CHECK THIS OUT!!!!

A giveaway for a brand new book from newly published Erin (Wynne) Provost!

Erin and her good friend Jessica create and produce these children plays for the community garden in Idaho! Each year they create parts for the local children that want to be a part of the production!

The entire play is by volunteers and even her kids get into the action with helping make the costumes, choreography, set design, and even illustrating...just to name a few!

Local adult talent also comes from Jessica's husband Lex, who plays Milo the cat and he sings and plays his guitar!

Erin has decided to pen the play into her first book! 

And Im here to offer some GIVEAWAYS!!!!!

See this #AmazonGiveaway for a chance to win: Milo's Garden. 
https://giveaway.amazon.com/p/9b087211dc663b0a 
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends the earlier of Aug 17, 2016 11:59 PM PDT, or when all prizes are claimed. See Official Rules http://amzn.to/GArules.

Good Luck!!!

PS- you can also purchase this book from Amazon for $4.99! A fantastic deal!

Off to Another Great School Year!

Well today we had our "Kick-Off" session at the local casino- 

and I have to admit it always gets me excited to start off the new year!  

The only thing that could have made it better was to offer coffee and sweets, 

but that would have cost a small fortune for sure!

Tomorrow is "Work-In-Our-Classrooms" day! Yippee!!!   And school starts Wednesday! YIKES!

After the "Kick-Off" today, we had staff training and we played a game I hadn't seen before!

I came in 2nd, which is hysterical as I had no idea if it could even be done! 

So my best friend video-taped it- here you go!

You Gotta Read These!!!!

I never have time to sit and read.

NEVER EVER.....NOT EVAH, PERIOD.

I love reading- but life gets in my way and bullies me out of relaxing with a book... until I visited my sister and she kept talking about this author and quoting all these funny sayings and bits of stories.

My sister has an incredible talent for knowing the words to every song you have ever heard. Truly it is a gift. Same goes for telling stories and rhyming things....but I digress.

So I actually got to read this book:

It didn't take me long to crave the next time I could squeeze this into my schedule and continue reading it....one night I laughed so hard I had tears running down my cheeks and I was making noises that were a hefty combination of a drowning seal and a laughing hyena. Im sure of it! 

I can't believe I didn't wake the whole house up!

So then I had to read her 2nd book:

Which I continued with the sad pathetic laugh/dying noise and kept thinking to myself, 

"Her husband is a saint, her husband is a saint"....

I am not going to spoil one thing from these books- but if you want some funny, sad, hilarious, 

no-way-that-happened-to-anyone type of book- then LOOK NO FURTHER!

Grab her books now and read them in order (not necessary but it makes more sense)

Jenny Lawson also has a blog too!

To my sister- THANK YOU for allowing a ton of laughter into my life! I needed it!

Now peoples-go get you some funny reads!

PS- my sister is going to be an author soon! Stay tuned for more info! 

Vacationing in beautiful Idaho!

I'm so glad we went!

I'm rejuvenated and inspired by everything I saw- even if it was for the 10th time! 

How can you not beat this as a view?

My sister has such a great deck that is comfy and has an incredible view- pine trees abound her property that seem to touch the blue sky and puffy white clouds! 

(we seem to have neither in Palm Desert)

It was a time that I could unwind from the 'busy-ness' that is my life, and let my imagination explore and dream of new ideas for me to try when I get home.

I especially enjoyed my daughter playing with her cousins and having fun! 

It seems the older she gets, the less involved she becomes with what is around her. 

I loved seeing her play board games and swim in the lake!

We didn't overextend ourselves with activities (I hope!) like we usually do. Not that we do too much, but we sure know how to pack in a lot for each vacation! 

I enjoyed doing more of a relaxing one!

*Note- I have to thank my brother-in-law Robb for helping me with my computer- AGAIN.

I will not post a pic of him, but love him dearly. 

We boated over to Mom and Dad's place and picked them up for a mid-day cruise! It was a beautiful day and night on the water! 

 

One incredible new place we visited this time was the Greenbriar Inn. It is an impressive 1908 house that has been remodeled into a restaurant, event place and guest quarters! It is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places and only a few blocks from the lake and downtown! 

After boating all day we headed over there for their nightly entertainment and tapas! 

I can't wait to go back and maybe even stay there!

 

I finally got up to the hill and swung in Aunt Bette and Uncle Ted's swing. They used to keep it on the top of their hill on their property- so it was very fitting to place it at the top of my sisters hill! 

A beautiful view from there and so quiet and peaceful.  

Her place has many different kinds of wild flowers growing, but I somehow only took a picture of the little daisies down by the driveway!  

Until next time.....

Thank you Erin, Robb, J, B, J, Mom and Dad!

New Beginnings!

Bear with me- Im gonna come right out and say it-


I am divorcing Jeff. 


