Have you noticed my little weather girl? Isn't she cute? I think it must be what has made the weather here nicer! The day I added her it started to warm up. Its finally in the mid-60's and 70's which is the way I like it this time of year. I really, really like the 90's and hundreds, but they're a few months away.
A much less busy week this week. Karate, facial with Auntie Portland, karate, soccer and a 12 hour overtime shift on Saturday. If this weather holds it could be a busy night .... I sure hope so! It will be fun to work a night shift and hang with some of my pals I don't ever see!
When our center combined we took folks from 4 agencies (two police departments and two sheriff offices) and all started to work together. We experienced some growing pains, but finally, nearly 4 years later we're doing alright. Throughout we've had some comings and goings of staff including several "originals" (people that came from the established agencies). Late on Friday night we sent an aid car for one of our originals that isn't dispatching anymore. We didn't know it was him at first, but found out later. Unfortunately he didn't make it. He had a heart attack and passed away later at the hospital.
I didn't work much with him, but people who did have been touched by his death. Its interesting though, the night before he had met up with a dozen or so people and to celebrate another dispatchers birthday. Several people had seen and talked to him. Fortunately they were people that had worked with him at his previous agency. It just worked out really cool if you ask me. Not that there's ever a "good time" to die, but knowing he had seen some of his buddies and for those who were touched by his death, that they had seen him recently, I think its made it a little easier.
Best Buddy and his sister will be spending a lot of time here for the rest of the school year. Their dad is at a training for a few weeks and then he moves into a new position so hes not available to take the kids to school in the morning. Its fun having them around. I will miss them a little in the summer - although I am sure they will be around here and there.
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I updated a couple posts with pictures. A few new ones from soccer and the Chief For A Day.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Review
Yes it was a busy week. The soccer games were good. Bubba gets a little more assertive each week, so does Miss I. She seems to think that if Bubba is playing on the field, she must too. Unfortunately the officials frown on a 2 1/2 year old playing soccer with the 6 year olds! She ran onto the field 2 times the other night which earned her a swat on the behind. The third time she went to the line, stuck her toe over, looked me straight in the eye, cocked her head to the side, scrunched up her cute little nose and said "me bah?" (translation "is this bad?") as she did this cute little wiggle with her body. Little booger.
Dinner with my girlfriends was fun. One of them was turning 40 so we went out to dinner at our favorite Mexican place. MMMM. Imagine that, I know 40-year olds. Ugh, that means I will be one soon.
Work has been pretty busy. Its the start of the festival so all the yucks come out, not to mention the weather has warmed up too. The Chief For A Day lunch was nice. Chilly, but nice.
And thats about it. One more day and then 2 off. Whew! This week has worn me out, I am looking forward to a couple days off.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Busy
We have soccer games tonight and tomorrow night and I have dinner plans for Thursday. Friday is clear so far, Saturday and Sunday I work. Sometime during the weekend Auntie Portland is coming to town so we are having family dinner in celebration of my oldest nephew's 17th birthday on Sunday. Seventeen. Do you remember seventeen? Maybe someday I will post what I remember about being 17....
As far as work goes this week, I only work a few hours tomorrow because I have a doctors appointment in the morning, so I decided to bag the rest of the day. Who wants to go back to work after her annual appointment? Not me!! Not sure what I am going to do with the rest of my day yet... I love a free afternoon.
I also took half the day off on Thursday to get in on the first of the Apple Blossom festivities. Its the "Chief For A Day" celebration tomorrow and I don't want to miss it. Local schools nominate students(usually elementary school age) with some kind of a disability, chronic or terminal illness to be Chief for the day. Winners are selected, they meet at the north end of town, ride in their agency-appropriate car and cruise lights and sirens to the park for lunch. The kids are decked out in agency-appropriate uniforms, they get name tags, stripes, a tour of the building that they are "in charge of" the whole nine yards. Its usually very cool. Bubba remembers the bag-pipers from last year: "Mom are the guys with the funny music going to be there again?" I am picking up Bubba at school and then heading to the Fat Fest in the Park for this event. Can't help it, I am drawn to cotton candy, funnel cakes and greasy spoon food. MMMMM.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday I have to work all day. Sheesh, what a life. Friday afternoon I have an appointment for a manicure and pedicure so that should be nice. All in all it will be a busy, but fun next few days! Welcome to Spring!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Potential
This orchardist might be mad at his foreman when he sees what happened overnight! Apparently his sprinklers were running even though it was freezing out. Now he has lots of damaged blossoms, not to mention the branches that might have cracked under the weight of the icicles. Although it made for a pretty photo, its too bad for him.
UPDATE: Apparently they do this on purpose!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
No Way!
Again, here we go... more snow! Its not sticking, but what the heck? Its stinking April 20th, Apple Blossom starts on Thursday. Its supposed to be warming up and getting nice out by now! I guess in the grand scheme of things I would rather have it snow than rain all the time, but I am SO ready for nice, warmer weather to be here and stay! To work in the yard and take walks without freezing. To set up the pool, to bar-b-que and eat outside. Wear shorts and short sleeved shirts, tank tops, all that stuff. And to watch a soccer game without having to wrap up in a blanket, that would be nice too! Maybe next week. (Although, if the cold weather holds I may not have to work the whole 12 hour shift next Saturday night that I signed up for!)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Lucky, part III
I really didn't mean to do a series of "lucky" posts, but it just worked out that way. My part III post is about My Honey.
He's the best. Really.
