easter n stuff

**I typed this post over a week ago and am just now posting it**

I keep seeing all these wonderful Easter posts with little ones dying eggs, wearing pretty dresses, attending Easter egg hunts... I assure you we did all those things (minus the dying of eggs) but for some reason my camera has been on hiatus the last couple months. I have taken zero pictures.

During this time there have been many picture worthy moments. Cooper has gotten a tooth... and now a second. It was Easter. Ellie took a tumble across my parents deck and fell full speed head first into their door frame as I stood with the door open thus creating the biggest owie one has ever seen on the forehead of a 3 year old. Ellie has been in swim lessons. All picture worthy... but with a lazy momma. Or a momma with 4897344210 thought running thru my head at any moment that I have room for little else. The camera being the last thing on my mind.

Work is crazy. This week alone I had to pick up 4 shifts for staff who called in. This IS NOT what I had in mind when I wanted to go back to work part time. I actually had a 5th call in but I was already working at that point so I couldn't cover her shift. She also called ONE HOUR into her shift. One hour into her shift. Yes, that is what I said. Not before her shift started, but one hour after not showing. Seriously. Teenagers.

Don't get me wrong. I love this job and the challenge it is right now. I love being in charge and all that comes with it. I love being able to make the necessary changes to make the program the best it can become.

((At this moment Ellie is whipping a small blanket around saying, "look at all the sparkles..." I told her they were called dust... she is running around saying, "why are they all over?" "They look so pretty everywhere!" Ummm... I guess I need to dust.))

OMG. Never a dull moment. Now Ellie just came over to me and said, "mom, I'm pooping in my underwear." WTH.

love me some candy

We got a package today! I LOVE getting packages... it usually means something fun is here! Usually it also means I've ordered something off ebay :).

But this time it was a gift from Greg's mom. CANDY! Happy Easter to US! :)

Get a load of this...

Oh yeah... chocolate, gummy bunnies, jelly beans, a cute chick wall hanging and MORE chocolate! Ellie declared this, "the best gift anyone ever gave all of us!"

Its a good thing I just got a job at the Y.

THANK YOU Melody!

my life ~ part 1

Ok. Vent time. Life has been very challenging this past year. Financially anyway. It seems like we just made a series of bad decisions. It started with me quitting my job to stay home with the kids. That alone was a GREAT decision. I had an awesome summer with Ellie and since Cooper has joined the family the 3 of us have had loads of fun doing the day to day stuff like grocery shopping, cooking dinner and cleaning. We go to weekly Thursday morning play days at a local preschool that opens one classroom and the gym up each week. We watch countless movies. We bake. We play go fish and memory (WAY to many times). We trace letters. We read books. We also love to go to Starbucks for a much needed mommy pick me up. We do lots and I love it. It is hard work staying home. Very hard. But in the end I love it no matter how much I complain about it or how hard it is. Anyway... back to the bad decisions.

So I quit my job in May 09. Life is good. Ellie and I started off our kick-A summer... and then Greg got some time off at work for a stupid email we sent between the 2 of us and about 100 other people. It was hilariously perverted and whatever... but someone was offended. So that was a kick in the pants. Time off work - unpaid - when I wasn't working either. Not a good start.

We made it thru the summer with Greg working and me selling lia sophia. As the end of my pregnancy neared Greg was involved in another incident at work involving a well being check that didn't get completed even though it was entered into the computer as being done. Apparently though there was some chaos at the time with a detainee attempting to hang himself and he had to be cut down, etc. I wasn't there so I don't know what happened. But this resulted in Greg having a meeting scheduled with the Sheriff and other higher ups. He was told to bring in all county property. So we just knew he was going to be fired. We prepared ourselves for it. It was literally days before I was to deliver. We were scared and stressed. I was so worried we wouldn't have health insurance when it came time to deliver.

The day came and literally an hour before it was time for him to go in my dad called and told him to stay calm and not have an attitude. What we didn't know at that time was that my dad had gone in and spoke to the Sheriff and the other higher ups and pretty much asked that they give Greg another chance. That I was prego and that his income was our only income. (My dad worked with most of these men for some 30 years so he knew them well.) My dad pretty much saved our arse. For that we are so grateful. But the result was that he still received 20 shifts off unpaid. 20 shifts is just under 2 months off in his job as they work 12 hour shift work. So we had little to no income from mid-September to mid-November. We had some help from Greg's dad and my grandpa. What we didn't have was enough money to pay our mortgage.

After talking to our mortgage company 3, 4, 5 times they finally agreed to give us a 6 month deferment. We thought, SWEET! We are going to be fine! We got our first paycheck in mid-November and then had to pay double the health insurance since we hadn't paid it for those 2 months. We also had to catch up on plenty of other bills I'd let slide during that time. Then it was Christmas time and you know that pressure to buy gifts for everyone is there. Then Greg has to have surgery and they want $1700 down and we EVEN HAVE INSURANCE!

