Also, a month and counting. Nearly a whole month since I last posted. Sometimes I find myself not posting because I'm not sure who all my readers are and don't want to ruffle feathers. I hate to self censor but sometimes, I feel like I've had enough conflict in my life, I don't need any more.
More often than not though, I am busy. And now that Christmas is upon us, it is even busier. But I'm not complaining, I love Christmas! I will complain about the lack of snow though. December and no real precipitation? Geesh. I have all my Christmas shopping done and almost all of the presents wrapped and under the tree. For me, there is nothing more fun than buying gifts for someone and watching them open it.
Also, posting seems a bit redundant when I post things on Facebook once already. Facebook! It will be the death of all other social platforms!
But this December is also special because it marks 10 years that Jeff and I have been together. We've only been married 7 years but we started dating 10 years ago the first of this month. I had met him for the first time the previous September but by November his group of friends and mine began to hang out more. And by December we agreed to be more exclusive, more or less. (Basically, I think I said, "I'm don't wanna make out with you for fun." and his answer was, "I guess that makes you my girlfriend.") (I wasn't trying to pressure him into anything, I just really didn't want to get my feelings hurt again and I knew by that time, that I really liked him and if he wasn't in the same place, I didn't want to set myself up for heartbreak)
Simple as that. Okay maybe not that simple but pretty much.
It all started with a night sledding with our friends on the hill behind Roskie dorm in Bozeman. I remember sledding face first down the hill over a glass beer bottle and seriously bruising my stomach and upper thighs.
Then an official first date after my work Christmas party to Applebee's and then to see Vanilla Sky which was a horrible movie but I didn't want to tell him but was so relieved when he came out of the theater and said, "That movie sucked."
Another date a few days later, where we went and rented a movie and got ice cream and he got pulled over for having a taillight out.
A Christmas break that lasted forever and we went through about 1000 minutes on phonecards(remember when we still used those things) Then he came up to Great Falls to meet Pat and Joelene. We went to the rodeo.
Then we drove back to Billings and I met his parents. I died my hair back brunette from a wild blond job I had let a friend do. (had to make a good impression) Had dinner at the Granary back when it was still old school. Talk to his Dad at the salad bar about how we were both born in Kansas. Left a CD in his parents car that had very explicit lyrics and was so embarrassed I could've cried.
Hung out every free minute we had the entire second semester.
Both went to our respective homes for the summer. Spent hours on the phone. And hours driving between Great Falls and Billings.
July 4th weekend, he proposed on July 3rd right after I had spun my car out through a ditch by Acton.
And the rest is history.
He is one of the best things to have come into my life. I know I have a lot of baggage. Marriage isn't always easy. We don't always agree or get along. But in the end, I know he has my back, loves me unconditionally(something he had to teach me) and we're partners for everything. Not only is he a great husband, he is an awesome dad. So 10 years down, and to another 10 and another after that and then 10 more and so on.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Warning,
If you get a chance, watch the episode of Dr. Phil today about the judge who was seen on You Tube beating his daughter.
The girls mother actually joins in. And sadly, I completely understand her mother. She seemed to me that she wanted to give her daughter her punishment and be done but the father was raging.
She didn't protect her daughter because she was scared of what her husband would do to her. In my opinion, I think she was trying to punish her daughter to appease her husband and then he'd stop. But he didn't.
Don't think I defend her actions because they are indefensible but I understand it. I understand why my mother never protected us. One, she was brainwashed into beleiving what he was doing was right. And the times when she knew he wasn't right, she didn't jump to our defense because then his rage would be turned to her. And sadly, I feel like sometimes, when my dad was angry, it was every man for themself.
I understand being brainwashed and thinking those sort of things are normal. As bad as it sounds, it's true. Until high school, I thought everybody got 'beat.' And even after I moved out, I still thought a lot of what he did was alright. Now, i realize most everything he did, in regards to discipline was wrong.
Two things about the video hit me very hard. One, the father kept saying "Turn Over, Turn OVer or I'll hit your face." My dad used to say that and even go further saying he didn't even care if he broke out all my teeth.
Second, something the mother said just infuriated me. She told her daughter to "turn over and take it like a grown woman." Dammit, a 16 year old girl is not a grown woman. And taking a beating isn't something an adult should be expected to endure.
And regardless of the daughters motives for releasing the video, he was still wrong. YOU DON'T BEAT YOUR KIDS.
And while Jeff and I choose to raise Avalon absent of corporal punishment, I don't know if i think spanking in general is necesarily bad. Spanking is different from beating. That being said, I think Dr Phil has a good point. Spanking is not the way to go. Because when you turn angry a spanking can easily become more.
I don't want to ever put myself in that position. So, not spanking eliminates that. Because, while the pain of spanking is (mostly temporary) there are such lasting effects that I think people like my dad never thought of. I could never forgive myself if Avalon became fearful and distrustful of me. If I lost her trust and respect, my parenting would no longer be effective.
(Please do not take this post as a cry for pity. That is the last thing I need. This subject just had me all riled up and I needed to vent. I am not an expert on parenting but I think I have figured some things out especially in regards to what I don't want to do)
The girls mother actually joins in. And sadly, I completely understand her mother. She seemed to me that she wanted to give her daughter her punishment and be done but the father was raging.
She didn't protect her daughter because she was scared of what her husband would do to her. In my opinion, I think she was trying to punish her daughter to appease her husband and then he'd stop. But he didn't.
Don't think I defend her actions because they are indefensible but I understand it. I understand why my mother never protected us. One, she was brainwashed into beleiving what he was doing was right. And the times when she knew he wasn't right, she didn't jump to our defense because then his rage would be turned to her. And sadly, I feel like sometimes, when my dad was angry, it was every man for themself.
I understand being brainwashed and thinking those sort of things are normal. As bad as it sounds, it's true. Until high school, I thought everybody got 'beat.' And even after I moved out, I still thought a lot of what he did was alright. Now, i realize most everything he did, in regards to discipline was wrong.
Two things about the video hit me very hard. One, the father kept saying "Turn Over, Turn OVer or I'll hit your face." My dad used to say that and even go further saying he didn't even care if he broke out all my teeth.
Second, something the mother said just infuriated me. She told her daughter to "turn over and take it like a grown woman." Dammit, a 16 year old girl is not a grown woman. And taking a beating isn't something an adult should be expected to endure.
And regardless of the daughters motives for releasing the video, he was still wrong. YOU DON'T BEAT YOUR KIDS.
And while Jeff and I choose to raise Avalon absent of corporal punishment, I don't know if i think spanking in general is necesarily bad. Spanking is different from beating. That being said, I think Dr Phil has a good point. Spanking is not the way to go. Because when you turn angry a spanking can easily become more.
I don't want to ever put myself in that position. So, not spanking eliminates that. Because, while the pain of spanking is (mostly temporary) there are such lasting effects that I think people like my dad never thought of. I could never forgive myself if Avalon became fearful and distrustful of me. If I lost her trust and respect, my parenting would no longer be effective.
(Please do not take this post as a cry for pity. That is the last thing I need. This subject just had me all riled up and I needed to vent. I am not an expert on parenting but I think I have figured some things out especially in regards to what I don't want to do)
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Update
* Holy Crap, fall is flying by. Time flies when you're having fun. Or when you're working on your house.
* Got the new garage doors and openers on Friday. They are so nice! The fact that they open and close is a plus ;) . But they are so quiet and don't shake the house when in use.
* Now that we have a yard with trees, we actually have to rake leaves. Two Sundays ago Jeff and I did the yard, which didn't seem horrible. However, 9 huge yard bags later and the entire dumpster full, we finished. Then the next day it looked like we never had done it.
* So we went out and bought new outdoor lights for the house. The old ones were not our style and dated the house. So now, when we paint the shutters next spring as well as the front door, along with a new kickplate that isn't gold, the outside of the house will be updated(more or less).
*Note i didn't include landscaping. I have some major yard work to do new next spring. But with as much fun as we've been having working on the house, I really am looking forward to it.
Plus I will have an even bigger spot for a garden!
* Jeff and I bought the matching pendant(matches the dining room chandelier) for the front entryway. It's not hung yet because the entry way is a story and a half and Jeff is going to need help and I don't think I'll be able to do it.
* We got a bid for the new railing that is in the split entry. And while we are in Great Falls for Thanksgiving, the railing will be done. Then it's on to paint and floors.
* Looking forward to the Thanksgiving hoopla in Great Falls. We haven't been able to see Pat and Joelene since this summer so it's long over due. Probably will get to see my older brother Joe as well. And since it's been over two years, it is a long overdue visit. Also love reading the ads for Black Friday. And Black Friday in Great Falls doesn't seem as daunting as it does here in Billings.
* Jeff and I have finished almost all of Avalon's Christmas shopping save a couple of smaller things. I just love buying gifts for people.
* We went to Bozeman a couple of weekends ago. It was nice to do something other than work on the house. I got to stop at a quilt shop in Livingston and get a few things with a gift certificate I had gotten for my birthday. I hope to maybe start quiliting more seriously but we'll see how that goes. I also got a pattern and material for a pretty cool handbag. Also got some beginners how-to books on it.
* My weight has been screwy lately. I've been working out harder than ever and even started spinning. But by Monday morning I was up 3 lbs and by this morning I was down 4. A bit frustrating but my whole weight loss adventure has been a rollercoaster so what's new?
*Murphy has been a royal pain in the ass. He has taken to stealing Avalon's food nearly every meal. So then if I put him outside so he can't, he has been barking like crazy. So then I make him come back inside and he steals her food again. He has also been trying to steal food from Jeff and I off the dinner table. His thievery has no bounds. I have to have an eye on him all the time. But I'm about this far away *pinches fingers together* from losing my wits with him lately.
* It is for this precise reason that God made dogs and children so darn cute. Because it is their only redeeming factor when they are being shits. Generally though, Murph is a shit and Avalon is a pretty darn good kid.
* Avalon has recently taken to puzzles and card games. She has always done puzzles but now she is doing the bigger ones that have 24 or 48 pieces and is pretty quick. We also taught her how to play Uno and she caught on quick also. Still working on good sportsmanship. She is actually doing much better in that respect. Although she still wants to win EVERY time. (But who doesn't)
* She has kind of gotten in to this 'scared of everything' phase. If it is remotely unfamiliar or could possible have something scary, she is done with whatever it is. She almost didn't go trick or treating because of it. She doesn't want to Peter and the Wolf at Ballet because the music sounds scar. (She actually started balling at her teacher over it) She wouldn't go down the waterslide at the hotel in Bozeman and wouldn't get on the slack line even if Jeff and I helped her. The line between recognizing her fears and giving into them is a difficult one. She did this once before too when she was two'ish. Hoping this will pass.
* I've got a few recipes to share: cheddar siracha bread and homemade apple sauce. One of these days I'll get around to posting. But lately by the end of the day I am tired. I've even been going to bed early. Me? Going to bed early? I know, strange.
Alright, later gators.
* Got the new garage doors and openers on Friday. They are so nice! The fact that they open and close is a plus ;) . But they are so quiet and don't shake the house when in use.
* Now that we have a yard with trees, we actually have to rake leaves. Two Sundays ago Jeff and I did the yard, which didn't seem horrible. However, 9 huge yard bags later and the entire dumpster full, we finished. Then the next day it looked like we never had done it.
* So we went out and bought new outdoor lights for the house. The old ones were not our style and dated the house. So now, when we paint the shutters next spring as well as the front door, along with a new kickplate that isn't gold, the outside of the house will be updated(more or less).
*Note i didn't include landscaping. I have some major yard work to do new next spring. But with as much fun as we've been having working on the house, I really am looking forward to it.
Plus I will have an even bigger spot for a garden!
* Jeff and I bought the matching pendant(matches the dining room chandelier) for the front entryway. It's not hung yet because the entry way is a story and a half and Jeff is going to need help and I don't think I'll be able to do it.
* We got a bid for the new railing that is in the split entry. And while we are in Great Falls for Thanksgiving, the railing will be done. Then it's on to paint and floors.
* Looking forward to the Thanksgiving hoopla in Great Falls. We haven't been able to see Pat and Joelene since this summer so it's long over due. Probably will get to see my older brother Joe as well. And since it's been over two years, it is a long overdue visit. Also love reading the ads for Black Friday. And Black Friday in Great Falls doesn't seem as daunting as it does here in Billings.
* Jeff and I have finished almost all of Avalon's Christmas shopping save a couple of smaller things. I just love buying gifts for people.
* We went to Bozeman a couple of weekends ago. It was nice to do something other than work on the house. I got to stop at a quilt shop in Livingston and get a few things with a gift certificate I had gotten for my birthday. I hope to maybe start quiliting more seriously but we'll see how that goes. I also got a pattern and material for a pretty cool handbag. Also got some beginners how-to books on it.
* My weight has been screwy lately. I've been working out harder than ever and even started spinning. But by Monday morning I was up 3 lbs and by this morning I was down 4. A bit frustrating but my whole weight loss adventure has been a rollercoaster so what's new?
*Murphy has been a royal pain in the ass. He has taken to stealing Avalon's food nearly every meal. So then if I put him outside so he can't, he has been barking like crazy. So then I make him come back inside and he steals her food again. He has also been trying to steal food from Jeff and I off the dinner table. His thievery has no bounds. I have to have an eye on him all the time. But I'm about this far away *pinches fingers together* from losing my wits with him lately.
* It is for this precise reason that God made dogs and children so darn cute. Because it is their only redeeming factor when they are being shits. Generally though, Murph is a shit and Avalon is a pretty darn good kid.
* Avalon has recently taken to puzzles and card games. She has always done puzzles but now she is doing the bigger ones that have 24 or 48 pieces and is pretty quick. We also taught her how to play Uno and she caught on quick also. Still working on good sportsmanship. She is actually doing much better in that respect. Although she still wants to win EVERY time. (But who doesn't)
* She has kind of gotten in to this 'scared of everything' phase. If it is remotely unfamiliar or could possible have something scary, she is done with whatever it is. She almost didn't go trick or treating because of it. She doesn't want to Peter and the Wolf at Ballet because the music sounds scar. (She actually started balling at her teacher over it) She wouldn't go down the waterslide at the hotel in Bozeman and wouldn't get on the slack line even if Jeff and I helped her. The line between recognizing her fears and giving into them is a difficult one. She did this once before too when she was two'ish. Hoping this will pass.
* I've got a few recipes to share: cheddar siracha bread and homemade apple sauce. One of these days I'll get around to posting. But lately by the end of the day I am tired. I've even been going to bed early. Me? Going to bed early? I know, strange.
Alright, later gators.
Friday, October 28, 2011
10/28/11
1. I am exhausted, I hope I make sense.
2. I finished emptying the storage unit we rented when we listed our house. It doesn't make sense to pay for that space when I have the space here. But man, that is a lot of work especially when you do it all by yourself.
3. Have I mentioned I love Fridays. Yes, I love it for all the same reasons everyone else does. But I also love it because People Magazine publish their 10 Celebrity Quotes of the Week. It makes me smile. (It is the small things).
4. Favorite quote this week via my sister-in-law Kate: You know you're getting old when you're friends start having kids on purpose. So true!
5. I am excited to weigh tomorrow. Pretty sure I'll be at least another pound down. And I will not let some people rain on my parade. It has taken me 2 years to lose 52 lbs. It has been a lot of hard work and persaverance. So yeah, I'm gonna brag.
6. Tried spinning out for the first time this week. Love it! Makes an hour go by so fast! And then I do abs afterwards with the same instructor. Maybe it's the instructor. hmm. It has been a good challenging workout. Probably also why I am tired.
7. Hit 270 minutes of exercise this week. Beats the minimum of 250 minutes I have set for myself but doesn't reach the goal of 300. I guess I could count the walk I took Murph on but it doesn't feel much like exercise when I have to go the speed of my fellow walker, Avalon.
8. Got carpet in Avalon's room and the toy room. The toys are all in one space. Amen.
9. Gonna be kinda sad when the World Series is over. I love baseball.
10. Bought more Halloween Candy than I ever have. Apparently the new neighborhood has a lot more trick or treaters. Bought Heath Bars because if we ended up having leftovers, Jeff loves Heath Bars. But apparently so do I. Their may be none left by Halloween.
11. Went to Bozeman last weekend. I love that town. So much to do, so many cool stores and shops.
12. My dog has been a complete turd lately. He is barking at everything. And into everything. The other day I caught him eating a crayon.
