I know I know...

I haven't blogged in awhile. I'm having a hard time being motivated to say the least. With the new job change I'm having a difficult time getting focused in all the other area's of life and well that means things aren't getting done. ie...blogging and recently cleaning. So instead here are cute pictures from Easter.

Easter Eggs with MawMaw and PawPaw Fishing on Good Friday

Egg Hunt Sunday morning.  Dino, did you eat any eggs?

Family Picture

Huh?  WHHHHAT?

 Easter bunny after a long day at work.  He needs a snack.

 Hunting eggs hid by Jessima

 Hidding eggs for Brady

 Confetti filled eggs.  So much fun but soooooooo messy.

Flying our Easter kite

How hard is it!? (by the Hubby)

So I am not going to say that I am a master chef or anything, but I will say that I know my way around a kitchen.  I can make a mean omelet, I love my grill and I can be pretty inventive with my combinations.  However for some reason I forgot how to make a hard boiled egg!   I mean really, "How hard is it!?"?
Step 1: Put eggs and cold water in a pot
Step 2: Boil said water
Step 3: Remove from heat, cover and let sit for 12-15 minutes
Step 4: Remove eggs and put immediately in ice water

I forgot to boil the water long enough as well as forgot to cover them.  So after dying the eggs, which was a lot of fun with Elijah, back in the fridge they went.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2 Days Later~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kelly and Elijah decided that it would be a great idea to have a snack and what better snack to have than a hard, or so I thought, boiled egg.  It turns out that when you do not follow the steps exactly, you end up with "semi soft" centered eggs instead of "hard" centered eggs.  Oh well we all have mistakes right?  I just hope my mistake does not kill my entire family!!!


HAPPY EASTER!!!

Joys of potty training

**Warning gross content to come**

Elijah has been doing really well with potty training.  We have the majority of our accidents while sleeping which is expected when a child is having to go potty every 2-4 hours sleeps 12 at night.  The other day I was up earlier than normal and getting ready so for once, I would not look like my head was on fire as we were running out the door.  Well, as life typically goes, as you try to get a head of one thing your thrown a curve ball. 

BJ was also going to leave early but poked his head in Elijah's room to see if he was awake.  Not even 3 minutes later he is back in our bathroom saying we have an accident and he needs help.  Alright I'm good with that, two bodies are better than one.  Then he informs me it's a poopy accident.  Really?  I don't want to deal with that, but I'm already committed.  I think Elijah went several days with out pooping and that's what let to this issue but he had so much poop in his pants I was floored.  Now I don't know about you but I don't have a lot of practice for getting poopy pants off a toddler.  As I tried to remove his undies keeping as much of the poop contained as possible I failed miserably and PLOP right on the floor.  I though it was a lot of poop in his pants but I then thought it was a whole lot more now that it was on the bathroom floor.  Then to make matters even worse Elijah successfully stepped in it.  EWWWWWWWWWWW BJ then gave him a shower while I cleaned up the floor.  We thought we were good floor clean, boy clean, boy dressed, bedding and clothing in the washer and I was back getting ready.  BJ then came into say goodbye for the 5th time and he realized he had poop on his pants so he had to change too.  I mean really we were covered in poop.  I was just glad the poop hit the floor and not the fan, I probably would still be up there cleaning it up.  Yuck.

The Zoo

Two or three weekends ago we headed to the zoo, again.  I love the zoo but I hate big crowds so any day I can work in a place that people don't want to go because of  this that or the other thing, I'm in.  Well it was a 32 degree Saturday in February and I dragged my boys to the zoo.  We wrapped Elijah up in blankets and off we went.  I think there were maybe, 100 people at the zoo that day. We ran between the houses because during the summer we never would go into the houses.  I don't like leaving the stroller unattended while in the houses with so may people all over, and it kills me to spend time in doors when it's so nice outside.  So lots of reptiles, lots of warm climate animals.  In the 5 or so different houses we went in there were snakes in at least 3 of them.  So Elijah got to learn all about snakes.  I don't like snakes, I don't have a phobia of them like I do of spiders, but I am appropriately scared of them because there are all kinds of poisonous ones and I don't know enough about them to tell you which ones are or are not safe.  Now that we are home Elijah himself has turned into a snake.  Let me tell you as a parent to get your child to go anywhere while they are trying to "slither" like a snake takes HOURS! Luckily he still likes to be a dog or lion too and when he gets to far behind will turn into one of those animals to catch up.  He also wants to do this in public and I absolutely refuse to let him lay on the ground in a store.  Gross! So now I need to get him back to the zoo so we can find a new, faster animal to imitate. 

Did you think I forgot about you? part II

No, I'm just lazy.  I am a person that does well under stress and pressure.  Not crazy stress or pressure just deadlines and a busy schedule.  During the years that I worked full time I blogged more.  Now that I am working less than 30 hours a week, I have more free time than I know what to do with.  On the up side the house is cleaner than it has been in years.  I spend 3-4 hours a week cleaning and since I do it every week I am spending more time on little things that have never been touched or cleaned before since moving in.  (Last week I ended up cleaning the shower curtain rod.  It was super gross. And I wiped down the walls because they were looking funny, turns out there was soap scum on them.  Who knew).  However, I am still spending A LOT more time sitting on my but unmotivated and NOTHING is changing that for me.  Hopefully once I start getting kids with my second job I will be more motivated.  Therefore, Sorry for the lack of blog but my brain isn't stimulated enough to create witty remarks to things.  And let me just tell you, when it is you and a dog most of the day not much exciting happens. 

