November

Can't believe it is November already. Where has time gone? I will sneeze and the tree will be up, yawn and presents opened. Kinda like LV when you drove to the market, a new shopping center had popped up from the week before.

We recycled last years costumes for Halloween. It wasn't because we are poor (but we are) but because they didn't wear them trick or treating last year due to heavy rain and they might as well wear them this year. Grif was the evil jester but within 3 houses the mask was off and he was the Joker. Jack was a bumblebee. We did 3 full blocks and got a gallon worth of candy per child and the rain started and Jack got tired and we went home. An hour is long enough I suppose. Of course 3 days later and all the chocolate is gone. The rest of the stuff lasts forever here. Jack could of been a dragon but he HATED the dragon head.

Ri has his last game on Thursday. I am sad yet relieved. It is COLD out there these days. They have won 3x as many games as they have lost. I consider that a sucess. Next year will be much more challenging. He hasn't decided on wrestling or basketball for next sport.

game #2

Greenwave lost this week. All 3 teams did. Sad day. BUT Riley did very well in tackles, catches and sacks. (It was 19-13) I know he will have NO problem making JV or possibly Varsity next year. We will have to start saving $ so he can go to the football camp in Oregon this summer. He signed up for basketball tryouts. He may be going for the JV team. He was origioanlly content with Freshman but think he is getting some begging. We will see if he plays basketball as well as he does football. I was mildly surprised as I thought he wasn't going to but track is so far away and he hates to be idle.

Pictures don't want to load for me. I will have to figure some other way to share.

g/c ideas

Okay, for those who have asked...

Gift card ideas for Cameron... grocery stores in walking distance-Target, Winn Dixie, Publix.
Fast food near by that has vegetarian options.... Taco Bell, Burger King, Subway.
Nice Restaurants... PF Changs and Chipolte.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For Riley...

Jack in Box, McDonalds, Arby's, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC/LJS, Pizza Hut, Subway, Sonic. Goodness anywhere. lol Those are the local options. There are more in Reno as well.

Cameron

Okay, Cam originally gave me the wrong address to his dorm room. The street address is 1055 NOT 1500. Sure glad I found out in time. I mailed a 30 pound box of food to him yesterday. Yes, it would of been more economical to send him a g/c or cash but he would of spend the money on stuff he didn't need but wanted. This way I KNOW he has food. Yes, he is still a vegetarian. What did I send? Cashews, granola bars (no almonds), cereal bars, Cinnamon Life, Frosted Flakes, Microwave popcorn, oreos, veg ramen, veg cup of noodles, japanese noodle bowls, fried rice, mac & cheese, poptarts, Ritz, cheese-its, a few bags of chips ( to fill the top of the box up so nothing moved around), spagetti-o's, peanut butter, jelly, mini donut, cheese raviollis, a few other veg "lunches" and a 6 pack of reese's pb cups. No meat, not heavy and requires no refrig is a tricky combination. He is on the cafeteria plan BUT he doesn't have class every day and he has to take a bus to the cafe and that gets old if you don't feel like leaving the dorm. This should last him the month and then he has to shop on his own. lol Okay, I may send him another around Thanksgiving.

up, up, away

Balloons were out in full force this weekend in Reno! Didn't get there early enough to glow, but still they were AWESOME! Anyone want to take me on a balloon ride?

Okay, pictures to be added later, Blogger is having issues.

Captain

Ri made football captain. Mama is proud. Here is a snap shot of their game yesterday. sun was way too bright to take pictures. I had to correct the exposure on this. Ri is 42, you can't see his number but if you look at the arms, you can see thin Nike sweatbands above his elbows. :) He plays all but a few plays. He is beat up today, but he loves it!

last for now

few more

inside now

house continued, back now

house pictures

settling

We are settleing in. We are poorer than poor. Not sure we could get any poorer without living in a box or back of our pick up. Sad. Anyways, Chris is working at Lowe's pt in Fernley and I got hired at a pizza place pt. I start next week for training and then the store opens on the 15th. Still another week til Chris gets a partial paycheck. Big sigh...what doesn't kill us, right?

Enough of Woe is us...

Riley has his first football game tonight against Sparks High. He is excited. I am nervous. I always get nervous. He is just as popular as ever.

Grif enjoys school again. He is so happy we moved back.

Jack is a terror. Age 2 is such a fun age. {NOT!}

Okay, gonna post random pictures. I will post when I can. Without internet at home it is hard.

back we go

We are turnig off the internet in a few hours. We are returning back to NV. Fallon. Cam is staying behind for now. I sure he hopes he learns how to set aside money to last until payday. HE is working a good job, so he should have enough to live on as long as he budgets well. If he can't, I am sure he will catch a plane back to NV.

