Catch Up Time.....

Let's catch up.... Hello from the "getting colder land" of NC!! WOW it has been a while since my last post. Really nothing too exciting going on here.....

1. Still looking for a job! I have applied for another position with the schools, I am sure this will go no where again.

2. Kids are doing good, had a great Halloween~ Ryan didn't go this year=( He decided he was done "trick or treating". 12 and too big to have fun!!

3. Temperatures are finally going down and feeling seasonable around here. I actualy had to break down and turn the heat on this morning when we got up for school. We have had a few cold mornings but when it is below freezing then it is time.

4. The colder weather actually gets you in the mood to start Christmas shopping do you know you only have like 45days left to get it done? WHAT!!!!!! I have not even started to begin to think about Christmas and I only have how many days left~ut oh!!

5. Report cards and coming out next Tuesday, at progress report time the kids were doing great so I do not expect any bad news.

6.We have FINALLY got the doctor to refer Zachary out for allergy testing. That happens next Tues. also. We have to be there at 8:30 a.m. I was told our first visit can take up to 3 hours...This should be fun! It is about time though Zachary seems like his breathing is getting worse and worse and we have him on allergy meds and a nose spray. I feel bad for my guy=( I think it may be his adnoids but the Dr. doesn't listen to me. That is probably b/c he has the degree and I don't but I am mom and isn't that like being certified in everything?

7.Amy I promise to try and get the pics updated for you:) I am just not good at it and need Scott's assistance on that and well I know how that goes....

8. My SBI agent neighbor came over last night so her daughter (Samantha~what a name) and Madelyn could play and asked me if I saw the news about the big prostitution ring arrest in Charlotte, Yep I did and that was the case she had been working on. She has the coolest job!!!! I love talking with her when she can talk about cases she has worked on or recently finished working on. Anyways... I guess if #1 above doesn't pan out there is big money in the above field! HAHA!!!!

9. Scott went to his yearly BAB meeting~ uneventful this year compared to the years past, brought home some cute FREE new stuff coming out at BAB.

See...nothing new going on here just same old same old. Hope everyone is well and getting prepared for the Holidays~ unlike me. TATA for now......

Jury Duty Continued...

Here is my Jury Duty update...
I didn't have to show up until 11:30am the next day. So, I think I am going to be there until 5pm. So I make a million arrangements for the kids. My sister in law has Madelyn from about 10:30 to 2:20 then she was bringing her over to a neighbor of mine that was getting Zachary off the bus. Then when Ryan got home from school he was to stop at the neighbors house and get Madelyn and Zachary and bring them home with him, get homework finished, then hopefully I would be home by 5:30 and off to soccer we go:)

Well.... I get there approx. 10 minutes early, the case from the day before is still going on so we all gathered into the Jury holding room, besides the jurors from the previous day-they were in the courtroom finishing hearing the case. We sat and sat!! Then finally they called us into the court room at about noon to begin another case and pick jurors. At 12:20 the lead juror notified the bailiff who notified the court that they reached a verdict. So we were then sent to lunch until 2:00pm. We get back and the attorneys and the judge were about 20 minutes late. The judge comes in and dismisses us again to the jury holding room. We sit for about 15-20mins. in there and she(judge) comes in and tells us we are done with jury duty and free to go and the charged party decided to change his plea to guilty.

So I was mad in a way because all the calling and running to make sure my kids were somewhere and knew the plan of the day and the stress of thinking that they were all going to be at the house without either Scott or I with them, plus the fact that we were needed for really nothing that day because the bone head who knew what he did was wrong and wasted our time and the courts time by even thinking he had a case-no wonder why court cases are so back logged, because we have idiots in this society that can not face the music when they do something wrong. However, I was relieved because I would beat Ryan home.