Make it stop

Being a Speech Pathologist I listen to what my child says and how he says it.  Do I think it's funny that Elijah says Farfing mand for marching band?  Yes.  Do I think It's cute when we tell him to get his drill and he heads to the grill to grab the corn because he things they are the same thing?  Absolutely.  Do I worry that he has minimal p's and b's in his speech?  Yup.  However, over the past 2 days I have heard some things I am not to happy with.  What is it do you say?  Mom and Dad.  Not mommy, daddy, but mom, dad.  In the several times I heard it, it took all of my power to not correct him to say, "no I'm mommy not mom."  And at that moment a small part of me shed a small tear knowing that my baby is almost a big kid.  But that's okay, I want my boy to grow up, I want to miss these things.  Then when I decide to have another child these will be the things I look forward too and love while they last.  But I have a feeling mommy and daddy will be moving out soon and mom and dad will be moving in.  ***sigh***

Can't think of a cute title

First of all, went to yoga on Saterday and was in pain for the next 2 days.  Went back today am feeling a bit better.

Second of all, My eye has been twitching since Sunday.  Sunday was my left eye, monday and today was my right eye.  Driving me crazy!!!

Third, BJ and I went to our first money class on Monday.  It's interesting.  It's not that we are learning a lot of new stuff, it's just presented in a way that makes you think.  Now our homework is to start gettting an emergancy fund going.  But here's the thing that is making me think.  if your supposed to have 3-6 months of finances in savings for "just in case" I started thinking about what that would be.  And becasue our economy SUCKS we should really look more at 6-8 months, if not close to 12 months.  Well I started doing that math, I'm not real sure what is considered your finances or necessity but it came down to needing over 20,000 in the bank for an emergancy fund if not double that.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  I hope we are talking about over the course of several years getting that kind of money in the bank.  Things to ask next week.  However, this class is making me thankful I am doing it now, not in 20 years, I do wish I had done it maybe 6 years ago, but ya can't look backwards, only forwards.  (there were 5 commas in that last sentence, was that too many?)

Decreased blogs due to:

Pintrest.

I have no clue when Pintrest began, who founded it, or blah, blah, blah.  HOWEVER, it's a problem.  What is it you say Let me explain. 

Now all of this is high tech and on the Internet but lets put it into old school terms.  You have a cork board.

Or actually you have a lot of cork boards. 

And they can be any size you want but you keep one each to put items together as a maybe I should try this.

You may have one in your kitchen or recipes you want to try that your friends gave you, or you got from the store, or your favorite.  Maybe you have one in your car for places you want to go.  You could have a note book stored in your purse of organizational ideas, home decor, furniture, art that you like. 

Now envision that all your friends have different boards too.  And if you have a non-verbal agreement (like a head nod at a stop light meaning you should race when the light turns green) every time you friend puts something on there board you can see it too. 

Then you have the option to copy it and put it on a board of your choosing or ignore it.  But now you can also look at EVERY thing posted ever on ANY board.  Therefore, you can get idea's from gosh knows where and spread it like wild fire among your friends and you now have Christmas, birthday, house warming, and christening gifts, activities for infants, toddlers, kids, adults, and pets, recipes, pictures, phrases, cars, jewelry.  You name it, it's there.  And I'm addicted.  Because pins continue to be posted all day, all night I feel I have to keep checking back so I don't miss the BEST thing in the whole wide world. 

Happy Valentine's Day

You know I don't really like this holiday.  I never really have.  And I think I am lucky that I am in a relationship now a days that everyday we tell we each other "I love you."  BJ is one of those guys that actually loves being romantic.  He makes me dinner almost 3 days a week, he does the dishes.  But that's just because wants nto, not because he feels that's the only way to show me he loves me.  There are however, other men in my life.  One of those men brought me 4 giant muffins 2 blueberry and 2 red velvet, another one brought me chocolate covered strawberries.  Because I love my husband, I brought them home to share with me.  I ddin't have to. He doesn't spend week in and week out with these guys being spit on, sneezed on, yelled at, and all the other stuff, but I do. 

On another note when I got home tonight from work there was a love bug infestation waiting for me.  All I could do was hug the bug and kiss the bug and then put the bug to bed. 

So here is a good night Hug,

A good night kiss

Love you all.

Auto Show

Fourth Annual Valentines Day Auto Show Trip.

Obviously, the last four years BJ and I have gone to the Chicago Auto Show the weekend before Valentines day.  Two of the four years we went with friends two it was just us. 

(That was the neighbor not BJ FYI)This year did not go so smoothly.  My plan was to leave the house by 9:00 and get parked and ready to get into the show by 10.  Well at 9 we realized we needed cash and gas, we didn't even get going until about 9:30.  Once we got to the city and parked we headed into the convention center and as BJ was pumping up the tires on the stroller popped the front wheel. 

Yes, popped.  As in the rubber tube inside the wheel he put a hole in it.  BJ and Jon had to figure out how to rig the wheel so we could still have a stroller for the day.  By the time it was fixed and we were ready to go it was almost 11:00. 