He does laundry when it needs to be done, he walked me to an appointment yesterday afternoon - funny thing, my sister saw us walking hand-in-hand down the street and called to say how cute we were... awwww. He pries and pries and pries until I talk to him about what ever is bothering me (and thats no small feat). He loves me and our kids, he gives me space when I need it and love (lots of it) when I don't deserve it. He makes a mean Appletini (mmmmm) and is able to put into words the things that we need to work on and do better. He takes great care of the house and the yard and helps me with what ever I ask. He da man. And he recognizes when I need time away alone and lets me go. I am very thankful he's mine.
I have a couple stories from work to tell! I'm not in the mood tonight (if I hadn't corrected all my typo's you'd understand). So, later this weekend! It's my 4-dayer, I should have lots of time. But just in case I forget - tell them about the alarm and the tree in Lake Wenatchee.
He's the best. Really.
He does laundry when it needs to be done, he walked me to an appointment yesterday afternoon - funny thing, my sister saw us walking hand-in-hand down the street and called to say how cute we were... awwww. He pries and pries and pries until I talk to him about what ever is bothering me (and thats no small feat). He loves me and our kids, he gives me space when I need it and love (lots of it) when I don't deserve it. He makes a mean Appletini (mmmmm) and is able to put into words the things that we need to work on and do better. He takes great care of the house and the yard and helps me with what ever I ask. He da man. And he recognizes when I need time away alone and lets me go. I am very thankful he's mine.
I have a couple stories from work to tell! I'm not in the mood tonight (if I hadn't corrected all my typo's you'd understand). So, later this weekend! It's my 4-dayer, I should have lots of time. But just in case I forget - tell them about the alarm and the tree in Lake Wenatchee.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Lucky. Part II
There is a HUGE pile of laundry that accrued while my sister was here because they were sleeping in the laundry/guest room.
I piled it in the living room to remind me to get it done today which was pretty effective! I worked on it this morning then at 11ish I picked Bubba up from school, met Auntie La La for lunch at McDonalds so Little Boy Cousin could run about before the 3 hour car ride and then came home, switched yet another load of laundry then rushed out to a 1:00 meeting.
My MIL came over to watch the kids while I was out. I came home and the first thing I thought of was getting another load in the washer but it was running. "Funny" I thought to myself "I thought it would be done by now." But there is plenty of other stuff to do so I didn't pay too much attention to it.
Bubba and I sat down to work on his homework packet and while we were sitting there Miss I woke up (too early) from her nap. Her little snuggly thing (we call it "Pinkie") was in the laundry so I ran down thinking it would be dry and I could take it to her to get her to go back to sleep. I opened the dryer to find the laundry still damp and no Pinkie in sight. "Odd" I thought "I am sure it was in the load I had in the dryer. In fact, I had reds in the dryer and these are white ..." I pondered this a minute and it occurred to me that maybe my MIL had switched and started another load of laundry. SHE DID! Not only that SHE FOLDED THE DRY LOAD!!! I gave Pinkie to Miss I, she is fast asleep and an extra load of laundry got done.
Am I lucky or what? I am. I know not everyone would think this is the best thing "YIKES!!! Your MIL touched your laundry?!!!" Not me. Bring on the servants! Fold my laundry? Please. Clean my shower? Double yes and thank you! Theres not much help around the house I refuse. EVER. Ironically I have a hard time asking for help with it. Go figure. Actually, when I think of it, I have a hard time asking for help with most everything.
I piled it in the living room to remind me to get it done today which was pretty effective! I worked on it this morning then at 11ish I picked Bubba up from school, met Auntie La La for lunch at McDonalds so Little Boy Cousin could run about before the 3 hour car ride and then came home, switched yet another load of laundry then rushed out to a 1:00 meeting.
My MIL came over to watch the kids while I was out. I came home and the first thing I thought of was getting another load in the washer but it was running. "Funny" I thought to myself "I thought it would be done by now." But there is plenty of other stuff to do so I didn't pay too much attention to it.
Bubba and I sat down to work on his homework packet and while we were sitting there Miss I woke up (too early) from her nap. Her little snuggly thing (we call it "Pinkie") was in the laundry so I ran down thinking it would be dry and I could take it to her to get her to go back to sleep. I opened the dryer to find the laundry still damp and no Pinkie in sight. "Odd" I thought "I am sure it was in the load I had in the dryer. In fact, I had reds in the dryer and these are white ..." I pondered this a minute and it occurred to me that maybe my MIL had switched and started another load of laundry. SHE DID! Not only that SHE FOLDED THE DRY LOAD!!! I gave Pinkie to Miss I, she is fast asleep and an extra load of laundry got done.
Am I lucky or what? I am. I know not everyone would think this is the best thing "YIKES!!! Your MIL touched your laundry?!!!" Not me. Bring on the servants! Fold my laundry? Please. Clean my shower? Double yes and thank you! Theres not much help around the house I refuse. EVER. Ironically I have a hard time asking for help with it. Go figure. Actually, when I think of it, I have a hard time asking for help with most everything.
They're back
Look, they're back, I found my links!! One of my girls thought I was mad at her because her link was gone, silly girl, I got nothing to be mad at you about!!
The Fam is on their way out today. I will be sad to see them go, Auntie La La did such a nice job doing all my chores! Honey, are we sure we don't want to put in a pool this spring? She said she would live with us take care of us this summer if there was a pool... Hmmm it might be worth it!
Unfortunately my sister and I didn't get to spend as much time together as I had hoped. I had to work so it was early to bed a couple nights, there was the birthday party on Saturday, work on Sunday and I had Bible Study on Monday night.
We shopped while Bubba was in school yesterday. Little Boy Cousin is into Legos. Totally into Legos. We found a few boxes of stuff from the Batman series that are apparently hard to come by and I bought a box of Mars Mission Legos for Bubba too. Talk about a great quiet time activity. The boys were playing with them and I snoozed while Auntie La La managed any mimi crisis that came up - which were pretty few.
