Hello

Hey all,

Nothing much is new to report. I am anxiously waiting for spring to arrive! Spring break is 3/23-3/27...it starts on Emily's 3rd birthday. I am in shock that she will be 3 already...where did the last three years go?! She is finally potty-trained...except for #2...but that will come soon. She told me yesterday when I asked her what she wanted for presents : "LOTS". Tom asked her how old she was going to be...she knows she will be 3 and she held up 5 fingers and told him "5". Already she is wising that she was older :)

Tom is taking Patrick and Tyler to Wash. DC over spring break...what should I do with the other three? I am thinking I might take them to INDY...or else we may just do day trips...who knows.

Patrick will be confirmed in April so no more religion classes for him...yeah!!! He is busy picking his classes for next year...a Junior already! Tyler and I went to his 9th gr. orientation at the high school last week. I have never been ditched so fast in my life!!!! He was gone before I even was out of the car...what's with that? I am such a "cool" mom! He has signed up for all honors classes for next year...I hope he does good, I told him it would be a lot more homework and studying than this year.

Ben is excited because next year he will be moving to the brand new middle school. The year after to high school, that means that he will be in 4 different schools over a 4 year period...he thinks that is cool. Ryan will have one more year at Newburgh Elementary and then he will move to the new middle school for 6th grade. Currrently, Ben and Ryan are working on putting a band together. They have 2 guitar players and 1 drummer, I keep telling them that they need a keyboardist and Ben told me I should do it! At least he thinks I am cool! The lead guitar is Ben, Ryan is the drummer and Tanner-a neighbor, is the 2nd guitar player. It should be interesting they are practicing almost every day!

I need to go now, I wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day...stay green!

*2009 is Here and is going by Quickly*

I am kind of surprised by the start of this new year. The year has flown by way too quickly already and I have not accomplished anything that I have on my yearly calendar!!!! Can you even believe that as of yesterday I am the mother of a 16 year old young man?! My life in general feels out of control and I refuse to get "old" too quick~I WILL REMAIN YOUNG :)

This ice storm had us living like "Little House on the Prairie" for a couple of days. Luckily, our gas fireplace worked even without power...not looking forward to that bill. We got out the board games and I did enjoy that eerie quiet in the house...even with a houseful of kids. Why is it that my house seems to always be the community "boy" hang-out????

Miss Emily has been having a blast at Kindermusik this past month. She is starting to come out of her shell more and more each week. My next thing for her is dance, I am forever a "girl" at heart and I want her to take dance like I did...LOVE IT!!!! Hard to imagine that she will be 3 in March. (Where does the time go~I would like to get some of it back).

I am pondering what it will be like to be without Tom on Valentine's day & evening. We weren't together for New Year's Eve and now Valentine's we will be separated as well. Tom and my brother-in-law; Tom, will be taking a snowmobile trip up in Northern WI. I hope they have fun, they both deserve a vacation away from their wives and children :) I believe that once I get the 4 kids in bed, Patrick will be gone too, that I will have a dip in my whirlpool then eat some Chinese take-0ut and watch Mama Mia with a bottle of wine...or maybe Champagne?!...I can't forget to get a box of chocolates!!!!!

Ok, so now what? How do I get motivated to get on with my plans? I keep having to put my plans on the backburner because the boys need help with science fair projects, demonstrative speeches and other reports and speeches....what happened to my time? This might sound selfish to you, but, I have proclaimed that 2009 is the year of Kristin. I am bound and determined to revert to my former self...body, mind and soul...esp. body!!! How can that happen when I can't even get it started? I will just have to accept that I can't do anything about it until after mid-february as the majority of the projects will be done by then...YEAH! Please think about me in your prayers, pray for my commitment to me! Thank you :)