It was bound to happen...

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:57:12 -0500

So I was sitting in my living room, at my computer, working....trying to work, I should say, because I am so effin' tired I can barely keep my eyes open....

The girls are in the dining room, doing their homework....

All of a sudden I hear my sweet, beautiful, innocent, precious 8 year old daughter say.."Balls, vagina, sex...."
In that order. Shit you not. Clear as day, she says all three words.
My jaw drops and let me tell you, I was WIDE AWAKE at that point...

My brother calls me, right then..impeccable timing, I might add.
I go outside and talk to him for five minutes and think of how I'm going to handle this situation with Jaime.....

We have never had a sex talk with her, at all. So I know one is coming.....great! Not exactly how I planned on spending any portion of my day, thank you very much.

So I hang up with Marky and come back inside. I sit down at the table and ask Jaime about what she said. She, of course, denies she said them. That right there, I don't like. I don't want her to think she' s in trouble or that she said something "bad". I really think the more you shroud something in mystery or the more you "forbid" something, the more they want to do it and I really believe it's part of what leads to sexual rebellion. So for me and my kids, I always, always want them to know they can talk to me and their dad and sex will never be a taboo topic.

So I ask her if she knows what the words she said means....
She knew what vagina meant. She did not know what balls meant. I explained it and told her the actual name and told her that balls is not an appropriate word for a little kid, used in that context. If she had to talk about that body part, for whatever reason, she needs to use the proper word. Then I ask her what she thought sex meant. I was surprisingly calm and at ease. I honestly thought I would squirm in my seat the day this "talk" came. But I was fine. yay me! LOL

So I ask her to explain to me what she thinks sex means. She kind of turned away, shy and nervous and I told her that no one is in trouble, I just need to know what she knows, to make sure it's correct. So she looks at me, completely relaxed now, and says....

"Sex is when a boyfriend and girlfriend get naked and lay down together and the boy wiggles the girls boobs and the girl squeezes the boys penis."

I didn't laugh. I smiled a little...but I managed to not laugh. I said it was a little more than that, but she's on the right track. She then says....

"I also heard that a husband and wife, for their wedding, to show each other they love each other. They do it the day after the wedding cause, you know, they are too busy on their wedding day."

THAT is when I had to excuse myself and leave the room because I was DYING laughing.....the idea that the only reason why a husband and wife do not consummate the marriage at their wedding is because they are just "too busy" with other wedding stuff, cracked me up.

How freakin' cute is that?

The whole thing just made me smile.

Gabby was here, so I didn't want to go too in depth with the "sex" talk, as I feel kids should hear that from their parents, but later Jaime and I will sit down and I will explain to her why husband and wives have sex, to make babies.

So weird.....see...I'm good with her believe there is a love fairy that just flies around sprinkling glittery baby dust and that's how babies are made....but NOOOOO.....she's got to go and grow up on me so I have to explain to her the REAL way things are done.

I'm way too tired for this today.....LOL

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Birthday

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:38:06 -0500

My birthday was fun! Zak took most of the day off, the kids were excited it was my birthday and my mommy spoiled me rotten....every other minute she would say "Hey daughter...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" or I'd say something and she'd go.."AND it's your birthday!!!". I LOVED. IT. Do you know how many years I couldn't wait for that? To be able to be around my mom, all day, on my birthday??? I can't even count how many birthdays I didn't get to see her on when I was living in Alaska...it was so nice to have her there all day and being just as excited as I was, for my birthday!!!

I loved the fact that on Facebook, I got birthday wishes from all eras of my life. Almost every single era was represented and boy, THAT is a really cool thing! My childhood in Boston, my teen years in Fitchburg, my Alaska life and even people I've met since we've moved back! Facebook is fast becoming the most amazing invention, ever.

I loved all the phone calls and emails.....I LOVE the love, baby....I really do. :-) It makes my heart happy!!!