All in all it was nice to have them here. I can't wait until they come back!!
The Fam is on their way out today. I will be sad to see them go, Auntie La La did such a nice job doing all my chores! Honey, are we sure we don't want to put in a pool this spring? She said she would live with us take care of us this summer if there was a pool... Hmmm it might be worth it!
Unfortunately my sister and I didn't get to spend as much time together as I had hoped. I had to work so it was early to bed a couple nights, there was the birthday party on Saturday, work on Sunday and I had Bible Study on Monday night.
We shopped while Bubba was in school yesterday. Little Boy Cousin is into Legos. Totally into Legos. We found a few boxes of stuff from the Batman series that are apparently hard to come by and I bought a box of Mars Mission Legos for Bubba too. Talk about a great quiet time activity. The boys were playing with them and I snoozed while Auntie La La managed any mimi crisis that came up - which were pretty few.
All in all it was nice to have them here. I can't wait until they come back!!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Lucky
Sometimes I don't realize how lucky I am.
My sister is here to visit and I am so glad. Its my long work week and she is planning on taking good care of me and the fam while she is here. I agree with LSL that every one needs a sister and if you don't have one, you should get one! Adoption, shared custody, what ever you need, get one!
She brought over enchiladas so we could have a hassle-free dinner one night, she arranged a BBQ at the other sisters house tomorrow night and she is the Transportation Mama to Girl Cousin's birthday party tomorrow! What a gal, she sure is great! Thanks for coming over and making my weekend hassle free! Bless her heart too because the drive over wasn't perfect. One of the passes was closed for avalanche control for an hour or something. But she is a trooper and they made it here! Yay!
Around my house My Honey pitched in and cleaned the bathroom, worked on laundry and liquored me up to help out yesterday. Yes, you read that right "liquored me up." When we were out with his sisters a few weeks ago I tried an Appletini. MMMMMMMMM! Boy I like vodka drinks. A lot. Too much probably so I just buy the small bottles of vodka. Anyway, he encouraged me to sip (gulp) an Appletini last night too. And his mom, of course, she makes every week easier! She watched the kids for an extra 2 hours while I had my hair done yesterday. Completely unnecessary, but it was nice to spend some quiet time doing something for me. And she did transportation to Karate on Wednesday too. I am a lucky girl.
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Our first soccer game was on Wednesday. It was COLD. Poor Bubba was decked out in an extra coat, hat and gloves. The wind just wouldn't let us be. He did pretty good - for a kid without any experience except practice. Hopefully in the next few weeks the game will make more sense to him. The one thing he said about the game was that he didnt kick the ball. Well, as you can see from the picture, he wasn't ever near the ball.
On Tuesday night he was having a hard time sleeping. At one point I heard a whimpering/laughing noise coming from his room. I went to check on him and I found him face down on his pillow crying. "Whats up?" I asked him. "I don't want to play soccer. I don't like it. I don't want to play in the game. I just want to quit." Turned out he was worried about losing. "I don't want to lose" he wailed. Ah, so I told him that they aren't even keeping score. His tears dried up and he fell asleep in about 5 minutes. It was too funny all the drama!
My sister is here to visit and I am so glad. Its my long work week and she is planning on taking good care of me and the fam while she is here. I agree with LSL that every one needs a sister and if you don't have one, you should get one! Adoption, shared custody, what ever you need, get one!
She brought over enchiladas so we could have a hassle-free dinner one night, she arranged a BBQ at the other sisters house tomorrow night and she is the Transportation Mama to Girl Cousin's birthday party tomorrow! What a gal, she sure is great! Thanks for coming over and making my weekend hassle free! Bless her heart too because the drive over wasn't perfect. One of the passes was closed for avalanche control for an hour or something. But she is a trooper and they made it here! Yay!
Around my house My Honey pitched in and cleaned the bathroom, worked on laundry and liquored me up to help out yesterday. Yes, you read that right "liquored me up." When we were out with his sisters a few weeks ago I tried an Appletini. MMMMMMMMM! Boy I like vodka drinks. A lot. Too much probably so I just buy the small bottles of vodka. Anyway, he encouraged me to sip (gulp) an Appletini last night too. And his mom, of course, she makes every week easier! She watched the kids for an extra 2 hours while I had my hair done yesterday. Completely unnecessary, but it was nice to spend some quiet time doing something for me. And she did transportation to Karate on Wednesday too. I am a lucky girl.
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Our first soccer game was on Wednesday. It was COLD. Poor Bubba was decked out in an extra coat, hat and gloves. The wind just wouldn't let us be. He did pretty good - for a kid without any experience except practice. Hopefully in the next few weeks the game will make more sense to him. The one thing he said about the game was that he didnt kick the ball. Well, as you can see from the picture, he wasn't ever near the ball.
On Tuesday night he was having a hard time sleeping. At one point I heard a whimpering/laughing noise coming from his room. I went to check on him and I found him face down on his pillow crying. "Whats up?" I asked him. "I don't want to play soccer. I don't like it. I don't want to play in the game. I just want to quit." Turned out he was worried about losing. "I don't want to lose" he wailed. Ah, so I told him that they aren't even keeping score. His tears dried up and he fell asleep in about 5 minutes. It was too funny all the drama!
Monday, April 07, 2008
Karma
Serves me right. I called out sick and didn't end up having a sick kid so now it's my day off and I have a sick kid. Poor Bubba has had a temp of 103.7 degrees (or higher) but no other symptoms. I'm not quite sure what to do with him except keep him quarantined. So he's stuck in my bedroom with only the TV for company. It's weird though that he has no other symptoms except this raging fever. It kind of put a kink in my plans for the day. A lot of the fruit trees are in bloom and I want some pictures, can't very well do that with a sick kid can I? Maybe tomorrow.
