Where Has Cissa Been?

Hey guys, it's Cissa! :) Long time, no blog! Man, has it been busy around here! I had no idea that the older my kids got, it would be even more hectic!!!! You think when your kids are little that things are crazy! And, they are! It is just a different kind of crazy! As your kids get older, that craziness changes - it shifts! And, it is probably MORE crazy than you can even prepare for! And, my kids aren't even in sports or any extracurricular activities at the moment! I don't know how we would even squeeze that in!!! I have friends who do it, so I know it can be done, but I can't imagine having one more thing on our plates to do!!!! And, I don't work! I stay home!!!!! How do working moms do it??!! I have no idea 'cause I am barely hangin' on and I am at home! All I know is this: we are all in this crazy boat together!!!! We are all busy!!!! We are all trying to do our best!!! My only advise is: hang in there!!! :) I know that isn't saying much, but I do know that the busy times end and then there are some slower times! The slow times are the times when we need to be aware and take advantage of them!!!! And, during the crazy times, it is okay to let certain things go! We simply need to decide what things are the most important and focus on those things! The other things, the ones we let go, we will get back to them eventually! Don't make yourself "go crazy" in all the craziness trying to get everything done! Cause guess what?! You can't do it all!!!! All your plates you have spinning will come falling down if you don't let "some" things go! Give yourself permission to "only do what you can do!" And, remember, that we are all in this together! We all have our own crazy things going on!!!! So, let's pray for one another!!!! :)) Let's lift each other up in prayer b/c I know we all need it!!!!! :)

So, speaking of prayer, yes, I do need it!!!! :) I had my drs. appt. yesterday! I don't really know anything now (I had a physical), but on the outside everything looks good! They are doing all kinds of blood tests which I am confident will be fine! The dr. wants me to come back, for results, in two weeks! The big news is that I am going to the hospital! They want me to get an ultrasound on my neck! Yes, the dr. thinks I have a big, fat neck!!!!! LOL!!!! :) It is probably nothing, but my neck does look a little large (which some people just have larger necks)! LOL!!! :) They want to check my thyroid. Sooooo, just keep me in your prayers!!!! I am not really worried, just more concerned! It is always nerve racking when they send you for tests and you have to wait for the results!!!!! That is the nerve racking part - the waiting!!!!!! My appt., at the hospital, is on Tues. morning (the 2nd)! I won't know anything more until Weds. (the 10th) when I go back to the dr. You know they never tell you anything until your drs. appt. Until then, just be praying for me! THANK YOU, GUYS!!!!!!! It means a lot to me!!!!!!
Until next time, hang in there! :))

Answers with an "H"

Okay, I just read Carleta's blog and thought this was so cute! Of course, I ran off and answered them all right away! I don't know why, but these things are so much fun!!!! :) Enjoy! Oh, btw, some of my blogger buddies need to read my last entry (the one before this). I asked a question (for all my fellow bloggers to answer) and said I would "help" Emjaye (w/the top ten) while she is busy w/her studies! :) If you wanna know this week's question, check out my previous entry! With my question and Carleta's as well, we are keeping you busy!!!!! :)


Four letter word: HARP

Vehicle: HONDA

TV Show: HOUSE

City: HILLIARD

Boy Name: HEATH (my brother)

Girl Name: HEIDI (my sister)

Refreshing Drink: HAWAIIAN PUNCH

Occupation: HOUSECLEANER (I was gonna put "Hooker," but thought otherwise)! LOL!!!

Something you wear: HATS

Food: HOTDOGS

Something found in a bathroom: HAIRBRUSH

Reason for Being Late: HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING READY

Cartoon Character: HE-MAN

Something You Shout: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Place to visit: HAWAII


I LOOOOOOVE these kind of questions!!!!! Thanks to Carleta for passing it on for the rest of us to have fun with!!!! Some of the questions are harder to answer than others!
Have a great weekend!!!!!!! Maybe I will run into you at Arts in the Alley! We are bringing my niece, Gracie, so that will be fun!!!!! Look for future pictures coming up!!!!! Stay tuned!!!! :)

Here Comes Cissa!

