What a way to start 2009

Hello family and friends,

Well here I wanted 2008 gone so bad and 2009 didn't start out all that great!
In late January we found out that my dad has prostate cancer and a couple of weeks after that Grant breaks his collar bone.
My dad is doing fine but we are really excited to get him his surgery to remove all the cancer so we can finally move on.
Grant, well lets just say I was finally able to keep my calm for the first time when my own child got hurt. Grant was playing tackle football at the park like he does every Fri afternoon with all of his friends. Well this time I got a frantic call from Aaron saying that his friends have tried to get a hold of me but couldn't and Grant is hurt bad at the park. Thank goodness I was only about 7 min from the park. I rushed over and found him laying on the ground crying. He couldn't move. The kids said they tried to get him up but he would yell every time they tried. I called 911 since I was not sure if it was his back, neck or what. I told the lady on the phone that his shoulder up to his neck was really swollen. The paramedics came about 4 minutes later. They could tell that he broke the collar bone but they weren't sure if anything else was wrong. They gave him an IV at the park and then shortly gave him some morphine to help with the pain especially when they moved him on to the stretcher. I followed the ambulance to the hospital and Aaron meet us there. I guess they were concerned weather or not some bone fragments went into his lungs when it broke. We were there for about 3 hours and the x-rays came back as just a broken bone, thank heavens. We took him home with his arm in a sling and picked up his vicatin. He has been a real trooper through all of this, especially through the pain. Aaron has had to shower with him since it is difficult for him to do all by himself. I had to do it once and Grant says "I will just close my eyes mom". For a change of pace this week he sleeped over at Grandmas and now Nanas. He is moving around much better and hasn't really had to take a pain pill.

So now I wonder what else can my family look forward to happening..........? I guess we will just wait and see.

RECAPING 2008

Well I hope everyone had a great holiday season. I am just going to take a minute and recap on 2008. So many wonderful things happened last year and those are the things I want to remember!

Aaron and I turned another year older in January so I think that make me 28 for the 4th year in a row. Our Patriots were 16-0 in regular season and then they had to go mess it up in the playoffs. I never imagined I would turn out to be such a football fan but I must say Aaron and I love to watch it together! 2008 was also the year that Aaron and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. I got a beautiful Diamond anniversary ring and then we went to Hawaii for a week with out the kids. We totally reconnected with each other! Aaron got his first new car EVER. He picked out the Dodge Charger and I must say boy is it sweet! Black with leather interior and the sweetest rims. He deserved though!

Hailey turned 8 years old and we know what that means, yep she got baptized. She looked so beautiful. She wore my baptism dress from when I got baptized. What an honor that she would wear that for hers! It was wonderful having all my family and friends there for that special occasion. We are also proud of her for starting a new school with out a fight. When she gets out of her shyness and stubbornness she is so much fun. She is growing up fast!

Etiwanda Intermediate wanted Grant on their football team. Despite the broken finger and torn aceles tendon he did a great job and won a trophy for the Coaches award. He continues to play football every Friday with his friends at the park. Grant also had a big milestone, he turned 12 in 2008 and became a Deacon. He can't wait to pass the sacrament. I can't believe that I will soon have a teenager in the house. I can already see all the changes happening, scary!!!!!

Gannon graduated from Cougar Cubs and started Kindergarten at a new school. He has made several friends. It is fun to help in the class room and see how he acts there compared to at home. Boy does he listen better at school. In 2008 the only thing I can't think of for Gannon is that all year he continued to be a BRAT!

Regarding everything else, we got a dog which I love having (thank goodness Shadow didn't run away) , Tom Brady got hurt the first game of the new 2008-2009 season, I gained to much weight which I am working on again to get off. We had our 8th Christmas party which was so much fun with the perfect Santa and Cheri moved on me but at least it isn't Virgina!

My goals for 2009 ~ To be Happy, Healthy and to have my children love each other!

We are wishing all of you the very happiest New Year!

Tis the Season

Can you believe that Christmas is in 5 days???? I can't! Well 2008 has not been the greatest for us, well I guess there are a lot of people out there that could agree with me. I am sorry I am not sending Christmas cards this year, I decided to do my blog instead, save a little in stamps.

I guess I will start out with our youngest Gannon. He is absolutely loving Kindergarten and his teacher Mrs. Johnson. She is a no non sense teacher which is exactly what he needs. One of his favorite sayings is "Mom how many diet cokes have you had today?" "I have only had one today big guy." "Good job mom, I am proud of you."