I will say it is an interesting process and if I ever get called again I would prefer a high profile case that has got to be way more interesting then these DWI or DUI cases that people know they are wrong and just take a chance that the officer won't show up to testify. Not saying that a DWI or DUI case is not important however there were no injuries in any of these cases just stupidity on the guilty parties side. We do have 2 high profile cases coming up next week and the week after in our county I know I would not get picked to sit on a jury for the first one b/c it happened in my community and everyone knows about it, I was working at the school the children attended, and my son Zachary was in class with one of the kids and I have already formed an opinion of the lady going on trial GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY!!! I wonder if you can go in and watch the case being presented? It is almost worth finding someone to watch Madelyn in the morning to hear that up coming case.

Well that is my jury experience-I have served my civic duty and am free of jury duty for 2 years!!!

Jury Duty

For all that have ever experienced Jury Duty will know where I am coming from. I have to serve this entire week and I have never had to serve before, this is my first time. I have now been introduced to why so many people despise having to go in jury duty and try to get out of it. Now if I was on this really cool case I may think differently, however no good cases until next week and then the week after that here and I am stuck this week on DUI's (with no injury-suspicion on a substance other than alcohol), at least that was yesterday, today who knows until I get there. So here goes how the day went.

From 9am until about 9:45 am we learned about our judicial system via a video and what was asked of us druing this process yadda yadda...
Finally, jury selection begins and I did not get picked as part of the first 12. Lots of people try to say things that would get them removed, like...

Juror #9, "Even though I have not heard any evidence I have already formed an opinion about this case".
DA.. " Can I ask why or how you can already of formed an opinion when you have not heard any evidence regarding this case"?
Juror #9, " Well he is here isn't he, he did something"!
Defense, "OBJECTION"!!
Judge asked the attorneys to step up to the bench and then Juror #9 was removed

Crap now I may get picked . Her body language the entire time was as if one was completely bothered by being there to do a civic duty. Answered questions before her outburst with rolling of the eyes and short quick answers. Juror #9 was a popular spot to be replaced yesterday I think 4 different people were put there.

Phew, I escaped the entire 6 hours of questions from the DA and Defense to only have to go back today and start all over again on who knows what kind of case. I had a HUGE headache by the time I got home- the perfume was strong in that room. Today I am bringing my tylenol and not wearing a belt b/c I had to remove mine twice while I was entering the courthouse.

I wonder what is in store for all jurors today;) I hope everyone else out there has a GREAT day!

Happy Birthday ZACHARY!

This day 10 YEARS (OMG I am soooo OLD) ago @ 3:08AM Zachary entered the world :-) With a head full of black hair and so so tiny. We celebrated Zachary's bday this past Sunday with family and friends. Today, I am going to school at lunch time and bringing an ice cream cake for Zachary's class, yummy! Then tonight I guess dinner will be all about Zachary's favorites, then off to soccer practice, then back home to have a little cake just for the 5 of us-well 4 Scott is pulling a double today,uggg! I will try to add some of Zachi's bday pics this weekend and maybe even get Scott to get the summer vacation pics off his camera to add also;)

Other Than Zachi's bday-there is just the same old same old going on right now, so I will not bore you. The only exciting thing is that I made bonus this month for PartyLite:) That is an extra 7% in sales for me, we need it BADLY!! If you are interested in PartyLite-GREAT sales going on this month to start your holiday shopping or just to decorate your home check out my website www.partylite.biz/SamanthaHimes

Well, last week I left off with forgetting my kid. Ahh what a day that was. Well our weekend came and went and we had an eventful weekend as soccer really begins for us!! Saturday as we all wanted to sleep, we had to be up all dressed and out the door and at the soccer field at 9:30 am. It was a beautiful day, finally not so hot and a nice breeze blowing. We sat and watched Zachary play soccer, cheered-he did very well they won 8-0!! Zachary almost scored!!

