Mini Get Away

Well, Marc and I decided kinda last minute to blow off our big exciting evening plans and head down with Rocky and Andrew to Uncle Art's cabin. (Sounds like a book). Marc goes down there quite a bit and I've talked about going with him, but it's never been a big draw for me. I've been there a couple times before but for some reason I didn't really remember it right. I was pleasantly surprised when it was REALLY nice! I don't know what I was picturing, but this was nicer. We really had a fun time.

We got down there around 7 and Marc started fishing from shore while Andrew and I just played outside. Andrew and Rocky L.O.V.E.D. it there!! Andrew drove his truck around the entire site. Rocky felt sweet freedom as he was free to roam and smell all new smells. While Marc was fishing he caught two little fish, so we put them in a bowl of lake water for Andrew to watch. The cabin is near a small airport so planes were constantly taking off over the water and Andrew would point and wave and say “by by” every time. So cute.

Then Marc worked hard at starting a fire, which was very difficult since it had rained that morning. After burning our entire bag of recycle paper and an hour later we got a fire going and got the hot dogs a’cookin. No sooner as I was just finished with my first dog and Marc was working on his first, the rain just up and came and drenches us and put out our hard earned fired. We had to make mad dashes in and out of the cabin gathering all our stuff before it got soaked. It was rather funny.

So we finished our hot dogs in the microwave, ate dinner on their porch and got Andrew to bed. It stopped raining so Marc went back to fishing and I read my book (which I forgot there – darn it).

This morning we got up and had waffles and sausage for breakfast then went back outside for more playing and fishing. After giving the cabin a good cleaning and wipe down we were back home around 1:00. We were only gone about 18 hours, but it was a really nice get-away.

I took a nap when I got home and Marc had his fantasy football draft. (Hard to believe it is that time already). Well, we have plenty we need to do tonight, so I will get going.

Sticky Waffles

Apparently waffles NEED oil to turn out just right. I thought I would healthify them by substituting applesauce for the oil. Um.... not a great idea. They'll work and they're edible...but they are not nice and firm and but flimsy and sticking to the waffle maker something fierce. I have to spray non-stick spray between each batch which is probably adding all my oil right back in. Oh well. This waffle making has become a bimonthly thing around here. Andrew and I love waffles with peanut butter and syrup. Still looking for my garage sale steal of a 4-waffle maker for $4. Not sure where I would put it in my kitchen, but then I could whip out my couple dozen+ waffles in no time.

This morning, Andrew blessed me by sleeping in (or at least not making enough of a fuss) until 9:00. It was nice! However, when Marc brought him in and told me it was 9, I realized that we were supposed to be at a product testing at 9. Shoot! So I call quick and we were able to get into the 10:00 testing. So we have our oatmeal, get ourselves ready and head out. It was veggie crackers and they weren’t bad, but they weren’t great. Definitely had a grown up taste to them. I didn’t mind them but Andrew did not like them. At least he tasted them. Yesterday we went to a testing of puddings with fruit and I couldn’t even get him to try them. Granted they were pretty bad.

After the crackers this morning, I hit a few garage sales (looking for my garage sale steal). It had rained and was still threatening, so there weren’t many out…and I didn’t find anything worthwhile.

Right now, I am posting & finishing up the waffles, and Marc and Andrew are napping upstairs in our bed. I think today is a work around the house day. I have a lot I want to get done today, especially since I am working practically a full-time week next week. 3 full days, one regular day and one day with a couple extra hours. I think they are actually considering hiring another ‘float’ person…someone to just pick up hours when needed, such as when people call in sick, take time off etc, since I am the only back up for 6 positions, but then my position needs backed up, since it’s becoming really busy.

Yesterday was my busiest day E.V.E.R. at work. (this was coming off the slowest day at work). An average day is around 7-10 transfer requests. A busy day is around 13-16. My busiest ever day before yesterday was 19…. yesterday was 26!! AUGH! I was practically running and truthfully was a little stressed out. I had to call daycare and tell them I would be late. I knew the day was going to be busy…but I had no clue that it was going to be THAT busy. Holy Cow.

Last night, we had homemade pizza and the Dressler’s came over. The girls beat the boys in Euchre and we had Oreo Shakes that the boys had to make since they lost. I think tonight Kari and I (and maybe Kelly) are going to scrapbook. I haven’t scrapped much of anything in what seems like forever… I have a lot of catch up on.

Ok, this post turned into a novel. Can you tell I am procrastinating actually working? Have a great weekend.

Blame it on the Rain

Well, I can't say much has happened since I posted last.   Work, play, cook, clean, that's about it.   Oh, Andrew did totally wipe out yesterday on our driveway and he scraped his chin up pretty good.  He got a nice bloody lip and now looks like he has a little goatee.  It wasn't that a freeze-pop wouldn't fix.