Niki, Rick and Gabby came over for cake (that Zak and the kids baked!!) and ice cream to give me a card and gift. Which was a VERY cool coffee mug. My mom gave me her gift....a nice candle and decorative plate and rocks (that I got to pick out!!!) some mini lighters cause she HAD to surprise me with SOMETHING. lol. And Zak got me some make up that I've been wanting to try...and some hair dye because I CANNOT handle gray hairs. lol. Ceci gave me $50 and I will use that to go out with on Saturday night. Me and my friends are going to the Singapore. It's a Chinese restaurant with a bar. It's an older crowd and they have a live band. It's fun. Last year we went and had a blast!!! Last year it was me, Zak, Niki, Rick, Shelly, Scott, Steve. James came for a little bit, Dave and Wanda even showed up !!!!! This year I think the crowd is going to be smaller, I don't think Dave and Wanda will come this year (I think I harassed them into coming last year, don't know if I can pull that off twice! LOL ) Niki is going down to the Cape to Bililejo's, so she won't be there. Rick, I'm sure, doesn't really want to go unless Niki goes...totally understandable....so I think it's gonna be a small thing this year, but just as fun! The more the merrier but that doesn't mean I won't be merry without ya! LMAO!!! I am SO EXCITED!!!!! Of course I wish everyone I loved or even liked, would come and they will be missed....but just give me a few drinks, my husband, Shelly, good music and a dance floor and I'm a happy girl!!! :-)

I would post pictures, but we didn't take any....oops. lol. Saturday maybe we'll get some. :-)

All in all it was a really nice birthday! :-)

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Tomorrow is not a date....

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:28:44 -0500

Ben is all excited because THREE THINGS are happening tomorrow...

A website they go to Poptropica...has some new kind of room opening or something. The kids are excited.
They go back to school !
It's my birthday!!

So Ben and I are having a conversation about this....he clearly says it's all happening tomorrow. I clearly say the same thing....tomorrow. Ben promptly goes to the computer and freaks out because the new thing on Poptropica is not happening and it was suppose to happen TOMORROW!!! Now, I'm annoyed. Ben is impossible to get through to sometimes. Once he's got something in his head...that is it. Stubborn, stubborn, STUBBORN and honest to God, I really think this is gong to be an issue as he gets older. He just digs his heels in the ground and just refuses to listen.....annoying as all hell, let me tell you. So I'm gearing up for this stupid, dumb, ridiculous fight that I can tell I'm about to have with Ben.

I explain....in a completely frustrated tone..."Ben you just said this was all tomorrow. You KNOW it's happening tomorrow!!" Ben turns around, eyes red, tears overflowing, and looks at me in all his 6 year old innocence and says, through his sobs....

"But Mommy, today IS tomorrow!!!!!" and starts to cry even harder.

In that split second, I realize the problem.....

Ben doesn't know what tomorrow means.
He thinks "tomorrow" is a specific day!
I felt so bad!!! This poor kid...no wonder he's freaking out!

So I take him to the couch and ask him if he knows what tomorrow means. And of course, because even though he's only 6, we can't forget he is, after all, a male..he says "Yes!!!" all testy. Like how dare I insult his intelligence....

So I say I want to make sure you do know exactly what it means. So I get one of his little charts he gets at school off the fridge and show him on if you are on this day (and I point at the day) the next day (I point at the next day...) is tomorrow. Tomorrow is always the next day. And I try to explain it to him. I think he might have got it. We'll see.

Explaining the concept of tomorrow is tough!! LOL
Way harder than I ever thought it would be!!

And by the way...MY BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ha!!!

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new year..

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:21:23 -0500

A lot of people hate the very thought of New Year's resolutions and making them. And I see the point....jumping on the bandwagon of a new year and making resolutions just cause everyone else is. Why not make goals all year?

The appeal for me....and I don't call what I do making resolutions....is a new year, a "start over" of sorts.....I luck out because my birthday falls so close to the beginning of the year and birthdays are when a lot of people reflect and make changes and goals too. So I kind of get to do it, all at once.

So my "goals"....NOT resolutions...but goals.

