Ever have one of those days?

...when you think you have every moment booked with friends, activity, and plans? And then it just gets flushed down the drain? Yep. That would be my today. Nothing panned out, and I am actually LONELY. Phin is with my parents. Russell is in NH. All friends are MIA. Hmph.

Well, at least both the kids closets got cleaned out, all the laundry is current and up to date. Dishwasher emptied. Dusted. Vaccuummed. Mopped.

I am going to dinner at my parents house. I guess I will save my free coupon for a Phin sleepover at Nana's til I night I will actually need it.

The Sound of (Almost) Silence

My, my..what a busy month July turned out to be! My mother came down for a week to visit with Phineas. That is always an adventure, to say the least. We still do that little dance where I play Phin's mother, and she plays indulgent grandmother. That can be a very blurry line. It has definately improved from when I first had him, and I had zero confidence so I let her do everything. Admittedly, I learned a lot by watching. However, some things I just didn't want to do and it took some time for me to work up to actually telling her that. But, all in all, not bad. Gearing up for the August visit!!

Our friend M, hosted a birthday party for K. and made a delicious dinner. That was a good time. It was so much fun, and my body actually hurt from all the laughing that went on. It was nice to feel like a kid again!!




Finally, I got to connect with my cousin from Switzerland!! Once we spoke in complete honesty and I told her not to back out or make excuses (her mother and aunts were giving her a very hard time about seeing me) It was all better. I guess my little pep talk about being only concerned for her and her son gave her some courage and she spoke up. J and I were able to spend several days together with our boys and just catch up. It was so exciting that I finally got her to see my house and just hang out. She is on her way back to her mother's for about 2 weeks, then will be back on the Cape. YAY!! I miss her already, but I guess I can wait to see her again.



Hubby Russell went up to New Hampshire for a boys weekend. He is going to ride his ATV with his friend and just try to chill out. He has been under such immense stress and hope this will help him get some distance from it all. He needs it!

Lastly, we have adopted another cat. It is our very good friends cat, and he is moving, so best to give the cat a good ,stable home (and he picked ours??!) Anyway, the cat is adjusting nicely. Our older cats are actually ok with it, and there have been minimal hissing fits. If I can figure out to post his picture in the right place in the post, will let you see what he looks like!!

Not much to say...

...so might as well say it with a few photos!






**DISCLAIMER:By the way..as I look at these photos, I realize he is wearing the same shirt in all the pictures. It just so happens he is very fond of Cookie Monster, and that happens to be his favorite. Honestly, I can bury it in the drawer and he will dig it out. I do put him in other clothes. Honest.**

Pirate's Booty

The past few days I have considered myself very lucky to haul a Pirate's bountiful booty-I got to spend some unexpected time with my good friend, K. We went on a mission the other night to find a new summer bedspread and found a beautiful one (SCORE!) and she hunted high and low to find matching shams that go with the spread, since I was too cheap to spring an extra $80 on the shams that actually go with the spread.

Then, the very next day, we went food shopping together!! I know it doesn't seem like a huge deal, but we laughed and had a great time. It was wonderful spending time with her. She is going thru some serious crap now, and I feel like that is all I can do for her is give her my time.

So, that's it. Hopefully in the near future, we can have more adventures. Even if it is just food shopping. It makes such a tumultuous task a lot more fun when you have a conspiritor along for the ride~

Is it over yet?

This month has been pure craziness..

Today is the last of the big things going on this month..it is Russell's family reunion, and thank goodness it is being held right down the street from the homestead. It starts this afternoon at 2pm, and should be a fun time. Lobsters, grilling, and seeing everyone (82 at last count!). But hopefully things will be calmer in July. It was nice to get away as often as I did in June, but I am ready to put down my roots again and be a homebody. I missed everyone and felt like I was always gone. I did have a pleasant time with my mother, it was odd at first spending so much time with her, but the uneasiness went away and we just had fun.

I hope to, in the month of July, reconnect with my cousin, J, from Switzerland. My schedule has just been so packed, I haven't had a chance to see her. The good news is we talk everyday, usually multiple times. It is so good to talk to her. We have been able to talk kids, dirty diapers and strategies that worked for us. Good times.

Phineas had his 15 month appointment this week and the doctor said he was perfect *insert BEAMING here*. He is 33" long, and weighs 23 lbs 4 oz. 40th percentile for weight, 93rd for height. He is right on track for words and a little bit ahead of schedule with teeth (ELEVEN!). So, that was reassuring to know he is doing perfectly.

Well-that would about wrap it up for now. It was a good month, after a crap start. Bring on July!!

39!!

Shamelessly ripped from Jeanne and Karyn:

Thirty Nine Things About Yourself

[one] what is your natural hair color?
Medium brown

[two] where is your default picture taken?
Technically, on the porch. But can I figure how to post the dang thing? noooooo...

[three] what's your middle name?
Beth. But, I took my maiden name as middle name when I got married

[four] your current relationship status?
Married, working very hard on happily, but solid.

[five] does your crush like you back?
Do tell of this crush!!

[six] what is your current mood?
Exhausted!

