SHE'S 7!

Seriously, can someone please make time slow down just a bit?  My baby turned 7 last week.  7 just seems like such a big number to me.  7 years old and going into 2nd grade.  Her days of wanting to be a princess seems to be hitting her that it's not something possible and she now talks of being a kindergarten teacher.  I think she will make a fantastic teacher.  She has always been so caring towards others.  I absolutely love her sensitive soul.  She is a mama's girl and I hope that never changes. 

For her seventh birthday she chose to go to Hershey Park.  I haven't been there in a long time and she's never been there.  The place was CROWDED!  I can't remember it being so full of people.  The lines to a lot of the rides were long.  We didn't get to do many rides.  We waited in line for a new water coaster for about two hours and then it broke down.  Ugh.  What a waste of time.  However, through all the chaos I told the kids how important it was to find the good in the day and yes there were plenty of good.  I'm just hoping our trip to Disney World will be more successful. 

Also, when it's this girl's birthday it also means the end of summer vacation.  I didn't blog much, did I?  I really haven't had much to write about I guess.  I'm hoping to get back to regularly blogging because it's always been therapeutic to me, even if no one reads it.  In a few days the kids head back to school and I'll be starting my second year in the cafeteria.  It will be nice to make a little extra money again. 

Manic Monday

The Bangles "Manic Monday" plays in my head on repeat as I get through a mound of laundry, sweeping, vacuuming, sanitizing, putting away dishes, etc.  It's Monday, which means it's time to clean up after the messes of the weekend.  Weekends are for playing and making memories and this weekend was more laid back than most but we did manage to have some fun.

My kids were invited to a birthday party at the neighbor's house.  I only stayed during the time they were in the pool because none of the other adults were paying attention and my kids aren't close to being professional swimmers yet so they needed to have that close eye.  When they were finished swimming around I headed back to the house and allowed them to continue having fun with their friends.  Later that evening we set up our air mattresses in the living room and had a "camp in" as I called it.  We laid in our beds and watched Cocoa.  Lying on an air mattress that sits on top of a hard surface floor is not quite comfortable and I didn't get much sleep but it's the memory making that counts.  I also wanted to do something fun before the kids take off for New York with my parents this weekend.

On Sunday we made the tired decision to stay home from church and I spent the day straightening up the house until my mother-in-law's arrival.  I really wanted to make it a fun day but these other plans happened.  I like to have Sundays as family time.  Not cleaning.  Not for anyone else.  Just us.  Give God our time in the morning and then spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying the company of each other.  Unfortunately, that doesn't always happen.  Sometimes the mother-in-law wants to make her once a month appearance so I have to scurry around the house to make sure it looks somewhat presentable because a messy house will just add to those judgements that are already made.  

Now we are back to Monday.  Another week starts.  Mondays in the summer means I allow the kids way too much television and video game time so I can get things done around the house.  The rest of the week is to be spent with them making more and more memories.  I have many fun plans for tomorrow but today is the day to clean, clean, clean.  Today is when I make sure we all have clean clothes for the rest of the week.  Today is when I attempt to organize whatever messes were made over the weekend.  Today is a fresh start.  A new beginning.

It's just another manic Monday ...

Me And My World

You can find more of my writings on my other page http://dawnmariewrites.blogspot.com

I'm keeping this blog for more personal and every day adventure stuff but the other blog is more formal.  I love writing.  I have always loved writing.  I'm not sure many people read my blogs and that's okay.  When I was on Xanga I had a huge audience but here it's nothing.  That's mainly because I haven't reached out and shared these sites with others.  If you have stumbled upon this site please feel free to stay, follow, and leave comments.  I know it's probably best not to give too many personal details into my life, especially my kids, but I love having a place to write these experiences and memories.  So often I look back on something I wrote and realize that it was something I forgot about.  With a mother that has Alzheimer's there's a fear in the back of my mind that I may get it too one day.  So being able to have a place to look back is good.  Maybe I could print some of these into a hardcopy of some sort.  

Summer Is Here!

It's been awhile since I found myself being able to take a moment for the blogging world.  I'm sorry for that.  Time moves on fast and life gets busier by the day.  We have now entered into summer vacation, baseball season is ending and my daughter is preparing for her third dance recital.  I sort of enjoyed my first year as a cafeteria lady and it was a wonderful thing to be able to help fill the gaps with my paycheck but let me be honest - I'm thankful for the break.  Stepping away from all the gossip, judgement and bullying by grown ups and having an entire day where I can do whatever I choose is refreshing.  I will be back in the fall but until then I'm going to try and make this summer break worthwhile.

