Preschool- check off the list; and other stuff going on

I enrolled Ella in preschool for next fall this past weekend and realized something. This next year will be here last year of preschool and she will begin kindergarten! Wow, that came fast! I mean I still have til this time next year to have her in preschool but soon she will be in public school- amazing how fast the time has gone by. During the preschool interview process, I have asked a lot of questions about the schools and screening processes (they don't have any- she has a birthday before June 1 so she is in at 5 1/2), how long kindergarten is (half day, but you can pay for the other half with their after school program). I am feeling pretty good about it!

In addition to preschool, I have purchased a year pass to the St. Louis Magic House Children's Museum and plan to go this week and found the Butterfly House, which is close to the house, so I might buy a pass for that too. The library is having a book sale on Thursday so we might go check this out and pick up a few books too.

I took Luke today for his 7 month photos and need to plan to get both Ella and Luke's photos taken in February- Ella's 4th birthday and Luke's 8 month shots!

I need to start working on the kid's photo scrapbooks this coming week and I have gotten Luke's baby book out, I will have to apologize to him when he is older on how I forgot to write more in it- I like to blame the move on this.

And tonight I plan to make a chicken Mexican dish- double it up and freeze some for a rainy day. So I am being pretty productive. I have a few more projects to work on. I will note I have mastered Luke sleeping in his crib again (during the move, Christmas and afterwards) had become a companion in our bed. But no more and no more holding him during naps either, he is sleeping in his crib for naps now too, a little tough love has gone a long way!

Just call me super mom, no don't!!

What 30 means to me

Tomorrow I turn 30 years old- I feel like I will no longer be the baby in some of my circles and maybe I will wake up tomorrow with a new sense of respect since I am 30...just kidding, it is just a number, this is how I measure my 30 years so far...

6 years of marriage (going on 7- wow)

1 supportive and loving husband that has given me so much and taught me about life and loving.

2 amazing and beautiful children. My daughter has showed me the meaning of being a mom and my son has shown me how to improve on that foundation

4 house that we have made homes!

4 states I have used in my address- California, Oklahoma, Mississippi and South Dakota

2 colleges- Connor State College- were I learned who I wanted to be and Oklahoma State University- found my lifetime friends and love

3 great jobs- Oklahoma Pork Council, Oklahoma Farm Bureau (how I miss this job and that team) and Paulsen Marketing

5 cars- Pearl Thunderbird from college, then a Ford Escape, Jeep Liberty, Chevy Z71 truck and Honda Pilot

2 heart breaking losses- My dear Papa- not a day goes by that I don't miss him and wish I could call him- his number is engraved in my head, but my heart still hurts for his absence in my life and the loss of our baby last July- someday I will hold you and rock you in Heaven

1 awesome goal- live life to it's fullest with my family and friends, to look fear in the eye and tell it to get lost, to have more patience, to keep loving without boundaries, to cry when I want to and laugh even more. To not take myself so seriously and maybe not worry as much, things have had a way of turning out ok, look at above and below!

30 impressive and filling years with endless friends and family that has given my life direction and meaning- so on my birthday I celebrate the people in my life and the impact they have had one it. You have made me who I am today- good and bad- I am proud of who I am today and tomorrow.

Blessings

I am really bad....it has been over a month

My goodness, I have let time go by. In my defense, life has been crazy and wild. Between gearing up for the holidays, having family in town and visiting Oklahoma for a OSU and the elephant in the closet- MOVING, it is no wonder I have neglected my precious blog.

For starters the family is doing well. It is a blessing we have all stayed well and healthy. We had a minor cold in October and bounced back within a week. Ella and I received our flu shots and are awaiting the H1N1 shots (there is a clinic in town tomorrow we might try). Luke is 5 months old this month and doing great. He is back to sleeping through the night (YEAH) and now is rolling over in his sleep and on his tummy the majority of the night. He is eating cereal like a champ and wants more! Next month we get to start baby food which is exciting. He rolls from back to tummy to back again. He is so close to sitting up on his own. He laughs, smiles and giggles at us all day long. Overall he is a great baby and growing up each day.

Ella is loving preschool, spending time with her best friends, playing with Luke and Mom and Dad, traveling to see family, picking out toys for Christmas (oh my) and going to the gym.

Now the interesting part- we have a house in St. Louis, well Chesterfield, or more exact a town just south of Chesterfield, MO. We will close on the house Dec. 11 and the movers plan to show up the following Monday, Dec. 14 and move us the week before Christmas, are we crazy or what. YES! We are excited, nervous, scared and unprepared, but anxious and ready for this next step. We figure moving before Christmas is better than after. I just purchased my ticket and the kids to fly home to Texas on Sunday, Dec. 21. So we will move into the house by hopefully the 19th or 20th and I leave Sunday morning, sorry Kyle. He will drive to Texas on the 23rd and have to live with the boxes and eat out!

More to come, I promise.

There is no dollar amount for this, right?

