Friday, March 30, 2007

Friday's here!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I survived 2 interviews yesterday and I think they went fairly well. We'll see what next week brings!

It's a wonderful weekend coming up! DH & I are heading to Chicago for the night tomorrow. We're going to see WICKED and staying down there. The kids are going to my parents'. We haven't been away together in a long time and I am so ready for it!

Sunday night, we're going to my parents' for birthday dinner for my brother and I. That's usually fun - lots of story swapping.

I hope you all have a great weekend and hopefully I'll have pictures to share next week.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Wednesday blah blah blah!

Hi all! I've been neglectful - sorry! I'll try to recap the past few days without boring you to death!


Saturday - I worked in the afternoon, scrapped a little and debated with DH about a possible road trip....


Sunday - It was GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!! Sunny and mid 70s. We took the kids for a bike ride and I worked in the afternoon. I rode my bike to work - it was so great! I ALMOST felt like a kid again - hair blowing in the wind, pedaling away.... We grilled out for the first time this year - burgers! MMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!! More debate about possible trip.


Monday - I woke up and DH was not in bed. Ok.... I come downstairs and he says "We're booked!" Ummm, ok.... So, we will be road tripping over Memorial Day weekend. For better or worse. It was an amazingly beautiful day! Sunny, almost 80 - yes! Spring!
I took DD to circle time at the library and she INSISTED on wearing her Glinda outfit:

She LITERALLY stopped traffic while we were crossing the street. The first guy rolled down his window and said, "Don't shake your head, mom! There's a law about letting princesses cross the street." When we got home, she & I played outside for an hour - she took a GREAT nap! While she napped, I sat on the deck in the sun and finished my book. Fabulous!

Tuesday - I took a bike ride in the morning through our "arboretum" (such as it is) and took a lot of pictures. Some were good, some not so good. It was enjoyable. The sun came out in the afternoon.

Today - DD is home again - we'll see what the day holds...

Hope you're all having a good week!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Mom Moments

Yesterday was a HUGE break through in potty training....DD went poopy on the potty! WOO HOO!!!!!!! Cause for celebration! Today - not real interested....sigh!

Today as I stood in McD's with DH & DS at lunch, I realized, DS is now taller than me! WHAT? Wait! When did this happen? A couple of weeks ago, he still had a little to go before he passed me. What? Sigh....

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

A Skulls Challenge

Jaime's challenge was to take a walk on a different route and photograph what you see. Here's some of what I saw:
Which way to go?....
My shadow:
The shadows of the bushes caught my attention when there was a bird flitting around.

I have walked by this house literally 100s of time but NEVER from that direction so I have always missed this gorgeous front door!

A scooter in honor of Jamie!
I loved all the birdhouses.

Remember the days of "unsafe" playgrounds? Remember those "things" with the giant springs that you rock back & forth on? Well, the spring has been broken on this one for about 2 years and I've always meant to take a picture of it.

That was my walk on a brisk, March afternoon! Thanks Jamie for helping me look at things differently!

Not much to say....

So here are some scrappings:













I know I've posted this one before but I just love this song and there are days I just need to hear it to remind that life isn't easy....

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Misc Sunday

I'll start on a serious note.

I don't like to ask but please send prayers and good thoughts - a young man disappeared 2 months ago and nothing has been found of him. Now that the snow has melted, they are going to do a 2 county search again today. Please pray for some answers for his family. I can't imagine what they must be going through!

The cold is still here and looks like it will be here for most of the week... I hate being teased with nice weather! I just hope my flowers survive that are coming up!

I am hosting a cyber scrap crop next weekend (23 -25) at http://www.memorycreators.com. Come join the site and join in the fun! It's a GREAT group of ladies there!

I hope you all had a wonderful St. Patty's Day. Very uneventful here - especially for an Irish family.

I helped DH put up crown molding at the basement remodel he's doing this week. UGH - that stuff is SERIOUSLY heavy!!!!!!!!! I learned how to load a nail gun though... Does that count for anything? I can't believe the houses in the subdivision he's working in. The basement alone has as much square footage as our entire house. It is UNREAL!!!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a great week!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Our front flowerbed

The cold is back so I thought I would share some of our flowerbed decorations - dragonflies everywhere!









Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Spring has sprung!

Ok, not OFFICIALLY on the calendar but I had the fever BAD today! It was 70, sunny, breezy and "balmy". Loving it!

I know spring is back: the street basketball games are on...the sidewalk chalk artists are out...i hear kids screaming...windows are open (at least a little)...the birds are chirping...parents are playing ball with their kids...neighbors are congregating the street to catch up...cold beverages of your choice are being shared...talk of decks and fences are running rampant..."how many days until spring break?"...the dirt ring in the tub after bathtime...children sleeping VERY soundly in their beds after a hard day at play.

On that note, I finished cutting out all the dead flowers around the house this afternoon and lo & behold - there was GREEN!!!!!!!!!!! It was wonderful! My daffodils are coming up and I can't wait for them to bloom. I walked to daycare to pick up DD today and it was a WONDERFUL stroll.

I was up real early this morning - thank you DH for hogging the bed...ok. Anyway, to my point...there isn't much on at 4 a.m. so I turned on the Military Channel. VERY interesting! I watched a show on air craft carriers - WHOA! I think that's a job I'll pass on. Talk about pressure! Kudos to them! Then I started watching a show about tanks - dude, seriously! That's a little too small of a space for me but what an awesome weapon. Our hats off to our military personnel and thank you for everything you do! Thank you also to their families who fight the battles at home.