The school year brings us so much chaos and a hectic schedule.  The kids spend their days at school and when I'm not doing my three hours at work I'm at home trying to keep this house in some kind of order.  My husband works a full-time job and when he gets home there's one day a week he's rushing to cub scouts with our son or to baseball practice or a game.  Then I'm off to rush our daughter to dance and this year she took two classes.  My husband will still be working in the summer but I look forward to having the evenings and weekends free from scheduled events and more for relaxing and enjoying one another.

We love sitting outside by the fire just as the sun is going down.  It's a time when we can all be together and relax.   I'm looking forward to many fun adventures and also those moments when we can lay back and enjoy some peace. 

I'm A Damsel Now

I don't get on here to write much anymore, it seems.  Life is busy and in full swing.  We are now in spring and the school year is almost over.  My daughter has been working on her dance routines for both tap and ballet and my son just earned his second to last rank patch with the cub scouts.  He also started a new season of baseball.  As for me I am still holding onto that cafeteria job.  It's going okay.  I love the kids and the job itself is quite easy.  It's only three hours and I am off when the kids are off so that's why I am able to make this work.  Having that extra income has helped a lot. 

I also started a new journey.  Are you ready to here about it?

That's right, I'm now a Damsel Pro with Damsel in Defense.  One correction to that Damsel website though - it's .net not .com.

I never, ever saw myself as someone who would be in direct sales but when I heard about this company I was definitely interested.  They sell non-lethal self defense tools such as pepper spray, stun guns and striking tools.  They also sell alarms and flashlights.  I absolutely love all the products and I also love the mission to equip, empower and educate women.  It's a crazy, scary world out there.  It's important to be as safe as possible.  This company also provides education and self defense training.  I have barely started but I love it already! 

Frustrations

I realize the best thing I can do is to stay away from social media.  Just.Stay.Off.  I also realize if I do get on social media and see something written that I don't agree with I do not have to react to it.  But I do.  Sometimes.  I have often written my own opinions on Facebook because I want others to see they aren't alone in their views and also to give those with opposing views to see a different side.  Also, because it's my right just like anyone else.  I love having conversations and debates but sometimes, I suppose, it's just not worth it.  No matter what you say you just can't get others to see your point of view.  They are already set in their ways. 

Someone recently unfriended me on Facebook.  She was a friend I knew from our childhood but it's been obvious in these past few years of being Facebook friends that we have very little in common.  She spouts off her views without much logic behind it and when I tried to help her to see things in a different perspective I guess she couldn't handle it. 

Why does a gun have to hold so many rounds?
Because most of the time it's not easy to hit your target with one or two shots.  

Why do people need a military style gun (AR-15)
First of all, an AR-15 is a semi-automatic and it's not a "military style gun," whatever that means.

Yes, the great gun debate.  As a gun owner myself you could imagine where I stand on the issue.  Go ahead and unfriend me.  After the school shooting in Florida many didn't hesitate to post their gun control lectures over and over.  I made the decision to unfollow them because when I jump on Facebook I want it to be for fun.  It's just not fun.  I've even allowed myself to jump into the platform and I realize it doesn't matter.  It's no use.  But for as long as we have people trying to take my rights away I will be there standing my ground.

I have also allowed all of this to really take a toll over my mind and it's caused my chest to hurt.  I'm so tired of it.  It's frustrating.  Every day I wake up and tell myself I could use a day off of social media but then at some point I find myself logging in.  I decided to uninstall the Facebook app from my phone.  The stress and the ignorance isn't worth it. 

I carry because I see the world we live in and that it's not safe.  I carry because I want the ability to be able to protect myself and my family.  I carry because the 2nd Amendment says I can.  I carry because there will always be bad guys with guns so I would like to match fire with fire if need be.  

Valentine's

Valentines Day has come and gone.  I usually spend the day turning everything into heart shapes but this year I was pretty laid back and allowed my husband to do all the spoiling.  I enjoy this holiday but sometimes it's hard for me to get into the mood to celebrate.  I don't know why.  My mind just falls into laziness and I wish it didn't.  Maybe it's part of my depression.  I don't know.  I have been in quite a funk in the last few days. 

My husband took the day off and me and the kids had a half day at school.  I managed to put in almost three hours at work in the cafeteria and then brought the kids home.  The kids came home to find their Valentines gifts waiting for them on the dining room table. 

Then they spent a few hours outside with neighborhood friends, which gave me and my husband time to just relax on the couch in front of the television. 

My husband made a delicious steak dinner and chocolate covered strawberries.  Oh my.  He's such a good man.  I'm so blessed.