2009 in pictures

Thank you to Dooce for giving me the idea. This is 2009 in review by picture. This is the very first Imovie picture montage I've done and I think my music has a skip in it but otherwise I'm very proud of it!




2009 has brought us many changes. We moved the hellish nightmare that it was. We celebrated Gabe's 3rd birthday. I decided to go back to school. There have been so many things that I just can't believe another year has come and gone.

Not only is this a new year but a new decade. Ten years ago I was a senior in high school and I did attend the best NYE party ever. We still laugh about that party. Anyone that was there knows and those that weren't missed a good time. The changes that have happened in the last 10 years are amazing.

I got move in with Mike, we got married, move a zillion times, decided to try to have a baby, Mike was diagnosed with MS, we finally got pregnant, moved some more, had said baby, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, deaths and births. Somewhere in that time I became a real adult. It sneaks up on your that's for sure but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Through everything my wonderful husband has been at my side and he really is my best friend. Thank you for always sticking by me. Things haven't always been easy but we've come out stronger than ever. I'm looking forward to many more years together with you!

Happy New Year everyone! Have fun and stay safe!

3 years old today

Three years ago today we were quite busy. You're daddy and I were at the hospital being induced.

I know that I posted about your birth story originally on the Snowflake board for sure (I'm not sure if when it was an EC or a PG though I searched both) but I can't find it :( I'll love anyone that happens to find it because I KNOW I posted it.

I did find that the hospital you were born at STILL has your picture up, even though you're birth weight is wrong there.
http://www.communitymemorial.com/baby_gallery/baby.cfm?b=633

We found out we were pregnant on April 13, 2006. It was a Thursday and in the middle of Survivor. It was the day before Good Friday that year. I was completely shocked. Being pregnant was not fun for me, we're talking puking (I had HG) for five months, many days I couldn't leave the house. BUT I ended up with you and that made it all worth it.

We came home from the hospital on Christmas morning with our little angel. Getting you dressed at the hospital was the first of many parenting hurdles we'd face but we love you no matter how you try our patience ;)

Happy birthday my little boy. You can't imagine the ways you've changed my life and I'm looking forward to many more fun times.

Hello Nurse!!!

I read somewhere that nurses hate that phrase from Animaniacs but since I'm not a nurse yet I figure it's okay still. Plus I know my husband is already having dirty fantasies about it.

I officially registered for school yesterday. It was exhilarating, terrifying, overwhelming and empowering. I am so ready to do this. I'm scheduled for 12 credits plus on the waiting list for one class that could bump me to 16 credits. I'm still not sure if I'll drop something to take that one if it's available or just go balls out and do it. I do have an amazing person lined up to watch Gabe (HI Auntie Sheri!) so no worries about that portion of it.

I'm hoping to really crank things out and petition for the official program for the Spring 2011 semester. That means I'll take courses in the summer semester and then in the fall again. I'm not really sure how a summer semester works for my financial aide though, if I have to take that out of one of my other semesters, or if its on it's own as a semester etc. I'll have to start looking that up after I'm working on stuff during this one.

I ended up taking two online courses (English and Psych) because there was no way to work a good schedule around them otherwise since I need to avoid Tuesdays for in the class room things right now. Then I'm taking a math class, biochem, and on the waitlist for anatomy and physiology part 1.

I'm probably driving my friends and family crazy because I'm quite literally bouncing off the walls about this. I don't think I've ever been quite so excited to start something before and I'm having a hard time containing myself. I'm all over the place about it.

I just can't wait to get started on this part of my life. I feel good about it. I feel like it's the right choice and the right time. I'll figure out what/where we'll go when I'm done when we get there. I've promised Mike that I'll only worry one step ahead of where we are right now to keep myself contained.

I want to give a big thank you to the people who have been very supportive of me even considering this path in life. I want to say thank you to the people who are going to continue to be my cheerleaders through this time. I especially want to tell my hubby that I love him very much because he puts up with me and he's going to have to hold my hand in math anyhow.

Oh the weather outside is frightful....

Image via Wikipedia

It's not a ton of snow in our area but south of us they got more. Still I'm depressed about it.

I used to enjoy snow. I've never been a snow bunny. I don't ski, a couple trips down the sledding hill and I'm all for heading in and drinking hot chocolate, and the thought of riding a snowmobile makes me ill. I DID enjoy the snow though, the chill in the air (not the frigid temps later) but at least those first couple of REALLY white really crisp snows were enjoyable.

Now?

Meh.

All I can think now is that it's the beginning of a very long, very cold winter, I'll have to shovel, drive in it, get salt tracked onto anything and everything, get sick, be sad when the sun is shining because that means it's -20 out with the windchill. All I do is long for spring. I long for the warmth of the sun, not the teaser that it is in the winter. I long for things to move and live.

I'm not sure when this happened but really I often wonder now if someplace warmer isn't calling my name. Maybe when school is done we'll talk about a move someplace where owning a snowblower would make you a kook. Some place where Christmas comes with lights and caroling but NO snow. Some place where you can be outside on the patio on Christmas morning.

Until then I'm going to complain and drink tea, eat chili and count the days til it's warm enough to go outside without eleventy million layers on. Oh and I don't want to have to wear socks ALL the time. I hate wearing socks and shoes and having to sleep with socks on sucks.

So how to I wait out the winter without hibernating? I'm hoping that Gabe will help get me through that because he's at the age where he thinks it's very piddy (pretty) and everything is full of magic. I'm hoping he drags me kicking and screaming through it and I remember it fondly.

Thanksgiving

Image by BarelyFitz via Flickr

It's Thanksgiving and we're full up on turkey and mashed potatoes. Some had pumpkin pie, but since I don't care for pumpkin pie I had none.

Instead of being thankful today though I'm annoyed. I'm annoyed with the F up and my back that leaves me short on money on a holiday weekend, short on gas because I have no money and rummaging though my son's piggy bank for change for the car.

Instead of being thankful I just wish at this point it was Saturday already so we could hang out with friends and play Rock Band and eat deep fried turkey.

It doesn't help that I woke up with a headache stabbing through my right eye. That Gabe was rather cranky today, but at least when he napped it was a good long nap.

The evening plans include a whole lot of nothing. I'm trying to not be annoyed for no reason for the rest of the evening but when you start the day in a funk it's hard to get yourself out of it in a snap too.

So even though it's Thanksgiving and I should be thankful for all the truly wonderful things I DO have I'm spending it annoyed. I'll be thankful tomorrow.

When you think of something write it down...

Otherwise you end up like me. I'm laying in bed last night and I thought something really funny and thought "hey you should blog that in the morning". Of course this morning I have NO idea what it was.

It did make me think of something else funny though. My mom got this clock awhile back for $40 at some consignment store. It's got a nice ticking sound to it, and you have to remember to wind it. It says it's a 31 day clock but really ya gotta wind it every two weeks. What's funny about this particular clock is that it's supposed to ring once for the half hour and then on the hour for the time it is. Well it doesn't quite work that way. It dings correctly once on any half hour but the hour marks are a dice roll. It does ding between 11 and 4 properly but the other hours are a crap shoot.

Mike and I were laying in bed a couple nights ago talking and we were talking about the clock. I said well at least it hasn't dinged 13 yet since we think that might be the third sign of the apocalypse. Of course suddenly the clock starts dinging and we're obsessed with counting the chimes now. I swear that it dinged 13 just that once. I haven't heard it before and I haven't heard it do that since.

