New slide show on cookie!

It is Sunday, so rather than spend another insane day trying to fix this house, I am putting up pictures and catching up on blogs. Check out the slide on Cookie!

Child free zone

I was hoping to have kiddos out of the house if possible so I can get stuff done. Is anyone available to watch them this weekend?

Calet is pretty easy when she has something to do other than follow me around and try to do what I'm doing. In an ideal world, I'd drop her off at 8:30 with a packed lunch, she'll eat around noon, and then sleep about 1 - 4 and I'll come get her when she wakes up. So far she has done good at sleeping in a pack and play. I already have someone watching her on Saturday (THANKS RACHEL!!!), so I would just need someone for Friday. If you are feeling super generous, you could take her a day next week. I don't need her gone as the painting, tiling, and spackling will be done by then (I HOPE I HOPE!), but it would sure make packing and cleaning easier.

As for the boys, Jaden is in school all day, and Daven gets on the bus at noon. So I don't really need help with them, as they can play computer or games without wanting to be involved with my projects. But Saturday I'm hoping to get a lot of projects done and it would be facilitated with them gone. I'm not sure if it would be easier to have 1 boy all day, or 2 boys for part of a day. (all day being 8:30 - 4:30, but if you wanted them longer, I wouldn't say no. ;) ) I could pack lunches for them too.

If you can spare a hubby for an hour or two on Saturday, I have a nice long 'honey do' list that Brad wasn't able to get done before leaving a few days ago. I think the most technical things are installing a bathroom sink, replacing a toilet tank, and putting in a new light fixture on the porch. Most of it just involves the use of our power drill and nail gun.

Or if you are willing to come over and help me clean up at the house, that would be great too! The tiling project generated A LOT of dust. And don't get me started on the mess from the wallpaper glue and spackle. Ugh.

So, if there is a way you can help out with any of these things, it would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!

Waiting

I have some time while I wait for paint to dry in Calet's room so I can return it to a normal state. And for the spackle to dry so I can sand, yet again. So while I waited, I uploaded the pictures and videos. Check out the Cookie blog. Sorry the bday pictures are after the tiling pictures. I was too lazy to move them. I even have a picture of poor Matt after an all day heavy labor marathon. The Castles and Cokers were amazing last week. And it wouldn't even be possible to upload these without Rachel. THANKS for keeping Stink today! Her room is almost done!

Happy birthday, Roo!

Well, the Urgent Care was kind to him. As kind as shots and stitches can be. He was happy he got a sticker. And he left school early and came home. And because 3 other kids have the same birthday, no one minded waiting to have his cupcakes. In all, the experience wasn't too bad. It has hardly registered with him. He was hanging upside down at the Kids' Gym today. Sheesh. I do have lots of pictures and videos of the celebration. What I don't have is lots of time to upload them. :) I hope to have them up by the weekend. I'll be sure to let ya'll know when they are up. I do have Jamo's school picture up. Did I mention that? I can't remember any more...

Brad left today for Philly. Sigh. I'm on the verge of being overwhelmed, but I'm not. I just really have a peaceful feeling. It is all going to be okay. We knew this was going to be hard. We also knew this would be best in the long run. If we can just get through these next few months, it is going to get better. And I know it sounds strange, but I'm actually grateful that we finally have male renters. We've only had females for over a year. But this month we have 2 guys. And today 2 more asked for housing next month. I feel safe because our door has a lock between their place, plus it nice knowing there are 2 other adults in the house if there is a fire or something. It makes sense in my head.


Thankfully, I am living in the same town as a whole army of angels. I've had people in my house every day helping out. I am completely overwhelmed by all of the love and kindess I've been feeling lately. It is worth the price of the insanity I'm also feeling.

Urgent care

Sheer madness is what it is. Still doing paint prep. Tile people in my kitchen which is a total disaster. Scheduling Craigslist pickups. Waiting for the Got Junk people to get my junk. Why not throw in a 5 yr old who is having a birthday today? Can't make cupcakes or cake without a stove. Buy some at Kroger. Problem solved. Then have 5 year old fall off a chair at school and get a gash requiring stitches. I sent Brad over, since he can tell better than I can what requires stitches. Yes, indeed it requires stitches. Brad has him at Urgent Care right now. Kate, I could kiss you for keeping Stinker away from all of this insanity. But then Paul would beat me up. So I'll just say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all of your help sanding and keeping Stinker.