 

Tonight we are planning on heading to the Lakeshore with the Uelands and their kiddo to have dinner and walk the pier, play in the sand, etc.. (which reminds me, I should pack a change of clothes for jr.).  But we've been watching the weather and it's been saying scattered thunderstorms with 40% chance of rain.  So we are still on the fence whether we are going to try and go for it.  I mean, that's 60% chance that it won't right?

 

Other than that, I'm just at work and it's a super light day (which means it will creep by).   Andrew is doing well at daycare.  We've had two tear-free days.  He's still not thrilled when I leave, but he doesn't cry and goes to his teacher pretty well.  When I pick him up, he just as happy as a clam.  (Not because I'm there...but just because).   He's even got an "Andrew's had a Happy Day" on his note home.   So, it's going well.  Yesterday they had little play horses and then had sand and oatmeal that they 'fed' to the horses at the sensory table.   How cute.

 

Well, I just got word that tonight's little field trip is rained out.  Bummer.   Well, not sure what we are going to do tonight.  Oh well, Maybe we'll get there this weekend. 

SUCKER!

Well, we got all our errands ran last night and boy, did it take awhile.  Andrew did so good with me poppin' him in and out of the car and in and out of the carts and up and down the aisles.   We hit Aldis, then Sam's where we had a variety of samples they were giving away.   And..get this...we bought diapers and I SWEAR they lowered their prices?  Who does that?!  Not that I am complaining one bit...I am very impressed.  They have been out of their diapers for the last couple times we've been there, so I've gotten another cheep brand (but still more expensive)...but they had them again...and WOWSERS!  Boy was I excited!  kinda sad I get so excited about diapers, huh.

 

Then we hit Taco Bell, where my son thoroughly dissected a soft taco - no lettuce.  He did manage to eat most of it and probably would have finished it if we had two more hours to kill.  He was in a good mood and was just being so silly.    Anyway, we then headed to Meijer to finish up our grocery shopping.  I told myself at one time that I would NOT be on of those parents that give in to their child seeing something and begging until they get it.  Well....  I was that parent today.   And the sad thing is, Andrew didn't even beg or put up a fuss.  You see, this is what happened.   Andrew had a battery operated Elmo toothbrush that he really liked and this weekend it broke.   So I was shopping for a new toothbrush for him and I wanted to stick with battery operated.  Well, there is brand A on sale that I am looking at and pondering when all of a sudden Andrew spots his Elmo toothbrush.  It was just standing there all bright and shiny in it's new plastic wrap.   All I hear is "Elmo?  Elmo?  Elmo?"  (everything Andrew says currently ends with a ?)  Anyway, I give in.  It was a couple bucks more but I've rationalized it this way....

1. I didn't like that the sale toothbrush's head was a little bigger than I thought would be good for Andrew
2. It WAS almost 7:30 which means I had been dragging Andrew around for 3.5 hours and pretty much taken up his whole evening with bedtime an hour away.
3. Obviously, I want him to like his toothbrush and like brushing teeth (although the sale brand was a whale and cool looking too)
4. And here is the kicker... on the Elmo toothbrush was a sticker that said inside was a toll free number you could call and talk to Elmo (which we've already done a couple times)

Ok, lets just call it like we see it - I'm a sucker.    We checked out, Andrew got a quick ride on the penny horse and we headed home.   By then I was tired.  I got the cold groceries put away, played with Andrew a bit and that's about it for the night.   

It's Pizza Day!! Cheese Pizza Day!!

Well, all the hard work I put in yesterday morning went down the drain when I decided that I didn't want to do much of anything last night.  Well, I shouldn't say that...I paid bills which always puts me a great mood.   And Andrew, Rocky and myself went on a walk.  And I made a nice dinner (which also made a nice mess in the kitchen).  So, this morning, was just working getting back to where I started instead of making additional headway.  Oh well.  Plus little man was a little clingy this morning.  He wanted to sit on my lap and watch Sesame Street.  I kept trying to get up and work, but he would just come and get me and pull me back to the couch and crawl on my lap.  I mean...what could I do?   Dishes or snuggle?  Hmmm...   Not a hard one in my book.  Although my little stinker will gladly say "Elmo", but not "Mama". 

 

Anyway, he later played and I got the kitchen straightened up and we headed off to 'school' where it was pizza day.  This is very exciting day and Andrew and I talked about it all morning.  Even when I walked into the class a little girl told me right away that today is pizza day.  It's only one day every three weeks and today was the day.  Lucky them.  I was stuck eating Raman Noodle between phone calls.  I bet Andrew takes another nice nap (he did yesterday, too) for them today...he's been getting up pretty early lately for him....like around 7:30.  So he practically falls asleep in the car on the way.