In the five and half years Kyle and I have been married we have two scheduled photo session, one when Ella was about nine months old and the other one was this past December. I guess I could count our wedding day and our engagement photos but overall, we have not had many photos taken of us professionally.

I picked up our photos yesterday and am in love with them. I have some great ones of Ella and know where I want to put them along with what I want to do next when baby #2 gets here.

I purchased one of the photos on CD and just took it in to a print shop to be printed and am doing a very cool free standing mounting on canvas, so I don't have to purchase a frame. It is light weight and has a protective coating so it should not fade- best of both worlds if you ask me!!!!

I also ordered photos for the family as well, so those will be ready by next Tuesday and in the mail shortly afterwards.

In addition to these photos, I have been working on Ella's third year photo book. For the past two years, I have created these really cool memory books at Shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com) and they are great. Last night Ella and I looked at her first two books. I am not a scrapbooker, and this is the closest I will every come. It takes a little bit of time, but a great way to capture the year. I am almost done with her book and then I will promise Kyle to lay off any photos for a while, at least until June!!!

Holding it

Ella is potty trained, but with that has come some interesting times. Here are a few that will make you smile:
• "Mom I have to go"- In the grocery store with a pile of groceries and not sure where the bathrooms are. We drop everything and seek them out. Success.
• Running errands around town and Kyle and Ella sit in the car while I get the dry cleaning, as I walk out I see Ella and Kyle chatting, only to find out, once in the car, that she had to go, or already went. Two year olds do not understand "holding it."
• Visited the resturant bathroom a total of 6 times over the course of a hour and half. I think several tables were wondering what the deal was with us. What was I suppose to say "My daughter really likes the bathroom!" Instead I just look forward and smile.
• "MOM- I have to pee." Yelling at me for the fifth time after I have put precious to bed! I am thinking it is a plea to get out of bed and hang out. No she really has to go. Success and then a request for water-I am not helping the problem, am I?

But overall, it is nice to not have to change diapers for a while!

Winter is coming

I would like to deny it, and forget that I live in South Dakota where is snows in the fall and winter, but again, this morning I am in awe of the freezing rain and pending snow.

Right now I have big flakes of snow falling outside my office window and it calls me home to make a big pot of stew or chili, snuggle up with a warm blanket and a good book for the afternoon. Not the case, instead, I slug away at work and worry about the weather tomorrow as I travel to Kansas City with two other co-workers. Hopefully, this will pass sooner than later.

I live in a Winter Wonderland and need to appreciate it. I think it is living near the coast for the first 18 years of my life that have me torn for warmer, milder weather. Some day I will adapt, or we will move. :)

Oh and this is funny, last night I am yelling at dear (in my car) to not cross the street and slow down til they see me and make the right decision to not cross or connect with my car on the road. Dear are beautiful creatures, just not very smart, but it is not there fault that their eyes are not closer together to have better vision to see what is directly in front of them.

Facebook

Anyone out there not have a Facebook account. You can find just about everyone on that thing. From high school friends to college roommates to those you work with. It is additive and is a fun way to pass the time and check in on others and what they have been up to.
I am always happy to find old friends that have found me, I wonder if I should add my maiden name to help those out from way back when, and then figure most know who I married.
I am still mad that my sis went off Facebook, I am trying to convince her to come back.

For Halloween I might even go as a Facebook page and twitter or send to all at work things I am doing throughout the day, could be funny!

Thanks for asking to be my friend on Facebook! It is nice to keep in touch with you. I wonder how many check out the blog, lots more information about me here than there.

A good laugh

I needed a good laugh and it came from those silly gold commercials that are airing on selected television and cable stations.
The commercial is prompting viewers to call in and receive a envelop and fill it with their old gold jewelry and in a week get a check back. Several coworkers and I laughed about this and who we might know that would participated and have a money in the bank from it.
Made me laugh and then I checked out the web site, http://www.getgoldcash.com/
and saw a gold medalist turning in his gold. I think not!

Act of kindness

This morning I proudly conducts a act of kindness...it was not earth shattering, but helpful.
On my way in to work this morning, I take the Interstate and have to merge on to it, well, there was this small semi that no one wanted to let over, his blinker was on and he was waiting but was rapidly approaching and exit ramp and needed to get over. So I slowed down without applying my breaks and getting cursed at the drivers behind me, and flashed my lights and watched in delight that I saved the semi from taking the 10th street exit ramp. I then passed him, because one, he was going slow, and two I feared the cars behind me. The semi driver waved at me as I passed him by and I replied with a wave too. It made me feel good to help this driver out.
It reminded me of when my Dad would travel behind large trucks and trailers in our travels and was always respectful of them.
See, I am following by example!
Perform a act of kindness and see what happens.

