Virginia

I have this on my phone and tablet. Its a painting my dad did. Ugh, never mind. I can NEVER upload a picture without hassle.

The clock.

Feel better Noll! Thanks Gaia! Sent grand off to school today. He was ready to go, lol! I got a call from the school nurse telling me that my 7 year old had asked his teacher if he could walk his 5 year old brother to his classroom (he's very protective of his siblings) and she said yes. Well somewhere along the way the 5 year old complained of chest pain or his older brother THOUGHT he was looking peaked so he takes out his little brother's enhailer (it has the chamber attached) and began administering it to him there in the hall. A teacher saw what was happening and escorted them both to the nurse's office. It was so cute. She said she couldn't be fussy because he was just so concerned about his little brother and was so polite and sweet! "Yes ma'am, no ma'am..." She just explained to him about adults administering medication and told him that he was an excellent big brother! All the drama they've seen between their parents and mom's bi-polar and yet they are just so sweet and caring and loyal. For all their faults, they have instilled some great values on these little humans!

Saw pictures of that precious little 3 year old Syrian baby who drowned... I cant wrap my head around it. He was the same age as my little one. He was just laying there in the sand. I cannot cry at work but dear Lord its difficult not to!

Sitting in the hospital children's wing with my five year old. Poor little man got a ride in an ambulance from school. I got a call from the school nurse saying he was in distress, having an asthma attack. We're home now and he'll get to stay home tomorrow. I now have to sort out his medical insurance.

Just finished Little Bee by Chris Cleaver. I would rate it at 5 stars except for the ending. I was just SO disappointed in not know what Little Bee's fate was after being arrested by the Nigerian police. I so wanted a "happy ending" but it was not to be. Its almost like the Diary of Ann Frank, Overall though, the book was fascinating although sometimes too wordy. One of the protagonists "Sarah" would ask Little Bee a simple question and Little Bee would give a ten minute dialogue where she and her sister are running through the jungle and get lost, etc, etc, etc and then she'll finally come back to the present and answer "yes." Um, what was the question again? lol!

Yay!!! Its September!!!! I'm so looking forward to the beginning of autumn! Work this week of course and home to the littles and hubby and that's pretty much it, Tame, boring and satisfying!

I understand what you mean about the trying on thing. I'm pretty much true to size so I can look at an outfit and know whether it will fit or not. The kids are the same so it makes it pretty easy. Then its home to a good wash and fabric softener. I actually like my clothes kind of broken in, its less irritating to my skin and to the children's skin. What I like most about thrift stores is that you're sure to find original items, not mass produced. I love to shop local for produce also. I think I'm headed to the farmers market this weekend. There's a market on Main Street, where I work but its really congested.They have a stall where you can buy any produce (fill the box up) for $10. I'd love to do that but the line is always so long and trying to keep up with the kids while standing stationary is a nightmare I'm not ready to experience as yet, lol!

Don't think there's a topic on this subject so here ya go! I know when I find a good bargain it thrills me to NO end! What about you guys? Did you find any good deals this month, weekend? I did! I went to a local thrift store and found that they were having a sale on children's clothing. What luck! I went in and found about 10 pairs of pants (Levi's, Nautica and Old Navy) and about the same amount of shirts, sweaters and jackets, ALL in excellent condition. I spent a total of $20 on the lot. Can you believe it? The kids are now just about fitted out for autumn and winter. I also found myself three pairs of really nice pants for work and a great scare.

Tan wide legged pants with 2 inch cuffs and a funky webbed belt and a thin, cream colored long sleeved sweater with a little tank underneath. Footwear: navy blue Sperrys. The weather has been pretty cool in the am and the office is not much better. I have decided to say to heck with it and start with the autumn outfits.

Oh, I'm certain it will be one but I might as well accept it now and keep my nose squarely on my face, in place. Work has been pretty hectic these last two weeks. We lost one of our interns (returned to school) and the other one never seems to be here. Guess its good that I can do the work on my own and hadn't really depended on them (as they were temporary) so the "extra" work is no shock to the system. I am pretty beat when I get home though and that's when my "second" shift starts with getting the boys ready for school and myself ready for work, cleaning up the afternoon mess, finishing up dinner prep, feeding the little nuggets, bathing the little nuggets and then coaxing myself into the shower before gearing myself up for the Battle of Five Armies at bedtime. Sleep is sweet and blissful!

Currently reading Little Bee by Chris Cleave and Under An English Heaven by Alice Kay Boatwright.

I need to change my choice. I stated earlier that it was The Cuckoo Calling, when in actuality it was Silkworm by the same author. There were moments that I had to seriously question the mental state of J K Rowling/Robert Galbraith.

I swear, I need to start writing my memoirs. Life. Just. Keeps. Happening. Yesterday I went to the IRS building (tax office that handles federal bleeding taxing of its citizens). I needed to get a transcript for our son's financial aid counselor at his school. Imagine my surprise when I got there and found out that someone from another state had attempted to file taxes using my and my husbands information? Yes, we are evidently the victims of attempted identity theft. Unfortunately for scum, they jokes on them! They won't get very far by using our stuff. Guess we'll now have to go through the process of investigating and clearing it all up. Like I NEEDED one more thing on my paper plate.

