happy birthday Jim

Today is the last day of the month and every day except one I did an entry! I am now in the habit so count on me to be around more...I'll still aim for everyday...yeah right the holidays are upon us.

Today my stepson is 30. My husband so far loves his job. I still love mine. As far as Christmas is concerned I am pouting because it's cold already and I am not somewhere warm. I'll probably work. I have no shopping done, but I do have some ideas, good ones even for the little kids, that's a start. I now have a bigger family to buy for, hence the working more part...

That's ok I don't mind...

last day of thanksgiving

Today is the unofficial last day of Thanksgiving food frenzy. Tim and Kristen came over and we cooked a turkey breast, actually my husband cooked I ate and visited.

My step son (who I raised since he was 13 and is now 28) & his wife, who never ever have had a holiday meal here, did their duty and stopped by for about an hour...I try and to not be bitter, because life has a way of balancing out.

After all some day they may have kids and you all know how that goes...

Otherwise, I had very nice Thanksgiving...now on to Christmas...:::sigh::

spent the day with my guys

I spent the day with my guys. A gorgeous 55 degrees and clear skies called for a walk to the park. We had the whole place to ourselves. On the way home Dayton picked a flower and offered it to me, a lady passing by said, "oh mom isn't that sweet?" I said, "oh yeah, but I am grandma"...

Then a movie before bed...

Grandma Heaven...

working on black friday...

I worked today... for four hours and it was a only a freshman basketball team to a nearby school.

On the way home the boys were talking about how an older boy they knew who was mouthing off to a coach and wouldn't shut up. He ended up getting in a bunch of trouble and suspended from some games...problem is he was being scouted by the colleges that was most likely to scholarship him for basketball. A shame probably hundreds of thousands of dollars of school down the drain because of his BIG mouth.

Then they told stories of kids that they knew who were 16 years old and still in 6th grade...of course I couldn't shut up and told them that I hope they had good grades they all piped up and said "oh yeah our parents make us get good grades."

Guess there hope yet for all of futures...after all this is the generation that will be supplying me with a good nursing home...:)

happy thanksgiving!

May you be blessed with a full tummy, a full house and a full heart!

God's blessing to you all!

thoughts and thank you!

Sorry, my thoughts are random today...

Did anybody here save their old AOL journals? I saved both of mine, the old bus journal and my original. Yesterday I was talking to a lady that I've known since I started driving a school bus, actually she tested me to get my CDL and gave me the ability to drive a big bus. She is one of the many who like to talk to me...I know plenty of people who when alone in a school bus treat me like a priest in a confessional...one such girl told me on Tuesday all about her abusive ex boyfriend & how she got away from him...but shhhhhhh Rose don't tell anyone, ok?, oh and ignore the camera on the bus. :)

Any who, this lady is nearing retirement age and she has some issues that never seem to go away or get better, she talks about the same stuff she talked about 7 years ago...in other words nothing changes, same day same progress and she's literally killing herself from this...this is when I like to look at my own life...pull out the old journals and look or go to my closet and gather the really old hand written notebooks filled with words of the me spinning my wheels in my life ... but was I?

Here I am looking back at my life realizing that my circumstances are basically the same...kids, ex's, grand kids, little parental support, job loss, job gain, bill juggling, crazy life...all the same, but ME, Rose is not,

Rose is basically staying calm, loving life, picking up the pieces, moving forward, taking care of business, looking at the bright side, listening, aiding and touching every person I come in contact each and everyday...

and at the end of the day realizing that I am the one who will change ... even if this crazy world does not!

AND I am the one who is blessed beyond words as I am the one who is touched, aided, loved, listened to and the Luckiest GIRL on this EARTH!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT

the witch is back

I got to drive the route today that the little darlings insisted that I was a witch. Today they loved me, I hear that they finally met their match in the form of a little (older lady) fireball who doesn't get intimated when they threaten to have their mom beat her up.

Kids are funny...

I drove by my son's future home and the sign outside said SOLD...I know they still have to close but whoooo hoooo, Dakota & I have a dog to walk...mine is too old and only makes it down the street and back. Their closing date is December 29.

I have a sports trip tomorrow night and one Friday, but for all practically purposes I am OFF for 5 whole days.

Time to watch Hercules with CODY!

HAPPY COOKING!!!

tator and the mint m&m's

This picture is Tator, she is my son and new wife's dog. She is a rescue dog, they live in a very small apartment...they both work, Tator usually is in her crate during the day as she is still a little naughty if allowed freedom ... Tator escaped Sunday and ate a whole bag of m & m's.

Thankfully the doggy doctor made Tator feel all better as the throwing up she did all over the apartment didn't do the trick...

