A Day off With Logan

Logan had off of school today, so I took off work and decided to spend the day with him. I took Alex to daycare, which I did feel guilty about, but he loves it there and they were having a police man come and show them the squad car and I knew he would like that. So we had breakfast at McDonalds and met my MIL and niece at Havre de Grace. It was such a nice day out-they played on the playground for ahwile, then did alittle fishing and then a picnic lunch on the lawn. Then we had ice cream and walked the boardwalk by the water. I really enjoyed being able to spend time with him, without chasing after Alex, and just being able to devote all my time to him.

The only bad thing is that I was feeling kind of crampy and my back was hurting which I figured was an upset stomach. But as we were driving home, the pain got so intense and I knew that all so familiar feeling-a kidney stone. I sped the whole way home, a great 30 minute ride and ran right to the bathroom. Once I went I could feel the stone moving and then relief. I didn't pass the stone, but it either broke up or moved. I just have to make sure to drink tons of water to flush it out. This happens every once and awhile, but I never get used to the pain. At least it didn't ruin our day!!

What to do on a rainy day

Well today it rained...A LOT!!! The boys were driving me crazy-bored out of their minds and trashing my house. So I did what any good-(and by good I mean desperate!) mother would do-I let them play in the rain!!

Wel at least tomorrow the sun will be out-I HOPE!!!

Boys love tractors!

My boys love going for tractor rides-especially because our tractor is a really cool one-with a front loader and mini excavator. I take Alex with me all the time when I cut the grass and he loves it. Logan has even gotten big enough to drive it-not by himself of course, but with me next to him. Today Logan was showing Alex how to work the controls for the excavator and it reminded me of when I had just had Alex and Logan was 3 years old and Justin let him dig a big hole with the tractor and he completely amazed us with how he just knew how to work it. I guess Alex is following in his big brothers footsteps!!

WHEW!!!!!!!

It was a beautiful weekend, perfect for doing yard work!! So I decided to take on a project that I have been meaning to do-cut off 8 foot of branches on our 3 huge pine trees. So I gassed up the chainsaw and let her rip!! It was a bit harder then I thought, especially when you have a 2 year old who instead of napping-decides he is going to watch Mommy-and then dart out in to the road for a "race"!! Well I got all the branches cut on Saturday-oh yeah-and cut all the grass, did 2 hours of work, vacuumed out my car, vacuumed the house, tried to build a little tree house, and took Logan to the store to get him a special treat for helping me so much. I feel like superwomen-for everything I accomplished that day!! And then Justin and I went out for drinks to celebrate my friend's 30th birthday. I was so exhausted by the end of the day- I don't even remember laying down to sleep-(but that could have also been the drinks too:)!!

Then on Sunday, Alex was driving me crazy!! He just was into everything, and when he was outside, if I didn't keep an eye on him every second, he was out in the road. Why would he want to play in our ACRE OF LAND when he could run in street???!!! Then when he took a nap-I went to a local craft fair just to look and take a break before I had to come back home and finish cleaning up the mess I had made the day before. But to my wonderful surprise-my awesome neighbors had cut up all the branches and loaded them into a trailer and took them up to my neighbors bonfire pile. So all we had to do was rake up the leftover stuff. This is where everyone helped-even Alex. He wanted to wear my gloves and was picking up sticks and putting them in the trailer. We then had a big bonfire and relaxed some. After I put Alex to bed I took a much needed soak in the hot tub and now after I write this I will crash in bed!!

What a weekend-but I'm so happy with how the trees looked- and that we got it all done. I don't think I've ever been so happy to see a Monday come!!

The Secret

As soon of you may know, I have been following "The Secret" as I first heard on Oprah. This way of thinking has really changed my life, since I used to be such a pessimistic, negative person. I get occasional messages from the creator of The Secret-not personal ones, but still I read them and am inspired. Here is what was sent to me today:



A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda ByrneCreator of The Secret

What is the answer to every difficult circumstance in life?
Take the positive path.
Choosing the positive path can be easy at some times in our life and more difficult at other times. When everything is going along well, when we are on a roll, choosing the positive path just flows through us as an easy, natural choice. When something negative comes along it can be far more challenging for us to choose the positive path. But choose it we must! No matter how challenging the negativity may be, there is simply no other way to bring our lives back into positivity.
If negative situations appear, you must use your will and refuse to lower yourself to negative thoughts, words, actions, and emotions. Use your will and decide that not only will you focus on the positive, but you will ramp up the positive in every thought, word, and action of your day.
It takes determination, strength, faith, and the power of your will to focus on the positive when intense negativity descends, but remember that the Universe and the law of attraction are with you. As you focus on the positive, focus more on the positive, think of the positive, speak of the positive, and take positive and good actions, the law of attraction will give your life wings. Suddenly you will look around you and you will find that the negativity has gone, and that your life has been filled with goodness and joy.

