Neighbor nerves

It has not escaped my attention that my last blog entry was almost exactly 3 years ago.  Talk about becoming delinquent!

The house beside us is going up for Sale.  Again.  We have lived on our little square, (yes it really is a square!) for almost 10 years now.  In that time, the houses on either side of me have been sold and re-sold 7 times, if not more.  I'm starting to think that I must be a terrible neighbor.  I try to keep my herd quiet, and make sure to clean up after the dog.  I'm friendly and will occasionally shovel your driveway for you.  But if that's not good enough, well then, I give up.

And so begins the neighbor anxiety.  You know that feeling when you can't help but hope for quiet, considerate, neighbors?  And end up with a couple of teenagers who have parties until all hours of the morning?  You wonder who is going to buy the house?  Maybe that nice older couple we saw driving by slowly to get a good look.  Are there going to be problems? Are my kids going to make new friends? Am *I* going to make new friends? It lasts until the new occupants move in and pleasantries are exchanged.  Then you breathe a sigh of relief and wonder why you ever worried.

It's totally normal to own 3 motorcycles right?

Spring has Sprung!

For the last couple of weeks I have been holding my breath. Hoping that it was all over, but fearing one last assault. I am finally starting to let my guard down a little. I mean who wouldn't with something as beautiful as this:

I cannot take credit for this photo. My 5 year old took it!

Anna (4) came home with this cute plant last week. She grew it from a seed and was very proud of herself. She vowed to be the one to feed and water it. I asked her what kind of plant it was and her response was "a wheat plant". Ummmm, wheat? really? I am trying to help it along but it's not doing so well. I think it might need more sunshine. No matter what, it's a great reminder that Spring has Sprung, that things are growing and blooming and that the warm weather might just be sticking around for a while.

Better late than never?

I have started toying around with Twitter a bit more, and have found this great blog. One of the things that she does, is a Monday Moments, where she gives a topic and encourages other bloggers to post an entry of their own on the same topic. I like the idea of being given a starting point. It's a fun challenge.

I was supposed to have posted this yesterday, but as usual, life got in the way. I apologize profusely and will do better next time! Promise!

Here it is, my first Monday Moment!

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I am new to this Monday stuff, but like Capital Moms blog and am always looking for ideas. So I will jump right in. I am having these random thoughts as the day goes on, and jotting them down. Its a bullet entry, wait is that allowed? J

When I first read the word Focus, to be totally honest, the first thing that came to mind was the Ford Focus. I blame it on The Amazing Race. Then it led me to thinking about getting a new car. It’s something that’s been in the back of mind and i’m not really sure why. We are in no position to replace our trusty minivan, but I can’t seem to help thinking what if?

Focus is something that does not come naturally to everyone. A lesson I learned a little too late.

Focus is what it takes to be able to listen to, and hear a 5 year old when a 4 year old is trying to interject.

Focus is what I use to read my beloved books while the noise level of my house steadily rises.

Hello old friend

A couple of days ago, I was reading some of my favorite blogs and started to think about my own experience blogging. I know that I enjoy writing, sharing little tidbits of my life and whatnot. Yet I can't help but wonder, if no one is reading, then what's the use.

I need to remember that my blog is for ME, that it's MINE and that it doesn't matter how many people read. I enjoy the feeling of hitting the publish button and whatever happens after that will happen. No big deal.

Or so I can tell myself right?

If you are new here then Hello, welcome! Please feel free to say hi in the comments. I make no guarantees but there will most likely be some posts, at some point, in the near future :)

Catch up!

So, a month without posting. I should be ashamed right? Well, it is MY blog after all!

I must admit that the last month has found me to be extremely busy. So much so that I am not able to enjoy downtime anymore. I just want to keep going and going. I can't help but wonder how much my new diagnosis/meds play into this, but I'm not going to over think it. I am enjoying being busy, doing new things with the girls and just generally being busy.

One of the things that I had hoped to really make use of this summer was my new bike. Purchased late, I had hoped to get much more use of it than I really have. While I enjoyed the few times that I took it out, I find that the girls are at awkward ages for biking. My 5 year old likes to bike on her own but can't go far distances and my almost 4 year old would love to be able to come along too but she just can't keep up so she gets to sit in the trailer. This summer was sweltering hot and humid and that also played a part in my inability to get out riding. Hopefully now that fall and the cooler weather is almost here I can take advantage of my afternoons alone to get out there and burn some rubber!

I had high hopes for the summer, but as we go into it's final week I know it's time for the girls to get back to school. We need the routine and structure that school brings. This will be the first year that both girls will be in school every afternoon, 5 days a week. It's bittersweet, sending my babies to school but I know that they are ready and will enjoy it so much. I have some big plans while they are gone, mostly to finally clean out my garage (I mean, who really needs 3 strollers and a bike trailer with two kids almost 4 and 5???) and I'd like to clean out basement and get it ready to use as a playroom for the winter.

The basement has been on my project list basically since we moved in. It was not finished well, with bowing wood panelling and a terribly put up suspended ceiling but for all intents and purposes it is mostly finished. It needs some flooring, to cover the poured concrete floor and some TLC but I think I can make it a fun place for the girls to hang out or play. Right now the basement is the catch all for everything that I can't bear to get rid of or that has no home elsewhere in the house. I plan to do a massive decluttering and to show no mercy! If it hasn't been looked at or used in the past year, it's going to charity or the garbage.

With the end of summer comes lots of changes and new goals. I am anxious to see where it all leads.

ADDled

There have been some recent medical /medication changes in my life and I must admit that they have occupied most of my time. I have seen a new Doctor that I trust and that is proving to be very knowledgeable and friendly to boot! So yeah, consumed.

But, on the flip side of those changes emerges a different me. Ok cheesy!!! Seriously tho, I changed meds and so far they seem to be helping. (Or maybe it’s the week off while the kids were in summer camp!). I digress, I have been spending time with each of the members of my family and enjoying it. I am able to sit and play a game interrupted. I can listen and converse in a mostly appropriate fashion. I can leave the mess for the time being (I will get to it tho!). I am making lists??? Every day, a list of things that need to get done. I mean who is this person?

There are some things that I am still trying to come to grips with, both physically and psychologically but I’ll get there. Part of me is also waiting for the crash, since this is almost too good to be true.

One day at a time right?

We’re going into the August long weekend and we still so many fun things to do! I’m excited for the girls. It’s going to be so much fun.

I hope all of you are enjoying your summers as well!

Let go

One of the things that I am working really hard on is being able to let things go. I am a control freak by nature but it hasn't done very well for me. It usually keeps me anxious and feeling like I can't do it all. Letting go is a challenge, one that I am sure will take me a long time to overcome. But the ability to let go is so freeing, when it's done properly. I admit that sometimes I act the part, I remind myself over and over to just "let it go".

While researching some discipline techniques for my almost 5-year old, I came across this little gem. It's funny how I find these things at the oddest of places. In any case, it really spoke to me and I thought that maybe someone else could benefit from it as well.