Waiting

I'm waiting for the dryer repair man. We've been without a totally functioning dryer for about 2, almost 3 weeks and line drying is looking better and better every day. Jim is supposed to be here any time before noon. I figure just about the time I finish mopping the floors he'll show up. This is the second repair company we've needed to hire. We could have just bought a new dryer for the amount we've paid to have this one fixed. I'll be happy when it's all said and done.

I've also declared today a TV-free day. EMN was sick last week but is back to her usual self with a residual cough but MTN has caught her viral bug. While she was down for the count she discovered the joy of being bundled on the couch watching TV and I indulged her in way too much kid TV. So today I'm wearing out my iPod on kid music while I clean, do chores and baby MTN through his bugginess but the TV stays off. My will power has been waning here and there but we've been doing puzzles, dancing and that helps gets us through. MTN was up a lot last night so he wants to be held a lot today and I'm happy to indulge him in that and so we're reading books instead of catching a show together. He's particularly fond of garbage truck books.

So that's the scoop from here. Cleaning, waiting on repair men, tending to sick kids, no tv. And maybe I'll hit the YMCA when Mike gets home from work tonight so I can get a workout in.

Custom Bookshelves

The guys are busy building the bookshelves for Mike's office. Everything is looking good so far and Mike is learning a lot. We really appreciate having friends like "Juice" who who have the tools and the know how and are willing to do so much to help us out with our plan.

MTN is loving all the tools and constant action. So far, it's going according to plan so next weekend will be the big push to have everything finally assembled and finished up. It's amazing to see our vision for that room materialize! And that will start this big snowball of events for the rest of our downstairs living area as we paint, rearrange furniture, hang pictures, decorate and put our touches on our house and make it a home.

Happy Valentine's Day

First words out of EMN's mouth this morning were "Happy Valentine's Day!" so you can imagine she's been very focused on the day. I'm not sure exactly what her expectations are for this day but I know she's been looking forward to presenting the few gifts we've selected for Mike.

I've been knitting up small hearts to give to the kids. I think they will pale in comparison to the cupcakes the got yesterday at our MOPS playdate. :)

Winter weather around here is crazy as usual. MTN loved playing in the rain earlier in the week. The next day was gorgeous and then there was a hail storm that night (that's marble sized hail on our door mat). It really does make you start to believe the saying "if you don't like the weather just wait 1o minutes".

Well, Mike and a buddy from work are outside working on building a wall of bookshelves for Mike's office and right about now I'm guessing the kids are underfoot. I'm going to go rescue someone. Happy Valentine's Day!

A Joke

So EMN had a joke for us tonight ... the first time she's set up one all on her own.

What made the giant freezing?

The ice and water.

Don't worry if you don't get it - we laughed ourselves silly anyway because it was just that kind of day around here. The kids were convinced we had pumpkin pie for dinner and despite numerous attempts to correct them (it was really chicken quiche) we finally just gave in and agreed.

Congrats to the Schmids on Sammy (and Jessica's!) release from the hospital! We continue to pray for a full recovery but we're glad that you'll be back in your own home soon.

Special Message for Sammy

Sammy, one of our dearest friends from Arizona, has been in the hospital for the past week with a nasty infection in her leg. We've been praying for her a lot and here are our special messages for her. Get better soon Sammy!!

I'm Thinking

I'm thinking he's not ready to give up naptime just yet ... since this is how he spent most of dinner.

Random Things

1. Best decision – Joining the Air Force. Not only did I get to serve my country, see the world, earn a paycheck and all that, but I met some of the best people ever. Active duty, spouses, civilians, local nationals – just interesting, wonderful people. And I’m happy to be friends with lots of those same people today.
2. Second best decision – marrying Mike.
3. I love James Bond movies and I still can’t decide who I think the best Bond is. It’s not George Lazenby.
4. My favorite TV show is Friends and I have not watched a sitcom since that I enjoy as much as that one.
5. I love music but not the music of Sheryl Crow. I can’t explain it, but I absolutely cannot tolerate her music.
6. I graduated from RPI with a dual major in Math and Psychology. Math in Public is not a strong point for me – never was. And who knew the AF actually used those math majors!?! The few skills I did retain are more than enough for what I need these days.
7. I love to knit, scrapbook, and quilt/sew. Being creative helps balance out the analytical and logical parts of my brain.
8. I’m the 4th generation 1st born female (therefore EMN was the 5th) but we need to do more genealogy because there could be more generations.
9. I completed a marathon and hope to do more but I’d like to actually train this time.
10. I grew up in a very small town in upstate New York. 24 people in my public school graduating class. I miss my small town and it’s probably the last place on earth that I feel truly at peace.
11. I love car trips. Day trips or week long drives across the country – I love them all.
12. I miss my friends in Arizona. The worst part about moving is leaving people you love.
13. Parenting is hard and challenges me in ways I never dreamed of. I’m so glad I have found other moms all along the way to share the journey with!
14. Postpartum depression was a very scary time in my life and recovering from that was some of the hardest personal work I’ve had to do.
15. I’m seriously on the fence about more kids – some days I’d love more, some days I’m at my limit. So we stay at two for now.
16. Love to watch reality TV like Top Chef, Project Runway, Amazing Race, Survivor, etc. And that’s just the stuff I’m admitting to.
17. I really enjoy reading non-fiction.
18. Since childhood I have had a fascination with First Ladies. When we were stationed in Italy I had the opportunity to meet Laura Bush and have my picture taken with her.
19. I have been frugal and practical even before starting Dave Ramsey.
20. I hate shopping. OK, hate is a strong word. I strongly dislike most shopping. Some shopping I like – books, yarn. And I like grocery shopping when I don’t have to take the kids. I just don’t like all the other kinds of shopping.
21. I tolerate animals. I like other people’s pets but will avoid having any in this house for as long as possible.
22. I love lemon poppy seed bread.
23. I try to learn something new every day. Some days I only learn something new about myself.
24. I thrive when I have a structure or schedule. Spontaneity is not my friend.
25. I love hockey. It took moving to the desert to really make me love it because that is where our family started attending Phoenix Coyotes games. Now the kids know Wayne Gretzky on sight, EMN has been on ice skates already and we are now San Antonio Rampage fans. And Mike and I both hope to return to our alma maters for college games.