Return to the Blog-world. Again.

HEY!! I'm BACK!! I know, I know, I've said that a few times over the past several years, but now that I'm fully edumacated and all that silly stuff like assignments, studying and reading are all done, I am finding myself with some 'extra' time on my hands. When I logged in, Blogger so kindly reminded me that my last post was in June 22, 2012, so it's definitely been awhile. Over the past year, there have been SO many things that I thought would make a GREAT blog post, but, I just never got around to it. Now there are NO excuses. Believe it or not, I've MISSED this outlet for my warped mind ideas.

Just to quickly catch you all up, I'll give you an update on us all.

BANSHEE: She is growing up SO fast! She is 8, in 3rd grade and has totally flourished into her own little person. She knows what she likes, and makes life a living hell for the rest of us when there is something she doesn't like or if things don't go her way makes it CRYSTAL clear about what she doesn't like (I have NO idea where she got that from - as I quickly step away from the keyboard whistling). She loves school, loves cheerleading and tumbling, loves her extraordinarily creepy cute little beanie boo collection. Health-wise she is doing FANTASTIC!!! WOOHOO! She is looking forward to her upcoming National Cheerleading competition, her dance recital, and summer vacation; which includes some fun and exciting things in her little mind.

IMP: He is growing up fast too! He is 10, in 4th grade and has come SO far in the past year. We fought hard: AKA grovelled pushed for some extra assistance for him at school, got it, and it has proven to be much-needed and effective. I don't fear the phone calls from the school anymore, and I can breathe easy knowing that he's in a good place. He is currently doing a running program - which will see him participate in several kids races in the next 2 months, including a run with his cousin in Toronto (of which he is SO SO SO excited about). He starts soccer in the coming days and is looking forward to some sports camps this summber. In exciting news for him from Mom's perspective, he's had some friends bike over several times in recent days to invite him to play and hang out. This is HUGE for us - and it makes my heart warm to see it happening. Depsite the fact that the 3 of them together is like witnessing an F4 tornado rip through a musical instrument factory is a tad loud and busy, it is awesome to see him so happy and active.

TEEN: Has grown into some sort of raging hormonal basketcase that I barely recognize any more a beautiful young woman. She is 16, in 11th grade and is reaching out for more and more independence every single day. She is driving (GULP!), choosing courses for school that will directly impact her career path (DOUBLE GULP!), and has a boyfriend (Screw the gulping - I'm hyperventilating over that one). I KNEW we should have uglied her up a couple years ago; sheesh - we spend all this money to fix her teeth, and get her products that make her look and feel nice, and then she's all beautiful, confident and such; and then the boys start coming around. People ask me what I think of him - and while he really IS a nice guy, it IS hard to "like" him when I know that he'll likely break my little girls heart at some point at which point I'll want to hunt him down and kick his ass!!. Her social life is still flourishing and somewhere around that, she manages to work at her part-time job. Funny story about that...as a small child, she used to admire the cashiers at stores and would declare, "When I grow up, I want to be a grocery payer!" as if it was some sort of upper-crust and important job. Well, at the tender age of 15 she ACHEIVED that goal. Nice to see my kids setting the bar high and all...

MY OTHER HALF: He is still the co-conductor of this crazy train that we call life. I've realized in recent times that he truly is as bat-shit crazy as me my soul-mate (I know, I know, cheesey, isn't it?!). He has been AWESOME during my educational pursuit these past few years, and picked up what I couldn't do (even though it was difficult for me to give some of the kids stuff up). He's also stepped up and drinks with me so I'm NOT construed as a raging alcoholic for drinking alone to dull out the craziness in our life and helps me cope with this wild roller-coaster ride of parenting 3 VERY unique and different children. He is looking forward to the summer and what it might bring.

ME: As I mentioned, I've finished school. I will graduate with a 97 and change % average. And for those that know me best, YES,that 3 percent bothers me. For those of you that don't know me quite as well, I'm VERY competitive and definitely my own worst critic. I picked up a part-time job back late in the fall because you know, I had all sorts of free time and all with full-time school and kids with busy schedules. Actually, back in the fall, I DID have more time - kinda-sorta, but this last semester has been VERY tough, however, I've managed. I've got some minor-ish surgery coming up - but hopefully once it's over everything will return to 'normal programming' around here, and I can focus on finding out what exactly I want to do with the rest of my life, or "when I grow up" (although if I could make student a paying gig, I'd be ALL over that. I'm totally designed for school). I admit, I'm scared shitless I'm a bit worried about the surgery - I don't think I do pain well, and they keep telling me (over and over) that it will be quite so. They actually used the words, "For the first 2 weeks, you'll wish you were dead." Because you know, as the patient, that's really reassuring and EXACTLY what I want to hear before a procedure.

I guess I should add that I totally had a dissociative moment that everyone took advantage of got on board with the pleas of my youngest children, and FINALLY gave in getting a dog. And as if that isn't crazy enough as it is, we got a Border Collie/Jack Russell Terrier cross. For real. They are probably 2 of the most bat-shit crazy breeds out there, and we got a combination of them. However, I must add, she TOTALLY fits in. Aside from the fact that she chews MY shoes (and my other half's crocs - but those DESERVE to be eaten by the dog - they are SO FUGLY!), she's been great!! She's forced us to walk more often, and she has been a great companion for us all.


So that's our news. We are looking forward to some summer adventures (topping last years will be tough - we had a PHENOMENAL summer last year), but we'll definitely make some incredible memories and experience some fun times.

AND ...stay tuned, because I have TONS of things to post about in the upcoming days. I'm BAAACCCKKK - and I'm on fire! And at some point, I'll be hopped on pain-killers. Imagine THOSE posts!!