Hence the need for my son and wife to move into their house ASAP!!!!

end of the day

I did enjoy my weekend and the lovely weather. I should of took the kids to the park, but as they say in therapy groups don't should on yourself, so I won't. Mark and I did all the shoppng for Thanksgiving today, so that's done.

I did spend some time with the boys alone last night as they talked their mom into coming over for the night and their dad was at some pay per view fight with my husband at some private bar.

I also trained another girl to take care of Mrs H. She's still alive and kicking, but my weekends have been tied up working for her for 2 years...it's time to let a younger girl have the opportunity. She's a single mom and well aquainted with Mrs H as her mom works for her also. I had to do some smooth talking to make it happen as Mrs H hates change...next year Mrs H will be 97! Guess she's earned that right.

Only a 2 day week for school. Monday and Tuesday are 5 hour days, but as a stand by driver I work more doing shuttles and route coverage. That's ok I love the adventure.

I can't believe it's nearly Thanksgiving already!!!

gorgeous day

A GORGEOUS DAY!!

GOING OUTSIDE TO ENJOY IT!!

A no driving weekend!

I know I messed up and missed yesterday but I'll do a post everyday for the rest of the month. I am getting used to blogging again anyway.

This is a NO driving weekend as my trip for tomorrow got canceled. Ya!

Went to one of those jewelry parties tonight and now it's time to chill out!

oh nuts!

I forgot to post last night...had a trip and lots of stuff going on when I got home!

But I did have cheesecake!

humble pie

humble hubby hurriedly hooted ... his honey has heard his history...

not bad for a quick rhyme

Seriously though hubby got his new job today...had yet another pre-employment physical (3rd this year) and was actually humbled my the doctor that told him to lay off the salt and get some exercise...he's in good shape but needs to take better care of himself. He's over his issue with me, at least for now...whatever...I am what I am...and he loves me just the same.

Tim is one step closer to getting his house, building inspection went fine...

I don't listen...

I just got told I never listen...guess you should thought of that 15 years ago when you married me!

monday

It was a Monday in all it's glory...seriously borrrrrrrrrr---ing. As a stand by driver with no routes to cover or trips I had to ride with 2 different drivers and just do that, ride...BORING!

Oh well got to see the little red head baby before she left for Michigan with my sister in law and had some great homemade corn beef with all the fixings dinner made by my husband who at this moment is unemployed again...he does have a prospect and will find out Wednesday...fortunately truck driving jobs with experience are easier to find than most....we are blessed.


In the meantime enjoy the boys shooting guns...not real of course!

more babies!

My husband's sister came into town from Michigan for the weekend. She brought her daughter and her two children. My niece's little girl is so cute! Her personality matches this chubby little face!

I loved playing with this little cutie pie!

And so did Dakota...



But only for a little while...

Tim & Kristen's new house

Hopefully this cute home will be Tim and Kristen's before the end of the year...only have to pass the home inspection...best part it's only 6 blocks from my own house!!!

Now my son is freaking out because they have to sublet their apartment...it'll all work out!

camera's everywhere...

whoooo hooo Grandma Roses is rockin' out!!!

stuff

The guys got my new stove in, my old when was a monster-size tappen that was an old relic.

I am a saver of stuff, papers, old stuff, hand-me-down stuff, stuff from my mom, stuff from my 1st house, stuff from kids, pictures...the drawers and closets usually got emptied out and tossed at least once a year during my spring cleaning. With 2 more people moving in plus 3 little boys my semi-hoarding mentality had to end. The guys even helped me with that too. My stepson tends to be a doer, my husband a doer if somebody pushes him...they cleaned out a closet and all the cabinets in the kitchen.

My husband discovered an old mix master that my mother had given me...things get away from a person when they are in charge of a family of 8 kids...it's nice to have some help...finally...

....I'll have my old house fixed up in no time.

watching kids movies

Every single day my grand kids try to talk their way into sleeping with me. My husband used to work overnights so when they were here it was fine, he got a new job& he took is spot back.

Now they settle for movies in grandma's bed. Tonight we watched UP...very cute.

A while ago we watched the old Disney classic Robin Hood that Liz had and they loved that movie. I need to search for some of the old Disney ..just as good as the new computer aided ones.

Ruff

Most kids have their lovelies or blankets, stuffed animals and the like. My grandkids are no different. Dayton his blankie that I made when he was a baby, full of holes but must be there at bed time.

Dakota has his doggy & cheetah bear. Doggy used to be called Ruff, but now he is doggy. Imagine my horror on Friday after coming home from getting my nails done to see doggy laying on my couch. Dakota long since left to go back to his mom's house.

