Five. Boys.

I saw a Tiktok or Reel the other day that said "Is it just me or does anyone else keep telling themselves 'we just have to get through these next couple of weeks and things should ease up a bit' but you've been telling yourself that for the last two years with no end in sight? Or is it just me?" and I feel like that is just a small glimpse into our lives. Lol. Our schedule is jam packed with activities and school starting, and do not get me started on the financial side of life and the "it's always something" doom cloud that makes it near impossible to stay afloat.  August 21st  is the first day of school... The first day of Dryden's senior year. I keep waiting for Newbrough photo to share his Senior banner picture on their website so I can obsess over it and ogle at the fact that he was 2 when his Dad and I got together, and he is now entering his Senior year. He has grown so much, as a person, as an athlete and as a young man. He has his father...

 Uggghh.. I have been neglecting my duties, and it's felt weird not writing my thoughts down. At the same time, it is probably better that I haven't. They are all over the place recently, especially since my last blog. It just seems that since then, no matter what, some kind of rain seems to cloud us, and we can't escape it. I am truly hoping that with the new month and a full schedule, we will be too busy to even be involved in any of it.  We went to Hilton Head for vacation the week of July 15. The good days were great, we swam a lot, ate great meals, hung out with family and slept in (some). We had a family of deer that would visit our house every day, eat out of the kids' hands and let them pet their heads and back. It was the coolest thing I have seen in a while; never have I witnessed almost domesticated deer. They were from all walks of life: bucks, does and fawns still with their spots. They loved our house... all of the croissants, apples and carrots they could...

The countdown is on, and next week when I blog, I will be blogging from HHI, SC. I have already started packing and have told the boys that they need to start as well. I can't wait to get away, let my hair down, relax and not have to worry about a schedule or being anywhere for a few days. It's summertime at work, and it is either full of work to do, or downtime. I will never complain about the downtime; it helps me plan my days, or week ahead and take care of the mundane things that need done.  I get to go for a pedicure today!! WooHoo! It's been a LOOONNNG time! Lol. Our week is packed with All-Star baseball practices, with a tournament  starting Friday  for Boop and Sheamus. (Magnus will be the bat boy extraordinaire). Once it is over, or each boy loses their last games, we will hit the road for vacation. This will be Boop's last little league All-Star tournament. He will be on a new team and age group next year; they don't really have All-Stars. Our middle boy i...

I have to write this on my phone rather than the computer and it’s annoying me. I would much rather type on a computer keyboard than text a whole story. Bah. Oh well.  Life is calming down, and it’s nice to be able to make dinner, do laundry, complete projects in the house, etc. we start back up middle of July with All Star tournaments, vacation and football starting one after the other. I’m officially done with one class and have to finish another on Saturday. Then I only have one more before the Fall. It’s going so fast! I keep thinking that I can’t believe we are almost in July, and December will be here before I know it. That weekend will be amazing… JT comes to Pittsburgh that Saturday and I graduate from college the next day. It’ll be wild to think I’m graduating from college! At 41. And I’m going for sure. What a feat. And I’m going on and getting my Bachelors. Who knows, maybe I won’t stop there? Super grateful for my mans for plugging along with me and talking me down when...

  Well, it's that time of the month where I almost have a nervous breakdown, and realize that I hadn't eaten for many hours, which didn't help the situation and that I could break down and cry... until I eat and lay down and I am all better. This was me last night, when I could NOT get PowerPoint to work for me. Turns out, the free trial that I registered for did not include all of the options I needed to complete what I needed to. I have had more computer related setbacks since transferring to YSU than I have had ever in my life. We are very techy people; I use Logan's old Chromebook when I needed to do anything, but it isn't compatible with 9/10 of the things I need to do. I was given a loner, but it doesn't have Microsoft office programs installed. I downloaded a free trial. NOPE! Thank GOD for my SIL Natalie for coming in to save the day. After going back and forth with the Professor regarding what I had uploaded and the problems associated with THAT, some t...

