Wow, I didn't even remember my log in information, but I have been thinking of my long forgotten blog lately.  I think that the biggest detriment to the blog has been my involvement with Facebook.  I interact with so many more friends and family members there than I could ever gain as followers for my blog.  It became a spot for posting quick updates, photos, and news.  So much has happened in the time that I have been away.  Even despite the quick update May 2011 - over a year ago.

I started my own career counseling business.  Hannah found true love, and then fell out of love.  Keith is still a workaholic. Our beloved Maisy had 2 strokes and, after going blind, we felt we needed to stop her suffering.  Hannah attends a magnet high school in the center of the county for biotechnology and really loves her new school. 

More to follow?

I'm still here!

I know a few people have asked if I would ever go back to my blog. I've been spending more time on Facebook over the past year because I was finding that fewer people were writing long posts and weren't taking the time to read long posts as well.

It has been almost a year since my last post. At least it was the start of the 8th grade school year and here we are at the end. I measure time by Hannah's school year still. Her last day will be June 10 and then she will officially be a "high school student". It's so hard to believe.

I'm getting ready to drift off to sleep, but thought I'd drop a quick note here. Hannah is going in to have her wisdom teeth removed tomorrow so it will be a fun weekend.

Haven't given up yet

Although it would seem so, since it has been almost a month and a half since my last entry to this blog. I have been working closer to 30 hours a week now, and still keeping on top of Hannah's activities and schedule from the moment I start heading home. It is an insane life, but I love it. Hannah is having so much fun on the Dance & Drill team at school. What a great group of girls. She took a hiatus from cheerleading at the gym, but returned this evening to pick that back up. Things have been tight for her since dance & drill practice is 3x a week. It keeps her out past 6 pm and it is harder to get homework done. She is doing an impressive job in school though. At the interim, her lowest grade was a 93. The girl has a 104 in math and a 100 in science. She did not get that from me. Those were not my strengths by any stretch of the imagination.

My class at Michaels didn't "make" for September, but I will be putting one on the books for October. I have a day off from the college tomorrow and may go by the store to see about setting that up. These part time jobs... I tell you. 3 of them... it's a bit much.

I am really content with the way things are going in my life though. No complaints.

Lifestyles of the Average and Spoiled :)

Just popping in tonight because I can't fall asleep. Nasty sinus headache. At 9 in the morning, MaidPro is sending over two employees to clean my house! It is in decent shape, but I made the appointment because I knew this week would be a bit crazy coming back from vacation and my mom will arrive on Sunday. I joined the Charlotte Groupon site and a few months ago, they were advertising a deal for a 3 hour cleaing with MaidPro for next to nothing, so I jumped on it and bought 2 (the max allowed) vouchers. I do feel pampered just knowing someone else is going to come in and vacuum my stairs and clean my blinds and yes, they do windows. With work 2x this week and the other running around I've been doing, it seems like I just start to put a dent in the heavier cleaning that I need to do, but by the time I finish with the next thing, the project I completed prior is a wreck again. A little help will be so nice.

Additionally, having someone ELSE dust will be a blessing for my allergies. I have been miserable for the past week.

Hannah has "C" sleeping over tonight. She has had a great first week of dance practices and has also been going to the gym faithfully every night and working on her tumbling skills. She convinced a friend from her birthday party to join the cheer squad and she's excited to have a closer friend from her school on the team with her!

I've gotten things rolling at Michaels and will start my first SDU series there on September 7th. It will run 4 consecutive Tuesdays from 11 - 1. I figured that would give moms enough time to get the kids off to school and get home in time to pick them up or meet their bus without starving them through lunch. Hopefully I will have some takers. I will be doing a 2 hour demo with the Cricut Expressions machine out on the sales floor. That will give me a chance to promote my classes as well. I started working on an advertising display board tonight, but didn't finish yet. Hopefully I will be able to tomorrow evening so I will have it for Sat.