I sure hope Bubba is better by tomorrow, Wednesday is his first soccer game and there are birthday parties on Saturday and Sunday. PLUS my sister and her son are coming over on Friday. I would like him to have at least one recovery day before putting him out on the field in a game. Not to mention a few days to disinfect the house before company comes over. Another busy but fun spring week ahead! And it's just beginning. Apple Blossom will be here before we know it and then Memorial Day.
We are going to Guemes Island for Memorial Day to spend it with my Dad, his wife and family. I am really looking forward to it. I love the Island and I can't wait to see it in the spring. The only other time of the year I have been there is Thanksgiving. I can't wait. It will be a different experience. We usually all stay together in the Guemes House and for Memorial Day each family has our own cabins.
I was able to get runs in this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. It felt really good. Saturdays run took me to the same place as a few weeks back. For some reason I just feel a connection to that place right now. For Sundays run I started at a different part of the Park and headed north as usual. It was nice, a tad chilly, but nice. I started out walking, I wasn't feeling 100% but I ended with a run at the end. Good for me! I had wanted to get a run in today too, but with Bubba being home sick it didn't work out. Theres always tomorrow.
My mom was a doll and brought us some 7-up. I was nearly out of Motrin and didn't have any Tylenol so I went to the store before My Honey left for work, only I forgot the 7-up to mix with Pedialite for Bubba to drink so he is at least getting some kind of something. Thanks Mom!
I haven't really accomplished much today. I wanted to work in the yard while the kids slept, but I slept for awhile too! I did get some laundry done, took care of my sick-o kid and tried to give the well-child some attention too. Its a lot of work having a sick kid in the house. At least I got a shower taken!
I sure hope Bubba is better by tomorrow, Wednesday is his first soccer game and there are birthday parties on Saturday and Sunday. PLUS my sister and her son are coming over on Friday. I would like him to have at least one recovery day before putting him out on the field in a game. Not to mention a few days to disinfect the house before company comes over. Another busy but fun spring week ahead! And it's just beginning. Apple Blossom will be here before we know it and then Memorial Day.
We are going to Guemes Island for Memorial Day to spend it with my Dad, his wife and family. I am really looking forward to it. I love the Island and I can't wait to see it in the spring. The only other time of the year I have been there is Thanksgiving. I can't wait. It will be a different experience. We usually all stay together in the Guemes House and for Memorial Day each family has our own cabins.
I was able to get runs in this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. It felt really good. Saturdays run took me to the same place as a few weeks back. For some reason I just feel a connection to that place right now. For Sundays run I started at a different part of the Park and headed north as usual. It was nice, a tad chilly, but nice. I started out walking, I wasn't feeling 100% but I ended with a run at the end. Good for me! I had wanted to get a run in today too, but with Bubba being home sick it didn't work out. Theres always tomorrow.
My mom was a doll and brought us some 7-up. I was nearly out of Motrin and didn't have any Tylenol so I went to the store before My Honey left for work, only I forgot the 7-up to mix with Pedialite for Bubba to drink so he is at least getting some kind of something. Thanks Mom!
I haven't really accomplished much today. I wanted to work in the yard while the kids slept, but I slept for awhile too! I did get some laundry done, took care of my sick-o kid and tried to give the well-child some attention too. Its a lot of work having a sick kid in the house. At least I got a shower taken!
Friday, April 04, 2008
Baseball camp
I got to hang out at Baseball Camp today. I called out sick for work because Miss I woke up at 11-ish last night with a fever. I (hoped) she would be sick all night so I called out, just in case. Wouldn't you know it she slept through the night and then woke up feeling just fine! Bonus for me, an extra day to start my 4-day weekend. (Theres a lot more to this story, suffice it to say it was probably better for me not to be at work today.)
I dropped off Bubba and watched a few minutes of their warm ups. Then I took off with my sister for coffee. When I returned they had the 25 or so kids separated into age-appropriate groups and they were doing all kinds of activities. They had one group fielding ground balls, one group pitching, another group hitting off a pitching machine, another from a person pitching and a group working pop-flys. I got there in time to see Bubba and Girl Cousin at each station. They did pretty good. The "coaches" were varsity players for the Panthers baseball team. They did a really good job making everyone feel good - especially the littler kids. I noticed they were a little harder on the bigger boys. Girl Cousin is a rock star! She was THE ONLY GIRL at camp and she rode it out! Way to go! Bubba was by far the least experienced (not to mention the smallest) kid at camp and he rode it out too. I was very proud of him that he participated in everything and tried his best. The only thing he didn't want to do was play Pickle Ball. Can't say that I blame him, I wouldn't want high school boys chasing me while throwing hard baseballs around either.
One of the last things they did was a game. They hit off a tee and ran the bases while the guys in the field played catch from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to home plate. My Bubba, bless his heart, hasn't ever played baseball before so the concept of "running the bases" was completely foreign to him. He headed for the base in front of him after he hit the ball ... oops thats 2nd, so one of the varsity guys ran him to 1st and then to 2nd and so on, each time he was up to bat. If it hadn't been so cute it would have been pathetic. What kind of parents are we anyway that our kid doesn't know about baseball??? It's un-American I tell you! Guess we're just the types that aren't really that interested in sports thats all. Turns out Bubba doesn't really like it either. He would rather play soccer "and Karate, thats the best."
Well, at least we tried.