13. Loving that Christmas stuff is out already. I love Christmas!
14. We are trying to cram everything we can into this weekend so I better go get ready.
2. I finished emptying the storage unit we rented when we listed our house. It doesn't make sense to pay for that space when I have the space here. But man, that is a lot of work especially when you do it all by yourself.
3. Have I mentioned I love Fridays. Yes, I love it for all the same reasons everyone else does. But I also love it because People Magazine publish their 10 Celebrity Quotes of the Week. It makes me smile. (It is the small things).
4. Favorite quote this week via my sister-in-law Kate: You know you're getting old when you're friends start having kids on purpose. So true!
5. I am excited to weigh tomorrow. Pretty sure I'll be at least another pound down. And I will not let some people rain on my parade. It has taken me 2 years to lose 52 lbs. It has been a lot of hard work and persaverance. So yeah, I'm gonna brag.
6. Tried spinning out for the first time this week. Love it! Makes an hour go by so fast! And then I do abs afterwards with the same instructor. Maybe it's the instructor. hmm. It has been a good challenging workout. Probably also why I am tired.
7. Hit 270 minutes of exercise this week. Beats the minimum of 250 minutes I have set for myself but doesn't reach the goal of 300. I guess I could count the walk I took Murph on but it doesn't feel much like exercise when I have to go the speed of my fellow walker, Avalon.
8. Got carpet in Avalon's room and the toy room. The toys are all in one space. Amen.
9. Gonna be kinda sad when the World Series is over. I love baseball.
10. Bought more Halloween Candy than I ever have. Apparently the new neighborhood has a lot more trick or treaters. Bought Heath Bars because if we ended up having leftovers, Jeff loves Heath Bars. But apparently so do I. Their may be none left by Halloween.
11. Went to Bozeman last weekend. I love that town. So much to do, so many cool stores and shops.
12. My dog has been a complete turd lately. He is barking at everything. And into everything. The other day I caught him eating a crayon.
13. Loving that Christmas stuff is out already. I love Christmas!
14. We are trying to cram everything we can into this weekend so I better go get ready.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Who knew you could be so busy and not even have a paying job?
Pretty much the last 3 weeks have been a blur. It seems my life consists of taking Avalon to preschool, ballet, playdates and running errand after errand. Don't get me wrong, I'm not comnplaining and if I weren't busy I would be bored. But man am I tired.
Lowes and Bed Bath and Beyond ought to be happy as they have seen the majority of my funds of late. But it is so stinking fun to decorate and redo things. It just wasn't cost effective to do a lot in our old house because we would've never gotten our money back out. But now, it's full speed ahead. We have the spare room upstairs painted and some wall hangings up and carpet goes in that room as well as Avalon's on Tuesday. And then I can put the toy room together and get Avalon's toys out of every room in this house.
Seriously, we have toys everywhere. Things in the living room are going slower than I want. We have to put in a new railing before we do floors. Kinda waiting on that before I paint and then we'll do floors. This white carpet is driving me bonkers. You simply can't have kids and white carpet. They just don't go together!
But we have gotten so much done. Four new light fixtures, new thermostat, paint and decor and in two rooms, new island stools, tremendous tree trimming to the back yard, half the storage unit cleared out, carpet(tuesday), two new garage doors and openers ordered and to be installed when they get in. So we've accomplished quite a bit. I think after the living area, we'll take a bit of break before starting the master and the main bathroom.
So, that has taken up most of our time. So this weekend we are going to head to Bozeman and just shop and have fun and take a break. We are going to stop in Livingston on the way through and go to a quilt store.(I've got a gift certificate for it).
Since moving here, Avalon has slept like a champ. She hasn't got up once in the middle of the night. She tells Jeff or I nearly every day how much she loves this house. She loves the neighbor girl and our big yard and the wishing well the previous owner left in the back yard. (Any chance I had to get rid of it went right out the window when Grandpa left prizes in it and now she believes it to be a magical wishing well) I'm hoping a large snow takes it out this winter and I don't have to be the bad guy..
I can't believe its practically holiday season! I am so excited for my holiday baking. Nerdy but true, whenever chocolate chips, flour, sugar etc is on sale, I go load up. Pretty soon, I'll be making my list of things to make. And if you'd like a "Christmas Card" from me, you'd best leave me your address. And as some of you are aware, a Christmas Card from me, means you get a box of baked goods.
Alright, I'm tired, peace out!
Lowes and Bed Bath and Beyond ought to be happy as they have seen the majority of my funds of late. But it is so stinking fun to decorate and redo things. It just wasn't cost effective to do a lot in our old house because we would've never gotten our money back out. But now, it's full speed ahead. We have the spare room upstairs painted and some wall hangings up and carpet goes in that room as well as Avalon's on Tuesday. And then I can put the toy room together and get Avalon's toys out of every room in this house.
Seriously, we have toys everywhere. Things in the living room are going slower than I want. We have to put in a new railing before we do floors. Kinda waiting on that before I paint and then we'll do floors. This white carpet is driving me bonkers. You simply can't have kids and white carpet. They just don't go together!
But we have gotten so much done. Four new light fixtures, new thermostat, paint and decor and in two rooms, new island stools, tremendous tree trimming to the back yard, half the storage unit cleared out, carpet(tuesday), two new garage doors and openers ordered and to be installed when they get in. So we've accomplished quite a bit. I think after the living area, we'll take a bit of break before starting the master and the main bathroom.
So, that has taken up most of our time. So this weekend we are going to head to Bozeman and just shop and have fun and take a break. We are going to stop in Livingston on the way through and go to a quilt store.(I've got a gift certificate for it).
Since moving here, Avalon has slept like a champ. She hasn't got up once in the middle of the night. She tells Jeff or I nearly every day how much she loves this house. She loves the neighbor girl and our big yard and the wishing well the previous owner left in the back yard. (Any chance I had to get rid of it went right out the window when Grandpa left prizes in it and now she believes it to be a magical wishing well) I'm hoping a large snow takes it out this winter and I don't have to be the bad guy..
I can't believe its practically holiday season! I am so excited for my holiday baking. Nerdy but true, whenever chocolate chips, flour, sugar etc is on sale, I go load up. Pretty soon, I'll be making my list of things to make. And if you'd like a "Christmas Card" from me, you'd best leave me your address. And as some of you are aware, a Christmas Card from me, means you get a box of baked goods.
Alright, I'm tired, peace out!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Funny Thing Avalon Said and Why I Didn't Share It on Facebook
So...Jeff and I haven't chosen, at this point, to raise Avalon with a specific faith or religion. While I think at some point, I would want her to have a more christian viewpoint, I haven't placed any emphasis on it. I was raised in a very religious family who used religion as a weapon. Being Catholic and going to church every week does not a good person make. Just look at my dad.
We have been pushed by some to get Avalon to church and to Sunday School. And since I haven't made my mind up about what I want her to know and how I want her to know it, I have chosen to not introduce it to her yet. For now, Jeff and I would prefer that she come into faith more organically or on her own. (And frankly I can be very jaded on some things and I don't want her to be jaded on things)
And while the following story is ultimatly funny, I didn't want to ignite a fire on Facebook about how I should or shouldn't be teaching Avalon about relgion, faith or spirituality. Really, it is up to Jeff and I to decide how to raise her on this aspect.
Anyway, to preface this story, whenever we go to Grandma Joelene and Grandpa Pat's house in Great Falls, we always eat dinner in the dining room(that has a chandelier) and they say grace. And we always observe grace as well. It is their house and when in Rome...
So since we moved into our new house, and have a dining room with a chandelier, Avalon always says, "This is just like Grandma Joelene's House."
Then last week, she folded her hands and said, "We should do this" holding her hands up to indicate she wanted to say grace. So, I said, "God is great, God is good, Thank you God for this food." (Funny, she never asks me what God is)
This went on for a week, when last night she said, "I want to say it this time."
"Alright, go right ahead."
She folds her hands, looks at us to fold her hands and says,
God is great,
Beer is good,
Thank you for this food.
Jeff nods, "Sounds about right to me. Let's eat."
We have been pushed by some to get Avalon to church and to Sunday School. And since I haven't made my mind up about what I want her to know and how I want her to know it, I have chosen to not introduce it to her yet. For now, Jeff and I would prefer that she come into faith more organically or on her own. (And frankly I can be very jaded on some things and I don't want her to be jaded on things)
And while the following story is ultimatly funny, I didn't want to ignite a fire on Facebook about how I should or shouldn't be teaching Avalon about relgion, faith or spirituality. Really, it is up to Jeff and I to decide how to raise her on this aspect.
Anyway, to preface this story, whenever we go to Grandma Joelene and Grandpa Pat's house in Great Falls, we always eat dinner in the dining room(that has a chandelier) and they say grace. And we always observe grace as well. It is their house and when in Rome...
So since we moved into our new house, and have a dining room with a chandelier, Avalon always says, "This is just like Grandma Joelene's House."
Then last week, she folded her hands and said, "We should do this" holding her hands up to indicate she wanted to say grace. So, I said, "God is great, God is good, Thank you God for this food." (Funny, she never asks me what God is)
This went on for a week, when last night she said, "I want to say it this time."
"Alright, go right ahead."
She folds her hands, looks at us to fold her hands and says,
God is great,
Beer is good,
Thank you for this food.
Jeff nods, "Sounds about right to me. Let's eat."
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Let's Check On How I'm doing
So at the beginning of the year, I had written a list of goals I wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. And since getting into our new house, I've crossed one more off the list.
1. Start a new blog and try to update at least twice a week. Yes I'm a stay at home mom but I am busier than I ever was at a job.
So yeah, I think I can claim success with this one. So maybe I don't update twice a week but I have been BUSY. Any of you who have bought a house know this.
2. Start food blogging. I need an outlet for for all the baking and cooking I do. And I pledge to include pictures, so help me god. Who knows, I may even send you some. And those of you who got my "Christmas Cards" know I'm not even kidding.
I started off strong but have backed off in the last few months. Again, I was busy buying and selling a house. But at my old house(that didn't have central air) it was too hot to bake in the middle of summer. But that shouldn't be an issue now. Central air and a much larger kitchen will help make that better. I just have to figure out this new oven.
3. I have golf clubs in my garage that my "honorary" mom(that's what we call each other) loaned me. This is the year I will take lessons. I love golf. I love to watch it. I love the players. I love the game. It's especially fun on the Playstation and the Wii. Also Jeff knows how and if I learned, maybe we could introduce it to Avalon and play as a family. And then Jeff and I would have a hobby together, because my attempts to woo him into baking and his attempts to woo me to motorcyle repair just aren't working. Maybe we'll start fresh.
So I didn't get to this one. I probably should've been a little more proactive this spring and early summer but I wasn't and then I ran out of time. Rest assured, it will be on my list for next year.
4. Buy a new house. Yes this will involve Jeff as well but this is the year I put my foot down/quit quibbling and not making up my mind. Avalon will not go to school in this neighborhood. And, damn, I want a freaking kitchen bigger than my bathroom.
WOOHOO! We did it! We nearly doubled our square footage, Avalon will go to a much better school and we are in a house that can be a forever house. I am so excited to start fixing it up. We get to make this house exactly how I want it. I know the work would scare a lot of people but it's mostly cosmetic and besides the floors Jeff and i can do most of it ourselves. I've got a larger kitchen and a dining space!
5. Introduce Avalon to new hobbies and crafts. I know she needs to be in dance. I know once she is used to the routine, the teacher, the other kids, it'll be okay. But that adjustment time can be a rough period, probably rougher on me. But she can be painfully shy in public and seems to have a bit of anxiety. (wonder where she gets that) She is proving to be very artistic and musical. So I want to take her to a local pottery place where you can buy a piece of pottery and paint it, they fire it and we get it back. (http://www.ingoodglazes.com/) And start doing even more crafts that extend beyong the paint, playdoh and cutting and glue. I think in addition to dance she would really profit from some sort of music class. The girl has rhythm and is singing constantly especially to Classical Music. Mostly I need to get my butt in gear and if I am positive about it so she will be as well.
Check and check. This summer I had her back in Rock, Tumble, and Roll and Art class. We went and did pottery a couple times and plan on making that something we do ever so often. It really is fun! And we started her in ballet this fall. She really seems to like it so far and unlike some classes offered at the Y, this is the real deal.
6. We will go on a big vacation this year. Big as in get on a plane go somewhere and stay for 5 days. None of the quick weekends to Chico(although they are super fun) Jeff and I have pledged to set aside the time and money and make it happen. Maybe the Oregon Coast again or Disneyland, maybe even Hawaii.
We did it. We spent a week at the Oregon coast and infected Avalon with the travel bug. She has since asked to go back to Oregon, go back to the ocean, go to Hawaii and go to Disneyland (and space). We had to cancel our small trip to Yellowstone because we sold our house so quickly but hopefully will get to Chico this fall.
7. Continue on my weight loss journey. I've lost 33 lbs give or take a couple pounds. They have been hard earned as my metabolism is not too agreeable. But I've got a couple great doctors on my side and beleive it or not, I crave exercise so that helps.
Just had a check up today and I'm down 50 lbs. It's still slow and steady but I'm losing and that's all that matters. The summer was rough in respect to going to the gym but now Avalon is back in preschool three days a week and ballet the other two so I hopefully can reach my goal of gettting 300 minutes a week.
8. I have started running but i still at my weight can be painful but as competitive as I am with myself, I would love to start racing albeit short races for now. At least one 5k by the end of the year. But hopefully another 20 pounds will help.
I have had oppurtunity after oppurtunity to do this but I have had some other reason. I am actually building quite the stamina and run intervals all the time(seems to melt the lbs away). There is one more oppurtunity coming up but its far away and kinda takes my entire Saturday. So we'll see.
9. After watching Avalon fish this summer with her Grandpa Pat and Uncle Adam and seeing how much fun it was for her and bringing me back to my times as a kid fishing with my brother, I really want to get my license and take her fishing. Catch and release though. I like my fish already butchered(I can't believe I used to do that, yuck!).
So sort of a half check on this one. Jeff got his license and took Avalon fishing when we were in Seeley. She got 20 some fish so not a complete failure.
10. Most importantly, I want to remember to not sweat the small stuff, remember that true family trumps all else and that peace only comes from within. I've got one pretty great hubby, the most awesome munckin and a damn good life. I just need to remember that and I'm golden.
I think I'm getting pretty good at this. This year isn't even close to over and I am rocking at life.
Now, I've gotta get rested up. I gotta house that needs painting. But first I've got to get that wallpaper down. And the light fixtures... But this is the fun part right? Right.
1. Start a new blog and try to update at least twice a week. Yes I'm a stay at home mom but I am busier than I ever was at a job.
So yeah, I think I can claim success with this one. So maybe I don't update twice a week but I have been BUSY. Any of you who have bought a house know this.
2. Start food blogging. I need an outlet for for all the baking and cooking I do. And I pledge to include pictures, so help me god. Who knows, I may even send you some. And those of you who got my "Christmas Cards" know I'm not even kidding.
I started off strong but have backed off in the last few months. Again, I was busy buying and selling a house. But at my old house(that didn't have central air) it was too hot to bake in the middle of summer. But that shouldn't be an issue now. Central air and a much larger kitchen will help make that better. I just have to figure out this new oven.
3. I have golf clubs in my garage that my "honorary" mom(that's what we call each other) loaned me. This is the year I will take lessons. I love golf. I love to watch it. I love the players. I love the game. It's especially fun on the Playstation and the Wii. Also Jeff knows how and if I learned, maybe we could introduce it to Avalon and play as a family. And then Jeff and I would have a hobby together, because my attempts to woo him into baking and his attempts to woo me to motorcyle repair just aren't working. Maybe we'll start fresh.
So I didn't get to this one. I probably should've been a little more proactive this spring and early summer but I wasn't and then I ran out of time. Rest assured, it will be on my list for next year.
4. Buy a new house. Yes this will involve Jeff as well but this is the year I put my foot down/quit quibbling and not making up my mind. Avalon will not go to school in this neighborhood. And, damn, I want a freaking kitchen bigger than my bathroom.
WOOHOO! We did it! We nearly doubled our square footage, Avalon will go to a much better school and we are in a house that can be a forever house. I am so excited to start fixing it up. We get to make this house exactly how I want it. I know the work would scare a lot of people but it's mostly cosmetic and besides the floors Jeff and i can do most of it ourselves. I've got a larger kitchen and a dining space!
