SKids have been with us for the month of July. They go back to BM this Sunday and I really don't want them to go! It's been so wonderful having all of 'our' family together. We've settled into a nice little routine. The kids are happy, DH and I are happy and not having to deal with BM and do drop-offs and pick-ups has been a blessing! This is our 2nd summer as a blended family and last year July was crazy. DH and I had only been married a few months and we were all still figuring out what and who went where in our home. We were cranky, the kids were cranky and his ex was around all the time at every baseball practice and baseball game that the SS and DS13 had. :sick:

This year SS and SD and BS8 are all playing basketball, BM is aware of this but we decided not to give her a schedule unless she asked about it. Last year I did what I thought was the 'right' thing to do and provided her with a schedule up front. Since she and I had a falling out at the beginning of this year, I chose not to take the high road and do the 'right thing' this time, DH didn't find it necessary so the end result has been PEACE!

She has only called twice. She came by the house once to p-up an overdue library book that SS had and talked with the skids for about 15 minutes in the front yard as they were playing. DH and I have been able to enjoy the basketball games and practices together with no tension/drama that seems to follow the ex everywhere she goes. Skids haven't asked to call or see her one time the whole month. She's entitled to have them one weekend of her choice but she either doesn't know that or she doesn't care because the last 3 summers she has never excercised her right to that visit.

Bottom line is that I finally feel like we are a complete family. I always wanted a large family and this just feels right to me. So Sunday, the Skids leave and my boys leave to visit their dad for a week. It's going to be so strange going from 4 kids in the house to none and thinking about it makes me a little bit sad.