Soon, my son told me that he left doggy here so I could "down load" him. Smiling I realized the kid pays attention, he knows that the computer is place for me as his grandma who LOVES to post important pictures...of well loved items...so here is Doggy Ruff...Dakota's bestest friend...

here I go again...

Can you feel my excitement??!! My header pic is me and my brothers Ken and Chris. My other brother was not invited to the wedding as he has some issues that I did NOT want to deal with on my son's day. I was not going to babysit my own brother on my son's day...no way. His children both attended and agreed with me. I love the header pic too, taken by my dear husband who with old man glasses perched on his nose took pictures for me. I danced, pranced and had a blast!

The above picture is of the group including parents, step-parents and parents of the children in bridal party. The little girl sang the new Taylor Swift son at the reception and made my stepson Jim cry.

Funny how gatherings such as these bring out the LOVE! My son is a lucky guy...he did not have as many family members attend as his bride, she had cousins o' plenty, he had many high school friends as well as frat guys from Purdue all with spouses...and he had us, the ones that love them best! <3

more wedding stuff

I love this medium of the facebook and the internet! Already pictures of the wedding are being posted! The photographer is a friend of my new daughter in law (I love that!) and she has already posted a sample of the wedding album...

Here's a peek!



The church is located at a muesum...so lovely...and breathtaking...

Wedding weekend was AWESOME!

A wonderful wedding weekend...plenty of family, friends, food and fun! Thank you for all the kind words!

today's the day!

WEDDING DAY!! SUNNY 70's, tropical breezes from the south (very un-November weather for Northern Illinois, a happy couple .... and God's blessing... Here we go....

girl day...

Liz & I spent the day at the nail salon. A pedicure and nails (fake ones), and lots of girl talk, next came dress rehearsal and a feast to top off the evening. Now I am off to bed.

Wedding bells tomorrow!

Tim

My son Tim and I February of 1982...seems so long ago, and another lifetime. Do I still know this girl? She was so young and had so many ideas! I think I am basically the same just older, wiser and take less crap than I used to!

This kid is the same...wonderful!

t minus 3 days

Three days until Tim and Kristen's wedding...

kids say the darnest things...

I forget just how literal kids can be...for instance...this evening Jacob and Dakota (who now occupy Liz's old room) wanted me to watch a movie with them before they fell asleep. I told them that when they got settled we could do just that. Soon I hear Jacob say to Jeremy, "dad what do I have to do to get settled?". funny...

Today I did my last school of evacuation drills. I did nearly every one of the 19 schools over the course of a month. I saw many of my old faces...one today made me very happy. This boy is now in kindergartner, but when I drove him he was a preschool foster child who was very very hard to deal with. He used to spit at me, curse my out, throw his shoes at me...name it he did it. Now he is a sweet faced smiling pretty darn close to being appropriately behaved kid. Miracles happen and this kid is one...

flowers and working boys...

My life is moving onward...this flower for instance is a mum which I bought 6...lovingly planted them or put them in pots...when the concrete was poured for my sidewalk my mums were covered in flakes of concrete...I noticed, the men did not...when I noticed I told my husband proudly..."you are sooooooo lucky that I am not a girly girl... "?"...on my husband's face...I am not a girly girl but I do love my girl things...but am not afraid to get dirty. My mums are fine, and I have a new sidewalk. Behind the plant is the new paint on my house. The 19 days of rain this month have slowed the paint job. It'll it get done in time, the men do these things in their own good time...




My garage is now home to a "hot rod in the process", this keeps the oldest son busy, along with little Jake...he is Jeremy's little clone, always loving to help.



We have all fallen into a nice route, my family is becoming one big happy family once again. The boys spending the majority of their time here.

The other day while holding Dayton who was very tired from trick or treating he asked me if I could just tell Mrs H to wait a couple of hours for me to come over to work. He needed his grandma time. Precious moments that I gladly give this child.

This chapter of my life I am thoroughly enjoying...next up the wedding...

a post a day for a month

I am participating in a post for a day in November through NaBloPoMo...I did this last year and I figure it will jump start my lazy hiney into posting regularly. I have let life rush by me again ... I have allowed my circumstance to dictate my life. My circumstances have mostly been very good, but they are coming quickly...my youngest moving out, my son's upcoming marriage, being the grandma to my three grandsons (nearly every day), my stepsons moving in and cramming 5 peoples worth of stuff into my home, challenges that while are wonderful they are change. Change is change and it's always with some stress. The men folk do not understand why I cling to my things or why I get upset at their messes or my husband ignoring me for his sons. All these are feels of mine that do not necessarily require any sort of action on any one's parts, just understanding is all I crave. Besides all this I work 2 jobs plus...

So this is why I have always come here to my journal to have my own thoughts, thoughts that no one in this family will ever read...they are mine and that's that!