5. Introduce Avalon to new hobbies and crafts. I know she needs to be in dance. I know once she is used to the routine, the teacher, the other kids, it'll be okay. But that adjustment time can be a rough period, probably rougher on me. But she can be painfully shy in public and seems to have a bit of anxiety. (wonder where she gets that) She is proving to be very artistic and musical. So I want to take her to a local pottery place where you can buy a piece of pottery and paint it, they fire it and we get it back. (http://www.ingoodglazes.com/) And start doing even more crafts that extend beyong the paint, playdoh and cutting and glue. I think in addition to dance she would really profit from some sort of music class. The girl has rhythm and is singing constantly especially to Classical Music. Mostly I need to get my butt in gear and if I am positive about it so she will be as well.
Check and check. This summer I had her back in Rock, Tumble, and Roll and Art class. We went and did pottery a couple times and plan on making that something we do ever so often. It really is fun! And we started her in ballet this fall. She really seems to like it so far and unlike some classes offered at the Y, this is the real deal.
6. We will go on a big vacation this year. Big as in get on a plane go somewhere and stay for 5 days. None of the quick weekends to Chico(although they are super fun) Jeff and I have pledged to set aside the time and money and make it happen. Maybe the Oregon Coast again or Disneyland, maybe even Hawaii.
We did it. We spent a week at the Oregon coast and infected Avalon with the travel bug. She has since asked to go back to Oregon, go back to the ocean, go to Hawaii and go to Disneyland (and space). We had to cancel our small trip to Yellowstone because we sold our house so quickly but hopefully will get to Chico this fall.
7. Continue on my weight loss journey. I've lost 33 lbs give or take a couple pounds. They have been hard earned as my metabolism is not too agreeable. But I've got a couple great doctors on my side and beleive it or not, I crave exercise so that helps.
Just had a check up today and I'm down 50 lbs. It's still slow and steady but I'm losing and that's all that matters. The summer was rough in respect to going to the gym but now Avalon is back in preschool three days a week and ballet the other two so I hopefully can reach my goal of gettting 300 minutes a week.
8. I have started running but i still at my weight can be painful but as competitive as I am with myself, I would love to start racing albeit short races for now. At least one 5k by the end of the year. But hopefully another 20 pounds will help.
I have had oppurtunity after oppurtunity to do this but I have had some other reason. I am actually building quite the stamina and run intervals all the time(seems to melt the lbs away). There is one more oppurtunity coming up but its far away and kinda takes my entire Saturday. So we'll see.
9. After watching Avalon fish this summer with her Grandpa Pat and Uncle Adam and seeing how much fun it was for her and bringing me back to my times as a kid fishing with my brother, I really want to get my license and take her fishing. Catch and release though. I like my fish already butchered(I can't believe I used to do that, yuck!).
So sort of a half check on this one. Jeff got his license and took Avalon fishing when we were in Seeley. She got 20 some fish so not a complete failure.
10. Most importantly, I want to remember to not sweat the small stuff, remember that true family trumps all else and that peace only comes from within. I've got one pretty great hubby, the most awesome munckin and a damn good life. I just need to remember that and I'm golden.
I think I'm getting pretty good at this. This year isn't even close to over and I am rocking at life.
Now, I've gotta get rested up. I gotta house that needs painting. But first I've got to get that wallpaper down. And the light fixtures... But this is the fun part right? Right.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The good, the bad, and the ugly.
THE GOOD
Jeff and I killed it this morning. Over the course of the last few weeks, I had managed to get most of our house boxed up and in the garage and the last few days Jeff helped me get all the big stuff into the garage.
After we dropped Avalon off at preschool, we got our uhaul at 9 and went home. In an hour and 15 minutes we had loaded 3/4 of what was in the garage and by the time I had to pick up Avalon at 1130 we had unloaded all but two work benches into the new garage.
Then when we came home, and after dealing with "the bad", we spent the afternoon cleaning and packing etc. Then Jeff's dad came at 3, and filled up the uhaul, my car and the Old Man's truck. We got it all unloaded by 530.
Jeff's sister Katy took Avalon for the evening for "a date with my best friend" as Avalon called it all day. Since we had gotten more done that we expected and were completely exhausted. (The words, "I haven't pushed this hard since I was in labor" may have been uttered pushing a piano into the house) Jeff and I cleaned up and went to dinner ourselves. We hope to be completely out by tomorrow at noon.
THE BAD
So I get a call today from our realtor that the gal buying our house will do her walkthrough tomorrow at noon. No biggie, this is typical. She also says that in order for our buyer to get her funds, the City of Billings has to come do an inspection. Our realtor says that she has never seen this but figures it is probably just a formality.
No it wasn't. There were three issues with our house that the lady with the City of Billings(who wouldn't even acknowledge us, beyatch) Two of the issues, she wasn't going to cite but the third one had to be fixed and reinspected in order for closing on Friday morning to occur.
Her regulations stipulated that each bedroom(4) had to have a smoke alarm and there had to be one in each hallway(2). Easy enough, go buy 6 smoke alarms right? No, wrong. The smoke alarms had to communicate with one another so that if one upstairs went off, it triggered the alarms in the basement as well. Basically if one goes off they must all go off. I had never heard of this anywhere and neither had our realtor. So, we drop what we are doing.(No wait, we dropped what we were doing so they could do the inspection) and head to Lowes to see if there were options that didn't include hiring some company to wire our house to do this. Low and behold they do make something. There is a brand that makes Wireless Smoke Alarms. And luckily there are only 6 left. But unlike a typical smoke alara which cost $5-10 these are triple the price. So $200 later we have this stipulation corrected.
Frankly, I am tired of spending money on a house that I am not going to live in anymore.(I feel like I've spent more money on this house in the last3 weeks than I have in the last year) Two, why couldn't this lady have made this inspection a week ago. Why wait until two days before closing, interrupting our whole process. She also says that she has to come back to inspect to make sure we did it. That means she has to come tomorrow or we don't close. And then our realtor tried to get a hold of her all afternoon and she never answered and wouldn't return her calls. Douche Bag!
and lastly
THE UGLY.
So, since we got way more done than we had planned and Katy had already planned on taking Avalon for us, we went out to dinner. And since it was a long ass day, I endulged in a margarita at Texas Roadhouse. (I also ate bad choices but there were SO good.) Anyway, I am halfway through my marg and I am feeling it. And I don't mean buzzed. I am drunk. Half a margarita and I am trying not to slur my words and sit up straight. CHEAP DATE, that's what I am.
I don't drink often or very much. (Too many calories, I like to eat my calories not drink them.) And judging by this evening, I am a lightweight.
Jeff and I killed it this morning. Over the course of the last few weeks, I had managed to get most of our house boxed up and in the garage and the last few days Jeff helped me get all the big stuff into the garage.
After we dropped Avalon off at preschool, we got our uhaul at 9 and went home. In an hour and 15 minutes we had loaded 3/4 of what was in the garage and by the time I had to pick up Avalon at 1130 we had unloaded all but two work benches into the new garage.
Then when we came home, and after dealing with "the bad", we spent the afternoon cleaning and packing etc. Then Jeff's dad came at 3, and filled up the uhaul, my car and the Old Man's truck. We got it all unloaded by 530.
Jeff's sister Katy took Avalon for the evening for "a date with my best friend" as Avalon called it all day. Since we had gotten more done that we expected and were completely exhausted. (The words, "I haven't pushed this hard since I was in labor" may have been uttered pushing a piano into the house) Jeff and I cleaned up and went to dinner ourselves. We hope to be completely out by tomorrow at noon.
THE BAD
So I get a call today from our realtor that the gal buying our house will do her walkthrough tomorrow at noon. No biggie, this is typical. She also says that in order for our buyer to get her funds, the City of Billings has to come do an inspection. Our realtor says that she has never seen this but figures it is probably just a formality.
No it wasn't. There were three issues with our house that the lady with the City of Billings(who wouldn't even acknowledge us, beyatch) Two of the issues, she wasn't going to cite but the third one had to be fixed and reinspected in order for closing on Friday morning to occur.
Her regulations stipulated that each bedroom(4) had to have a smoke alarm and there had to be one in each hallway(2). Easy enough, go buy 6 smoke alarms right? No, wrong. The smoke alarms had to communicate with one another so that if one upstairs went off, it triggered the alarms in the basement as well. Basically if one goes off they must all go off. I had never heard of this anywhere and neither had our realtor. So, we drop what we are doing.(No wait, we dropped what we were doing so they could do the inspection) and head to Lowes to see if there were options that didn't include hiring some company to wire our house to do this. Low and behold they do make something. There is a brand that makes Wireless Smoke Alarms. And luckily there are only 6 left. But unlike a typical smoke alara which cost $5-10 these are triple the price. So $200 later we have this stipulation corrected.
Frankly, I am tired of spending money on a house that I am not going to live in anymore.(I feel like I've spent more money on this house in the last3 weeks than I have in the last year) Two, why couldn't this lady have made this inspection a week ago. Why wait until two days before closing, interrupting our whole process. She also says that she has to come back to inspect to make sure we did it. That means she has to come tomorrow or we don't close. And then our realtor tried to get a hold of her all afternoon and she never answered and wouldn't return her calls. Douche Bag!
and lastly
THE UGLY.
So, since we got way more done than we had planned and Katy had already planned on taking Avalon for us, we went out to dinner. And since it was a long ass day, I endulged in a margarita at Texas Roadhouse. (I also ate bad choices but there were SO good.) Anyway, I am halfway through my marg and I am feeling it. And I don't mean buzzed. I am drunk. Half a margarita and I am trying not to slur my words and sit up straight. CHEAP DATE, that's what I am.
I don't drink often or very much. (Too many calories, I like to eat my calories not drink them.) And judging by this evening, I am a lightweight.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
3 days and counting
Only three days until the big move. I cannot wait to be moved for Avalon's sake. Her anxiety is through the roof manifesting itself with sobbing and wailing and being sick. Yesterday she kept telling me she was sick and had a sore throat and bad tummy. But when we went to Grandma's house, she was mysteriously fine and played like crazy. Then we come home, and she's sick again. Poor kid.
My "long lost brother" has recently come into my life. Okay so he isn't long lost, I've known where he was. But we stopped communicating about a year and a half ago. He landed himself in prison. We were communicating by letter and I visited him once. But everything that I wrote or said to him ended up coming back to my via my dad using what I wrote and said as ammo against me. (My dad took on Joe as his mission to save him, Joe hadn't talked to my parents nearly as long as I have until that point) I asked Joe if he could please keep our conversations between us. I have to protect my family and those we love from my dad's antics which can be very disruptive.
Well he couldn't and so I backed off and quit communicating with him(which my dad then used as evidence of me abandoning joe, although before he said I was enabling him.) I will do whatever I have to do to keep my dad and his manipulative angry ways away from Jeff and especially Avalon. And if that means I have to give up other relationships I will. If you make me choose, I choose Jeff and Avalon.
Anyway after getting out of prison and living in a halfway house, Joe who had become close to my dad, mom and sister ended up living in an apartment my dad has. I've known all along that shit would eventually go done and things would go south. I just didn't know when.
Well about 2 weeks ago, just that happened. My dad intercepted Joes mail and read his bank statements and thought he was misspending his money. He also told Joe's parole officer that he must be doing drugs etc and created a bit of a mess for Joe. Joe has sinced moved into a new apartment.
Well when this all happened, Joe called me and the first words out of him mouth were, "Our Dad is something else."
I just said, "Well I knew you'd come around eventually." My dad will never change. He may seem to for a while but he always resorts to the same old shit.
So while I am glad that Joe and I can rebuild our relationship I am very cautious. I got burned bad this last time around and I can't be too careful especially when it comes to my family.
Sometimes, I am just done with all the drama.
My "long lost brother" has recently come into my life. Okay so he isn't long lost, I've known where he was. But we stopped communicating about a year and a half ago. He landed himself in prison. We were communicating by letter and I visited him once. But everything that I wrote or said to him ended up coming back to my via my dad using what I wrote and said as ammo against me. (My dad took on Joe as his mission to save him, Joe hadn't talked to my parents nearly as long as I have until that point) I asked Joe if he could please keep our conversations between us. I have to protect my family and those we love from my dad's antics which can be very disruptive.
Well he couldn't and so I backed off and quit communicating with him(which my dad then used as evidence of me abandoning joe, although before he said I was enabling him.) I will do whatever I have to do to keep my dad and his manipulative angry ways away from Jeff and especially Avalon. And if that means I have to give up other relationships I will. If you make me choose, I choose Jeff and Avalon.
Anyway after getting out of prison and living in a halfway house, Joe who had become close to my dad, mom and sister ended up living in an apartment my dad has. I've known all along that shit would eventually go done and things would go south. I just didn't know when.
Well about 2 weeks ago, just that happened. My dad intercepted Joes mail and read his bank statements and thought he was misspending his money. He also told Joe's parole officer that he must be doing drugs etc and created a bit of a mess for Joe. Joe has sinced moved into a new apartment.
Well when this all happened, Joe called me and the first words out of him mouth were, "Our Dad is something else."
I just said, "Well I knew you'd come around eventually." My dad will never change. He may seem to for a while but he always resorts to the same old shit.
So while I am glad that Joe and I can rebuild our relationship I am very cautious. I got burned bad this last time around and I can't be too careful especially when it comes to my family.
Sometimes, I am just done with all the drama.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Funny dog
Last night Murph was laying between Jeff and I with his but right up by our faces.
Jeff says, "You need to move him."
"All winter long you want him to sleep up between us and now that he is you want to boot him?" I asked.
"Pretty Much. It's summer and it's too hot."
"Well," I suggest, "You better move him."
"You know if I try to move him that he'll growl and snap at me."(Only time Murph gets pissed off).
"Well you want him to move, so you move him."
"Really??" Jeff asks. "You're gonna make me move him."
"Yep." Just taunting him to get his goat.
"Oh come on, just move him."
"Fine," I give in with Jeff expecting me to push his butt down our shiny comforter.(Because he never barks at me even if I move him.) I am the alpha to him although he thinks he outranks Jeff and Avalon.
Instead of physically moving Murph, I say, "Okay Murph, time to go to bed." With that he gets up and walks to the foot of the bed and lays back down to go to sleep.
Jeff goes to bed just shaking his head.
Jeff says, "You need to move him."
"All winter long you want him to sleep up between us and now that he is you want to boot him?" I asked.
"Pretty Much. It's summer and it's too hot."
"Well," I suggest, "You better move him."
"You know if I try to move him that he'll growl and snap at me."(Only time Murph gets pissed off).
"Well you want him to move, so you move him."
"Really??" Jeff asks. "You're gonna make me move him."
"Yep." Just taunting him to get his goat.
"Oh come on, just move him."
"Fine," I give in with Jeff expecting me to push his butt down our shiny comforter.(Because he never barks at me even if I move him.) I am the alpha to him although he thinks he outranks Jeff and Avalon.
Instead of physically moving Murph, I say, "Okay Murph, time to go to bed." With that he gets up and walks to the foot of the bed and lays back down to go to sleep.
Jeff goes to bed just shaking his head.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
29 is not old right?
When I think of 29 the number it seems old. I mean 29 is right down the street from 30 and 30 is in the same neighborhood as 35 which is pretty darn close to 40. Okay I may bit exaggerating a bit but 29 seems old and well, I don't feel old.
Perhaps its the 50 lbs I've lost so far although in my opinion I've got another 50 to go but I have had more energy in the last 6 months or so. I feel like I'm finally figuring life out. Sad I know, it taken me nearly 30 years to be comfortable in my own skin and know how I want things to be. I've also figured out that I am the only thing standing between me and what I want. Deep. Just kidding. Just, the number I am and the number I feel don't match.
It still seems surreal that we are moving this week. You'd think with every box I've packed and every box I have hauled out to the garage, it would seem a little bit real but I still can't beleive it. And on the whole, I am SO excited. I am so excited to be in a house that we get to fix up just the way we want. I am so excited to have a house that I can host Thanksgiving in. I can't wait to make Christmas cookies in my new kitchen with Avalon. I can't wait to go running in my new neighborhood. I can't wait to pick flooring samples, and paint samples and light fixtures. I love knowing that we plan on being here as long as possible. And when the thought of doing all the remodeling/fixing overwhelms me, I remind myself that no matter what does or doesn't get done, Avalon is going to a much better school.
But when i think about leaving this house and somebody else living in it, I feel so sad. This house will always be ours. I will have lived all but 2 years of my twenties in it. I grew up here. And, with the way I grew up, you should know exactly what I mean.
Jeff and I hadn't been married even a year when we moved in. This is where we adopted our first dog and so far only dog. (I think even Murph is having anxiety over everything. Poor thing is losing hair like crazy). I learned my decorating skills with this house and thank God that has evolved. (By the time we've been in our new house for about 10 years I ought to have it figured out right?)