We went in and saw about 2 cars before we all started to get hungry.  We spent the next hour looking at cars and stuff then had to feed the pregnant lady and Elijah.  After lunch we took Elijah's picture in the Mini, like we have the last 3 years.   

What I kept finding funny was every car, Elijah would tell me it was his favorite.  After about 4 cars it stopped being cute. 

We were able to meet a famous Panda bear.  It was the same one that was in the commercial with Matthew Broderick.  Then Elijah and I had our picture taken and put on the big screen.  We were famous, for 3 seconds at least.

Oh and check out this trunk under the bed of the truck.

Life Change

Alright there is a bit of a reason why I have fallen silent for awhile.  One of which was due to that old saying think before you speak, and don't put ANYTHING on the Internet that you might regret later. 

The back story... In October, right after BJ's surgery I was requested to change my hours to increase my productivity.  After doing so, my productivity did not increase as much as I wanted to.  Then in the middle of January I was asked, wait told, I was being moved to pay per visit, changing my hours significantly but also changing my income and my benefits. 

Therefore, the reason why I have not been posting is due to me trying to find a second, maybe even a third.  But it wasn't even that easy, I had to get all my paper work together because I let my birth to three license practically expire.  I also have been getting ready to test for my Illinois education license that would allow me to work in the schools.

It is hard for me to adjust to my new schedule and find myself sitting around before work.  As I get better I am able to get more done or at least feel more productive.  But as soon as I start with my second job it will be a bit different and I will have to readjust again. 

Hockey game

I don't want to hear it. I know I'm behind.  I'll explain later.
Last weekend we jumped in the car and headed north to Rockford.  BJ had tickets from work that were awesome seats so we went.  It was my dad, step-mom, sister, me, BJ, his mom and dad, and Elijah. 

The seats were right on the ice, next to the players bench.  It was a special box so all the seats were leather and had padding.  We evem got to be on the big TV.

If that's how all sporting events were I would go to them all the time.  FREE and COMFORTABLE.  AWESOME! 

We taught Elijah how to bang on the glass and the zamboni guy banged back every time he was close enough. 

The team is the farm team for the Chicago Blackhawks so we saw several players that also play on for the Hawks.  Some of the permanent team members were there signing stuff.  Elijah got his jersey signed. 

At the end of the night one of the equipment people gave us a game puck.  We gave it to Elijah and for the hour and a half home he held onto it every once in a while would tell me it was his "aty but, fom da dame, mine"  Once he fell a sleep he he held onto it.  Thank goodness he was sleeping when we got home or else he probably would have slept with it.  The next morning he found it and his play hockey sticks and carried them around until we left for school.  Awesome. 

Sledding

With all the snow and a 2 and a half year old what a better time than to go sledding. 

This is the reason why BJ and I had kids.  It was so we could do cool kid things where there were other kids with out looking like the creepy people without kids.  Being smart though I did not bring the camera because I did not want to kill it.  Elijah loved sledding, other than the part where the snow got all in his face. 

He wanted to stay for hours but seeing as BJ was the only one that was able to pull him up the hill we had to cut it short.  We staged some pictures after we got home in the backyard.  Even Resuce loved the snow.  I think she found something under the snow becuase for about 5 minutes at a time.  I almost thought she wsa going to stop breathing. 

Snow!

Last Friday we had snow.  Not something new for us in the northern Midwest, but none the less lots of snow in a short amount of time.  I, however, was further away from home than normal going to a continuing education class.  It took me about 45 minutes to get there around 8:00 and three and a half hours to get home.  I drove at a top speed of 20 miles per hour and a low speed of about 5 miles per hour ON THE HIGHWAY.  I found that with that much snow on the ground/road driving became a free for all and make the rules up as you go.  For example, in a place I was real sure was only 3 lanes we were driving 4 wide, semi trucks would merge as they pleased, I saw 2 people stop one in the middle of the road to clear off their car, and if a lane wasn't clear you could drive in it if your car was really an SUV.  Here are some pictures from my drive home when I reached a low low speed of almost stopped. 

Why boys are fun.

Let me tell you how my day started.

Elijah: Mommy! Mommy!
Me: (Go in to get Elijah out of his bed and find him under ALL his blankets.)
Elijah: You can't see me. (Followed by him jumping out of the blankets)

Elijah then proceeds to wake up every animal in his bed, hug them then tell me they are crying and need to go back to sleep.  He then lays them down and covers them up.  I then decide that it has been over 12 hours since his last bathroom visit so I take him in to the bathroom.  I set him on the potty but since he was wearing his pj's he is practically naked.  I leave him there for I swear 4 minutes at MOST.  In that time I was able to get a shirt, pants that match, socks, and an undershirt.  I then hear "Mommy I done."  I walk into the bathroom and find pee EVERYWHERE.  Not just a little here or there but EVERYWHERE.  We have tiles that are 1 x 1 foot.  He managed to get pee 3 feet to the left, in an area of 2 feet by 3 feet.  He had pee on his hand, all down both legs, around the seat of the toddler seat and normal seat, and the best one...on his chest and FACE.  How in the world did the child get all that pee on his body, in the room and still a bunch in the toilet.  I thought boys don't start putting pee everywhere until they were like 6 or something.  Never thought I would find all that after 3 minutes. 