So we have this quirky clock, and we could probably have it taken in and fixed but I kind of like the fact that you're never sure what time it will really ding. So I think we'll keep our quirky clock just the way it is. Not everything has to be perfect to be enjoyable.

When flour and child collide

You all know that when they are quiet you're in trouble right? Well yesterday it was a doozy of one.

Yes he's wearing shorts, no it's not that warm here, he picked them out himself.

Now I have to say that it was pretty funny. I've heard this story about how I baby powdered my bedroom TWICE as a child so having my son flour the kitchen while I was in the next room was rather amusing.

So Mike grabs the shop vac and starts vacuuming. I strip the kid down and get him in the tub. Gabe used to hate the tub but now he thinks it's fun. That is unless we have to wash his hair.

Of course with that amount of flour he did need his hair washed. I have to hold him down and do it while the conversation goes like this:

Me: Honey it's okay it's just water

Gabe: No momma, no no no OWWWWWWW

Me: Gabe it doesn't hurt it's just water

Gabe: OWWWW NO NO NO NO (insert cringing down here as well)

Me: well silly if you hadn't put flour in your hair we wouldn't have to wash it again

Gabe: Flour? Hair? (giggling)

Me: Okay gotta rinse

Gabe: No momma no no no no no hair, no wet!

Me: Okay all done

Gabe: no more momma

I have no idea why he hates it. I don't even have to have soap for him to yell. I admit most of the time I just wipe it down with a damp cloth he hates it so much. I don't have any idea how to fix it either. I feel horrible because he really does seem TERRIFIED of the water on his head. It's not in his eyes even. I can get the back of his head wet and he screams like that. Anyone with ideas that can help him?

Other than the hair washing/screaming the afternoon was pretty funny though and I was amused because kids will be kids.

Thoughts to live by....

"Today, if you become frightened, instead become inspired."

"Don't think about HOW you are going to do this, think about WHY you are going to do this"

‘I used to think it was a terrible thing that life was so unfair. Then I thought, 'what if life *were* fair, and all of the terrible things that happen to us came because we really deserved them?' Now I take great comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe.’
- Marcus Cole, from Babylon 5 (1994-1998)

These quotes have been rambling around for me. The first one from last night's Grey's Anatomy, the second from someone when I was worried about how I was going to juggle things for school and the third about life in general.

The first quote reminds me that when we're scared we often become paralyzed by the fear instead of being inspired to find a way around the fear. Sometimes we just need to DO and not think so much.

The second one reminds me that sometimes the how sucks and it's hard but the why is the important part. The why is for me, for my family for my life. I know WHY I'm doing this and I have to keep that in mind each and every day that I feel stuck.

The third reminds me that sometimes things just happen and no one is to blame and nothing is fair.

So I vow to be inspired and remember the why in life even when things are tough and know that sometimes it's hard and that you just have to push through it.

This too shall pass, yet another of my thoughts to live by.

Life in a nutshell

Things get busy and then I forget to write down the important things. The ones I really want to keep in my mind forever seem to happen when you least expect it.

We've had a lot of rain lately and Gabe misses the shiny (sun). So he told me that he was going to wake up shiny for the last two days. It was super cute.

We've had friends come over and we've actually been out and about too.

Yesterday I spent about a day and a half on hold with MATC getting my application straightened out. Seems they didn't get the whole maiden name/married name thing combined and my transcripts didn't get paired with my application correctly. We did get it straightened out and I should be getting a letter to take the accuplacer testing in the mail SOON. Hopefully I can take it on a Thursday so my mom can watch Gabe. I've looked at some of the practice tests and I really hope I don't have to write a 300-600 word "paper". That is just a pain in the ass if you ask me. Otherwise Mike is going to have to help me brush up on the math stuff ahead of time too since math is my worst subject.

Then I need to set up an appointment to see the daycare facilities, figure out car rides for Gabe and I to school and back. Set up appointments with the financial aide office too I think since I have no idea how this stuff really works either. It's getting a little overwhelming but I'm trying to not panic and push through it. I can do this!!

This weekend we had an issue with our bank acct from a store that over charged me for an item I bought one of, they charged me for SEVEN. So now I'm waiting on their refund to go back into my bank acct since missing over a hundred dollars for us is super tough :(

Phew I think that's it lately though I feel like I'm missing something. I wish I had more time to just sit and think sometimes.

I'm really doing it

I'm going to school. I have applied to MATC to start their RN program. It's only a 2 year program which will probably take me 3 since I need some pre-reqs before starting the official program.

I've applied to the school online, stopped in at my high school to get my transcripts, filled out my FAFSA info. So now I'm in the waiting portion. I'm a little scared but mostly I'm excited. I'm thrilled that I know what I'm doing and there is a specific amount of time for that to happen in.

My EFC from FAFSA is zero so I should get the full amount for the Pell Grant and after that I'll hope for scholarships, grants, and loans to do the rest. I'll need to pay for school (and supplies, books etc), Gabe will hopefully be in on campus daycare so that will be an expense, and then if I can have enough money to "make" the $400 a month I make working I'll quit working. I don't want to over extend myself going to school full time for the first time in 10 years and I do want to be able to see my family occasionally (funny how I love them right?)

I have to say it was odd to be inside Nicolet as the current seniors will be graduating the same time as I have been out of high school TEN years. Where the heck does the time go? I did get to run into my former guidance counselor Mr. Artero who was glad to see me. I saw another teacher too who isn't there anymore but happened to be stopping in too. I could have done without seeing him though.

I need people's positive thoughts and any advice or help they have on how to get money for school. Wish me luck!!!

OCTOBER?!!?!!

Yes I needed explination points AND question marks there. I simply can not believe it's October already. I've been a horrible mommy and taken hardly any pictures of Gabe lately. We do have a pumpkin carving party tomorrow though so I'll have new ones then.

On to other things. We got a new furnace today, YAY! It's now nice and toasty warm in the house and so quiet I can't even tell it's on.

Gabe has been in a phase where he's decided to lock himself in the bathroom. This wouldn't be so bad because I can pop the lock from the outside but he opens a drawer behind the door so I still can't open it. We've got new child locks for the drawers so he can't do this anymore because it makes mom VERY unhappy. While putting him in time out for this today he decides to yell at me "mommy go away!" Now this is the kid that doesn't say very many three words sentences so I have to say instead of being hurt by it I had to turn around and giggle because at least it's a three word sentence. He said it with SUCH inflection and the hand wave too.

I know one day I'll look back and think about this time fondly (LOL maybe) but I know in the end this stubborn kid will be labelled persistent and that will be a good thing, right?

The more things you do the more that are left

I swear the more work we do organizing and cleaning in the new place the more that there is. You know how it is. Whenever you start cleaning you always end up with a bigger mess than before you started before it finally gets clean.

Of course everyone has their own time tables and priorities on what should get done first too. We have three adults now (me, Mike and Mom) so it's even harder sometimes to get everyone's wants and desires taken care of. I'm finding it's a game of compromise and just letting the little things go.

Today I have about a zillion things to do and of course not enough time, energy or money to take care of them all ;) I mean who does right?

We're going to buy some curtain rods, dig holes for a couple of trees we have to plant, remover for the wallpaper border in Gabe's room so I can get my butt in gear and paint that for him too.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

We're all working through who needs to do what, who needs to pay for what and who likes things where. We'll get there I know we will.

We have landed...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

We are finally in the new place. I'm typing from my living room with the sun shining in a huge picture window. It's great.

