigh up from mom and dad's. Brett, Sarah & Riley were there and they were just sitting down to eat lasagna & salad and we were invited to stay to eat too. So we did. Damion had actually gone on home so he was lucky enough to have a sandwich and corn dog when we finally got there ;) as soon as we got home the normal crazy routine was on. Does anyone besides me ever get tired of the same thing every single day? And then - when something doesn't go within your routine you get even more bent out of shape? well that's me. Emma-Leigh had to have a bath, clothes needed to be washed, dishwasher emptied - all of that and Madison hadn't even started on her homework. So once all of that got done and EL was in the bed, Madison had a break down. About time, right? Someone other than me crying my eyes out? She was struggling with some homework. Not that it was hard, just feeling overwhelmed because it was so much and it was getting so late and she still hadn't had a shower. So I suggested she take a break. Go get in the shower and come back to it. So she did. When she got out, she was crying so hard. I was watching tv and immediately went in her room to see if she was okay. This is what happens, right? When a child goes and goes and doesn't get enough rest. She crashes. With cheerleading practice everyday, loads of homework and a social life that just doesn't quit she has run out of energy! We were able to work thru it though. I held her - she tried to pull away. But with my encouragement she was able to finish her work and then she went straight to bed. Is it bad to say that I'm glad that happened? She needed to break down. So it's Friday and I'm looking forward to sleeping in at least until 7:30 tomorrow morning. I'm planning on cleaning the house in the morning and going to Ethan's birthday party at 3pm. EL is looking forward to it and so am I! Hannah hasn't made it to work yet today so all is quiet here. Apparently her mom is having a break down. It's slow here so all is good. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend! OH - I forgot to share some pictures from the game on Tuesday..here's a couple. a bit of a distraction... This is one of my favorite cheers - too bad her eyes are closed.

Funky mood

I'm in a bit of a funk. I don't like today. I don't like the way I feel. I don't like it that this day seems to c r e e p by.

I had another bad morning with Madison. REALLY. BAD. My eyes hurt from all the tears I've cried - I could shut them right now and drift off to sleep. She's so disrespectful. So mean. I think I'm trying too hard. I don't back off when she isn't in the mood to talk. That is the problem. We don't get enough mommy & Madison time. That is another problem. When I talk to her, she will not look at me. For me, that's a problem. I have talked to a few people today about this and they've all said the same thing - it's her age, her hormones. I just feel like she doesn't care - which makes me angry and as you all know, I am NOT good at holding in my anger. So when she got out of the car this morning, nice words were not said. I cried the whole way to work. This is my baby. The one person that changed my life forever when I was just 19. She's the reason I am where I am. She's the reason I'm on this earth at all. Well, one of the reasons anyway. I'm just in a lot of pain and suffering today and I feel like it won't go away.

Another reason I'm in a funk - work is extremely S L O W. Dr. Travis is in Texas and it is way too quiet around here. Nevermind the fact that I can't chat to the new girl. Well, I can but I don't want to. That's another issue all by itself.

Tonight is Open House at Cane Creek @ 5:30pm and then Madison has tumbling @ 6:30pm - I don't know how we're gonna do it. Damion is in Charlotte for some kind of building symposium and may or may not make it back in time to help out.

This weekend I am hoping to go to Papas and Beer for dinner because if I don't I will cry even more. I'm craving it! Saturday is Ethan's birthday and we will be attending his birthday bash at his house :) then Saturday night we will go to the fair again. Only because it is to kinda celebrate Kaleb's bday and Brandon has free tickets for us all.

I am looking forward to next weekend though. Carowinds with Tiff and our girls!! Yipee!!

Well, it's Monday again...and a bad one at that. The girls woke up late, Madison woke up REALLY late and Dr. Travis has gone to Texas to be with his mom who is not doing well...that means oodles and oodles of patients to reschedule with nowhere to put them :( we will get thru it though..somehow.

The weekend was a good one. Friday night started out well with a quickly planned Girl's Night Out with my new good friend, Kristi.

We had dinner at the Laughing Seed Cafe and then went to Twisted Crepe for dessert. I, of course, had to have Cassie's Ladybug. It was delicious!! Funny story: when we got there I realized that Chris, who used to work for Damion during the summer, works for Dustin now. Small world! We had a good time! It was fun getting to know her. We laughed, we cried - it was fun.

Saturday it rained. Madison had spent the night with Bayley Friday night so she was with her for the majority of Saturday as well. Emma-Leigh and I went to Lowe's and then grocery shopping at Wal-Mart. That was about it.

Sunday after church, the girls were really wanting to go to the fair. I knew Damion was working and didn't really want to go without him but then Cindy sent me a text as we were leaving church and asked me if I'd like to go with her and the kids because Randy was going hunting. Perfect. So we went. It was hot! The kids had a lot of fun..here are a couple pictures.



The song you are hearing was amazingly sung on Sunday by Brent Culbertson. It was just perfect and made me cry. Hope you like it!

That's MY girl (although my sister keeps trying to claim her) up top.

Best Buds. They had a fun time at the game on Wednesday night although the boys lost 28-6. Cindy had some spirit flip flops made for us to wear to the games...check them out...pay no attention to the vitiligo spots on my ankle.