This is exactly what I am trying to do to make my life what I want it to be!!

Funny Funny!!

Logan had another great day-yeah!! He came home with this stuffed animal, a dog named Skittles. He is the class dog and every night one kid from the class gets to take him home and then write, or have Mommy write, in a journal what they did that night. Its an ongoing journal and they read it every day. So he was very excited to get Skittles for the night. He asks me what is for dinner and I tell him beef and mashed potatoes. He says that Skittles can have some-but I told him he should eat dog food. He then proceeds to tell me that Skittles need protein to be healthy! Then I asked him if he was going to be eating healthy too-and he says " No-I think I'll just have McDonalds." How freakin' funny is that???!!!

I get the "Dumbass" Award for today!!

I was sitting at my desk when I saw a mouse run behind my TV, so I go to get the mouse trap, which I have never set before. I figured it would be a piece of cake. Well it took me awhile to figure out how to set it, and once I thought it was set, I really wasn't sure if it would trigger. So insert the dumbass-ness-I thought-Gee-I'll just really quickly touch the fake cheese piece on the end to see if it works and guess what- IT FREAKIN' WORKED!!! Right on my damn finger!!! OMG-I think I must have said every cuss word that ever was-even maybe a few not invented yet!! Its a good thing none of the kids were home! It snapped on my pointer finger on my right hand and was throbbing. I ran it under some cold water and prayed that I didn't break it. Well here it is an hour later and thankfully it is fine-a little sore, but no bruise or nothing-well yet. I refuse to touch that damn mouse trap anymore-the mice can have a flippin' party if they want!!!

My arch enemy!!!!!!!

Way to go Logan!!!

Yesterday Logan had a really bad day at school. I talked to him when he got home and explained everything he did and why it was wrong. Then I made these special reward passes for him to use when he has a great day-doing everything that he is supposed to do and trying his best. They are for things that he really enjoys, like fishing, McDonald's dinner, ice cream treat and play time at his cousin's house. Well today-he came off the bus and handed me this note:

"Mrs. Murdy,

I wanted to let you know that Logan had a really good day. He was able to earn his rewards for the day as well as the special reward from you. He had fun with his classmates and they all enjoyed Logan today. Logan worked really hard on using only nice words as well as keeping his hands to himself. I hope you guys enjoy your special night tonight because Logan deserves it!"

You have NO idea how happy this made me and how proud I was of Logan! He was proud of himself too, and choose to go over my BIL's house to play in their pool with his new boat raft. It's so good to see him trying so hard and having good days. I know he will still have bad days, but I can only live day by day and be thankful for the wonderful teachers and staff at his school!

Fun at the Rocks

Today was a very hot and humid day, we spent the afternoon at home, playing in out little kiddie pool and then we all took a nice nap. Then we decided to go up to Rocks State Park which the boys love and take Abby for alittle swim. Dogs are not allowed there, so we kept having to hide her when the park ranger would come by!! She loved it-she hasn't been swiming all summer and needed it!! Logan and Alex enjoyed themselves just as much. Logan did some fishing and Alex could spend hours throwing rocks into the river. It was a nice evening-spending some good family time together!!

Like Mommy, Like Son???!!!

Occasionally I have to take Alex in the shower with me, if I want any chance of getting a shower at all. He does fine, usually playing with some toys while I quickly wash my hair. The other day I had to shave and he was watching me very closely. Then he grabs the shaving cream, and the tongue scraper and starts "shaving" his legs!!! He even put his leg up on the side like I do!! I had to laugh-I really hope he doesn't think that's what boys do!!!

Little Wonders

I first heard the song "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas when I was in the car, last summer on my way to pick up Logan once again from daycare because he was flipping out. I was so upset and was having a hard time understanding what was going on with Logan. I was mad, sad, frustrated, and helpless all at the same time. Then this song came on and for some reason I really listened to the words, and I swear it was like he was singing the word directly to me. I couldn't believe how much those words went along with my situation so well. I realized that I really needed to look at the big picture and be thankful for all the wonders that my life has. I have 2 beautiful healthy boys, a loyal husband, a decent job and a house to live in. I can handle all the curve balls that life throws me, as long as I keep that big picture in the back of my mind. Its been a long, tough road, but I've made it through and I continue to push on, because as a Mom-that is my job and sole purpose. Here are the words that inspired me so much:

Let it go,

Let it roll right off your shoulder

Don't you know

The hardest part is over

Let it in,Let your clarity define you

In the end

We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made

In these small hours

These little wonders,These twists & turns of fate

Time falls away,But these small hours,These small hours still remain

Let it slide,Let your troubles fall behind you

Let it shine

Until you feel it all around you

And i don't mind

If it's me you need to turn to

We'll get by,It's the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made

In these small hours

These little wonders,These twists & turns of fate

Time falls away,But these small hours,These small hours still remain

All of my regret

Will wash away some how

But i can not forget

The way i feel right now

In these small hours

These little wonders

These twists & turns of fate

These twists & turns of fate

Time falls away but these small hours

These small hours, still remain,Still remain

These little wonders

These twists & turns of fate

Time falls away

But these small hours

These little wonders still remain

This is me and Justin at my High School Senior Prom

My Little Wonders!!