Our Hannah Montana wanta be Hailey, is still as sassy and hard headed as can be. She is also liking her new school and teacher but still does her homework way to fast so it is so messy. She wants to take piano lessons and hope to start her in 2009.
Grant was ordained a deacon a few months ago. We are so very proud of him and of Aaron, his dad gave him a great blessing. My boy is growing up so big, where does the time go? I can tell I am not looking forward to having a teenager, he is always gone now, I can't imagine when he get older how much he will be gone then. He also is helping me out now by baby sitting (when he feels like being responsible) so I can run a few aarons here and there.

Shadow (our cat) and Bayli (our dog) still do not get along. Shadow is still upset that someone else is invading his territory. The only time they can be together is when it is bed time. Shadow sleeps at my (Julie) feet and Bayli is in her kennel. Bayli is still teething and now has chewed our door jamb almost off on the garage door. She is though a terrific new family member. She is also a football dog. She loves to play with Grant and his friends when they are playing. Shadow, he still lounges around, what cats do best.

Aaron is still working hard at Newreal and is there man of all trades. This year he has worked in the office, been a superintendent, crew leader, emergency services, water losses and anything else they need. They know that they can count on him. He has had to work even harder since I got laid off and he has been a trooper. I am still trying to find my new niche. I am right now a full time mom again and boy am I exhausted. I am still looking forward to starting school in July and hopefully it will all work out. In the mean time I would like to start up an exercising class for preschoolers. We will just have to see what 2009 will bring.
To all of our family and friends I wish you the ultimate holiday. For everyone that needs 2009 to be a little bit more profitable I also wish for that to happen. Please pray for our country and that for our kids sake our country will start to repair instead of unravel.
WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Aaron, Julie, Grant, Hailey, Gannon, Shadow & Bayli

SHOULD I OR SHOULDN'T I??? THAT IS THE QUESTION

Hello everyone, yes I have come up with something else to do in my spare time! As many of you know I was laid off so I have been trying to find another nitche. I am going back to shool to get my LVN and then will pursue my RN. I start in July of 2009 and I am so excited!!!!!!! Until then, My mother in law told my about this program for kids. "Kid-Fit" is an exercise program constructed specifically for children 2-6 years. There is major concern that childhood obesity is on the rise and along with obesity comes a risk for getting diabetes. "Kid-Fit" has come up with an amazing work out for our preschoolers. I am trying to decide to either, work for them or start my own out here. If I start my own, when I am in school my kid fit program would still be running!

The program has nine, six weeks sessions. Each session teaches something different along with each year the curriculum changes. The sessions consist of learning about their bones, muscles, nutrition and of course exercising. The children would go to class 2 days a week for a half an hour. The fee is between $11.00 - $15.00 (not to exceed) a month.

If you could go to the web site to check it out and let me know if it is something you would be seriously interested in. I will have a poll up for your answers. This will help me in my decision.

If you have any questions regarding this please feel free to post a comment and I will get back to you! Also please feel free to pass this along to any of your friends that you think might be interested.

Thanking you in advanced for taking the time to do this for me!

TRICK OR TREAT 2008

Carving pumpkins



All the kids ready to go!



Mom what were you for Halloween??? A tired mother!


(Wendy and Julie)


(Wendy, Alex, Alma & me)

It is going to be a scary night.

OH HEAVEN HELP ME!

Well parents, this is for all of you out there who have children that are overly active but not labeled ADD.
I have 3 children. Grant which is 12, Hailey who is 8 and Gannon who is 5. For those who know me really well you know that I love children immensely. If I was rich and could afford to have as many children possible, I would. I would even have my own foster home that was the bomb. Well my three are making me wonder what I said in the past life to make me have such difficult kids!
When people said that it gets harder as they get older, man are you sooooo right!! My 12 year old is now in seventh grade and he is my "sweet one" He has the best manner's you could possible imaging except with his mother and father. He thinks that we owe him the world. He should have a cell phone, which he did and got taken away 4 times before we finally said okay it is now gone for good. He also talks to us like he is the parent when his friends are around. I don't think so buddy. Grant is also notorious for pouting, I use to feel bad and now I just get mad.
Just this morning he decided to give me his progress report, with, yes you guest it a "D" and "C". Totally unacceptable and then calls me this afternoon to bring him is Friday folder because he did in fact have to turn it in today and now he is "crying" because his father and I will not let him go to Dave and Busters tonight. He has a surprise coming because he is going to be grounded and doesn't know it yet. Grant "Bubba" isn't always bad, he made the EIS football team and did very well.