We found out November 6th of 2006 that we would get to be parents. July 11th of 2007 we brought Avalon home from the hospital. I learned how to be a mother in this house(although I'm still figuring that one out). Thus far, this house is where we've made all our memories. It's where we've celebrated Christmas and birthdays and the first days of school.
And I know that we'll be making new memories in our new house! But getting rid of this house almost seems like getting rid of those memories. It's almost like once I start to forget things about this house, I'll start to forget the things we did in the house. And those are things I never want to forget. Nearly a third of my life has been spent in this house. And truly, they have been the best years of my life.
And judging by Miss Avalon's dramatics of late, I think the anxiety and hoopla of the move is really getting to her which is totally understandable. I just want her to know that this move is a good thing and make it as enjoyable and as fun as we can. And it will be. I am so excited to move to our new house. (But come Thursday night, I might be a smidge teary.) But a house doesn't make a home. Jeff, Avalon, Murph and I make the house our home.
Perhaps its the 50 lbs I've lost so far although in my opinion I've got another 50 to go but I have had more energy in the last 6 months or so. I feel like I'm finally figuring life out. Sad I know, it taken me nearly 30 years to be comfortable in my own skin and know how I want things to be. I've also figured out that I am the only thing standing between me and what I want. Deep. Just kidding. Just, the number I am and the number I feel don't match.
It still seems surreal that we are moving this week. You'd think with every box I've packed and every box I have hauled out to the garage, it would seem a little bit real but I still can't beleive it. And on the whole, I am SO excited. I am so excited to be in a house that we get to fix up just the way we want. I am so excited to have a house that I can host Thanksgiving in. I can't wait to make Christmas cookies in my new kitchen with Avalon. I can't wait to go running in my new neighborhood. I can't wait to pick flooring samples, and paint samples and light fixtures. I love knowing that we plan on being here as long as possible. And when the thought of doing all the remodeling/fixing overwhelms me, I remind myself that no matter what does or doesn't get done, Avalon is going to a much better school.
But when i think about leaving this house and somebody else living in it, I feel so sad. This house will always be ours. I will have lived all but 2 years of my twenties in it. I grew up here. And, with the way I grew up, you should know exactly what I mean.
Jeff and I hadn't been married even a year when we moved in. This is where we adopted our first dog and so far only dog. (I think even Murph is having anxiety over everything. Poor thing is losing hair like crazy). I learned my decorating skills with this house and thank God that has evolved. (By the time we've been in our new house for about 10 years I ought to have it figured out right?)
We found out November 6th of 2006 that we would get to be parents. July 11th of 2007 we brought Avalon home from the hospital. I learned how to be a mother in this house(although I'm still figuring that one out). Thus far, this house is where we've made all our memories. It's where we've celebrated Christmas and birthdays and the first days of school.
And I know that we'll be making new memories in our new house! But getting rid of this house almost seems like getting rid of those memories. It's almost like once I start to forget things about this house, I'll start to forget the things we did in the house. And those are things I never want to forget. Nearly a third of my life has been spent in this house. And truly, they have been the best years of my life.
And judging by Miss Avalon's dramatics of late, I think the anxiety and hoopla of the move is really getting to her which is totally understandable. I just want her to know that this move is a good thing and make it as enjoyable and as fun as we can. And it will be. I am so excited to move to our new house. (But come Thursday night, I might be a smidge teary.) But a house doesn't make a home. Jeff, Avalon, Murph and I make the house our home.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Turns out I was worried for nothing
The inspection on our house didn't go as badly as I had anticipated. She is negotiating 4 fixes, three of which we are doing. The last one concerning a window fix, is undecided until I get some quotes.
I'll let you know how that goes.
Tomorrow we have the home inspection on the new home. Cross your fingers things go well!
I'll let you know how that goes.
Tomorrow we have the home inspection on the new home. Cross your fingers things go well!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
It's like waiting for Christmas but not
I don't think I have had this much extended periods of anxiety since I had post partum depression after Avalon was born.
And while everyone tries to reassure me that I'm just being a pessimist, I can't help but think that things have gone so well to this point that something has to go wrong. When does anything go 100% our way. Our realtor really feels this deal was meant to be and that nothing on our inspection will be a deal breaker. And while I know she is working for us and we are her paycheck, I have never felt she has made her money at our expense. It's probably for this reason that we are using her the second time around.
I guess it is just that I want to move to this new house so badly, that I would be devastated if things fall apart.
So far, no panic attacks, so that is an improvement over a few years ago but ask me tomorrow when we get the results from the inspection. I have that lump in my chest, like it is rising up but so far, I think I am handling it better than I would have in the past. But it is ever present for me. The wait for the results has taken so long it seems just like waiting for Christmas but in the negative since.
Until then, I may have to start drinking.
And while everyone tries to reassure me that I'm just being a pessimist, I can't help but think that things have gone so well to this point that something has to go wrong. When does anything go 100% our way. Our realtor really feels this deal was meant to be and that nothing on our inspection will be a deal breaker. And while I know she is working for us and we are her paycheck, I have never felt she has made her money at our expense. It's probably for this reason that we are using her the second time around.
I guess it is just that I want to move to this new house so badly, that I would be devastated if things fall apart.
So far, no panic attacks, so that is an improvement over a few years ago but ask me tomorrow when we get the results from the inspection. I have that lump in my chest, like it is rising up but so far, I think I am handling it better than I would have in the past. But it is ever present for me. The wait for the results has taken so long it seems just like waiting for Christmas but in the negative since.
Until then, I may have to start drinking.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Yeah about that sleep.
It never came. I thought as soon as I got the house cleaned and "ready" for listing, I could take a day off and sleep.
Last Thursday after our realtor came by and took pics of our place, she called about 430 that evening and said that her office was on the ball and instead of Friday morning, they would have the listing up that afternoon by six. Thursday night about 8, I got a call from a realtor wanting to show my house the next day at 11.
So I got up Friday, proceeded to "hide" the fans in the garage, dust one last time, run the vacuum upstairs again and mop the kitchen. Right as I was finishing, I got another call from a different realtor who wanted to show my house so we scheduled her for 1130. So I got Avalon, myself and Murph-dog out of the house [yeah Murph in the house during the showing wouldn't have been a selling point, who'd a thunk it ;) ].
Little did we know but about noon on Friday our realtor got a call that one of the showings was bringing an offer on our house, less than 12 hours after we had listed. She later told me, she didn't want to say anything till she had the offer in hand.
Our realtor did call me about 1PM while I was out shopping to let me know she was dropping off some fliers at the house for showings. Strangely, she asked, "What's Jeff up to today?" I told her he was just in his office that day and she didn't say anything else. I actually had told Jeff about it right after I talked to her because it struck me as so strange. At 2:45, she called back and presented the offer to us.
The gal intending to purchase our house, is a first time homebuyer with ties to the southside. She offered 2k less than asking, requested I leave all of my curtains and wanted no help with closing costs, as she is preapproved for help with it through Montana Board of Housing and City of Billings. I said, to our realtor, "Forgive me if this sounds ignorant, but I'm not seeing anything bad with this scenario." The purchase of our new home is/was contingent on the sale of our current home. Basically, there isn't anything too bad with her offer. Her offer is contingent on getting help from MBoH and CoB but she sent along with her offer where she had been preapproved through these programs as well as her bank and had already taken the classes necesary to get preapproved.
So now, it is a wait and see kind of game. Next week is the inspection of this place and our inspection of our new place. So, as long as their are not major issues with that or appraisals, sometime mid september, we move out of our house and into the new one. The waiting and anxiety of it all have me not sleeping even though I am exhausted from spending the last week, cleaning 24/7.
And as much as I have wanted to move(especially since Avalon going to Kindergarten is quickly approaching) i get kinda sad to think of leaving this house. Jefff and I basically started our post college lives in this house, got our first dog and had Miss Avalon here. It is the only house she's ever known! We are only about three blocks away from Jeff's folks in this house. And even though we won't probably see them any less, there will be no more walking across the park to visit.
But I am excited to move into a bigger house that hopefully we should never out grow.(In fact last night, I mentioned to Jeff that the main floor of the new house is 197 sq feet less than the total square footage of our current house) I have a newer bigger kitchen, with a full sized dishwasher!
Jeff maintains most of his garage space, we have an even larger lot on a quarter acre while also maintaining a long driveway(which we never new we would love so much but Avalon never has to play in the street!) It has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, an official master, fireplace/gasinsert with mantle and formal dining area(christmas and thanksgiving anyone?)
And even though the house needs some work, it is mostly labor that Jeff and I can tackle. We are however, going to have all new flooring installed on the main floor except the kitchen where the flooring is new. Depending on how the sale of our current house goes, we may do it all including the bedrooms, but at the very least, the dining, living room and hallway and stairs. I think we are looking at engineered hardwood/laminate in those three areas, and carpet in the beds but that decision is a ways off.
And of course, we have to paint, remove mirrors and get new light fixtures. But I'm kinda looking forward to it all. If we had to, I know we could get our investment back out but more importantly, we intend staying here for a very long time, so I look forward to making this house mine/ours. ANd we have all the time in the world to do it. And even if we didn't tackle a single one of these projects, Avalon will still go to a better school.
But nevertheless, the whirlwind of all this has my anxiety levels at an all time high. Wondering about all the "what-ifs" gets me all sorts of worried so things need to happen sooner than later so I can stop worrying. Buying/selling a house is so stressful!
Well, I went to bed at 1230, got up at 445 becuase I had been tossing and turning the whole time, maybe I should try to go back and get some rest although I feel like I could be up for the day. Wish us luck, send good thoughts, say a prayer, rub a buddha belly, whatever floats your boat!
Last Thursday after our realtor came by and took pics of our place, she called about 430 that evening and said that her office was on the ball and instead of Friday morning, they would have the listing up that afternoon by six. Thursday night about 8, I got a call from a realtor wanting to show my house the next day at 11.
So I got up Friday, proceeded to "hide" the fans in the garage, dust one last time, run the vacuum upstairs again and mop the kitchen. Right as I was finishing, I got another call from a different realtor who wanted to show my house so we scheduled her for 1130. So I got Avalon, myself and Murph-dog out of the house [yeah Murph in the house during the showing wouldn't have been a selling point, who'd a thunk it ;) ].
Little did we know but about noon on Friday our realtor got a call that one of the showings was bringing an offer on our house, less than 12 hours after we had listed. She later told me, she didn't want to say anything till she had the offer in hand.
Our realtor did call me about 1PM while I was out shopping to let me know she was dropping off some fliers at the house for showings. Strangely, she asked, "What's Jeff up to today?" I told her he was just in his office that day and she didn't say anything else. I actually had told Jeff about it right after I talked to her because it struck me as so strange. At 2:45, she called back and presented the offer to us.
The gal intending to purchase our house, is a first time homebuyer with ties to the southside. She offered 2k less than asking, requested I leave all of my curtains and wanted no help with closing costs, as she is preapproved for help with it through Montana Board of Housing and City of Billings. I said, to our realtor, "Forgive me if this sounds ignorant, but I'm not seeing anything bad with this scenario." The purchase of our new home is/was contingent on the sale of our current home. Basically, there isn't anything too bad with her offer. Her offer is contingent on getting help from MBoH and CoB but she sent along with her offer where she had been preapproved through these programs as well as her bank and had already taken the classes necesary to get preapproved.
So now, it is a wait and see kind of game. Next week is the inspection of this place and our inspection of our new place. So, as long as their are not major issues with that or appraisals, sometime mid september, we move out of our house and into the new one. The waiting and anxiety of it all have me not sleeping even though I am exhausted from spending the last week, cleaning 24/7.
And as much as I have wanted to move(especially since Avalon going to Kindergarten is quickly approaching) i get kinda sad to think of leaving this house. Jefff and I basically started our post college lives in this house, got our first dog and had Miss Avalon here. It is the only house she's ever known! We are only about three blocks away from Jeff's folks in this house. And even though we won't probably see them any less, there will be no more walking across the park to visit.
But I am excited to move into a bigger house that hopefully we should never out grow.(In fact last night, I mentioned to Jeff that the main floor of the new house is 197 sq feet less than the total square footage of our current house) I have a newer bigger kitchen, with a full sized dishwasher!
Jeff maintains most of his garage space, we have an even larger lot on a quarter acre while also maintaining a long driveway(which we never new we would love so much but Avalon never has to play in the street!) It has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, an official master, fireplace/gasinsert with mantle and formal dining area(christmas and thanksgiving anyone?)
And even though the house needs some work, it is mostly labor that Jeff and I can tackle. We are however, going to have all new flooring installed on the main floor except the kitchen where the flooring is new. Depending on how the sale of our current house goes, we may do it all including the bedrooms, but at the very least, the dining, living room and hallway and stairs. I think we are looking at engineered hardwood/laminate in those three areas, and carpet in the beds but that decision is a ways off.
And of course, we have to paint, remove mirrors and get new light fixtures. But I'm kinda looking forward to it all. If we had to, I know we could get our investment back out but more importantly, we intend staying here for a very long time, so I look forward to making this house mine/ours. ANd we have all the time in the world to do it. And even if we didn't tackle a single one of these projects, Avalon will still go to a better school.
But nevertheless, the whirlwind of all this has my anxiety levels at an all time high. Wondering about all the "what-ifs" gets me all sorts of worried so things need to happen sooner than later so I can stop worrying. Buying/selling a house is so stressful!
Well, I went to bed at 1230, got up at 445 becuase I had been tossing and turning the whole time, maybe I should try to go back and get some rest although I feel like I could be up for the day. Wish us luck, send good thoughts, say a prayer, rub a buddha belly, whatever floats your boat!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
After tomorrow, I'm going to sleep 12 hours straight
Tired is the understatement of the year. Exhausted is more like it. Don't confuse this with sleepy. I don't feel entirely sleepy. Perhaps sleep is a bit easier but my body is tired. My feet and ankles ache. I have bruises everywhere and I can only bend a certain way for fear of hitting the catch I have in my back/tailbone.
But my house is sterile clean, rid of clutter and being listed by Friday morning at the lastest. We reoffered on the house we made an offer on and then failed to negotiate successfully a couple weeks ago. They agreed to our terms and hopefully we can sell ours in the next couple of months and be in a new home.
Our new place is in a great neighborhood with great schools(especially compared to the schools in our neighborhood) It is considerable bigger on a large lot. The kitchen is newer, a garage big enough for Jeff, a deck like we have now, a long driveway. It is 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2800 sqft.
The entire main floor needs new flooring in my opinion. Its not dirty but dated. Our plan is to purchase flooring before even moving in. I will have to change all the light fixtures(just like I did in our house now, their gold) and paint and remove mirrors(what is it with old people and mirrors). Three rooms have wall paper and will need removed. I wouldn't say this house is a fixer because it is quite livable the way it is in. But at the price we got it, we can make all these changes and get our money back out if we had to. But this house, is hopefully a forever house. So we can take the time and fix the things we want to change and make it ours. It has awesome potential and a awesome neighborhood. And hey its mostly labor and cosmetic, no big deal to me. Yay!
So lets think good thoughts that things go according to plan, that we can sell our house in a timely manner, and no one else tries to offer on this house.
In the meantime, after tomorrow when pics are takn of the house for listing, I am relaxing. I have been cleaning since last Thursday.
Night all!
But my house is sterile clean, rid of clutter and being listed by Friday morning at the lastest. We reoffered on the house we made an offer on and then failed to negotiate successfully a couple weeks ago. They agreed to our terms and hopefully we can sell ours in the next couple of months and be in a new home.
Our new place is in a great neighborhood with great schools(especially compared to the schools in our neighborhood) It is considerable bigger on a large lot. The kitchen is newer, a garage big enough for Jeff, a deck like we have now, a long driveway. It is 4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2800 sqft.
The entire main floor needs new flooring in my opinion. Its not dirty but dated. Our plan is to purchase flooring before even moving in. I will have to change all the light fixtures(just like I did in our house now, their gold) and paint and remove mirrors(what is it with old people and mirrors). Three rooms have wall paper and will need removed. I wouldn't say this house is a fixer because it is quite livable the way it is in. But at the price we got it, we can make all these changes and get our money back out if we had to. But this house, is hopefully a forever house. So we can take the time and fix the things we want to change and make it ours. It has awesome potential and a awesome neighborhood. And hey its mostly labor and cosmetic, no big deal to me. Yay!