So that brings us to now. The 6 months is up and what does our mortgage bill say? $950 for one months payment? Oh no, over $7000 is due. They want the ENTIRE 6 months of payments. NOW. Explain this one to me. If we didn't have it over those 6 months why would we have it now? So they tell us to fill out some paper work for some plan Obama has put into action... I do just that. Well this past Saturday they send us a letter saying they are unable to help us and we should put our house up for sale (it has been since December) and to contact them when we receive an offer and they'll consider a short sale. Shhaaaaaaa right. We live in the middle of no where. We are not going to get any offers on or house any time soon.

So we are considering just walking away. Is this what is happening across this country today? It is just so dang sad.

To be continued...

Ya like some hot chachy?

My real-life friend Melissa is having a hot chocolate stand (we live in frigid MN ya know) with her kids (5 - all under 7!) to raise money for the Red Cross for Haiti. Please click HERE to read about it or donate! Thank you!

the weather outside is frightful...

Or at least it's going to be. Another foot of snow (or more) predicted on top of what we already have... snow blower's ready and so is Greg!

We are headed to my parents house tomorrow to spend a few days there... otherwise I have a feeling we are going to be snowed in on Christmas eve and Christmas day. So I better go make my gigantic list of baby/kid stuff that they require to get through 2 (maybe 3) days. Ugh.

A few more pics before I go... my attempt to get a Christmas card... didn't go so well.

Merry Christmas to you all!

my wish list

I really, really, really want a Kindle for Christmas. I'll keep dreaming...

This year I asked for more practical things as we NEED some things... even though I WANT some other things.

I asked for sheets, a loaf pan and a couple cookie sheets. Gift cards for gas, groceries and the place I get my haircut. A food processor so I can make most of Coop's food. Diapers for Coop (we cloth). I even asked for a new kitchen broom. Lame huh? Such is life in this economy.

My favorite Christmas presents are right here... aren't they the cutest?! :)

sick

Thanks for your thoughts on my last post everyone.  I have been feeling a few movements here and there so I'm not quite as worried about it now.  I've just had a stressful week at work and I think it has all come to a head this weekend... I've got the crud.  I have a terrible sore throat, drainage from my sinuses, burning eyes and on and off headache.  I've been sleeping since 3 this afternoon and I just woke up to make myself something for dinner and am going right back to bed. We cancelled our dinner plans for tonight and our Easter plans for tomorrow (which I'm sad about). This way I can sleep in and rest tomorrow so hopefully Monday I don't have to use any sick time from work.  Being sick just sucks.  Ick.  Night!  

the details

So, um, yeah.  We're pregnant.  Wow.  Still a bit in disbelief.  But 5 positive pg tests and a missed period... I'd assume I should start to believe it huh?  

A few of you have asked for details (and I also want to post them so I can remember the story) so here is every last detail (warning TMI ahead). 
12/10/08 was the first day of my last period.  11 days later on 12/20/08 we (clears throat) you know what we did... but it was spontaneous and right before we did I thought, "lets take an ovulation test to see if I'm ovulating"... I was... on day 11.  For the next week and a half we were so busy with Christmas plans, getting last minute things together and work/daycare schedules that I really didn't even think about if I was pg or not.  

Then on 12/31 I overslept and was late for work.  I NEVER do that.  Then the evening of 12/31 we didn't have grand plans since Greg had to work at 6 a.m. on the 1st... so we stayed home (mind you the thought still hadn't even crossed my mind that I might be pg) and shared some champagne.  A glass of it and I literally passed out on the couch.  It was 8:30.  (I'm such a party animal.)  I thought I was just tired.  So we went to bed.

1/1/09 my parents were going to take Ellie for the evening.  We went to Applebees for dinner and I yawned the entire damn time. Even the waitress commented that I better get home and get to bed!  Then Greg said, "maybe your pregnant!"... I thought, no way I'm just tired.    

After dinner we went to get groceries and we picked up a 3 pack of pg tests.  Came home, took the test and it came back positive.  I about passed out.  Greg was in shock/smiling the entire time.  I took another one.  Positive.  Now I still wasn't due for my period until 1/6/09.  I just didn't believe it.  Throughout the rest of the weekend I took 3 more tests.  All positive.  They showed positive a week before my period!  At 3 weeks pg!  I still can't believe that.  Now the 6th has come and gone and I'm without aunt flo... so yep, I guess we can assume I'm pregnant.  

I will be a full 5 weeks pg on 1/14/09.  I know it is early still and you might be shocked that I'm sharing the news this fast... but for one, I can't keep my mouth shut with something this exciting and two, if anything would happen I would want to blog about it anyways and would need the support of my friends and family.  

