My Shining Star...

Finding Me & Our New Normal

So, here we are. A few months down the road from the day our entire world got flipped upside down and turned inside out. So much has happened and I've got so much to say. That being said I, personally, cannot stand long, novelette blog posts so I'll fill y'all in with short and sweet ones.  Emphasis on try.  I'm getting my groove back and will do a better job at writing regularly.

Swears.

LittleBuddy and SweetPea are doing well.  He has his moments but they are fewer and farther between.  With SP, I'm seeing we dodged the Terrible Twos bullet but it's the Threes we need to wary of.  Oh my, the girl is sassy (that's the family friendly version).  Luckily, for both, they're so stinkin' cute ...

I am holding my own.  I purchased a treadmill a few weeks back to get my routine straightened out.  Seriously, I wasn't getting but 3 hours of sleep (the ole mind spin) and these early morning workouts now have me yawning by 9pm.  The bootie trimmin' is an added bonus!  :)

I still have my private break downs but they, too, are farther between.  The snow storm yesterday was especially hard.  More things added to my list of having to do (that were Matt's "jobs").. I now have to figure out how to get the snow plow on the ATV to push snow, taking brooms and beating snow off trees, etc.. But harder still was that this is really "our" time of year.  We loved to snowmobile and he was in his element in the cold and white stuff. 

One more thing to get through without him.

I'm standing on the edge of the holidays and absolutely dreading the thought.  To be honest, if I didn't have the kids, I would find a way to disappear until after January and just not deal.  Or crawl into myself and not celebrate.  The reality is, that cannot happen and our entire family will pull off the smiles, excitement and bear it.  The kiddos will have their holidays like all the others. 

But oh my gosh, it's going to be hard.

The adoption is still delayed thanks to an appeal that will be denied.  Eventually.  When the judge gets to it.  Someday.  Sigh..

For today, I pray for strength and peace for our family to get through the next few months.  But mostly give thanks for all our blessings, including my silly, sweet, sassy kiddos. 

Without them, gosh only knows where my life would've gone..

Hello? Is This Thing On?!?

Sorry for the recent blog neglect.. just trying to find my way through this "new normal". Things here are actually going really well, all things considered. I've pulled way back on LittleBuddy's therapy sessions and he is returning to his sweet, silly self. Seriously, we know Daddy is gone... no need to reopen that wound every.single.week.  Gah!

In other news..
The Raffle:
From GSG Customs Facebook Fan Page:
We had an amazing turn out over 100 people in the shop and we had 181 people watching online! I would like to give thanks to ComposiMo Fabrication, Ice House Tavern for all the support!

James, Me and the Tonka Toy:

Now here are the winners :
Chris Johnson - won "Tonka Toy"
Philip Saraff - won a complete GY6 motor swap for his ruckus
Tim Nichols - GSG Hoodie
Deanne Fujiooto - GSG Hoodie
Nathan Mielnik - GSG Hoodie
Mark Holcomb - GSG Hoodie
Aaron Carlock - $25.00 gift card to The Ice House Tavern
Mellisa Moringlo - $25.00 gift card to The Ice House Tavern

Us in action that night:


One more time.. A HUGE, "THANK YOU!!!" to everyone that participated, donated, got the word out and to Lizzie.. who got me home safely. :)

It's Raffle Night, Y'all!!!

The big count down has begun for the Grand Reopening Party at Grape Street Garage Customs ... and we're raffling Tonka Toy off  TONIGHT!

THERE'S STILL TIME TO GET YOUR WINNING TICKET!!

100% of the proceeds are going to a fund for LittleBuddy and SweetPea.  They will ship the bike anywhere in the US (or deliver it personally if the winner is local!).  You need not be present to win.  There are 4 ways to purchase the tickets, please go to GSG Customs Shop Blog for deets! 

We'll be live streaming the event.. will post the link later on today so you can watch us in action!   I'll be drawing YOUR winning ticket tonight at 9:30 MDT/8:30 PST/11:30 EST.  I'll also be getting my geek on and tweeting from my own account @FullCircle_Mel & @GSGCustoms.. FOLLOW US for all the fun!

The Tonka Toy in action (THIS COULD BE YOU NEXT WEEKEND!):

Gettin' On With Gettin' On...

So, here we are.. a month and half after the worst day ever and we're all hanging in there.  LB is at his absolute worst after therapy (I'm likening it more to ripping open scabs every week and am questioning the frequency of the visits.. we'll see).  But all in all, thanks to the support of our amazing family and friends, we're doing really well.

Both of my kids are growing like weeds.  At the rate LittleBuddy is going, he will definitely hit 6'3" as predicted (my bets are more like 8' the way he eats but I'll defer to the professionals).  I swear SweetPea says new things every day.  Did I mention she counted to 13 all by her little lonesome the other day?  I declared my 2 1/2 year old a rocket scientist (as Jack and Jill at 4 1/2 couldn't count past 3 when they came to us).  Okay, maybe an unfair comparison.. probably a future Nobel Peace Prize winner..

Grin.

We've had a minor glitch case wise.  One of the family members that had their rights terminated is appealing the decision.  Did I mention this person is incarcerated .. errr.. busy until 2016?  No one is surprised and it shouldn't set us back too much but for crying out loud.. Really?

Really.

I'm working more hours (did a FULL day on Monday!) and can say without the slightest hesitation a normal, run of the mill, ordinary day is like the greatest breath of fresh air.

Uneventful days ROCK!

Perfect Moment Monday

Perfect Fit...

A Boy, A Dog...

.. And Buzz Lightyear.. 

Our Jammie Morning...

I Spy With My Little Blue Eye...

The First Day of Fall!

ENJOY!!!

Somewhere...

Over the rainbow,

Skies are blue.

And the dreams that you dare

to dream

Really do come true.

Latest Haps ...

Well, we made it past the one month mark since Matt's passing (on 9/11 of all things) and are hanging in there.  Good days and a few bad days as y'all can imagine... but we're adjusting and pressing forward.  LittleBuddy has had a pretty tough time but oh my goodness, the poor little guy has been through the wringer.  He seems to be past the first "hump" of turmoil and is snapping out of the pouty bad moods (and rages) quicker.  I told our social worker it feels like we're starting to lean forward (rather than taking steps back).

Thank GOD!

LB is spending the weekend with their older, 1/2 brother ("Freckles") and his family.  The only bio fam the kiddos have that is healthy and safe ... and I completely adore them.  It's a win win.  So, SweetPea and I have spent this Saturday morning snuggling, streaming Sesame Street and singing along... 

And having a wonderful time, might I add...

In other news... 

 I fixed the Big TV last night

(it mysteriously went out the night Matt passed) 

and we're rockin' Ernie and friends in style

(and surround..)

LittleBuddy will be PSYCHED ... Did I earn a new MomBadge?