Sunset Picts

Took some pictures of the sunset with my phone. There is nothing like a summer sunset.  I thought I would share.  Enjoy the beautiful day!

Busy Summer

Living in a location where I experience all four seasons, we are very excited when the summer months are actually upon us.  Being able to get outside to do family activities frequently is the goal that we try to achieve.  It sounds simple enough, but it can be exhausting and sometimes hard to attain.


I look in my personal calendar and see that on each weekend, there is an event scheduled.  This even occurs on weekdays.  The majority of these events are ones that we did not schedule.  From birthday parties, graduation parties, festivals, meetings, etc. the lists and plans seem endless.  We never seem to have free weekends to just randomly make a decision on what we want to do for that day.  The days are already laid out for us.


It is wonderful that we have activities going on during the summer months, but it becomes exhausting as well.  In addition, I feel that the household chores suffer because we are always on the run.  There is no time to re-cooperate from the weekend or events that we have attended.  Plus the heat alone exhausts the family. 


It seems that we try so hard to fit everything into the small time frame that we label "Summer."  I am curious how much of the summer we are actually enjoying.  I think it is the small things that matter the most.  The campfire... the summer drive... the ice cream truck treat... the swim...the beach... all the random unplanned things that we do that we tend to remember the most. 

Can I Get My Foot In the Door?

I remember years ago watching a Chris Rock Comedy Special. One of my favorite lines he referenced was, "Let me get my other foot in the ... door." Now he was not referencing children, he was talking about relationships when he made the comment, however I think back to his comment each day!


I get home, walk in the door and before I can even turn around to close the door I hear," Mom, can I..." Here I am, purse, lunch box, bags,etc. in hand. The dog is jumping on me as the air conditioning is escaping the home. I am expected at that exact moment to what Get a drink, a snack, put on a show, goback out side for them to ride their bikes, etc. Can I please breathe? Can I have a moment to slow my mind from the day I have just had and process the fact that I am now home? Can I sit for just one moment? Or better yet, can I set my stuff down?


I am amazed by the amount of energy that my children have. I drink coffee to try to grasp a small amount of it. And I am thankful that they are able to have that energy. I just wish the energy could be put on pause for 5 minutes after work for me to be able to gather my thoughts.

Ghost Application... Does it Work?

So a few days ago, my husband comes to me and tells me he had this application running on his cell phone while playing Pictionary with the kids.  It is called Ghost Radar Classic.  He tells me that while he was drawing pictures for the children, the phone, or application, spoke the words that he was drawing.


Of course, I was interested, as I have always had some sort of interest in the supernatural.  So, I would walk around the house with the application on, and sure enough, in certain parts of the home, I would find more activity than others.  Some of the messages made sense while others, not so much.


After reading up on the Ghost Radar Classic I am a skeptic.  Do I want to believe it is real?  Maybe.  Why am I not 100% sold?  If it were this easy to track spirits and communicate, then   why do true "Ghost Hunters" not use them... at least not that I have seen.


I guess this "application" will always be up for discussion as long as it is out there.  Till then, it is your own personal opinion on what you want to believe...

Sleepover In Mom's Room?

So, after a long weekend, I was looking forward to a nice, relaxing Sunday night sleep. No such luck.  I ended up with two children and a dog in my bed.  Must have been something in the air last night that said,"Sleepover in mom's room?" 


First, it was my younger son, who was scared to sleep in his room.  Occasionally, I let him fall asleep in my bed and then I move him when I go to sleep. I was so tired, I made the exception. Bad idea... 1:30 in the morning comes along and his older brother wakes up with a nightmare and needs to sleep in my room.  


So, I have a child on one side of me, one below him and a dog, laying on my legs.  I could not move for 5 hours.  My back hurts this morning. Needless to say, dad did not get to sleep in his bed last night. 


This cannot become a normal routine, because a busy mom needs her sleep!

Garbage Night...

Why is garbage night so difficult?  Garbage... collect... take out side... walk to curb.  However it seems the garbage that is already outside is always taken to the curb however the garbage that is indoors is always left behind.


Is this for the reason that I have not prepared it? I have not physically put it outside the house myself? We really only have a few garbage cans that need collected indoors, so is it really that difficult?  I'm not quite sure I understand it.


Could anyone help explain this to me?  Is there a way to get the garbage from indoors from being forgotten?  I really don't think it is necessary to have a full bag of garbage the night after garbage is collected.

  

Celebrate :)

Here is to wishing all a wonderful 4th of July Holiday with Family and Friends! Be safe and remember why we are celebrating! 

Panama Rocks, NY

Wanted to share some wonderful photos of some unique outdoor views.  Great place to take the family for a day of trail walking and exploring!  Enjoy!

Step-Mom as a Friend on Facebook?

So my step-son recently joined Facebook.  He is in High School. I friend requested him and he accepted and he added me as a friend.  But did he really want to? Or was it more obligation for the mere fact that I purchased the cell phone that gives him the Facebook access?


Allowing me to be his friend gives me incite to what he is doing, who is is friends with, etc.  That is not why I friend requested him, that is just a plus.  I did it to try to build our relationship.  However, he does not respond to my posts and ignores that I am there.


So, do I remove myself and make a point?  Or stay on and make a point?  Teenagers are difficult creatures that truly, I wish could hop into my shoes for a day.  Just to see that we, as parents, are here to help and guide rather than rule and destroy! LOL


So for today, I am his "friend."  As for tomorrow, we shall see.