I have been feeling good.  The only complaints I have are that I had really sore gums for about the last week, I've had a few days of mild period-like cramps and I've been a bit more tired than usual.

We are very excited, worried about how all this is gonna work financially (daycare is gonna be 75% of my income.. so how can I stay home and make half my income?? suggestions?), scared, we wonder how it will change our relationship with Ellie... I feel so many emotions.  For some reason this time around I am really afraid of a miscarriage.  I've had no bleeding or anything to indicate this might be a problem as of yet... but I just don't remember being so worried about this last time.  I am also overly worried about birth defects this time around.  No idea why... and maybe I had these feelings the first time and just don't remember. I think it is very normal of me to be having these feelings and I'm sure they will pass as the weeks go on.

I won't go to the dr. until I'm about 10-12 weeks along.  So for now I'm just eating healthy, cutting my caffeine intake, drinking more water, resting more and trying to think positive... as positive as all 5 of those tests.  :)  I've done a few online pregnancy wheels to find out a due date.  They've varied from Sept 15, 16 or 17.

We have told Ellie about a baby growing in my belly.  For some dang reason she calls the baby "Kenny".  It just cracks us up!

Getting pregnant has come very easy for us.  Both times now I've taken an ovulation test, found it to be positive, did the deed and boom... pregnant.  I'm very thankful to be blessed with this ability but it is also heart wrenching when you have family and friends who don't have the same luck.  So the news was bittersweet for some and was sometimes hard to share... so for 2009 I wish the fertility gods grant good things to those who are hoping for a baby!

So, yeah... any other questions?

**Edited to add**

one other complaint Amanda reminded me I was having (duh, mommy brain in full force here) is SORE, SORE boobs.  PMS boob pain x20!  Ouch.

christmas 2008 - part 1

~Christmas Eve~

My sister and her husband came out early that morning and we made a gigantic breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage, toast, pancakes and cinnamon rolls. It was SO yummy.  We cleaned up and then let Ellie open a few gifts... 

She got a trunk full of dress up princess clothes, hence the Belle outfit...

Callie enjoyed the trunk...

She also got a couple pair of princess pj's... so yes, we had on multiple outfits in a matter of a couple hours...

We also opened our gifts from them and vice versa.  Remember when I went to the NKOTB concert in Oct???  Well my sly little cousin bought a sweatshirt there and pretended it was for her... and yes, it worked... I totally believed her and was GREEN with envy (they were to spendy for me to buy)... she then called my sis up and said, Kris really wants this sweatshirt, will you buy it for her for x-mas... BLESS HER FOR SAYING YES!!!  I LOVE MY SWEATSHIRT!!  My hubby was ready with the camera and I'm sure he'll be more than happy to post pics of my ridiculous 10 year old rant of excitement when I opened that gift... they will not be posted here, sorry!!  

The rest of the afternoon was spent playing cards and drinking a few bottles of wine, a few to many beers and eating way to much food.  Then it was time to get ready for mom and dad's.

There we had appetizers and opened more presents...

Ellie's favorite gift was her American Girl Doll baby and her very own matching pj's.  She thought that was pretty cool.
It was a very nice relaxing day.  

Christmas Day on the other hand... not so much... to be continued...

life - part 2

Once again I'm almost a week behind... have basically been working all week... dealing with all this damn snow we've been getting... preparing for Christmas... all that fun stuff we do every day.

Monday night Greg's photography club was having a cookie exchange/Christmas party/gift exchange. We planned to go but with the temp's being in the negatives I just didn't feel like packing Ellie up and hauling her into town when I got home from work. We decided that Greg would go alone. I had a nice quiet evening to myself. When Greg got home he informed me that there was a girl at the party (a guest of another photo club member) who wouldn't stop hitting on him! ALL night long! He said he kept mentioning his wife this, his daughter that and she didn't seem to get the hint (or just didn't care)... I hate girls like that. Next time I don't care if it is 40 below zero... I will be there! :)

Tuesday after work I was driving home (alone - Greg was home with Ellie for the day). It had been snowing for a few hours already and the roads were pretty slick and snow covered. We live in the middle on nowhere and I take quite a few country roads to get home... so I'm on my way... on a road where my cell phone doesn't work... and my back tires start sliding so I tried to correct it which only makes it worse and I do a couple 360's and all the sudden I'm sliding down the ditch sideways (drivers side first) and boom... I'm in the corn field. It happened so fast I can't even tell you how many times I spun around... I seriously have no idea. I was so scared and I remember thinking, as I was sliding into the ditch, that the trailblazer was going to tip over onto the drivers side... I was just waiting for my window to explode all over my face. Thank god it didn't happen.