Hailey, Hailey, Hailey.... what to say about Hailey. She is 8 going on 30. This little girl always has to have the last word and is always right, with her brothers and us (mom and dad). She thinks she is the one always picked on and she never, I mean never gets to do anything. My little girl is also great at putting me down. According to the words out of her mouth, I never give her the right food for lunch or dinner. I never pick out the right close out for her to wear, and she gets mad at me when I don't buy her a "snack" when I am running aarons. One thing about her is that she is consistent, she is the one that is always right. HA HA. Hailey hates to do homework or anything that she actually has to do work on.


Now there is Gannon. Boy what a hand full. People wonder why I am on Paxil and see a Psychiatrist. My husband also wonders why I am always so so tired at the end of the day. Gannon is the energizer bunny on a 12 hour energy drink spiked with monster. This kid can keep going, he legs, his arms and boy can his mouth keep on talking. His teacher says though he is not ADD, and doesn't act like that in class. Actually his teachers last year said the same thing. They must of shot him up with a sedative. Gannon had is first Kindergarten performance called "Getting down with Mother Goose" the kids were so cute!


Oh by the way, I did say I have 3 kids but I guess I can say I have 4. I have never had a dog before and man it is definatley like having kids. Because I love our little 4 month old Bayli, I don't mind the tearing up all my plants and flowers, eating our sprinklers, digging 9 holes in my backyard, chewing on our surround sound cords, eating drywall, getting into our cats litter box and bringing out the poop, peeing and pooping in every room, ripping our screen, chewing on my brand new cell phone, eating our rocks in our indoor plant, terrorizing our Shadow (cat) and eating the toilet paper. Okay I have to add this in, so I come home from my moms sat. and I go outside to say hi to her and what do you know, she has now chewed on my air conditioner wires!!!! OH MY GOSH! So right away I had to go spend money on fake grass and she is now locked in the side yard. Aaron said one more thing and she is gone, I wonder if he is serious?????


Ok so who ever is reading this I would just like to Thank you for letting me vent. I know that I am not the only one out there, but there are days I feel like I am. Don't get me wrong, I have bad days, but when I have good days, I love to kiss and hug them as much as I can. My children are the world to me and I guess that is why they drive me crazy, cause I actually care and want them to be the best they can. It is hard raising children, especially in todays society. I wish all you new mothers and mothers who have been doing this a while all the patients and understanding. Lord knows that with good parents we should have great children which then will become great adults.


Enjoy the pictures of my wonderful children that God gave to me! After all I said I would.

GREAT CHANGES FOR THE GALLAGHER'S

We have had some changes lately in our family. They are definately for the best. We did not hear back from the family with the Shiba Inu but something better came along at this time. We have a new addition to the family, her name is Bayli. Our cousins, Sean and Rachel found 3 puppies in a dumpster and they saved one in particular for us. Last week Aaron and I went to go see her and fell in love. She is so good. She is about 12 weeks and is a Beagle and Australian Shepard mix. She is the sweetest thing. We could not have asked for a better puppy.
Shadow is doing exceptionally well considering some girl has invaded his home. He has only batted at her twice in a week. I just hope in the future Shadow will learn to love Bayli as much as we do.
Our other addition is we finally won the battle between GM and us. They bought back our Suburban and we received ALL of our money back. With prices so low these days we were able to get the car Aaron and I have always wanted. Let us just pray that I did not get another Fri afternoon car.
Just a little update on the kids and school. I have now worked in Gannon's class for 3 weeks in the computer lab, boy are kindergartners great. Not to toot my own horn but a lot of the kids ask Gannon how to play most of the programs. So far I am really impressed with their new school, even the Assistant Principal will sit and talk to the students (he has done that with mine that is how I know)! I have met some really nice moms as well.
Football season is here and we are excited. We are really disappointed that Tom Brady is hurt and will be out the whole season. I am not going to talk about the Miami game, boy did we s_ _ _ _! We have prepared ourselves though for a bad season. We still love our Patriots.



Until next time everyone, have great days!

The Gallaghers