I dropped off Bubba and watched a few minutes of their warm ups. Then I took off with my sister for coffee. When I returned they had the 25 or so kids separated into age-appropriate groups and they were doing all kinds of activities. They had one group fielding ground balls, one group pitching, another group hitting off a pitching machine, another from a person pitching and a group working pop-flys. I got there in time to see Bubba and Girl Cousin at each station. They did pretty good. The "coaches" were varsity players for the Panthers baseball team. They did a really good job making everyone feel good - especially the littler kids. I noticed they were a little harder on the bigger boys. Girl Cousin is a rock star! She was THE ONLY GIRL at camp and she rode it out! Way to go! Bubba was by far the least experienced (not to mention the smallest) kid at camp and he rode it out too. I was very proud of him that he participated in everything and tried his best. The only thing he didn't want to do was play Pickle Ball. Can't say that I blame him, I wouldn't want high school boys chasing me while throwing hard baseballs around either.
One of the last things they did was a game. They hit off a tee and ran the bases while the guys in the field played catch from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to home plate. My Bubba, bless his heart, hasn't ever played baseball before so the concept of "running the bases" was completely foreign to him. He headed for the base in front of him after he hit the ball ... oops thats 2nd, so one of the varsity guys ran him to 1st and then to 2nd and so on, each time he was up to bat. If it hadn't been so cute it would have been pathetic. What kind of parents are we anyway that our kid doesn't know about baseball??? It's un-American I tell you! Guess we're just the types that aren't really that interested in sports thats all. Turns out Bubba doesn't really like it either. He would rather play soccer "and Karate, thats the best."
Well, at least we tried.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Spring Break
So far so good. Girl Cousin has been here for the past couple days, we have made it to all our lessons on time... soccer today at 5:30 and I even got to spend a little time out last night with my SIL. I could really use some away time just alone, but that may be a couple weeks out. I do have a massage scheduled next week, that will be nice!
I had an appointment this morning so all the kids (my two and Girl Cousin) went to play at Best Buddies house. They must have had fun. No one was crying when I got there! BB has lost 3 teeth already during break. Its pretty cute, he's still speaking somewhat normal, but as soon at that fourth front tooth comes out he will be mister lisper!
The weather has gotten nicer too which helps, then the kids have one more place to play. Not much to report today, plus I am in kind of a mood, so thats it for now.
I had an appointment this morning so all the kids (my two and Girl Cousin) went to play at Best Buddies house. They must have had fun. No one was crying when I got there! BB has lost 3 teeth already during break. Its pretty cute, he's still speaking somewhat normal, but as soon at that fourth front tooth comes out he will be mister lisper!
The weather has gotten nicer too which helps, then the kids have one more place to play. Not much to report today, plus I am in kind of a mood, so thats it for now.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Bi-Polar Spring
We have had the most unusual Spring weather. SNOW.
Last week it was in the 60's, this week it is freezing cold with snow! Weird, weird, weird.
Its Spring Break week. Nothing planned at all. Well except that the girl cousin comes over every day except today, karate,soccer practice and base ball camp. Thats all. Sounds like we might have a soccer game Saturday too. So I guess it could be a busy week. And then theres work, I have 3 overtime shifts this week too. Maybe not such good planning looking back ... oops.
For the third, or is it fourth day in a row its snowing again! Weird I say, weird. I knew we weren't in the clear yet, I hadn't seen the blue jays return, but I had no idea we would actually get snow. I keep wondering what the Farmers Almanac says about this spring and summer...
Thursday, March 27, 2008
A little wordy?
I have been trying to get onto Blogger for two days now and can’t seem to get signed in so I guess I will start this as a word document and then copy and paste it when I can.
Easter was …. Nice? Yeah it was. Auntie Portland was here with her 8 month old and husband. We went out to dinner with them and My Honey’s other sister and hubby on Saturday night. It was kind of funny all us kids out together. We usually sit around my MIL’s house and do our visiting there, but this time we left the kids home and went out like adults. It was fun. I enjoyed myself a lot! Uncle Portland was in rare form and made me laugh until I cried a few times, which I really needed.
Easter day was good. We got up, went to Church and then had lunch at my MIL’s house. I nearly forgot about the kids’ baskets! I had made them up, hidden them and then, when we got home on Saturday night Bubba was still awake and I couldn’t set them out. Sunday morning rolled around and I didn’t get up before the kids so I didn’t get them set out then either. I opted for the “have to run inside to get something” routine on our way to Church. THEN I forgot I had set them out. We got home from Church, putzed around the house until I finally went upstairs and then I remembered about them (because I nearly tripped on them) so I called Bubba and Miss I upstairs to see what they had gotten. They were thrilled! Miss I loved her stuffed animal, Bubba loved his comic book (I saved the Moon Sand for a treat during Spring Break). So the baskets were a success.
Monday and Tuesday there wasn’t any school (same with the rest of this week and next week too.) Monday I entertained us by going to the Y in the morning, where the kids played in the babysitting area and then Bubba had Karate that afternoon and Miss I got to spend some time with my mom. (Thanks Mom for watching her every week!!) Late Monday afternoon Bubba asked me what my “plan” was for Tuesday “what does your day look like tomorrow?” I told him I hadn’t planned anything, I had a massage in the morning and that was it. But I was thinking that some kind of adventure would be fun. He agreed that an adventure would be fun. He suggested a walk in the forest “where there aren’t any bears… or snakes.”
After my massage, lunch and naps we headed to Leavenworth to see what we could see. I had a plan of where I wanted to go, but the roads leading to Blackbird Island were all closed. You would think since I work in the dispatch center that has this information available on a daily basis I would know this, but I didn’t apply it to my plan so we ended up driving around for 15 extra minutes trying to get to where I wanted to go. Finally we ended up going to the Icicle. It’s a beautiful place, we parked where I usually park to cross country ski and walked a little on the trail. There was still a little snow, we could hear the river rushing nearby and hear lots of birds. I don’t know how far we walked, maybe 10 minutes each way, but it was nice to get out, see some nature. The kids liked it too.
