The new year is not my favorite time of year. In 2019 at the very beginning of the year we got word that all my Dad’s cancer treatments were unsuccessful and it was time to stop. Now this wasn’t a huge shock the brothers and I had seen the signs over the summer and more so over the holidays. That doesn’t mean we were prepared either. Growing up our mom had cancer twice and made it. That my friends really gives you not false hope but rose colored glasses. So we gathered, made phone calls and plans. Hospice in a home wasn’t for him and to have him in my parents condo would have been to crowded so off we went to his sister’s who lives close by, and has plenty of room and open arms. Now my Dad has 6 sisters and he is the oldest. 2 in our state 3 in California and 1 in Florida. Family flew in, drove up and down from their homes. The first weekend at my Aunt’s was everything my dad would have wanted it to be. Laughter, memories, just family together. From there well I am sure you can figure it out. Then on the 19th we knew the end was near. The thing about the 19th is it is my baby brother’s birthday. When we first heard the end was near my fear was he would pass on my birthday in March which shows how much denial I had going on, and the fact that for years bad things happened on my birthday. I never once thought of my brother’s birthday . He told my Dad its okay and being the selfless person he is said he’d even be honored. Now 2 years later I am still lost in some ways. 2019 sucked in so many ways for me. I am lucky I have a fantastic support system and family that has stepped up to help fill that void. When I want to call my Dad I have an Uncle I call to have that fatherly conversation with. My awesome Aunts who love to tell stories as much as he did. 3 brothers that remind me of him in so many ways. My strong ass mother who has been through so much and still manages to find humor. My cousins who I love like siblings and check on me. My besties who cheer me up or cry with me. My sis who went through the same thing first and has been my rock and crying partner. And so many other wonderful people. I miss my Dad every single day , and that won’t change no matter how old I get. Now don’t get me wrong my own family has been through it all with me and they go through it daily too. My kids were super close to my dad and so was my husband but that is a blog for another day. Until then Have a super good day

Are we sure because it sure seems like 2020 the sequel has started. Rona is still here, more restrictions, Trump doesn’t want to leave, arrrrrrrrrrr!!! Alright I feel better. Show of hand who made New years resolutions?? I would but I never stick to them and that just depresses me. Last year I planned to be more social and come out of my shell more. While I was able to do that in the trailerhood (our campground) it wasn’t so easy here. We got a puppy in February last year and my big plan was drop peanut off at school and take Sal to the local park and walk her there. Now I know I could still go outside and walk the neighborhood etc but peanut did not adjust well to complete home schooling and neither did I. The boy it was a dream come true his easy senior became easier as far he was concerned. Peanut on the other hand is more social and more hands on learning. She likes the whole going to school thing in a way I never did. So I found my self at home bugging her to not only get things done but also HIT SUBMIT. The teacher can’t magically know you did it if you don’t submit it. Seriously what is so hard about that one, I just don’t get it. Okay anyways so like I said back there somewhere its 2021 and no resolutions for me. I am just going to roll with what ever 2021 toss out there and try not to worry to much about it. Hybrid learning is fine with me I like having peanut around more. I find i hear more about her school day now since i see her between classes. Instead of the standard fine mom at the end of the day when she’s at school, i get the funny story from music. I like the slower pace of not rushing around, but I miss it too. I miss my mom friends, my girl scouts, my girls weekend, I miss not wearing a mask everywhere. I have just managed to find a bunch of silver linings. Although the one its hard to find the bright side for is not seeing family. That one hurts. I miss my mom, my brothers, my sisters, the kids and mostly hugs!!!! I went from seeing my mom everyday to not seeing her at all. Our saving grace is summers together at camp. So wear your masks and do your part so this will end please!!! Have a super good day! Happy 2021!!!

Well we made it to Christmas 2020. For me it is compounded by the fact that Peanut has made it crystal clear she no longer believes in Santa. The boy indulged me for years, and just rolled with it. Peanut on the other hand rolls her eyes when ever I mention Santa. Although that eye roll applies to most things I say, okay fine everything I say. I also knew this day was coming, but she’s the baby so yeah that. Its okay though the Christmas spirit is alive in this house. We’ve been decorated since before Thanksgiving I learned many many totes of Christmas things means many many days of decorating 25 to be exact and if I add something that’s a bunch of rearranging. We do Christmas different around here the biggest being nothing under the tree is from me and the hubs. Yes you read that right all of it ALL of it is from the big man up north. I know how people feel about this but here is my thing I don’t care. Our reasoning is one day they will know anyways. They will know we did it all. I don’t need the credit now for the Xbox or the huge Lego set I will curse out when I find a piece in the middle of the night. The hubs is in complete agreement and we enjoy seeing the magic of Christmas morning in their eyes. If you can’t tell Christmas is a big deal around here. Usually its cookie decorating with cousins, Christmas crafts with our friends, a huge Christmas eve party at my mom in laws (super convenient as she lives next door), Christmas morning with our kids, back next door for present and coffee with mom in law and then back home for Christmas with my family. This year like most we are scaling way back, and I have to say I have enjoyed it. With Peanut remote learning 2-3 days a week we’ve done more baking together more decorating together. The hubs and I have spent more time shopping together mostly online but still. The boy well he comes and goes he’s working and things but even he seems to suddenly be around more. Even scaled back the Christmas magic is still in the air. I hope you all find Christmas magic this year no matter how different Christmas is this year!

Hi there.

Most of you know me because hey that’s how most blogs start right?? So for those that don’t this post is to introduce you to me and my fam. I don’t plan on using my kids real names here for their privacy. I don’t expect this blog to be huge or anything but you never know. Along with the fact this is the internet I feel better doing it this way. Plus its a great way to teach them about online privacy. So let me introduce to the major players.

Me: I am Missie. I am 44 stay at home mom who until the pandemic worked part time my favorite being a doggie day camp worker. I have a hubby (the hubs) we have been together 20 years married for 16 and known each other way longer. We have 2 awesome kids (yeah I am bias but it is my blog lol), 2 dogs, and 2 cats. My extended family is huge and I’ll do a blog introducing them, well at least the major players. I have opinions, ideas, and you will hear them all. Just know none of it comes from a hateful place,I am going try and make all my blogs on the lighter side. I always try and find the funny in things.

The Hubs: well if I say to much about him it will go right to his head. We met when he was 16 and I was 20 (a blog for a later date). Started dating almost 4 years later and have been together ever since. He is a hard worker, a beer brewer, a great dad, and the love of my life. As we like to say he is the jam in my jellyroll.(bonus points if you can name the movie lol)

The Boy: this is our son. We like to say he is the best early Christmas gift we ever got. Really he is the best surprise we have ever received. He works hard and we couldn’t be prouder of him. He has already graduated and has had a steady girlfriend (E) for over a year.

Peanut: this is our daughter. She is a teenager (barely). She is an animal loving kid. She came on a day that used to be very hard for me and has made our world brighter ever since. She is the most nervous about me doing a blog and the reason I am not using real names.

The animals: yes they get introduced too. Every one is a rescue of some sort. Our 2 all American mutts Car and Sal (fake names too hahaha) came from 2 different shelters and have happily found their furever homes. The cats Kee and Gee (see above) came from homes that couldn’t keep them. Kee is Peanut’s best friend and follows her everywhere.

That’s it those are my monkey’s and this is my circus.

I will most likely post once or twice a week depending on what I want to talk about.

I hope you all have a super-good day!!