It's my birthday!

I've been on this planet for 32 years today. Birthdays are weird and wonderful. I frequently use mine to start new things and start the year over. 

This past year has brought so many changes. It's amazing how a day, a week or months can seem to creep by but when looking back the year flew by. I don't know how that happens. 

This coming year I'm looking forward to settling in as a nurse, enjoying time with my family and friends and being thankful for them. 

To everyone who supports me and loves me, THANK YOU! You may never know how much I truly appreciate you but I do. 

My thirties are awesome and I'm loving them!!

On turning 30!

Yes it is that time again, my birthday.  There was no big count down or surprise party or sky diving but it did come anyhow, sort of like in the Grinch, it comes no matter what we do ;)

I think a lot of people feel like 30 is a OMG MILESTONE! so I figured I should too.  Except I don't, sort of, clear as mud right?  At 25 I was pretty scared of what 30 might look like, but now I'm thrilled to be here (beats the alternative right?), and I'm ready to BRING. IT. ON.

I'd like to take this time to tell my younger self a few things.

At 18 and 19 I'd make sure that I enjoyed my brand new husband, and that we'd just get in the car more and drive places.  I'd make sure to let myself know that things will never be how you planned, but they will be better than you ever dreamed.

At 25 I'd tell myself that you're doing a great job as a mom, and things won't get easier, but they won't really get harder either, they'll just change.  (Gabe was 8 months old when I turned 25).  Be confident in yourself and your choices.  They'll work out okay.

Yes you should go to school, no it won't be for a vet tech it will be for nursing (blows your mind right?!) why didn't you think of that at 18 or 19?  I think because you'll be a better nurse now than you would have then.

In the 30 years you might not have done anything that the world will remember or will write about but you do have a family that loves you and that does make you important.  I know that you will continue to grow and change and push yourself, just keep swimming!

In my next 30 years (hey I know that song!)  I'd like to have some fun.  I'd like to conquer more fears and work on being braver.  I want to try things that scare me, go places jut because they sound fun and try to just say YES to things that come my way more.  I want to spend more time with my family and really really enjoy them, and not worry so much about the other eleventymillion things that I "think" are important, because what's important is right there in front of me.

No one could really have prepared me for what I'd be like at 30.  The things about myself that have stayed the same and those that have changed.  I feel more comfortable in myself now that I did in my 20s.  I feel like this is me and take it or leave it.  I feel that I'm going to always be a work in progress and that is a good thing.  I mean after all if we get stagnant we'd die so we SHOULD be a work in progress and always growing and changing.

I'd like to tell my husband that he's amazing and that I love him and I know exactly how lucky I am to have found the love of my life so early on!

I'd like to tell my parents that I love them, and that I'm really grateful for all the hard work they put into me, even when we drive each other crazy.

I'd like to tell my brother that I'm glad we're friends now and we hang out.  I wasn't sure that we'd ever get there but now I can't imagine not having him around.

And now I'm crying, silly me!

Your 30s look like they are going to be great, embrace them! Love them! Don't hide your age, embrace it and be the best you that you can be!! Thirty can just BRING. IT. ON! 

Happy Birthday to me!

Gabriel Micheal turns 5!

This is the first birthday that has made me teary.  He's a BIG kid now, not a baby, not a toddler. 

Because of Christmas craziness I didn't get this up and posted on his birthday but I want to make sure it's safe somewhere.  

He loves Cars the Movie stuff, Transformers, puzzles, drawing and he would eat cheese in a tortilla or on bread forever if I let him.  He loves to rough house with Mike.  He loves to play with trains on the floor and make up stories and carry around baby animals with names like "punkin" and "batty" (both are beanie baby bats) those bats only eat ham and candy (only if they are good of course!)

He is a funny and smart little boy.  He learns something new every day and he still wants to snuggle and give hugs and kisses to both Mike and me.  He's just an amazing kid.  He's as stubborn as the day is long, but he's also so sweet and still wants me to kiss boo-boos.

I just can not believe that he's five already.  I swear it feels like we just brought him home from the hospital.  I just can not believe he's so big, he's such a tall kid, and such a handsome kid.  I am really proud to call myself his mom.

He loves his new Leap Pad Explorer Tablet that he got for Christmas and Mike and I love seeing what he's taking pictures of and making videos of each day too!!

29 years ago

I was born 29 years ago (August 7, 1982) in Racine, Wisconsin.  I'm a Leo and I'm bold like the lion too!

In the last 29 years I have lived in many houses/apartments.  I attended several different school districts, but always lived in the state of Wisconsin.  I never left the country until I was just shy of 19 years old (with Mike after we'd been dating only a very short time, my mom thought I was crazy). 

There were the typical milestones of life, walking, talking, getting my ears pierced, driving, boys, dances, parties, friends, tattoos (lol), moving out, moving around, getting married, having a child.  All those things that are part of many of our lives.