After his game was over we were off on an hour car ride to Ryan 's game, that the coach insist that they be there 45minutes before the game, WHY??? So we can sit in the nice but hot, when the sun beams on you, weather and get sunburned!!!!!! Facility stunk for being a higher league of soccer, no concession stand for drinks, not the best bathrooms for little ones. My take on having the concession...if we provide the concession and have to put in 10 VOLUNTEER hours per season for any team that plays us or at our fields so they can have concessions then we should get the same treatment in return, other teams and fields should also give back what they receive! I understand every ball club is different and each county has different standards for what they will build and provide for their school and parks etc... but how can a soccer club that requires a large amount of money to be paid for a child to play a higher level of soccer not provide the simplest of things like...water for the players????
SO the game began and ended after 5 grueling goals by the other team to our one! UGGGG Disappointing!! Ryan was disappointed b/c every time he had a run with the ball the coach wanted him to pass it off and then it went no where but to our goalie. Ryan is playing in a position that he has NEVER played, mid defense or defense. He is a forward but the coach has not figured it out yet. We get home about 4pm and then Scott is off to work, Zachary off to a birthday party and the rest of us... trying to sleep off the sun-OUCH!
Ryan had another soccer game this afternoon-phew, I had a PartyLite show booked for today (before I knew Ryan's schedule), so I was off selling the top of the line candles and home decor today, our easy money, 2 hours and I made $100. so far from today's show! Call me when you know when you want to book your home or catalog show-shameless plug! I only have 2 days left in October and 3 in November-GREAT gifts for the holidays!!! Want to become a consultant? Ask me anything you want to know!
Back to the game... I couldn't bear to see another loss like yesterday:-( I guess I should never go to games b/c today they TIED 2-2-HEY, it wasn't a loss!! Maybe next weekend we will WIN:-)
I hear that Scott was frustrated by the end of the game, no not because of the game but because of Madelyn-welcome to my world :-) She hurt her knee before she left for the game and whined and cried about it the ENTIRE time, hahah Scott was sooo embarrassed he said. He packed up and headed to the car and told Zachary to wait for Ryan, LOL!!

Our weekend was packed with soccer and sunburns- (I glow in the dark) and tomorrow is not relaxing either back to our busy school week. Ryan has soccer tomorrow night 6-7:30 and Zachary has curriculum night 6:30-7:30. So the plan...Drop off Ryan, head back towards home b/c our school is like a mile or so from our house and Ryan is a good 20mins from home. Go to curriculum night for a brief bit then head back to get Ryan and back home for showers any left over homework and then to bed! Wouldn't you know of all nights Scott is unavailable to help because he has to work a double.

I am done blabbing off to bed I go, nighty, night!

Crazy week Just won't STOP!!!