The place is a disaster, half the light fixtures don't work, switches do nothing, the tub is covered in mildew that I'm scrubbing out, it needs painting and organizing but it's ours and that's all that matters.

The move was horrific, no surprise right? The good thing is that we had AMAZING friends who helped us move. Sometimes family isn't blood related at all but found and that's what we had. Those guys moved and organized the truck like champs. I swear Shawn must be a Tetris champion with the way he got things into the truck.

My feet and back STILL hurt but I'll survive.

We did get some appliances this weekend from Home Depot. We got amazing deals on all of them too. A brand new front loading washer and dryer (tiny scratches on them), a wall oven in stainless steel that was a special order that someone else didn't want, and a trash compactor. I'm excited about the oven because it actually has a convection option on it for baking and anyone who likes to back knows convection is the way to go! They will all be delivered on Saturday.

Our garage is PACKED full of stuff though so I hope we can get them into it too. We have so much stuff out there I'm sure we need a rummage to pair down stuff. I'm hoping to get Gabe's room painted this weekend but I have to remove the wallpaper boarder off the wall first.

Gabe slept pretty well last night so I hope it continues and he hasn't asked to go home once. I think he has figured it out that we ARE home. It feels like home and I know in a short time it will really be organized and homey.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

Now we all know this song right?

The itsy bitsy spider goes up the water spout and then the rain comes and washes him out and that dumb spider goes up the water spout again.

Gabe has taken a liking to this song. It's taken over bed time over Frere Jaques even. So instead of singing it all cute and up beat and doing hand motions we sing is slow and softly now at night.

I am putting Gabe to bed when I'm done Mike tells me that only I could make the Itsy Bitsy Spider sound like a dirge. A dirge? Really? That's a funeral procession song people?! How in the world can I sing that to my child at night to wish him sweet dreams and a peaceful night.

So I got back at Mike. The next time he sang Frere Jaques I asked him if he was part of a church choir because he oversings is so dramatically. Needless to say he didn't make it through the rest of the song he laughed so hard at me.

Point for Mel

Recent house going ons

Image via Wikipedia

I've had a couple people ask what's going on with our house so I thought I'd drop a quick update.

See that picture over there ----->
That's supposedly the international symbol for a squatter. LOL I found it while looking for pictures for today's post. That's what I am though, a squatter.

This past week they have been "removing the lead". I put it in quotes because it's a guy with a scraper and a plastic tarp, no mask, no gloves. He's JUST scraping and painting the window sills because HUD told him it was a rush job and to NOT replace the windows (roll eyes here). Whatever it's not his fault the people we're dealing with are idiots.

Hopefully today or tomorrow he'll be done with that painting part. BUT then we have to wait 3-5 days for a final inspection. Why? I have no freakin' idea why. So there's no way we're closing this week. You know what that means? We're closing next week and moving LABOR DAY WEEKEND?! OMG great. I'm going to beg on my hands and knees for people to help us sat/sun that weekend because my mom's condo sold this week and they are closing September 10th or 11th so we HAVE to be outta here by then. Like completely 100% out because it's not ours.

I'm tired. I'm tired of sleeping on a mattress that isn't mine, in a house that isn't mine, with pillows that aren't mine. I'm tired of feeling like a squatter and not having a real address. I'm tired of not knowing what's going on. I'm tired of thinking about how moving is going to suck with no help because who in their right darn mind is going to help on Labor Day weekend? :(

I'm just ready for this to be over and done with. Please let it be over and done with so we can move on with our lives. I'm tired of the holding pattern.

Slinging burritos

So I've been slinging burritos at Qdoba for almost 2 years now (since this location opened) and I'm getting promoted. What does that mean? Eh not much, a little more money and memorization of when things go bad, a liquor license and the free will to tell people what to do (lol ok only a little bit of free will). But it's nice to be appreciated for doing a good job :D

On the house front, there is lead on the window SILLS. Now it's important that you read that right, the sills, not anywhere else. So they are painting or replacing the sills and putting my crappy windows back in. I'm hoping they drop a few of them in the process and have to replace them anyhow.

No date on the move yet though I'll keep ya posted on that.

Tonight though we got to go out to dinner with a friend of ours which was nice. Since Mike is a first shifter now we can actually do those things. Gabe was super good at the restaurant and enjoyed Jerry's kitty cats at his apartment too. It was nice to be a family and see friends.

Good news, bad news

There was lead found in the house. (Sigh). So we will not be closing this week.

BUT....

They are going to repaint the entire inside for us. If there is lead found on the window sills they will replace the windows for us as well. The windows need to be replaced so we're actually hoping that they will find lead on the windows at this point. (lol).

We'll be here at my mom's (rent free at least) so hopefully this being in the hole will work itself out because of staying rent free (and mostly utility free too).

I'm bummed but excited that the house will be painted. I wonder if I can give them the paint for Gabe's room? :P

Hopefully then this will be done quickly and PROPERLY and then we will FINALLY have our house (and it will be freshly painted by someone else).

Officially done

I think we are officially done with napping. Gabe has only been napping sporadically since the middle of July but since we've moved into my Mom's place he hasn't napped at all. He will nap in the car if we go somewhere but that's it.

Most days it's not too bad really but once and awhile, geez I can tell he would be happier if he just napped even if it was a short one.

He goes to bed between 7:30 and 7:45 each night and gets up on his own at about 7:15 in the morning so I really can't complain. He falls asleep on his own after the night time routine and sleeps all the way through.

It just seems odd that I have a child who's "old enough" to not nap.

I couldn't make it up if I tried

I've been offline (mostly) since last Sunday. Why you ask? Well because I was supposed to be moving this week. We were supposed to close on Friday August 7. This was our SECOND attempt at closing.

Of course we got to Thursday night and I received an email saying we were NOT closing. Why? Oh because someone else didn't do their job. The lead paint test that's required on EVERY SINGLE HOUSE THEY SELL AT HUD wasn't done. How someone didn't notice until 6pm the night before closing I have no idea.

We are supposed to close now on Thursday next week. I'll believe that when I see it.

So lets count the ways this sucks.

I took off work this week to do house stuff (unpaid)

We paid for a truck to sit with our stuff full at my Grandparents for a week ($400 by the way) and now we're paying another $150 for it to sit until next week. The guy cut us a deal.

I have only ONE day of work next week because my boss goofed my new schedule up :(

We had to rig up internet stuff last night because we at least wanted to be able to have SOMETHING to do.

We have 4 cats who are unhappy crunched into a tiny condo.

My son keeps asking to go home and I have to move him again in a week.

I'm tired, I'm BEYOND broke and seriously taking donations if anyone takes pity on us. We're so far in the hole it's not funny. The sad part is I LOVE this house. The house hasn't done anything wrong it's the HUD people selling the house that are annoying me.

I'm a huge birthday person, birthdays are very important. So yesterday was a major downer for me BUT I did get to spend time with my family and have a good dinner and cheesecake and for that I am truly thankful. I know things will work out.

I swear though truth is stranger than fiction sometimes huh?

I have no place to live

As of Sunday I have no place to live. We were told this morning that because Bank of America didn't get the paperwork to HUD til today that we are not closing tomorrow.

If we do then God himself must have helped.

BoA had plenty of time to ask us for all the paperwork and their communication with us sucked. So we spent the last week running around for misc bits and pieces (not major information in my opinion either). Only to find out that it didn't matter.

So I'm homeless come Sunday :( I don't even know if I'm mad anymore, I'm just sad.