Some of them were significant and some of them not so much, but they are all apart of who I am.

Ten years ago I was moving in with Mike, getting engaged and living on my own for the first time.  I was 19 years old (we moved in just after my birthday in August 2001) but it was planned and set up when I was just 18.  I didn't even think I wanted kids at that time.  I told Mike as much and he told me that he loved me more than any potential people and the wanted to spend his life with ME and if a child came then that was okay, if not that was okay too.

Five years ago I was pregnant with Gabe, miserable, hot and at the State Fair all I wanted was a Mike's Hard Lemonade for my birthday.  Instead Mike found me a lemonade frozen concoction that was delicious!  I was a miserable pregnant women so this was an accomplishment.  Who would have thought that I would love a child as much as I love that rambunctious, loud, opinionated little boy?  He's all I imagined and so much more!  I can't believe in December he'll be FIVE!

Two years ago I was starting to SERIOUSLY start talking about going to school to do something important, and getting my things together to start in the Jan 2010 semester.  How I chose nursing is sort of funny.  I'd always thought I'd be a veterinarian as a kid, then I found out vet school is HARD.  So I was a vet tech for awhile, and enjoyed it but left to try other things.  I considered going back to school for that just after Gabe was born but realized I'd never make enough money or be able to carry the health insurance for the family.  So I figured what's the difference between a nurse for an animal and one for a person?  Turns out it was the GREATEST thing I could have ever thought.  I know being a nurse is my calling now.

One year ago, I really woke up and decided that something in my life had to change.  I was WAY too heavy, I didn't like the way I looked.  I didn't like that I was invisible to other men and women.  I WANT to be the woman who snaps necks when she walks into a room.  So I got off my ass, stopped shoving so much damn food into my mouth and DID something about it FINALLY!  I'm down 72lbs in one year.  I'm running as much as 25 min (in a row) and biking 5:20 min miles (6/7 miles in a row) and I'm lifting weights.  I've seen my body change, but more importantly I've seen my MIND change.  My mind set is so different.  I wish I had been a better planner and exerciser outside of high school sports so I knew how to keep it up once those weren't around.  But the important thing is that I did find out how to do it.

Even just 7 weeks ago when I started the C25K (couch to 5k) program I never saw that I could REALLY run for 25 min in a row and LIKE it.  

It's proof that I am continually changing and growing.  I had an instructor in Anatomy tell us that if we were stagnant we died (cell growth and all) and it's true about myself as a whole too. I can't be stagnant, I need to do new things and move and change to stay alive. 

I have an amazing husband, he's my best friend, and my biggest cheerleader in all things I choose to do.  Even when my plans sound crazy he's behind me and never says "told you so" if I fail.  He's the one that is always willing to listen to my crazy ideas and let me pick up new projects knowing full well that I probably won't complete most of them.  I love you babe!

I want the next 29 years to be full of new adventures, ideas, places and friends.  I want to remember that I'm not scared to try things, that as Lady Gaga has told us "I was born to be brave" and I can DO whatever I want to.  That my family and friends will be there for me.   I have been so blessed with tons of great friends close to home and across the country and even the world.  Just because I can't hug them all doesn't mean they aren't true friends.

I have amazing friends and amazing family and I want to thank them all for allowing me to be the kind of person I am, loud, obnoxious, blunt, funny, a horrible singer, and so much more.

Another one!

Today it was about 95 degrees out and about that humid too.  That made me think of a great idea for my birthday.  You know what I need?!

A POOL!!!  A big one, with a deck and a cool water slide too. 

Hey not that many people in Wisconsin have pools because we get to use them for about 3 weeks a year (Okay more like 2 1/2-3 months).  But I've decided I want one.

We have a plenty big enough yard, a lot of it doing nothing.  We could put up a nice fence, and then put up a pool.  It would be totally worth it (see me trying to convince myself!). 

Instead we drive the 6 blocks to the city pool (when we walk it takes about 10 min) and enjoyed their pool, which does actually have a cool water slide.  It was a fun evening for it. 

So what do you think?  A pool right? It's definitely on my list for things for the house after I'm done with school.

Birthday post 4

My bathroom isn't completely done yet.  I want tile around the tub and above the shower.  I've been looking for awhile but I have found what I want.

Carrara and glass tiles together.  I LOVE Carrara marble and I'd do a whole bathroom in it if I could (I saw that once on HGTV and it was like a 40k remodel!!)

This tile calls to me!  I mean it's perfect!  You know for my birthday getting tile for my bathroom would be pretty exciting.  I think that is another sign that you're officially an adult.  I would even be happy to install it myself just bring the tile and grout and leave it to me! 

So if you're looking for something you can put tile on your list lol. 