Slacker... But not really... I have been so busy that the blog took a backseat to literally everything else. I made it a point to do it today, so I can make sure it is done and that I actually do it. Then I can cross it off the literal list. I celebrated my 41st birthday this past Friday. 40 seemed like nothing but I find it weird to say I am 41. I feel like I should have more of life figured out by now, but I am still waiting for a user's manual on how to adult and parent. I worked that day until 2:00, my bestie brought me lunch, went home to flowers, cake, chocolate-covered strawberries that Ryan made and family came over until we had to leave for baseball/softball games. It was rushed and hectic and fabulous and nothing out of our ordinary. The twins game ended in a win, one of the best games they played all season. I came home, put pajamas on and grabbed the laptop and my glasses to finish an assignment that was due. What a crazy night! Lol. I ALSO woke up the next morning arou...

Sorry guys...  I had all intentions of blogging last week, but whatever ailment came over me had other plans. I am still not 100% and feel like I can't hear half of the time, but here I am. Just another lesson in taking care of yourself and get adequate rest. Worry about you before worrying about others, and all that. Yea, right.  School is almost out. One more day of fun and all that last day of school festivus and the boys will be off for the summer. We are definitely going to have to figure out a schedule, since trying to do school work this past week has been really hard for me. They can't quite grasp the fact that Mom really does have homework and needs time to study/read. I think it's hard for them to understand because I do everything on the computer, rather than going somewhere like they do. I'm sure we will get there. Last evening, I was reading and completing an assignment and told them that before I started, they had to ask for whatever they might need becaus...

 Ya'll... I am STTIIRRRREESSSEEDDD.  This week has tested me in so many ways, I can't even think straight. I keep saying that my brain hurts, and it truly does. Every day this week has been a challenge and I cannot wait for it to be over. I can truly say that I can navigate things pretty well, but this week has been the hardest I've had in a long time.  I am currently trying to figure out HOW I am going to get my quizzes done. This week is the last of EGCC spring semester, with 5 different assignments due before Sunday. In addition, I have multiple things to Review with YSU, 4 modules to watch, in completion, resulting in certificates, two assignments per class and 4 class Discussion posts total with a MINIMUM of 3 responses PER POST to our peers. Add in this week being super busy at work and 4 baseball games this week and I can't think about anything else. I am so afraid I am going to miss something, miss an assignment or a deadline and won't be able to make it up....

 I have such ADD today, I feel like the slightest thing is making me "SQUIRREL". My mind is going 100 MPH and I can't seem to focus on one thing. Putting on my true crime podcast and blogging seems to help reel me in. Hopefully all of these thoughts come out right. Lol.      Next week is my last week of EGCC classes, but my first week of YSU classes. I finally met with someone Monday regarding scheduling and I now have a game plan for the rest of my degree, as well as my Bachelor's if I should choose to do so. So that is a relief. Next week, however, will be a rough one. I emailed my current Professors to try and have them release the assignments due for next week a little early to help aid in the transition. One was completely fine doing it, to which I am very grateful. The other refused, as they "Have a schedule to follow". What is EGCC going to do, fire you? Bah. Whatever. So, here's to a smooth week next week, academically.      Yesterday, I droppe...

  Hello cool cats and kittens...  Not gonna lie... I am not feeling blogging today. I have been putting it off as long as possible, but consistency is key and I must. So here I am. As I say with every week, it's been a week. We had baseball and more baseball, cleaning, laundering, and SUNSHINE! Sunday was one of my better days this past week; I read a whole book between Saturday and Sunday, took in some sun, was able to actually cook a delicious dinner for the family, laundry, etc. I almost feel guilty on nights when we have to eat take out or a quick butter noodle dinner because we are so busy; it feels nice to be able to provide something for them that isn't deep friend or made by someone else. The boys enjoyed the trampoline most of the day, with the hose sprinkler attachment on. I hate to see the water bill, but they have a blast doing it. Kudos to Pap for rigging that up for them.  I also feel like I am at a point in my life that I am really evaluating myself, my men...