 

Well, tonight, is my run errands night.  I brought a pair of jeans to change into here at work and once I pick up little man, we are heading to Sam's, Aldi's and Meijer.  Marc is gone tonight, I think, so it's just us and we may just splurge and hit TacoBell or something while out.   We'll see.  It's raining here now, which we really need, but I am hoping it stops so that I am not trying to haul a boy and groceries to and from a car in the rain.  Or, we might just get wet.    Ok, I feel like this post isn't real exciting or full of thrilling content, so I am going to wrap it up.  Have a great afternoon.

What a morning.

Written yesterday but forgot to post

 

It's Monday and it's back to reality.   We had a really nice weekend.   Like I mentioned before, we went down to my Aunt's and the guys went fishing and us girls and kiddos had a rough time of talking walks, hanging out, eating and napping.  What hard way to spend the weekend.   Although Andrew's sleep schedule got WAY off.  He was staying up late, way past bedtime, then waking up ready to go SUPER early.  We are talking 10 minutes 'till 6 early.  AUGH!   But we survived by giving him two naps and all was well.   However, last night, on the way home he crashed hard at 7:30...didn't even stir when we moved him from carseat to bed.   Then slept this morning until about 8.  Good boy.

 

This week, I am back on my normal 12-4 schedule.  And already it's been so nice.  I got a lot done this morning.  Laundry, dishes, grocery list, had time to sit and drink my coffee, play with Andrew, etc..  I didn't feel rushed at all.  That is...until it was time for us to leave and I realized that we never switched the car seat between the cars last night and it was in Marc's car with Marc at work downtown.   AUGH!  So I call Marc, he talks to his boss and calls me back and heads home, and I call daycare as I start to make Andrew a grilled cheese since he is going to now miss lunch.  They are so sweet and offered to save some lunch for him.   Marc got home, we did a quick switcheroo and headed to work.  I cheated and parked onsite today and we got Andrew there only 15 minutes late.  He didn't even really cry when I left - although wasn't too pleased either.    It was just one of those morning that when you finally get to work it's like.....Ahhhh...I can relax a bit. 

And we're off...

Well, it's Friday and we have a fun weekend in store.  We are heading down my aunt's and meeting up with my folks tonight.  This always makes for a relaxing weekend.  They live on a lake kinda in the woods and it's kinda remote and we don't watch TV and we just sit around and take walks and eat and nap and play with the kids.  Plus, the extra hands are always nice to have when dealing with a busy toddler.   Marc gets to fish with my uncle and dad and cousin.  It's really a perfect little get-away.  And, it's close enough (and cheap enough) that we get to do it about once a month or so.  So that's where we are planning to head tonight. 

 

Tomorrow evening we are all going out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary at some seafood restaurant.  It should be nice.

 

Let's see - what has happened lately.  Not much.  I worked a bunch this week which means that by the time I get home, I am tired and don't want to do anything, and Andrew is clingy and the house takes over to goes to pot...but hey it will all be there when I get back, so I am not going to worry about it now. :)  Although we did get out a bit last Wednesday and met up with the Uelands at Reed's Lake for just a bit.  It was really nice & the weather was beautiful.   We got some rain yesterday and today which we needed badly.  

 

Yep, that's about it.  Nothing exciting to report. I am counting down the minutes when I am done working (121 left), get to pick up my boy (just might be the best part of my day) and head home, so we can head out.  I hope you have great weekend!

Gimme Five!

It's Our Five Year Anniversary!

Five years ago right now, I think we were getting pictures taken in our dresses and tuxes and counting down until the wedding ceremony started. It would have been only 2.5 hours to go! How fun!!

Just think, in the last five years, we've rented an apartment, started six new jobs between us, bought a house, got a dog, took four vacations, had a kid, and that's just off the top of my head. Overall, it's been a good five years. Doesn't hurt that the man I married is a wonderfully fun man who helped make those years so good. Here's looking at five more (and then some)! Love ya, Babe!

Quick Update

Well, Andrew slept through the night last night even though he went down at 7:45pm.  He did wake up on his own this morning around 7-ish.  Which is fine, since we had to leave at 7:25.   And he seemed fine this morning.  So I don't know what last night was about.   I told daycare about it and packed him Tylenol.  One of teachers thought maybe it was allergies since he didn't have a cold to go along with it and no real history of ear infections.  Thought maybe he had that itch...y'know what I mean...the one in the throat and ear that drives you crazy.  Still doesn't explain why he went to bed to early.   Who knows.   

 

Where is my instruction manual for this kid?!

To Top it Off This Night

I officially sent my letter to Taggies and accidentally forgot to turn off my signature which has a link to this blog. Nice.