[seven] what color underwear are you wearing?
Black with little white polka dots


[eight] what makes you happy?
Phineas, Russell, shopping, relaxing, having time to read


where is number [nine]?


[ten] if you could go back in time and change something, what would you change?
I would have gone to school for a totally different subject

[eleven] if you must be an animal for one day, what would you be?
A whale shark-they are amazing. And not just because I most closely physically resemble them, either!

[twelve] ever had a near death experience?
No

[thirteen] something you do a lot?
Change diapers

[fourteen] the song stuck in your head?
"Living in America" by James Brown...Russell is watching Rocky IV!

[fifteen] who did you copy and paste this from?
Jeanne, but originally saw it on Karyns

[sixteen] name someone with the same birthday as you?
My uncle Terry, and a guy I used to see, Nathan L.

[seventeen] when was the last time you cried?
Tuesday June 12th

[eighteen] have you ever sung in front of a large audience?
Ahhh...no.

[nineteen] if you could have one super power what would it be?
Flight

[twenty] what's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Collarbones and eyes

[twenty-one] what do you usually order from starbucks?
I ordered one thing from Starbucks (hot chocolate) and after my 1st sip threw it out. So, nothing. They won't get any further business from me.

[twenty two] what is your biggest secret?
And I would tell you that WHY?

[twenty-three] favorite colors?
Purple and green

[twenty-four] when was the last time you lied?
Gosh, besides socially acceptable white lies? I can't even remember

[twenty-five] do you still watch kiddy movies or tv shows?
Yep

[twenty-six] what are you eating or drinking at the moment?
Diet pepsi with Lime

[twenty-seven] do you speak any other language?
No....

[twenty-eight] what's your favorite scent?
Clove and freshly cut grass

[twenty-nine] if you could describe your life in one word what would it be?
Complex

[thirty] when was the last time you gave/received a hug?
About an hour ago

[thirty-one] have you ever kissed in the rain?
Yes!!

[thirty-two] what are you thinking about right now?
Gotta refill the cat's food bowl to get Felix to be quiet

[thirty-three] what should you be doing?
See above...

[thirty-four] what was the last thing that made you upset/angry?
Crap with step kids and MOTHRA

[thirty-five] how often do you pray?
A few times a week, but haven't been to church(besides weddings and funerals) in a LONG time

[thirty-six] do you like working in the yard?
yes, wish I had more time to do it!!

[thirty-seven] if you could have any last name in the world, what would you want?
Crowe. *wink*

[thirty-eight] do you act differently around your crush?
Please tell me about this crush!!!

[thirty-nine] name one song that reminds you of an ex?
Pour Some Sugar on Me (get your minds OUT OF THE GUTTER, Ladies!!! not at all what you think!!!)

This n that meets MOTHRA

Gosh, I know I have been a bit neglectful of the poor blog, but I didn't realize I haven't written anything since the end of May!! I hope my 3 fans will have pity on me.

There has been so much going on, I just don't even know where to start. I guess I should probably give a Phineas update, since this is what this blog is supposed to be about, huh? Well, we have survived a molar, folks. For the first time in my limited parenting career, I actually called the Doctor's office on a Saturday. He had been crying and screaming uncontrollably all night and was just in pain. That is the stuff that just cuts me to my very soul. I never thought I could hurt so badly and not be in physical pain myself. But, alas, it was a molar. We were instructed and advised to give him Benadryl, so we could ALL get a good nights sleep. I *heart* Benadryl!! Bring on the rest of the molars!! we are now armed and ready.

The next really fun thing is he is attempting to talk more, and sometimes his words are amazingly clear. My friend, K, was coming to watch him for me, and I said to him:"Phin! Auntie K K is here!!" and he said, albeit slurry, "Ke ke keke". It was so cool. He is very clear now on "ba" and "bye". He is even beginning to wave at the right time!! Normally he waved after the person left, now he is doing it when they are actually leaving. It is so amazing to see the little changes.

Something I am not crazy about is a new skill he has acquired that he climbs on the chairs to get onto the dining room table. Yea, not liking that at all. But, he is rather good at it. Must be those Southern genes he inherited. Altho I have been told by both my parents he comes by it honestly from me. Moi? Never. I don't believe them.

Went away last weekend for an Estrogen filled girls weekend in New Hampshire, minus one very important friend, K. I understand why she couldn't come, but still. We painted our toenails and fingernails!!! Good food, way too many carbs, boardgames and gossip. Fun times, fun times.

Today I am leaving to go to Mohegan Sun for 2 days with my mother. This should be interesting. My mother and I haven't had one-on-one time in YEARS. Our relationship has improved vastly since Phineas debuted, but still. This should be quite the little lab experiment. Wish me luck.

There is a boat load more stuff going on with Russell's kids, the ex-wife, blah blah blah. I have talked about it so much, and just don't have an iota of energy left to write it all out. All I can say is the ex-wife(whom from this time forward shall be referred to as MOTHRA) sucks. She is a bitter, nasty person and seems to be passing those qualities onto her kids.

Well, time for Phin's breakfast. Talk to you all later!!