TAKING A BREAK

I have really been thinking long and very hard about this over the past week and I have come to the conclusion that I need to take a break from blogging.

It will probably be a short one but a much needed one. Lately things have just been way to crazy in my life.

First I have a child that always seems to be sick. This is both mentally and emotionally exhausting and I have no clue how to fix it.

Second Luke goes back to school in almost two weeks. We really need to start getting ready for the new school year and organized for all that goes along with school. The amount of work increased a great deal from Kindergarten to First grade and I am expecting another increase as we head into second grade.

Third, my garden is in full crazy mode. I never do learn! I have pulled probably 200 cucumbers from the garden already and they just keep coming. Giving them away right and left, made 12 jars of pickles and lots of cucumber salad but still have way to many. My tomato's are probably in the surplus of 200, they are just all green and will probably all turn red at the same time. I really don't want any of this to go to waist so I will be canning and doing what I can to get the most out of my crazy garden.

Fourth, soccer season is starting. I am really hoping that burning up some of Luke's energy will help with his mood. I sometimes think kids really need to be active and not get board or they start to struggle. These days I think Luke just needs more to do. So bring on the soccer.

Finally, my house. It seems the only way I can get my husband working on it is if I start something and he then jumps in to help because he doesn't like how I do things. This summer was supposed to be the year, the rotten old well was to be removed from the front yard, the rotten old porch ripped off the front, a new door installed in a new location, new porch railing, and siding was to start. Yet, we have not done any of these things. I think it is because of the heat that we have not done a lot of it but I am on a mission and if I have to get out their and rip that old porch off myself, so be it.

Since, I have all of these things on my plate right now I have decided a break is needed. I might struggle with this since often times I blog on my lunch hour at work (doing that now). Who knows my lunch time might bring me around to do some reading but I really am going to try and stop blogging for the next month or so. Just until I feel like my life finds a good place again and I feel like lots more things are getting done these days. So for now, I will really miss all of you but will let you know the minute I am back in full swing.


As a side note about Luke, thank you all for your thoughts on him. I am really trying with him and it is a challenge these days. Home life has not changed, the only real change we had was the new sitter for the summer. He did learn some things from older kids this summer that I did not like but he is a good kid and does know the difference between what is write and wrong. Soccer starts this week, we only have two more weeks at the sitters and school starts so I am really hoping when we get back to a busier routine things will get better. Lets hope anyway!!!

Growing Up

Can someone tell me how it happens? Why must they grow up?

These days I am missing my sweet little boy.
This little boy who use to be so happy and full of love.

He was such a mommy's boy!
He wanted to do everything with mommy & always there helping out.

Excited about the next adventure that life would bring, the next fun thing.

Always so happy and on the go.....

Where did he go????

It seems these days that happy little boy who I miss dearly has grown up.
Don't misunderstand, he is still here, he is still loved very much, he has just changed, he has changed in a very big way.

While he is only 7, it seems he has this built up anger and it all started this summer. Not real sure where it has all come from but he has closed himself off. He has a bad attitude most of the time, he is very mean to me more than anyone.

We are really struggling these day to get along. Every night I hug him and tell him how much I love him but the rest of the time we are doing nothing but butting heads. I can't seem to break down the attitude or get past the aggression that he has.

Is this just a phase that he is going through? Part of the aging process? Are these learned things from the world around him? Whatever it is, it is very new to me and very hard for me to accept. I want that happy, loving and sweet little boy back. I miss him so much!!!!

SOMETHING OLD HAS NEW LIFE AGAIN

A long, long time ago my sweet little Luke had a huge love for Thomas the Train. We had lots of different types of Thomas trains including these motorized ones.

(Luke age 3)

Living in a small house requires us to keep life simple and not hold onto to many things. We had lots of these trains and I just did not have the heart to get rid of such a wonderful collection of trains. So I boxed them up into two large totes and they made their way to the garage a few years ago.
Packed up long before a second child, long before any thought of another boy finding joy in such a fun set of trains.
Yesterday, we pulled those totes from the garage shelves and the playing began.
(Also, note the Bob the Builder computer that had been tucked away also.)
Now, little brother has a whole lot of new toys to play with. The best part, big brother still wants to play and he is now big enough that he can build the tracks and mom doesn't have to.
Now, if I can just figure out how to get them to play nice together. Oh yes after a few hours of play and a little one who skipped his nap, the playing wasn't so nice anymore. Even still with the disagreements it was so wonderful to pull out a little bit of the past and share it with the present.

Have you passed down anything special from one child to the next?

Gardening

Once again this year I decided to grow a garden. I find great peace hanging out, tending to the plants, pulling weeds and just spending time in my garden.

First up in the producing department this year, cucumbers. I always tend to go over board in my planting, last weekend I pulled 22 cucumbers (large ones) out of the garden. This did not include the small ones that are not ready to come out yet.

Last year zucchini was the wild vegi, I really scaled back on it this year because I am still sick of it from last year. I have pulled a few zucchini out now as well.

Tomato's also going crazy however they are still green. We love tomato's around here so really looking forward to them turning red.

Finally, I pulled a large bag of green beans from the garden this past weekend. I really want to can these but have never canned before. I am seeking advice or help. Have you canned? Canned green beans? Any tips or suggestions you can throw my way would be a huge help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a side note, hanging out today at home with my little guy. He picked up the cold that his brother had last week. However Thomas little chest was heaving up and down very hard yesterday. Took him to the doctor and after a couple x-rays and a doctors exam, he has pneumonia. He has fluid on both lungs, the doctor gave him a three day antibiotic and told me if he has breathing trouble I am to take him directly to the hospital. I don't handle this type of pressure well so I am watching him closely and trying not to over react and rush him to the hospital for every little thing. I really don't do these things well.

Since writing this post earlier today, we had to go back to the doctor, not the hospital just the doctor. Thomas developed welts all over his body, he had an allergic reaction to the medicine the doctor put him on. We now have new medicine that we have to take for 10 days, not three (bummer). I am a bit worried as the new medicine is the same that he was on last time he developed all those mouth sores. I will be watching that closely now also. You all don't care if I let out a big sigh do you?????

Gone Fishing

We have a big fishing trip planned for the near future.
We will be going out on grandpa's boat fishing, tubing, and swimming.

Someone can not wait!