I have no people to move me after this weekend, no time to take off of work (I've taken unpaid days this week) and have to try and get a Uhaul for that weekend. :(

Seriously?

I mean really? Seriously? You have to be kidding right?

So lets start at the beginning of the day.

I get a phone call from the realtor (Karen) who says that HUD (ppl that are selling this foreclosed house) don't have all our paperwork. Uhhh we're supposed to close on Thursday. Why are they telling us on MONDAY that they don't have all they need? We might not close on time now.

Well CRAP, I run out of place to live pretty quick here. I have people coming to help move, I took off work, my dad took off, my mom took off, friends are driving in from out of state, there's a truck rented, you get the picture right?

So I spent half of the morning running around the known free world spending money (that I don't have) like it's going out of style. I find out that the inspector may have to come back to the house (more $$) to turn the water on even though it's ALREADY ON! The HUD people apparently don't believe the city of Grafton. Luckily we got that taken care of.

Then I had to go to my Grandparents house today to get the rest of the paperwork that they are sending over (co-signers on the loan) because Bank of America apparently didn't get it all last time.

Now my Grandma just got out of the hospital and needs to rest, but instead I have to have her sit with me while I'm on the phone to get this straightened out.

GAH!!!! ARGLEBARGLE!

I know why people smoke and drink, really I do.

The inspector said he would just sign off on the water as long as we were okay with it (we are) and send it over with an addendum. I paid the $50 at Grafton water for some darn clean water test that had to be done. I faxed everything from the bank over to the processor.

I hope now things are done and settled, though I don't believe that for one darn second.

As of right now though they say that we're still closing Thursday. Gee what a nice surprise that would be (roll eyes here)

Ever notice...

The closer ya get to moving the harder it is to pack? That is until the night before when you're a crazy woman in panic mode realizing that you're moving tomorrow and you still have eleventy million things to stuff in a box.

At that point the organization goes out the window and you find yourself with a box with a 10lbs weight and a lamp in it (yes my mom actually did that once). I do have a suitcase set aside for the immediate necessities like underwear and toothbrushes.

We are moving Friday July 31 and Saturday August 1. HOLY COW! That's soon.

I promise I have a plan, how well I execute that plan.... well that's yet to be seen. We'll see if my friends that are driving almost 7 hours to come help us out think I'm an idiot or not after they get here ;) I did promise food and beverages too. I reminded them to bring their own pillows though since my crap is packed.

I'm also hoping for no heat and no rain. It would be a novelty for us to move on a normal day though so I'm not holding my breath.

My Dad is coming this weekend to help me move my fridge to the garage so I can put the landlord's fridge back in the kitchen where it belongs.

If I suddenly drop off the face of the Earth you'll know I've been sucked into moving hell.

To do or not to do....

I'm super bored BUT I have a ton of stuff I should be doing. Isn't that the worst place to be? So lets start a list!

• Bring boxes up from basement
• Do laundry so that the non-necessities can be packed
• Pack non-necessary clothes
• Continue packing kitchen stuff that I know I won't need in the next two weeks, including spices
• Throw out any spices I haven't used in recent memory
• Buy bras this weekend, really I'm down to 2 and I NEED to buy some
• Organize my desk so that it can be packed
• Get cleaning supplies ready for this place AND the new place
• Don't freak out that I think I don't have enough boxes now to pack the house

Ok I think that's it. Really I am just sick and tired of waiting for moving. We'll have been waiting for EIGHT weeks by the time we close since our offer was accepted and I'm tired of waiting. Tons of other people have moved before we did even if they decided to move AFTER we did. I'm tired, annoyed and ready to get settled.

I did buy paint for Gabe's room though. I bought a great blue and a great green. Three walls will be blue and one green because it's REALLY green ;) I can't wait to do that. At least someone's room will be done right away.

Now the trick is to stay motivated to actually WORK on the list like I should.

Love-Hate

Thank you Wendy for the idea.

Things I hate...

• Not getting enough sleep
• When I know Gabe hears me and he purposefully ignores me and looks back to check that I know that he knows
• When you know what you want but it seems too hard to get it
• Those things that tell your speed on a random road. I'm going to drive off the road checking my speedometer to it to see if mine is right
• People who talk on their cell phones while ordering food from me at work
• Sand in the car
• Bread and butter pickles

Things I love...

• Sloppy kisses from the Boy
• Hearing the Boy says baby and snuggle with his little bear
• The sound at the end of the day when everything is sleeping
• Rain, thunder and lightening from the porch
• Reading and re-reading a good book
• Lemonade on a hot day
• Chili on a cold day
• Seeing Mike play with Gabe and listening to them both laugh
• The feel of Mike sleeping next to me
• Orchids
• Water fountains bubbling
• Bubblers- drinking fountains for those of you not in the know ;)
• The feel of warm sand between your bare toes
• Shooting stars on a clear night
• Horses running in a field
• Kitty cats in bed with you at night, even when they sleep on your head
• When you have to think hard to come up with things you hate because life is more good than bad

Closing date

We officially have a closing date of July 30th at 3pm. YEA! I am excited but I really wish it was a week sooner. I am supposed to be out of my place by July 31st so I'm going to have very little time to do the carpets after moving.

Plus I want to paint!! I was hoping to get a couple days to paint before we moved because it's just easier and then the house doesn't smell like paint when you move in.

I'm crossing my fingers for the closing to be moved up even more but I'm just glad that I won't be homeless (lol).

Today I'm home from work because Mike isn't feeling well. I NEED to bring up boxes from the basement and run to the bank. I should be productive on this random day off. I wonder how many boxes I can still fit in the garage?

Paint, paint and more paint!

Image via Wikipedia

Let me tell you choosing paint colors for a whole house at one time is HARD work.

Then not only do you have to pick the basic colors but there's about a zillion shades of that color to choose from and then coordinate it with other colors in that room etc. BAH! I'm going blind ;)

I do know that the kitchen is going to be orange with blue accent and white cupboards. The kitchen is HUGE and we love color so it's a good place to put a lot of color. We found gorgeous square dinner plates (well a set with cups and bowls too) that is blue to jump off of for the blue shade. The living room is adjacent to the kitchen but I think that is going to stay a more neutral color. I call it wet sand (lol). My mom and I have been talking about paint forever it seems. Mike only wants to have input when we narrow it down. He doesn't like too many options to think about, plus he's partially color blind so he doesn't always see them how we do anyhow.

Then I have Gabe's bedroom which is going to be greens and blues to coordinate with his bedding that we already have.

After that my mom has her bedroom to choose and her bathroom to choose. We're going to be staying in the smallest bedroom til we're done with the basement remodel so I think my mom is going to choose the color in that room too since it will be her sewing room.

In a couple months I'll have my bedroom and bathroom to choose and the family room in the basement to choose too.

I LOVE painting but picking all of the colors at once is tough work! I just want to be done already. We still have a couple weeks before we close so I can't actually get my painting done either, I'm just picking out colors.

Here's a picture of an orange/blue kitchen that I saw that I like. Our cupboards are white though. I figure someone thinks we're crazy so I thought I'd show ya that it can work ;)

Dance like no one is watching....

I've been thinking about this for awhile. I realize that the more and more people that read what I'm typing the more likely it is that I'm going to complain/talk/whine about someone who isn't going to like it, OR I'm going to do it about someone that doesn't read it and sooner or later someone will mention something.