Ahhhh!

I'm so going crazy right now. I'm up to my eyeballs in wallpaper glue and tile dust. Still haven't painted. Must stay calm. Hope to re-enter the blogosphere soon. Roo's birthday is tomorrow. Lots of insanity to go around. Still don't have a definitive date for Brad's departure. Tues or Wed if he doesn't get his new license. We'll see. I'll try to keep ya'll posted. I'm so behind on reading blogs. Sorry everybody!

Addict

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This is bad news because I'm not getting my fix lately. The house has yet again kept me from my beloved blog reading. I intend to get back to it soon, but we'll see.

Why I am going crazy

I was hoping to paint tomorrow. Still need to sand and re-spackle. Don't even get me started on the master bedroom. I'm having a professional come in to fix it. It is way beyond my ability. A billion and one 'thank you's to you amazing helpers! I'd still be working on Calet's room if not for you!

So you can see what I'm up against, here are some pictures of the master bedroom.

If you are bored and want something to do tomorrow, just let me know. :)

S.O.S.

Okay, I'm hitting a wall here, ladies. I need to finish getting wall paper off, spackle, prime and paint by Sunday. At least that is what I'm hoping. Each step could use a day of drying in between. I'm working on wallpaper tonight and all day tomorrow. Tomorrow Melissa is going to try to start spackling while I'm ripping off paper. We will probably start around 10. I will be at it all day, so you can come and go as you please. Even half an hour would help. Or watching kids so they don't try to eat the glue or get burned by the steamer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much ladies. You are wonderful and I'm so sad to be leaving you all. sniff sniff

Check the cookie blog

Not much on there actually. A super cute picture of my boys being all doctor-ly (with Roo's eyes closed of course). Stinker has learned how to shimmy out of a duct taped diaper, so Brad tried taping her shirt to her pants. So funny. A picture of the beautiful hibiscus blossom. And a slide show of the book I made for the new owners with info on the yard. Let me know if you need an invite!

8 things

Elaine tagged me and I thought this would be easy, but it wasn't... :)

8 TV shows I love to watch:

1. Monk
2. Psych
3. The Closer
4. Law and Order (all 3 varieties)
5. Survivor
6. Dirty Jobs
7. House
8. Bones

8 things I did yesterday:

1. blogged
2. listened to conference
3. picked up my curtains at JC Penney
4. scraped glue off the walls
5. visited Deanne (Hi Deanne!)
6. looked at houses and schools in Philly online
7. chatted on Facebook
8. got milk from the store

8 things I'm looking forward to:

1. having the house ready to put on the market
2. having a stable living situation
3. Brad studying otolaryngology
4. the Twilight movie
5. turning 32
6. my mom coming out in November to help keep me sane
7. Thanksgiving (wherever that may be...)
8. the election being over

8 things on my wish lists:

1. selling my house
2. finding a house I like in Philly
3. being prepared to move
4. new couches
5. a new table that can seat more people
6. cable TV
7. new PDA
8. meet my weight loss goal

8 people I'm tagging- Brooke D., Aubrey W., Resa. J., Raina E., Rachelle W., Nata-Leigh P., Victoria H., Holly S.

PA trip and tripping out with wall paper

Philadelphia was beautiful. So many old and historical buildings! And the leaves on the trip out were amazing. I could have enjoyed the scenery more if I hadn't been listening to Stinker scream for 10 of the 11 hours. Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT bad, but it was really close. She didn't nap the entire drive out there. UGH. Don't believe me? I took a video so you can see what we put up with. It is brutal. It is on the cookie blog if you are looking to be tortured.

I also put up some pictures of the wallpaper we are taking down. The blue wallpaper has tiny little hearts on it. You can't see it from this view. And we can't get it off. It tears like crazy. And I never make my bed. Maybe I'll add it to my New Year's resolutions, but it isn't making the priority list right now.



Brad hates all of the little hearts everywhere. Poor guy.