See, it really has been a crazy week. 2 days at the college working, one day at Michaels working, dance and gym practices for Hannah in the morning and evening... Keith was out of town yesterday through the end of his work day today... oh, and did I mention the headache and allergies :) I feel blessed though that I have meaningful work that I enjoy, a husband who spoils me and works hard, and a daughter who is able to participate in so many activities that she loves.

We are getting a downpour of rain and that is NOT helping my allergies.

Home again

we had a remarkable vacation. The shows in Vegas were top notch. We saw Believe with Criss Angel and then O. Both were totally mind blowing. Hannah got a "sign" that was used in one of the illusions at Criss Angel's show and I know she has been guarding it with her life. She was so excited that he talked to her and gave her something from up on stage.

The Grand Canyon started out as a big disappointment. Totally blinded by clouds. Hannah and I climbed down to a ledge at one point and I was shooting up taking photos of Keith. We could barely see him from that angle either. We went on to an IMAX movie in the welcome center and had lunch and I noticed it was clearing up, so we went back and got the views I had hoped for.

Had a lot of fun staying at the "haunted" hotel, although we didn't see anything very scary. Well, we heard something scary, but that was just the karaoke at the bar behind our room.

Have been putting things back in order and prepping for my mom to arrive on Sunday and then my aunt and her friend to come on Thursday for a weekend in Charlotte scrapbooking at CKC. FUN!

Hard to believe school is just a little more than 2 weeks away now. I'm not ready for it to end yet. Hannah has started dance & drill practice as well as her other lessons at the gym. We are getting back to some sort of a routine now. It is probably better that we ease into it so she gets used to waking up earlier and not being able to nap and sleep all day. She has been keeping later and later hours.

Where is the summer going?

I can't believe it has been weeks since my last post. Honestly, there is a whole lot keeping me busy, but not a lot of it is "exciting". I am getting ready to go to sleep as tomorrow we will be embarking on a 5 night trip to Las Vegas. I will be fulfilling a life long wish of seeing the Grand Canyon. 2 days in Vegas, then 2 days driving to the Grand Canyon and stopping along the way in Arizona. I am looking forward to it, but not the 4 hour flight, of course. We got the deal of all deals on the airfare and since Keith usually takes a long weekend each summer for us to do a local roadtrip, it was actually the same cost, if not cheaper, to go to the other side of the country for this opportunity to visit the desert.

Hannah had a week of tumbling camp at her gym, she has been getting together on an almost rotating basis with several friends, sleeping over and having sleepovers. It is what summer is all about. When we get back from our trip, she will begin 3 mornings per week practices for dance & drill and her competition gym will resume its schedule as well.

We've had some down time and watched movies rented from "Red Box" (a new favorite of mine, can't beat the $1 rentals) and I've been reading as always. The book I'm reading right now (Blindness) is a bit heavy, so I am wondering if I will even bother bringing it on the trip. The writing style is interesting, but awkward for me to read since the author doesn't use quotation marks or paragraph breaks that often. My bookmark came out the other day and I couldn't figure out where the heck I left off!

Keith had his annual company picnic last weekend and it was a huge success, although HOT! As is my traditional role, I painted faces and probably did a good 45 by the time I finished. Hannah helped me this year and she did pretty well for herself.

Well, heading out so I can go to bed!

Weird day

I can't put my finger on it, it was just kind of a blecgh day. Got up early and took "B" home after a sleepover here, then off to the dermatologist for Hannah and I. Having my stitches removed was a bigger ordeal than it has been in the past and it required some "digging". Hannah was in tons of pain with the cryotherapy on her warts. We came home and crawled into bed together in my room and watched TV and took a Tylenol PM induced nap.

Before I knew it, it was time to take her out for her retainer appointment. They did the impression and actually made the retainer before we left. It was surprising. The retainer was a lot different than the one I had back in the day... it is actually a clear plastic overlay, like my bleaching tray. You can't even tell when she has it in. She will only have to wear it for the next two days, then it goes to bedtime for the rest of her life!

"C" is sleeping over tonight. Hannah has her dentist appointment tomorrow and I have work. Keith and I are going to tag team her dentist appointment. I will stay until he can take over and get her back home for me.