Another Q and A

These are always fun, I am borrowing it from Kari

1. I've come to realize that my body (changed the body part to all)... has changed since a baby and will never be the same, but I am somewhat ok with this, ask me tomorrow
   
2. I've come to realize that my job… is helping me grow professionally
3. I've come to realize that when I'm driving... I need to watch out for curbs
4. I've come to realize that I need… the Lord, family and friends
5. I've come to realize that I have lost... a great hero
6. I've come to realize I hate it when… I am late, which happens more now than it used to
7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk… I no fun
8. I've come to realize that money... Is not everything, but always fun to spend!!!
   
9. I've come to realize that certain people… Are braver than I am
10. I've come to realize that I'll never… have it all, but I have come close
11. I've come to realize that my sister and sister-in-law... are great people that I care for and rely on more than I ever realized! Thank you!
12. I've come to realize that my mom… is a great mentor and role model
13. I've come to realize that my cell phone … is a precious commodity I need
    
14. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning… I want to go back to sleep
    
15. I've come to realize that every night before I go to sleep… I thank God for today and what tomorrow has in store
    
16. I've come to realize that right now I... should work rather than post
17. I've come to realize that my dad… is a strong man with determination and love in his heart
18. I've come to realize that when I get on myspace or facebook… my high school classmate now want to be my friends! Cool
19. I've come to realize that today… is a warm day in South Dakota, yeah
20. I've come to realize that tonight… I should cook a fun meal
21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will… is the weekend and family time
    
22. I've come to realize that I really want… to see my family and friends more
23. I've come to realize that life… is a adventures and we have only some control of it!
    
24. I've come to realize that this weekend… I should go easy on shopping
25. I've come to realize that the best music to listen to … with a good message in mind
26. I've come to realize that true friends…are hard to come by and I am so thankful for them. They are the other sisters in my life
27. I've come to realize that this year…has had some lows that could no be expected and many highs too.
    

McDonalds

Last night Ella and I attend a dinner and field day for Kyle's work. It was fun, a nice dinner by the golf course and Kyle's plot. Ella and I had the opportunity to meet some of Kyle's co workers, which is always nice to put a name with a face.

Following dinner and the meet and greet session, Ella and I started our path home. On the way we stopped at McDonald's for a ice cream cone, nothing beats a ice cream cone for the 15 minute drive home in Miss Ella's eyes. I ordered the $1.06 ice cream cone and moved forward to the window to pay, only to be greeted by a young man that as he opened the window, burps, loudly at me!

Ooh. What the? Where are your manners? Not sure the big guy in the red shoes would approve. I say nothing in fear of going off on rudeness and to say excuse me, I make a two year old say this, and so should he, and ask him where his mother lives, just kidding, well maybe not. I provided him the money, making sure to not have to get changed and moved forward. Wow.

Like their slogan goes, I am lovin' it, not sure about loving that service. No burping, next time, please.

Watching the Olympics

I must ask at least two dozen questions each night regarding the Olympics and the events Kyle, Ella and I watch. I sit curled up on the couch, probably eating something not good for me, and watch these athletes push themselves and strive for gold. I ask what the current world record is, what the total score is, why Michael doesn't look happy, how many gold medals has US won so far, when does US swim next, how much they eat, will they compete next against each other? Where is the coach for four years ago. And it goes on and on and on. But I love the summer Olympics and have all kinds of pride in my country. But all that come out of my mouth is questions, Kyle is ready to tape my mouth so I won't ask another one.
I am super tired too, staying up late, I make it on the couch til about 10:30 and then go lay down and watch for another hour, it doesn't feel right to turn off the TV, I might miss something. But it has created some great morning coffee conversations and lunch conversations, it is cool that the majority of us all are focused on the same thing.

This is fun to share, Ella loves swimming, smart kiddo, so does her mom. Anyway, she copies the swimmers on the screen and attempts to swim, waving her arms like she is swimming and helps cheer on Michael!!


Ok better go ask some questions, the gymnastics is on and that brings on a whole new group of questions, poor Kyle.

I'm back

It has been a couple of days, ok a week to be in fact, how long it has been since I wrote a funny or meaningful or why me post. This past week has been unlike anything I either expected or would wish for anyone. I have leaned on God for support and He has come through.

Ella has been in rare form. I have a major problem, my child is up until almost nine every night. Ok do not turn me in to parent policy just yet. I do it because i get home at 6 p.m. after picking her up and want time with her. Now tonight I made dinner, we ate together, Kyle came home, wireless worked and i was off to the races trying to catch up on work. She played and took a bath, chatted on the phone and before I knew it, it was 9:30 way past the time for a two year old to be up. I am a bad mom, i know. I typically start the bathing process around 8, should start to back that up a little, since I sit at the side of her bed in the morning begging her to get up. She takes good naps but needs more sleep. She is just so darn cute, it is hard to not want her around all the time. I mean come on, she is cute and convincing. I need her power.

The weekend rock now because she sleeps til close to 8, very nice for the parents to sleep in. Speaking of sleep I better go, have a meeting in the neighboring state tomorrow.