So I've decided something. I don't care. I need a place that is MINE to talk about what I want to talk about. That might mean I've had a fight with my mom, my husband, want to give my kid away some days. I just don't care. This is my place and I'm going to use it like I would if no one was reading (okay or maybe my best friend is reading but I know she would understand me, HI SARAH!)

So keep this in mind:
"Dance like no one is watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like no one is listening, and live like it's heaven on Earth" ~William Perky

Lots to talk about

First let's talk about the house. I haven't talked about the house in awhile and I'm sure that you're wondering what the heck is going on there.

Tuesday we had our home inspection. There were things wrong but nothing that really surprised us.

• The furnace is not currently working (at least it's summer) and the inspection is pretty sure it's the on board computer that needs to be replaced, not horribly expensive at least
• The flashing on the chimney was not done properly so there was water getting in (there was an old leak in the kitchen from it. We'll replace the flashing and be good to go.
• The water system has a leak in it... Where we don't know exactly we're going to be checking that this afternoon when we go.
• There is some mold/mildew in the bathroom. The fan didn't work properly and we're redoing that bathroom right away anyhow. It's not toxic mold so it's not a major concern.

The roof is okay for now. We probably have 5 years before we have to tear it off and put a new one on. The gutters are PACKED with crap from the trees so they are backing up on to the soffets so hopefully when they get cleaned out they'll drain probably and we won't have to redo the soffets right away.

Other than that our closing is still scheduled for the first week in August. We're trying desperately to get it pushed back to the last full week of July so that we're not homeless. Our lease here runs out July 31st and I want to be able to clean my carpets before we have to really be out.

Next item of business....

Mike had an interview this morning with his current company but for a first shift position. Yes you read that right FIRST shift. That's what a normal person works ;) There is a pay cut because he's going from third to first we'll lose that shift premium but I don't care. He's been told he's an front runner but there are a few other interviews that have to be done first.

Third-

I think I'm going to go to school if Mike goes to first shift. Now I have NO college credits. I'm terrified of wading through the paper work and figuring all of it out. I want to do online courses so I can do them while Gabe sleeps during the day, or in the evenings after Mike is home. I'll either go for a medical assistant or a pharmacy technician. I NEED them to give us enough money that I can actually pocket some of it to help with living expenses. I know I need to start with FAFSA but we make LESS this year than we did last year (especially with the pay cut coming) so I have to figure out how to add an addendum to it so that they know that we're making less. ACK see I get scared and then I do nothing.

So as if moving wasn't enough stress we're going to make as many life changes as we can in as short of time as we can apparently. Then people wonder why I'm stressed out right?! I know why some people drink. I swear I need a vice.

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears oh my!

We made a trip to the County Zoo on Saturday and had a blast!  Right now there is an exhibit where you can go in with free flying birds (mostly parakeets but still cool) and feed them.  

Gabe, my Mom and I went in.  Mike hung out and waited for us outside.  He does NOT like birds. So we got out stick with food stuck onto it and went in.  It was so neat.  I ended up with several birds at one time on my arm all fighting for the food.  Gabe got to pet several and he thought feeding them was a blast.

At the end of the day we HAD to ride the train.  Gabe had been calling for the Choo Choo all day.  Every time we crossed the tracks he puts his hand on his forehead like a salute and looks both ways and hollers for it.    The line was looooong though so we had to wait through 2 trains before we got on.  He was definitely a tired kid by then.  So he doesn't really look like he is enjoying himself but he's been talking about it since so he must have had fun.

Next year I think we'll buy a pass so we can go a couple of times.  We didn't actually get to see everything in one day because it's just too long of a day still.  I think we were there about 3 hours.  Gabe napped a little in the car on the way there but didn't nap at all after we left and I really thought he would.    

We stopped at the humane society on the way home too.  The one was stopped at is so nice I don't feel guilty just visiting.  We were checking out dogs.  It will probably be a year or more before we seriously consider a dog and NOT a puppy but it was fun to look.   I think 4 cats will be enough to keep us busy for awhile.  Until we have the house settled and a fence a dog isn't something we'll really talk about.  

Another summer weekend gone so fast.  I can't believe that June is almost over.  Where does the time go?!  I want more weekends with the family where the weather is nice. 

Blarg!

So it's hot hot hot, and HUMID too.  90 degrees out still and it's almost 7:30pm here.   

Mike is home from work for the whole week.  He's doing steroids again.  At least they're doing oral again instead of having to go in and get stuck with needles (no one needs more needles).   We have the AC running and we're just hanging out inside now.  

Hopefully the steroids will help, and Mike won't be too cranky on them.  Steroids always make ya cranky.  I did get orange juice which helps with the potassium loss during it.  Now if I can just convince Gabe to not drink all of it will be in good shape. 

Just figured I better update since I mentioned Mike hadn't been feeling great.   This too shall pass. 

Half Birthday

Holy cow I forgot to post yesterday.  Gabe was officially 2 1/2 yesterday.  Where the HECK did half the year go? 

He's such a great kid.  He's stubborn as can be but he is so sweet.  He loves to give hugs and kissed to Mike and me and loves when Grandma comes over.   He loves to "ride" bikes and play outside.  He can run around for hours, I can't wait til we have a fenced yard.   

He was laying with his head on my lap yesterday evening while we watched Jeopardy and I just couldn't believe how big he is.  He's definitely not a baby anymore but a wonderful, smart, precocious little boy.   

In other news Mike has been home from work Monday night and last night. He's feeling like crap and waiting for the doctor to call him back.  It's fabulous when the doctor doesn't call back by end of business like you were promised.   Hopefully they'll call back early today so we know what's going on. 

Good Night Moon, Good Night Stars

This is probably a pretty common book in many of our lives. Who doesn't know Good Night Moon?

We don't actually read this book, a slew of others yes but I'm not sure we even own that one.

What we do get each and every night before bed is Gabe going "night kiki (kitty), night truck, night cars, night dog, night cards" And he has to go around the living room and wave at each of them and if the cat lets him he kisses her before bed too. It's so freaking adorable I had to make sure I wrote it down.

I love that kid.

Job offers

Mike came home and told me there is an opening at his current employer, for his job on first shift (he's on third shift now). He wanted to talk to me before posting for it because there would be a pay cut right off the top. He'd lose his shift premium which would be 15% of his total pay. That's a BIG pay cut ($4000+ a year).

I told him I didn't care, we'll figure it out somehow. He's GOT to get off of 3rd shift it's horrible for his health. I mean no one should work third shift but a guy with MS really shouldn't be working 3rd shift. It's impossible for him to get enough sleep, impossible for him to go to school etc.

I'm actually hoping we'll be poor enough to really qualify for some things at least. We were JUST over the $$ cut off before so cutting that much off of our income probably will "help". I'll just have to figure out if I'm going to keep working or if I'll quit my job and be the one to go to school or if DH will go to school on the weekends/nights. My mom says she can watch Gabe some to help out too.

I'll probably look into state funded health care if he does get it since then we could save the money we pay in premiums now ($400/month) which would be better too but I worry about Mike being able to see his regular neurologist that way, getting the RIGHT meds and not whatever they tell him he needs etc.

I know I'm REALLY putting the horse before the cart but it's better for me to think things out before it happens just in case so I can have a plan in place IF it does. The way things go at his employer though I won't be holding my breath but extra prayers and positive thoughts would be nice.

He ate it!