A recap of our week thus far:
Sunday - DH took the kids to the zoo. They had a good time but I don't think all of their animals have returned from the "warmer" zoos yet.
Monday - one of our wonderful neighbors saw DD & I out blowing bubbles and came running over with a HUGE jug of bubbles. He said his kids had outgrown them and she looked like she needed them. THANKS!!!!!!!
Today - worked outside, ate my ice cream and read outside this afternoon (that was bliss). I applied for a few more jobs (cross your fingers).
Tomorrow - day with DD and work at the library in the evening. Oh, and hopefully (I'm trying not to laugh) with some cooperation from DD - I can do her 3 year old photo shoot....yeah, I'm sure she'll love that....

I hope you are all having great weather and good week!

What is it?

that this little girl:




loves about this movie?

She asks to watch it all the time and when it's on TV, she stops to watch. Weird....

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Things that cause a lump in my throat...

1. When my husband looks at me a certain way.
2. When my son says "thank you" for something I normally do.
3. When my daughter gives me an extra hug.
4. The older couple that I see holding hands while they stroll together.
5. The young couple (high schoolers) that I see together and he ALWAYS opens the door and pulls out her chair for her.
6. The thought of how much I am loved.
7. A happy ending.

What causes a lump in your throat?

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Why? and other mish mash

Why do people think that if they drop off their kids at the library, we will babysit?
Why does the weather get nice when I have to be inside?
Why are some people SO RUDE????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The snow is melting FAST! The river that runs behind the houses across the street is going to spill over its banks - probably tonight. We'll see! Spring is coming! I have a few little green nubbins of flowers starting to come up. I am SO ready to get out in the flower beds and plan what I want this year....

On the rude people note: One of my former bank customers (she's a little "off") comes to the library regularly and I DREAD seeing her. (I know it sounds terrible....sorry!) Anyway, the other day she looked at me and said (in front of about 4 co-workers and 5 patrons), "You're really getting a lot of gray in your hair". It took everything I had not to cry right there. It is something I am VERY self-conscious about and right now there is no money to cover it so I just have to live with it. I wanted to reply, "Really? Thanks! I hadn't noticed that about half my head is gray, thank you!" ARGH!!!!!!!!!

DH & his mom are taking the kids to the zoo tomorrow - I have to work at the library, but should have a few quiet hours to myself after they leave. The weather is supposed to be good so we decided we should take them before it gets cold again (next week).

I applied for a job at the hospital here today and am hoping maybe.... I have a few other places to "visit" this coming week. I keep hoping and praying!


I hope you are all having a great weekend!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Last Sunday (lots of pictures)

We were all a little antsy so we decided to get out for a bit. We headed to....

We found some AMAZING deals on clothes for the kids for next fall and winter. We spent less than $50 for 2 bags full of stuff! LOVE it!


After that we had some lunch:

Other Rainforest Cafe sights:












Playing at KB Toys:


















We made a stop here for some "fishing gear" (hopefully it gets used this year!).











DH splurged at Rocky Mountain Chocolates for me (I have a weakness for caramel apples - and this had carmel, nuts AND Snickers bar chunks on it - it was huge and delicious!):

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Not much to smile about

I am really whiny lately and hate when I get like that - so be warned - there will probably be a lot of rambling here.
I feel like life just sucks right now! Every day, another bill comes (not the small utility kind). I feel the noose tightening a little more everyday. I just want a job. Isn't that weird that most women would LOVE to be home, that work. Don't get me wrong - I like the time I do have at home to get things done and I love the 2 days/week that DD is here, but I miss my routine. I like a routine day. I feel the strain of money problems and not having enough of it.
I had thought about taking a few kids in to watch, but then I'm afraid of that. I love kids and think I would enjoy it but what if I burn out or really DON'T like it? DH is supportive of my doing it. Then, I think, health insurance - we'll have to pay for that on our own. Can we make enough to pay for that?
I never thought life was full of so many questions, but I tell you, when there is a life change of any kind - the questions come pouring out.
I hate that I have been getting invitations to crops, get togethers and lunches left and right. Yeah, right.... Thanks! : )
My friends have been amazing and I "heart" you all and thank you for your support and encouragement.
Ok, before I start another tyrade - I'm out!
Have a good day!

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Thursday, March 01, 2007

In like a lion!

It's March 1! Can you believe it? March came in like a lion for us today. Thunder, lightening, sleet and rain started about 4 a.m. There's a lovely coat of slick stuff on all the streets.

Not much to report today. DH & I took DD to the aquarium yesterday and she had a blast. We have the membership, so we decided to get some use out of it. She'll be home again on Friday. I think we're headed to story time at the library. I just don't want her sitting in front of the TV all stinking day!

Nothing on the job front. I sent out more resumes yesterday and have more to go out today. (SIGH!) It's so frustrating!

Ron Santo will NOT be in the Hall of Fame this year - what a tragedy!!! I wish the Veteran's Committee would get the heads out of their butts. HELLO!!!!!?????? The man deserves this. (Sorry, I will step down off my soap box now)

I did no scrapping yesterday but am hoping to get a little done today/tonight and maybe tomorrow. There's some projects I want to get going on. I have, however, gotten a little more of my story written. If I can keep that going, I would be happy, too.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and a great March!