I thought Riley was going to be kicking and screaming the whole way. He is okay with it. He would prefer living in Fernley but he is at peace with this. It helps they have a good football team. He will be starting practice as soon as we get there. I have been emailing the coach.

Jack and Grif...not opinions. They will miss Grandma Diane and Bob. Grif will miss daily fishing but we aren't too far from a fishing pond where we are going. They will both enjoy having a yard again.

As for Chris and I.... we will miss stuff, but other things we are thankful to leave behind. We miss stuff from NV as well. We are just trying to get our heads above water. This economy bites big time.

absent

Sorry no new posts for some time. I need a new virus program for my desk top. I didn't have my sign in on my lap top and kinda forgot all about it. This will be all over the place so I will post in bullets...

• Jack can count to ten, he often forgets 8, but he can do it. He leaves off sounds of words, but I am undertanding his chatterbox speech more and more.
• He turns 2 in 3 weeks, where has time gone? I found the Toys R Us in Boca, a lot easier to get to than the Ft Lauderdale one. If you need gift ideas, a gc to there would be perfect as he wants a tricyle/big wheel. There is a Harley bigwheel he loves for about 40 that has lots of sounds. Sesame Street, Blue's Clue's, Backyardigan DVD's {ask me which titles we have before doing this idea} are also other ideas.
• I registered Grif for his new school. He will need new uniforms. He has grown (imagine that) and colors changed slightly, and the old ones are completly worn. If anyone wants to chip in, I will gladly accept help. :) Target online has them on sale {great prices} in the uniform section. Shirts are polos or oxfords. Colors are white, gray, navy, light blue and buttercup yellow. Shorts/pants (dickies/cargo style) in khaki, navy or black. Size 12-14's, elastic or adjustable waist is best. I go with husky. His weight is all in the belly. Online, the school place to purchase is here. http://www.inunisonkids.com/?Krypto=lCcaC5p%2B1IIXqKBidSP2qHSNpP9C3Xiaud0tfMxePuX9Lg8gkhUlehOnqcCouZerFds30W73ic9zLHjzES2t%2B64AYwlp6362%2BfTAHdwjZ8aznELUZ8iAoPHs466FGdic8tUo6mKzafclw3Au1EWsq6SUirKh8GvGIrw3KkzKrvBChgXBJuEgqDaQz0%2BFS6pCXCSzaKyKZ8XC%2BtP7UerqtG8W0YuMU2b6k7%2FF1dCh0xHwVtVnDOwXzRQtJkTde6JrS4h76D0najSwMjUrYOJK2otsxaHsVU8gouqb1WOyfu0JDAgrzUES3xfHu2fXkCSK2Jl%2BGA3p5kZKvFs3YcPnFIUbiiDYQuM5 School is Park Springs. He can have t-shirts too but only can get here as they must have school logo on them. Don't feel obligated-any help is appreciated.
• Grif is testing mid 3rd grade level in reading. He won a reading award yesterday. He won't put the medal down.
• Griffin has all fun days for the rest of the school year. Last day is June 5th.
• Riley got his medal in track at his school athletic banquet.
• Riley gets an academic award on Tuesday, not sure if I can go or not due to work.
• Riley's football starts this year July 7th. I still need to pay for it. 150$. It is always something, lol. He loves it, so I don't mind too much. He is playing community ball, the new school wouldn't answer my email so forget them, they could of had a great freshman player.
• I can't believe Ri is in high school now! Although at 6'1" why does this surprise me?
• Cam has graduated. He agreed to the community college in the fall. :) I am pretty sure his pell grant will cover all of that. He is working on his announcements/thank you's.
• Cameron is working pt at the mall and is looking fo another pt job for fun money as the mall job covers his bills and not much else. He is saving up for a car. He found one for 2000$ from a friend (that is what they would give her for a trade in for it, she would rather sell it to a friend for that). He is 1/2 way there and still needs insurance money.
• Chris is good. He wants a day job desperately. I asked him if he could wait til fall to really look for something new. Child care/day camp for Grif is crazy expensive. We can get by paying for Jack, but not both of them. Right now we can get by without any outside child care. Btwn us working overlapping shifts, Riley, Cam and grandma Diane/Papa Bob we are okay. Somedays are crazy though.
• Chris's hobbies are riding his motorcycle. (Honda is you didn't know, saves tremendously on gas) Fishing-the work guys want to do a charter one of these days. They have a monthly card game. Our turn is in the garage. 10 guys smoking in my house, no way. I won't allow Chris to smoke inside.
• Grif is becoming the good fisherman too. He caught and lost a barracuda the other day from the pier. (they assume this is what it was, it had lots of teeth and it broke the line) He fishes almost daily at the lake (which I had incorrectly referred to a canal when we first moved in) outside our apt. He has had nibbles an a few broken lines. He needs experience reeling them in. :)
• As for me...I start my new job at Homegoods on Monday. Merchandising. Very close to home. 2 lights away. I am keeping myself busy driving the kids, reading, working on cross stitch projects. I will attempt to start beading again soon, I meet someone who wants to start as well. Always more fun with a friend.
• Hurricane season begins this weekend. The rain has already started. I need to stock up on water and can foods. So much fun. Think the weather channel is on as much as Nick Jr.

