If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.

Okay, now that EVERYONE is familiar with my husband and his antics - I will move on. *But before I move on, I must admit that to this date he does not see anything wrong with what transpired last Friday night. I did see the Mayor today, during a meeting with the business owners and he was pleasant. No harm done - yet. I keep the video stream on my desk-top - it keeps me smiling, when my day gets a bit tough. Yesterday, Lance had to pay an electrician / heating & cooling guy to replace our thermostat. The thermostat would be fine, had he not flung it across the room a week earlier. One of his pet-peeves is listening to the heater / air conditioner kick on. He stops what he is doing to listen to them kick on and ensure that 'everything sounds right'. I look at him sideways 'what the hell does alright sound like - exactly?' As usual he ignores me....well last week the heater did not kick on. Lance KNEW it was the thermostat, he messed with that damn thing for two

Last Friday night my work had an 'interactive dinner', this was a meet the new people dinner. We have a new Mayor and other elected officials - basically my boss. I had struggled all week with whether or not to bring Lance with me...seriously. As the story continues you will know why!! Bottom line, I should have left him at home. The happy hour started at 6pm, we did not arrive until 6:30. We are the youngest people in the room by at least 15 to 20 years. It was a casual dinner, and there are people in coats & ties. Damn! I wore bluejeans, heels and a nice top. Lance wore green khakis, and a polo - all in all we were fine. I really expected some of the people to dress down a bit more. I will know better next time. So we mingled a bit and then sat down at dinner. I sat Lance next to the Park & Rec director - this was decided before we even arrived. I figured Lance would be safe there. There were approx. 40 people at this dinner and the Mayor's wife sits on the other

WPA is the Webkinz Protection Agency (for those of you that did not know!). Last night Rylan informs us that he cannot locate his library book, and we will be charged $16.00 unless it is returned. Lance informs Rylan that he must return one of his Webkins in order to pay for it, since he was the one that mis-placed it. Rylan without even blinking an eye responds, ' I already, took the tag off of it; and the store won't take it back.' Rylan glances around the table, rather proud of himself. Lance responds 'we will just take it to the WPA'. I shoot a look at Lance, and Rylan whips his head around 'the what? What is the WPA?' Lance very calmly ' the Webkinz Protection Agency. This is the place where people can drop off their Webkins, when the store won't take them back. They are then placed up for adoption.' *By now Lance looks very pleased with himself. And I smile back at him, very impressed. Rylan responds " I have never heard or seen such a

So this past weekend we made our way down to the Soulard Market. My sister met us with her 4 kids as well. From the top - Grant, the blonde hair little boy...who at 2 yrs old is not so little. He is shy at times, but don't be fooled - he is rowdy, rough and tumble. The other day he looked at me and said ' I wike u.' My heart melted, we are making strides. August, who is 3 right now, but will be 4 in May. She is my sisters challenging personality. She is as chatty and as stubborn as they come. She also seems to be the most independent of all of the kids. Paige (Adrienne), the oldest of the four children. She a little mamma in the making. Although she did beg her mother not to have any more children after they had August -ha! She is sassy at almost 9 yrs old. She is witty, smart and at times shy until she feels comfortable. She is the most comfortable around her siblings and cousins. She is NOT boy crazy, but loves Hannah Montana - can you tell. We love the hat. Payton (Alexa

Excuse me while I blow snot everywhere, sound like I have a frog in my throat, my head is pounding, my eyes are watering and I feel like crap. I am not sure which makes me feel worse, the allergies that have creeped up on me since my late 20's or the medicine that I need to take. The medicine makes me 'twitchy', it puts me in overdrive and on edge. On the other hand the pressure in my head, makes me unable to function. Damn the spring time. I was literally out back yesterday sweeping the deck, it was a great spring day, Lance as mowing the lawn, the kids were playing and then suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks. It being the pressure, the eyes watering, the agony in my head. I laid down on the porch yesterday and wanted to die. Pyper walked by pushed me a bit and says 'mommy get up, mommy up.' I rolled over and looked at her with weary eyes...'not now honey, I sick.' Rylan slept on the couch for 4 hours yesterday, the weather change puts him in a

So I spent last night at my sisters home, again. I went over after I got home from work. I picked up Pyper, kissed my husband and son - and went to my sisters. She will tell you she is 'fine', she will tell you she does not need anything. But. I am her sister and I know better. I am the one person who can walk in the room and not have to say a word, yet we have said everything. All she needed was for me to be around, and for me to give her a hug. She is ' fine ' for all intensive purposes. She has to be, her life still has to go on, she still has 4 young kids who need her. But she is not *fine*, she is just going thru the motions, and half ass at that. She did not shower for two days. Mind you, she showers AND shaves everyday. It will be a long road for her and her husband, they both lost someone near and dear to them. I won't insult her with words of comfort or tell her everything will be okay. At this point, I don't know that it will. Regardless, I

