Another Year, Another Year Older...

I cannot believe how much has happened this last year. First my best friend Roxanne turned 39 again this week. I'll be 42 tomorrow for those of you keeping track. Everything has just moved so fast. Roxanne bought a house in November and Kai, Kate and I are living with her. The kids are sharing a room and I have a room/office to myself. I try to keep the rugrats out but am rarely successful.
Ashley was married this last summer. I still cannot believe that I am old enough to have a 25 year old daughter, let alone one who is married. Wait until she has kids. I'll be a grandmother?!?! That is something to contemplate.
And from marriage to divorce, mine was Final in January. Full legal and physical custody are still mine and he-who-shall-remain-nameless has very little visitation. AND thanks to some stellar perfomances of his, he has visitation that is supervised and is not allowed to call our house. They really were quite unbelievable actions. And I, of course, saved all voicemails, emails and printed HIS blog and submitted it to the Court. Let's just say the judge was not impressed with his behavior. Once he has completed parenting classes, therapy and had a psychological evaluation then he can submit a motion to the Court to have them consider lifting the supervised status of his visitation. I am not too worried about that happening any time soon as he hasnt' done it in the 6 months since he was ordered to...
School is going great. All As last semester. Struggling a bit more this semester--more credit hours, more classes, harder classes. Harder math. But I have to slam a math through every semester if I want to transfer to CSU and get into their Accountancy program. Plus since I waited so long to go back to school, I have several additional classes I have to take just so I can transfer. Life would be easier without ambitions.
I have been going to the YMCA gym 3-5 times a week. I have a trainer I work with twice a week--I know, I know, how California. A trainer. But it's actually included with the membership at the Y. Best deal around. And on top of it--he's 18. He was actually in one of my classes last semester. A little mortifying to me at the first session but I'm over it now. So when I refer to trainerboy in the future, that's who I am talking about. Trainerboy rocks. He kicks my ass and makes me sweat more than I'd really like to but he's getting this 42 yr old body back into shape. And hopefully some of my pain issues will get better as I lose some of this ugly weight too.
So 2009 is moving right along and time keeps ticking. I am still thankful every morning for my coffee, for my kids, and for finally realizing that I need to get rid of that dead weight otherwise known as my husband that was holding me back.

Declared My Major

So I declared my major and instead of paralegal it is accounting. I am primarily taking my general ed classes right now but some business classes. Things are busy. Kai is in all day kindergarten and Kate has preschool 2 1/2 days a week. I am carrying a full load at the college and volunteering one day a week at Kai's school. I was awarded full legal and physical custody and the kids see their dad about twice a week. They don't currently have any overnight visits with him but they are seeing him more now than they were in the past.
That's all for now. Time for homework....

Divorce, going back to school, so on and so forth

And by the way, I did finally file for divorce last month. It was a long time coming as many of you know. But the stress level is high as it is when you finalize the end of anything. Especially when there are children involved.
I did register to go back to school (again) this Fall. I initially was going to go back and get a paralegal degree for CA but am now rethinking that. I am now leaning toward Accounting. And since we are now living about 2 blocks away from the college I will be attending, I have no excuses for missing classes.
Kai is enrolled in kindergarten for this Fall. He is excited but as he told me, somewhat apprehensive. I am not too worried about him since any 5 year old who can use the word apprehensive correctly is doing okay.

Words of the day at our house are MINE and NO. Life with a 2 year old. And a 5 year old too for that matter. Kate is just crazy into the terrible twos like none of my kids have been and there are times like it seems the only two words she knows are mine and no. Seriously. And then Kai starts in with No, it's MINE. And I have flashbacks to my own childhood. There are moments when the two of them play together so nicely. And believe me, I cherish those moments because sometimes they seem so few and far apart.
And the decibel level. Why oh why oh why did I think an electric keyboard was a good thing for a 5 year old? Especially since the 2 year old loves it even more. At full volume. And how she figured out how to put House of the Rising Sun on a continuous loop on it I will never know...
Oh, Happy 4th of July everyone. Here in Moorpark where we moved in April, they celebrate the 4th on the 3rd. I guess so the City employees can have the day off on the 4th. There was a giant celebration at the park and great fireworks. Both kids stayed awake through the whole thing and had a great time. And were very well behaved. go figure.

Incredible Photos

And for anyone interested in amazing photos that remind me why I need to get out more go to http://rockslidephoto.com/ . Joe Decker has some really beautiful and haunting pictures.

Today is my birthday..

So I am 41 today. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. I received a copy of one of my favorite movies, Better Off Dead with John Cusack, who is one of my favorite actors. Now I have to wait for the kids to go to sleep to be able to watch it in peace. But I also have to stay awake...easier said than done these days.
My birthdays don't depress me. The lack of attention that is given on birthdays anymore depresses me. I try to make everybody's birthday a big fun day that is all about them. Sometimes I do it on a different day than their birthday so it is even more unexpected. Birthdays should be all about fun and having your favorite foods and being surrounded by people who love you. Libations should flow and presents should abound. I am not always able to throw a party for those I love as circumstances get in the way. And some people just plain don't like parties...
Every day should have the unexpected element. The best presents are the unexpected ones. The ones that are just because. I saw it in a window and it made me think of you. I turned a corner and there it was, screaming your name. I wish I could make everyone important to me feel like it's their birthday everyday. Especially the people who don't ever feel like it's their birthday...