That is all for now. Much love and miss you all very much!

x rays

I took Ri in for xrays. It seemed like it took forever. (My peditrician's office is open 365 days a year) We were in, did x rays and out in 75 minutes. For a walk in apt on a Sat afternoon, that really isn't bad. Anyways, bad sprain, bruised but not broken. {For those I didn't tell, he was playing football in PE and jammed his pinkie, ring finger and middle finger on his left hand} It will hurt like the dickens but no real dmg done. If it still hurts in a week, come back. There went my plan for doing nothing today. I will try for nothing tomorrow instead.

our view

Some snap shots of our fabulous view!

no time

Time is at a premium these days. It is spring break here and I have spent my time packing and running to the docs and pharmacy. Short{er} version...Grif got a cold and it went to his lungs. I got into the docs on Sunday (Saturday he had lost his voice @ a birthday party). They agreed he was wheezy but it wasn't any worse than that. We got a new inhaller and a prescription for prednisone. (liquid steriods) Recheck was today. His lungs sound so much better! Woo hoo! He wants us to start a daily maitence medicine for his asthsma. We got a nebulizer (more effective than the chamber/puffer). Since I had read about the medicine Singular possibly causing suciside and aggressive behavior I didn't want that mediciation. {plus he had the pill form in NV, and it wasn't very effective} He prescribed pulmacort (sp?) instead. I checked Walmart pharmacy first. Their drugs are often cheaper than Publix even without insurance. No, Walmart won't take Publix employee insurance, lol. Liquid Albuterol is cheaper by 4$ but the other is 209$ without insurance! Um, nope, can't do that. Went to Publix and it is 44$. A whole lot better. Stil pretty pricey for a monthly drug, I will ask if there is a generic or another option, but I think that may be the best for him for his age. {btwn co-pays and precriptions I am down 140$}

I took Cameron to the orthodontist today. Yes, I get the award for the worst mom around for putting it off for so long. I keep waiting for finances to get better and no time seems to be ideal. The last few weeks, he has had a lot of problems with broken brackets. After the 3rd open wound in his mouth I finally called and made an appt. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would cost 275$ to remove his braces! I had very little choice in the matter though. They were causing so much dmg to his gums with exposed wires. He had to have an x-ray also at 75$. This has not been a good week for medical bills! He has an appt on the 15th for his bottom retainer. He will get the top one on the 29th. 125$ a piece! Still a lot better bargain than the removal fee.

We move next week. Bills are still coming in at the regular rate. I have no real job leads. I am going to go apply at Lowe's and Home Depot in the garden sections this week. Apply at the grocery stores near my new place too. Something will eventually work out, it has too.

Oh, Jack has Grif's cold. Snot is the worst of it. His immune system is excellent compared to his brothers. Ri is fine. He is currently playing "manhunt" in the complex. Basically a teenage version of team tag. lol I gotta convince him to stay home tomorrow and clean and pack his room. So much fun. We should be getting rain in a few days, I am sure I will see more of them when the rain starts.

Here ya go

Jack and Griffin spent the night at Grandma Diane & Papa Bob's on Friday night while Chris and I saw Wicked for my birthday. When we picked up them on Saturday, we were informed Jack learned a new word. Well, a new phrase really. I cringed at what it could be. Although he is much more likely to learn a bad saying from daddy than ANYONE. They told me to hand Jack something. He hands it back to me and out of his mouth came clear as a bell, "Here you go". :) Diane didn't realize how often she said "There/Here you go", but obviously Jack picked it up. Now anytime he gives you anything or you give him something he says it. It is the sweetest thing ever and it melts my heart. Best birthday gift ever. It sure beats him telling me NO all the time. :)

future artist?

back to drawing board

I have no idea what is going on with my job "offer". I called on Monday, they knew nothing. I would think they could have said yes/no by now. O-well, I concentrate on packing and I will continue to apply elsewhere. In the meantime, Jack loves "bikes", the louder the better. this is the scooter Cam is riding these days.

need pictures

Yep, I need to take pictures. I will maybe today. I just wanted to fill you all in on some info.