This week is only half way over, and with my week it should be over. I do not think I am winning MOM of the YEAR again this year. If you read my "Another Crazy Week" post you knew the week was off to a rough start. Well.... it seems that CRAZY may be the norm for this school year!
Tuesday- I had to be up, showered and out the door as soon as I dropped Ryan to the front of our neighborhood. Didn't I say I required SLEEP in an earlier blog? Yes, even after 3 kids one still a toddler I require SLEEP, and there is none to be had, at least for me. OK so I needed to be in Kannapolis at RCCC ( Rowan Cabarrus Community College) to take a writing test for this job that I want so bad with our school system. Remember I had to take a Career Rediness Test (Work-Keys), they gave me the wrong date and time etc... Anyways the lady called me Monday for me to be there Tues. so here I go 45mins away. Stop and Go traffic on I-85 as always but I do not know any other way to go. I get there do a practice session and take the test. The lady FINALLY has my scores from the Work Keys test I took the week prior and I scored at the highest level :-) I have a Gold Certificate coming :-) YEAHHH FOR ME!!!! I always knew I was smart just have no idea where it has gone at times. So that went off without a hitch. I get home and call the principal with my scores as she requested I do and NOTHING back from her at all. No return call, no letter saying they already hired for that position NOTHING, so what do I do? Try and call her back and talk directly with her? She is never available for calls, she in never in her office. I do not want to bug but I do not want to sit here and think this job is still up for grabs. Then I email the Human Resource person at CCS, like she requested and the response I get form her, "Thanks, but we need the original copy, Are you mailing it"? I wanted to SCREAM. I emailed my scored as soon as I got them and if I had known you were going to request the original copy, I would of stopped on my way home and let you make a copy of my original, UGGGG. I swear someone does not want me to have this job or maybe any job! With this human resource lady,once I finish what she says I have to do I let her know it is done and then all of a sudden there is something I am lacking or they needed yesterday or whatever. She is not very open when I ask her where I stand now with being "Highly Qualified", what I need to do to be qualified. I just want to reach out and slap her. After that the rest of the day was ok I guess.
Wed. yep today, here is my mom award...I had to be up, dresses and out of the house by 7:05 this morning- I was up ontime and moving. I took Zachary with me to school b/c I had to substitute today for a 5th grade class, just the morning. I had to leave Ryan and hope that Scott woke and had him to the bus stop by 7:35. Oh he did have him there.... at 7:25, 10minutes early-the kids for the elemenatry bus had not even been picked up yet. Scott just dropped him and came back home, UGGGG I don't leave him there unless there are other kids there waiting and not until 7:35. So he had to wait like 20 minutes this morning for the bus-I felt bad b/c that was double what I have him do.
So I am back home by 11am, greeted by Madelyn, still in her pj's and hair way out of control, sitting at the table having BREAKFAST! "Daddy didn't bring me to play school"! I had to remind her again that when I go to work ALL THE TIME then she will go to playschool-uggggg!
The day goes on as always and I noticed that Zachary wasn't home at his normal time, I go to pick up the phone to see if his bus had called in with any problems and as I started to dial there he was walking home just about in our yard.
By now I have a killer headache and stomach ache out of the blue with sweats. GREAT now I am coming down with something. So I take some Tylenol and lay down as Madelyn is watching TV- good day for it, and coloring, playing cars etc...now I am falling asleep a little bit after my 4th trip to the bathroom, UGGGGG, but kind of awake hearing all that is going on noticing the time and thinking Ryan should be home soon- 10minutes later, wondering why Ryan isn't home and another 10minutes thinking he has never been this late this school year and another 10minutes, I JUMP UP and say OHHH *&^%!!! I am suppose to pick up Ryan from his Beta Club meeting--- 17 MINUTES AGO!!!!! Zachary, grab Madelyn-who had now fallen asleep on the couch. Grabbed the keys and out the door, I made it to his school in record time;-) He had since called me 4 times and Scott at work, who proceeded to call and leave me over dramatic messages, making me feel even better about my lack there of Mom role this week. I apologized up and down to Ryan, got home Ryan grabbed a snack, I called Scott, Ryan got ready for soccer practice and right back out the door to 1 & 1/2 hours of soccer practice. So dinner- Subway in the car on the way home, baths-who cares tonight, Ryan homework and study quick, everyone to bed before Daddy comes home and makes his comments about kids being up late and being cranky the next day yadda yadda, as if he could do it any better or would even try!! OK AMY- I thought you said it my week could only get better??????
Now the stress has gotten to me, just by typing this up and I have to go to bed-Night!

Another crazy week...

So last week was as crazy as the first week but we are all settling and getting use to getting up early due to school starting. Then, lastnight I couldn't sleep,uggggg, I hate those nights b/c I kept looking at the clock and it was 1am, 2am, finally I fell asleep and here comes Madelyn about 4:30-uggg I have to be up in 2 hours. Needless to say the alarm clock goes off at 6:30 am and what did I do... turned it off like I always do and then all of a sudden I hear someone else come into my room I wake and it is Zachary, I look at the clock and it is 7:15, AHHHHHHHH! We have to catch the bus in 7mins!! Good thing he got up when his alarm clock went off and is pretty self sufficient, he is ready to go. Although as I am walking down stairs Ryan is coming upstairs NO SHOWER, NOT DRESSED and his bus will be here in about 20mins, again...AHHHHH!! So I speed Zachi to the front of the development, wait on the bus and back I come to get Ryan and bring him to the front. What makes me mad about Ryan is that I said everyone up when the alarm clock goes off. Ryan's excuse-Zachary didn't wake me up-THEY ARE IN THE SAME DAMN ROOM!! So needless to say I am knocking on the bathroom door giving Ryan a countdown to departure- because we literally have to FLY to the front this a.m. for all the extra minutes Ryan is needing. Yes partially my fault I over slept, however, Ryan doens't like to do what is asked of him lately,UGGGG, which is why he didn't get up with to start with! Plus if a 9 year old can get up and get moving the 12 year old should be doing that also, right?
OK that is my Monday I am hoping for a better start Tues-Friday:-)

Tell me what you think?