Temps are below normal today and it feels wonderful. Its a little overcast and breezy also. Its almost like a precursor to autumn!!

I know Lily! I usually can't wait til the end of August because the heat is oppressive and just seems to slow to the pace of a slug in a vat of molasses. My mind is already trying to prepare for the upcoming season. Returned back to work today with renewed mind and body. Last week I came down with a nasty crud. I could have been Typhoid Mary or Patti Plague. Ugh. Anyways, I'm better now and plan to stay that way! The weekend was spent recuperating and trying to keep the little ones from catching it. Got a funny for you. My five year old got up Friday morning (it was still a little dark outside) and pondered why he had to be up so early (to catch the bus). He looked at me with doleful eyes and said, "mom, going to school is like going to work." Yes son, its EXACTLY like going to work!

It appears that I am locked out of my page. In order to gain reentry I must show proof off identity. Anyone else have this issue?

Got the kids off to school today. It was, interesting. After getting home from work yesterday I had to get their school clothes and lunch ready, along with my stuff. Hubby had fed three of the kids and I fed the remaining two who I'll call "Bonnie and Clyde." We got them showered and ready for some down time. My namesake, aka, Banshee, was ready to party. And she did, up til about 0200 (as far as I can tell, I gave up the ghost before she did). During the night we had one fall off the bed and two up with stuffy noses and congestion and the other kicking the crap out of me. Got up and dressed, then got the boys up. As I was getting their breakfast ready I happened to notice that one of the lunch boxes was missing. I searched and found it in the den, on a recliner, opened. The aluminum foil was void of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich it had contained. Sometime during my morning constitutional our little Sally woke up and came into our bedroom to tell me good morning and to give me my kiss. She then went back to bed. When I came out of the shower she was laying in our bed beside her sister and papa. I didn't think anything about it. Fast forward to the missing lunch box. The box had been moved AFTER I had made my morning round in the kitchen. Sally had reached up, grabbed the lunch box that she could reach, took it to the chair, sat down, opened it up, removed the sandwich, at the sandwich, left the box in the chair, went back into my bedroom, climbed up on the bed and proceeded to watch Pirates of the Caribbean At Worlds End, like it was cool. Sally normally only has a minimal vocabulary early in the morning. It consists of "eat." I should have known that something was amiss when she didn't demand to "eat" first thing this morning.

Anna, you have to do whats right for YOU when the time is right for YOU. I'm sitting here finishing off a lovely piece of chocolate cake that we got for two departing coworkers. I want more. I may get more as I sit here and try to wrap my head around what awaits when I get home, lol. Five kiddies. Hubby goes back to work tonight and I will have to get the boys ready for school tomorrow. If the hubby gets dinner going we may be able to get them all fed and bathed before he leaves for work at 7:30. I hope he can get a little rest before heading out. I foresee it getting a little hairy as we adjust. I got little sleep last night as my little monster (1 year old) proceeded to kick and beat the bejeezus out of me while sleeping. I swear it feels like I went in the ring with Mike Tyson. The only time she really seems to sleep is when she's in our bed on MY side. We HAVE to come to some kind of understanding.

I have this really comfy, sweet pull over dress with a blue sash tied in the back. Its a simple cut, comes to the knees and is so soft that I wish I could wear it every day. Its a dark blue with cream colored leaf prints. Feels like I'm not wearing a stitch! No jewelry except my wedding set and my Pandora's charm bracelet. I decided to ornament my hair with a giant gold flower clip. Earrings would have made my head look too "busy."

Glad your appointment went well Gaia! This weekend was spent getting ready for the littles. Friday after work I went to get the boys school supplies. What an ordeal. I haven't school shopped in years and the things the schools are requesting....ugh. Expensive and dang near impossible to find! Saturday I got the kids bedroom ready, organized their clothing, put their school supplies together and cleaned house. Sunday hubby and I went to Georgia to pick up three boys and came back with three boys and two wee little girlies. The more the merrier. They are so absolutely adorable that I hate when they go back. Today its back to work and then the open house at school this evening. Tomorrow, the first day of school!

Casual Friday! That means Levi jeans, sandals and a colorful tank. I don't care what anyone says, I feel professional and productive and broken in jeans. The world would be a better place if we all wore Levi's.

Just checked out the website, nice stuff.

Gaia, the zoo sounds wonderful! I plan on taking the boys near the end of the month, once we get settled. They haven't been to one yet. I haven't been in almost 20 years. The doctor says my heart is good but my stress level, if not brought under control, will cause me to have a heart attack. I don't suffer from continual anxiety attacks so the meds they prescribed for me are to be taken only as needed. If the pain in my chest persists, then we'll be looking at more invasive testing. I'm enjoying my work and looking forward to picking the boys up this weekend. I got tickets to see a comedian at The Comedy House. It's headlined entertainers like Chris Tucker, Chris Rock and Steve Harvey. I'm looking forward to a night out!