Election Stress

My biggest guilty pleasure is Fox News. I'm a news junky, I just can't get enough. Its the only thing I put on T.V. when I actually get the remote, which isn't very often. Even when I get in the car I turn it to Fox News Radio. I am driving my family crazy. This has been going on for at least a year already.

Anyway, as I was listening to it this morning I was getting so frustrated and spun up about the upcoming election. I won't discuss who I think would do a better job because I know I'll offend half of my blog readers. I feel very strongly about how I will vote and I usually can see both sides of a story but not this time.

I am so frustrated by the politicians and news media stereotyping and categorizing each racial group and statuses like working class, blue collar workers, single mothers, evangelicals, catholic, etc... When you really think about who is keeping this country divided? Who thinks they know how everyone will vote? I know that when I think of America I do not stereotype or categorize people into groups.

I can't believe that we believe everything these politicians say. Please don't just vote by what they say in their speeches, we all know its fluff. Research their backgrounds, experience and take a close look at the decisions they made earlier in their lives. Take a look at what they were doing before the media was following them around.

First Day of School

The kids had a great first day of school! They were ready an hour before we had to go to the bus stop because they were so excited!

I did make a mistake and put the wrong bus on Garrett's bag so he was a little lost after school and did not get off the bus with Robyn. Luckily, the bus I assigned him too had a drop off right down the street and we were reunited without me having a heart attack.

The kids gave me lots of homework and my hand is still sore from filling out all the forms. Is there any particular reason they have you fill out the same information on both sides of an emergency form? That drives me nuts!!

We made it!!

Yesterday was our 10 year anniversary and we made it!!! I have to tell you that marriage gets much easier after the first 7 years! The last couple of years have been so much more fun. I think you get to a point where you know so much about the other that its easier to anticpate what they need.

We had a great anniversary. The kids are staying with Doug's parents and I pick them up tomorrow. We went to a movie that was not kid related, Tropic Thunder, and we went to a nice dinner at the 100th Bomb Squad Rest near the Cleveland airport. It was nice to get dressed up and not be on a schedule. We just did what we felt like doing for a change. We get to do that again today. I think we may stay closer to home today and enjoy being in the pool without the kids.

On Monday we get to go to the school's Open House to meet the teachers. The kids start school on Tuesday. Robyn will be in 3rd grade and Garrett will be in 1st grade. I am so excited but I feel terribly guilty for being so excited. I think it will be better for all of us. It was getting to hard to work from home with the kids being here all day. I'll be able to focus so much more and they'll get to see their friends.

Here's a little about what I learned about my children this summer.

Robyn: She has always seemed a little shy around new people but she was able to go up to girls her age that she didn't know and introduce herself and begin playing with them - huge step. She became very interested in softball and became the most improved player for the season. She is very inventive and never lets herself get bored (example - she created a target out of a large piece of paper and set it up outside so she could practice her water gun shooting). She loves chick flicks and I have a new buddy to watch them with. She is very inside her own head about her feelings so I need to help her get it out. She is a completely messy child when it comes to her room. Aren't all great thinkers chaotic like that?

Garrett: He is the best behaved child ever---if he doesn't get bored. He loves to run and has endurance like I have never seen. His best position for playing football is cornerback, you assign him to a boy and that boy will have no chance to score. He has a great imagination for fighting evil alien forces. He loves to joke around and have fun. He also likes to instigate like Grandpa W. He is a neat freak and can't stand his room being in chaos. The time has come where he is not a momma's boy anymore. He has moved on to being all about dad and sports. All this time of Garrett and I being together and not getting along as well made me realize its because we are more lot alike than we thought.

Zoo

I realized the other day that the kids were starting school in a week and half so we decided to get in some more summer fun.

Doug and I decided to surprise the kids and take them to the zoo. We told them that Doug had to pick up something from a Cleveland train yard and they bought it. They were shocked when we got there. They had only been to the Philadelphia zoo before.

They could not have been any happier and were even more excited that we bought season passes. It was so cheap compared to the price for one day for the four of us. Now we can go every few weeks!

The highlight was definitely petting the stingrays and seeing the sharks and cheetahs.

New Goals

After an emotionally tiring week I've decided to re-evaluate some areas of my life and make changes. I have been getting worn down by the constant demands of my children along with endless activities and work. I have decided to shift some priorities around to keep my sanity and to keep peace at home.

I'm at a point in my life where I just want things as simple and relaxed as possible. I really feel too young to be thinking like this but I can't help it so here are the areas I'm working on.

**I'm going to stop listening to any music other than Christian. For those of you that know me this is a huge step and a bit extreme. I love music but I am getting so sick of the lyrics and want more meaning. This is really having a huge, negative impact on our youth and I don't think most people realize this. I know, I sound like a mom from the fifties talking about rock and roll.

I feel like there is always so much action and chaos in my mind and Christian music really inspires me and clears my head. As I'm going through my tasks with my iPod I feel a magical peace that helps me to tune out negative thoughts and worries.

**I'm going to make some minor changes to my diet. I generally eat healthy but I'm going to cut out more sugar (Cheerios instead of Honey Nut Cheerios) and eat more fruits and vegetables.

I'm also cutting out the carbonated, flavored water that I've been drinking. I have switched to one Crystal Light Mental Energy Flavored Packet a day, in the morning, and will drink regular water and milk the rest the day. This sounds like a minor switch but I'm pickier about what I eat while drinking water.

**I'm going to get back to regular exercise. This summer I've been relying on swimming in the pool but I'm not getting a concentrated workout. I really need the structure of the treadmill to exercise. To me there is nothing better than getting on the treadmill and tuning out the world. I put on the iPod and sing and dance while I'm running or walking (its a sight to see). I come up with my best ideas during this time.

It seems like injuries, sicknesses and activities keep getting in the way of this time but I'm not going to let it happen anymore. I'm going to make it a priority.

Taking care of myself in these minor ways will help me to be more relaxed around my family. I've been working so hard to make sure my kids were having a fun summer that I haven't had time for myself. Do you believe I haven't had a moment alone since June 5th?

The good thing is that football and cheerleading have started. Garrett and Doug (he's one of the football coaches) go on two nights and Robyn goes on three nights. That means two nights a week for 2 hours I'll be completely alone. When school starts at the end of August Doug and I will have Fridays completely alone. I can't wait!!

Since I've typed all this out I expect you to keep me accountable for the goals that I have set up!!

Unexpected Trip

On Friday I found out that my uncle passed away so Sunday we took an unexpected trip out to PA so we could attend the funeral on Monday.

On the way we ran into a delay from a serious accident. We made the most of it and visited with the neighboring cars, took pictures (like a good little blogger) and climbed the hill so the kids could go potty. These delays only happen when you have to go to the bathroom :).

The funeral went well and I really felt like I was able to say goodbye. Along with that, I was able to take some great new perspective away with me. We spent time visiting with extended family that was long overdue.

My sister and her son from NC were also able to make it out for the funeral so we all stayed at my parent's house. The cousins really enjoyed playing together again.

Here are some pictures from the trip.

The PA turnpike

Robyn stretching her legs on the turnpike

My dad's wonderfully organized garage (does anyone wonder where I get it from?)

He even puts his Covettes on shelves.