Hey guys!!! I have noticed, that w/out Emjaye's Top Ten, it has been awhile since we all have updated! :) I know we are all very busy, but I think the top ten also helped us to check in and write a tad more. Sooooooo, on that note, here goes: I am listing "one" question for everyone to answer! It just so happens to be one of the suggestions I had passed along to Emjaye! :) I apologize upfront if it is a pain!!! You all will be screaming for Emjaye to come back!!!! :) I just figured I would "help" fill in a bit while Emjaye is busy w/her classes.
Sooooooo, the question is this: blog one favorite recipe to share w/the rest of us!!!! :) I am asking for a regular recipe - NOT a dessert! We will do a favorite dessert at another time! :) Again, this might sound like a pain to do and I apologize! I just, personally, need some new ideas! :) You all can vote me out of being the "temporary" fill in person!!!! LOL!!!! :) Anyway, I hope everyone is having a good week! We are going to be busy working on the basement this weekend. I will, however, find time to go to Arts in the Alley at some point!
Take care everyone and I am looking forward to seeing your recipes (or I am gonna look real stupid if nobody does it)! LOL!!! :)

Jacob's 1st Day of Preschool!

Sooooo, yesterday was another "1st" for us!!! Jacob and I started our preschool routine! As w/Jack, everything went very well! Actually, even better, if you consider Jacob's personality!!!! He woke up and was very tired, but still happy to go! He said he would sit w/out me and I hoped he was right! I am staying at the preschool due to the drive being so far and I feel it is best, as well, for Jacob at this time. I did keep telling Jake (to prepare him) that I couldn't sit w/him. I told him I have to sit at my own table away from the kids. When we got to preschool, Jacob sat down in his seat (I hear it is a pretty special seat) and once I got him started he said, "okay, go away!" Wow!!!!!!!! After that, he did really well. You can tell that he is still a bit shy and it will take time, but man, what an accomplishment for him to go off and be w/his class w/out me!!!!! He even went outside to recess w/out me tagging along! This is a huge, huge, big deal and we are sooooo proud of him!!!! It certainly makes him starting kindergarten next year feel less anxious (well, for mom, that is)! By then, he will be a whole year older and do even better! Sooooo, I am very happy that things went so good! And I am very proud of him! It is hard to watch the other kids run and play and have fun while your baby "wants" to go play, but it is harder for them to join in! Heck, even adults are like this! Some adults have never learned how to join in w/the others! Being shy can really inder your abilities in life! I was once way more shy in my life as well. I learned to become more outgoing and I hope to teach that to my children! I do think it is a process, tho, and it takes time! Every step someone like Jacob takes is a huge and special accomplishment!!!!! It is usually baby steps for Jacob, but today, it was one "giant leap!" :) Soooo, on that note, "YOU GO, JAKE!!!!!!" You did a fantastic job and we are proud of you!!!!!

And let's not forget to thank special teachers like Miss Carleta for her caring soul!!!! I hope she knows how much it means to us!!!! It was a really good first day!

Oh, and btw, Cissa made a friend as well!!!!! A little girl in Jake's class comes w/her grandma (Connie). Well, Connie stayed and we did laminating and had such a nice time talking! She was very sweet!

Plus, I must explain why I didn't have my camera in the class with me (Miss Carleta asked me where it was)! :) I "did" bring it - it was in the car. I decided not to bring it inside b/c if Jacob "did" go off w/his class - I didn't want to interfere and distract him. I was afraid if he saw me - he would want to come w/me or have me stay w/him. Believe me, it was HARD not to be taking more pictures!!!! :) I just told myself that I will have plenty more opportunities to take more!!!!! I just have to let Jacob get used to it first!!!! :) Stay tuned for more pics of both boys! We are doing the yearbook again this year, so I'll have plenty of pics to post in the near future!