Karate is going well for Bubba. He’s been in it for a couple months now and I can see a ton of improvement in his “kata’s” and his coordination. He starts soccer tomorrow and we are debating whether or not to do both at the same time. If its too much we’ll just do karate one day a week instead of two during soccer season. I also signed him up for a baseball camp, with his cousin, next week. Its going to be a busy but fun month!
In preparation for soccer and baseball camp I invested in some second-hand equipment. A new mitt and ball for baseball, a soccer ball, shin guards and cleats for soccer. (Thanks DW for the cleats!) Bubba has spent at least 10 minutes, sometimes up to 45 minutes at a time outside with his new equipment practicing. Its great! Its good for him to play outside (alone) and to be so interested in sports and to want to practice on his own. I love it. Who’d a thunk $50 would go that far! Our first practice is tomorrow at 5:30. Our coach is the dad of one of his classmates so that’s nice too. At least he will know one kid on the team.
Speaking of classmates, I heard from his teacher that this kid is a nice kid and his dad will do a great job coaching. We met with her last night for spring conferences. Bubba is still doing well. “He is ready for 1st grade” she tells us. “Can he start tomorrow?” I asked her. She laughed. I am not kidding. He needs a full day of activities and a little more challenge for his brain. Oh well, just a few months left, then a whole summer to forget!
Last Saturday was “Camp sign up day” at the Y. Its the first day to sign up for summer programs. Kids who sign up on camp sign up day get free t-shirts! So I signed Bubba up for a week of Adventure Club, the “going into first through fifth grades” summer day camp program. Its actually a lot of fun for the kids. They meet at the Y daily, and ride the Y bus to local parks, including a weekly trip to Slidewaters (that’s the day I want to volunteer). They are totally exhausted at the end of the day! It starts in the morning so My Honey can take him to work with him and I can work out then pick him up each day. It should work out very nicely. Not to mention what a nice break for Grandma!
Easter was …. Nice? Yeah it was. Auntie Portland was here with her 8 month old and husband. We went out to dinner with them and My Honey’s other sister and hubby on Saturday night. It was kind of funny all us kids out together. We usually sit around my MIL’s house and do our visiting there, but this time we left the kids home and went out like adults. It was fun. I enjoyed myself a lot! Uncle Portland was in rare form and made me laugh until I cried a few times, which I really needed.
Easter day was good. We got up, went to Church and then had lunch at my MIL’s house. I nearly forgot about the kids’ baskets! I had made them up, hidden them and then, when we got home on Saturday night Bubba was still awake and I couldn’t set them out. Sunday morning rolled around and I didn’t get up before the kids so I didn’t get them set out then either. I opted for the “have to run inside to get something” routine on our way to Church. THEN I forgot I had set them out. We got home from Church, putzed around the house until I finally went upstairs and then I remembered about them (because I nearly tripped on them) so I called Bubba and Miss I upstairs to see what they had gotten. They were thrilled! Miss I loved her stuffed animal, Bubba loved his comic book (I saved the Moon Sand for a treat during Spring Break). So the baskets were a success.
Monday and Tuesday there wasn’t any school (same with the rest of this week and next week too.) Monday I entertained us by going to the Y in the morning, where the kids played in the babysitting area and then Bubba had Karate that afternoon and Miss I got to spend some time with my mom. (Thanks Mom for watching her every week!!) Late Monday afternoon Bubba asked me what my “plan” was for Tuesday “what does your day look like tomorrow?” I told him I hadn’t planned anything, I had a massage in the morning and that was it. But I was thinking that some kind of adventure would be fun. He agreed that an adventure would be fun. He suggested a walk in the forest “where there aren’t any bears… or snakes.”
After my massage, lunch and naps we headed to Leavenworth to see what we could see. I had a plan of where I wanted to go, but the roads leading to Blackbird Island were all closed. You would think since I work in the dispatch center that has this information available on a daily basis I would know this, but I didn’t apply it to my plan so we ended up driving around for 15 extra minutes trying to get to where I wanted to go. Finally we ended up going to the Icicle. It’s a beautiful place, we parked where I usually park to cross country ski and walked a little on the trail. There was still a little snow, we could hear the river rushing nearby and hear lots of birds. I don’t know how far we walked, maybe 10 minutes each way, but it was nice to get out, see some nature. The kids liked it too.
Karate is going well for Bubba. He’s been in it for a couple months now and I can see a ton of improvement in his “kata’s” and his coordination. He starts soccer tomorrow and we are debating whether or not to do both at the same time. If its too much we’ll just do karate one day a week instead of two during soccer season. I also signed him up for a baseball camp, with his cousin, next week. Its going to be a busy but fun month!
In preparation for soccer and baseball camp I invested in some second-hand equipment. A new mitt and ball for baseball, a soccer ball, shin guards and cleats for soccer. (Thanks DW for the cleats!) Bubba has spent at least 10 minutes, sometimes up to 45 minutes at a time outside with his new equipment practicing. Its great! Its good for him to play outside (alone) and to be so interested in sports and to want to practice on his own. I love it. Who’d a thunk $50 would go that far! Our first practice is tomorrow at 5:30. Our coach is the dad of one of his classmates so that’s nice too. At least he will know one kid on the team.
Speaking of classmates, I heard from his teacher that this kid is a nice kid and his dad will do a great job coaching. We met with her last night for spring conferences. Bubba is still doing well. “He is ready for 1st grade” she tells us. “Can he start tomorrow?” I asked her. She laughed. I am not kidding. He needs a full day of activities and a little more challenge for his brain. Oh well, just a few months left, then a whole summer to forget!
