Wowie zowie

Every year we have a community yard sale. That is, we have a special day where everyone is encouraged to have a yard sale. Advertising is done in surrounding areas to invite people to our little community of about 200 homes. It is usually quite successful. In previous years I have been far too busy with school to have a yard sale. I have been de-junking my basement for months in anticipation of this event, which usually takes place on the second Saturday of June. Well, by June 2nd, I realized that no one had planned the event. So, ME, not having enough stress and bullshit in my life, I decided to co-ordinate the event for June 12th. Yes, I bet you're reading this and thinking "SHE'S CRAZY" but it worked out really well.

Stuart's cousin's baby was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Some community members had a BBQ fundraiser to help with the costs of travel to the baby's treatments. They held the BBQ on the same day as the community yard sale because there would be more people here in the village. It was quite a success. They raised over $1500.

My basement is looking really good. There are still many things that I need to get rid of. I am hoping to have another yard sale this summer. It would be nice to have another community yard sale with a little more PLANNING TIME and maybe the others would like to have another BBQ fundraiser at the same time.

stress

I can't believe some of the nonsense I have to deal with around here. Selena's mother, Marce, (my sister-in-law) is angry because of the comments my mother made on pictures of me and Selena on my facebook. A few months back, Selena won the local pageant. I had posted a picture of the two of us together with the caption "Miss Teen 2010 and Miss Teen 1997" because I had won the same pageant 13 years ago.

My mother said "You are a great role model for her and you have made such a difference in her life." Keep in mind I have been taking care of Selena for nearly 4 years now. Well, Marce blew up at my mom. She said that she deserved recognition for everything and not me. Whatever. She has been given much praise for the whole pageant thing by many people. I get one compliment and Marcy flips her lid!

So I told my mother-in-law the whole story and told her that I was deleting all of my facebook pictures so that her daughter cannot scan through all the comments for reasons to harrass my family. She was quite angry because she lives so far away and does not get to see her grandchildren more than twice a year and relies on facebook photos.

So Marce phoned me to apologize because she didn't realize how ridiculous it sounded until her mother told her what I had said. She also said that what is really bothering her is that on one of my pics of Selena, my mother commented "Selena is beautiful. She looks like her dad." because Marce thinks that Selena looks like her and to say otherwise is a slap in the face. Now THAT is freaking ridiculous! I believe that my two daughters are my carbon copies, but I have had a few people say that they look more like Stuart. I just laughed. I think they must see them very differently than I do. I sure as hell didn't issue any death threats.

CRAZY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a lighter note, Gigi has been dragging herself across the living room floor. It's so funny. She gets so mad and frustrated thinking that we should be helping her, but she is really quite mobile on her own. It's just a matter of lifting her little belly off the floor and then she'll be crawling.

Busy, busy, busy

It's been a busy week for us here! I had to install a new safety gate at the stairs. Gloria has been bum-scooting all over the place. She also has been push herself backwards on her belly. It's funny because she gets stuck under things. I also did a ton of cleaning in the basement. We're ready for a yard sale now. I had to move beds around and put together Selena's bunkbed. She's quite happy with it.

Bunk beds, loft beds, and trundles, OH MY!

I bought Selena a new notebook computer on Friday. Sunday morning she brought it to me. About 1/3 of the screen was covered in cracks. Selena said "It's not my fault this time!" Apparently, Kimi slept in the room with Selena and Elle and when she woke up, she stepped on the notebook. Selena left it on the floor! So that means there are some issues to address.

Issue #1 Selena has a habit of not properly caring for her electronics. She should not leave stuff like that on the floor!

Issue #2 Selena and Elle's room is too cluttered. They clean, but the 2 beds take up half the room and the 3 dressers take up most of the remaining space.

Issue #3 Kimi should not be sleeping in the room with the older girls. She is only 7 and Elle and Selena are both 14. She prefers not to share a room with Ricky because he doesn't sleep much and watches TV all night. (I blame it on the ritalin.)

So, I went and bought a bunk bed for Elle and Selena. I moved Selena's trundle bed to Bridget's room. (Brig is ecstatic! She thinks it's brand new.) I moved Elle's bed to the boys' room as well as Bridget's box spring. I still have to clean up the spare room. I think I'll move Ricky into that one. Why should he remain in the biggest room in the house, when no one wants to share a room with him?

Cirque Estival

Just got home from bringing my girls to the circus. They loved it. My niece Selena, 14 had never been to the circus before. I thought it would be nice to bring her out there. She's a great kid. She's been with us for most of the last 4 years.

Bridget, Selena and I rode the elephant. It was fun... overpriced, but fun. I also brought Gigi. My dad and his girlfriend came along to keep an eye on Gigi. After a quick breastfeeding, she was quite interested in the event.

There's another circusin town next month. Maybe we'll go again.

Happy Mother's Day

to all the mothers out there!

I was quite pampered this morning. I got to take a shower without anyone banging on the door and then Stuart made me pancakes. Also, all of Stuart's kids were here for the weekend.

Elle is 14. She is quite popular in elementary school. She is excited to begin high school in September. Danny is 12. He is very big. He is about 5'4" and weighs about 240 lbs. Ricky is 9 years old. His birthday is September 11. He is very hyper but very interesting. Kimi is 7. She is quite the character. She must always get her way at her mother's house. She tries to be bossy over here, but I think she is outdone by Bridget.

Bridget cries everytime they leave to go back to their mom's. "I'm going to miss them so much."

First tooth

Gigi's first tooth broke through today! Finally! She's been teething for so long. Bridget only got her first tooth when she was 10 months old.