Out on the town alone

Many people might not know that the whole reason I started dating again was because "I wanted to share my life with someone." I was not really looking for relationships or love, just I guess companionship. Fortunately I was bless with a gift. I met a great man, who is everything I ever wanted and more. Okay enough with that mushy stuff.

However tonight he was busy and I had not one, but two parties to go to. I know! I too am not sure what is more surprising, that Turlock had two parties or that I was invited to both!!! Anyways, the first one was a 60th surprise party. A dear old friend of my fathers. I went and talked to many of the oldies but goodies. ( you know the parents friends that you know so well you have called them "aunt and uncle" and also know that they would take you in if ever need be. ) Well it was fine. I hung out and mingled with them. Basically I caught them up on my sister's and my life and found out what is going on in their children's lives. But I made my way out as dinner was being severed.

It was the early hour of 7:30 on a Saturday night as I find the address of second party, a wedding reception. I pull up and kinda hit myself in the head. I should have recognized the address. It was a former teacher of mine from high school's house. I later worked and got fired from her, so needless to say she is not my most favorite person. I grit my teeth and march up to the house. As I walk in I realize it a gathering of old teachers of mine. Mostly ones I can call by name but don't have a thing in common with. And here is where I started to wish I had my partner in crime. I snag the first person and only other person I wanted to say hi too,besides the bride. We chat but it is strained. Another former teacher comes to join us but she confused on who I am. I make an excuse and vacate to relieve every one's discomfort. I find a quick path to the bride and say my hello. She is happy to see me and wants me to re-meet her kids. They don't know who I am and we say our awkward hellos. She is more then busy as the bride of the reception so she leaves me in a dust of which I understand. I then stand there not having a sole to talk to-not even a date. And here is where the whole thing comes full circle. I started dating to not have to do this horrible dance again. I am not faulting him for being busy, I am just alone and wanting him to be by my side.

But more times then not he is up for any adventure I throw his way. Only he and the Lord know what crazy things we get into.

Updating and Reconnecting

So much has happened in the last 9 months! Many of you who will read this already know 99% of what has happened so I wont bore you with the details. So as of today....

If you know anything about me you know that I really dislike and really do hate being alone. Trust me, I am not the wimpy person who is afraid of the world and can't stand on my own two feet. It is just that I really do get depressed being on my own for any length of time. So it was ironic that today I chose to be on my own. I parked my butt in front of my dvr and busted out my neglected scrap booking stuff. This where I stayed for 4 hours only getting through a few pages of pictures and episodes of Oprah. Many of you are thinking-"that show has been over for months". And you are right. I am just now getting to watch them. The very last one was deeply touching. Even a non-Oprah fan could see great points in this show. (If you did not see it WATCH IT) Even hours later I am still moved by the ideas and messages she was trying to convey. I plan to tape it and watch it often. As I watched it I wish I had my students to show this to. It was that moving.

If you watched it then and have forgotten, or missed it completely, this was my favorite points.

Take responsibility for yourself.

After I typed this one as my favorite I changed my mind. There were to many that were favorites. So here are a few more....

Be worthy of your gift.

Inspire others to be their best.

I would love to share my points of veiw on all of these great ideas but you would spend the rest of your life here reading my soapbox words. So just ask me if you want to know. I would really love to hear you ideas in a conversation too.

As I continue to adjust to my new life style change, I ponder how I can do these things that I use to use as creative outlets, and teaching tools. Besides my children who else can I inspire? How do you take responsibility when you feel like you have so much more to share? Feeling that guilt how can I be worthy of the gift that has been given to me?

So as I seek out my answers in life, I will keep you posted. Thank you again for coming back to this blog just as I have.

With my love,

Hayley

Family Shots

If you can't tell I am so lucky to have the cutest kids in the world. I am bias but I think these family shots turned out good! Yea. If you have ever taken picture with kids you know how challenging it is. It never figures that someone is doing something different. But with one of the best photographers I have worked with and the help of M&Ms, these ones turned out. I am so happy with them, you will see them again as Xmas cards.