An angel of a man pulled over, jumped out of his truck and came over to me to make sure I was ok... which I was... just a little shaken and my heart was racing... and he told me he could get me out... I was like, "um you can??!!" and he said, "yeah, ya got 4-wheel drive right?" I told him yes and he offered to try and drive it out of the ditch for me... I was like, BE MY GUEST! He got in and after a few seconds of turning the wheel back and forth and spinning tires he pulled up into and through the cornfield and out the driveway to me. I'm such a newbie to this 4-wheel drive thing that I had no idea I could just drive myself out! Not that I would have been able to do it myself anyway!

I feel terrible that I didn't even get the man's name! He asked where I lived and I told him, then he said he lived just up the road. I thanked him and gave him a little around the shoulder type hug (?! not sure what I was thinking there, I was just SO THANKFUL for him). He asked me if I'd ever had a 4-wheel drive vehicle before and I told him I hadn't... and just like my dad he says to me, "even with 4-wheel drive you have to slow down because once these vehicles start spinning they just keep going... " But seriously! I was going maybe 25 mph! Not 55!

I'm just so thankful Ellie wasn't with me and that the car wasn't damaged. Oh duh and that I wasn't hurt.

Do you know how happy I am that it's Friday night? You have NO IDEA. It has been a long week. This is usually what it takes to get me through my day...


We are due for more snow tomorrow... here's the forecast...
Minnesota, Goodhue County
Winter Storm Watch
Statement as of 10:09 AM CST on December 19, 2008
Expires 7:00 PM EST on December 21, 2008
... Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon... A Winter Storm Watch remains in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. A strong low pressure system will enter western Minnesota on Saturday and reach central Wisconsin by Sunday. Accumulating snow will accompany the low pressure system with amounts possibly exceeding six inches by Sunday night for central and east central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin... including the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In addition to the snow... strong northwest winds will develop Saturday night and continue on Sunday causing considerable blowing and drifting snow. Another round of bitterly cold air and dangerous wind chills is expected to arrive later Sunday. A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant snow... sleet... or ice accumulations that may impact travel.Continue to monitor the latest forecasts.

More below zero temps and more snow... love MN, just love it... why do I live here??

We were supposed to have Christmas with Greg's family tomorrow at his aunt's house but because of the incoming storm my MIL, SIL and GIL have decided it would be smartest to not make the drive down (from Hayward, WI)... and I don't blame them... after Tuesday night I never want to drive in the snow again... very unlikely. So I'm pretty thankful that we get to hunker down tomorrow and just stay home... no driving what so ever. Sunday afternoon we have tickets to go to the Vikings game with my parents and sister and BIL... I'm not so sure we're going to make that either... I'm hoping things clear up by then but I guess we'll have to wait and see. MN winter weather is pretty unpredictable.

My favorite picture of the week...

The BEST cookies I've had so far this Christmas season!

Almond Sugar Cookies

1 Cup Butter
¾ Cup Sugar
1tsp almond extract
2 Cups Flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt

Mix all the above roll into 1 inch balls, flatten cookies with bottom of glass dipped in sugar. Bake 400 for 7-9 until lightly brown on edges. Cool for 1 min before removing to wire rack.

Mix 1 c powdered sugar with 1 ½ tsp almond extract and 2 – 3 tsp water for glaze. Color with food color, drizzle over cookies then sprinkle with slivered almonds. Makes 4 doz.

life - part 1

We just had a major meltdown in Nellieville. Whoa. Like no other. Miss Ellie wanted chocolate milk. She had already brushed her teeth (I'm kinda a clean teeth nazi, I'll admit it) so I was not going to give in... plus, it was time for bed. I got her a cup of water. She started crying, I said no, she started screaming and kicking and thrashing her arms. It was 6:45 so it was close enough to bedtime (especially with no nap today) so I preceeded to lift her up off the floor, where she was still having a cow, and told her it was time for bed. That only made things worse. Now we start with the - hitting me in the face, spitting, screaming, flexing her body, trying to wriggle out of my arms. I grabbed a pull-up and up the stairs we went... the meltdown continued. When we got to her room it sounded like I was murdering her. She just screamed her heart out all the while sobbing. Sobbing so hard it made her chest quiver and shake as she tried to catch her breath. Then just like that - it was over. I sat in her rocking chair and stayed calm (pretty proud of myself for this one, usually I lose it faster than she does!) I told her to take some deep breaths and to relax. We read 3 books, went potty and had a drink of water. Then instantly she was out cold. Can we say O.V.E.R.T.I.R.E.D.


We had our x-mas get together last Wednesday night... ordered pizza, let the girls open presents and sat around and talked... we don't do it often enough anymore, busy time of year... I miss my girls! Do you think Ellie liked her princess ornaments!?

