Hey-appy burrth-day, don't you know?

My birthday is on Sunday.  I will be 28 years old.  The following Thursday I will be traveling to Portland, OR to visit my friend Misty.  I haven't seen her in over a year.  It has been hard to have my best friend move away.  We had lived next door to each other and often hung out and ran errands together.  It is difficult, especially when you are older, to fill that void and start new friendships.  It takes time and effort to build authentic new relationships.  I have been going to my church for almost a year and have just now begun to talk with the ladies there.  I drive a lot, school and work are in Ybor, Plant City and Auburndale and I now live on the south side of Lakeland...in the boonies. 

The drive home has become a pleasant one, since I know it will take 20-30 minutes, I mellow out and enjoy the scenery.  No need to rush.  In about a month I will put the kids in daycare part-time, continuing to work my same hours unless I am working a bit from home, or dragging the kids into the office.  I have had to get a Sunpass in order to make this transition a bit easier.  I look forward to spending a little extra time with the kids until school starts in the fall and Noah starts Kindergarten.  I am seeing that they grow up fast.  I will probably be one of those moms bawling her eyes out in the car after dropping her kid off at kindergarten that first day.  The kids will then be going to separate schools.  I don't think Nora likes having her own room.  She loves her big brother and it is taking some getting used to having her own space. 

I had lived with patrick since I was 16 years old.  Before that of course, I lived with my mom.  This past year I lived alone.  I don't think kids really count, it's like having a pet in the house.  I learned my style, my cleaning abilities and the fact that I would rather not have a television.  I can always catch up with my favorite shows online.  I do weird things like cover frames in fabrics and love black!  I rearrange often and love dark colors, except in the bathroom, that is a nice shade of lavender or bright yellow.  Hmm.  This has spilled over into Jason's house.  Dark colors have spilled over into Jason's house.  Every change we make he loves, which I am glad.  The most recent is the Kitchen floor.  We put down wood type flooring and it really makes a difference.  We have a lot more painting to do.  Cabinets.  Geez.  Cabinets are no fun.  Supposedly we can spray them with paint, not spray paint that would be gross, but with a sprayer.  That will make things easier.  Slowly but surely, the house is becoming a home.  The kids play well together and enjoy helping clean up the yard with Jason.  A lot of things in the house get designated to "the shop".  I don't think we will be able to walk in there, it will be storage for so much stuff. 

Anyway.  If you ask, everything is fine.  Nothing to complain about, at least this week.  We are hiring in the friend department, though.  All applications accepted.  Must love Starbucks.  :o)