Changes

Things in my life have indicated a change may be coming.  Don't all hold your breath at once, no I am not pregnant.  As I'm sure we have all experienced in some way or another the economy has affected us all.  It first started with BJ losing his job in in October of 2009, insurance deductibles sky rocketing and the unemployment rate increasing.  However, just because you have a job the limited number of jobs and finances in other business are probably affecting you too.  Well being in a job that is primarily funded by health insurance we too are experiencing difficulties.  Through discussion with almost all of my co-workers, I have decided to get my school certification and possibly take on contract work in the school district.  This means though that I have to take a test.  Yes a test.  I haven't done that in almost 7 years.  I don't even think I can remember how to work those old fashion scan tron things.  Or even how to sharpen a #2 pencil.  My biggest fear though is actually taking the test on things that I might not remember.

Wish me luck.

Finally, Snow

Today it snowed.  It wasn't a surprise that it was coming they have been talking about it for the past week.  It was supposed to start snowing Thursday morning and continue on through Friday.  (I'll let you know if that part is true.)  As I left for work today I felt like I was preparing for the end of the world.  Then I realized the end of the world I wouldn't have to prepare, I don't need to take anything with me to heaven, but getting out the door today was a different story.  Had to get Elijah in his coat and boots, grabbed his winter coat and snow pants, find a hat and set of mittens and get out the door.  Once to the car, I had to get him in and buckled.  I backed out of the driveway and realized I didn't have my hat or scarf, and I had to go back in.  What could I have forgotten you ask?  My ice scrapper, my rubber floor mats, but mainly just my ice scrapper.  How did I clear the snow from my car after work today?  Oh, well I used my fingers to scratch off the ice from the windows, but being short I couldn't reach most of the windshield. 

Don't worry, it's in my car now.  But the way the winter has been going so far it probably won't snow again until March.  Now I'm prepared though.

I know, I'm slow

I have lived in the same area for just about my whole life, minus the time I was in college.  In that time I have been to lots of places in this area.  One of those places is the Arboretum, the Morton Arboretum.  I am almost 30 years and have been to that place a whole lot and just this week was told it was part of the Morton estate, as in Morton Salt.  Yeah, I know, I'm a bit slow.  I don't think outside the box a whole lot, that's why I wouldn't be very good at marketing or inventing. 

Wendesday

Many of you must wonder what the heck I do Wendesday and Friday.  Well let me just tell you.  Wendesday is cleaning day.  I try to deep clean for 2-3 hours before I have to go to work.  The problem I run into is our dog.  She is black and sheds all year round.  So everywhere you go there is dog hair, and it sticks around for ever.  Takes so much time, I usually get half of what I want to done because I have to clean and reclean areas because of her.  I'm trying to set up some sort of cycle so I can deep clean each area of the house once every few weeks.  Hopefully that will shorten the amount of time I spend cleaning each area. 

Friday is shopping day.  After dropping Elijah off at school and I get breakfast then head to get food.  Once I get home and put away the food if there is any time left I can run the vaccume threw a room or two before I have to leave for work. 

I think I made him mad

We headed to a "vacation club" but it's not a club, meeting.  It was one of those places that you pay money to become a "member" then you can be a life time member as long as you pay more money every year to stay a member.  Then you have to pay an additional fee to actually go on vacation.  However, we went to just get the free (but not so free) airfare and cruise.  Since we knew what we were getting into before we got there, I really didn't listen to the guy talking.  Then when the guy came over to ask us where we wanted to go I told him Egypt.  After about 30 seconds, I asked if there were vacation spots that would let me sleep in a pyramid.  I think I made him a bit mad.  He actually stopped, looked at me and asked me if I was serious.  I was, but I wanted him to stop showing me just how "awesome" this group was.  But I think that would be cool to sleep in a pyramid.  FUN!

Shout out!

Dear Meijer,
You went over the top for me today.  I am going through a crazy insurance switch right now but unfortunately, it is a company I had a couple of years ago.  When the pharmacist typed in my insurance information, it came up that it wasn't an active account.  Without being asked your pharmacist called the insurance company and began straightening it up.  After hanging up on the first incompetent insurance man she called another number that she had found.  After about an hour she finally figured it out and we were able to purchase my drugs and go home and take them.  Thank goodness!!!

So thank you for your hard work.
Kelly

TRAINS

We headed to the Morton Arboretum this weekend with Brian to see trains.  For the 3 adults we came, we saw, and we were ready to go after about 30 minutes.  For the 1 child with us he wanted to sit and watch the trains for hours. 

It was actually very cute, they had it set up so there was a drive in with a a small TV screen that had a closed circuit feed from one of the trains as it drove around.  There was even Thomas and his cars Anne and Clarabelle.

We finally had to call it quits after about an hour because we were getting hungry.  What can I say my child loves Dinos and Trains.  But we stopped and had some coffee before we headed home.  Okay, Elijah really just had water but it he wanted his cup to look like ours. 