Before I could get to him Gabe ate a cat treat.  You know one of those squishy ones that comes out of a bag.   He had it because he likes to give the treats to the cats when they don't run away from him.  Suddenly though I turned around and he's chewing.  

I asked him to show me what was in his mouth and when he stuck out his tongue there is was, Oh well.  He did say YUM and lick his lips when he was done.  I better hide the rest or he'll be eating them all.  

I think that's the strangest thing he's eaten so far so I thought it deserved note.

Sometimes I wonder about that boy.

Please return to your regularly scheduled day. 

Cars, Cars, Cars

Gabe loves cars, big cars, little cars, trucks, trains, you name it.  He especially loves the move Cars though and I think Lighting Mcqueen might just be his hero.   

Now Gabe doesn't talk nearly as much as the other kids his age so when he gets something down it's worth celebrating.   Yesterday evening we were watching Cars, AGAIN, and at the end suddenly I hear "bah cow"  (Ca Chow).  It's Lighting's signature sound.  I just about died laughing.  When Mike got up I asked Gabe "what does lighting Mcqueen say?"  And he says "Bah cow" again.  Mike and I both busted up laughing.  

Now you do Ta-Da, Ba Cow, and You make a dinosaur sound when you get asked what Grimlock (Transformer who's a dino) says too.  I love this stage where you do things on cue.  It makes it really easy to impress the Grandparents with cuteness. 

PS.  I went to preview this post before publishing and Gabe saw Lighting at the top and started saying "car, Bah Cow" and pointing.  I love that kid.  

Who Knew?

Wow I have to say I'm shocked at how over protective some parents are.

I got into a heated argument about.... Ready for it?!... Lemonade stands. Yes you read that right. I mean I live in a small town so it's really not that big of a deal but even moms in big cities said their kids could do it in the front yard of their house. We heard all about how horrible we are and how our kids are going to be abducted by strangers, yeah right.

Really stranger abductions account for a TINY portion of all abductions and even abductions are a miscule worry in the grand scheme of things. (approx 58,000 kids are abducted each year, which sounds like a lot but not when you think about the fact that there are THREE HUNDRED MILLION people in the USA.).

I've been there done that. When I was 6 I was almost abducted on my way home from the school bus stop. We (another girl and I) had to get off the bus and walk two blocks home, and one of those blocks was a huge park. Well a guy stopped his car and came up to us and offered us candy. We dropped our bags, screamed bloody murder and ran home. My dad was a cop at the time and I remember the officers coming to the house.

You know why it wasn't that traumatizing to me? Because I knew what to do in the situation. I completely believe in teaching Gabe to be cautious but I do not want him afraid of his own shadow. I don't want him to think that all strangers are bad. I mean how can I grocery shop if I can't talk to a stranger, or approach someone in BRU in the carseat aisle if I can't talk to a stranger.

Long story short, Yes I will let my son have a lemonade stand when I'm home, yes I will let him walk to school without an adult at some point, heck I'll even let him drive a car.

I can not and will not protect my child from EVERYTHING. There is a fine line between being a cautious contentious parent and being overprotective. I'm pretty laid back and I suppose for some people I'm probably too laid back. I don't let Gabe play with the stove but I do let him poke bugs with a stick. I hold his hand crossing the street but I'll let him jump on a trampoline. Heck I'll probably let him get his ears pierced or dye his hair too (shocking I know!). There are just WAY bigger things to deal with than whether the 1 in a zillion chance that someone might abduct Gabe from my front yard is a possibility.

In the very wise words of Dory the fish-

Marlin: I promised I'd never let anything happen to him.
Dory: Hmm. That's a funny thing to promise.
Marlin: What?
Dory: Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.

So pick your battles. Know what's REALLY a danger and what is something you project on to your kids to be a danger and choose wisely. No one wants to go through life scared. I hope someday Gabe will try things that are a little bit scary and find out that a lot of them will be fun too, otherwise we'd never climb on the monkey bars.

Exhausted

Geez we've been so busy lately.  I feel like I can't even take a breath.

It was kind of over cast and rainy all weekend but we did run to see Mike's parents and then his sister. 

Then yesterday our friend Dave brought his daughter Maddy over to play.  She's about 9 months younger than Gabe and they got along wonderfully!   They were so cute following each other around and they did hold hands but I missed the picture. :(   

It was just all kinds of little things.  Today I have a zillion errands to run and we're broke.  So broke I think I have to bounce the check book for meds :(  I hate that.  We just can't ever catch up.  It's always something...

I will have a couple pictures of the house up soon.  We went for a walk through this weekend too and GEEZ do we have work to do.  I mean we knew we did but when you go through again you really get a feel for how much work there is.   I'm going to have to take up a collection for paint and the oven since we need that pretty quick.     My mom and I did check out some furniture this weekend too since I know she said she'd buy new living room furniture not matter where she was going so as long as we're all moving in together we might as well find something we can all enjoy.  

Does a little dance

Did you hear?  We have a house.   They accepted our offer.  It's a HUD house (VA loan foreclosed on) and it needs some love.  It's a 3 bed 1.5 bath currently but we'll be adding a full bath/bedroom in the basement which is 10 feet tall and a poured basement.  

Now we need a home inspection and a bunch of other misc crap to do but I am excited.  Now I REALLY need to get packing.   

Hopefully we'll close somewhere about the middle of July.  We need a fence right away (corner lot right across from the school) and we need an oven, a fridge, washer/dryer and the bathroom needs work right away.  Oh and paint, but I'm weird and I like to paint, especially if we can do it before we move in.  

Of course now I start worrying about money.  Yes my mom will have the mortgage officially but we are going to pull our weight (or try) and eventually own half the house anyhow.  So I'm going to need extra pennies I think.    This is the part where I wish I got paid more even though I like my job, or there was a baby store near that I could work and get paid for my carseat stuff, THAT would be fun!  

Ok I'm going to ramble because I'm excited so I'm heading to bed to TRY and sleep. 

Whirlwind weekend

Wow we were busy this weekend.

We celebrated my Grandpa's 81st birthday on Saturday (He's actual B-day is June 2). So we all went to my Grandparents house and had Mexican food made by my Grandma, best authentic Mexican I can get!! Then we played outside because it was a BEAUTIFUL day.

When I was a kid my Grandpa used to take my brother and I around in his "tractor" which is a riding lawnmower in the bucket that attaches to the back. We always had a grand time and FINALLY Saturday Gabe wasn't afraid of it anymore.

First my brother took me in the bucket without Gabe to try and get him excited that someone else was doing it. My Grandparents have an acre and a half huge yard and the neighbors were out in their backyard laughing at my brother and I giggling up a storm as two adults alone in this thing.

Then I convinced Gabe to go in it with me in the bucket with him and my brother driving. Mostly he wanted to drive it by himself though. We told him he can't drive til he can reach the peddles (lol). So here he is pretending to drive. There were lots of tractor sounds involved too.



Or chase my brother and I in it (I'm driving my 6'4" brother is in the bucket a little squished). Mike got some really cute pictures of Gabe.



And I just really love this one:



I have to say that Saturday was the first time I REALLY REALLY had fun playing with Gabe. I mean I enjoy hanging out with him and learning new things but this was something that *I* really enjoyed from being a kid and getting to share it with Gabe was fun and exciting because it was nostalgic for me and brand new for him.









BUT that was only Saturday!

