Welcome to my world

While this is not my first blog, it is the first one I have decided to take public. The others were just venting venues for my own purpose, but this I hope will become a "keeping up with the WA Kindigs" kind of place. I do hope to get my older kids involved posting blogs and contributing with their own goings on. By letting them contribute themselves I hope to keep the Joey is doing this, Mackenzie is doing that to a minimum, so folks can hear about what I manage to get up to instead hiding behind the kids' activities.

So, about me. For those of you just visiting my corner of the world, I am 32 (oh my goodness, I was honest!), recently divorced single mom of 3. Two boys Joey (11) and Joel (4) and one girl Mackenzie (8). I work full time for my sister and brother in law's insulation company. Its been a challenge as it is a bit different than anything I had done previous to this, but I'm finding aspects that I enjoy, others that I don't, and a couple that I really can say I hate. While it may seem a contradiction in terms, my ex husband and I are on good terms. He is in the army and stationed in Arizona. I think for the most part we are able to hold it together because we only talk about the kids with each other. And since we have the best kids in the world, its easy to get along.

I am originally from the Seattle area, but for the 12 years I was married, I lived every where else. My oldest was born here, but by a fluke. My daughter was born in Germany, and my youngest in New Jersey (which I don't care what you say, its a foreign country). I have lived in Turkey, Tennessee, Germany, New Jersey, and South Carolina. I have moved 12 times. 2 of those times being as infant, so I don't remember, 10 of those as an adult. So, I guess you could say I'm an expert. I've driven across the country 6 times. Once with a newborn and 2 cats, once with an over stuffed mini van, my dad and 2 cats, once with my sister & her kids in an rv, me and my kids in the mini van hauling a trailer, and 2 cats. Once again with an over stuffed mini van, my dad driving a U haul, and you guessed it, 2 cats. The last 2 times were on my own. No kids, no dad, no cats. One of these days I'll write a book.

I'm horrible about taking pictures, but I do want to be better, and hopefully I will with a public place to now post for all to see, without have to attach and send several times.

Ok, so about the kids. Joey is the man of the house now, though I try to keep him from being it too much, he is still a kid, and needs to be while he can. But, I must say he does make my life a lot easier. He isn't one to complain (well, on occasion, but not as much as some), and he is still a momma's boy as much as ever. He's going to kill me for this, but he won't go to bed without giving me a kiss good night. He won't kiss me in front of his friends, but when its just us, he still likes to show his mommy affection. He's a smart little bugger, and fortunately did not inherit my math skills. He started to play the trumpet this year and loves it. He has a real musical knack, which showed when we first started him with piano lessons when he was 6. He is very artistic in other ways as well, and like any other 11 year old boy, loves his video games. I don't mind too much, because he doesn't sit and stare at it all day, he moderates himself pretty well.

Mackenzie is the little princess. Small for her age, but attitude to spare. Don't get me wrong, she is a sweet girl that loves to help out, makes friends easily, but catch her in a bad mood and watch out! Mackenzie is the big reader in the house. She is in third grade but reading at an 8th grade level. I can't keep her in books. She is also involved in Brownies. The Girl Scouts really suit her. It is an outlet for her socially and appeals to her sense of fairness. She is a perfectionist in many ways, but the downside of that is, she will slack in other areas in order to be perfect in another. I wish she would be a perfectionist about hanging up her clothes!

Joel. Well Joel is my sweet monster. He is the baby of the family. We've recently won the potty training battle. He is very into trains. Especially Thomas. It is his passion. He is also very fond of his Grandma Knipschield. Joey and Mackenzie love their grandparents too, but don't have the same bond as they were so far away from them in their younger years. Joel is almost too smart for his own good about certain things. He has gotten past every child proofing effort I've made, I may start using pad locks. He can also climb on anything. And I mean anything. And somehow this kid is beyond lucky and he never seems to fall. (unlike his brother and sister who have each already suffered broken bones). Being the youngest he is also the loudest, but to make up for it, he is also the only one that will still climb up on my lap for a cuddle.

We recently brought a puppy home. She is a chocolate lab mix we named Gillian. The potty training was going slow, but this last week we seemed to make great progress. She is very energetic, but ver sweet and very cute. She is kennel trained and sleeps good at night, but snores. I think I'll move her in with the boys soon. They sleep more soundly than I do, they aren't a mom.

Besides the puppy, we have a little mini zoo going on at our house. We have 2 guinea pigs (Belle & Penelope), a gold fish (Dory - Nemo died), and my 14 year old cat George. George is very gracious and allows us to live in her house.

I look forward to keeping up with people and also letting out some of these ideas that invade my head. I hope you all enjoy!