School Can't Start Soon Enough!

Hello!  It's less than a week away till school starts and we are ready!  School supplies are purchased.  School clothes are waiting to be worn.  Fees have been paid for middle school and high school.  The middle school and high school already have had their pictures taken!  I am grateful for the long break my kids had but am ready to send them back!  They are ready too, I can tell.  They are starting to argue over meaningless things just for sport.  At this moment they are arguing about how much water on the bathroom rug is too much from the shower...who is smacking their mouth too much when eating (it's always the one not eating who's complaining!) ...and my favorite, someone lopping over into their square on the couch.  Did I mention that I cannot wait till next Wednesday?

One great thing happening this week is that Andrew finally, after 3 years, finishes his Master's Degree.  He will be for real done...no more to do...zilch...nada!  He was allowed to graduate in June because he had 2 classes left to finish, but that was not really the end till now!  I am very proud of his hard work over these three years which would have only been two if it weren't for my stupid cancer treatment.  To commemorate, we will be going out to dinner with some friends.  Yay! 

So we are finishing up some old things and starting some new...that's just the way I like it!

Feeling Lucky!

I am reveling in the joy of living where I do.  It seems surreal to live here.  I asked my husband the other day when it would stop feeling like I'm on permanent vacation.  He doesn't feel that way because he's working really hard; but I do.  I been doing touristy things such as going to local berry farms suggested in Sunset magazine, enjoying Washington State parks, and taking a ferry to a nearby island. The funny part is that I didn't partake in these things when I lived here before.  Maybe it was because my kids were small, but really I think it's because I didn't appreciate it fully.  It wasn't until I left that I regretted not doing more.  I can tell that people who have lived here a long time don't know that they are lucky.  I walked out of the grocery store this morning and saw the marina with sailboats across the street.  It beat the Rite Aide with the weed-filled field behind it at my previous grocery store any day!  I am a person who is easily bored, so enjoying where I live is important.  I am going to commit to enjoy this place to the fullest!  When I feel discontent creeping in, I will go look at the view from my front porch and thank the Lord for allowing me to return!

I hope you enjoy the view from your front porch too...wherever you are!


Janice

Hello, I'm back!

After a six-month hiatus, I am back.  It's been a heck of a six months and I have not had time to update.  My last post was back in January.  That was three surgeries and a two-state away move ago!  Luckily, I am done with surgery for a while and I hope I don't ever have to move again!
We were so blessed to move back to our favorite place, Anacortes, Washington at the end of June.  We are slowly getting settled and getting our stuff put away.  The funny part of our move is that we moved into our old house.  We are leasing it this time, which is weird.  I told Andrew I will become a squatter if they don't sell it to us because I really don't want to move...ever!  Andrew's Mom said, "There's nothing worse than touching everything you own.!"  It is so true!  I have found some advantages to moving into a house where you once lived:  1) You already know the neighbors. 2) There are nail holes from things you once had up on the wall....a big time-saver!  3) You already know where most of your stuff will go.  These factors have made our transition easier!
Well, that's it for now.   It's good to be back!
Janice

Some Thoughts.....

I have some random thoughts to share with you today.  They are in no particular order; they will be just as I remember them:

1.  I discovered I like my boys playing the sport of basketball.  It provides 2 nights a week of physical 

     activity, which they need, and an hour of peace for me.  I also like that it is indoors.  I am not the 

     kind of girl who likes to freeze outside to watch sports....nope, not at all.  I am enjoying watching

     my boys learn and grow.  I am also amazed at how many kids trip playing this sport...it happens a lot!

 2.  I got a Gypsy last night.  It goes with the Cricut Expression I got at Christmastime.  That thing is so much fun!  The Cricut (pronounced~cricket) will cut out letters, shapes,  and a multitude of other things.  I tried being a scrapbooker (who it is made for) but that didn't work out.  I do like making cards, making gift tags, having nice looking letters to put on things, etc. ,so it works for me too!  The Gypsy just helps to design things to cut out on my Cricut.  I have so much to learn!

