Ashton's Home!!!

Ash came home late Saturday night. He started school today. He's pretty sleepy.
I'm so happy to have my baby home I can't contain myself. I got off work early Sunday and we went shopping. I spent way too much money, and loved every minute of it. It's hard to understand how much I love him. What am I gonna do when he grows up and tries to move out? I might just have to buy him the house next door.

Ashton left for England yesterday. He will be gone for FIVE WEEKS!! I am having a much more difficult time than I anticipated, and I knew it was gonna be hard. Having everyone there has made me think about last summer when Ash, and I were in England. I miss it, and I miss my big sis. I loved staying up late with her and talking, just like when we were kids. I love my family so much, and wish I could be with all of them all the time.

Yesterday our new attorney called to inform us that standard visitation with Taygen, and Jaxon will begin this weekend. I can't believe it. In less than seven working days he accomplished more than our old attorney did in five months. I am so excited, I can't stop running to the store multiple times a day to pick up more supplies, like sippy cups, diapers, car seats, etc... We are technically suppose to have them from Thursday night @ 6:00 pm, until 7:00 pm on Sunday, but Tyra (Thomas' ex wife) is refusing to let them stay that long. So, we agreed to pick them up early on Friday morning.

Friday is the Forth of July, so after we pick up the kids @ 7:00 am, we are going to Provo for the big parade. I am hoping to meet up with the Reimschussel family. I would really like to get to know all of them better. I just need to get a phone number from my mom, so I can contact them. I tried to get a hold of her today, but it's kinda hard being as it is, that she is on another continent. So Mommy, or anyone who has Jenny Lewis', or Frankie's number, please call me, e-mail me or something. I will be sad if I am unable to see them.

The following entry is not a happy one. It is probably inappropriate to post, but I find this whole blogging thing somehow therapeutic. The only explination I have for posting it is that writing it down somehow makes me feel better. I don't know, maybe someone can give me advise, or just say something to help me feel better. I am in dispair.

Mom always said "You don't just marry the man, you marry his family," or something like that. Thomas' family is awesome. I didn't mind getting married to them at all. The problem is, I didn't realize that when you marry a man with children, you marry his ex-wife and her family.

I love Thomas, and his children. I have bonded with his two youngest like they are my own. However, we are having quite the struggle with visitation (thanks to a very vague divorce decree, and a very expensive, and worthless attorney.) Thomas' ex-wife is very controlling. She continually makes rules we have to follow if we want to see the kids, then flips them to the opposite extreme when we comply without incident. Her thought patterns are bizarre, and irrational.

We have never been allowed to have the children overnight. Her reason being (in not so many words) that we have a fourteen year old boy living in the house. We offered to place a "Nanny Cam" in each of their bedrooms, and would allow her access to the recordings. Still "too dangerous." Then she suggested they sleep in our room until "he" moves out. We agreed to this extreme demand. At which time she agreed to let them spend the night, only to change her mind hours before the planned pick-up time.

The "extreme danger" is now at his father's house in California for two week, so logically they should be allowed to spend the night. Yesterday she agreed that they could stay tonight, as long they each have their own bedroom. We were more than happy to comply. Taygen was so excited to shop with me for a pair of P.J.s (hopefully with princes on them) that she could keep here for when she sleeps in her new room. We couldn't have been more excited. Both of the children cried when we left them last night.

When Thomas call this morning to discuss a pick-up time, his ex-wife told him he would never see the children again, then abruptly ended the phone call. She has not responded to text messages, or answered her phone since.

Both Taygen and Jaxon expressed excitement over spending the night tonight. Jaxon is too young to question why they aren't here, but Taygen is very inquisitive. I'm worried about Tyra's explanation. I hope Tyra doesn't mislead Taygen, hurt her, or hurt our relationship with her.

I know that with time this will all be worked out in the court system. It just won't be fast enough.

Life is not always fair, but I have faith in God. "Faith without works is dead." We will do all we can do. Today we hired a new attorney. He specializes in family law (although we didn't know when we hired him, our old attorney was a bankruptcy attorney).

Please remember us in your prayers.

How to play this game of tag. Post these rules on your blog. List 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 random surprising facts about yourself. Tag 3 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

3 joys: My awesome and loving family, my job, reading my families blogs.

3 fears: Loosing a loved one, making a mistake as a mom, unintentionally hurting someones feelings when I have PMS.

3 goals: get out of debt, finish the basement, get to know Thomas' family better

3 current obsessions/ collections: Getting out of debt, establishing routine visitation with my step-children, Hello Kitty

3 random surprising facts about myself: I only had two months of sixth grade. I can roll my tongue under. I watched my high school graduation from the audience, and missed my nursing graduation completely.

3 people I tag: Rich, Jenny, Teri

Ashton's New Skateboard

Ashton decided he wanted a new skateboard for his birthday. Yesterday we went to the local skate shop where Ashton painstakingly picked out his new skateboard, piece by piece. After completing his masterpiece he invited a friend over and they broke it in. When I say "broke it in," that is exactly what I mean. Less than three hours after he got his new $170.00 skateboard, it was no more. I'm just thankful he didn't get hurt. We have agreed to split the cost of replacing the broken parts.

Ashton's Birthday

Ashton turned fourteen on May 17th. I can't believe my baby is fourteen. This year he chose to have a slumber party for his birthday. Seven of his closest friends came over and partied all night. I had to work the following morning so wore ear plugs to bed. Thomas patrolled all night. When I got up for work @ 6am, Ashton, and all seven of his friends were still up. He had a lot of fun. I'm so grateful has such great friends.

My first new furniture

I can't believe it. I'm 31 years old and just bought my first new furniture. My whole house, until now, has been furnished with hand-me-downs, my mother's yard sale finds, and gifts. Our couch has been suffering for sometime now. So, this year with my tax return I replaced it as a Mothers' Day gift to myself. I bought a couch and matching chair. I love them, and feel so grown-up.