Here is all of our green grass.
My bracelet that Dana made. It is my reward for losing 50 pounds. Her link is on the side if you want to check out her other stuff.

Stinker's room before we ripped off all of the wallpaper.



It makes my eyes bleed. Okay, that is an exaggeration, but I really hate it. :)

Totally hooked

I have a confession to make. I have no idea who Jack's Mannequin is. Never heard a single song of theirs, or his, before. But I can't seem to get this song out of my head. I saw the video on Stephenie Meyers site. Check it out here: http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/

Let me know what you think, because I'm curious if I'm the only one this song has grown on.

As soon as I hear any time frames for our move, I'll let ya'll know. But check the cookie blog for Roo's school picture. SOOOOO cute! And his eyes are open! :)

My 5

List 5 fears, 5 joys, 5 obsessions/collections, 5 surprising facts about you.

Fears:
1. my kids drowning (can I include being in a flood in my car and trying to get all my kids to the roof on this one?) :)
2. fire
3. spiders
4. losing my pictures, scrapbooks, videos, memories from our past
5. my kids or Brad getting deathly ill and dying before me

Joys:
1. my hubby
2. my kids
3. sleeping in
4. watching TV or movies (ie Monk, Psych, Law and Order, The Closer, football)
5. yummy food

Obsessions/Collections
1. blogging and reading blogs
2. chili peppers
3. Bollywood
4. we have a china cabinet full of stuff we've collected from Europe and that family and friends have brought back from around the world
5. I would be absolutely lost without my PDA. I need a new one soon. Mine is dying.

Surprising facts:
1. I hate scary movies. I can't even watch scary commercials
2. I was born in California
3. I played the flute in middle school
4. I love rafting
5. I'm moving to Philadelphia soon. Brad was just offered an ENT position there on Friday. :)

Extreme life makeover

Our town is going a little crazy these days. The show Extreme Home Makeover is a mile from my house and the street I frequent has been closed. But I have some excitement of my own to share:

We are moving to PHILADELPHIA!

I know. This is totally crazy. I can't argue with that. But there was an opportunity we can't pass up. On Friday Brad got offered an ENT position at a great hospital. We've been praying about it the last few days and feel that this is best in the long run for our family.

Brad had originally wanted to do ENT when we were applying for residencies. We didn't match any of the spots. We were disapointed, but grateful that he got a surgery spot. He loves doing surgery. The thing that makes this such a hard decision is that we love Lansing. We are so happy here and it is hard to think of leaving. But we couldn't pass up the chance for Brad to do ENT, when it was what he's wanted for so long.

Logistically, I'm scared silly. Brad leaves in 2 weeks. There is A LOT to do before he leaves. But I just have to believe that it is going to work out. I have no idea when the kids and I will be able to get out there. Obviously selling the house is going to be a huge factor. As soon as the kids and I get an idea of when we'll be going, I'll let you all know!

A couple new pictures are up on the Cookie blog. Stinker in her duct tape diaper. Jamo lost another tooth. Lots of stories to share, but it will have to wait a little while...

Updates!

I've got a new slide and new videos up on Cookie. As always, if you need an invite, just let me know. Anyone we know is welcome!

My boys are getting so big! I can't believe it! Roo has been having problems with a bully at school. I told him that sometimes people are mean because they are sad, or scared or lonely and wish they had friends and that maybe he should try being nice to him. He came home from school and said that he and the bully are friends now and that he invited Roo to his birthday party. Isn't that nice? Bully isn't being mean to him anymore! I know it isn't always so simple, but it sure is nice when it is.

It blows my mind that Roo is 4. It really does. Granted, he will be 5 very very soon, but even still... Last night we were reading the kids stories and getting them ready for bed. Roo started to read the book. It was one he checked out from the library, so it isn't like it is one he has read a hundred times or something. I got it on video. It is on the cookie blog.

Yesterday I woke up to see 2 diapers on Stinker's floor, which I thought was odd. She's been taking one off a night, but where was the other from? Then Brad called and said that he had to put another diaper on her this morning before he left for work because she took hers off. Apparently she is now taking them off in her sleep. Heavy sigh.