Back to making my cards. And I am slimming down the list. There are people that I make cards for that since I started making and sending cards 8 years ago, they have not shown any kind of interest in me, my children or my husband and our lives. No phone calls, cards, emails, a letter or gift, not a hint of interest. Nothing. Maybe a couple of times over the course of the 8 years they have done something that shows some interest in us. But it's rare, if at all. And I am not upset or angry in the least bit, not even remotely. However I don't need to feel obligated to send a birthday card to people that I'm realizing probably aren't really interested in us and our lives. A few years, I can understand...busy with life or whatever and just no time to keep in touch, but 8 years? At this point I have to truly wonder if they even want the cards and/or gifts. And I don't like feeling like that....and when making and sending a card doesn't feel good anymore, when it makes me wonder if the person getting the card even wants it, I know it's time to stop doing it. Doesn't take me long, huh?? LOL !!!!

Back to weight watchers and getting fit again.

Back to my blog and writing. I miss it so much! And hate how little I have done in the last 18 months.

My business...really want to focus and get it bring in some significant money. I am excited! I am doing so well with it, already and not even promoting....cannot wait to start promoting and see what comes of it then! :-) (for the record...just got an order while writing this blog post and if THAT'S not a sign, I don't know what is!!!! LOL )

Spend the entire year thanking our family and friends that have helped us....some in big ways, some in small ways....but every way and every bit of help is what has gotten us through this year and a half. And we are so beyond grateful and very humbled. We don't know what we would've done without the support and help. We are truly blessed and it will take me a year of thank you's, AT LEAST, to even begin to express how grateful we are.....

It's been a rough year...but I think we are truly past the worst of it and things are going to only get better from here.
I am excited for the new year and the good I know it's going to bring....for the first time in a long time I am confident and happy and hopeful.....

So to 2009, I say this.....

Decorating tree dec 4 2009 (2)

and HELLLOOOOOO 2010! BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!

:-)

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Picture update!

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:19:41 -0500

Here are some pics for you guys!!! :-)

Ben as Rudolph in his class play.....so cute!!!

Ben Rudolph Dec 2009 (19)

Ben Rudolph Dec 2009 (18)

Ben Rudolph Dec 2009 (23)

Ben Rudolph Dec 2009 (24)

Ben Rudolph Dec 2009 (3)

Christmas tree on Christmas eve...

Christmas 2009 (3)

Christmas!

Christmas 2009 (43)

Jaime with her Flip camera that Auntie Ceci & Uncle JRoar got her! She has taken like 5 thousand videos already and I know I'll be posting some of those, soon! She LOVES it...best gift this year!!!

Christmas 2009 (20)

She LOVES the Chipmunks and wanted this cd so bad! She was thrilled to get it....

Christmas 2009 (10)

Jaime loves chocolate more than anything in this world....and this is her favorite. These were in her stocking....pure joy! LOL

Christmas 2009 (26)

High fivin' his gifts! He is just impossibe to get to stay still for a pic....this is the best one we got. LOL

These next ones are from sometime after Halloween....did you know you need helmets and knee pads before you can ride on your broomstick? duh! LMAO!!!! How adorable are they???

Kids playing with helmets dec 2009 (1)

Kids playing with helmets dec 2009

Enjoy!!!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's...:-)

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big banks blow!!!!

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 22:08:41 -0500

For the last, I'd say year, Zak and I have uttered the sentence..."I fucking hate banks" more times than I can count...
We miss our small Alaska bank. Bad. We have come to truly hate "big banks".
And after the bailout? The sentence has become a practically everyday utterance....and hating is now too nice of a word to use. It's more like loathe and despise, at this point.

I know I posted something about Bank of America on my blog some time ago and I'm far too lazy and buzzed to bother looking.....but anyway, point being....Zak and I both have had a serious "issue" with big banks for awhile. We have talked endlessly about how could we function without even using a bank, to no avail. We have found no solution. We have discussed moving to a small community bank...I mean we have gone around and around about this....tonight, I see this...

In control....

NICE!!!!!

LOVE IT!

And that WILL be one of my New Year's resolutions....get the fuck out of a big bank and into a smaller one.
I will feel SO liberated....so in control....and I can't wait!!!!

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Whoo--hoo--What a Christmas!!!!

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 04:55:48 -0500

The kids had a blast and we, of course, had a blast watching them!

For the first time they had just the right amount of presents. Honestly, typically, we go overboard and they....<sigh> get bored of opening gifts because there are so many. So not cool. Could you imagine ? Getting so many gifts you get bored of opening them??? I can't even fathom it. Not even a little. lol. Anyway, this year....there was none of that. When they were done, they looked for more under the tree but were not upset to find nothing else.