Yesterday we went to Chicago to visit one of our dearest friends (who I wish lived closer). He lives in Nebraska but was in Chicago on business. So of course we decided to visit Skip. So usually when we go to Chicago we drive (2 1/2 hours if we don't hit traffic). But this time we thought, what the heck lets take the train. TOTALLY WORTH IT!! It probably cost us about 10 bucks more that way but no hassle and no traffic. The train ride is only 1 1/2 hours, even with the 25 min it takes us to get to the train station it's faster. Plus Mike and I got to spend time together on the train doing crossword puzzles.

We did get lost getting off the train though and walked about a mile out of our way. We ended up catching a cab (note to self just catch the cab right away next time). We had lunch at Giordano's Home of world famous stuffed pizza. We did have two stuffed pizzas (there were 5 adults so we weren't TOO piggy). Anyone that knows anything about pizza knows Chicago is the best place for pizza ;)

So all in all a wonderful weekend with both family time and adult time which is really the best of both worlds.

How far is far?

You know when I was in high school far was much farther than it is now. I mean I used to drive 35 minutes to see Mike one way two or three times a week. If I got out there and someone needed me to go get them, SURE. I'll drive back to Milwaukee's East Side pick you up and we'll go back, got gas money? I didn't care that it was 2 hours in the car in one day not leaving Metro Milwaukee area.

Now though, Man sometimes the other side of Cedarburg is too far and it's probably only got a 2 mile radius. The mall? Well that's 20 min one way that's too far.

I think I'm old. I'm not sure when it happened. I mean when did my world get very small? I am a worldy person darn it! I've even been to Canada. So what if I don't own a passport? I have friends all over the world so why is driving a little bit so tough? Time to stack the Ipod with new music and go for it!

This weekend we're heading to Chicago ( just over 2 hours without traffic) to see a dear friend of ours. He's going to be in town on business so that's as close as he's coming to us probably all year. It's worth the drive to see him and really 2 hours is NOT far. Now toll and gas money, that will kill ya but it's worth it.

So I think I'm going to work on my perception of far again. I used to believe that if I could get there in the car and you paid gas I would drive to Alaska to pick you up. Now maybe I'll at least go to the other side of town for you.

Notes

I think I need to keep notes so that by the end of the day when Gabe is in bed and it's quiet (FINALLY) I remember all the interesting things I wanted to talk about.

Gabe has been a sass lately. He definitely gets that if he says please he gets things. So if it's something I say no to he says it again and again and more and more pathetic. He signs it too so the signing gets BIGGER. "Pwease Momma" "Pwease" and the lip sticks out and he gets the puppy dog eyes. It's hard to say no to that.

If you stick to your guns and say no then the balls up his fits and says NO to you and gets angry. Geez that kid has a temper, and he's stubborn too (wonder where he gets that stubborn streak from? :P)

We had a really good weekend though and it was nice outside so we spent lots of it running around getting dirty and scraping knees which need to be kissed several times a day even days after the event, he's such a ham.

Tonight for example, he goes to bed fine, then Mike and I hear him out of bed. Mike goes up and suddenly I hear Mike yell at Gabe. There is lotion ALL over the bathroom (Sugar shortbread a Bath and Body Works discontinued one). So the bathroom smells nice, and the cats got extra water (mostly on the floor). How one 2 year old can do so much damage in 3 minutes amazes the heck out of me.

While he drives me nuts sometimes I love that kid.

Sad

I'm just sad. We lost another house. I know it's not really ours til we're in it but still. I'm frustrated and annoyed.

We have two more houses that have come on the market in the last week that we're going to look at. One is a HUD house so it has to be shown by a HUD agent so hopefully someone is around this weekend. The other one our regular realtor (mom's cousin) can show us.

Please I just want to be done with this and moved into some place. :(

Carseats?

I've thought about this for a bit.  I don't want this to be a carseat blog but I do get lots of questions about carseats.  I'm always happy to help and it is part of who I am.  

If there is something you'd like me to look into for you let me know.  I've put in hundreds of hours now helping people and it feels really good to help.  It's something I can do from my little corner of the world.   I also know that not everyone is going to take advice and I think that's the hardest thing. 

I know what's safest, I know more than the average bear, and yet sometimes I have people look at me like I have three heads.  I mean if my kids knees are bent they won't spontaniously combust?!  That's crazy talk!  What they are so uncomfortable that way?!  Suuure they are, wanna see how uncomfortable they are there are tons of pictures floating around of those "uncomfortable" children sound asleep.  Now I don't know about you but when my son is uncomfortable the LAST thing he's going to do is fall asleep because he's not going to let me forget he's not comfortable.

Gabe is one of the tallest kids I know for his age and he has a really long torso too.  He outgrew the Britax Marathon rear facing by height 3 weeks shy of his 2nd birthday.  Something that if you didn't see many people wouldn't believe.  He'll be 2 1/2 next month (June 23rd) and he's already 40 inches tall.  At least he was when I measured him about 2 weeks ago, the kid grows like a weed.  

So he's forward facing in a Britax Regent that was VERY generously donated to me (brand new) from a mom that I have never met in person.  She wishes to remain anonymous but if she's reading know that I am FOREVER grateful.  Gabe's Marathon is in my mom's car forward facing now since honestly I hated the Cosco Scenera.  It drove me nuts.  He's THIS CLOSE to outgrowing it forward facing by height anyhow.

Many of our kids are getting older, taller, heavier and as they transition to forward facing if they aren't already there is a whole new set of rules and things to consider. 

So anyhow I got side tracked.  If anyone ever has any questions email me, comment, poke me with a stick if you have one long enough and tell me what you NEED and I will do the Googling for you.  I can help and it makes me feel useful.   

Sleeping and cookies

I'd like the thank Heather for her post about Joe falling asleep.  It reminded me that I took the cutest pictures of Gabe last weekend.  

Mike and I went to see a movie and when we came back he was sleeping.  Grandpa was here watching him and Grandpa said "well that's where he fell sleep so I left him".  

This is the first time Gabe has EVER fallen asleep somewhere other then his bed.  He's very picky.  Notice that Grandpa covered him up and put a pillow on the floor so if he fell off the step he was safe.  Thanks Grandpa :D

Grandma gave Gabe and I some really great cookies last weekend too.  They were SOOO big I knew no one would believe me if I told them how big they were unless I took a picture.  Seriously my kid had a cookie the size of his head.  He ate the whole thing too and that's okay.  He's filthy from playing outside like a good boy too.

That's what happens when you spend the day with Grandma or Grandpa.  They let you get dirty and fall asleep in funny places.  Not a bad way to spend a weekend when you're 2. 

Mom's worst fear

I just about had a heart attack today.  

We were at Lowe's getting some flowers for my mom's place that's having an open house tomorrow.  We're in the outside area which is still "in" the store with fences and stuff and we're standing in line.  I turn to my mom say "got him?" and she says yeah.  I walk off to find out a price on a plant and turn back around tell her and then walk back to the cart.  I get there and I look around and go "Mom where's Gabe?"  Super calm figuring he's on the other side of the cart where I can't see. 

She whirls around and says "uhh"  So I holler his name still thinking he's probably right there and get NO answer.  So first I run out into the lot afraid he's in the parking lot with the cars and yell.  You can hear the panic in my voice now.  

He's not there so I run back into the rows of flowers and start yelling his name and I'm really scared now.  I hear someone say "He's here" and a woman had him by the hand.  I scooped him up and kissed him, thanked the woman and turned around before I started to tear up. 

Oh my God.  I was so afraid that he had wandered off.   I was just afraid that he was going to get hit by a car.  I think I aged about 10 years in 10 seconds today.   