Fall brings some pretty fun things!

As most of you all know, I had an anxiety attack, back in July, over summer ending and fall beginning! It probably seemed crazy to be upset that early in the summer, but unbeknownest to me, it was probably meant to happen that way. Having already been upset, I am now able to embrace the fall season and all of the wonderful things it has to offer! I am also not as upset about winter coming, as I usually am, either! Sooooo, on that note, here are my favorite things that the fall season brings! :)

1)Halloween! This includes pumpkins and gourds and all that fun stuff!!! It is my favorite holiday! I think I even like it more than Christmas!!! :) I am known to dress up in my own costume along w/the kids!!!! Hey, speaking of that, I will have to blog some pictures of past Halloween costumes!!!! I used to co-ordinate my costume w/Jackson's, but the older he got, that didn't quite work! That doesn't stop Cissa, though! I still find something to dress up as even if it doesn't match the kids!!!! :)
2)Circle S Farms! I think this is one of the most fun places to go to during the fall season!!!! I look forward to every year!!!!
3)Renicks Farm Market! We go here every fall as well. We can spend a couple hours out in the pumpkin patch playing!!! And......it is really fun to watch Mark try and carry as many pumpkins as he can!!!! You pay a certain price (like around $12) and you get as many pumpkins as you can carry!!!! Believe me, we pile him up pretty good!!!! :)) Funny!!!! :))
4)Pumpkin Show! This is something we always look forward to as well. We have been known to go even in the rain or snow!!!! :) Good food, fun rides, and sometimes see old friends you haven't seen in awhile! :)
5)Leaves changing colors! It is always so beautiful to see the changing colors of the leaves!!!!! I want to get some good pictures this year (future blog material)??!!!!! :)
6)Holiday shopping! I usually start my Christmas shopping in October or by the latest November!!! :) This is a really fun time 'cause I get to be Santa!!!! :) It is so sweet to see kids faces when they open their presents! I really enjoy the "behind their backs" shopping and all the preparing us moms get to do!!!! :)
7)Cooler weather! Even though summer is my favorite time of year, I am always happy for it to cool down by the end of August! If it could only be "three seasons" and not "four," I could live w/that!!!! :) Let's just leave winter out totally!!!! During the fall it is nice b/c you can wear jeans and a long sleeve shirt (maybe a light jacket or coat), but it is soooo comfortable!!!! Not too hot, not too cold!!!! Perfect!!!!!
8)Arts in the Alley Festival! I'm not sure if this would have been on my list in previous years, but I really like it now!!!! :) It is Grove City's annual Arts and Crafts show. I particularly enjoy the arts and photos displays. I also love getting ideas that I can re-create at home! Anyone interested in going this year??!! :))
9)New picture opportunities! The fall brings all kinds of new picture taking ideas!!!! My mind is continuously spinning and coming up w/new things to take pictures of!!! And w/Halloween and pumpkins being my favorite, pictures are definately a priority!!!! :)
10)Pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, etc.!!!! I seem to make these things more in the fall season than any other!!!! Yummo!!!!! That is all I have to say!!!!!! :)

Now that school has started and things are getting underway, I am looking forward to the fall and all it has to bring!!!! I may even go to a Buckeye game this year! I am really not a football fan (I love the Bucks and want them to win), but I don't watch it! However, I may be going to a game this year, if for nothing else than, to get some cool pictures for my Buckeye basement!!!!! :) We will see! Speaking of my basement, Mark and my uncle have started working on it (they are working as I write this)!!!! WooHoo!!!! You will all have to come and see my new re-modeled basement when it is done!!!! :) We are excited!

I also just have to say before I sign off: what a BEAUTIFUL weekend we have had this Labor Day!!!!! Who could ask for more??!! What a wonderful way to say "goodbye" to summer; we will see you next year!!!!! And hello to fall; we have lots of fun things planned!!!! :)