Ben got some very cool lego sets, more Bionicals than he can count, play dough and those fusion bead things from Santa, a couple of puzzles....and just lots of other fun stuff.

Jaime got a pottery wheel from Nana, some clay stuff from us, a FLIP video camera from Auntie Ceci and Uncle JR that she will not put down! (I'll post some videos from it later....along with pics). a music cd she really wanted, a couple of games for her DS, some make up.......and more!

Mom got me a bottle of my perfume, which is a traditional gift and thank God because I've been out forever! LOL She got Zak a drill bit set and he is THRILLED with it, she also got him a little log cabin for the toad and he promptly used one of the bits to make a hole in the log cabin for Libertoad to get in! LOL NIki got me a cool year in review type book. I love it!

Ceci gave Zak and I some money for Christmas and I am so psyched. She gave us enough that we are going to be able to put the car on the road..FINALLY. And I got to buy some alcohol, so I can make some real drinks. I am honestly...so sick of beer! ugh!!! lol. I mean, I love my beer...don't get me wrong.....but I like my girly drinks too.

Zak and I did not get each other anything and we are going to celebrate our Christmas in June. I cannot wait! We're gonna buy a little tree and put it up in our bedroom and everything. LOL Although honestly.....not having gifts, not getting gifts, doesn't bother me....it truly doesn't. Seeing my kids happy and being with family is really gift enough.

All in all....a fantastic and wonderful Christmas!!!

I'll post some video and pictures a little later!

Oh....and guess what I woke up to? Another order in my Etsy shop!!!! YES!!!!! :-)

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oh my....

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:47:05 -0500

Almost a month?
Seriously?

the longest drought ever....since I started this blog.

I don't like it. I miss my blog..
and I don't even know why I stopped for so long....

The craziness of the holidays...
Having nothing to say....
I feel guarded, at times, on what I can write on this blog.....because at some point, everyone does stop by...
A wee bit sad about "life" in general for a little bit there.
Of all the friends and family I have, very, VERY few people read this....so why bother?

Because it's for ME and I LOVE having it.....and some people DO read it, faithfully.

So back to it, I go.....I hope to not let this happen again...a friggin' month. Just crazy.

Right off the top of my head.....what has been going on in the last few weeks...okay, okay..almost MONTH.

Thanksgiving was nice...quiet, uneventful and just....nice. :-)
Jaime made honor roll!!!
J got a web cam and I get to SEE HER TALK NOW!!!! Amazing....and I am so addicted to it. I love getting to "see" her, love getting to see her son....it's just an awesome thing.
A little girl I love dearly....is so growing up and it makes me miss her so bad.
I got my Christmas cards out---watch your mail, they are on the way!!--THAT makes me so happy.
Rode the roller coaster of Zak's work....had a potential multi million dollar client change their mind about moving to NH. It's not completely over with, though. They are not 100% sure what they are doing. They know they are leaning toward not New Hampshire right now, but it's not definite and they LOVE Zak. So if they DO decide NH after all, it will be Zak they use. That right there, is cool. That they dug him so much. But it was quite the roller coaster for a bit. lol.
Benjamin is going to be Rudolph in his class play....!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!! It's the 23rd.
I injured myself really, REALLY bad. Fell off one of our high dining room chairs and fell about 2 feet ONTO the chair, right on my ribs. Pretty sure I did some serious damage.....it's finally better but it was almost 2 weeks of hell. Couldn't sleep...couldn't hardly walk....couldn't bend. Just sitting was painful if it I did it for too long...I'm still feeling it, but I can function now. Zak and my mom really stepped up and saved me. They did the laundry and dishes and were just amazing...thank God.
My business is doing pretty good. I have made enough money in the last couple of months, to pay for Christmas. I am pretty freakin' proud of me! And I love having my business!!!! So nice to be doing what I love and get PAID for it! I haven't done much marketing, just because I keep getting clients and work without having to do much marketing, so I've just been working with the business I have and keeping things at a reasonable pace. After the new year, I will start putting a plan in place and I am really excited to see what kind of business I do once I do some marketing! VERY exciting.
I had started going to the gym and then hurt myself so I haven't been able to. THAT is a little frustrating.
I am annoyed as hell that I STILL have not "reviewed" Bon Jovi's new album.
Mariah Carey is coming in concert, within in driving distance of me, THREE TIMES in January. I am really bummed I will not be able to see her. She is one of my all time favorite artists and I've never seen her in concert and I would do anything to be able to. BUT....I think I am going to bust my ass with my shop and see if I can manage to earn the money to go. Kind of a birthday present to myself. Good Luck to me!!!
Very excited about the new year and knowing it's going to be a better year for us.