She had a cute dress on over that lime green turtle neck and pants... but when we got there auntie Jess gave us 2 Halloween costumes and the one she is wearing is like a woodland fairy or something?!
Her big girl princess panties!

Her little people camping set from Auntie Tanya!

Don't my friends have CUTE KIDS!

Miss Nora

Miss Hunter

Tonight we were supposed to have a Christmas party for Greg's photography club... but this is the current forcast:

-9° Clear ~ Windchill -29

To say the least... I got home from work and there was NO WAY IN HELL I was going back out there and I wasn't about to bundle Ellie up and take her out either. Greg went by himself. I think he's crazy! But he just called and is on his way home, had a good time, participated in the cookie exchange (Ellie and I baked last night) so he's bringing home a bunch of yummy treats, participated in the white elephant gift exchange and he even one a door prize! Fun :)

Our weekend

THURSDAY

Thanksgiving dinner was yummy as usual. We spent the day at my parents house...
Mom and Katie slaving away in the kitchen...
Dad, Grandpa Gene and Greg looking at Mom and Dad's New York pictures...
Ellie
Ellie pretty much passed out after dinner... mouth wide open and legs crossed like a little lady!

FRIDAY

-The 7th Annual Downtown Red Wing Holiday Stroll-

Santa, lighted parade, live nativity, reindeer, wagon rides, free chili, carolers and fireworks... a good night of family fun!

Ellie and Greg... he looks drunk but I swear he wasn't! He'd just gotten off work!
A real live reindeer!
Wagon rides...
My dad, mom and cousin Dan...

At the end of the night when the streets had cleared... I love how they light the buildings all through the downtown area... so pretty! And you can see Miss Red Wing in the white and her 2 princesses in the red...

SATURDAY

I was planning to stay home until my sister called and asked if I would run to Kohl's with her... I needed to go to Target for groceries so I thought I better take her up on the offer because I always like an extra hand when I have to take Ellie grocery shopping... I ended up buying a few stocking stuffers for Ellie. We also went to Old Navy and I bought Ellie a Christmas gift... a cute pair of pink striped pants and a little pink shirt to match!!

Ellie loves hiding in the clothes racks whenever we go shopping...

SUNDAY

I'm lounging. Nothing more. Ok, except I'm on load #3 for laundry, the kitchen is cleaned, I'm contemplating a batch or 2 of cookies and I'm trying to figure out what we'll be having for dinner. But really... it is a nice relaxing day at home... my favorite kind of day... the only thing that would make it better is if Greg was here and not at work!