So lets think good thoughts that things go according to plan, that we can sell our house in a timely manner, and no one else tries to offer on this house.
In the meantime, after tomorrow when pics are takn of the house for listing, I am relaxing. I have been cleaning since last Thursday.
Night all!
Friday, August 5, 2011
You'd think with as much as I apologize about not blogging, I might try and do it a little more often. But alas, life gets in the way. This summer has been crazy busy with one thing happening after the other. Plus, now that I am trying(and doing) to be more social, I've always got something going on. I'm not complaining, but it is definitely a little out of my comfort zone but hey, maybe I needed that.
Really I just need the routine that the school year brings. Three days a week, Avalon will have preschool(three days a week with three hours to do what I wish which is mainly working out, sad, I know).
We have one more little trip for the last weekend in August to Yellowstone and Chico. I am excited to go but at the same time, ready to settle down for the fall.
As you know, we've been on the house hunt. We found a house, made and offer. Before presenting our offer, our realtor discovered someone else was making an offer as well and wanted to know if we wanted to change our offer. So we upped our offer to asking price plus sellers cover 5k in closing(which helps us be more flexible withthe sale of our own home)
The sellers decided to negotiate with the other offer but when negotiations failed they came back to us but said we had to pay 5k over asking price to cover the 5k in closing costs. Noone in this economy is getting asking price for their homes, and we put our best foot forward with our original offer, they need to gie a little too. So we refused their counter but told them if they change their mind, we would stick by our original offer. We're thinking that they will come to their senses and come back. They hadn't had any interest since they listed their house in April and no other offers since ours and the other that they couldn't agree upon.
So, in an attempt to ready our house should we need to list it(or if we decide to list regardless) I've been cleaning like I'm nine months pregnant and nesting. (I'm not, thanks for asking) We are getting rid of the clutter(which wouldn't be clutter if I had more space) and streamingling things and then cleaning every surface. Today alone I used 5 Mr.Clean magic erasers and I still have the whole basement. But we are renting a storage unit until we find a place and move.
Just got back from a trip to Great Falls and the cabin at Seeley. Avalon and I went up early and got to spend 3.5 days in Great Falls. Avalon had 3.5 days to spend with her other set of grandparents(yes she calls them Grandma Joelene and Grandpa Pat) and even though they aren't my biological parents, our relationship is how I imagine most moms to treat their kids.(or as Jeff's parent treat us.) It was nice to have someone else cook dinner and since she has a fancy schmany washing machine that I can never figure out, she even did my laundry.
I got to see some girlfriends and their munchkins, do some shopping and just relax. We headed to Seeley for the weekend. We did some boating, dock moving and more relaxing. Pat's stepmom, Grandma D(elores) was up there as were both his sisters and their spouses. Grandma D invited Avalon up to her trailer for a real tea party. Avalon even walked up their by herself and thought it was the best thing ever!
Pat's one sister and her husband and are both blind and have guide dogs. Avalon took to Joy pretty quick and kept asking her to do things that required eyesight. I tried, politely, all weekend to explain to her that they couldn't see. I wasn't sure she got it until she brought it up tonight at Walmart, of all places. Pat's other sister brought her puppies up with her to, 4 shih tzus. Avalon was absolutely astounded that you can actually hold a dog and dogs actually play fetch. (Poor Murph has obviously been such a disappointment in this area) By Sunday she was asking us to get her a small dog she can play with. And because Jeff loves these shih tzus, we just may have a new dog in the future.
I'm not afraid of the responsibility of a new dog(and maybe one we can train early one). I'm just afraid of how Murph would handle it. I don't want him to feel replaced but I don't know if he would be to agressive with a new dog. I don't think that he would be mean but when we had the cat, he LOVED to play with the cat and put the cat on guard all the time and the cat became mean aways trying to protect hiimself. We'll see. I don't mean to be the party pooper, but taking care of a new dog will all come down to me and I'm not sure if I want to tackle that yet.
Alright, thats it for now.
Really I just need the routine that the school year brings. Three days a week, Avalon will have preschool(three days a week with three hours to do what I wish which is mainly working out, sad, I know).
We have one more little trip for the last weekend in August to Yellowstone and Chico. I am excited to go but at the same time, ready to settle down for the fall.
As you know, we've been on the house hunt. We found a house, made and offer. Before presenting our offer, our realtor discovered someone else was making an offer as well and wanted to know if we wanted to change our offer. So we upped our offer to asking price plus sellers cover 5k in closing(which helps us be more flexible withthe sale of our own home)
The sellers decided to negotiate with the other offer but when negotiations failed they came back to us but said we had to pay 5k over asking price to cover the 5k in closing costs. Noone in this economy is getting asking price for their homes, and we put our best foot forward with our original offer, they need to gie a little too. So we refused their counter but told them if they change their mind, we would stick by our original offer. We're thinking that they will come to their senses and come back. They hadn't had any interest since they listed their house in April and no other offers since ours and the other that they couldn't agree upon.
So, in an attempt to ready our house should we need to list it(or if we decide to list regardless) I've been cleaning like I'm nine months pregnant and nesting. (I'm not, thanks for asking) We are getting rid of the clutter(which wouldn't be clutter if I had more space) and streamingling things and then cleaning every surface. Today alone I used 5 Mr.Clean magic erasers and I still have the whole basement. But we are renting a storage unit until we find a place and move.
Just got back from a trip to Great Falls and the cabin at Seeley. Avalon and I went up early and got to spend 3.5 days in Great Falls. Avalon had 3.5 days to spend with her other set of grandparents(yes she calls them Grandma Joelene and Grandpa Pat) and even though they aren't my biological parents, our relationship is how I imagine most moms to treat their kids.(or as Jeff's parent treat us.) It was nice to have someone else cook dinner and since she has a fancy schmany washing machine that I can never figure out, she even did my laundry.
I got to see some girlfriends and their munchkins, do some shopping and just relax. We headed to Seeley for the weekend. We did some boating, dock moving and more relaxing. Pat's stepmom, Grandma D(elores) was up there as were both his sisters and their spouses. Grandma D invited Avalon up to her trailer for a real tea party. Avalon even walked up their by herself and thought it was the best thing ever!
Pat's one sister and her husband and are both blind and have guide dogs. Avalon took to Joy pretty quick and kept asking her to do things that required eyesight. I tried, politely, all weekend to explain to her that they couldn't see. I wasn't sure she got it until she brought it up tonight at Walmart, of all places. Pat's other sister brought her puppies up with her to, 4 shih tzus. Avalon was absolutely astounded that you can actually hold a dog and dogs actually play fetch. (Poor Murph has obviously been such a disappointment in this area) By Sunday she was asking us to get her a small dog she can play with. And because Jeff loves these shih tzus, we just may have a new dog in the future.
I'm not afraid of the responsibility of a new dog(and maybe one we can train early one). I'm just afraid of how Murph would handle it. I don't want him to feel replaced but I don't know if he would be to agressive with a new dog. I don't think that he would be mean but when we had the cat, he LOVED to play with the cat and put the cat on guard all the time and the cat became mean aways trying to protect hiimself. We'll see. I don't mean to be the party pooper, but taking care of a new dog will all come down to me and I'm not sure if I want to tackle that yet.
Alright, thats it for now.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Thoughts and other things
Avalon and I are headed to Great Falls, Tuesday and then Friday Jeff is coming up and we are all heading up to the cabin at Seeley. I'm looking forward to relaxing, swimming at the pool, seeing some friends and their munchkins. I'm excited for Avalon and I to have to girl time(yeah I know we have girl time every day right). But its nice, Joelene cooks dinner for us, no laundry, lax schedule and I'll read all those books I've been collecting..
Speaking of books, I'm getting my spanish texts out. I've got a work book I bought a while back. Thought I would freshen up my skills. A friend asked me for some help translating. Kinda reminded me that "yeah, I have those skills, don't want to lose em." I do use enough of it around Avalon that she has started saying a few things: gracias, vamos(lets go), adios, hola. So until, mi amiga has some more translating she needs done, I am gonna try to keep fresh.
But aside from the drive from Billings to Great Falls, I'm looking forward to this week. And it's not even that bad of a drive but I get nervous giong long distances with Avalon. I try not to think of what could happen and because I am nervous it makes me hyper aware but I still pack, major caffeine so falling asleep is not an issue. And thankfully she is a much better rider than when she was little. And I got a super safe ride so that helps.
I don't know how to say this without sounding like a cheeseball. But Amy Winehouse's death struck a chord with me today. In the last 5 or 6 years, I kid you not, I think I have bought two CD's. Hers and Bruno Mars. You have to have one hell of a CD to get me to buy it.
I think she had an incredible talent and sadly like too many other people, addiction cost her so much. Granted we don't know what caused her death today but I'd venture to say that even if it weren't an overdose, it is related to her addiction in some way.
And if you haven't had to face addiction closeup, you may not realize that if affects more than just the user. It affects every body around them. It truly is a disease. I feel for her family. It took prison for my brother to confront his addiction. But his addiction left an exwife and son in the wake not to mention parents and siblings worried and concerned for him wanting to help but trying at the same time not to enable.
Its funny how those sort of things touch you. The only other time I remember a celebrity dying was August 31st 1997. The day Princess Diana died.
Speaking of deaths, a couple of things in the news lately have just made my faith in humanity that much less. The slaughter in norway of 82 people at the camp is shocking. How can one personhave that much hate? How can it take the police 90 minutes to show up? Sometimes I feel too naive to the ways of the world.
And because Great Falls is my hometown, I keep up with the news there as well as what Joelene tells me about what's going on. And the domestic/child abuse cases in the last year have numbered far too many. Children left with a mother's boyfriend, have proved very dangerous for too many small children.
I did recently read the book "Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard who was kidnapped at 11 and held captive for 18 years and gave birth to two children fathered by her kidnapper. I think aside from my past, I would have read this book. The story is fascinating in that she was found all these years later. But I think because of my abusive upbringing, I am drawn to books of this nature. I could give you a list a mile long of the ones I've read. And as bad as it may sound, but I think i read these books beccause in a way, i don't feel like such a freak. There are others out there who have had crappy things happen to them. And don't a lot of people want to know they aren't alone? Twisted I know.
Going to another open house tomorrow of the same house we already looked at. We're taking Jeff's parents because we appreciate their objective view. It is in a great area on a HUGE lot, double the square footage of our house, has a sizeable garage and kitchen. On the downside, it is a little dated. It would need, in my opinion, all new carpet. But the carpet is decent, just dated, wouldn't need to be changed immediately. But the neighborhood is terrific and it would be a good school for Avalon. So we'll see. Its the first house Jeff and I have agreed on for a long time.
Anywho, things are on the up swing!
Speaking of books, I'm getting my spanish texts out. I've got a work book I bought a while back. Thought I would freshen up my skills. A friend asked me for some help translating. Kinda reminded me that "yeah, I have those skills, don't want to lose em." I do use enough of it around Avalon that she has started saying a few things: gracias, vamos(lets go), adios, hola. So until, mi amiga has some more translating she needs done, I am gonna try to keep fresh.
But aside from the drive from Billings to Great Falls, I'm looking forward to this week. And it's not even that bad of a drive but I get nervous giong long distances with Avalon. I try not to think of what could happen and because I am nervous it makes me hyper aware but I still pack, major caffeine so falling asleep is not an issue. And thankfully she is a much better rider than when she was little. And I got a super safe ride so that helps.
I don't know how to say this without sounding like a cheeseball. But Amy Winehouse's death struck a chord with me today. In the last 5 or 6 years, I kid you not, I think I have bought two CD's. Hers and Bruno Mars. You have to have one hell of a CD to get me to buy it.
I think she had an incredible talent and sadly like too many other people, addiction cost her so much. Granted we don't know what caused her death today but I'd venture to say that even if it weren't an overdose, it is related to her addiction in some way.
And if you haven't had to face addiction closeup, you may not realize that if affects more than just the user. It affects every body around them. It truly is a disease. I feel for her family. It took prison for my brother to confront his addiction. But his addiction left an exwife and son in the wake not to mention parents and siblings worried and concerned for him wanting to help but trying at the same time not to enable.
Its funny how those sort of things touch you. The only other time I remember a celebrity dying was August 31st 1997. The day Princess Diana died.
Speaking of deaths, a couple of things in the news lately have just made my faith in humanity that much less. The slaughter in norway of 82 people at the camp is shocking. How can one personhave that much hate? How can it take the police 90 minutes to show up? Sometimes I feel too naive to the ways of the world.
And because Great Falls is my hometown, I keep up with the news there as well as what Joelene tells me about what's going on. And the domestic/child abuse cases in the last year have numbered far too many. Children left with a mother's boyfriend, have proved very dangerous for too many small children.
I did recently read the book "Stolen Life" by Jaycee Dugard who was kidnapped at 11 and held captive for 18 years and gave birth to two children fathered by her kidnapper. I think aside from my past, I would have read this book. The story is fascinating in that she was found all these years later. But I think because of my abusive upbringing, I am drawn to books of this nature. I could give you a list a mile long of the ones I've read. And as bad as it may sound, but I think i read these books beccause in a way, i don't feel like such a freak. There are others out there who have had crappy things happen to them. And don't a lot of people want to know they aren't alone? Twisted I know.
Going to another open house tomorrow of the same house we already looked at. We're taking Jeff's parents because we appreciate their objective view. It is in a great area on a HUGE lot, double the square footage of our house, has a sizeable garage and kitchen. On the downside, it is a little dated. It would need, in my opinion, all new carpet. But the carpet is decent, just dated, wouldn't need to be changed immediately. But the neighborhood is terrific and it would be a good school for Avalon. So we'll see. Its the first house Jeff and I have agreed on for a long time.
Anywho, things are on the up swing!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
My Munchkin is Four
We celebrated Avalon's birthday this last Sunday the 10th, the same day as Jeff and I's wedding annniversary. I know everybody remarks about kids growing up so fast, but it's true. It abslutely doesn't not feel like 4 years has passed.Jeff and I had a hard time this year deciding what to get Avalon for her birthday. She's at the age where she sees something fun and she wants it. And frankly, I think she has everything else. So we had to decide what she wanted most. And I think everything came out all right.
Below is a pic of one of her oddest gifts. She has asked me to buy her this huge thing of cheese puffs for months now. She had them last summer at a picnic and has wanted them ever since. And its not that I'm opposed to her eating them(even though they are junk, she never eats much of anything), but what are we going to do with three gallons of cheese puffs? But as we were struggling with gift ideas and she had asked twice the previous week for them, we figured why not? And just as i thought, I have nowhere to stick three gallons of cheese puffs, but she likes them and that's all that counts. And, she was so excited to see them on her birthday that she was licking the lid. Silly kid
She has all but given up TV shows. The only one she has any interest in at all is Sponge Bob, and as you can see if was very prevalent at her party.
She had asked and asked for a "yata" as she calls pinatas. (Not sure why or how she knew about them) We got it about a week before her birthday and she played with him the whole week. They had tea parties, and he was her baby etc. So we thought she might be sad if he was destroyed. So we talked about just letting her keep him but she ultimately decided she wanted to stuff him with candy and wack him open.
We were not prepared for a four-year-old hitting machine. She hit that pinata with incredible ferocity. We didn't know she was that strong or aggressive but she got the job done, and we picked up the candy we had just stuffed in their a couple of hours before. But apparently, eating candy out of a pinata is much more fun.
In other news, we've just been trudging along. We've got plans to go to Seeley and the cabin at the end of July. Just like last year, Avalon and I are going to go to Great Falls early and Jeff will come up on Friday. So Great Falls peeps, if you wanna do something, shoot me a line.
We have plans in late August to go through Yellowstone and stay at Chico Hot SPrings during that little trip. I don't know who decided they loved Chico lately, but I'd appreciate it if they stopped. I can't get reservations there to save my life and we used to be able to go whenever.
I haven't been baking much as I've been trying to watch what I eat and it's been too damn hot to turn the even on. But i'm not complaining. It's about time for some decent whether. But feeling an obligation to blog about what I bake, kinda takes the fun out of it.
And we've just been busy. It seems like every day is filled with something to do and we spend so much time outside that its usually pretty late before we come in. Avalon hasnt made it to bed on time once yet this summer. But that's what summers are for right?
I've been running a lot more when I work out. I still have that unfulfilled goal on my list from the first of the year to run a race. I think a friend and I are going to run the labor day race in Red Lodge and maybe one in October in McCleod. It gives me a goal to work toward. But it feels good to be running again. I ran a lot in high school(not for a team but on my own, in an attempt to control my weight so my father wasn't mad) but I really learned to love it and its taken a while to build up the stamina but I'm getting there.