I'm running out of options here, people. I just got done cleaning up her room again because this time it wasn't pee. ARGH! I am seriously considering potty training her. But that might also require me to make her crib into a toddler bed, and I don't know if I'm ready for that. My boys were in toddler beds at 14 and 16 months and she is almost 22. I just know I can't keep doing this diaper thing with her or I will go crazy.

Too much of a good thing?

Perhaps I have over-done my trips to the Y. Today, I was driving to go weigh in at my new clinic and we drove by the Y. Daven said, "Look mom! It's the Y! Hey, wait a minute... where are you taking me?" He just couldn't fathom us going somewhere that wasn't the Y. Yikes.

If you were one of the many teenage girls who had a crush on Kirk Cameron many eons ago, here is another reason to like him. Even though he is an actor, he won't kiss anyone but his wife. Obviously that isn't a feasible option for all actors, but you gotta respect the guy. Impressive.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26851749/

Politics anyone?

I'm not planning on taking up a new hobby as a political blogger, but if anyone is so interested, I have some McCain/Palin signs you can put up in your yard.

And while I'm not in CA and can't vote on Proposition 8, here is a link to more info about it.

http://whatisprop8.com/

I realize that many of you aren't from CA, but knowledge is still power. You never know when similar legislature will come to your state.

Neglected

Before I forget, there is a new slide on the cookie blog. Mostly blurry swimming pictures, so feel free to skip (after you look at Jamo's lost tooth...). ;)

Oh, my poor little blog. Left alone and with no attention. Pobrecito!

What's our latest and greatest? Hmm, we've been busy! Monday nights I have belly dancing and Roo has soccer and basketball. Belly dancing again has been fun. I like the program here a lot. A lot more focus on technique and repetitive motions, which helps. Tuesday nights I have my 12 step program. Wednesday nights I work with the youth in my church. Thursday nights the boys have swimming lessons. If Brad isn't on call, I try to get to volleyball, but it's been awhile since I've made it out.

My cardio/strength class at the Y has definitely leaned more to the strength side. Today she made us run stairs though. Ugh. Cruel. Strength is good. I could definitely use the toning! :) I'm trying to figure out how to shower and dress at the Y and maintain some sense of modesty. That has been interesting. I bought a swimsuit to shower in. And I learned that there is just no easy way to put on jeans modestly after showering. I may have to start bringing baggy pants or pajama bottom pants to solve that problem. I have potentially found a Thursday racquetball partner. Come on, Chalae! It's fun! I would still like to go on Tuesdays, just to keep the habit of going the same time every day, but I'm not sure what I'll do yet. Maybe play racquetball (anyone? anyone?) or do some elliptical. Maybe just sit in the hot tub and veg out. Now that sounds like a winner!

Jamo pulled his tooth out on his own. I came home from my class and he showed it to me. What a kid. I haven't had to pull out a tooth yet! And because I'm so prepared (or not), I had to raid his piggy bank to get the gold dollar to put in his tooth pillow. I need to go to the bank. His other tooth is days away from falling out and I'd like to be prepared this time.

Roo is loving basketball, but seems to prefer soccer. He loves riding on the bus. He feels like such a big kid. Apparently there is a pretty tough kid in his class, but he manages to avoid fights, so that makes me happy.

Stinker is so girly. I am not. I don't do shoes. I'd rather be barefoot. I won't sacrifice comfort for fashion. Okay, maybe on a rare occasion. But seriously, I'm not a shoe girl. Never have been. But Stinker? Get that girl in the shoe aisle and her eyes light up like a Christmas tree. She's trying on every single pink, jewel-encrusted shoe she can get her hands on. It's like nothing I've ever seen, or experienced. She is turning into quite the little chatter box and has finally decided that words may be an effective method of communication. Oh, and she doesn't like keeping her diaper on anymore. Ugh.

Well, that is about it. Maybe I can give my poor, neglected blog more attention this week.

YEAH!

I finally got the 'after' pictures up on the cookie blog, so go have a looksy. Oh, and there is a short slide of Stinker and Jamo.

For the record, there were lots of places in the kitchen where the tape ripped off paint, so I have a lot of touch ups to do. I have to get myself motivated to look at a paint brush again, so it could be awhile...