There....


Why?


I am divorcing Jeff because I have been unhappy for a long time and he didn't carry his weight financially or emotionally.  Period.


So where are we now?

 I chose a mediator instead of getting lawyers. I wanted 'us' to decided who gets what.
This actually worked out very well for us and there was no fighting, yelling or screaming at any time.
Yes, I cried- in private. Yes, I was devastated to divorce Jeff. Yes, I miss him terribly sometimes. Yes, I still love him- BUT...I do not respect him as a wife respects her husband.

He has proven over the years to only do what he wants to do and has done nothing to continue family traditions, improve the connections within our family or make sound financial decisions.

I have not felt loved for a long time.

Yes we went to Marriage Encounter, yes we went to counseling (several different times) for awhile, but he just seemed to not care or try.

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE UNLOVED OR CARED FOR. Especially when it comes to your children too!
(I am not saying Jeff didn't love his children- he does, very much. He just never showed it)

So now what?

Jeff moved out of the house Feb. 15th and the kids and I stayed in the house until it sold. It sold May 2nd and I bought a new house May 2nd! Talk about stressful!  Thank goodness my parents came to town to help! It was touch and go there for me, for awhile!

Due to school- I have the kids through the week and Jeff takes them on the weekends. Because we decided to be open about everything- the kids really can come and go and Jeff and I don't have strict rules about who goes where when.
Jeff and I get along FABULOUSLY now. No- seriously! I mean that!

I hug him when I see him, we have family dinners out, he has helped me with things around the house that need fixing, I have watched his cats while was was away, helped him pack and move, we text all the time....

It makes a huge difference when you are not obligated to do something.
For soooooo long I was very angry at having to be obligated to be the head of the family. I did not want that role. I wanted Jeff to take that role. I expected him to put in his 100% and we make decisions together-parent together-love together..... (my parents are my role model)

So life is great now!  Different, but great!   I think Jeff and I are both very happy at being free and doing our own things.
He really spends time with the kids now! He is living on his own terms and being a responsible adult. I am very proud of him.

But wait- there's more....

My new place is great! I LOVE LOVE LOVE having my own place! It is not far from the old one and not far from Jeff either. We wanted to stay in the same town for the sake of the kids. It is working out very well!

Kids are doing good. It has definitely been hard on them too. They are not forthcoming in sharing their feelings, but I think they are slowly learning we both are not going anywhere and we both love them.

Cope had a hard freshman year, and did not end the year well at all. It was a constant struggle with him- alone. I had to bear that burden of keeping him going.
He has always wanted to be in some kind of military something- so thanks to the recommendation from mom- we looked into a military school for him. There were several and one in Carlsbad, Ca. that looked good! I checked it out with the kids and grandparents and Cope was hooked. Grandpa took him to the Open House and it was a done deal!
He started on July 5th for the summer JROTC Leadership Program and Im posting on FB if you want to see.  This has been his first real time away from home and I constantly think about him and miss him.

Tierney is home with me and Dad. Her scholarship to the Music Festival in Idyllwild didn't work out so she won't be going this summer. That is okay- I don't know what I'd do if she was gone too! LOL
This Christmas she will be in Australia for 2 weeks with choir- so all is well!

My school has been my rock. I have an incredible partner that I teach Science with and he has kept me sane.

Now Im trying to work on all the weight Ive gained back. Seems like all my life Ive been up and down. Ive been looking back at pics and 2012 was my skinniest year. I need to get back into shape and want so desperately to feel fantastic! :)   So that is my goal I will work on this year!

So you are now all caught up! 

I plan on blogging more- as it has helped me keep an eye on myself! I hope you keep on reading and don't forget to check out my FB page for updates on Cope and the family!

Our NEW HOUSE!!!!

Love you!

At 8th grade Science Camp in Malibu- kids were chaperones!

Gone Too Long!

Hello!
Here we are after quite a few years have gone by! Time has flown and I still haven't learned how to slow down! These kids keep us quite busy!

This past Christmas we took a family vacation to the Bahamas. 18 people are hard to fit anywhere, but we made it work! We stayed at a beautiful place on Treasure Cay in Abaco. 2 GLORIOUS WEEKS.

After feeling comfortable with island life, I know for sure I want to come back and travel more. Sailing would be awesome and all by myself! It's on the "to plan later" list.

School continues and we are in the countdown of Semester 2, aka "Downhill Slide" to the end of yet another school year!  Did I mention time is flying by?

Life has been full of ups and downs for quite awhile. Mostly downs. I have been trying to make the best of everything and keep my head up. Sometimes life does that to you. You gotta hang in there.

Twins are freshmen in high school now! I know, right?!  When did that happen? They love it and we are glad they do!

That is all for now-

I shall leave you with my favorite new photo of our vacation:

A most special spot