This Is A Neglected Blog

As it turns out, when I sit down to the computer my brain goes blank. When I am driving I write witty blogs about the drivers and how I want to change the process for getting a driver's license and take away the licenses of those texters driving 10 miles below the speed limit, and slowing down my travel. Then I get home and can't remember any of it by the time I get to the computer. So many distractions I guess.

The girls are gearing up for the upcoming dance competitions. I am looking forward to the one during Spring Break and am planning on maximizing the family time by scheduling a short vacay during that time as well.

Monkey Wrench has a full-time job with benefits now. He has been working odd jobs while he patiently waited for a job offer that will help him support his wife and growing baby.

I have purchased a portable play pen in absolutely fabulous condition for just $40. This is for Nana's home. I also have a high chair, even though she won't be using it for about a 9 more months. Little Lady Bug will be pampered at this Nana's home. "My motto is Nana's my name and Spoilings my game!"

Sassy is working hard in school and is anxiously awaiting the time that the school will permit her to be concurrently enrolled in college and high school. They say it can't happen until she's a junior or senior. That may kill her to wait that long. She is ready to move on to her career education. Guess we'll see what she is able to get them to allow her to do.

Tree Monkey is holding her own in Jr High. First semester down and she has a fabulous GPA and some good times to remember. I can't wait to NOT be the PTA President. I have never wanted that job and have wished that I had said "NO" to the call.

I am a fully licensed clinical social worker. My current task is to get on insurance panels and that is a tough task to accomplish. They, the insurance companies, make it so vague and difficult to do. Some panels have been closed for 20 years.

I have registered my own business with the state and have set up all the articles of incorporation, bank account, and printed business cards. Now to get on the panels and set up office. I am still working out of my current company (and for the past 2 years) as a private contractor. As long as I can keep busy I'm good to stay there. They just pay my company and I pay me.

I set up a website for my husbands company. I am not linking to it here for privacy reasons. He does his own advertising by word of mouth and those really interested in seeing can email me for the url.

Our last foster son moved out on January 5th. It has been a nice adjustment. I come home from work and get to spend quality time running my daughters around, working on my home office stuff, visiting my mom, or just sitting and relaxing. It is SUCH A NICE CHANGE!!!

I know that we needed to do foster care. I also know that we don't need to anymore. I don't think I will go back to it. I'll just follow any spiritual prompting in that regard. Right now we don't need to.

It's been a busy January and with taxes coming up it's going to get busier for a couple of months.

Sassy may be hosting some posts here. I asked her to, so we'll see if she can think of stuff better than I can.

I'll leave you with some wedding pictures that I finally got. . . (photographer is pregnant and her little guy has a heart problem, and they traveled for the holidays a lot, so getting pics took longer than expected.)

The pics are the digital scrapbook pages I made.

And this one of our little granddaughter growing so big inside her momma!

24 weeks

News Report

My oh my have we been busy.

On the 24th our baby turned 13 years old. We celebrated by taking her and 5 of her friends (because one got sick :(  ) to Trafalga for 4 hours of fun. They rode the go carts, played arcade, golfed, and ate food. 4 hours was not long enough. I had to drag them home because I promised parents they would be home by a certain time AND because as it got later there were some scary people showing up.

 I was pretty tired after of just 4 hours of partying with 12 and 13 year olds. I think that qualifies me as an old person, cause I can't keep up with the kids ;)

I have been searching high and low for the right flowers for the wedding. Blue Lupine is very hard to find. I even searched the internets and had no luck. We found a substitute that the bride was happy with. It doesn't look as good as the Lupine would, but it is the right color of blue. I really wanted the Lupine. It is a beautiful flower.

The flowers she wanted

Images from Sharon Nagassar Designs

Here is what I did. Not exact, but as close as I can get with the selection of flowers available and my limited skills. I did take floral arranging classes, but haven't had training specific to the corsage, boutonniere, bouquet art.

I showed the bride the flowers I had completed and she was thrilled. Her excitement about getting married was evident. She told Monkey Wrench that she wanted to get married tomorrow when she saw her bouquet. I cried with relief, since I had been stressing about the flowers and maybe even thinking or saying a swear word or two.

We've got part of the food for the dinner ordered, all the dinner ware ordered and in our possession, and my dress purchased. (last wedding found me shopping the day of to get the dress. I decided to not repeat that behavior this time.)

We are 18 days from the event and I have almost everything that I am responsible for done or in the works. Gotta get my daughters dresses,  the remainder of the food ordered, and tuxes paid for. Soooo much easier than doing it all like last time. I've been able to enjoy this so much more. Many hands make light work and happier momma's.
True Story!

We Have Pictures

***WARNING!!! PICTURE OVERLOAD!!!***

This boy fell in love with a beautiful young lady,

She agreed to marry him and the result of that decision

afforded the following pictures.

The table deco-

beta fish in bowl
silver heart shaped thing with light in it
on a 12x12 mirrored tile- beveled

One long stemmed Calla in a vase
stabilized by hot pink rocks and
the lighted heart tin on the beveled 12x12 mirror
2 long stemmed calla's with a short calla stablized by hot pink rocks and the lighted heart tin

Groom & his best man (aka- brother)

the cake- done by a good friend of ours

the refreshment table

Mr & Mrs

the bouquet- done by my cousin

Mr & Mrs

Grammie, Frog, my maternal Grandma J, Oldest, My mom

Tender Moments
Tristan, our adorable ring bearer, his daddy Speedy, the newlyweds, and Tristan's mommy, Slider

The Bride and her Bridesmaids
Tree Monkey, Frog, Slider, & Sassy

Best Man Monkey Wrench

Cutting the cake

Beautiful Girl

Hubs and I with the Newlyweds

Celebrating with my son

Sassy
(clickety on the pics to check out the earrings. Sassy made them for the bride and bridesmaids)
Tree Monkey

Mr & Mrs

Me dancing with Oldest during the brides dance
in which the groom is also available to dance with ;)
Hubs with Frog

Laughing at the cake feeding.
(I scrunch my nose when I laugh. I didn't know that before.)
Our official family photo from the wedding:

Hubs dancing with Frog during the brides dance

These two are in love. Love it!

They are so adorable together. I love watching them together and
watching them take care of each other. Love is fabulous and so are they.


A new arm of our family tree is beginning to grow.
These two wonderful people are responsible for that growth
and we are the lucky family who gets to share with them
this amazing and wonderful process.
The get-a-way vehicle is ready.
They still hadn't washed it a week later ;0