100 things about me

1. I'd be lost without my computer.
2. I'd be lost without my blog!
3. I love my bloggy friends!
4. I want to have 4 children.
5. My husband would be happy with the one we have.
6. I'll probably settle for 2.
7. I'm addicted to chap stick. Natural Ice Original to be exact and if I don't have one by my side at all times I might just freak.
8. I'm also addicted to Netflix. Can't wait for the next season of Weeds to come out!
9. I love shopping online... I just finished a bunch of x-mas shopping this morning.
10. I like my house to be clean. Though it rarely is.
11. I hate a dirty kitchen floor... I hate anything sticking to my feet.
12. I was Mrs. Edward Cullen in another life time. No really, I was. So there.
13. I love watching Oprah and Dr. Phil... but we no longer have tivo... so I'm shit out a luck.
14. I think Jeremy Piven and Chris Evans are HOT.
15. I don't like my job... who would like working in a child support office. Blah.
16. I get yelled at at least once a day by some cranky guy who's drivers license we took or some bitchy girl who wants her money. Ugh. If you are involved in child support... please be nice to your worker.
17. Whoa, this is going to take me a long time to think of 100 things...
18. I just bought a new winter coat on Ebay! Can't wait to get it.
19. I love coffee... especially my iced vanilla latte from Clara's in the St. James Hotel (only make by Becky!)
20. I enjoy a good appletini every once in a while.
21. I'm always up for a good glass of red wine.
22. I love Ellie's daycare. I can drop her off and not have an ounce of worry throughout the day.
23. I graduated from high school in 1996 and from college in 2001.
24. I have a degree in Community Heath Education... which I obviously am not using.
25. I met my husband in Dec 2003.
26. We were engaged by Feb 2004.
27. Married in May 2005.
28. Had Ellie in May 2006.
29. I hope to be pregnant/have a 2nd baby in 2009.
30. I love this time of year. The holidays make me really happy.
31. I still am not eating meat. I have eaten chicken and had a sliver of turkey yesterday. But it sorta still repulses me... especially since seeing that video with Sarah Palin pardoning the turkey... you seen it? The guy in the background... yeah... ish.
32. I want an economic bailout.
33. My last semester in college I interned at Planned Parenthood in the Twin Cities.
34. I managed a Planned Parenthood clinic for 1.5 years right after graduating college... was laid off from that job when Mr. Bush got into office as he didn't think funding for women's health and family planning was all that important. For the record, we did not do AB's at my clinic. Just the regular old things you'd get done at your OBGYN office, pap's, sti screenings, pg tests, family planning education, birth control rx's... etc.
35. I LOVED this job and totally planned to retire from it. I guess someone else had another plan for me... which I still don't quite understand.
36. I want lasik next year. You had it? Let me know how it was.
37. I'm addicted to Mellow Yellow.
38. Greg is addicted to Dt. Pepsi.
39. We are talking about having a pop free house, since we both need to lose weight.
40. Wow, I'm already to 40.
41. I'm going to order a workout video I read about on another blog... can't remember exactly who's since it was a while ago... but it's called Jillian Michael's 30 day shred. I'm excited to give it a try.
42. I'm currently selling a coach purse on ebay, one that we bought on our honeymoon. I paid well over $100 for it and it is currently at a $31 bid... I hope to god it goes up higher!
43. I just checked... it's now at $33 with 5 hrs and 22 min to go.
44. I really need to get in the shower.
45. I'm being extremely lazy today.
46. But that's ok, it's a nice long 4 day weekend for me.
47. Well I guess not too lazy... I've done dishes, made lunch, done 3 loads of laundry, ordered 5 x-mas gifts and washed the kitchen floor... so I've been somewhat productive.
48. My cat Max, snores... loud.
49. My husband snores... louder than the cat.
50. I got into a somewhat heated debate with my chiropractor about vaccines. Yikes.
51. TMI... if you are family you probably don't want to read # 52.
52. I usually want it more than my husband does, is that weird?
53. I hate cold weather... but live in MN.
54. I was born to live on the beach. I love the warmth, sand between my toes, the feel of my skin with a slight burn, the smell of my body and hair after being slathered in sunscreen and lying on the beach all day.
55. I am not a morning person.
56. I like Letterman better than Leno.
57. I already put my Christmas tree up and we've had our lights on the outside of the house for over a week now!
58. I drive a trailblazer.
59. Greg drives my grandpa's old buick.
60. Ellie drives me crazy.
61. Ellie is really starting to talk back to me. When I say, "now that is enough Ellie, it's time to be quiet/listen/behave/watch your mouth/etc" she will turn back to me and say, "no! you watch your mouth/behave/listen/be quiet momma!" How the heck do I deal with that??????????????
62. My grandpa is in a nursing home and he has lost all interest in living. He used to LOVE seeing Ellie and would talk to her and smile... we went to visit him yesterday and he barely looked at any of us and was pissed that my mom didn't bring him his coffee from Caribou... which was closed by the way... happy fricking thanksgiving to you too.
63. I just discovered Envirosax and I am IN LOVE WITH THEM!
64. I love to eat butter spindle pretzels and dip them in peanut butter. Nummy snack!
65. Ellie would eat 5 lbs of blueberries a day if I'd let her.
66. She'd also drink a gallon of apple juice if I let her.
67. If you ever visit Red Wing, MN you MUST visit Lily's Coffeehouse and ask for a 7 layer bar. They are TO DIE FOR.
68. Red Wing, MN was just voted one of the top 100 cities in the WORLD to visit by National Geographic magazine... I think we were voted #22 or #23... can't remember exactly... but pretty cool, huh.
69. I hate when people challenge me about not eating meat... try to convince me that animals were made for us to eat them... whatever... I have my opinion you have yours... let's live in peace... what is it to YOU that I don't eat meat? I never make it inconvenient to the cook by not eating meat... I work with whatever the meal consists of.
70. I love OPI nail polish remover. It is the best.
71. I haven't had my haircut in, oh gosh, it must be almost 4 months now.
72. I hate spending $30 on a haircut.
73. But I will spend $25 on a bottle of Kenra hairspray... go figure.
74. I really do need a haircut.
75. I LOVE New Kids on the Block... did you see them on the AMA's!
76. My body just hasn't been the same since I had Ellie. I'm guessing it never will be.
77. I broke my cheekbone when I was little... fell face first off my bike, over my handlebars. I have such a clear memory of that accident... who was there... where it was... what happened afterwards...
78. I played the cello in elementary/middle school... then wanted to be "cool" in high school so I quit.
79. I had awesome friends in high school.
80. They are still my awesome friends.
81. I crashed our high schools drivers ed car. My idiot instructor took me on a FREEWAY the first (or second, can't remember exactly) lesson I had. I was terrified and didn't break fast enough. I rear ended a huge pickup truck. I was humiliated. My instructor made me drive all the way back to Red Wing in a smashed up little Acclaim that still had the "STUDENT DRIVER" stickers on the side of the car. The most humiliating experience of my life, hands down.
82. I was very thankful I had my sunglasses that day... but I could still see the passing cars pointing and laughing at me.
83. I never had another hour of drivers training. My instructor passed me.
84. I have 2 tattoos. One I love, the other was a stupid one I did on a whim. Stupid.
85. Greg has an awesome tattoo of Ellie's name on his body. I love it.
86. Nolan, Brody, Ethan, Kellan, Tegan, Lane- possible boy names in the future.
87. Jenna, Ania (ahn-ya), Kinley, Bree, Mallory- possible girl names in the future.
88. I love all kinds of fruit and veggies.
89. I hate drinking water. It's plain and boring.
90. I worked in retail for 9 years at a small family owned gift shop.
91. I'd love to be able to buy that store after they retire next year.
92. I'd love to be my own boss.
93. Or have my sister be my boss.
94. Unlike most people I know... I really do like and have fun with my in-laws.
95. And I'm pretty sure Greg likes his in-laws too. We both got lucky.
96. I think hunting animals is repulsive.
97. I hate opening presents in front of people... but LOVE giving gifts to others and watching them open them.
98. I have a really wonderful husband. I feel very lucky when I hear stories from some of my friends/coworkers/family... I am spoiled.
99. I could lay in bed all day and read/watch movies/nap... that is my dream day :)
100. I get 3 dates with my husband in 3 weeks! 3!!! I haven't had that many in the last year!