Last Saturday was “Camp sign up day” at the Y. Its the first day to sign up for summer programs. Kids who sign up on camp sign up day get free t-shirts! So I signed Bubba up for a week of Adventure Club, the “going into first through fifth grades” summer day camp program. Its actually a lot of fun for the kids. They meet at the Y daily, and ride the Y bus to local parks, including a weekly trip to Slidewaters (that’s the day I want to volunteer). They are totally exhausted at the end of the day! It starts in the morning so My Honey can take him to work with him and I can work out then pick him up each day. It should work out very nicely. Not to mention what a nice break for Grandma!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mistake?
At the time it seemed like a good idea ... throw away all the extra easter candy after I stuffed eggs. Now, a couple days later it seems like a really BAD idea. What I would give for the left over jelly beans and robins eggs right now!! I keep nibbling the kids stuff, but it will soon be gone too. Poor me.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Quiet time
Miss I is napping, Bubba is at his cousins baseball game, My Honey is playing golf and I have some quiet time.
Its been a hard, hard week. The second hardest in my marriage. The first was when My Honey had his heart attack 3 years ago. Oddly I feel the same peace and calm about our situation now as I did then. I have been gifted with faith, I guess, that will see me through. It has many times before, it will this time too.
My SIL watched the kids today so I could go Easter Bunny shopping. It was actually pretty fun. Bubba has wanted this Moon Sand stuff for a long time so I got him that and a new comic book. Miss I gets a stuffed animal and bubbles. Don't forget the candy and gum too! On my way to the Wal*Mart I was driving by the cemetery and stopped to visit a 22-year-old grave site. "Believe in your dreams" is inscribed on her headstone. I am feeling really melancholy and I wonder what are my dreams right now? Have I stopped dreaming for myself? It seems all my dreams are about or for my kids ... what about me, what about My Honey, what about us? What are our dreams?
I saw a counselor last week who suggested its time to "start working on the second half of your marriage." He couldn't be more right. Although I hope we have more than 16 years left together, I get what he is saying. We are just now starting to get into the busyness, we have to make each other a priority. Take time for us. The kids will be better for it, we will be better for it too.
Its been a hard, hard week. The second hardest in my marriage. The first was when My Honey had his heart attack 3 years ago. Oddly I feel the same peace and calm about our situation now as I did then. I have been gifted with faith, I guess, that will see me through. It has many times before, it will this time too.
My SIL watched the kids today so I could go Easter Bunny shopping. It was actually pretty fun. Bubba has wanted this Moon Sand stuff for a long time so I got him that and a new comic book. Miss I gets a stuffed animal and bubbles. Don't forget the candy and gum too! On my way to the Wal*Mart I was driving by the cemetery and stopped to visit a 22-year-old grave site. "Believe in your dreams" is inscribed on her headstone. I am feeling really melancholy and I wonder what are my dreams right now? Have I stopped dreaming for myself? It seems all my dreams are about or for my kids ... what about me, what about My Honey, what about us? What are our dreams?
I saw a counselor last week who suggested its time to "start working on the second half of your marriage." He couldn't be more right. Although I hope we have more than 16 years left together, I get what he is saying. We are just now starting to get into the busyness, we have to make each other a priority. Take time for us. The kids will be better for it, we will be better for it too.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Have some (cup) cake and eat it too
The house is put back together. Everyone is back to school and work, and life is normal again ... or not. Seems the time change made the kids crazy. Neither of them will go to sleep at a reasonable hour - by reasonable I mean 7:30 like they were doing. Hopefully it will be better next week. I am not sure I like this time change either, I preferred the sun earlier in the morning.
I truly think its one of the things that kept me from being really, really crabby this winter. I have seen the sunrise every day for the past 3 months or so. It seems to have made a difference. Not that I like morning mind you, not at all, but being able to watch the sunrise has been a pleasure. Thank goodness for a 3rd floor office with east-facing windows. I have seen some spectacular stuff, and some so-so stuff too. I am sure getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night is helping matters too!
Spring break is just around the corner too, and, as it turns out Bubba doesn't have school the week before spring break either due to conferences. TWO WEEKS OFF SCHOOL. What are the administrator thinking? Not only that, the two school districts in my area have different spring break weeks, so there is the "what am I going to do with my kid?" question flying around in my head. Two weeks is just too long! So... I have a plan. The first week is the week before Easter. Auntie Portland will be in town so that will be a good distraction. The second week there is a baseball camp sponsored by a local collegiate baseball team which Bubba happens to love so I am going to sign him up. Its only a few hours a day, but its something. Grandma agreed to take and pick him up on her days with him so it should work out pretty good. Plus the activity of the baseball camp will be a good segue into soccer which starts after spring break. Lucky kid, I wish I had been able to do all the stuff he gets to do! But that is a rant for another post another time.
Plans for the rest of the week:
• Attempt to get a workout in tomorrow and Friday after work, preferably outdoor run.
• Saturday night we have been invited to go to a benefit wine tasting for an organization a friend of ours directs. It should be a fun event, and a great local band is playing. I don't have any idea what to wear to a thing like this tho, any ideas?
• Sunday I would like to work some more in the yard. I started edging the front yesterday and got encouraged to do some more. I also mowed the pine tree needles and leaves up the other day so its looking really nice right now. Another use for my iPod, crank up the tunes when I mow.
• Maybe an outdoor run on Sunday.
Oh yeah and that little thing called work.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Clean up
"Clean up, clean up, everybody do their part..."
Everyone has gone home, its time to put the house back together. But first, lets start with me! I was able to go to my massage appointment today, but haven't gotten a shower in yet. Time to get that done and then tackle the house. Blankets, toys, laundry and re-arranging the bathrooms so I am ready for work tomorrow. If I am lucky I won't have to do the deep cleaning because my Girl Friday will be here this week. Lucky me.