Abby

I talk so much about my kids, and my life, but I forgot to mention another part of my life-my sweet dog Abby. She is a 7 year old yellow lab that was my first "child" and has very much been an important member of our family.

We got Abby on November 25, 2001. We had been talking about getting a dog for awhile and I kept going back and forth on it. I really wanted a dog, but I knew how much responsibility it would be and how much work it was. So one day when I was at my sister in law's baby shower, my husband went out and got Abby, and surprised me when I got home. As soon as I walked through the door and saw her, I fell in love!! She was so cute and little!!

I named her Abby because I wanted a name that would easy for kids to say, since we were planning on having a family the following year. She was a really good puppy-never chewed up our furniture, and was potty trained by the time she was 9 months old. We worked really hard on getting her ready to deal with kids, training her and just being rough with her-the way kids might be.


When Logan was born, she was amazing with him. She was always so cautious around him and licked him all the time. Logan loved her from the start and as he got older, the poor thing took some beatings, but she never got aggressive towards him. She was his protector, following him wherever he went, and if he went to far, she was right by his side until I came to get him.





Alex came along and I think she probably thought "Oh great, not ANOTHER one!!" But she did just as good with him. And Alex loved petting her and crawling all over her. Even now-I love the way Alex calls her "Abb-bay" and she listens to him.



Abby-or Abba-girl-as we often call her, is getting older, but still acts like a puppy-loves to play ball and go swimming. She is truly a family dog and loves the boys. I'm so glad that Logan and Alex have her in their lives-its made them learn to be gentle with animals and not afraid. I hope that she lives a long wonderful life-and continue to bring joy to all out lives!!

FREEDOM!!!!

Now don't get me wrong-I love my kids more the life itself, and I love spending time with them. But since I now am home by myself all day without them has been wonderful!! I can finally get my work done without distractions and be done by the time they come home. No more stressing over having to work until 10 every night, or worrying about trying to juggle work and spending time with them. Its been so hard to manage a family, house and work when its all in my face every day!!! I love working from home, the flexibility it allows, and the availability it gives me. Now that I know both my boys are getting the attention and learning that I could not give them while they were home with me during the weekdays, I feel like weight has been lifted off me. Alex loves daycare and is getting so much out of it, and Logan is improving a little every day in Kindergarten. I finally feel like being home is worth it. I do get lonely at times, and wonder what they are doing, and I do miss them, but to be able to spend all night with them, and really dedicate my evenings to family time-make its worthwhile. I just joined Logan's school's PTA so I'm hoping to be able to help them out some, which will give me some more social interaction with other adults and parents. I also have the freedom to go into the office more, when needed without the hassle of finding people to watch the kids for me. As much as I really want to do other things in my life, career wise, for me right now this is the best thing for me. I can be there to put my kids on the bus and when they get home, I can go to school functions and save money in travel expenses. Eventually I would like to go back to school to do something else, but for me, my kids are my first priority and I want to be available for them whenever they need me too. So I guess I'm feeling pretty lucky right now!!!

Totally Rad!!!!

Saturday I went with my brother and his girlfriend Laura to see the "Legwarmers" play. They are a 80's cover band and everyone that goes dresses up in 80's style clothing. I got all decked out in my hot pink and black, teased my hair and put on gaudy accessories. I think it was the best concert I have ever gone to. I knew every song and danced the entire time. It was like one big karaoke party!! I can't wait until they play again-I'm definitely going!!!

You're so cute!!!!!!

I find myself saying this to Alex on a daily basis-because he really is!! Whether its something he says, something he does or just how he looks-I can't help myself!! Like the way he calls me "Mom-may" and Justin "Dad-day" and Logan "Go-gan". Or the way he tells all his friends Bye Bye when we leave daycare. Or how he gets so silly sometimes and does his crazy dance. Or how he tries so hard to help and do big boy things. Or how he can undress himself before a bath and say-"pee-pee-where are you?" Or how he mimics everything Logan says or does. Or how he can do the same thing over and over again and be so proud of himself by clapping and saying "Yay!!!!" And just his overall personality in general. He brings such joy to me every day-and to everyone he comes in contact with. I really cherish these moments--they go by so fast!!!!