So, while at work today I get an email from our realtor (my dad's friend from high school)... he knows we aren't completely happy with where we are living. It is 20 miles one way to work... so 40 miles each day. 80 miles when you include Greg's trip. That is adding up to between $450-$600 a month in gas! Crazy!

Anyway, he said he has a single woman with 2 boys who is looking for a home in our area! He was wondering if we'd want to show the house! I'm really excited. He told me he'd have her drive by and then she'd let him know if she was interested in seeing the inside. Which I think she will cause our house is actually pretty cute from the outside... though it lacks landscaping. We planned on doing some landscaping in the next month. We have a nice yard and a nice little deck. We have a 2 car attached garage. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, main floor laundry, a new furnace/air conditioner, roof and windows. And one of the best things about where we live is that it is quiet. We probably have less than 10 cars a week drive down our street. We have awesome neighbors... neighbors who baked us goodies when Ellie was born and around Christmas time... another neighbor who had a cute little pink polka dot bib made for her when she was born...

All these neighbors I refer to are in their late 50's or older. Actually one is in her late 50's and one single woman had to be almost 90 (her family recently moved her to a nursing home after she had a hard fall in her tub) and the other neighbors are a retired couple in their mid 70's.

We have a great neighborhood in a sweet, quiet little town.

So, are you wondering why we would consider moving??!

It is just totally inconvenient to our lifestyle. There is nothing here. Not even a gas station. We can go buy milk or bread at the feed store down the street, but it'll cost an arm and a leg and half the time all the bread they have is moldy.

I'm the kind of girl who needs a starbucks nearby. And a target. And a grocery store. And a subway. And Lily's. And my family. And my friends.

I'm totally not a country girl. And we are currently smack dab in the middle of farm country. I want out!

here kitty, kitty...

Today E and I got up at the butt crack of dawn to go to church. G worked overnight and came home around 6:30 this morning. He went upstairs to wake her up and she was not happy. She did not want to be up at 6:30 in the morning any more than I did. She cried through the entire bath and getting dressed. I thought church was going to be a chore with her... she didn't make a peep. She sat on my lap almost the entire time, sucking her thumb and laying her head on my shoulder. I can't believe I didn't take any pics of her in her cute little Easter dress, but I think G got one, so refer to his blog for the pics!

After church we went to visit my grandpa. We walked around the corner (he's in a nursing home) and out of one of the rooms walks this cute little orange and white kitty! E thought it was the greatest thing EVER and was up and down the hall looking for this cat almost the entire time we were there. Then on the way out we found him under this cart...

(I guess you can kind of see her dress there under her coat!) A cat in a nursing home!?!?!? All I kept thinking was what health codes are they breaking? Where is the litter box?? Some residents do not like cats (including my grandpa) so how do they allow this? Its not like he wants his door shut all day and he certainly cannot get out of bed to shoo the dang cat out of his room... hmmm...

pay if forward

Tonight we went grocery shopping at wallyworld. Ish. I just hate that place. Hate what the whole place stands for... but when you have very little extra money for groceries and personal necessities wmart is the place to get it all cheap, cheap, cheap.