My nephews birthday party was fun last night, pizza, which was easy, wine and dessert, the kids had cupcakes and we more mature adults had cheesecake. MMMMM. We were even graced with the presence of my little brother. I think he would really like to do more family things but we just don't think to call him. Hes 25 and seems to have finally reached a place in life where he is fun to be around and likable. He went through a decade of being a shit, and now it seems he has chilled out. I picked him up and he went to Bubba's karate class with us and then on to Moms house. It worked out pretty good and he was available on short notice so I think I will make more of an effort to invite him over once-in-awhile. Everyone needs family-time.
Alright, off to do housework.
Everyone has gone home, its time to put the house back together. But first, lets start with me! I was able to go to my massage appointment today, but haven't gotten a shower in yet. Time to get that done and then tackle the house. Blankets, toys, laundry and re-arranging the bathrooms so I am ready for work tomorrow. If I am lucky I won't have to do the deep cleaning because my Girl Friday will be here this week. Lucky me.
My nephews birthday party was fun last night, pizza, which was easy, wine and dessert, the kids had cupcakes and we more mature adults had cheesecake. MMMMM. We were even graced with the presence of my little brother. I think he would really like to do more family things but we just don't think to call him. Hes 25 and seems to have finally reached a place in life where he is fun to be around and likable. He went through a decade of being a shit, and now it seems he has chilled out. I picked him up and he went to Bubba's karate class with us and then on to Moms house. It worked out pretty good and he was available on short notice so I think I will make more of an effort to invite him over once-in-awhile. Everyone needs family-time.
Alright, off to do housework.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Party
They're here. I got all the cleaning I wanted to done (well, almost, I didn't clean the upstairs bathroom, I figured why? Company wasn't going to use it!) then I mowed the lawns and I think that was it, well except for laundry. Laundry. Why does it always seem after I am all done with it theres another basket-full? And it just keeps piling up. Every time I clean a room and then come back later there's socks or pants or shorts or a towel or some-damn-thing on the floor. How does this happen? Never-ending I tell you.
We had a good time yesterday and last night. Unfortunately Miss I kept getting left out. It is amazing how much difference 9 months makes in the kids ages. Bubba and his girl-cousin are 9 months apart (she is older) and Miss I and the boy-cousin are also 9 months apart (he is older), so his speech is 100% better than hers and the big-kids will play with him a little more readily. So poor Miss I was getting left out of everything because she is the youngest. I told her to go commiserate with my youngest sister, she knew how it felt! We all had dinner here and then my youngest sister and the girl-cousin left. We will see them all again tonight at Moms - Little Brother too. It should be a fun night, pizza, wine, birthday celebrations! Yay!
We had a good time yesterday and last night. Unfortunately Miss I kept getting left out. It is amazing how much difference 9 months makes in the kids ages. Bubba and his girl-cousin are 9 months apart (she is older) and Miss I and the boy-cousin are also 9 months apart (he is older), so his speech is 100% better than hers and the big-kids will play with him a little more readily. So poor Miss I was getting left out of everything because she is the youngest. I told her to go commiserate with my youngest sister, she knew how it felt! We all had dinner here and then my youngest sister and the girl-cousin left. We will see them all again tonight at Moms - Little Brother too. It should be a fun night, pizza, wine, birthday celebrations! Yay!
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Whew!
Just a few hours and my sister and nephew will be here for a few days. Unfortunately that means I need to hustle my bustle to get the house cleaned up. If I had been thinking ahead I would have arranged for my Girl Friday to come in this week, but I thought I would have the time. Which I did, I just didn't use it for cleaning! What did I use it for? I really don't remember.
I did get another outdoor run in this week on Thursday. I also did aerobics on Saturday morning. So all in all last week I got 5 workouts in! Way to go. I probably won't have that much luck this week, its my long work week plus Karate plus company, but we shall see. I am sure I can talk my sister into going to the Y with me ... or she can go visit Mom while I am working out. Either way I am definitely taking today off. I am pretty sore from the class I took yesterday. Plus I have all that cleaning to do...
We were invited out to dinner last night. We went to a resort-y kind of place with a nice restaurant. It was called Tendrils. It was ... alright. I don't think we will go out there for dinner again, it was a long drive (an hour) and then it was, you know, a "dining experience" so everything was little servings of fancy things. The food was pretty good, the service marginal and the price pretty high because it was a Resort. The restaurant was tiny, I think I counted 15 tables. The resort only has 30 rooms but we couldn't see them because it was dark. There is also a winery and a spa out there, but again we couldn't see anything because it was dark. I imagine its very pretty in the daylight, and I might drive there for a spa day, but probably not for dinner again.
I did get another outdoor run in this week on Thursday. I also did aerobics on Saturday morning. So all in all last week I got 5 workouts in! Way to go. I probably won't have that much luck this week, its my long work week plus Karate plus company, but we shall see. I am sure I can talk my sister into going to the Y with me ... or she can go visit Mom while I am working out. Either way I am definitely taking today off. I am pretty sore from the class I took yesterday. Plus I have all that cleaning to do...
We were invited out to dinner last night. We went to a resort-y kind of place with a nice restaurant. It was called Tendrils. It was ... alright. I don't think we will go out there for dinner again, it was a long drive (an hour) and then it was, you know, a "dining experience" so everything was little servings of fancy things. The food was pretty good, the service marginal and the price pretty high because it was a Resort. The restaurant was tiny, I think I counted 15 tables. The resort only has 30 rooms but we couldn't see them because it was dark. There is also a winery and a spa out there, but again we couldn't see anything because it was dark. I imagine its very pretty in the daylight, and I might drive there for a spa day, but probably not for dinner again.
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