He was fine and not scared at all and was smelling flowers crazy kid.  Thank God he was okay and thank you to the woman who knew he wasn't where he was supposed to be.

Tick tock, tick tock

I am not a patient person.  In case you didn't know that before I'll tell you some things that prove I'm not a patient person.

• I once tore apart our entire apartment to find a St. Nick's gift because Mike didn't think I could find it.
• Mike hides Christmas/birthday gifts at other people's houses or work so I can't find them
• The FIRST thing I told the U/S tech was that I needed to know if we were having a boy or a girl.  I didn't care if there were 2 arms and 2 legs I NEEDED to know (and I would have loved the baby even without 2 arms and 2 legs).
• Every time the phone rings and it's my mom I assume that she has information about the house!  My heart skips a beat.

Really I know you're sick of hearing about house stuff but right now I'm CONSUMED by house stuff.  I look every single day for new listings.  I wish there was a way that I could find out if a house had an accepted offer without calling the realtor, waiting for her to call them and then call back.   It's a pain in the ass!  

I think I'm giving myself an ulcer and grey hair too.  I'm too young for grey hair.  I mean I'm only 26.  I realize it's down hill from 25 but that would just be too much for me to deal with right now.  

Gabe on the other hand would probably point and laugh (Mike would teach him how to).  He's a smart cookie.  He understands bribes.   Grandma wanted a kiss so she told him if you give me a kiss I'll let you play with my phone.  I've never seen the kid stop in his tracks and turn around so fast before.  He ran right over kissed her on the cheek and then put his hand right out for that phone of hers.  I just about died laughing so hard.  

So when I'm stressed out I just try to remember that little boy making me laugh.  As long as he doesn't break anything today it will be a good day.

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down....

Ok I know it's not Monday but it is raining and dreary.  

The nice thing about today is I got to come home from work early.  It was so nice and Mike was surprised to see me too.  I have no exciting plans since it's raining but I do have to vacuum and do laundry. 

I have no clue what's for dinner though, I hate deciding dinner.  I need someone to make me about a year's worth of meals in advance and put them in my freezer so all I have to do is stare at it and pick one thing out.  It has to be something I can cook from frozen to because I never remember to defrost things until the last minute.  

I think I'm going to pack most of the dvds and games away tonight and only leave out the few that I know Gabe really loves so we have something to watch once and awhile but the rest can get boxed for now.   I should move the 12 boxes sitting in my kitchen to the garage too so I don't bash my toe on them every time I walk by them too. 

Another bid in...

Bear with me I'm going to post pictures in this one.  SEVERAL.  If someone knows of something I did wrong or something that makes it easier please inform me, I uploaded them one at a time and then drug them through the post to where I wanted them :D

We went to look at house number 1 tonight.  There is a bid in but NOT accepted yet.  One of a few things could happen.

*They could say get bent we don't want to look at another offer

*They could look at the offer and still accept the first offer

*They could accept our offer (and the other people would still have a chance to counter it but we can't go up anymore)

We have no contingencies at all and are not even asking for closing costs.  It's 10k under the asking price but it's the highest we can go and still eat (Anyone want to send us PB&J and Ramen I can give you the address) it's going to be tight for a few months until my mom's place gets rented out, then we can eat again :D

So without further ado:

Living Room, second one with Gabe playing with the windows in the dining room:

  

Dining room and Kitchen area (check out the deck through the patio doors!) there is a dishwasher but we have to get a stove and fridge:

 

Then there are 3 bedrooms and a bath and a half upstairs, I'll just show you one of the bedrooms since it has a cute window bench in it.  My mom would take the "master" on the main level and Gabe would have his room there too. This would be Gabe's:

But the Piece de Resistance is the almost finished basement.  It needs a bathroom but we can deal for awhile until we put that in.  It has a bedroom and a family room already done.  It has a laundry room and a HUGE empty space for my shower and tub bathroom.  I'm dying for a great tub and a separate shower.  

It has a spot for a wood burning stove if we wanted:

   

The bedroom which we will add an easement window in for safety AND light but it's not exciting so I won't post a pic.  I'm sure you're already bored.  So we'll cross our fingers AGAIN and we'll know in a couple days I suspect.  I really am not emotionally attached but I am hopeful.  I think it's just my nature to be hopeful and optimistic.   I also have to get attached to a house to picture myself in it. 

Arrested?

Seriously, sooner or later my mom and I are going to get arrested. Why you ask? Because we wander around Cedarburg and Grafton and look into the windows of empty houses for sale. We boost each other up to look into tall windows, we lay on the ground to look in the basement windows. We even take Gabe with us a lot.

Last night we went to look at a house that's listed for sale and was empty but has no sign out front so we REALLY looked like weirdos I bet. Then three families walk by and we wave like it's no big deal that we're peeping Toms. So far no one has called the cops but I can see it happening. Luckily my mom went to high school with most of the cops so I don't think they would REALLY arrest us but I can see the headline now:

Two local women and a baby were arrested Monday night for trespassing and peeking into windows of empty homes.

We also have an obsession with corner lots. Without knowing ahead of time EIGHT houses we have looked at have been corner lots. We must have a desire to snow blow twice as much as everyone else or something. It's really become a crazy running joke. I don't know how we do it so much without planning it that way.

So we're back to square one and there are two homes that might fit our requirements so we'll go look Saturday. It's hard to keep my spirits up but I'm trying. I know we'll find something.

House number 1 better neighborhood fully finished basement just needs a bathroom downstairs, cute layout and nicely finished kitchen, detached garage which is huge, shed, nice size yard

House number 2 fire place, needs some love, basement not finished so we would have to do all of it ourselves, nice lot looks at a farm, attached garage, busier street doesn't feel like a neighborhood because of the street it's facing but the other street (side yard) is nice and the backyard touches another house we looked at which had an offer accepted.

House 1

House 2

If you pull up the google maps streetview for either you'll see that they are both cuter in person than the pictures.

Oh no!

So my mom and I were going to write the offer tonight and our realtor called us and said there is an offer on the house :(  Now last time we heard this they were wrong so I'm still holding out hope.  It's possible the offer isn't accepted yet and we could still bid and we'd make a strong bid (only a few thousand under the asking price).  

I need major prayers right now.  I'm trying really hard to stay objective but I can't.  This is my house.  It's always been "the one" since the moment we first looked at it.  It's the one I can see us in doing holidays etc.  I know I shouldn't get emotionally attached but I just can't help it. 

I need all the prayers that you guys have to send our way.  If this falls through we'll have no idea what to look at because all the other houses in the area are much smaller and need a ton of work and yet aren't that much less in price.  (sigh)  I NEED this to work out.  I NEED this to go our way.  Don't we deserve some GOOD luck once and awhile?   I don't even know what to think if this doesn't work out.  I swear the universe is laughing at us.  

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day.  A day to remember how important (and neurotic) our mothers' really are. 

I got to sleep in today.  Something that is a true rarity with Mike working 3rd shift.  I definitely enjoyed it.   

Other than that we did some running around and I got a Furminator from Petsmart.  OMG it took so much hair off of Moses I was shocked!  She's a short haired tabby who weighs about 25lbs (yea she's fat).  I couldn't believe it.  I can't wait to try it on Mango who's a long haired domestic with a mat problem.  I might have to take pictures of that fur.    

Anyhow if you have a pet that needs some grooming try it, it's amazing!  That was my exciting Mother's Day.  Hope yours was good too.