Semi-sick day

Yesterday I started to not feel awesome so I took some natural remedies to hopefully kick what I had.  Didn't sleep well last night and woke up this morning with the same symptoms.  Knowing my past I could probably make it through work today, but it would be cutting it close and I wouldn't be a happy camper most of the day.  So I made a grown-up decision and decided to go to the doctor then maybe head into work later today.  But seeing as the doctor can't get me in until noon, I'm not holding my breath to go in.  Oh well, day of sitting on the couch for me.

Shopping

I hate shopping.  I hate picking out clothes, unless it is a choice between two.  The ugly one or the cute one.  Hmm, I think I'll take the cute one thank you.  However, showing up to department store where there are about 500 different shirts in different colors that look fantastic on a manikin but look like the manikin threw up on me when I try the same combinations, it doesn't work for me.  I give each store a a time limit of 15 minutes if nothing jumps off the racks, onto my body and I love it then I'm out of there.  I do want new clothes, but I get way overwhelmed thinking about buying them.  I think I will be bringing BJ to the store and having him pick out the clothes, me try them on and I am happy.  I think I have a plan for the evening...

Pass!

As I am sitting waiting for my first kid, who no showed by the way, one of our new hires came in and he looks exhausted.  He was waiting to see if he had passed his exam to get his licence.  About 5 minutes later he comes bounding back in because he just found out he passed.  I then started thinking about how I found out I passed my test.  Oh wait, I blogged about it way back when.  But 6 years ago it was not done electronically and I had to wait almost 6 weeks before I found out.  But that feeling was the best once I knew I passed.  All that hard work and studying paid off and now I never had to study again.  Not only did our current new grad pass, but the OT starting next week also passed.  She's also my step-sister.  Wahoo!  No more studying for her either. 

Dino's at daycare

What a great month to start this daycare.  It's dino month at daycare.  So far in two days he has been on a dino dig, and made a dino hat.  What else could be perfect for a child who loves dinos, than a new school with dinos.  Today he did nap, and he did great with potty training. 

Daycare

Well Elijah and I both survived yet another day of first day of daycare.  Yes I know, my child is 2 years 6 months and yes I know we are on our 4th daycare.  But in all fairness only two of them I chose to remove him from.  They were not the best environment for Eli.  The last place he was at closed on me without much warning.  But today we started yet another daycare.  I like this one just like I liked my last one.  Let's hope that I continue to like them.  Elijah had a good first day.  He only had one little accident, was bit by a kid, and didn't nap because another new kid did not want to nap and cried the whole time.  Elijah apparently fell asleep less than a block away for school and didn't wake up until about 6:30.  Poor kid.  But like always, he was a great kid.  The teachers were impressed with his eating ability and his ability to stick with the structure.  I can't wait to see what things he creates. 

THEY DID IT!

You know how you hear about all these people that are participating in all different kinds of plastic surgery?  I have always thought I would love to look that great but why would I want to put all that non-natural stuff in my body. I mean botox is poison.  Implants are plastic and not that natural of stuff.  But now, now they have found a way to take extra body fat and put it in places that you want it like wrinkles and boobs.  FINALLY!  I have a reason to gain weight.  If I gain an extra 3 or 4 pounds and move them from my tummy and legs to my boobs I would look hot. Wait, I will just move the fat I have now and look even better.  Next step will be to save up the 12-20 thousand dollars to get this all done.  HAHAHA yeah right, if I had access to that kind of cash that is not what I would do with it.  Oh well, just an FYI for all of you that have that money and want to look like a model.  

Tales from a potty training mother

Here is another one of those moments when before you have children you don't know the whole story, even after you have a child you still don't truly understand what you get your self into or how to handle it.  Now I have entered the stage of parenthood called potty training.  Anyone you ever talk to who has kids tells you this about potty training. "Oh well when Jr. was little he was potty trained in 5 days.  I just let him/her run around for a while without pants."  What they don't tell you.  In those 5 days you spend every waking moment listening for dripping water, your eyes are glued to your child's crotch making sure their undies are not getting wet and all you can think about is when the last time they peed, when they need to pee next, and how much laundry you will have to do.  They also fail to mention that during that time you can't do anything because of the above statement.  But at the same time what they don't tell you is during your waking hours with your child because you have to be within arms reach of them at all times to run them to the potty in case they start going is you have some great bonding time.  Yeah the anxiety of pee makes you forget about the rest of life and focus 100% on your little child.  The last time I was able to do this was during maternity leave but then I was sleepy, crabby, and frustrated the child didn't do much but sleep, cry, eat, and poop. 

What I have learned though was that PMS and potty training should not go together. 

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2012. We made it through last year even though the end of the world was supposed to happen about 3 times.  Well as we all know 12-12-12 is supposed to be the end of the world, so lets hope we see 2013.  If we don't I'll see you on the other side.  But if we do make it to 2013 I do have a couple of resolutions that need to be met before then.  I think our 10 from last year was a bit much.  This year we will:

Save Money
Have fun
Be secure
Be small

Resolutions of 2011

With the end of 2011 I am sure you want to know exactly how I did on my Resolutions for the past year.  So here we go...

Blog more (than 2010) Nope.  Didn't get this one done.  I blame it on my new work hours. 