Birthday post 3

There's something most people don't know about me.  I'm a bra and panty whore.  I LOVE to have things that are cute and match each other. 

So birthday idea number 3 is new bras and panties.  Also my corsets are now officially TOO big to get any tightness out of them!  So I'll put those on the list too. 

I just can not wait to walk into Victoria Secret and spend a small fortune on just me, on things that 99% of the world won't even see ;)  Just knowing I'm wearing it makes me feel better, and we all know the proper undergarments make you look better too! 

So here's to new lingerie!!  Of course that might be a little bit of a gift for the hubby too ;)

Birthday post 2

Today I was lucky enough to score some scrubs on sale.  Which I actually need, both for when I'm working as a CNA and as a nursing student.  Of course no fun cute things for the nursing students, we're all required to wear a specific color and that's it. 

But what I also had fun looking at was the other things I need for school.  I need my very own stethoscope, a bandage scissors, a gait belt and a blood pressure cuff.  So all of these things would definitely make good gifts. 

 That's how I know I'm meant to do this because getting SUPPLIES makes me excited (LOL).  When you're getting things that are meant to get dirty and that makes you happy you know you're on the right track.  I'm totally digging the Kiwi Green color too!  And those gait belts you need to watch or they wander off!

One month til my 29th birthday

Why yes I am counting, just like another wonderful woman I know, Patty.  The Leos gotta stick together.

So in honor of the Leo birthdays, and the little bit of self centered-ness that allows me let me share with you some things that I'd like for my birthday.  

First and foremost I'm REALLY hoping to hit my original weight loss goal of 75lbs lost in one year. That's about your average German Sheperd Dog weight, or twice my 4.5 year old.  I've since changed my goal but hitting the original one would still be a pretty nice victory.  Of course now my goal is to lose two of your average Elephant penises (penii? I'm never sure what the plural is).  That's 44lbs a piece, I'm actually only shooting for 83lbs lost but I couldn't resist throwing the Elephant penis in, I wonder what Google will think of THAT one?! And OMG my dad just read that, sorry Dad!  Also there are about a zillion different measurements for that (I mean who gets that job?!) So take the weight with a grain of salt.

So from here out I'll have some things that I'm thinking about for my birthday.  Who knows what I'll think of next?

Gabriel Michael is four

Today my little guy is FOUR

At 5:15pm on December 23, 2006 our little guy came into the world at 7lbs11oz and 21 1/2 inches long.  We got to come home on Christmas

He's not a very precocious kid who has an opinion about everything.  He's woken up two days in a row dry and had very minimal accidents so far.  (crosses fingers).  He loves Diego, chocolate milk and telling jokes (mostly Why did the chicken cross the road a thousand times ;) ). 

I couldn't be more in love with another little boy in the world.  I'm so happy to have him even when he's driving me crazy. 

Here are LOTS of pics :D

"lava lamp" with fish for his room

                                                      
                                                          Aquadoodle from Papa

                                                           Games for the Leapster

                                 
                                                        More trucks!

                      
                                                                      Cake!

          
                                                        Opening presents

We have a tradition in our family that everyone has a birthday plate.  A plate that you MUST eat off of on your birthday for at least one meal.  As I got older my mom even brought it to restaurants and made me use it, even when we hated it.  So we made Gabe one when he was born.  I didn't get a shot before he had stuff on it but here he is having his breakfast of choice pancakes!

A day in the life...

Image by Just Add Light via Flickr

Yesterday was my 28th birthday, go me! So we went to the Dells to see our friend Skip and his family and RT and his son Connor were there too. We spent the day at the Wilderness resort and had a blast in the water parks.

I had such a proud mommy moment too. Gabe is TERRIFIED of water on is face, it makes a bath a hellish experience when I need to wash his hair. Yesterday though he spent the day in the wave pool taking big waves in the face and laughing the whole time. We went down the Mammoth, a huge family tube slide where he ate water at the bottom. He wanted to do it again! So we did. He played, splashed, and swam the whole day. He says he really liked mommy's friends. He wants to go back sometime already.

We got home and he was sound asleep in the car the whole ride home (even with a stop for gas) and slept in til EIGHT this morning. I think that's the latest we've ever slept in.

Today it's raining but we're going to my Grandparents for the collective birthday cake eating for Steve, Kori and me.

It was a good day yesterday!

A lot of things have changed this last year. My birthday last year was not so great with the housing fiasco we were still in the middle of, we were homeless for awhile, and Mike was switching to first shift then too. I didn't even know that I would start school in the Spring at this point last year and now I'm itching to get back to class in 3 weeks. I'm going to be a nurse someday and that makes me so excited to think about. So while I don't feel older (other than the muscles) I do feel a little wiser and more prepared. I feel like things are moving along well and I can't believe how fast this last year went.

Two years til the Skydiving birthday ;)

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?