I do have a sore ankle that doesn't help thinks especially since I really hurt it hiking last week. But my knees have quit hurting. I think the weight loss has really helped with that. I haven't lost anything recently but I kinda took the last couple of weeks off from obsessing about exercise and not count my calories. It didn't hurt me, which teaches me to quit obsessing but I gotta get back to losing.
Alrighty then enough of the epic update, lator gators!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Holy Buckets
It's been over two weeks since I last posted. And I don't have a lot to say tonight even. But I am stilll alive and will be backing to posting soon I hope.
Later Gators
Later Gators
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Randomosity
* Made real strawberry popsicles the other day. Not enough sugar or food processing. Kinda sour, not that great. Remade them today with more sugar, a bit of strawberry yogurt and lots of blending and they were SO good. Next time I eat one, I'll take a pic and blog. Not much of a recipe though. I mixed them up unti they tasted good.
*It's a summer christmas around here. At least it seems like it. Between Father's Day, two nephew's birthdays, Avalon and Jeff's birthday, the 4th of July and our anniversary, it gets a little spendy around here. But I love buying gifts for people.
* Bought software in order to make a will and all that other important things that should be done. Here's to being an adult!
* Down a total of 48 lbs this week. Since this last 4 came off rather quickly, I'd say the next few will probably not come as quickly.
*Got my hair done this week. And it looks awesome! And I don't mind saying.
*I'm on Season 8 of 24. I'm not enjoying this season at all but kind of feel like I should finish since I have so much time invested in it. But then I'll need another new series to start. I like to stream Netflix at the Y while I exercise. So if you have any good suggestions that you'd reccommend, I appreciate it.
*So far my summer exercise schedule has allowed me the time to workout. That alone leaves me a lot less stressed. Not that I'm feeling too stressed lately. Things have been going swimmingly.
*This summer seems to be flying by. I kind of wanted to take advantage of summer and no set schedules but so far it seems we've kept busy and it's almost July. This weather does make things seem off. I'm not complaining. I kinda like the cooler weather.
*Trying to schedule a trip to Yellowstone. Penciled in the 20th of August or so. Trying to pencil in a family trip to Seeley Lake and maybe another for just Avalon and I.
* Jeff's thinking about going to Sturgis. We've been debating a Vegas trip but don't think that'll be possible. Jeff's running out of vacation since we took a trip to Oregon.
*Since our little issue with Avalon's behavior that I detailed in an earlier blog, things have been going great with her. She always says to me when I get after her, "I sorry. Let's be a team." Warms my heart. And after witnessing the neighbor kid, Avalon is a saint!
* My dog has been eating entirely too much birdseed from beneath the bird feeders. It finally caught up with him today and has been sick multiple times. I go from pity to fury. I feel sorry for him because I know he feels horrible. But with every mess that has to be cleaned up, I get a little bit more mad that the idiot is such a glutton.
* Today at Albertson's I used a check out lady that I'm pretty familiar with as I'm there about once a week of more. She mentioned today about how big Avalon is getting. And when I mentioned that she would be four in a couple weeks, she was shocked saying, "I remember you bringing her in as a baby." Aww, me too. I can't believe she is getting so big. I do love that so many of the places she and I go are familiar with us and know our names. In fact, she calls the people at Target Pharmacy, "My friends."
* The other day someone helped us at the Target pharamcy that we didn't recognize. Since it was a man, she was unsure of whether or not to take a sucker from him. So I said, "Either you make a new friend and get a sucker or don't and not a have a sucker." She decided to make nice. Then the next time we went it, this particular guy wasn't there and she asked the other pharmacist and the tech we know, "Where's my new friend?" Too stinkin' cute!
*Alright enough gushing. I just hope that you are enjoying life as much as I am!
*It's a summer christmas around here. At least it seems like it. Between Father's Day, two nephew's birthdays, Avalon and Jeff's birthday, the 4th of July and our anniversary, it gets a little spendy around here. But I love buying gifts for people.
* Bought software in order to make a will and all that other important things that should be done. Here's to being an adult!
* Down a total of 48 lbs this week. Since this last 4 came off rather quickly, I'd say the next few will probably not come as quickly.
*Got my hair done this week. And it looks awesome! And I don't mind saying.
*I'm on Season 8 of 24. I'm not enjoying this season at all but kind of feel like I should finish since I have so much time invested in it. But then I'll need another new series to start. I like to stream Netflix at the Y while I exercise. So if you have any good suggestions that you'd reccommend, I appreciate it.
*So far my summer exercise schedule has allowed me the time to workout. That alone leaves me a lot less stressed. Not that I'm feeling too stressed lately. Things have been going swimmingly.
*This summer seems to be flying by. I kind of wanted to take advantage of summer and no set schedules but so far it seems we've kept busy and it's almost July. This weather does make things seem off. I'm not complaining. I kinda like the cooler weather.
*Trying to schedule a trip to Yellowstone. Penciled in the 20th of August or so. Trying to pencil in a family trip to Seeley Lake and maybe another for just Avalon and I.
* Jeff's thinking about going to Sturgis. We've been debating a Vegas trip but don't think that'll be possible. Jeff's running out of vacation since we took a trip to Oregon.
*Since our little issue with Avalon's behavior that I detailed in an earlier blog, things have been going great with her. She always says to me when I get after her, "I sorry. Let's be a team." Warms my heart. And after witnessing the neighbor kid, Avalon is a saint!
* My dog has been eating entirely too much birdseed from beneath the bird feeders. It finally caught up with him today and has been sick multiple times. I go from pity to fury. I feel sorry for him because I know he feels horrible. But with every mess that has to be cleaned up, I get a little bit more mad that the idiot is such a glutton.
* Today at Albertson's I used a check out lady that I'm pretty familiar with as I'm there about once a week of more. She mentioned today about how big Avalon is getting. And when I mentioned that she would be four in a couple weeks, she was shocked saying, "I remember you bringing her in as a baby." Aww, me too. I can't believe she is getting so big. I do love that so many of the places she and I go are familiar with us and know our names. In fact, she calls the people at Target Pharmacy, "My friends."
* The other day someone helped us at the Target pharamcy that we didn't recognize. Since it was a man, she was unsure of whether or not to take a sucker from him. So I said, "Either you make a new friend and get a sucker or don't and not a have a sucker." She decided to make nice. Then the next time we went it, this particular guy wasn't there and she asked the other pharmacist and the tech we know, "Where's my new friend?" Too stinkin' cute!
*Alright enough gushing. I just hope that you are enjoying life as much as I am!
So about that bread...
So on one of my last posts, I mentioned the best bread ever. really. ever. I've been thinking about this bread since I threw the last 3 slices away because I couldn't not stop eating it. (And at this point, i don't dig in the garbage so it was the safest place for me to put it)
Then I promised a loaf to Jeff's cousin Jacquie.(People sometimes don't think I'm serious when they ask for food. But you ask, I will bake and even send. Just ask everybody who got a edible christmas card this year.) Jeff took a loaf to work and it was gone in 45 minutes(record time). Jeff even loved this bread and we all know he's not crazy about sweets or baked goods. It's just that good.
But last week when I made this bread, I used up all my sugar, flour and oil making this. (I know can you beleive I ran out?) But I'm ready now to bake this bread again. And it's a good thing too. Why, you ask? Because when I went to download the pictures I took in order to right a post and share the recipe. They weren't there. I had a few issues with my camera this week trying to get it to charge and am guessing that whatever troubles I was having also included saving my pics.
So i have no picturs of this incredible bread. Now I'm not opposed to posting without pics but this bread is AWESOME and since I'm making it again. I might as well wait.
Just imagine, almond poppyseed bread/poundcake and then drench it with orange syrup(sugar and OJ boiled till thick and sweet.) So good, I need to find another owner of the second loaf since it makes two. Takers? Anyone?
Then I promised a loaf to Jeff's cousin Jacquie.(People sometimes don't think I'm serious when they ask for food. But you ask, I will bake and even send. Just ask everybody who got a edible christmas card this year.) Jeff took a loaf to work and it was gone in 45 minutes(record time). Jeff even loved this bread and we all know he's not crazy about sweets or baked goods. It's just that good.
But last week when I made this bread, I used up all my sugar, flour and oil making this. (I know can you beleive I ran out?) But I'm ready now to bake this bread again. And it's a good thing too. Why, you ask? Because when I went to download the pictures I took in order to right a post and share the recipe. They weren't there. I had a few issues with my camera this week trying to get it to charge and am guessing that whatever troubles I was having also included saving my pics.
So i have no picturs of this incredible bread. Now I'm not opposed to posting without pics but this bread is AWESOME and since I'm making it again. I might as well wait.
Just imagine, almond poppyseed bread/poundcake and then drench it with orange syrup(sugar and OJ boiled till thick and sweet.) So good, I need to find another owner of the second loaf since it makes two. Takers? Anyone?
Freaking A
It's been a long week. A long long week. I have learned a few things.
I only have patience for my own child and even that was in short supply today. Our neighbor had his hip replaced. So in preparation, he and his wife's daughter came over from the Tri-cities with her son and daughter. Last Sunday night, she arrived and her 5 year old son Nathan saw Avalon playing on her swingset in the back yard where Jeff and I also were and asked to come over. He did, but all of us were there, his mom and us. They played for a while. Monday afternoon he came over after having spent the morning at the hospital. I layed the ground rules for what they could and couldn't do and they played almost two hours with no problems. Tuesday he came over and played about an hour with no problems. They played barely 30 minutes Wednesday and had to remind him a couple times of my rules. Thursday they played about an hour and a half and I had to constantly remind him to not play near the motorcyles, to leave the gates alone, and to share Avalon's toys with her.
Yesterday morning, he asked to play and I said they could for a while since we would be home all morning and as I was cleaning the house, I thought it would keep Avalon busy and out of my way. But I was wrong. First I saw him constantly riding in the garage. I said they could play with any of the toys but not in the garage. SInce we have a long drive way there was plenty of room to play. I went out there several times and asked them to not play in the garage. The third time, I stressed it was not safe because if he ran into the motorcyles, they could tip over on him and I really didn't want them to scratch my car.
He then tried to back talk to me and explain that he was safe and so it was okay. Avalon rarely back talks to me because i won't put up with it. She mostly does what I ask of her especially if I stress her safety being involved(its nice to not have a daredevil for a child).
Then i caught him crawling under our deck. I had never said it was off limits because its something that is never done. So I asked him not too as it wasn't safe. (One side of the deckhas siding and we have a plow tractor and firewood, planters etc under it) But then I caught him again and again and he backtalked to me yet again about how he was safe enough. Finally he quit.
I shut the gate that blocks our driveway so I couold have the yard gate open so I didn't have to constantly let them in and out and so Murph couldn't get out and so they too were contained to the driveway our backyard. He asked me a couple of times to open the driveway gate and said no stressing that I didn't want our dog to get out. He opened the gate and his grandpa ended up calling me to tell me our dog was down the street because he had gotten out.
Then I heard Avalon asking to drive her Power Wheels and he told her he couldn't because he couldn't fit in her other car. I hesitated a couple times to interrupt them and let Avalon work it out on her own and solve her own problem but after an hour of keeping an eye on them, I saw her ask him several times for a certain toy he had commandeered and told her she couldn't have. Finally I went out and said that they all needed to have a turn. He back talked again and said he didn't fit or the other toys were too small for him. I finally sent him home so Avalon and I could go get groceries. When we got back, he immediately came over and asked to play. I wanted so much to say "no" but Avalon wanted to play too. So I said they could while I put the groceries and Avalon had to go down for quiet time.
In the 45 minutes they played, I again had to keep him out of the garage. I had to tell him not to climb our wooden fence from the garage to the yard.(Its not too strong and its pretty high and not safe.) He again said he was good at being safe and it was okay. Again, I told him it was not okay. I had to get him off the chang link fence as well. Finally he left.
Then right as quiet time was ending, Jeff got home early and was working in the garage on his motorcycle. And Avalon went out to play in the garage/driveway with her dad as she and he often do. (She won't get near a motorcyle with a 10 ft pole) Not five minutes later, he was back. During the 45 minutes he was there, we had to tell him not to ride the scooter/bike/car in the garage by the motorcyles, quit climbing the fence, and don't let Murph out of the gate. The last straw was when he was trying to convince Avalon to jump down the wall from the driveway to the basement door about 4 feet or so that would've invariably left them seriously injured.
Neither Jeff or I were hungry for dinner but I made dinner anyway so I could send him home and call Avalon in to eat and not look like a schmuck for wanting him to go. He asked to come over after dinner and we told him we were going shopping after dinner. "Again?"he asked, "You just went shopping at Walmart." I should not have to justify myself to a 5 year old. "Well maybe when you guys get back I can come over." We stayed gone until past bedtime.
I told Jeff last night that we had to stay gone today soo i didn't have to watch him today. After several days at our house, he lost his manners and got comfortable. It shouldn't be my responsibility to parent him but was forced to because his mother didn't once come over to see how thing were doing the whole week.
So this morning, Jeff and I made our plan to get out of Dodge so I didn't have to babysit all day. Jeff got up early and left for some errands and came home so I could go run a few before we all left together. I thought as long as I wasn't home, we were safe, because no one had approached Jeff about watching anybody.
But when I came home Jeff had quite the story to tell. He and Avalon were in the house. She in her pajamas playing with her doll house and Jeff was just hanging out. Shortly after I left, Jeff heard this boys Mom outside asking her son, "Don't you think it's about time to go play with Avalon?" Jeff said she was obviously annoyed with him and trying to pawn him off on us. He ran over to the back door(which the screen was open), And told Jeff, "I'm ready to play with Avalon now."
Jeff told him that Avalon was still in her pj's and not ready to play and that when we got ready we had some things to go do. "
Then after I came home and was helping Avalon dress and do her hair, he showed up at our back door again. "Can Avalon play now?"
"Well she's not dressed "
"Well can she play just for a few minutes?"
"No, because when she does get dressed we're headed to lunch and do some shopping."
"Shopping again? You just went shopping." he replied.
"Yes, Avalon's Daddy is off today so we like to spend the day together and do our running around together. We'll see you later."
"Well, maybe when you get back we can play."
"We'll see."
All during our running around, Avalon kept asking if he could come over. I know it is fun for her to play with kids but he'd been at our house so much and I was tired of refereeing, not being able to get much done because I had to keep such an eye out for him. So i agreed that they could play while I did some yard work but that if he didn't use his listeners(ears) or share he coudn't play and when Jeff left to go on a motorcyle ride, we were leaving also in order to do some shopping and get a few things for our Father's day lunch we're having.
As soon as we pulled in the drive, he was over. I layed that ground rules and told him he needed to listen he if wanted to play at our house.
Immediately he was in the garage riding by the motorcyles. "Nathan, you can't ride by them. If you knocked them over and they fell on you, you could get really hurt."
"Oh no I won't. I'm safe."
"Nathan, safe or not, you can't ride by them."
"Don 't worry yesterday I hit the tire of that one and it didn't tip over. See! I'm safe."
"I don't care how safe you think you are. Stay away from them. Its non-negotiable!"
Then he told Avalon they should go inside and play after I said that they would play outside since I was doing yardwork. (Also they had played inside a couple time the past week, and he made a huge mess, getting in closets that we don't allow Avalon to get in, getting out toys that I put away so that I can trade them in and out). He went to go in the kitchen and I asked what he needed. "We're going in to play."
"No, we're playing outside today." At that Avalon went back down the deck stairs to play.
"Why?"
"Because I'm out here today and I just cleaned my house and don't want to get it dirty and have to clean it again."
"Well, I'll take my shoes off and it won't get it dirty."
"No Nathan, we are outside today."
I didn't have all the gates closed today because I only intended on being out for about an hour. And since I was outside with them I could open the yard gate if they needed in. Soon enough, I caught him using a chair to climb the unstable wooden fence. After that I caught him trying to climb the chainlink fence and was pulling and pushing it. "Nathan, you need to get down and stop so you don't get hurt and don't break the fence."
"I'm safe don't worry. And the fence is metal, it won't break."
Exasperated at his back talk after something I'd reminded him of before, I tersely replied, "I don't care, get down!"
Then as I was spraying weeds, he told Avalon that she couldn't have her car(which he'd played with the majority of the time this week.) Then he kept the gate open and Murph was trying to get out.
Completely frustrated, I said, "Nathan, if you can't follow my rules, you can't play here. Either do what I ask of you or go."
