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Cheryl's Parenting Journal

StorkNet is very pleased to bring you Cheryl's parenting journal.

Cheryl (44) and her husband Brian have been married for 21 years. After three miscarriages and six years of unexplained fertility, the Butlers adopted a daughter on the day she was born. Soon after, the floodgates opened and Cheryl conceived her first son. The rest, as they say, is history as Cheryl and Brian are now the proud parents of 8 children between the ages of 3 and 16.

Join Cheryl as she shares the ups and downs and all arounds of parenting a large family.

Cheryl



Entry 33 ~ June 29, 2009
~ School's Out for Summer!

They're out! All eight of them! My kids' last day of school was Friday, June 26th . . . about a week later than they should've gotten out due to the long winter we had here in Rhode Island. Sadly, we haven't seen the sun in nearly a month! No kidding! We are stuck in some pressure system that is cloudy, drizzly, gray and humid. For those of you that live in the Seattle area, I want to know how you do it? A few days of this weather is fine, but we are now going on a month and I don't know if many people will be able to survive an entire summer like this.

Oh well. Weather is completely out of our control, so I can't spend my time worrying about when it will change. Right now, I have other worries. I have been without my washing machine since last Saturday (that would be nearly 10 days now!) and our hot water tank also keeps shutting itself off, so we are sometimes without hot water to boot. My biggest fear is that things like this break in threes, so something else is surely waiting to go. I just can't imagine what it will be since this past year every single one of our appliances including the flat iron has gone kaput. The part for the washing machine was ordered last Tuesday. Four days for it to arrive they tell me! I've been this route before with our dryer that went on the fritz last fall and that four days turned into three weeks! With summer laundry of beach towels etc., I am trying to remain calm and positive, but the gray, icky weather and taking cold showers nearly every day for the past week is starting to make me a little cranky! (Just a little!)

We are going to have a very low-key summer this year. Last year we went to Disney World, the kids went to various camps all summer long and I just ran from place to place transporting them. This year, only one of my kids is even interested in camp. He will do baseball camp starting next week but that's it. Otherwise, it's going to be the beach, the pool, a quick getaway to New Hampshire and just enjoying our own backyard. Sounds good in theory, but in a couple of weeks I know they will all be bored and I'll have to start playing "Cruise Director" again! Some things never change.

Since it's Monday (and happens to be my son Connor's 15th birthday today) I am going to go do a light housekeeping and then get ready for his party. My son, Austin, has an All-Star baseball game tonight, so that will interrupt our birthday festivities.

My big news is that I'm training for a 10-mile race the end of July. I've been walking at least 5 miles a day every morning and will increase to 8 by the end of this week. I go early in the morning before the kids get up. I have to say, it's quite invigorating and I am really loving it, not to mention loving the pounds that are finally coming off! ha ha

Before I do anything else, however, I must bravely enter the "cold shower" and get rid of my morning walking sweat. The kids think it's gross! I hope all of you are enjoying the beginning of summer and have lots of sunshine in your neck of the woods. Send some to New England, won't you please? Happy 4th of July everyone!

P.S. Getting my camera shutter fixed so I can start sending photos again! Something always in need of repair.

Take care!
   ~ Cheryl

Cheryl's Journal Entries

Introduction
Meet Cheryl

Entry 1
Back To School Blues . . . and Reds, Greens and Yellows!!

Entry 2
They're All in School . . . So Where are my Bon Bons?

Entry 3
The Beach, Bon Bons and an Unexpected Guest

Entry 4
Never Take Your Appliances for Granted

Entry 5
It Comes in Threes!

Entry 6
It's Time to Say Good-Bye

Entry 7
The Third One's a Doozey!

Entry 8
Mrs. Fix-It Saves the Day

Entry 9
Another Halloween Under Our Belts!

Entry 10
When Mom Gets Sick, Will The House Come to a Screeching Halt?

Entry 11
Finally Feeling Better

Entry 12
Happy Thanksgiving!

Entry 13
Let the Holiday Season Begin!

Entry 14
Our First Snow of the Season

Entry 15
Harbor Seals & Christmas Decorations

Entry 16
Merry Christmas to All!

Entry 17
Another Christmas Under Our Belts!

Entry 18
Happiness is . . . A Brand New Year!

Entry 19
Spending Time with the Grandparents

Entry 20
Christmas Decorations & the Inauguration!

Entry 21
Falling Off the Exercise Wagon

Entry 22
Today's the Day

Entry 23
Today's the Day

Entry 24
February Vacation--Over in a Quick Blink!

Entry 25
Time for New Undies

Entry 26
We Finally Got Sick This Winter!

Entry 27
Spring has Sprung, and so has Strep Throat!

Entry 28
Strep Throat Go Away & Never Come Back Another Day!!

Entry 29
A "New Attitude" for Easter

Entry 30
Six First Communions Down-Two To Go!

Entry 31
Much to Remember on Memorial Day!

Entry 32
Chaperoning 8th Graders to NYC--A Refreshing Blast!

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