Eat less (sugar), Sort of.
Clean more (during the week), YES! Again blame it on my new work hours but still a yes!
Watch TV less (decrease # of shows I follow), Again yes! I know I'm kinda awesome.  DVR helps a lot.
Save more ($$), NOPE.  Guess we will work on that again next year.
Weigh less (than ???), Definitely yes.  down 10 pounds from last year.  Wahoo.
Work hard (at work) Certainly feels like it.
Play harder (at home and on the weekend) Yes.  I love my family and we have had a lot of fun together this past year on the weekend.
Read more (books) HAHAHA, enough said.
Clean car (inside and out) Better than 2010 but still not the best.

If you can't say anything smart...

Don't say anything at all.  So I think a I might have a problem.  Back in college I had a mild fear of public speaking, but I eventually got over it.  I don't mind talking in front of 10, 20, 50, 100 people now just as long as it is about something I know.  Or even as long as I can convince you I know more than you I'm good.  However, I have a problem when it comes to speaking to one person, one that is way higher in rank than I.  For example, my boss's boss, and now add to the list BJ's boss's boss's boss.  Yup I did it again.  Open my mouth, word diarrhea falls out.  I have just decided that in those situations now I will just be silent in those situations.  Oh well, can't win them all.

Have you missed me?

One thing I can say with my new schedule is that it does not leave a lot of room at night for blogging.  BJ's grand idea is to blog in the mornings before I have to go to work several days of the week.  But we all know that my crazy thoughts don't come out until late at night. 

It has been a crazy couple of weeks since my last post, we went to the circus, and a parade, had Thanksgiving times 3 did early morning shopping, almost finished with Christmas shopping, wrapped presents, decorated for Christmas, saw the play Memphis, went to BJ's work Christmas party, invited an Elf on the Shelf to spend the Christmas season in or house, and started baking for Christmas. 

Maybe soon I will just post a bunch of random pictures and you can play match the event with the right picture.  :)  Good luck.

A Special Thank You!

It has come time again for me, the Hubby, to overtake the blog again.  I am sure that Kelly is going to be coming down from putting Elijah to bed and Blog as well so I figured I would overtake it really quick! 

I would like to say a very special thank you to any and every one who has helped me thus far on my recovery from surgery, especially Kelly.  She has put up with me in the thick and thin throughout everything.  Now that I am going to be out of the recliner and back into bed, snoring and all, I hope that I don't make you too upset with me.

You Are My Favorite!!! 

Resolution update #3

Because I know you are all wondering.  I know how you think.  LOL

Blog more (than 2010)- In order to do so I need to blog over 43 times between now and the end of December.  We will see.  I'm not very positive on this end though due to my crazy smart phone.

Eat less (sugar)-I was doing really well with this until Halloween, however, now were not doing awesome on this.  I am eating less though.
Clean more (during the week)- Yeah not really, but with my hours changing I may be doing more cleaning on Wednesday.  But we will see.
Watch TV less (decrease # of shows I follow)- HAHA, I have no clue.  Now with DVR I probably watch more shows but there are so many that we tape it's like we have excess for when we go through that time of year with no new TV on.  We will watch older stuff instead of crap.
Save more ($$)- NOPE!  Let me introduce to you deductibles, and life and all other awesome things that cost money. 
Weigh less (than ???)- Check done, I'm awesome!
Work hard (at work)- Yeah, That I am.  So hard I have no nights at home with my little boy.  Not happy about that and I hope that will change soon, but not going to hold my breath.
Play harder (at home and on the weekend)- I think so.  I have had an awesome year with all we have done with Elijah.  No regrets.
Read more (books)- Nope
Clean car (inside and out)- Sort of.  Getting better.  I think.

Smart phone...

Dumb user.  How beneficial is your smart phone if you truly don't know how to maximize the smartness of the darn thing.  I got my phone in June and began using it, a lot. However, I started having my e-mail on it but After 3-4 weeks of having an alert every time I got spam I decided that wasn't worth it.  Then I wanted to put a blog app on the phone, however, it wouldn't let me write out the blog.  So that came off.  BJ put an assistant on the phone, but I found that it was much easier to just google everything.  It was faster.  I like games but I don't want a lot on my phone because I need to do other things in life, like take care of my son.  I am also cheep so I don't like paying for the apps.  So was this phone worth it?  I still don't know.  Anyone out there that can help me?  What things should I put on my phone?  Anyone want to come over and teach me how to use my phone?  Thanks.

Kids are cute

My son is so cute.  And if I haven't said it before, i will say it now, I love Elijah's school.  When your child is younge you can only see what they are really learning by what they are showing you.  Today Elijah did so by sorting all of his foam letters and numbers by color.  It was great.  However, we had so many that we had to circle the whole tub. 

By the way, every night we say our prayers and I start Elijah out by saying "Dear God, thank you for..." then I let Elijah file in the blank.  Some of the things Elijah's says thanks for make me laugh so much.  for a week we were praying for the neighbors and if we forget to pray for thier dog we have to start all over.  It was hallarious.  Tonight we said thank you for M&M's, I almost dropped Elijah I was laughing so hard.  But I agree with Eli, M&M's are definitly something we need to thank God for. 