I took a perfect video of the girls doing their dance at half time but deleted it on accident :( I was so mad at myself! Maybe I can get it again next week.

So this week has been pretty full. Monday of course was a holiday, tuesday I went to the gym, game on wednesday and last night was open house at Emma-Leigh's school. Tonight I have plans to hang out with my new friend Kristi (she is Ethan - EL's boyfriend's mom). So that is exciting! No plans for the weekend just yet although the fair starts today so maybe we will go this weekend.

the most relaxing weekend ever

right this second I am laying beside Emma-Leigh in her bed thinking about how she won't want me to lay with her much longer...Madison doesn't anymore. from where I'm laying I can see Madison typing away at the computer...still working on homework. every now and then Facebook pops up. she's a good multitasker. I am blogging from my phone and it is very hard...very tedious. those of you that follow my sister's blog have seen that the girls had a terrific weekend in Pinehurst. while they were busy busy I was laying low. Saturday morning I cleaned the house really good...which means I picked up the rugs and cleaned the hardwood instead of just cleaning around them. when I finished that I headed to the pool!! just me and my book :) Saturday night for dinner damion and I went to ichiban. Sunday I got up and watched a movie - the back up plan. it was cute! then I went back to the pool!! LOL. I finished my book then went home. damion came home early and we headed to the apple festival. we ate huge chicken gyros, shared a lemonade, then he had homemade ice cream and I had a spicy apple cider slushie. Yum! after that we did a little shopping at Walmart and then headed home. I saw a famous person that day. Santino Rice. he was pushing 2 buggies out and damion thought he might need some help. then some lady came running out of the store shouting "excuse me are you Santino?" he said yes. damion said "I thought he looked familiar." I was still clueless so I googled him. project runway. never watched it. anyway, Monday I hung out at home until lunchtime then met Michelle and her daughter, Madison for lunch. then we hung out at the park for a few hours. it was such a beautiful day and it was nice to hang out and have a conversation without little mouths chiming in. the girls came home around 5 last night and I was so happy to see them! so no pics from the weekend but tomorrow I should have a bunch! first cane creek football game against Owen. go canes!

Jaidyn Brielle Abbey is 7 !!

My oldest neice is 7 today. Do I even need to say that time goes way too fast? I remember the day she was born...Tiff and Todd didn't find out what they were having. That was my vote! The girls and I didn't make it in time for the actual birth but we were in route when she called to tell us she had delivered - and I still kinda sorta didn't want to know what she had. But I couldn't wait so she said "It's a girl!" I cried. I was so happy! Because you see, I have 2 girls of my own and at that point in my life I had this big fantasy of them growing up together and being best pals. Of course you all know that it didn't exactly work out that way. We are hundreds of miles away from each other but that doesn't mean I love them any less.

Jaidyn is a funny girl. She reminds me of Tiff a lot when she was little. She's a cutie, can be fiesty, has recently reconnected on a positive note with the game of soccer, she has big brown eyes like her mama, she's a bit of a diva, I hear she's a good student (and has a boyfriend) and she can be a little bossy at times. Jaidyn is a great big sister to Ayla and a great pet owner to her dog, Polly. She has recently struggled with tantrums but seems to have matured in the week that she was "locked up". Most importantly, Jaidyn is easy to love.








HAPPY BIRTHDAY JJ !!!





Madison & Emma-Leigh love their cousin very very much. I, of course, love her too. I hate that we don't get to spend more time together.

September 1st

I am supposed to be working on end of the month stuff but need a break so I'll talk about my night...I met mom and the girls at the gym. Mom felt sorry for my starving children and bought them chick-fil-a on the way there. I was grateful. After the gym we went home and were pleasantly surprised to see Damion already there - in his spot. on the bed. Clothes still on the table. But I took a deep breath and remembered what he said at lunch..."I bust it for 12 hours straight all day long to provide for you and these kids." So I proceeded to take the trash out, empty the dishwasher and began to work on my remaining 3 reports. Sweaty body and all. While I was doing all that, Emma-Leigh had "cheerleading practice" - Madison is the coach. EL decided she needed a uniform for practice and then disappeared. She eventually came out wearing the new uniform that she designed...


When practice was over, Madison decided she was going to create a uniform. Here she is working on it - and mad at me for taking her picture. I have to sneak up on her!


And the finished product -
I swear I feel like this girl is not my child - she is so darn creative! I can't even draw a stick man.
okay so I got my reports finished!! I took a break from typing to talk to Jen on the phone and got all the clothes folded!! (not put away) Damion was in charge of dinner and ordered a pizza for us so that was nice. I even managed to take a quick bath and get in bed by 10:30pm. Total success. So Damion and I hung out for about 30 minutes or so. It was nice.
Today Emma-Leigh will go home with her...friend that is a boy. She is so excited! Ethan's mom will pick them up from school and take them to church. This will be the norm every Wednesday since Madison's games will start next week.
A couple funny things that I don't want to ever forget...there's a sign in front of the church at the corner of Cane Creek Middle that reads - "You can't hold hands with God and Satan at the same time." EL read it and wanted to know why...a few days ago the sign said "Honk if you love Jesus, text and drive if you want to meet him." That made me laugh out loud! Happy hump day everyone!