3.  I am getting ready to have my reconstruction surgery on January 24.  It's going to be a bigger surgery than I had anticipated and I'm not looking forward to it...just to getting it done!  It includes a tummy-tuck so at least my stomach will be flatter!  My fabulous parents will be coming to help.  Thank heaven for them!

4.  Verizon is putting out an iPhone at the beginning of February.  I've been saying I wish they would for a long time!  I'm really trying to figure out how to afford one...and the monthly fee that would incur...I'm trying not to get excited!

Well, that's my random thoughts for now...Take Care!

Janice

Why I Like Facebook.....

I'm not quite sure why there are so many critics of Facebook out there.  I find it very satisfying to click on my homepage and have messages, see what my friends are doing, and even have people request to be my friend.   It is very good for the self-esteem.  I guess it relates to my love of getting mail.  I guess I even like junk mail because if my mailbox is empty, I'm disappointed.  But my favorite type of mail is a hand-written note...and a check (of course!).  It's a sad observation that there are fewer and fewer hand written notes these days...and I think that's where Facebook fills that need.  I get mini notes all the time!  I love being able to carry on a discussion with my friends, near and far, and know what is going on in their lives.  I have heard people say that people who like Facebook are self-absorbed because they post updates about themselves, but I think that's a very limited view of Facebook.  Sure, I post updates like the others, but I LOVE reading my friend's updates.  I have also heard that it's a time-waster.  That is most definitely true, for some; but I know a lot more people who waste much more time doing other things (e.g. TV, video games).  Lastly, I'm a very social person.  If I have too many days in a row, by myself, I start to get depressed.  Others energize and refresh me!  So thank you Facebook...you can be my friend anytime!

Why Is It So Dang Hard To Pick A Baby Name?

Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.  ~Thomas C. Haliburton

I was looking up baby names for my niece today.  Out of 1,000 names, there were 6 they liked.  It seems that many names conjure up a person who is annoying, who is a demon-kid, or doesn't go with the last name.  And, of course, my whole family also had their opinions of the names that were read off the list.  I was thinking to myself, How in the world did I come up with my own kid's names? There is even a professional service that, for $49.99, will send you name suggestions with some information you input.  I also saw a name generator that will give you 30 names when you input three you like.  Other important ideas to consider are:  If a mean childhood nickname can be made from that name; If that initials spell something embarrassing (e.g. P.U.S.); or how many kids at one time have that name.  I sub for a class with 2 Haileys, 1 Kaylie, 1 Jadee, and 1 Shaylee....It gets confusing!  My niece's last name is Lesseg, which eliminates lots of names.  Anything that ends with an L sound or is too rhymy doesn't go with it.  I am of the opinion to find a name and sit with it until the baby is born ,but, and this is important, don't tell anyone!  EVERYONE has an opinion of every kind of name!  If you Mom or Aunt Margaret don't like it, you are back to the drawing board. Pick the one you like and let the name be a surprise!  At that point, everyone will know there is no turning back!  This is my advice for Amber!  Although I do know of an angel named Janice!  Ha! Ha!.....

P.S. How about we find out the gender of your baby and leave the name a surprise?   I would really like to know!

Yum!

I made these today:

These are called pancake puppies....my friend called them hushpuppies....Whatever you call them, they are good!  Here is the link!  I didn't make the blueberry kind.  I used plain Krusteaz pancake mix and added chocolate chips...yum!  That is syrup in the middle.  And...they are deep fried....bad for you, but good.

Today was a good day.  I was in my pajamas until after lunch, which is not like me!  It usually bothers me to stay in my pj's that long.  I was tired though, and welcomed the idea of not having to do anything!  I was able to go through some of my stacks of papers that seem to procreate overnight on the flat surfaces of my house!  While tidying the house, I found my Christmas wrapping paper that I bought from the school fundraiser, many little tiny toys, a purple highlighter, and 1 missing glove!  It was a good and productive day!  Now I am going to begin wrapping!  I need to mail my Christmas gifts to Washington because we are headed there for Christmas come rain, snow, blizzard, etc.  Like this:

 This is video from our last Christmas trip to Washington in 2008.
  Well, I'd better get wrapping!  Enjoy the season!



Janice