Lazy Mom Right Here

Really there have been a million things that we have done since the last post.  I went back to work, BJ started PT, the family went to BOO at the zoo, we (I) carved pumpkins, we went trick-or-treating, we hung out with Grandpa Brian, and Grandma and Grandpa Sarlina came over.  However, I took maybe 10 pictures of all that, and they are still on the camera that is out of arms reach.  Therefore, I'm lazy.  I can't reach and I don't want to get up. Let me just tell you though, I had the cutest Mr. Potato Head in the whole wide world.  Maybe I'll get around to it or just uploading the pictures and posting a link for you.  I'll get back to you on that one though.  I might also wait until I'm warm. 

Insurance company, Smile

I have a mission in life that when I know I'm going to meet someone who has a tough job I'm going to try to be nice to them.  Today I spent about an hour calling accountant departments to most medical facilities in the area due to my latest cleaning spree.  I came across some medical bills that I wasn't sure if they were paid or not.  Thank goodness to me though, all but 1 or 2 of them were paid and the ones that were not one had a messed up billing system, one was waiting for insurance and one I had forgotten about.  Then I needed to call the insurance company.  Always a fun day when you have to do that.  Let me just tell you, 99.9% of them woke up with a Parana biting their toes and sleeping on glass.  That's why they are all so pleasant.  So when I call I try to kill them with kindness.  The nice thing about my company being based out of Georgia is I get to speak with the friendly people of the south.  I ended up spending over 30 minutes on the phone with them and making the representative laugh no less than 3 times. 

One of which was when I was explaining to her why I was asking her for all the information toward our account.  I was explaining to her that my husband had had surgery recently and I was cleaning while he was sleeping and all that other fun things.  While cleaning I came across a pile of bills that had been forgotten about.  That is absolutely the worst thing to find while cleaning.  And since I didn't know how long they had been there I didn't know what had been paid and what had not been I was calling to make sure everyone got their money.  Apparently she thought that was funny.  I did too actually. 

Ah well, that is my life.  LOL.  At least I made one more person smile today even if most of her phone calls were probably not nearly as nice as I was.

Surgery

Friday morning BJ had his surgery on his arm.  We rolled out of bed at 5:00 am and made it to the surgery center by 6:30.  They rolled him way around 7:30.  Then I got to wait all by my self.  It was freezing in the waiting room.  Thank goodness I had on my winter coat.  I might have lost fingers or toes without it.  at 8:30 the let me know that BJ was done in surgery and that he did well.  Once he came out of the anesthesia enough I would be able to see him.  I thought this would be very quick.  It wasn't.  It was almost a whole hour more before I was able to see him.  When I was finally brought back the nurse let me know that BJ was slightly flushed and he had been complaining that he was cold.  As I went into his recovery area he was whiter than snow and wrapped from head to to in about 8 blankets.  He even had one wrapped around his head.  I told him he looked like Mother Teresa, it made him smile.  He was also very proud that the nurse was able to see his underwear.  Ahhh, the things that are important to us when we are highly sedated.  Once we got home he slept most of the day but then couldn't sleep at night.  Today we were able to get some clothes oh him so we are real sure he can leave the house without freezing or getting arrested. 

Tomorrow we will take off the bandages.  I'll post pictures if I remember. 

Message from beyond

I'm not one much to believe in ghosts and being contacted from people who are no longer living, but sometimes the signs are just so obvious I can't help but acknowledge them.  I have also been reading a book titled "Heaven is for Real."  I don't know if the whole book is real but I like to think it is, plus it also gives you a better idea of what the unknown is.  So needless to say it has had me thinking a lot lately about heaven.  As we were going into BJ's surgery I told him that if he goes to Heaven while he is is in surgery to say hi to family and friends that are there.  We smiled about it and BJ told me the people he really wanted to see if he could.  We were the first ones scheduled for surgery that day and at 6:30 in the morning we walk into the surgery center.  When we opened the door to the center a perfect monarch butterfly fell out of the door.  BJ and I just looked at each other and smiled.  Reason being, his grandma loved butterflies and is remembered by butterflies.  We thought it was a nice way to let us know that his grandma was with BJ during his surgery.

Birthday Cake

I know I'm a bit behind on the blog.  I have had a busy life this last week so blogging has had to take a backseat to that.  However, the other night we went to my dad's house to celebrate his birthday.  It was Wednesday, my late night at work.  BJ and Elijah showed up at my work and we took one car there the at the end of the night we went back to my work and got my car.  We didn't get to my dad's house until about 7:30 but dinner was ready and it was delicious as always.  However, before we started eating we noticed that the chocolate cherry cake my sister made earlier that day had all the candles in it and they were all droopy.  BJ and I being annoying went to straighten them but they wouldn't straighten.  That was when BJ pulled one out.  All that came out of the cake was the wick, no wax.  Um okay.  We tried another one, more wick no wax.  Weired.  Finally we decided that the cake must not have been cool enough when the candles were put in.  We left most of the candles in and had dinner.  By the time we were done eating we waited a bit before singing and doing all the fun stuff.  However, as we were pulling the rest of the candles out of the cake they came out with all their wax.  What the heck?  So weird.  Guess the cake wasn't cool enough initially, but when it did cool down enough the wax reformed around the wick and came out of the cake.  We just had to be careful while eating it.  While I was eating the cake I almost broke my tooth on a cherry seed.  My sister just looked at me and said, at least we know they were real cherries.

Even with the seed and the wax it was still a delicious cake.  Even if BJ took all the cake he brought home to work and didn't leave any for us here. 