For the rest of the time, he did as he was told. But as we were shopping, I was dreading coming home. And as soon as we walked up the steps, he asked to come play. I turned him down as it was time for Avalon's quiet time. "well maybe I can come over after her quiet time." he suggested.
"We'll see."
Low and behold he did come over after quiet time and was for the most part well behaved. However it was thundering a bit and Avalon was not interested. We went out to dinner and the mall and came home past bedtime as to avoid him.
Jeri, our neighbor, his grandmother, who we absolutely adore, said earlier this week that she thought they might leave on Sunday, tomorrow. I can only hope.
One of my biggest questions is what kind of mother brings her kids somewhere for a week and doesn't bring any toys or things for them to do. Jeri has very little for kids to do as they almost never visit. And how do you expect a five year old to entertain themselves for over a week.
By the end of the week it was as if she expected me to watch him. Never once did she reciprocate to take the kids or even just make them lunch. And I felt weird being in a position of needing to discipline him but also feeling it wasn't my place. I don't know how I feel about other parents disciplining Avalon. The whole thing has me irked and exhausted and trying to avoid being home so I don't have to babysit the back talking rule breaking child.
On the flip side, at this point, I have a child who follows my rules and doesn't back talk me. Of course, you mention being safe or clean and the kid is all for it.
I only have patience for my own child and even that was in short supply today. Our neighbor had his hip replaced. So in preparation, he and his wife's daughter came over from the Tri-cities with her son and daughter. Last Sunday night, she arrived and her 5 year old son Nathan saw Avalon playing on her swingset in the back yard where Jeff and I also were and asked to come over. He did, but all of us were there, his mom and us. They played for a while. Monday afternoon he came over after having spent the morning at the hospital. I layed the ground rules for what they could and couldn't do and they played almost two hours with no problems. Tuesday he came over and played about an hour with no problems. They played barely 30 minutes Wednesday and had to remind him a couple times of my rules. Thursday they played about an hour and a half and I had to constantly remind him to not play near the motorcyles, to leave the gates alone, and to share Avalon's toys with her.
Yesterday morning, he asked to play and I said they could for a while since we would be home all morning and as I was cleaning the house, I thought it would keep Avalon busy and out of my way. But I was wrong. First I saw him constantly riding in the garage. I said they could play with any of the toys but not in the garage. SInce we have a long drive way there was plenty of room to play. I went out there several times and asked them to not play in the garage. The third time, I stressed it was not safe because if he ran into the motorcyles, they could tip over on him and I really didn't want them to scratch my car.
He then tried to back talk to me and explain that he was safe and so it was okay. Avalon rarely back talks to me because i won't put up with it. She mostly does what I ask of her especially if I stress her safety being involved(its nice to not have a daredevil for a child).
Then i caught him crawling under our deck. I had never said it was off limits because its something that is never done. So I asked him not too as it wasn't safe. (One side of the deckhas siding and we have a plow tractor and firewood, planters etc under it) But then I caught him again and again and he backtalked to me yet again about how he was safe enough. Finally he quit.
I shut the gate that blocks our driveway so I couold have the yard gate open so I didn't have to constantly let them in and out and so Murph couldn't get out and so they too were contained to the driveway our backyard. He asked me a couple of times to open the driveway gate and said no stressing that I didn't want our dog to get out. He opened the gate and his grandpa ended up calling me to tell me our dog was down the street because he had gotten out.
Then I heard Avalon asking to drive her Power Wheels and he told her he couldn't because he couldn't fit in her other car. I hesitated a couple times to interrupt them and let Avalon work it out on her own and solve her own problem but after an hour of keeping an eye on them, I saw her ask him several times for a certain toy he had commandeered and told her she couldn't have. Finally I went out and said that they all needed to have a turn. He back talked again and said he didn't fit or the other toys were too small for him. I finally sent him home so Avalon and I could go get groceries. When we got back, he immediately came over and asked to play. I wanted so much to say "no" but Avalon wanted to play too. So I said they could while I put the groceries and Avalon had to go down for quiet time.
In the 45 minutes they played, I again had to keep him out of the garage. I had to tell him not to climb our wooden fence from the garage to the yard.(Its not too strong and its pretty high and not safe.) He again said he was good at being safe and it was okay. Again, I told him it was not okay. I had to get him off the chang link fence as well. Finally he left.
Then right as quiet time was ending, Jeff got home early and was working in the garage on his motorcycle. And Avalon went out to play in the garage/driveway with her dad as she and he often do. (She won't get near a motorcyle with a 10 ft pole) Not five minutes later, he was back. During the 45 minutes he was there, we had to tell him not to ride the scooter/bike/car in the garage by the motorcyles, quit climbing the fence, and don't let Murph out of the gate. The last straw was when he was trying to convince Avalon to jump down the wall from the driveway to the basement door about 4 feet or so that would've invariably left them seriously injured.
Neither Jeff or I were hungry for dinner but I made dinner anyway so I could send him home and call Avalon in to eat and not look like a schmuck for wanting him to go. He asked to come over after dinner and we told him we were going shopping after dinner. "Again?"he asked, "You just went shopping at Walmart." I should not have to justify myself to a 5 year old. "Well maybe when you guys get back I can come over." We stayed gone until past bedtime.
I told Jeff last night that we had to stay gone today soo i didn't have to watch him today. After several days at our house, he lost his manners and got comfortable. It shouldn't be my responsibility to parent him but was forced to because his mother didn't once come over to see how thing were doing the whole week.
So this morning, Jeff and I made our plan to get out of Dodge so I didn't have to babysit all day. Jeff got up early and left for some errands and came home so I could go run a few before we all left together. I thought as long as I wasn't home, we were safe, because no one had approached Jeff about watching anybody.
But when I came home Jeff had quite the story to tell. He and Avalon were in the house. She in her pajamas playing with her doll house and Jeff was just hanging out. Shortly after I left, Jeff heard this boys Mom outside asking her son, "Don't you think it's about time to go play with Avalon?" Jeff said she was obviously annoyed with him and trying to pawn him off on us. He ran over to the back door(which the screen was open), And told Jeff, "I'm ready to play with Avalon now."
Jeff told him that Avalon was still in her pj's and not ready to play and that when we got ready we had some things to go do. "
Then after I came home and was helping Avalon dress and do her hair, he showed up at our back door again. "Can Avalon play now?"
"Well she's not dressed "
"Well can she play just for a few minutes?"
"No, because when she does get dressed we're headed to lunch and do some shopping."
"Shopping again? You just went shopping." he replied.
"Yes, Avalon's Daddy is off today so we like to spend the day together and do our running around together. We'll see you later."
"Well, maybe when you get back we can play."
"We'll see."
All during our running around, Avalon kept asking if he could come over. I know it is fun for her to play with kids but he'd been at our house so much and I was tired of refereeing, not being able to get much done because I had to keep such an eye out for him. So i agreed that they could play while I did some yard work but that if he didn't use his listeners(ears) or share he coudn't play and when Jeff left to go on a motorcyle ride, we were leaving also in order to do some shopping and get a few things for our Father's day lunch we're having.
As soon as we pulled in the drive, he was over. I layed that ground rules and told him he needed to listen he if wanted to play at our house.
Immediately he was in the garage riding by the motorcyles. "Nathan, you can't ride by them. If you knocked them over and they fell on you, you could get really hurt."
"Oh no I won't. I'm safe."
"Nathan, safe or not, you can't ride by them."
"Don 't worry yesterday I hit the tire of that one and it didn't tip over. See! I'm safe."
"I don't care how safe you think you are. Stay away from them. Its non-negotiable!"
Then he told Avalon they should go inside and play after I said that they would play outside since I was doing yardwork. (Also they had played inside a couple time the past week, and he made a huge mess, getting in closets that we don't allow Avalon to get in, getting out toys that I put away so that I can trade them in and out). He went to go in the kitchen and I asked what he needed. "We're going in to play."
"No, we're playing outside today." At that Avalon went back down the deck stairs to play.
"Why?"
"Because I'm out here today and I just cleaned my house and don't want to get it dirty and have to clean it again."
"Well, I'll take my shoes off and it won't get it dirty."
"No Nathan, we are outside today."
I didn't have all the gates closed today because I only intended on being out for about an hour. And since I was outside with them I could open the yard gate if they needed in. Soon enough, I caught him using a chair to climb the unstable wooden fence. After that I caught him trying to climb the chainlink fence and was pulling and pushing it. "Nathan, you need to get down and stop so you don't get hurt and don't break the fence."
"I'm safe don't worry. And the fence is metal, it won't break."
Exasperated at his back talk after something I'd reminded him of before, I tersely replied, "I don't care, get down!"
Then as I was spraying weeds, he told Avalon that she couldn't have her car(which he'd played with the majority of the time this week.) Then he kept the gate open and Murph was trying to get out.
Completely frustrated, I said, "Nathan, if you can't follow my rules, you can't play here. Either do what I ask of you or go."
For the rest of the time, he did as he was told. But as we were shopping, I was dreading coming home. And as soon as we walked up the steps, he asked to come play. I turned him down as it was time for Avalon's quiet time. "well maybe I can come over after her quiet time." he suggested.
"We'll see."
Low and behold he did come over after quiet time and was for the most part well behaved. However it was thundering a bit and Avalon was not interested. We went out to dinner and the mall and came home past bedtime as to avoid him.
Jeri, our neighbor, his grandmother, who we absolutely adore, said earlier this week that she thought they might leave on Sunday, tomorrow. I can only hope.
One of my biggest questions is what kind of mother brings her kids somewhere for a week and doesn't bring any toys or things for them to do. Jeri has very little for kids to do as they almost never visit. And how do you expect a five year old to entertain themselves for over a week.
By the end of the week it was as if she expected me to watch him. Never once did she reciprocate to take the kids or even just make them lunch. And I felt weird being in a position of needing to discipline him but also feeling it wasn't my place. I don't know how I feel about other parents disciplining Avalon. The whole thing has me irked and exhausted and trying to avoid being home so I don't have to babysit the back talking rule breaking child.
On the flip side, at this point, I have a child who follows my rules and doesn't back talk me. Of course, you mention being safe or clean and the kid is all for it.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
In the last year and a half, I have ceased to be as sentimental as I was previously. I would never categorize myself as a hoarder but I did keep the strangest things. For example, when I left home as a senior in high school, I managed to escape with some strange things that I hadn't meant to leave with and for years couldn't get rid of them. One such thing was a barrette that had been my little sisters and had her name Hilary on it. It was more than a barrette to me and was a link to a sister that I haven't spoken to in 10 years. Sure it was simply taking space but for an important reason. But as time has passed, I've created my own family and have come to realize what is truly important, I have rid myself of these strange things. I got rid of clothes(that I obviously didn't wear) but had memories for me. But then, it spread to everywhere else.
Last year, in preparation for a garage sale, I cleaned out anything that hadn't been used in 6 months or more. Loads of clothes, books, furniture, toys, made their way to the sale or the Goodwill. Since, I've purged about nearly every season. I've also stopped buying things just because they are on sale or because I might use them sometime in the future. I've even limited my kitchen purchases if you can beleive it!
I just can't handle a mess or clutter anymore and love living a more streamlined life. Less stuff=less to clean. However, I screwed up. I threw out the phone books and any that are consequently delivered. Who needs a phone book when there is internet? I'll tell you who needs a phone book. This girl! who can't seem to have decent internet to save her life.
Our service had been inconsistent at best but we became increasingly annoyed when it took 15 minutes to stream 3 minutes of video on our blu-ray player. Forget about playing a you-tube video. After numerous calls to Bresnan, they said they showed no problems on their end. And sent Jeff this list of instructions to follow, email them with the results and they'd get back to us. Jeff did so, and we didn't hear from them. Finally Sunday morning, it completely crapped out. We called Bresnan and showed that our modem had reset it self 17 times that day and we could make an appointment for a service m an t come out Friday evening? Six days for someone to come out? You've got to be freaking kidding me! Instead, we could wait around for 24 hours till someone could come out(keep in mind I waited around three days back in february for multiple visits becaue the service men couldn't get it right the first time)
So while I use most of my internet browsing for enjoyment, there are things that we do that necesitate having internet. I pay most of my bills and do all my banking online. I've been in the process of get preapproval for a home loan with a new bank and was using email as our communication source. I didn't have a phone book to call her and couldn't use the internet to look up a number. I had guests in town who wanted to use the computer to make sure their way home wasn't flooded. Over the course of the weekend, I found the need to call businesses but because I didn't have internt and threw out the phone books in my purge, I was SOL.
So my friends, purge away but remember, there can be too much of a good thing. And frankly I am quite tired of paying $130 a month for craptacular service. This came a week after similar cellphone bliss.
Jeff and I bit the bullet and entered the 21st century a while back, upgraded our cell plans, and got fancy phones and everything. (I know, we're about the last ones to arrive to the party) But after about a week I was tired of having to make all my calls on the deck outside and then when we were trying to communicate with Bresnan while being in the basement where the modem is and couldn't I was done. I called Cell one and demanded new phones, but because I had thrown out the boxes(the first time I ever threw the boxes away but in the last 10 years I had never ended up needing them and was done storing garbage) he wouldn't.
Finally, after going to the regional manager, we were able to trade our phones in for the same exact model. I didn't have much hope that it would work but was worth a try. Alas, I get two bars in my house and have ceased making phone calls on the deck.
But let me tell you parting(with certain things) is such sweet sorrow. Its so hard to be in a such a tecnological time and have it fail (for us) so much. I just may hold on to that next phone book that gets delivered. And on the bright side, I finally have some reliable internet service, but I'm not holding my breath
Last year, in preparation for a garage sale, I cleaned out anything that hadn't been used in 6 months or more. Loads of clothes, books, furniture, toys, made their way to the sale or the Goodwill. Since, I've purged about nearly every season. I've also stopped buying things just because they are on sale or because I might use them sometime in the future. I've even limited my kitchen purchases if you can beleive it!
I just can't handle a mess or clutter anymore and love living a more streamlined life. Less stuff=less to clean. However, I screwed up. I threw out the phone books and any that are consequently delivered. Who needs a phone book when there is internet? I'll tell you who needs a phone book. This girl! who can't seem to have decent internet to save her life.
Our service had been inconsistent at best but we became increasingly annoyed when it took 15 minutes to stream 3 minutes of video on our blu-ray player. Forget about playing a you-tube video. After numerous calls to Bresnan, they said they showed no problems on their end. And sent Jeff this list of instructions to follow, email them with the results and they'd get back to us. Jeff did so, and we didn't hear from them. Finally Sunday morning, it completely crapped out. We called Bresnan and showed that our modem had reset it self 17 times that day and we could make an appointment for a service m an t come out Friday evening? Six days for someone to come out? You've got to be freaking kidding me! Instead, we could wait around for 24 hours till someone could come out(keep in mind I waited around three days back in february for multiple visits becaue the service men couldn't get it right the first time)
So while I use most of my internet browsing for enjoyment, there are things that we do that necesitate having internet. I pay most of my bills and do all my banking online. I've been in the process of get preapproval for a home loan with a new bank and was using email as our communication source. I didn't have a phone book to call her and couldn't use the internet to look up a number. I had guests in town who wanted to use the computer to make sure their way home wasn't flooded. Over the course of the weekend, I found the need to call businesses but because I didn't have internt and threw out the phone books in my purge, I was SOL.
So my friends, purge away but remember, there can be too much of a good thing. And frankly I am quite tired of paying $130 a month for craptacular service. This came a week after similar cellphone bliss.
Jeff and I bit the bullet and entered the 21st century a while back, upgraded our cell plans, and got fancy phones and everything. (I know, we're about the last ones to arrive to the party) But after about a week I was tired of having to make all my calls on the deck outside and then when we were trying to communicate with Bresnan while being in the basement where the modem is and couldn't I was done. I called Cell one and demanded new phones, but because I had thrown out the boxes(the first time I ever threw the boxes away but in the last 10 years I had never ended up needing them and was done storing garbage) he wouldn't.
Finally, after going to the regional manager, we were able to trade our phones in for the same exact model. I didn't have much hope that it would work but was worth a try. Alas, I get two bars in my house and have ceased making phone calls on the deck.
But let me tell you parting(with certain things) is such sweet sorrow. Its so hard to be in a such a tecnological time and have it fail (for us) so much. I just may hold on to that next phone book that gets delivered. And on the bright side, I finally have some reliable internet service, but I'm not holding my breath
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Energy and parenting
For the first time in ages, and by ages, I mean and years and by years I mean since before Avalon was born, I have boundless energy. I have naturally always been a tired person. I think in my late teens and early 20's it was a combination of an unchecked thyroid, lots of college credits and 20-30 hours of work on top of it. Thats enough to wear anyone out.