What's Up, Brother? It's Tuesday! Tuesday! Special teams, special plays, special players... (If you know, you know. If not, look up Sketch on TikTok. My boys are OBSESSED). Ya'll... I don't know who reads this, or who even cares, but LORDT! 🫣😮‍💨This past week has tested my patience so much, I don't know where to even start. I feel like a broken record; it's always something. This past week has proven to test my patience and I'm not sure what to do to get some sanity back. Baseball season has officially begun, with at least two games per week, per team. Add in work, school, children, life, and I am spent. I try and make dinner, making sure to have something for everyone in it and nobody eats it. Or they say they want it and then barely touch it. Game days I make it early, so they eat before their games and I'm not cooking at 9:00 at night and I still end up making something at 9:00 because they need a second dinner because they're StArViNg... 😫🙄 ...

I am sitting alone at the twins game, willing myself not to eat all of the concession things. It’s weird not having someone to keep tabs on, to watch with the eyes in the back of my head while simultaneously watching a game. Seeing these parents chasing their toddlers makes me relish in this stage that we are in. My youngest are 9 and can communicate. (mostly coherently) Some days they communicate their feelings a little TOO freely… using spicy words or many emotions in their tone. But I would rather them use those with us behind closed doors than in public or school. Logan had a game today at Indiana University of PA. He informed me that he doesn’t want us to watch or travel now, as he does better WHEN he gets in. So, I appease. Boop is currently playing in Hopedale, they’re up 10-3. Ryan is his teams head coach so he went there, I came here. Divide and conquer. What we do best.  Speaking of the man, he is this weeks shout out. My Rybo. The man who drives me absolutely insane some...

 Another day, another week, another blog to spill my guts about nonsense. Yesterday was the Solar Eclipse. 🌗 I didn't think I would give a single care about it, however, looking through our sweet little glasses 😎 and watching the coverage of the sun, witnessing how dark it got outside, mid-day, was actually quite neat. I saw only a few videos that showed complete coverage, and that would have been really cool to witness. Didn't think I would care much, but ended up being a lot cooler than I imagined. Saturday and Sunday was Wrestlemania 40 and my kids had ALL of the emotions, both days. We have been watching wrestling in our house now for at least 12 years, consistently. I don't that there is an end in sight. Thankfully, there have been minimal wrestling related injuries. Time will tell... hopefully I didn't just jinx myself.          This week I start my weekly dedication blogs. I don't have a set schedule and they are in no particular order, so hopefull...

  It's Wednesday... I am way far behind. Not sure if it is the holiday weekend or what but something threw me off and here I am. My apologies. April is here and so is the rain. There was a tornado watch with severe storms warnings, hail and high winds and we got none of it. Well, we did get a lot of rain and some thunder and lightening but it was not near what they had predicted. When this happens, we get what I call a choco-river down our street.  It is run off from the streets above us and it just takes off down our street. It's fun trying to get to our cars when it is rushing down. No matter what I plan to do, no matter how much I frogger across the sidewalk and grass, I ALWAYS end up with wet shoes. What a joy to start your day! Lol. It's not usually anything drastic, just enough to be annoying. Space heaters are my friend! We had a great, busy Holiday weekend. We missed Dry... he was in Florida with his Mom  & step-dad and his side of the family. He had so much f...

The magic of technology is amazing. Logan started in his first baseball game today and I am watching, play by play, via live streaming through the school's website. I hate that I can't be at each and every game, but so glad I can watch and not miss out on too much. Currently, they are up 5-3 against Wheeling (Jesuit), bottom of the 5th. This could be his team's first win of the season with his first start. How amazing would that be! I have started making a list of ideas and things as they come to mind that I would like to blog about. I have a few things, but, like when you are dreaming and you wake in the night hoping to remember what you dreamt about, I sometimes lose what I wanted to blog about and look at the list and wonder why the hell I wrote that down. LOL.  I went live on my personal FB account the other night. Magnus and Sheamus were in rare form on a Friday night and I SWEAR by the witching hour that is 8:00. A simple game of living room football can never be just...