1. We will be moving into a different apt the week of April 7-15th. They raised rent here and I couldn't justify the expence. We found something closer to Chris' work (half the distance). It has a much needed garage. Unattatched but same building. Same city but the boys will go to new schools in the fall. We will be within 10 miles of the beach vs 20 we are now. Farther away from the Everglades, closer to the beach. I will post the address when I am positive of it. (I am 98% sure, but need to verify it) Water/sewer is a flat rate, will save me mucho $.
2. We signed Jack up for day care/preschool, he will be starting sometime in the next week. This also is just right around the corner from my new residence. This may not solve all my child care problems, but it will cover the bulk of the day and will allow Chris to get sleep while I work. I toured at least a dozen places. I like this one BEST.
3. I am currently waiting on my FBI background check. I personally have never done anything wrong. BUT I do worry about that %$@#$ person in Portland who stole my identity. Guess I find out in a few days.
4. The background check is for my new job. Merchandising mgr for JoAnne's craft/fabric store. 45 hours a week, 5 9hr shifts. Life has gotton too expensive for me to stay at home any longer. PT hours won't make much of a difference. I need a real job. Yes, things will be crazy esp since Chris works a swing/grave but we figure it all out. I think I will be starting in the next week or so.
5. We have been filling out financial aide forms for Cameron so he can attend BCC in the fall. His core GPA is a fraction too low to get into FSU. (weighted GPA would of been high enough, WE can not possibly afford a 4 year university anyways) . His plan is to do the 2 years at the community college and transfer to FSU and finish his degree there. He wants to teach ceramics to high school/college level students. He is working 20-25 hours at his job at Journey's in the mall.
6. Riley is doing well in track. Riley excels at pretty much anything he puts his mind into. Well maybe with the exception of golf and bowling where he tends to over power those balls. lol He is still with his girlfriend. He is none too happy with me for moving. I didn't promise him he could stay in that school zone forever. His girlfriend doesn't go there anyways. I tried to find something in her area, but everything was too small. I am not giving up well needed closets so he can be closer to his "friend".
7. Grif needs to stop TALKING at school. We won't go into that right now, sore subject with mommy.
8. Jack, he has learned to wave and say hi/hello. He does so to everyone. It is "melt your heart" cute.
9. Chris says he is going to start looking for a M-F 9-5 job, we will see. Looking for work sucks, I do hope my search is over for a long long time!

birthday wishes

A day early SHOUT OUT to Grandma Kathleen. It is her birthday tomorrow and I wanted to send her a cute picture of Jack holding a sign but he wanted nothing to do with that idea. This is as good as it gets. lol Happy Birthday Kathleen, XOXOX!

no more soccer!

I am so happy there is no more soccer! Woo hoo! I can not wait to stay at home tonight and not rush thru homeword, dinner, to the fields, home for showers, in bed before it got too late. I am sure Grif will miss it, I however, will not. I am sure if I didn't have to entertain Jack for 60-90 minutes 3 times a week it would be a whole different story. The picture is AFTER his game and trophy ceremony. Probably the roughest game yet. Everyone was bruised, sweaty and banged up.

dirty play

We have soccer practice twice a week. I used to get to walk during those times but Jack doesn't cooperate much for stroller time lately. Instead he wants to go run around. He has discovered that drawing in the red baseball field dirt is great fun. Of course this requires a shower for Grif after practice and a bath for Jack to remove the clay type soil from every inch of him. Monday and Wednesdays I am lucky if I get to relax before 9am. THANK goodness soccer is over on the 23rd. That is probably close to the time I will be returning to the work force again. It will always be something. lol

WPB zoo

Went to the zoo last weekend in West Palm Beach. I think we like that one better than Miami's. More shade, lol. I am trying to plan a day trip to Miami either President's day or the 24th to go to Miami's SeaAquarium. If you are a FL resident and you go in Feb, you get a free upgrade to a yearly pass. It looks like we may get rain again Monday. We will have to see. Yes, things are WET here right now. Outtings are hard to plan around soccer, work, track, weather, me looking for work etc. Hope you enjoy the pictures!