I have written several times about my sister and her 'out-of-control' state. Well, I am saddened to say that it has caught up with her.....or better yet her friend. In an instant her life was turned up side down. As usual her and her friend Angie went out this weekend. They went out Friday and Saturday night and threw caution to the wind, and acted like fools. Drinking, driving and acting as if they were untouchable. All the while their husbands were hanging out together watching their children. Apparently, their husbands were at home drinking as well. Watching 5 kids and drinking. Misty (my sister) was passed out by the time she made it home, so she went straight to bed - while her husband was apparently outside puking. Angie found her husband asleep (passed-out) and her two year old daughter up and around. Angie was enraged, and drove her and the daughter home. Told her husband "Steve (changed name to protect identity)' that she had, had enough and that his bags woul

Lance is the youngest of 6 children, his next sibling is 11 years older than him - his oldest sibling is 25 years older than him. He is the youngest by far, his childhood memories are completely different than those of his siblings. They grew up with young struggling parents, where as he was born when his mother was 40. By the time he entered their live they had outgrown some of the everyday struggles, and were able to shower him with gifts, love and affection. His siblings do not have such happy memories. His siblings have enjoyed watching Lance grow up, he is treated more like one of their children than their brother. They were so happy when he graduated high school, got his first real job and then once he got married. All of his sisters had to come and visit us once Lance 'got his first home'. I found this strange, our home is not big and/or special, it is a home within our means and it is kid friendly. But his sisters arrived and they just 'gushed' about it. My sibl

So this weekend Lance and I worked at the Arnold Eagles Lodge in honor of Wilson C. Clay - a 4 yr old kid that has recently been diagnosed with Leukemia. The benefit raised an amazing $26,000 - wow! It started out really small, then before we knew it the donations starting flowing in and it became HUGE. Well, huge in terms of anything I could have put together. They had alot of things donated such as, 4-wheelers, cruises (2), cardinals tickets, autograph baseballs, footballs, booze, Avon, Mary Kay, gift cards from a lot of local rest., and several people made personal donations. I have not personally met Wilson, nor had I met his parents before that night. But his Aunt keeps my kids (she is our sitter), and we came out to support her and her family. Lance and I sat there in amazement at the 'good' in people. We all have alot going on, we all have alot of issues, and alot of strain in our daily lives. And somehow among it all 'we' found a way to rally around this f

I am not sure where to start......um. As you know I called and spoke with the principal yesterday, and 'we' were to speak with Rylan once I got home from work. I get home and Rylan is in the shower. I peek in and ask him how his day was... He is sniffling and manages to say 'fine'. I leave it at that. He gets out, makes his way into the living room - where I am playing with Pyper and his dad is sitting the chair. I look at him and ask ' anything you want to tell us, about today?' That was all it took he started sobbing, crying and was barely coherent 'I was sent to the principals office today mom.' Me ' Yes, I know I spoke with the principal today.' He looks stunned ' mom, I didn't mean to hurt Trevor...we play all the time. And now he won't be my friend.' Me 'Did you hit him?' Rylan ' yes, we were trading punches.' Me ' trading punches, do you do that alot?' Rylan ' yeah all the time'. Me '

I have lunch with Lance today, he is off work and taking care of Pyper . No one is sick, the sitter needed off, she is holding a benefit this weekend and has a few lose ends to wrap up. No big deal. During lunch today I asked Lance how Pyper was when they dropped Rylan off at school. He said as normal ' she cried, because she wanted to go too'. The he looks really serious. 'Michelle, the principal pulled me aside and said she needed to speak with us about Rylan '. I look at Lance sidways ....I am thinking, ' rylan , not rylan ...this is strange.' Lance continues' apparently another parent called the school to complain about Rylan . Rylan is apparently playing too rough with another kid on the bus. He is apparently, hitting this kid in the balls /cods (that is what we call them) and twisting this kids arm.' I am shocked, and speechless...'what?' Is about all I can manage. I am imagining myself being the parent of a child that comes home a

Rylan turned 7 on Sunday. He got his spring mo-hawk on Saturday - per the promise that I made over Christmas. He had a great time at BounceU (in South County). We had kids, pizza, soda and cake. You can see Pyper enjoying the pizza, she too had a great time. She luvs a party. *Here is a photo of My mother (red coat) my sister (eyes closed), Grant my sisters youngest son. In the back round is my cousin Joey, Josh, and Lance with Pyper. Here is a photo the KIDS that came to help us celeberate. Thank you for making the day really special for Rylan. *Note: this is my 96th post (who knew I had so much to say?). As an update, I am still taking my medicine and getting a grip on it all. Thank you for the out-pour of concern. Reality sucks at times, but we are taking it in stride. Congrats to my cousin Joey - he just found out he is having baby #2. Sending warm thoughts and prayers your way.