We had done our shopping and were standing in line... when a sweet old (must have been nearing 80) man got in line behind us. I noticed he had 4 Easter lily's and 2 or 3 other items, while our cart was heaping full of food, diapers, laundry detergent (hey alfred's mom! we bought gain to try since you rave about it so much!) E, her b (what she calls her blankey), etc, etc. So I said to G, lets offer to switch places with him and let him go first... he agreed and we offered to let the guy go ahead of us. He was so kind, saying, "no, you don't have to do that..." but we insisted and he went on ahead. After talking a bit more to him while still standing in the line with wallyworlds SLOOOOOOOOOOWEST checkout girl, we learned his wife was in the hospital. :(
He kept asking us if E would like a candy bar... I think he thought he needed to repay us for letting him skip ahead of us... we kept saying no, no you don't need to do that... but he insisted! He picked our a her.shey bar and bought it for her. She ate half of it right there in line. What a sweet man. It just goes to show you that as you go through your day, remember that everyone around you is a person with a story. Things are going on in their lives... things that might be hard, sad or stressful. I felt like this man was so appreciative of something as small as letting him skip ahead in line, and it was the simplest little gesture on our part. It was so easy. It felt good to do something kind for someone else. You might not think letting someone skip ahead one spot in line is such a big deal, but its the whole thought behind it, you know what I mean? It made me feel like my dreaded trip to wallyworld was worth it. I helped someone else have a little bit of an easier day. Lets all do something nice for someone we don't know tomorrow. Kay! I wanna hear your stories!!

Merry Christmas to me!

Wow, each year I am amazed at the number of gifts I receive for Christmas. Some moments I think this is all too much. Other times I'm like, wait, this is way fun! And for once in the 4 years G and I have been together we were able to affort to buy gifts for each other!



So, we'll start with my parents lovely mantle. I love it. They just got a new gas fireplace put in and it is really nice. E hates anything that is hot, she is deathly afraid of this fireplace... she wouldn't even come into the room at first last night! But then the temptation of the presents took over! :)



I bought these cute snowmen salt and pepper shakers for myself. I couldn't pass them up! Sorry for the bad picture quality... not sure why it turned out so bad.




I also bought this for myself. A black utensil caddy. It is just so dang handy. Our drawers have been a mess and this helped clean them out and keeps everything within easy reach and organized. It is from Pam.per.ed Ch.ef. I love it.



I got some yummy honeysuckle soap and my favorite, brown sugar and fig.



I got this yummy honeysuckle scented plug in. I also got a cinnamon refill. I think it is so pretty!



I got this cute little key chain/wallet! LOVE IT!


Funny story here. My sis, mom and I were shopping this fall and I saw this bag at Gap. I loved it, but it was too expensive during a time when I was buying for others. So my sis took it and said she liked it and bought it for herself. I'd completely forgotten about it. And was shocked when I opened it! I love it!

Ok, yes. I love all my presents so I'll quit saying it!



I can't get over how beautifully JJi.ll packages their gift cards. Look at this! They even give you a catalog!



Here I have a Target, 2 Walmart, a Lane Bryant, a Visa gift card and some Lily's giftcards. If you ever make it to RW, make sure you stop into Lily's for a mango smoothy and a turkey cranberry wrap with a side ceasar salad. To freaking die for. Seriously.



Catch ph.rase music ed.ition! Fun!



This is a do-it-yourself photo coaster set. My mom even printed me off some pics of E to put in them. She's smart like that... other wise it would have been sitting in the spare bedroom for months!



Bad cat calendar. Hah, hah! I have 3 living in my home!



All this fun stuff was in my stocking!



I love socks.



My hubby gave me this beautiful black C.oa.ch tote bag. I LOVE it!

He also gave me a one hour massage! Oh do I need that... can't wait to use it!

I got some comfy pj's. I've been wearing them all day today on my sick day home from work. Oh yeah, I haven't even told you all about that. My mom got strep on Christmas eve, I went to the ER on Christmas day with a high fever and sore throat, yup it was strep. Got a shot in the rear. My BIL went to the dr today and he now has strep and impetigo. We were a fun bunch on Christmas day, let me tell ya. I called in sick today.

My new pretty sweater!

Cute new shirt... much more flattering than the pj's huh!

A cookbook and a cute flip flop towel from my cousin B, her hubby T and their girls E and A. There are some really yummy recipes in here... I spent some time on the couch today reading through it!

Whew. Huh. And that was just from my side of the family. G's mom gave us a gift card for gas and a family photo we took earlier this past summer. His sis gave me some Biol.ag.e hair products which smell soooooooooooooooooooo good. And his grandma gave me a snowman cookie jar and a set of snowman spreaders.

I kinda feel guilty posting all this... like no one person should receive this much. But I'm blessed with wonderful family and should just appreciate it and say thank you. Which is just what I did!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!