Sooo...that's it. A little run down of the major things going on. I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff or leaving stuff out.....meh...one step at a time, right? LOL

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Just us...

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:08:05 -0500

So there isn't anything spectacular or even really noteworthy to report. But I thought I'd just throw some going on's out there for you.

The kids are doing great. School is good for them both. We have their teacher conferences tonight and I am excited to talk to their teachers. Jaime scored really low on her reading at the beginning of the year and we've been really working with her to improve and I'm curious to see if any improvement has been noted. I am not worried or upset about her reading, in the slightest. I want her to improve, no doubt...she'll have a really tough time as she gets into the upper grades if she doesn't get her reading to a high level but that is the only concern. She's a fantastic speller, she loves writing her "books", she's very creative with her stories and follows a structure....(beginning, middle, end) she comprehends what she reads most times....the girl is just a slow thinker. Just like Zak. I know she will be fine and my only concern for her is that she is reading at a level that will make it easy for her to keep up with her work.
Socially...she is good. She isn't talking about many kids from school or wanting to have play dates or anything like that. Which I was hoping she would grow out of her shell a bit this year, but so far no. And she's not unhappy and she is well liked ....she just isn't hmmm...i'm not sure how to explain this. She's just Jaime. The girl has never met a stranger but when it comes to her peers...she is a bit timid. It's surprising, to say the least. But as long as she's happy, I try not to push her. I give her a little nudge, here and there by making a little phone book with her and suggesting she gets a couple of classmates phone numbers and invite them over...but nothing major. She plays with all the kids in the neighborhood and is quite content with that. All in all she is great.

Ben is good. He is doing great in school and he likes going. He is doing well, academically. He practices his sight words while the girls (Jaime and Gabby) do their homework and he LOVES having "homework". He has a notebook and I practice his sight words with flash cards with him and then have him try to write them in the notebook. Or he practices writing numbers in there. He loves it! I think it makes him feel like the older kids to have "homework". It's cute. He talks about the kids at school and really enjoys it, so that is good. He is a super meticulous writer....his fine motor skills are fantastic. And he's getting smarter and smarter. Just coming up with the funniest things. He's as obnoxious, loud, crazy and stubborn as ever....and I am so madly in love with this boy it's not even funny. He's still crawling into our bed with us a lot of nights even though he loves his new (ish) bed. I think he just loves us more and I'm okay with that! LOL

Zak is busy at work and has lots of "potential" clients. This is good! He had one buyer that was in an accepted offer, not happen after all. That kind of sucked. Well, really sucked....but he got a different buyer into a deal within a week of the first deal falling through. Which is good. But the paycheck will be half of what we would have seen. No fun. And super crappy timing. Right before Christmas....seriously? Another super tight Christmas for us. Which is okay with us, at least we are in good company....

I am good. My Etsy shop is doing okay and I am excited about that. There are a couple of things I am really, REALLY excited about with my shop and I'll explain more about them when it's ready to roll....but I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for big things...well, big to ME. We'll see.....

When the kids get home today, they won't have school for the rest of the week and I am actually looking forward to spending some time with them. Isn't it funny what a little separation does for people? Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!!! LOL Anyway, I can't wait for them to be home with me.....we're gonna have a blast!!!!!

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Favorite pic...

nobody@vox.com(Joey) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:05:11 -0500

I have this picture up in my living room. Artistically speaking, it's my all time favorite pic of the kids. I didn't know where it was, digitally, for the longest time and I found it last week when the internet was down and I did something productive with my time. (went through pictures...) thought I'd share...

Pics of kids 2_24_04 (14) copy2

So love this picture!!!
Enjoy!

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