Some days you wanna scream. But you find the JOY.

Since my last update the kids and I have been busy.  We have been on 2 camping trips in May and June. We went home to MN for 17 days and hard loads of fun.  Went to Canada fishing, made the rounds to the sisters home and spent the majority of the time with mom and dad.  It was so nice and relaxing to be around family.  This trip was particularly hard.  I am missing them more than words can say.  But I have these fun memories to make the days better!  These are just a few!  I had so much fun and am grateful for my time with all of them!

Trying to keep moving forward through the HARD days.  I just typed it all out, but I really don't need to put that negatively out there.  I need to continue to find JOY in all I do.  School is in its final weeks. Please pray that I am able to finish strong and that I will be blessed with a job in my new career sooner than later. Pray that my boys have a good start to there new school year.  I am very worried about Jacob.  He has tons of anxiety and we have seen that really come out in the last week.  I want so badly for him to be successful but its hard to know what to do and am I really helping. I am thankful for the handful of friends I have in my life now to help me through this phase of life.  Turning 40, single parenting, and being single.

I think that is one thing I have really learned.  Less is more.  I always have tried so hard to make so many people happy.  In the end many of them took advantage of that.  So I have let go of people.  I missed them at first.  Now, I have no desire to be surrounded by them.

I am lucky girl.  I have friend in MN.  Like Sara L, who took VACATION days to see ME at my mom and dads.  I have my BESTIES who made there way to farm on Thursdays.  I have my MICHELLE who is always there and no matter the distance between us we will be solid BFF's!!  My 5 gals here in AZ.  You know who you are.  You are steady and true.  Oh and my SISTERS.  Who could forget them?  They are my #1 fans and my biggest support system. They answer day or night.  Laugh and cry with me. They are the best.

Overall I need to try harder to post on here.  Not such a big fan of Facebook these days.  Who could really say all of this?  And why do a bajillion people need to read it?  They don't. :-)

I suppose since I am at a stand still I should clean...  Mom is coming in a few weeks. I need to regain control of my house!

My cactus

It must be that time of year again. Where my cactus are going to grill. Anxiously been awaiting for it. Because last year they grew so much. All of these cactus started with one paddle. Now look at them! I can't wait to show you all pictures in a few weeks. Do you see all the buds on these for new paddles? I can't wait to see what they look like in a few weeks!

I can't wait!!

Ok Challenge....

So Robert thinks I can't get people to watch this video....  So all of you do me a favor and click on it so I for once can beat him at something!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aX046dtm7gI
UPDATE

Yeah I've increased it 10 hits... Just 15 more please!!!

True friendship...

Helping me fix my bad toe! She's a true friend!!!

Friday Fun days!

Fridays are always the best! My work got a little crazy this morning so I didn't quite end up where I thought it would be. But I still was able to squeeze in lunch with my favorite pampered chef Gal! Jennifer Flattre! I love meeting up with one of my very best friends on Fridays! 

Now i'm dodging old people in the Walmart and Kohls parking lot. Seriously, I am not sure why I ever shop off of signal Butte. 😖😖😖 what a girl needs to spend her Kohls cash! I'm going to find myself a new purse. 

Thursday = accomplishment!

Wow! I finally feel like I've had a productive day. With my new work, and it's funky schedule. Three days a week I feel like I can get nothing accomplished. However today I accomplished a lot! Got my taxes done, grocery shopping done, and I am attempting to clean the downstairs of my home! What should be done by 6 PM. Then it will be time for a happy hour and homework.

Of course I did squeeze in a little fun today too. I went down to see Megan and the gang. Looking forward to our Friday night out! 

Thanks to my friends who stay true and steady. You are few. But you never leave my side... 

2015.... So far

Well 2015 has already been a crazy ride! We made it through the holidays just fine. Okay maybe fine isn't the way to put it. We made it. For me it was hard because I realized, that it had been 10 years since I have been home for Christmas. Needless to say, everything Christmas came down on Christmas day after the boys left with their dad. But I guess we did make it through.

January was a busy month for us. Grandpa and grandma arrive just in time to complete lots of projects in the house :-). My dad got busy and made me shelves in my garage, and a workbench. The running joke was "the list".  If we did something, anything at all, it went on the list. So we could cross it off of course! Our list got quite big by the end, and we had lots of things crossed off!

The boys celebrated their birthdays at the karate school this year. It was a great birthday party with 12 kids that had loads of energy! I think that was the best $200 I have ever spent on a birthday party! The Bakers at the karate school ran those kids Ragged! They play dodgeball, did karate moves, popped balloons, ran around, they were busy and wore out in the end! :-) in the end, the birthday party was a major success!

Grandma was lucky to celebrate her birthday with us once again this year. We took her out to Phillies, for some broasted wings and good beer! The Casterton clan joined us. Minus Ryan of course. He stayed home to watch the boys.

I guess that leads us to February... This is where you say squirrel!! Did I mention that in January I started back at school and a new job? Well I did. I started working for Lutheran social services working at their place spots. It isn't the greatest job, but it's a job. Okay now we're in February. LOL

The first weekend in February the boys went with their dad to do a spartan race. They both did really great and had loads of fun. Then came the inevitable Valentine's Day.  Which of course I personally dislike the holiday.  So on Valentine's Day we woke up, and I put the boys to work! We were running around cleaning the house, organizing the house and getting ready to have a good afternoon. When my phone rang. It was Robert. Yes yes I know a lot of you were like what Robert you still talk to him? After he broke your heart? Well the answer to all of it is yes. We are very good friends in fact. So anyways, he invited me and the boys over for the day. Of course my kids are ecstatic! Me on the other hand is a little nervous because I'm always worried about what type of behavior they are going to have. So we headed out 76 miles later we landed in surprise. What was going to be a day trip, turned into a night, then turned into another night. We didn't end up leaving until Monday at 6 pm. Clearly we had a good time! 

We had some fun safety too..

Robert really is a great guy. And I'm glad that he cares for me and my boys. Also for a man who supposedly doesn't have those feelings for me he sure did treat me nicer Valentine's Day! I got to Kashmir scarf from Afghanistan, and a subscription to ancestry.com world edition for six months! Lol

I guess that kind of brings us to this week. We did this...

Doesn't he look thrilled! Lol

Then headed over to cook the dosed family dinner. I got a little more than I bargained for! But I guess my friend Maria would be happy. I am now addicted to T 25. We celebrated as you can see!

Now prepping to finish my week. Jacob has a counseling appointment today and then I am kid free until Sunday. What's a mom to do with yourself? Well that's easy! Homework, homework, clean, laundry the list goes on and on!!

Oh and happy Ash Wednesday...

Until next time.