OK Amy- I have put some pics on. Now tell me how you got your pictures to scroll through like a slide show???

What a week!

OK so my week started off with a job interview. I think it went well but I really have no idea. I am trying to get in with the school system here as a Teacher Assistant. Can't get an interview at our kids home school for the life of me, go figure, it would be 1- 1/2 miles from our house. So anyways I have to take a Work Keys test to make sure I am HIGHLY QUALIFIED. Oh did I tell you that TA's have to drive bus here too? So I have to be HIGHLY QUALIFIED to do that also. So anyway, the principal that I interviewed with, wanted me to call her as soon as I knew my scores. She knew I was taking the test on Thursday.
So here was my week,uggggg....

Monday afternoon, after the kids first day of school, we showed up to a 6 o'clock soccer practice for Ryan- CANCELLED!! Could anyone of called? UGGG, Back home I go after I rushed to have dinner on the table early, for us, and rushed the kids to eat, bad mom, and out the door to a CANCELLED practice.

Tues. is our only slow day of the week, so uneventful here, THANK GOODNESS! Just another school day for the boys and Madelyn wondering why no one has taken her to play school yet!(I feel so loved)

Wed.-I was still mad from Monday's practice that I sent Scott with Ryan for tonight's practice. So happy he had an early day and was home kind of on-time. That is 2-1/2 hours I didn't have to travel and sit and watch in the HOT HOT HOT weather we are STILL having!

Thursday, ok here goes Test day, so I can have a better shot at this job. Scott changed his schedule, went in really late, so he could stay with Madelyn, even though she asked again if we were bringing her to play school, uhhhhh-NOOOOOO! So off I go and I get there I am in the room waiting for the instructor to get there and start the test and I had 2 other people ask me what I was doing and who was I waiting on. I told them and they said ,"oh we have not seen her today". UGGGGGG!! Back to the front desk I go.... It was cancelled b/c the lady called in. So I wasted my gas, my time, 30 minute drive there and 30 minutes home. But that isn't the kicker....after the first lady at the desk didn't want to help the other lady came back from lunch and tried to help as much as she could, made phone calls etc... and found out that the lady scheduled me for the wrong date altogether, they only give the test on Wed. at that location-TODAY IS THURSDAY!!!! However the test was cancelled on Wed. because the lady didn't show up then either!!! So need-less-to-say I am going to a different campus on Wed to take the test. I had to call the principal and tell her beyond my control...UGGG I want and NEED this job!! No one seems to understand how crucial this test is before I can get hired, no one cared but me at that moment. So this 4 hour test took me an hour and 20mins maybe to drive back and forth and get info. After I got home Madelyn hurt her finger and I asked her if it was broke, because she was carrying on so bad, she said, "No, it didn't fall off". hahaha:-) Later on Zachary had soccer practice from 7-8 which I hate b/c 1- he is 9 and 2- we have a bed time of 8:30 on school nights so by the time we get home and to bed it is well after that. Plus HUGE storms came through-we needed the rain BAD- then lightning strikes and the coach still has the kids running- so we all had to practically pull our kids from the field and come home early:-)
That bring us to today, Friday- I tried so hard to not go anywhere and stay and clean the house but that it just sooo BORING!! Madelyn and I ran out for just a little bit then I felt better to come home and clean, kinda. Final day of the first week of school-no homework is great! Zachary had soccer practice from 7-8 and Ryan is helping coach a rec. team on top of his soccer and they practiced tonight from 8-9. I left him there brought the other 2 home to feed and drop to Scott and then back to get Ryan. That is just to late on Friday night to practice soccer, like no one has a life. Well, ok, we don't but still... Plus I have been trying to get ready for a PartyLite show that is tomorrow late afternoon-let's hope it is a BIG show-we need the $$

So now that that I plugged my business if anyone want to see the new catalog you can go to my website www.partylite.biz/SamanthaHimes they have some really awesome Holiday designs and the candle scents are wonderful again.
OK now it is after midnight and I have to get to bed, night,night:-)

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork!!!