Cramp, Cramp

This has happened to me once before, and I have no clue why I didn't blog about it.  If I did blog about it, I can't find it.  Sooo...

I am off at a resource fair for people in our close district as I'm setting up our table I begin thinking about how long of a day it has been and how once I get home I'll have been gone over 13 hours.  As I'm thinking about it I realized my throat was itching so I tried to itch it, with my tongue.  All of a sudden it happened.  The back of my tongue middle got a cramp.  The first time this happened it was a huge cramp.  I actually started thinking what am I going to do?  Am I going to stop breathing?  How will I tell people what is wrong if my tongue is cramped? 

Tonight I did not freak out.  It passed but man that would have been a rough night if I, as a Speech person, couldn't talk to people.  That would have been funny but not cool.

P.S.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

My life...

I don't think you all realize how funny my life actually is.  When you read my posts, I can't convey the facial expressions that go along with most of my life.  I mean I can only put into words the look on my face, the look on B.J.s face, the look on Rescue's face, and best yet the look on Elijah's face.  Like right now BJ's face is a mix of angry eyes and pure frustration.  But it would be better if you could see my imitation of BJ's angry eyes and all that other fun things.  As I spent the day with my sister and my step-mom we figured out that my facial expressions add so much more to the stories of my life.  Most of them have to do with BJ or Elijah.  It would just make you laugh that much harder at me.  I promise. 

Halloween

For Halloween, Elijah will be Mr. Potato head.  That is if I ever get around to making his costume.  After getting Elijah feed, and in bed and the house sort of straightened up I don't really want to do work on his costume. 

On another hand, BJ last night had a weird force take over his hand last night and it woke me up.  As I lay in bed watching his hand become a spider it ran up and down the bed and finally on me.  It was the weirdest thing in the world.  I was laughing so hard I HAD to wake up BJ.  He had no idea what he was dreaming about but I still think it was funny.

If this is fall...

I'll keep it.  Normally Fall is cloudy, gray, and cold.  Not currently, it has been warm, with bright colorful leaves, sunny, and wonderful.  I love this weather.  It's like its early summer.  Love it!  I have the windows open, and the doors.  I just can't be more happy with how the weather is. 

Free is not always good

In Sunday's paper there was a coupon for a free small Dunkin Donuts pumpkin latte.  So what the hey, I thought I would treat myself today.  I show up and fell into the total guilt trip for using them without giving them any money.  I told them to throw in a donut just because.  Then as I get to the window the lady hands me a medium coffee.  They goofed and I still got it free.  However, the issue was that I don't ususally drink coffee and when I do I only have small amounts.  A medium coffee does crazy things to me.  I was wired from 8:30 until 1:00.  My poor co-workers think it's funny when I have coffee, I feel like I'm going to crawl out of my skin.  Even now at 9:45 at night I'm not sleepy.  What should I do?  Try to sleep?  Maybe.

Amber is that you?

When I was in Jr. High we got a dog.  Her name was Amber.  I wanted to post a picture of her but I quickly realized that we had her before the time of digital cameras.  Can you even remember that time?  Anyway, tangent, Amber was a quarky dog.  She had some weird habits, like having to have the water bowl full to the top and not to close to the wall or the food bowl.  One of our favorite was when Amber would be given a rawhide bone.  She would eat half of it then try and hide the other half.  However, her hiding spots were not that great.  She would put it in the middle of the floor or in the middle of the bed and try to put the covers over it.  What could we say, she was a weird dog.

The other day as I was cleaning up some extra blankets upstairs I found a pig ear hiding in there.  As soon as Rescue saw the ear she jumped off the bed, grabbed it and ran downstairs.  I didn't see her much the rest of the night but when I came back down stairs she was hiding under the table and her bone was sitting in the middle of the floor.  Really Rescue?  I can see it.  It's right there.  After I walked almost right up to it she grabbed it and ran upstairs.  Now the ear sits "hidden" next to the bed and every time I see it I can't help but think, "Ah, Rescue, there must be a small part of Amber hidden in you."

What happened?

Some kids ask "why," some kids ask "what's this," some kids ask "wha happen?"  Translation What happened?  BJ and I are starting to think this is a frequently used phrase at daycare.  I like it.  When ever Elijah asks he has the sweetest tone in his voice.  as though he really is caring about what is really happening or what had happened.  Some times we even get a bit of a hand flip too.  However, as with the lovely question of why coming up with an answer is not always easy, especially when you take into consideration that only about half of what Elijah says is understandable.  The kid also has eagle eyes and can see things that normal people cannot, let alone ones with glasses that are not the right prescription.  Then throw in a moving car, your lucky if you even know what he is talking about let alone have any idea about how to answer the question. 

If the shoe fits, wear it.

If it doesn't fit wear it anyway.  That would be what I have been telling Elijah for the past, um, 3 months.  So Elijah apparently has needed new shoes for the past 3 months and I have been jamming his feet into his size 5 shoe.  Grandma and Grandpa bought him new shoes today and they would be a size 7.  Yeah that's right, Parent of the year awards right HERE.  We are awesome and didn't get the hint that the reason Elijah learned to take off his shoes was probably because they hurt his feet.  Poor kid.  Never fear though, thanks to Grandparents, Elijah will have shoes that fit. 

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.