Look for a few Halloween ones too coming soon.

The Next Clare

So the 2010 cast of the Nutcracker was announced this week. For the first time it was bitter sweet that I was not casted. As much as I love to preform on a stage, it is time to pass on the stage. I was very surprised to see that Laura was casted though. I was told that she needs to be 6 years old to try out. However Laura was casted as the youngest member. She is going to be a Ginger Child and lamb. This was the same part I was in last year. I almost wish I was Momma Ginger just so that Laura and I could be on stage together. But I am just to old and out of shape to be a pretty sight. Regardless I am so excited for Laura. She will be very cute in the costumes and I don't think she will get shy on stage.

I asked the directer of the studio if I could borrow the DVD just to show Laura what it was all about. She fell in love. After I showed her her part, she said she wanted to be the one in the red outfit. This was the Rose Queen-the second principle role. Her response was "Yeah, I just want to be Rosie". Then she spent the next 30 minutes dancing in front of the TV dancing like the ballerinas. It was adorable. I loved it. I can't wait for December to come.

I tried to post the video here but it is very dark. I will work on catching the next time our Clare does a local performance.

Really?????

I can't believe it. If you have talked to me in the last month or so you would know that I have learned that I am highly allergic to many, many things. I am lucky that I don't have to change many things of my life to accommodate. Just staying away from onions and garlic which I love. Regardless my point is tonight I was outside about 7 pm for my kids exchange. I know that I was outside for 3 minutes and I started itching like crazy. I truly thought I was having a reaction to something. As I was absorbing my kids for the first time today, and I was going through a mental check list of what I had done and what I had eaten. Not coming to a conclusion I threw on some lotion and when on with the bath routine. As I was running the water I was itching like crazy all over my legs and arms. Laura was cute and offered her medicine for her skin to try and help me. It was not until everyone was in the bath and had a moment to look at my skin. It was then that I saw that I had over 20 mosquito bites covering me. I too am allergic to these. So I had welts every where. I could not believe that I was eaten alive within a short time. With this many bites I had to have be standing in a cloud of them. How could I not notice them? Really???? So I am itching like a crazy women. So then I run to the Benidral. Of course I don't have any, so I find the kids bottle. I end up taking 4 spoonful (which is what the box said) of bubble gum flavor to control the swelling. Why me? I am get shorter patients with my health these days. My next doc appointment is not until Nov. but am thinking about calling them in the morning and moving it up. So I will keep you up to date if anything happens. In the mean time do you know any ideas to get rid of itchiness?

Cute Sayings

If you don't know I am collecting cute sayings and comments that children of all ages say. Email them, text or call me to share and I will add it to my collection.

Quote of the day is from Laura at the age of 4 years old with a sassy attitude. " See Momma I am so smart and I haven't even gone to college yet."

If this a sign of what my future hold until she moves out and does go to college, I have got a lot to worry about.

Halloween Hits the Ralston House

As you can see the season is upon us. It is so much fun to see the holidays through the eyes of a child. If you feel disspirted (word?) by the holidays, grab a kid next to you and watch them react to the simplest things. Their excitement is addicting and motivation. As my kids "helped" me decorate the house for Halloween they were over the top. And each day they get up they are excited all over again. Talk at the dinner table is about when we are going to the pumpkin patch and ticker treating. They are even excited about see their old art work from last year that I saved as part of our decorations for this year. How fun it is to see them with such passion that it has sparked my love for it again too.
So if you don't have your costume picked out. Grab that kid standing next to you in the grocery store line and head down to the closest Spirt store and fall in love. (Don't really do the kidnapping part. It is illegal. However if you ask their parents I am sure they will just give the kid away.) If you are not that daring just fallow a family around the Spirt store to see the same reaction. You will find me next to the walking broom trying to figure out how that thing works.....