But even after I graduated, I was always completely capable of needing and taking a nap. And sleeping past 11? A common weekend occurence..
Then Avalon was born and tired took on a whole new meaning. But early on I was such a nervous wreck that I couldn't sleep due to the anxiety, increasing my exhaustion even more. Yet as she grew and began to sleep better so did I but that did nothing to squash my need for rest. Up until a month or so ago, I took at least a small catnap (or more) during Avalon's quiet time.
But something in the last month/month and a half, has changed. I haven't taken one nap. Having even tried a couple times when Avalon asked me to lay down with her, I still couldn't even fall sleep. In fact I can't hardly fall asleep at night. To remedy the problem, I've been going to bed later, much much later. Like, 130 in the morning later. I'm still awaking with Avalon which has been around 8-9 in the morning and I feel completely rested.
It's truly amazing to have this much energy to get things done, play with Avalon, exercise etc.
And its a good thing I have all this energy because lately Avalon has been requiring more than usual. Avalon typically is a very well behaved polite little girl who with a little reason can usually be talked through any issues that arise. However in the last couple weeks, she as developed a few little behaviours that have been driving me crazy. And, as I spend all day with her, a little goes a long way.
She has begun to get very frustrated when she plays or does art projects. SHe gets mad if she can't do something the way she thinks it should be done and then starts growling, crying and/or throwing whatever she is doing.
She also has taken to rolling her eyes at me when she doesn't like my suggestions that are opposite to what she thinks. SHe also gets a sulky face on, stiffens her arms and marches away. She has even taken to hitting.
Oh the three year old drama! Maybe if she gets it out now, we can avoid it during the teenage years? Wishful thinking I know.
Disciplining is something I try to stay consistent with but I really watch myself because I was raised by parents who overdisciplined and the consequences almost never matched the infraction. Some battles are not worth picking.
So late last week and early this week, Avalon had several time outs which is fate worse than death for her. She starts crying hysterically but nows she can't get out of time out until she has completely stopped crying.
By Monday though it was obvious that time outs were not fixing the problem. So after a rough morning yesterday with yet another time out, I decided to switch methods.
After quiet time, when we always snuggle together, we had a little talk about what makes one another happy. It makes me happy when Avalon uses her manners, is polite, voices her frustrations and uses her listeners. It makes Avalon happy when I'm happy and not frustrated.
We discussed asking for help when she's frustrated, that it is not okay to ignore me. If she wants me to pay attention to her, she has to pay attention to me. It is polite to listen to one another and that we can be a team. The talk was finished with our signature fist bump and a hug.
Then I proceeded to kill her with kindness. I reinforced every behavior that was positive, even adding a sticker to her sticker chart that afternoon. Then today I continued and slowly less and less required me to constantly encourage her to do the right thing. She used her manners, did what I asked of her the first time and was a very pleasant child. This afternoon when we got out of the car after running errands, I told her how proud I was of her for doing so well and said I loved being a team with her as my teammate and she raised her little fist for our fist bump. And she even earned 2 more stickers today earning her a small prize.
The moral of the story folks? In my experience, you catch more flies with honey. That is not stay she won't get in trouble and I'll let things slide because a child needs to know what they can and cannot do and you have to be consistent. But rewarding and recognizing positive behavior is sure bet in getting more positive behavior. She hits again, instant time out. There is no tolerance for that(I always ask her if I can hit her, and she of course says no and then I reason with her that she can't hit me either and that makes sense to her) But in my experience as a parent, all negative consequences makes for a negative mood and attitude. Reinforce the positive!
And thankfully, I've got the energy to do it all. But it's two and even though I'm not really tired, I "know" that I should go to bed.
But by
But even after I graduated, I was always completely capable of needing and taking a nap. And sleeping past 11? A common weekend occurence..
Then Avalon was born and tired took on a whole new meaning. But early on I was such a nervous wreck that I couldn't sleep due to the anxiety, increasing my exhaustion even more. Yet as she grew and began to sleep better so did I but that did nothing to squash my need for rest. Up until a month or so ago, I took at least a small catnap (or more) during Avalon's quiet time.
But something in the last month/month and a half, has changed. I haven't taken one nap. Having even tried a couple times when Avalon asked me to lay down with her, I still couldn't even fall sleep. In fact I can't hardly fall asleep at night. To remedy the problem, I've been going to bed later, much much later. Like, 130 in the morning later. I'm still awaking with Avalon which has been around 8-9 in the morning and I feel completely rested.
It's truly amazing to have this much energy to get things done, play with Avalon, exercise etc.
And its a good thing I have all this energy because lately Avalon has been requiring more than usual. Avalon typically is a very well behaved polite little girl who with a little reason can usually be talked through any issues that arise. However in the last couple weeks, she as developed a few little behaviours that have been driving me crazy. And, as I spend all day with her, a little goes a long way.
She has begun to get very frustrated when she plays or does art projects. SHe gets mad if she can't do something the way she thinks it should be done and then starts growling, crying and/or throwing whatever she is doing.
She also has taken to rolling her eyes at me when she doesn't like my suggestions that are opposite to what she thinks. SHe also gets a sulky face on, stiffens her arms and marches away. She has even taken to hitting.
Oh the three year old drama! Maybe if she gets it out now, we can avoid it during the teenage years? Wishful thinking I know.
Disciplining is something I try to stay consistent with but I really watch myself because I was raised by parents who overdisciplined and the consequences almost never matched the infraction. Some battles are not worth picking.
So late last week and early this week, Avalon had several time outs which is fate worse than death for her. She starts crying hysterically but nows she can't get out of time out until she has completely stopped crying.
By Monday though it was obvious that time outs were not fixing the problem. So after a rough morning yesterday with yet another time out, I decided to switch methods.
After quiet time, when we always snuggle together, we had a little talk about what makes one another happy. It makes me happy when Avalon uses her manners, is polite, voices her frustrations and uses her listeners. It makes Avalon happy when I'm happy and not frustrated.
We discussed asking for help when she's frustrated, that it is not okay to ignore me. If she wants me to pay attention to her, she has to pay attention to me. It is polite to listen to one another and that we can be a team. The talk was finished with our signature fist bump and a hug.
Then I proceeded to kill her with kindness. I reinforced every behavior that was positive, even adding a sticker to her sticker chart that afternoon. Then today I continued and slowly less and less required me to constantly encourage her to do the right thing. She used her manners, did what I asked of her the first time and was a very pleasant child. This afternoon when we got out of the car after running errands, I told her how proud I was of her for doing so well and said I loved being a team with her as my teammate and she raised her little fist for our fist bump. And she even earned 2 more stickers today earning her a small prize.
The moral of the story folks? In my experience, you catch more flies with honey. That is not stay she won't get in trouble and I'll let things slide because a child needs to know what they can and cannot do and you have to be consistent. But rewarding and recognizing positive behavior is sure bet in getting more positive behavior. She hits again, instant time out. There is no tolerance for that(I always ask her if I can hit her, and she of course says no and then I reason with her that she can't hit me either and that makes sense to her) But in my experience as a parent, all negative consequences makes for a negative mood and attitude. Reinforce the positive!
And thankfully, I've got the energy to do it all. But it's two and even though I'm not really tired, I "know" that I should go to bed.
But by
Friday, June 3, 2011
Wondering why we haven't invented a self-cleaning house. Take two days of rain and a dog tracking in messy paws combined with two days of wind, open windows(because my house gets so hot) and my house is a mess. I've got about 5 loads of laundry in some stage of being laundered.
Avalon has the "suds" as she is calling her cold and I hope she's not giving it to me. I don't feel sick but i do have a scratchy throat but for all I know that could just be a result of the wind and all the cotton flying around.
But really life is pretty good. Down 43 pounds last I checked but I need to go weigh today so that may have changed. I haven't got to exercise at all this week as Avalon's not in preschool and hasn't started her summer activities at the Y and as she is sick, I don't really like to leave her anyway. It does make me feel a little paranoid but I'm trying to keep my calories/diet en pointe to make up for it. The worst side effect of no exercise, I cannot sleep. It's like I haven't expended enough energy so I haven't been going to bed until after midnight(1:20 last night) and then I toss and turn, wake up at 4, lay there for a while before I get back to sleep.
The weather is finally turning, just in time, most of the pots that I planted are about dead. Too much water is turning the leaves brown and we haven't had enought sun. The wind knocked over two pots so they are gone too. The pumpkins and zuchinni and parsley didn't sprout so I'm wondering if they were washed away with the deluge of rain.
Jeff was evacuated last week from work due to the rain and flooding. The day they had to leave only one road in to the mine had not been flooded and that was still a possibility. We've been relatively lucky though considering what Lodge Grass and Roundup have been going through not to mention some neighborhoods right here in Billings.
I am just so excited for summer. No real schedule, sun(finally) and just having fun. We've already fallen victim to the light evenings. We'll look and realize its way past Avalon's bedtime and we are still outside.
In a month and a week Avalon will be turning four. That just dawned on me yesterday and I can't believe four years have passed. I can't beleive how big she is. Sometimes, I underestimate her abilities and she totally shocks me with what she is capable of doing and knowing. We are just having so much fun with her and this age.
Well this house isn't cleaning itself so I better get back to it.
Avalon has the "suds" as she is calling her cold and I hope she's not giving it to me. I don't feel sick but i do have a scratchy throat but for all I know that could just be a result of the wind and all the cotton flying around.
But really life is pretty good. Down 43 pounds last I checked but I need to go weigh today so that may have changed. I haven't got to exercise at all this week as Avalon's not in preschool and hasn't started her summer activities at the Y and as she is sick, I don't really like to leave her anyway. It does make me feel a little paranoid but I'm trying to keep my calories/diet en pointe to make up for it. The worst side effect of no exercise, I cannot sleep. It's like I haven't expended enough energy so I haven't been going to bed until after midnight(1:20 last night) and then I toss and turn, wake up at 4, lay there for a while before I get back to sleep.
The weather is finally turning, just in time, most of the pots that I planted are about dead. Too much water is turning the leaves brown and we haven't had enought sun. The wind knocked over two pots so they are gone too. The pumpkins and zuchinni and parsley didn't sprout so I'm wondering if they were washed away with the deluge of rain.
Jeff was evacuated last week from work due to the rain and flooding. The day they had to leave only one road in to the mine had not been flooded and that was still a possibility. We've been relatively lucky though considering what Lodge Grass and Roundup have been going through not to mention some neighborhoods right here in Billings.
I am just so excited for summer. No real schedule, sun(finally) and just having fun. We've already fallen victim to the light evenings. We'll look and realize its way past Avalon's bedtime and we are still outside.
In a month and a week Avalon will be turning four. That just dawned on me yesterday and I can't believe four years have passed. I can't beleive how big she is. Sometimes, I underestimate her abilities and she totally shocks me with what she is capable of doing and knowing. We are just having so much fun with her and this age.
Well this house isn't cleaning itself so I better get back to it.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The story of the worst rental car ever and other intersting anecdotes
But before I regale you with the story of the worst rental care ever, let me show you this picture I took the Sunday before we left. This was just outside our motel room on the beach. We had spent the whole afternoon flying kites and making sand castles. And the sun on the water was so incredible. Certainly better than the deluge we've been suffering here in Billings and the surrounding areas. In fact, Jeff along with the other employees at Stillwater were evacuated yesterday morning for fear that all the roads in and out of the mine might be closed due to flooding since a number of them had already been closed.
(I just wanna go back)
This next pic was taken at the Newport Aquarium in, none other than, Newport. (Shocking I know) We had so much fun here showing Avalon all the animals in their habitats.) Avalon however hated the shark exhibit mainly due to the scuba divers in the tank. Three divers, all in dry suits, were in the aquarium performing maintenence. There was one diver that was actually cleaning the windows on the tunnel that you walk through. The other two divers were there to protect and watch out for the cleaner.
Since the aquarium keeps the animals well fed, they were not in any danger of being bit. But as the volunteer noted, sharks do not like changing their course at any cost and if you are in their way, they will headbutt their victim. SO the divers used their sticks to alter their course. I'm betting being headbutted buy a 100 lb shark kinda hurts.
We were lucky(depending on how you look at it) that we actually got to see the divers in action, using their sticks to alter the sharks course.Jeff and I both noted that this is the second time we have been at such a facility where we got to see the animals caretakers interact in their exhibit. The other time was at the National Zoo in Washington DC. Of all the amazing exhibits including their famous pandas, I most remember the baby elephant getting a bath buy its caretaker and how tender and interactive the whole experience was.
And yet another interesting trip story involving the Astoria Column in (you guessed it) Astoria. (Amazing how that works)
Last time we were here I was seven months pregnant with Avalon. (In fact everything on this trip was so much different. I had the energy to do everything. And despite having been here before, it was a totally new experience)Last time I maybe maid it up 40 stairs out of the 164 before I was huffing and puffing so hard. Disappointed I told Jeff that I would never make it to the top and would wait for him at the bottom. So this time I was determined to make it up. Not afraid of heights, I didn't think it was an issue. *dun dun dun*
We start clmbing the stair case, Avalon on Jeff's shoulders, and me behind them. We make it about a quarter of the way up and the walls start closing in and panic sets in. The walls are about an arms span wide and the stairs just spiraled around and around to the top with no real platforms to stop, i started to get almost dizzy. So instead of huffing and puffing out of exercise, I'm huffing and puffing out of fear and hyperventilation.
I yell at Jeff to stop and he says I can wait for him at the bottom and I totally felt like a quitter. I wanted so badly to make it to the top. Meanwhile Jeff's looking at me like I'm a total freak(not a lot of things scare me but I nearly was having a panic attack something that hasn't happened since right after Avalon was born) But I had to make it so I made Jeff walk directly in front of me so I could watch him and not the stairs and told him to go fast so we could just get to the top. At last we did.
Once we were up I was fine. Heights don't scare me. We even had bought a glider airplane and threw if off and watched it fly off into the trees. Unfortunately we had to go back down. So like before I made Jeff go down right in front of me as quickly as possible. And I discovered a fear I never had.
And before I get to the story of the worst rental car ever, here is a pic of me and Avalon playing in the sand. Of all the things we did during our week at the Oregon Coast, the thing Avalon liked the least was the actual ocean and the surf. And even when I walked in it, she said, "Watch out Mom, the waves are gonna get you." But this day we talked her into playing on the beach. And she finally warmed up to it. She never did warm up to ocean and only actually walked in the water once the first day we were there.Last but not least, let me introduce you to the "Worst Rental Car Ever." This micro car(in all fairness, most cars are micro compared to my 4Runner) was a 2011 Nissan Versa with nearly 6000 miles on it. The problem sadly, was not the size. The size was the least of its problems.
When we first got our rental car and were preparing to load our suitcases in the back(hatchback=worst idea ever) there was no place to insert our key to open the truck. So Jeff opened the front door thinking there would be some sort of apparutus to open. Wrong. Fortunately unlocking the driver side door unlocked the trunk. Okay, that'll work. Wrong. But I'll get to it.So we get in and start going. This car has no power. Thank god we weren't in a hurry to get anywhere because we weren't going to get there in a hurry. So we're making our way our of Eugene to Florence and then up the coast. There was no center console to put any of our belongings like the map or cellphone or arm. SO i go to put down the arm rest since there isn't a console and my hand would just hang and touch the floor. No freaking arm rests! So I spent the whole trip with my arm across the back of Jeff's seat.
Our first stop was at the Sea Lion Caves. Get out and Jeff points out that there are no power locks. It takes about 3 days to get used to no power locks and go back to the car multiple times to lock the doors. (Also no power windows but that wasn't as huge an issue)
A couple times, we made trips back to the car to grab a coat or camera and in order to get in any door on the car, you had to unlock the drivers door and then manually unlock whatever door needed unlocked. Every time we all got back in the car, Jeff had to unlock his door, then mine, then Avalon and then load her into her carseat(which United still hasn't found).
Finally, if Jeff got out of the car and locked his door and I needed something out of the trunk, I couldn't get it until he unlocked his door and then had to relock it.
Lastly this little economical car was not so economical. We filled up three times in the 6 days we were there and we maybe drove a total of 600 miles. And at 4.15 a gallon it was not cheap. That car had a huge ass tank for such a tiny car. I would never reccomend a Nissan Versa. And, how in the year 2011, can we make cars with out power windows and locks and only one place for a key. Nevertheless, we still had the best time.
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