I think I need a doctor! I have severe hand cramps from all the paperwork that is required to be filled out EVERY school year. More than half of it was the same thing over and over and over again! Your name, your kids name your name again and now a phone number please and your kids name again and what teachers does he have, I want to say, DUH, not only has my name not changed since last year the phone number is also the same and so is my kids name, oh and by the way the 4 teachers that typed and handed this paper out, you are his teachers!

The new school year paperwork drives me CRAZY! I want to scream and hide. Get this... in our middle school you return signed papers for a grade. Now tell me, what did that kid learn about science by having their parent sign a paper about my, the parents name, address and phone number? He gets a grade on that and if they are not returned next day the most you can get is a 70, WHAT IS THAT???????
PLUS, I am already being hit up to volunteer. If I want to I will but do not bug me when I only have 1/2 of a foot in the door at open house!

OK I am off to make lunches and try to get to bed in 30mins. New school times this year Elem. starts at 7:45 bus here at 7:27 Middle School starts at 8:30 bus here at 7:47. I have to be up at 6:30 and last time I checked I wasn't a morning person!

First Day of School:-)

Ahhhh, can it be? No, already? Yep- today is the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!! It is 8:24 a.m. and I already have 2 kids off to school and one still sleeping. Peace and quiet- that is rare in this house!
OK, OK , that wasn't nice of me, I should miss them right? Right?????? Give me until about 2pm I will wonder what they are doing, how their day is going and if they met any new friends etc... then 2:15p.m. will hit and Zachary will be home starting in with Madelyn and then I will ask myself, why aren't school days longer??. Then Ryan will get in about 4:20p.m. and Zachary will start with him and Ryan will already be in a bad mood because I am making him take the bus this year, so WWIII will begin between "The boys". I will probably then ask myself... Why doesn't school run OVERNIGHT!???
I LOVE this time of year!

Now let's catch up!!
We went to NY this summer for about 5 days, we camped, sort of. Do you think I would actually rough it camp? We stayed in a cabin at JellyStone Park in Mexico, N.Y. we had a great time seeing family and playing in the river there. The kids tried to fish, caught nothing but a couple minnows and a crayfish. They went tubing down the river and had a blast with that. We got together with family and friends for a cook out at our cabin site, that was great! I really love to try and see everyone when we are home but always run out of time so this was perfect, if we go up next summer we will do the samething. It was great to see everyone!!!!

Today I have another job interview~ wish me luck:-) After 12 years of doing mini~jobs, I am trying to find something full-time. Today I have an interview with an elementary school.

Ryan is entering 7th grade today. I am not sure whether he is excited or not. He knows the little girl that he has liked for years now is in his homeroom and Math:-) He is also playing FCCA Soccer this year. We are very excited and proud of him for making the team. Ryan loves to play soccer, he says that when he is older he is playing pro-soccer and knows what teams he wants to play for. FCCA league will def, strengthen his skills and he should def. make the soccer team at middle school this Spring.

Zachary is entering 4th grade today. He is excited!! He wanted to go back 2 weeks ago. He has a great teacher again this year. He is playing Fall soccer at our schools rec. league. He seems to really be liking it again this year. He wanted to play Fall Baseball but we do not have it at our rec. association right now.

Madelyn is 3 years old and is at home with me for now. She wants to "go to playschool and play with all those kids". I feel the love;-) She wants me to go to work so she can go. Talk about a kid who doesn't want me around. I waited forever for her and she wants to go and play with kids!!! She is hillarious with all that she comes up with and saysand the faces she makes, she keeps us laughing. I can not think of a quote right now but now that I have this site and as she says them I will jot them down for you to read.

Ok I really have to get going and email all of you so you know I have this up and running. Until tomorrow...maybe:-)

ok,ok,ok already!!

OK, this is especially for Amy, who keeps telling me I should do this. I even just read a note on Paityn's Place saying I should try this. So here goes.... Give me today to get this going...